Tri-State Native American Artifact and Cultural Exhibit
Saturday and Sunday at SSU

“In Ohio, for example, you will see Flint Ridge artifacts, Fort Ancient artifacts, artifacts from the local area of Adams, Pike, Scioto, and Lawrence counties displayed,” he said.  “From Kentucky, there will be artifacts from Hardin County showing the paleo and archaic sites in that area.  You will see thousands of artifacts dating as far back as 10,000 years ago to the present.”

Many of the artifacts are rare, such as an authentic Indian dugout canoe dating back to the 1700s, one-of-a-kind pipes, arrowheads, and rare tools—all museum quality artifacts.

“Visitors are amazed at what they see spending hours looking and the exhibitors are happy to explain their artifacts to you or answer any questions,” McGinnis said.

Ani Tsa’Lagi, a heritage cultural group from Waverly will be featured performers.   Their members hold all Cherokee knowledge as vital links to their ancestors.
 “Members are certified Cherokee blood degrees who preserve the Cherokee culture including language, art, dance, music, flute playing, story telling, crafts, wood carving, basket making, and weaving,” McGinnis said.

Lenape Dancers from Salem, Ohio, will be performing various dances on stage and giving demonstrations in Native American weapons, medicine, music, art, history, language, drumming, and dance.

McGinnis says that representatives from Wolf Creek Indian Village in Bastian, Virginia, will demonstrate the day-to-day living of Indians.

“This will be from the late prehistoric period.  Frank Red Hawk Bob from Cincinnati, Ohio, will be giving primitive Native American weapons demonstrations, demonstrating clothes and drum making.”

Dr. Carl Daehler, executive director of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts at SSU, says the Artifact Exhibit brings to life the Native American culture that existed in Scioto and surrounding counties for more than a thousand years.

“It is an excellent opportunity for the entire family to view the finest in Native American artifacts as well as witness extraordinary re-enactments of ceremonial dance. It is a great opportunity for young and old to learn about the Native American culture in our area," he said.

The annual event is free and open to the general public.  For more information call (740) 858-2600.

 Eight Shawnee State University students were selected for the next Walt Disney World college program that begins Monday, March 26 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

The students, seven of whom are enrolled in SSU’s four-year Visualist (Digital Arts and Imaging) degree program in the Department of Arts and Humanities at the University and one who is enrolled in the bachelor of science in business administration/MIS program in the Department of Business Administration, will work at Disney World for a six-month period.

Tom Stead, associate professor of art at SSU, says the students will work in various parts of Disney World doing housekeeping, sales, hospitality, running rides, wearing the Mickey Mouse Costume, and will attend university level classes on the Disney World college campus.

“These classes are attended by executives from all over the world at a cost of $3,000 per class.  However, our students get to take them for free,” he said.

The SSU students will stay in Disney sponsored apartments for $79 per week and get free transportation to and from work.  They are paid $7.00 per hour and will receive overtime pay for any volunteer work over 40 hours per week.  They will also have access to any of the Disney parks during their free time.

According to Stead, Disney typically hires permanent employees from the internal pool of interns while any external applicants must have 10 years of experience.

“Even then Disney rarely hires someone externally.  Our students will be eligible for advanced internships in two years or so that are in their field, such as engineering, IT, graphics, or animation.  Many of these interns will be offered full-time employment after they graduate,” Stead said.   

Dr. James P. Chapman, president of Shawnee State University, says this is what attending college is all about.

“Working on and completing a degree in higher education opens up a world of opportunity.  We are extremely proud of these students and are very pleased that their dreams are leading in the right direction, enabling them to attain prosperous careers,” Chapman said.  “I have had the opportunity to see firsthand the underground business side of Walt Disney World.  It is an excellent organization that truly cares about its employees and interns.  It is a good model for anyone who plans to work for a service organization.”

The recruiter, according to Stead, stated that Disney World only wants to hire students for future employment who learn the Disney business from the bottom up.

“Anyone who has Disney on his or her résumé is going to have an advantage finding employment inside Disney or elsewhere in the public or private sectors,” he said.  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
March 16, 2001

Contact:
Terry Hapney, Director of Communications
Office: (740) 355-2112; FAX: (740) 355-2179
E-mail: thapney@shawnee.edu

SSU Graduate Center Receives Award

Dr. Margaret Christensen (left), director of the SSU Graduate Center, and Dr. Elizabeth Stroble (right), dean of the College of Education at the University of Akron, accepted SSU’s award recognizing the collaborative efforts and programs established between SSU and the University of Akron.

Shawnee State University’s Graduate Center recently received the Award For Excellence/Creative Credit Program Award from the University Continuing Education Association Region IV.

The award, bestowed jointly onto SSU’s Graduate Center and the University of Akron’s Graduate Outreach Program offered by the UA College of Education and coordinated by the Continuing Education and Evening Division at UA, recognizes innovation, longevity, quality, contributions to adult/continuing education, program costs effectiveness, and partnerships between UA and SSU.

The University of Akron and the SSU Graduate Center are currently offering a master’s degree in educational administration at SSU, and hope to offer a Ph.D. in education beginning this fall on the SSU campus, an Ed.D. in educational administration beginning in spring 2002, and to restart the master’s in educational administration this fall.

Dr. Margaret Christensen, director of the SSU Graduate Center, says that this award represents the cooperation that exists between the graduate center and its partnership schools.

“The University of Akron was the first University to bring a master's program to SSU through the efforts of the Graduate Center and this demonstrates our success,” she said.

President James P. Chapman said that the Graduate Center has been a huge success for SSU.

“There are currently five graduate programs provided by other universities at Shawnee State University that are available to area residents and seven additional programs will most likely start in the near future. Dr. Christensen and her staff have done an excellent job at providing opportunities for area residents to get graduate degrees without having to leave home to do so,” Chapman said.

The Shawnee State University Graduate Center was established in July 1999 with its main purpose being to coordinate graduate programs for the citizens of south central Ohio. The mission is to provide these programs on the Shawnee State University campus in partnership with other universities. These universities teach courses in the evenings, on weekends, and via the Internet and interactive video. Currently Morehead State University, The University of Rio Grande, and The University of Findlay, in addition to the University of Akron, offer graduate programs at Shawnee State University.

Christensen said the Shawnee State University Graduate Center Showcase will be May 17, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Micklethwaite Banquet Room in the University Center on the campus of SSU in Portsmouth.

“Representatives from all universities that are currently offering programs at SSU and those who hope to offer programs here will be available for prospective students to meet with them and discuss the programs,” she said.

For additional information about the Shawnee State University Graduate Center, call (740) 355-2177.

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2001