As part of the Kricker Lecture Series, Shawnee State University (SSU) will host the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music on Tuesday, May 31, at 6:30 p.m. in the Kahl Studio Theater, located in the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts on the SSU campus.  Professors Mara Helmuth and Allen Otte will perform and discuss their recent collaborative compositions.
            “This is a chance to hear one of the finest performers of solo percussion music with a fantastic electronic music composer,” said Michael Barnhart, senior instructor of music at SSU.
            Helmuth composes for computer and acoustic instruments and creates software for music composition.  She is an associate professor of composition, as well as the director of the Center for Computer Music at the College-Conservatory for Music.  After receiving degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (B.A., 1979; M.M., 1986) and Columbia University (D.M.A., 1994), she taught at New York University and Texas A & M University.  Helmuth has had numerous performances in North America and Asia, and has published writings in Audible Traces, Journal of New Music Research, and Computers and Mathematics with Applications and Perspectives of New Music.  Her software for UNIX Platforms includes StochGran (1991) for granular synthesis and Patchmix (1989), an instrument builder.  Her current work includes collaborations for percussion and computer with Allen Otte, heard on the Electronic Music Foundation compact disc, Implements of Actuation (EMF 023), and an Internet2 improvisation application.
            “The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music performance is an opportunity to hear abstract music presented by some of the leading proponents of this music in the field,” Barnhart said.  “One of the finest performers of this kind of music, Allen Otte, has had work written for him by some of the most eminent composers working in the last 20 or 30 years.” 
            Otte came to the University of Cincinnati in 1977 with The Blackearth Percussion Group, which he co-founded in 1972.  In 1979, he founded the Percussion Group Cincinnati.  The three members of the group are faculty and ensemble-in-residence at the conservatory, with an international touring schedule of concerts, concerto appearances, masterclasses, and children’s programs.  Otte teaches percussion instruments, eurythmics, composition, various literature seminars, and coaches and conducts traditional and contemporary chamber music.  With and without the group, he has concertized, recorded, and taught throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, including solo concerts and guest presentations in Shanghai, Saarbrucken, Aukland, and Tanglewood.  He has also worked in Lucca, Italy, with opera director Malcolm Fraser, creating experimental music theater pieces.  A CD of five collaborative works with Helmuth is available on the EMS label, while Percussion Group Cincinnati is recorded on their own label, Ars Moderno.
            Helmuth and Otte’s guest appearance is part of the 2005 Kricker Lecture Series, sponsored by the Edmund J. Kricker fund of the Scioto Area Foundation through the SSU Development Foundation.

             Dental Hygiene Professor Linda Nickel, M.Ed., RDH of Portsmouth, and business administration major Sarah Tingler of Minford are this year’s recipients of the SSU Silver Star Alumni award and the Alumnus of Tomorrow Award at Shawnee State University (SSU).
          Nickel was nominated for the Silver Star Alumni Award by her colleague Barbara Duncan, professor of dental hygiene at SSU.
          “I think it’s quite an honor,” Nickel said. “It’s always nice to be recognized for the contributions that you’ve made.”
          Nickel has been with the dental hygiene program at SSU for almost 27 years.  She graduated from SSU in 1975 when the university was known as Scioto Technical College. While working on her bachelor’s degree, Nickel said she worked in a local dentist’s office. She said she came back to Shawnee State after earning her degree in 1978.
          As a dental hygiene professor, Nickel works very closely with her students.
          “I think it’s very important to help them become good, competent, professional hygienists,” she said.” “I’ve also been involved with our students doing community service projects and requiring them to complete community service hours for credit. Every fall they go out into the elementary schools and they teach about good dental health habits and nutrition and play games with the students and get them involved in oral health and dental health. It’s a great experience for the kids and for our students as well.”
          Angela Henderson, SSU assistant director of development/alumni affairs said the awards committee was impressed with Nickel because she is a good role model for other alumni.
          “She not only represents SSU very well on campus but also out in the community,” Henderson said. That’s really what the Silver Star Alumni Award is all about. Its people who represent SSU well and Linda certainly does that.”
            A 2001 graduate of Minford High School, Sarah Tingler said she has no idea who nominated her for the SSU Alumnus of Tomorrow Award but said she is very honored and surprised that she won the award. Henderson said the awards committee was also very impressed with Tingler.
             “She’s got her career goals lined out in front of her,” Henderson said.  “She’s put together an impressive list of work and extracurricular activities and the committee thinks Sarah will take the bull by the horns when she gets out into the community and will really make SSU proud.”
          Tingler does seem to have her future planned. This fall she will be attending Ohio State University.
          “I have a graduate fellowship,” Tingler said.  “I’ll be going there to pursue a master of accountancy degree that will take a year. After that I will hopefully, prepare for the CPA exam and pursue a career.”
          The fellowship covers her tuition and fees and also provides her with a stipend.
          Throughout her college career, Tingler has worked while taking classes. She currently works part-time as an auditor for the CPA firm of Bolestra, Harr, and Scharer, an organization that does governmental and not-for-profit auditing. During school breaks, however, she works full-time for the company. Tingler has also worked part-time in the SSU Human Resources Payroll Department and is a member of Phi Eta Sigma, the national honor society.
          She is the daughter of Greg and Pam Tingler of Minford.
          Henderson said it was very difficult for the awards committee to make a decision this year because there were so many excellent nominations.

            The rising costs of tuition and other college expenses have many students and parents concerned about the future prospects of higher education.  The Shawnee State University (SSU) Liberals Association has invited State Representative Todd Book to the SSU campus to shed some light on the issue of SSU’s state funding.
            The event will take place Tuesday, May 24, at 3:30 p.m. on the front lawn of Massie Hall. Marcia Tackett, adviser of the Shawnee Liberals Association, said Book will speak to students about SSU’s state subsidy, tuition hike caps, and funding for universities in general.
             “We are excited to have Representative Todd Book attend our event,” said Tackett.  “He has first-hand knowledge about higher education funding in Ohio, SSU’s state subsidy and the plan to reduce it, and possible caps on tuition increases in the coming year.”
            The event is free and open to students, staff members, and anyone interested in the future of SSU.  All students are invited to attend the event, regardless of political affiliation, Tackett said.
            During the event, the SSU Liberals Association will also be hosting a membership drive, according to Jennifer Phillips, president of the Liberal Association.  Tables will be set up in front of Massie Hall where Shawnee Liberals members will distribute informative brochures about the organization and fliers of past events.  Interested students may sign-up on the spot or receive information on how to sign up via the Internet, she said.
            “My hope is that students will come and listen to what Mr. Book has to say,” said Phillips.  “Hopefully, this event will get students interested in our organization and they will consider joining.  The fact that such a high profile public figure has taken time out of his busy schedule to talk to students is wonderful, and his presence on campus shows that we are quickly growing as an organization.”
            For more information about the Shawnee Liberals membership drive or other such events, contact Phillips at phillipsj@shawnee.edu .

             Students hear many lectures during their time at Shawnee State University (SSU), but now they have the opportunity to hear a lecture about a recent historical event that happened just over 10 miles from campus.
            Renowned historian Staughton Lynd, author of “Lucasville: The Untold Story of a Prison Uprising” will speak at SSU on Wednesday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Flohr Lecture Hall, located in Clark Memorial Library. 
            According to Andrew Feight, Ph.D., associate professor of history at SSU, this lecture is open to the public and should be of interest to students, faculty, staff, and citizens of Scioto County because the lecture relates to events that occurred in this area.  In addition to giving this public lecture, Lynd will also visit Feight’s “History of the Ohio River Valley” class.
            Feight said Lynd has been both the center of controversy and a source of inspiration because of his theories and opinions on the 1993 Lucasville Prison Riot.  Feight said the lecture will be informative for anyone who attends. “The public’s understanding of the events that led to the prison riot and the tragic events that occurred during the 11-day siege, as well as the various court proceedings afterward, have been clouded by much misinformation in the local, regional, and national press.  Staughton Lynd’s lecture is a great opportunity for the people of southern Ohio to learn more about this significant historical event,” Feight said.
            SSU senior and history major Michael Reed said he is excited about the lecture.
            “I think that it is good to bring someone of Mr. Lynd’s caliber to SSU to talk about such an important historical event that happened so close to Shawnee State University,“  Reed said.
            For more information on Lynd’s lecture, call Feight at (740) 351-3143.

            Each month offers a new and exciting show at Shawnee State University’s (SSU) Clark Planetarium, and May is no exception.
            “With the recent news of the Hubble Space Telescope’s engineering problems and the debates over whether to save it with a manned shuttle mission or let it crash into the Pacific Ocean, area residents maybe interested in seeing what has already been accomplished with this famous orbiting space telescope,” said Timothy Hamilton, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics at SSU and director of the planetarium.
            According to Hamilton, the show, “Through the Eyes of the Hubble,” was filmed before the recent problems happened, and is an introduction to the discoveries made with America’s premier observatory.  Making use of the Clark Planetarium’s slide and video projection abilities, the show gives the audience a tour through the breathtaking galleries of photos obtained with the telescope, he said.
            Each show will also present, “The Skies Tonight,” an operator-narrated tour of the current night sky over Portsmouth.
            These shows are open to the public, and are appropriate for both children and adults.  Although show titles will change from month to month, the scheduled days and times will be fixed through the end of SSU’s spring quarter, Saturday, June 3.
            The cost is $3 for adults and $2 for children under 12; tickets will be sold at the door.  Planetarium seating is limited to 66 and is on a first-come, first-served basis. If the 7 p.m. show sells out, there will be a second showing as soon as the first show finishes, Hamilton said.
            For further information, directions, hours, and private group reservations, call the Clark Planetarium’s main number at (740) 351-3125. Visitor information is also available on the Planetarium web site, at planetarium@shawnee.edu .  

            A remembrance of the man credited with officially creating Shawnee State University (SSU) 19 years ago will find a new home next week.
            On Thursday, May 19, as part of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra concert, the Vernal G. (Vern) Riffe, Jr., bust will be moved from its current location in the Vern Riffe Room of the Clark Memorial Library at SSU to the lobby of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts (VRCFA), also on the SSU campus.  A rededication ceremony will take place at 7:15 p.m. that evening in the VRCFA lobby.
            History shows that Riffe’s dedication and commitment to the people he represented was memorialized with his sponsorship of House Bill 739 establishing SSU on July 2, 1986.  Documents show the speaker considered SSU one of the “crowning jewels” of his political career because it brought “the hope of economic development and independence” to his people in southern Ohio.  Riffe passed away in 1997.
            Clive Veri, Ph.D., president emeritus of SSU, said (on March 21, 1996, the day the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts was dedicated) Riffe “dedicated his life to public service.”
            “It is such a simple sentence, but every word of it is absolutely true,” Veri said.  “It is a sentence that describes a down-home but complex man who . . . dedicated his long political and personal life to people.” 
            Veri said Riffe’s commitment to serving people resulted in the people of his district sending him to Columbus term after term, 18 times.  Riffe also occupied the Ohio House of Representatives speaker’s chair for 20 of his 36 years in the House, setting not only an Ohio record but a national record, Veri said.
            “Shawnee State University is—more than words can express—totally beholden to Vern Riffe for his support for, and love of, SSU,” Veri said in a 1996 speech.
            Riffe, in a 1996 letter to Veri, thanked the former president for helping make the dedication of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts “one of the most memorable occasions” of his life.
            “It is difficult to express what an honor it is to be the namesake of this encompassing building dedicated to the study and advancement of the arts,” Riffe said in 1996.  “Shawnee State University is very important to me and I am so proud to watch this fine institution flourish.”
            Riffe said, in the same letter, that the addition of the Center for the Arts added to the campus’ movement to becoming a source of endless opportunities not only for the students of SSU, but also for all of the people of southern Ohio.
            “I am humbled to have this outstanding building carry my name,” Riffe said in 1996.  “It is truly one of the greatest honors of my lifetime.”

            Imagine living in your car or worse yet a cardboard box. That’s exactly what approximately 10 SSU students and one faculty member will be doing on Monday, May 16 and Tuesday, May 17.
            The event is being coordinated by the SSU Center for Community Service to kick off Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week on campus the week of May 16 through May 20 according to E.B. Newberry, center director.
          “It’s just the most visual, most impactful event. We hope it will attract interest in the rest of the week’s activities,” Newberry said.
        The Shantytown will be set up in the middle of campus in front of Massie Hall beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday until 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Newberry said the students, as well as herself and John Lorentz, Ph.D., professor of history and director of the Center for International Programs and Activities will be staying in the boxes for a total of 30 hours.
          “They will have to submit keys, money, ID’s, meal plans, cell phones, every belonging except for the things they need for school, their calculators, books, things like that they can keep,” Newberry said. “They will be without anything and will be forced to beg from their fellow students for food and money.”
          The only thing the Shantytown inhabitants will be able to bring with them is a poncho and a blanket according to Tracey Leo, a participant and resident adviser.
          “It makes me a little nervous. I hope it doesn’t rain that’s my main hope,” Leo said.
          The students are also allowed to bring signs.
          “I’m going to try to think of a really creative sign, maybe something I’ve seen a homeless person actually have, something that will catch people’s attention,” Leo added.
          Newberry said the students participating in the Shantytown project are representing the 10 largest organizations and clubs on campus such as Student Government Association (SGA), the Student Programming Board (SPB), the Shawnee Liberals Association, and the International Forum among other groups. She said the students are Jennifer Phillips, John Campbell, Carrie Baker, Eric Marit, Tracey Leo, Joshua Ramsey, Joe Reist, Wayne Allen, Newberry, and of course Lorentz.
          “I’m excited; I think it’s for a really good cause. I think it’s very innovative; it’s very new,” said Eric Marit, president of SGA. “It will really draw a lot of attention to something that needs to be done.”
          With his experience in the Peace Corps and overseas travel, Dr. Lorentz said he is acquainted with what it is like to be in a homeless situation.
          “I’ve had some acquaintance with this and therefore some empathy and sympathy as well and like to do whatever I can to help, not only in terms of what I can do as an individual but also in terms of publicity as far as bringing an awareness or rise in public consciousness concerning this particular situation,” Lorentz said.
          He said the Shantytown is a creative way to call attention to the homeless problem.
          “It should be interesting being with the students. I pointed this out to the students that maybe they didn’t want me but it was in fact their insistence that not just one but a number of students involved in this came and insisted that I would be an important contribution to this in some ways and that they really wanted me to be out there with them,” said Lorentz.
          An important aspect of the Shantytown project is that students and Lorentz, as well as Newberry, will have to go to class and work and do their homework.
          “They will be stinky, they will be ratty, and they’ll be sitting next to students who have no idea what’s going on and hopefully questions will start and there will be some dialogue about this program,” Newberry said.
          She said she is hoping that students will recognize the homeless students from classes and meetings around campus and will be more inclined to approach them in their shanties to ask them what they are doing. Newberry said that will give the participants a chance to distribute information regarding homeless statistics to those who inquire and students will be asked to make a donation with all donations going to the local homeless shelter.
          For more information on Shantytown, contact Newberry at (740) 351-3095.

            Where can you see a local theater troupe and Shawnee State University (SSU) faculty, staff, and students perform in a talent competition, have an elegant meal and dessert, possibly win a diamond ring, and help fund undergraduate research initiatives all in the same evening? At the 2005 SSU President’s Gala.
            The 17^th annual SSU President’s Gala, Saturday, May 21 at 6 p.m. in the University Center and Vern Riffe Center for the Arts on the SSU campus, is an event that not only provides for an evening of entertainment with SSU President Rita Rice Morris and her husband Jim, it also focuses on celebrating SSU and raising funds to further the cause of undergraduate research at the institution.
            Susan Warsaw, executive director of development at SSU, said the President’s Gala is the only SSU Development Foundation fundraising event of the year. 
            “A different recipient is chosen to receive the President’s Gala proceeds each year,” she said.  “Last year, SSU’s Clark Memorial Library received the funds. This year’s proceeds will be donated to undergraduate research.”
            Undergraduate research plays a major role in SSU undergraduates’ preparing themselves for graduate, professional, and medical school, Warsaw said.
            “We’re eager to expand opportunities for our students,” she said.
            The Talent Showcase was created after the huge success of last year’s cabaret-style evening, according to Warsaw. As a result of last year’s success, the talent show, rather than a traditional dance, will follow dinner. The Talent Showcase will feature acts by the Cirque d’Art Theater troupe, SSU faculty and staff members, an SSU theater class, the SSU Cheerleaders, and an SSU music class led by local resident Linda Tieman.  Portsmouth optometrist Michael Raies will serve as master of ceremonies.
            “We’ll even be treated to a performance by the Golden Bears and a skit featuring President Rita Morris,” Warsaw said.
            Tickets are $100 for the evening.  Donors may also opt to become patrons by donating $200, and table sponsors by donating $1,500. A gourmet dinner will be provided in the University Center, and the Talent Showcase and dessert will be held in the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts.
            This year, a $15 ticket will be offered for the first time; this ticket is for attending only the talent showcase and dessert. According to Warsaw, the $15 ticket would be a great option for SSU students who wish to attend.
            A diamond cocktail ring, donated by Portsmouth residents Barbara and David Lodwick, will be raffled off at $10 per ticket.
            Warsaw said everyone is invited and encouraged to attend and must R.S.V.P. as soon as possible.
            For more information on the President’s Gala, call (740) 351-3284.

            You can hear the buzz and feel the excitement on the Shawnee State University (SSU) campus and in the surrounding community as SSU students prepare for the biggest event of the year…Springfest 2005!
            On Thursday, May 12 at 7 p.m. famous rapper, Twista, will perform in the James A. Rhodes Athletic Center, located on the SSU campus.  The Wylde Bunch will also appear.
            “Springfest is one of the biggest events of the school year, and it is not to be missed,” said Tracy Leo, vice president of SSU’s Student Government Association (SGA).  “Springfest provides great entertainment at an awesome price to not only students but also to other young people in our community.  This event helps show the community of all the positive things the university does.”
            Each year, the Student Programming Board (SPB) at SSU organizes a Springfest, giving students a chance to celebrate the end of another academic year, to enjoy the spring weather, and to get together with friends before going home for the summer.
            In 2001, SPB brought Sister Hazel to campus; in 2002, it was the Comedy Fest, featuring Mark Curry; 2003 brought Nappy Roots; and the MTV Campus Invasion Tour, featuring Hoobastank, came to campus in 2004.
            Eric Marit, president of the SSU Student Government Association (SGA), said, SSU is a growing campus and a growing institution, and there are very diverse interests and tastes at the university.
            “I really think there’s a need to mix it up every once in a while, and we’ve been doing that,” Marit said.  “We’ve had rap, comedy, rock, and I like the mix.  Twista appeals to the diverse crowd that continues to grow on campus.”
            Tracy Leo said, Twista is a recording artist who has been around for a long time and has worked with many other famous people.
            “There is a mainstream appeal to his rap style,” she said.
            Students on campus seem to be awe-struck that such a famous artist has agreed to come to small-town Portsmouth, Ohio.
            “I am very excited about going to the concert,” said Leo.  “It is great that Shawnee State University is able to get someone who is so famous.”
            Twista’s 2004 album, “Kamikaze,” went to number one on the US Billboard 200 in early 2004, based on his number one single on the Billboard Hot 100, “Slow Jamz,” which featured Kanye West and Jamie Foxx.
            “Twista is a fun rapper,” said Cory Wells-Strickland, SSU sophomore.  “I think it’s going to be more like a party than a concert, and that is definitely going to appeal to a lot of students.”
            Springfest is not just for SSU students.  Area high school students often purchase tickets and attend the festivities as well.   East Community School students, Bobbi Snook and Rebecca Baker, have already purchased their tickets for the 2005 Springfest and are eager to show Twista that he has fans here in Portsmouth.
            “He talks about his own stuff,” said Snook.  “He can rap pretty much anything.”
            “I think he is probably the fastest rapper I’ve ever heard,” said Baker.  “He has great lyrics.”
            Both students agreed that Twista is one of the biggest artists to ever come to this area.  Springfest presents them with an opportunity to attend a concert at an affordable price, without having to travel a long distance, they said.
            SSU sophomore, Michael Ogletree said it is good for SSU to bring more kids from the city onto the college campus. 
            “It’s so diverse at this school, and I feel this is a good way to bring everyone together,” he said.  “Being that Twista is such a mainstream artist, everybody knows him and listens to his music, whether they are Black, White, Puerto Rican, or Asian.”
            It seems to be the general consensus that Twista has something to offer to everyone here at SSU.
            “He does have songs that appeal to most races,” Ogletree said.  “He has a song with Faith Evans called “Hope” where he says that everybody should not give up on their dreams because anything can be accomplished if you put your mind to it.  He also does party songs that you can dance to and enjoy with your friends.  They talk about getting together with friends and family and just enjoying life to the fullest.”
            Tickets are currently available for the Springfest 2005 concert, and may be purchased in the Welcome Center of the University Center, located on the SSU campus.  SSU student and employee tickets cost $15, and are limited to two per person.  General public ticket cost is $20.  Ticket cost for the day of the show is $20.  The doors of the Rhodes Athletic Center open at 7 p.m., and the concert begins at 8 p.m.
            “High school students’ and college students’ taste in music really doesn’t differ that much,” said Marit.  “He’ll appeal to them.  They watch MTV and he’s had quite a few hits on there recently.”

            The Unicorn Players and A Working Theatre Company, in collaboration with Shawnee State University Theater, present Shakespeare’s  “As You Like It” in the Kahl Studio Theater in the SSU Vern Riffe Center for the Arts, May 12-14 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 15 at 2:30 p.m.
             “We decided to take the Shakespeare play that is set in a rustic area, because we’re in a rustic area ourselves, and adapt it to the hills of Kentucky in the early 20^th century,” said Jim Hayes, director and SSU adjunct theatre professor.
            Hayes said it is a total comedy that contains Appalachian music, square dancing, running, and wrestling.
            The brother against brother play pushes the Appalachian dialect of the area, according to Hayes, and as a transition from scene to scene they are using bluegrass music.
          “Shakespeare had written five songs for this play and of course nobody knew what they sounded like because there was very little musical notation from that time,” Hayes said. “We’ve managed to find five musical pieces that are bluegrass instrumentals and we set Shakespeare’s lyrics to bluegrass music.”
          Hayes said plans call for the play to be opened with a pre-show called “Points of Contact” in which they will compare Elizabethan English to Appalachian dialect and draw conclusions about the fact that the Appalachian dialect pretty well comes from Elizabethan English.
          Tickets for the play are $5 and are available at the McKinley Box Office in the VRCFA at SSU or by calling (740) 351-3600.
          The cast and crew consists of veteran and beginning actors including Jim Hayes of Waverly; Lorri Tipton of Portsmouth; Karen Chatfield of Beaver; Andrea Chatfield of Lucasville; Buddy Adams of Portsmouth; Loren Keller of Lucasville; Kasey Wallace of Marietta; Sara Chatfield of Lucasville; Nathan Wheeler of Wheelersburg; Charlie Cummings of Ashland, Kentucky; Tommy Book of Sciotoville; Chaz Farley of Greenup; Jimmy Webb of Portsmouth; Hank Waring of Rubyville; Ricky Kammer of Wheelersburg; Kelli Chatfield of Lucasville; Rick Bender of Portsmouth; Lydia Chatfield of Lucasville; Matt Chatfield of Lucasville; Gavan Johnstone of Chicago, Illinois; Vinnie Herman of Athens; Matthew Knox of Phoenix, Arizona; Shane Henderson of South Shore; Mary Baughman of Portsmouth; and Brandon Thacker of Kingston.

            This year the Shawnee State University Development Foundation (SSUDF) has presented $25,000 in grants, made possible by unrestricted donor gifts that allow several programs to exist that would have not been funded otherwise.
            The criteria for the SSUDF grants change from year to year, according to Susan Warsaw, executive director of development at Shawnee State University (SSU), and depend entirely on what SSU will need throughout the upcoming year. This year it was decided to place importance on recruitment and retention, which has led to the birth and continuation of many terrific programs.
            Among the  many programs that benefit from the SSUDF grants are “Recruitment and Retention in Natural Sciences,” “A Celebration of Scholarship,” “Computers to Expand Learning,” “Senior Seminar Paper Awards,” and “Literature: A Catalyst for Student Engagement.”
            According to Eugene Burns, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Natural Sciences, “Recruitment and Retention in Natural Sciences” allows for greater bonding between the students and faculty of the Natural Sciences Department and includes such activities as dinners with visiting experts, video nights, and culminates in an awards ceremony where faculty members present such awards as “Best Physics Student” and students in turn present silly awards such as the “triple sow” award.
            “At many other universities, students do not even feel comfortable talking to faculty, much less presenting them with a plastic wastebasket labeled Mouse Disposal Award,” Burns said. Yet, in the science department, such an event has happened each of the last two years.”
            Thanks to the SSUDF grant for “Computers to Expand Learning,” the Clark Memorial Library has recently added wireless access as a service for SSU students and faculty. Students and faculty members are already taking advantage of this new service and bringing their laptops and accessing the campus network from them.
            Tess Midkiff, director of the Clark Memorial Library, expects “access to the Internet via wireless computers on campus to improve flexibility and access for students and faculty.”
            The new program of checking out laptops with wireless capabilities for use in the library will supplement the 50 desktop computers that are currently available and allow students and faculty members to sit anywhere in the building, while they do their research, including the study rooms, which should benefit students who are working on group projects and need the use of a computer and Internet access.
            A program that continues this year is “Senior Seminar Paper Awards.” This award is presented once a year to a student who has written an exceptional paper in the Senior Seminar course, which is required of all four-year students. Any student who has taken Senior Seminar in the spring, winter, or fall quarters is eligible for this award. All professors who teach a section of this class are able to nominate one person from each section for the award. The papers of the nominees are reviewed by a committee and judged on a specific rubric that was developed specifically for this. The criteria used to judge the papers not only includes the structure of the paper, but also critical thinking and how it is applied in the paper itself.
            The nominees for the “Senior Seminar Paper Award” are automatically eligible to participate in another program that exists thanks to the SSUDF grants, “A Celebration of Scholarship.” This is an undergraduate conference in which students may exhibit work that they have done in college. This year the conference will be held May 26, 2005. It is not only open to the nominees of the “Senior Seminar Paper Award,” but to students who have faculty members sponsor them.  Activities will include presentations of the works with posters as well as a lecture or performance of the piece.
            Other programs include “Literature: A Catalyst for Student Engagement” through which the English department has been able to sponsor a workshop by Carol Jago, a very-well known and highly-respected teacher and author. This workshop focused on teaching the classics in the classroom and the grant enabled the department to not only invite the English faculty but to also invite some students from the licensure programs as well as some area high school teachers.
            “Thus we were not only able to continue to strengthen our own teaching skills in the department, but we were able to be involved in a very worthwhile outreach program,” said Timothy Scheurer, Ph.D., chair, department of English and Humanities. Without foundation money, it would have been virtually impossible to sponsor such a high-quality program.”
            “Unrestricted donor gifts allow for extra things that would not otherwise be possible,” said Warsaw. “These are things that vastly improve the university and the quality of the education provided here.”

             Brenda Covert of Portsmouth, Ohio, has been appointed as the new manager of contract training at Shawnee State University (SSU).
            Covert was previously self-employed as a financial consultant for local and regional businesses. She also worked as an adjunct professor in SSU’s Department of Business Administration. When another professor told her the manager of contract training position was open, she decided to apply.
            “SSU is uniquely positioned to meet the workforce development needs of Ohio’s employees, helping organizations to increase the return on their workforce development,” said Covert.
            Working in partnership with the Ohio State University’s (OSU) South Centers in Piketon, Covert will set up training for small businesses and manufacturers.
            Covert, who holds a master’s degree in business administration and has over 15 years of management experience, said her familiarity with the field has helped her in the new position.
             “The knowledge gained from my education and work experience has been very useful in understanding the training and educational needs of the region’s businesses,” Covert said.
            Covert said her favorite aspect of the position is meeting area business owners and giving them the help they need.
            “I have found that business owners have a strong interest in enhancing their employee’s skills, but they do not always have the funds available to cover the costs of the training. This is where SSU comes into play.  We can provide grant assistance that can supplement the cost of the training,” Covert said.
            Covert said her greatest challenge is meeting with all regional businesses to make sure no business misses out on SSU’s University Outreach Services grant opportunities.
            In her spare time, Covert enjoys traveling with her husband, Tom, who owns a local furniture store. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. She has two step-sons--Tom, who is currently a sophomore at Coastal Carolina University, and Jeff, who is a junior at Portsmouth High School.
            Ginnie Moore, director of University Outreach Services at SSU said Covert brings to the University a wealth of experience and knowledge about training, finance, and about the southern Ohio business climate.
            “She is an expert at putting together the resources our local companies need to get high-quality training and education for their employees,” Moore said. “We are very fortunate to have Brenda on the SSU team.”
            For more information call (740) 351-3274.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2005