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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu

Out of 137 ABLE (Adult
Basic and Literacy Education) programs in the state of Ohio,
Shawnee State University’s (SSU) BASICS (Basic Adult Skills
in a College Setting) program is one out of 26 to be rated
exemplary due to meeting performance measures, such as
retention, student progress rate, student achievement,
meeting reporting requirements and deadlines, and staff
development. For more information on the BASICS program
call (740) 351-3325.
Pictured from left to
right are: Marcia Tolliver, BASICS director; Mike Bailey,
computer technician; Jane Caudill, instructor; Sally
Baldridge, assessment coordinator; Nicki Hunt, ABLELink
instructor; and Judy Cheek, instructor.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu

Students learn about rules
governing Certified Medication Aides (CMA) from
Janice Lanier, RN, JD, director of health policy at the Ohio
Nurses Association, on June 22.
AREA
NURSES LEARN ABOUT NEW CERTIFIED MEDICATION AIDES
Janice
Lanier, RN, JD, director of health policy at the Ohio Nurses
Association, presented “Medication Aides: Understanding the
Law: The How, Why, & What” on June 22 at Shawnee State
University (SSU) to familiarize registered nurses (RN) with
the roles and responsibilities of Certified Medication Aides
(CMA).
As of July 1,
2007, State Tested Nurses Aides (STNA) and assisted living
facility workers with at least one-year on-the-job
experience can take courses to become CMAs. CMAs dispense
medication under the direction of an RN.
“The
registered nurses are the ones who will be working with the
certified medication aides (CMA),” Lanier said. “They need
to know what the CMAs can do so they don’t delegate tasks
inappropriately. They need to know their ongoing
responsibilities. Just because the CMAs will be giving the
pill does not mean the nurse doesn’t have any kind of
responsibility.”
Residential care facilities and nursing homes can apply to
be a pilot participant through the board of nursing,
according to Lanier. Ten residential care facilities and 10
nursing homes throughout the state began participating as
part of the pilot program on May 1, 2006.
“CMAs have
to go through the training program and get certified,” said
Lanier. “No one has gotten a certificate yet, but they are
working through the process.”
To qualify as
a CMA, applicants must be at least 18 years old, hold a high
school diploma or GED, be an STNA or have one year direct
care experience if working in a residential care facility,
complete a training program, and pass a background check.
“The CMAs
are responsible for doing the task as delegated by the RN so
it is a dual responsibility,” said Lanier. “The nurse is
responsible for knowing what the CMA can do and for ensuring
that the CMA has completed the task as directed. If they
haven’t completed the task appropriately, the RN must
complete any necessary follow-up.”
According to
Lanier, approximately 16 other states have some form of a
CMA in long-term care and the number is growing.
“It will not
be long before every residential care facility and nursing
home in Ohio will have the authority to use CMAs,” Lanier
said. “Many nurses aren’t aware this program exists so it is
important they find out their duties. The law about this is
in the Nursing Practice Act, something nurses are
responsible for knowing.”
Twenty-five
area nurses attended the workshop.
“It was
beneficial to the nurses to have Janice Lanier, RN, JD, on
hand to answer questions about the new change to the Nurse
Practice Act regarding the creation of the CMA position in
Ohio’s long-term organizations,” said Ginnie Moore, director
of University Outreach Services, which hosted the workshop.
“She’s an expert on the law and rules governing the practice
of nursing in Ohio.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
POSITIVE
CHANGES OCCUR AT SSU’S CHILDREN’S LEARNING CENTER
Most young children are experts at wrinkling
their noses when it comes to foods they dislike, but the
children at Shawnee State University’s (SSU) Children’s
Learning Center are learning to try new foods, even if they
might not like them, through a new dining practice.
“When I started five years ago, the children ate
lunch together in our largest room in the building called
the gross motor room,” said CLC director Cindy Ferguson.
“Since our enrollment has grown, we are running at capacity
so we outgrew that room and had to alter our practices.”
Ferguson determined a better practice would be
for the children to dine family-style within their classroom
community rather than moving them down the hall to the large
room.
Since January, the children practiced
family-style dining and learn manners and skills such as
being polite, passing their plates and the food, taking
helpings, sharing with others, and how to pour, dip, and
scoop food.
“This new practice meant investing in dishes,
serving bowls, utensils and real silverware that were all
easy for children to handle,” said Ferguson. “In the past,
we used disposable paper and plastic products and had a lot
of waste each day. Filling a landfill is not positive when
trying to preserve a world for future generations, so we
made the choice to buy the new products.”
Ferguson said the change has brought about
unbelievable results.
“We noticed our trash has diminished because we
are not throwing away those non-biodegradable products
everyday,” said Ferguson. “The children are eating more,
becoming more polite, saying ‘no, thank you’, and even
accepting food they may not like but might be interested in
trying.”
Parents have seen positive changes in their
children at home.
“One parent said their child has begun taking
his dish and silverware to the sink, and saying ‘no thank
you’ to the foods he doesn’t like. Other parents have said
their children use good manners during dinner,” said
Ferguson.
Ferguson said this new approach to dining, based
on data, practice, and research, is assessed each week and
modified in order to cultivate good habits within the CLC.
The CLC is accredited by the National
Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). An
annual report is completed each year to examine current
practices in order to develop innovative ones.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
"Women & Money" Workshop Held at SSU

“Women & Money”
Women & Money Conferences are a series of free
financial-planning seminars for Ohio women presented by
State Treasurer Jennette B. Bradley. Launched in 2000,
and supported by various private and public partners,
workshops have been conducted throughout the state.
Workshops on ID Theft, Retirement, Estate Planning, and
Investments were a few of the topics covered
at the seminar held at Shawnee State
University on Friday, July 14, 2006, where over 75
people attended. After six years, more than 16,000
Ohioans have attended the popular seminars.

Tom
Kelly,
Director, Community Education Programs for Jennette B.
Bradley’s office, Treasurer of State, addresses
attendees of the “Women and Money” Conference held on
Friday, July 14, 2006 at SSU.

Jennifer Hatcher Mingus,
Owner of Kids Biz and the Portsmouth Quiznos franchise
speaks about business ownership in Portsmouth
at the “Women & Money” Conference held at
Shawnee State University on
Friday, July 14, 2006.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Stephanie Smith, communications
specialist)

PORTSMOUTH’S
OWN KATHLEEN BATTLE TO PERFORM AT SSU
Portsmouth native
soprano Kathleen Battle, whose voice has been called
“… without qualification, one of the most beautiful
in the world,” by the Washington Post, will perform
at Shawnee State University (SSU) Sept. 27 at 7:30
p.m. in the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts, as part
of SSU’s 20th anniversary celebration.
“Battle is at the top of her profession
and receives praise from around the world as one of
the finest sopranos of our time,” said Carl Daehler,
executive director of the Vern Riffe Center for the
Arts (VRCFA.) “We feel blessed to be able to bring
Ms. Battle back to Portsmouth to perform for the
first time at the Vern Riffe Center. This will be a
magical evening for all.”
Battle has appeared on many stages of
the world’s leading opera houses including Vienna,
San Francisco, London, Chicago and Paris. She has
performed with the world’s great symphony orchestras
including the New York Philharmonic, Chicago
Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra,
Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, and the
Vienna Philharmonic. She has toured extensively
throughout the United States, Canada, South America,
Europe, and the Far East.
Tickets range from $10 to $41 and will
go on sale Aug. 28. The concert is also included as
part of the 2006-2007 Performing Arts Subscription
Series presented by the Southern Ohio Performing
Arts Association (SOPAA) and SSU. For information on
purchasing tickets or other concerts presented at
the VRCFA, call the McKinley Box Office at (740)
351-3600. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.
Battle,
who earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees
from the College Conservatory of Music at the
University of Cincinnati, has received six honorary
doctorates from American universities and in 1999
the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People (NAACP) inducted Battle into the Hall
of Fame.
Battle made her professional debut at
the Spoleto Festival in Brahms’ “Ein Deutsches
Requiem,” (“A German Requiem”), under Cincinnati
Orchestra conductor Thomas Schippers. Her
Metropolitan Opera debut came only five years later
in Wagner’s Tannhäuser.
Critics have compared Battle’s voice to
“the ethereal beauty of winter moonlight” (The
Washington Post), “A paradoxical meeting of earth
and sky” (Philadelphia Inquirer), and, “cream from a
miraculous, bottomless pitcher,” (The New York
Times).
Battle has recorded with Sony Classical
throughout her career. Her latest recording,
“Classic Kathleen Battle: A Portrait,” showcases her
with some of the top names in classical and jazz
such as Wynton Marsalis, Christopher Parkening,
Grover Washington, Jr., Cyrus Chestnut, Christian
McBride, Jessye Norman, Andre Previn, Vangelis, and
the Vienna Philharmonic.
Battle
has made immense contributions as an ambassador for
classical music, performing for presidents and
dignitaries and attracting diverse new audiences
through television broadcasts of her operas and
concerts.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Mistie Cook Spicer, communications
coordinator

NEW
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
OF DEVELOPMENT NAMED AT SSU
Mandilyn (Mandy) Hart is the new
associate director of development for major and
planned gifts at Shawnee State University (SSU).
She will be responsible for overseeing the
development and administration of both major and
planned gifts for the university.
“We are thrilled to have Mandy join
us,” said Susan Warsaw, executive director of
development at SSU. “She is so knowledgeable
about estate planning and planned giving and can
make discussions about them interesting and easy
to understand. Our donors and their financial
advisors are sure to find her a joy to work
with.”
In her new job Hart is hoping to meet
the growing financial needs of the university
through the development of major and planned
gifts from the philanthropic friends and
supporters of SSU.
“I already have appointments scheduled
with an existing group of donors and will sit
down face-to-face with them and listen to what’s
important to them and then try to find something
here at the university that matches their
goals,” Hart said.
Prior to joining the development
office, Hart served as the Director of Gift
Planning for the Marshall University Foundation,
Inc., where she participated in the development
of millions of dollars in major and planned
gifts. Her career also includes financial
planning as a former estate and trust advisor
for the accounting firm of Hayflich and
Steinburg, assisting clients in achieving their
estate planning goals as well as their
charitable giving goals. Hart has also served as
a bank trust officer and manager for several
banks in the tri-state area.
With this experience, Hart has the
expertise to collaborate with the financial
advisers of donors to help them take advantage
of the many tax benefits associated with
charitable gift planning by collaborating with
their own financial advisers.
“Philanthropy to SSU greatly enhances
our students’ abilities by providing financial
resources to help them achieve their educational
goals,” Hart said. “It also provides the means
to thrust the university forward in its mission
to be a catalyst in the revitalization of the
region.”
She is the president of Kentucky, Ohio
and West Virginia (KYOWVA) Planned Giving
Council and past officer and current member of
the Greater Huntington Estate Planning Council.
She also serves as secretary of the “Leave a
Legacy”® program for West Virginia, southeastern
Ohio and eastern Kentucky.
She has served on various non-profit
boards throughout the area and is a frequent
speaker both nationally and locally on the
topics of estate and gift planning and
philanthropy.
Mandy has attained the professional
designation of Certified Trust and Financial
Advisor from the Institute of Certified Bankers.
She is a graduate of Cannon Trust School in
Atlanta, GA, and its Advanced Trust School.
Mandy has received training at the University of
North Carolina at Charlotte, Notre Dame
University and Boston University. She has an
associate degree in accounting from the
University of Kentucky. She has continued her
studies at Ohio University in finance and
management.
Hart lives in Ironton with her
husband Nevada, the owner of Hart 2 Hart
Productions, a music production company. She has
a son, Andy, who is a part-time student at SSU.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Stephanie Smith, communications
specialist)
SSU FACULTY MEMBERS RECEIVE
PROMOTIONS
The Shawnee
State University (SSU) Board of Trustees
approved the promotion of several SSU
faculty members.
To the rank of professor:
Michael Fiske, Ph.D., chairperson,
department of mathematical sciences; and
Anthony Dzik, Ph.D., associate professor,
geography.
To the rank of associate
professor: Andrew Feight, Ph.D., assistant
professor, history; Wei-Ying Hsiao, Ph.D.,
assistant professor, teacher education; Gene
Beckett, Ph.D., and Ken Warfield, assistant
professor, electromechanical engineering
technology.
To the rank of assistant
professor: Matthew Cram, Fine, Digital and
Performing Arts department chair.
“The Trustees are delighted to
recognize the hard work of these faculty
members by promoting them,” said Board Chair
Kay Reynolds. “The faculty members
underwent highly rigorous reviews by the
Promotion Screening and Faculty Promotions
Committees, the Provost, and finally,
President Morris, who recommended their
promotions.”
SSU President, Rita Rice Morris,
reviewed individual files and
recommendations of the screening Committees,
the Faculty Promotion Committees and the
Provost, and recommended the following
promotions:
Michael Fiske, Ph.D., began his
career at SSU in August 2001 as an associate
professor in the department of mathematical
sciences and was promoted to department
chair in 2003. Fiske teaches a variety of
undergraduate mathematics courses including
statistics, calculus, mathematics history,
and geometry. He received his associates
and business degree in mathematics with a
minor in information and computer science
from Stevenson College, University of
California in Santa Cruz in 1970. He
received his master of arts in biblical
studies and theology from the School of
Theology in Claremont, California; a master
of arts in mathematics and a Ph.D. in
mathematics education from the Ohio State
University. Fiske is the author of many
mathematics publications and has served as
member of Board of Directors of Ohio
Mathematics Academy Project (OMAP),
2003-2005 and has conducted eight workshops
for teachers in area schools and through
Tech Prep on teaching mathematics and on
using technology in teaching mathematics.
Anthony Dzik, Ph.D., received
his Ph.D. from Northwestern University in
Evanston, Illinois in 1986 and began his
career in the SSU social sciences department
in 1988. Dzik’s fields of expertise include
medical geography, environmental geography,
and geography of North American Popular
Culture. He recently published
Dodge Aspen
and Plymouth Volare: An American Car Story,
a Sunfish Boulevard Publication, 2006, and
in 1997 published “Looking for dangerous
places: some aspects of medical geography
and disease mapping,” in the
West
Virginia Medical Journal.
Andrew Feight, Ph.D.,
specializes in early American history and
received his bachelor’s degree in history
from Furman University in Greenville, South
Carolina in 1993. He went on to receive his
master’s degree in 1995 and Ph.D. in 2001 in
history from the University of Kentucky.
Feight has taught at SSU since fall 2001,
but did teach one year, 2003-2004, as a
visiting professor at the University of
Central Arkansas in Conway. He was awarded
the Richard H. Collins Award in recognition
as the author of the best article appearing
in The Register of the Kentucky Historical
Society for 2004, and is currently directing
a local history project at SSU, “Stories of
Life and Labor: Oral Histories from
Portsmouth, Ohio.”
Wei-Ying Hsiao has taught at SSU
for three years and is the assistant
professor and program coordinator of early
childhood education in the department of
teacher education. Hsiao received her
doctoral degree in 2003 from the University
of Northern Colorado. She received a
faculty enrichment fund, a Faculty Learning
Community Cybernut Award, and was
instrumental in the National Association of
Education Young Children (NAEYC)
accreditation of the Early Childhood
Education Program. Hsiao also specializes
in multicultural education and Montessori
education. She said she would like to thank
Martha Rader, Ph.D., Dean, College of
Professional Studies, and Dr. Jinlu Li,
mathematics professor, for advising her in
completing her promotion portfolio and to
Marcia Tackett, preprofessional services
representative, department of teacher
education, for editing her portfolio.
Gene Beckett,
Ph.D., began his career at SSU in 1983 and
was the director of developmental education
for 15 years before taking the position of
composition coordinator in the English
department. Currently, Beckett teaches
developmental composition. He received an
associate of business degree and a master of
arts in English, and a Ph.D. in Higher
Education Administration from Ohio
University. Beckett is a past president of
the National Association for Developmental
Education (NADE) and the Ohio Association
for Developmental Education (OADE). He was
awarded Ohio Developmental Educator of the
Year in 1996 and has twice lectured at SSU’s
sister university, Zhejiang University in
Hangzhou, P.R. China. Beckett is also a
member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Ken
Warfield
will be starting his 25th year
with SSU this fall. Warfield teaches
electro-mechanical and environmental courses
in the department of industrial &
engineering technologies. Warfield is a
graduate of SSU and Ohio University, and has
completed several industrial and EPA
training programs coupled with ten years of
industrial experience. He has served SSU on
several committees and special projects over
the years, and is currently serving as
University Faculty Senate President,
Co-Director of University Assessment and
Distance Learning Coordinator for EM
articulation with Miami University.
Matthew Cram is in his eighth
year with SSU as a faculty member and his
second year as fine, digital and performing
arts department chair. His field of
expertise is graphic design. Cram received
his undergraduate degree from Morehead State
University and his masters of fine arts from
Norwich University in Vermont. Over the
years, he has received various mentions for
his design projects.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Stephanie Smith, communications
specialist)
SSU TO HOST MATH COMPETITIONS
The Shawnee State University (SSU)
Development Foundation has funded the
Shawnee University Mathematics Society
(SUMS) to hold two math competitions for
elementary and high school students this
upcoming academic year. The ninth
annual MATH 24 competition for grades 4
- 8 will be held in the fall, while the
13th annual competition for
grades 9 - 12 will be held in the spring
at SSU with dates to be announced.
Invitation letters will be sent to over
50 high schools in the surrounding eight
counties and beyond.
“We have been fortunate
enough to receive the SSU Development
Foundation grant for the past seven
years to help pay for this competition,”
said Ginny Hamilton, professor of
mathematical sciences and director of
assessment.
The competitions are
organized and ran by SUMS, a 14-year-old
organization with members including
mathematics majors or students who are
interested in mathematics. According to
Hamilton, the competitions were
initially created to address the lack of
mathematics competitions in the area,
and they proved to be a great way to
publicize the degrees SSU offers to
prospective math or math education
majors. Hamilton said they also gave
SUMS members the chance to appreciate
the bright minds of the students who
compete.
“It allows us
to bring area school students to campus
and involve them in mathematics
competitions that are both educational
and fun,” said Hamilton. “We, in the
department of mathematical sciences,
firmly believe the competitions are an
invaluable recruiting tool for SSU. The
opportunity for students to participate
in the competitions is seen by many
schools as SSU giving back to the
community.”
The MATH 24 competition
allows each school to bring four
students of each grade level to
compete. The game consists of a number
of cards with four digits to total 24.
Hamilton said fourth and fifth grade
students will play single digit MATH 24
while students in grades six through
eight will play double digit MATH 24. A
grade level champion is crowned and then
overall champions for all grades are
crowned.
“We have had a very good
turnout in the past for this
competition. We provide lunch for the
participants and while some grades are
playing, the other grades visit SSU’s
planetarium and animal exhibits in the
science department, then the teams
switch so everyone gets a chance,” said
Hamilton.
The high school competition
held in the spring has two parts, an
individual student competition on
problem solving with prizes awarded to
the winner to the 9-10 and 11-12 grade
categories. The 9-10 grade level winner
will receive a graphing calculator, and
the 11-12 winner will receive a $500
scholarship to SSU. Hamilton said the
second portion is a team competition,
and each school may bring up to four
teams to participate. Prizes are
awarded to the top four place teams.
The competitions bring
students to campus to use math skills in
a fun and challenging format. They
enhance co-operative learning, and help
increase enrollment at SSU, especially
into mathematics fields of study. Over
the years, many participants have
enrolled at SSU after graduating high
school, according to Hamilton.
For more information,
please call (740) 351-3342.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Stephanie Smith, communications
specialist)
PANCAKE BREAKFAST FUNDRAISER TO BE
HELD
An all-you-can-eat
pancake breakfast will be held Aug.
5 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the
American Legion Post 363 on West
Street in Lucasville. The
breakfast, sponsored by the American
Legion Post 363, serves as a
fundraiser for the Shawnee State
University (SSU) Veterans Day event
planned for Nov. 9, 2006.
“Veterans Recognition
Day is funded by donations from area
veterans groups and community
organizations,” said Michael Hughes,
SSU Veterans Recognition Committee
chair and counseling and
psychological services director.
“The monies raised go toward
covering the costs of the activities
such as the parachute demonstration,
painting the giant U.S. flag on the
floodwall, advertising, and
providing lunches to the local high
school bands and Junior ROTC units
that give up their lunch time at
their high schools to participate in
the event.”
Hughes said the American
Legion Post 363 in Lucasville has
always been a supporter of the
event.
“Ron
Caldwell, commander of the Post,
serves on the Committee,” said
Hughes. “They thought rather than
donating a couple of hundred dollars
that they could raise more money by
having a pancake breakfast and
donating the total proceeds to the
Committee. Last year's initial event
raised over $850. The Post expects
to do even better this year. The
Committee is extremely grateful to
the Post for their continued support
and innovative way of raising funds
to help the Committee to cover the
costs of the Veterans Recognition
Day ceremonies.”
Tickets can be purchased for $4,
either at the door or by calling
Michael Hughes at (740) 351-3539,
Lindsey Liles at (740) 351-3292,
Barb Bradbury at (740) 351-3245,
Laurie Hatton at (740) 351-4441, or
Brian Saul at (740) 351-3228.
#
# #
OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Stephanie Smith, communications
specialist)

RODBELL APPOINTED AS NEW SSU
DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION MEMBER
The Shawnee State
University (SSU) Board of
Trustees has appointed
investment representative Barry
Rodbell to a three-year term as
SSU Development Foundation
member.
“I hope to help raise
money for the Foundation in
order to help the university
grow,” said Rodbell. “SSU is
one of a few entities in
Portsmouth that will dictate how
Portsmouth grows in the future.”
“We’re
thrilled to have Barry join us
on the Foundation,” said Susan
Warsaw, executive director of
development. “His level of
knowledge about financial
matters coupled with his broad
experience in community service
makes him a valuable member of
our team.”
The SSU
Development Foundation was
created with the mission of
making friends and securing
funds in support of SSU. It is
responsible for overseeing the
management of the funds
entrusted to it and is governed
by policies that are designed to
meet the needs of both SSU
donors and the University.
Private funds, whether in the
form of unrestricted gifts or
gifts for specific purposes,
allow the University to provide
a greater degree of enrichment.
Rodbell
received a bachelor’s degree in
exercise science in 1993 and a
master’s degree in exercise
science in 1995, both from
Marshall University. In 2002,
he received an MBA from Ohio
University.
Rodbell has
been an investment
representative for Edward Jones
in Portsmouth for four years,
focusing on retirement planning
and general investing.
He serves on
the boards of the Counseling
Center, the Chamber of Commerce
and the Boneyfiddle Preservation
Society. He is now completing a
term as president of the
Portsmouth Rotary Club.
Rodbell
enjoys spending time with his
wife, Melissa, and two sons,
Trent, who is eight, and Luke,
who is five, and also plays
golf.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Stephanie Smith, communications
specialist)
ZINKER APPOINTED AS NEW SODEXHO CATERING
MANAGER
Meladie
Zinker, who began her career ten years
ago at Shawnee State University (SSU) as
the catering supervisor for Sodexho, has
been promoted to catering manager.
“I am grateful to receive
this promotion,” said Zinker. “I hope
to use my catering skills to help
increase sales and add more variety to
our catering services.”
Zinker, who received the
promotion in June, is now in charge of
scheduling and ordering supplies,
booking and setting up catering for
events, and billing.
“I most enjoy setting up the
parties, decorating the buffets and
making sure they look nice and special
for the event,” said Zinker.
Sodexho, the leading food
and facilities management services
company in the United States, employs
approximately 35 people at SSU during
the school year. Sodexho caters both on
and off campus and offers a variety of
meals with a wide selection of price
ranges. They provide catering for
picnics, business meetings, wedding
receptions, socials, proms, charitable
events and theme festivals.
Zinker, born in Milwaukee,
Wis., moved to Portsmouth 20 years ago.
She has been married for 14 years to
David and has a step-daughter, Marrissa.
She enjoys traveling, shopping and
relaxing in her spare time.
For more information on
Sodexho’s catering services, call (740)
351-3617.
# # #
OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu

Megan
Horne
of Flatwoods, KY (left) manager University
Outreach Services at Shawnee State
University poses with Ann Marie Short,
librarian at the Clark Memorial Library at
her going away party on Wednesday, July 12
in her office. Horne is leaving SSU after
eight years to become the new academic
coordinator for Student Support Services at
Ashland Community and Technical College in
Ashland, Kentucky
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Stephanie Smith,
communications specialist)

SSU’s CHILDREN’S LEARNING CENTER KIDS
LEARN TO GARDEN
The
Shawnee State University (SSU)
Children’s Learning Center (CLC)
children are growing, and not just in
terms of getting taller.
Under the direction of
former CLC secretary Barbara Davis and
teaching assistant Brandi Norris, the
children met during spring quarter for
one hour each week to learn about
gardening. They read books, planted
seeds and plants, made crafts, raised
butterflies, and potted planters in
order to learn about gardening and
nature.
“The children’s enthusiasm
was incredible,” said Davis. “Among
their favorite activities were planting,
potting and watering the garden.”
The children also learned
about painted lady butterflies and
watched as five miraculously changed
from caterpillars to butterflies.
“A throng of excited
children, along with teachers, teaching
assistants, and parents watched as the
butterflies were released near the
butterfly garden at the CLC,” said
Davis.
Davis
said the children planted a sunflower
garden which was later nearly destroyed
by some unfortunate footsteps. Davis
and her husband then built tiny fences
to protect the garden which the children
painted in bright colors and designs,
and later glued on costume jewels.
“I’m sure it’s probably the
only bejeweled fence in the area,” said
Davis.
The sunflowers in the garden
are now beginning to bloom and more of
the vegetables are becoming ripe. The
children are starting to harvest more of
the vegetables to sample and learn about
healthy eating.
The children enjoyed
sampling the food from their garden.
They made individual veggie snack
pizzas, and also sampled broccoli,
cauliflower, peas and radishes.
The children also read a
book called “One Hundred Hungry Ants,”
as part of a classroom exercise called
“The Perfect Picnic.” The children
learned they are not the only ones who
enjoyed picnic food, and made picnic
plates to feed the insects in the
garden.
“They harvested cabbage and
Miss Teresa brought in a food shredder
so they could make coleslaw,” said Cindy
Ferguson, CLC director. “They placed
the coleslaw on plates around the garden
along with cheese, chocolate chips,
butter, shrimp, mushrooms, licorice, and
melon. The ants loved the shrimp and
cheese but did not want the chocolate
chips or licorice. It was fascinating
and the children shared the observations
throughout the day.”
Davis said one memory she
will carry with her is the
transformation of one shy child in the
class who had never talked much. She
had been alerted the child would not
participate in activities, but as each
week progressed, the child began to come
out of his shell.
“He literally began to
bloom,” said Davis. “He became animated
and excited, talking to everyone about
the garden and butterflies. He checked
daily on the garden and planted all of
his grandmother’s flowers in her
garden. He became eager to check on the
butterflies daily, and when his
grandmother explained to him how short
their lifespan was, he wanted to release
them immediately. It was quite
inspiring for us to watch his enthusiasm
and joy, and I hope his love of
gardening will live with him for a long
time.”
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
SHAWNEE
STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
TO MEET AUGUST 11, 2006
The Shawnee State
University (SSU) Board of Trustees
will meet Friday, August 11th
at 1:15 p.m. in the Selby Board
Room located in the Clark Memorial
Library on the SSU campus.
The committees of the
Board will meet in the University
Center at SSU as follows:
Finance and Facilities – 9 a.m.
in the Founder’s Room;
Academic and Student Affairs
–10:15 a.m. in the Howard/Ketter
Room.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Monica Bradbury,
Communications Specialist)
CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD TOUR
Shawnee State
University (SSU) is providing an
opportunity to experience
history on a civil war
battlefield tour.
The three-day tour is scheduled
October 13-15 and includes stops
at Stonewall Jackson’s home and
grave, Lee Chapel at Washington
and Lee University, Virginia
Military Institute (VMI) Museum,
VMI Hall of Valor, Belle Grove
Plantation and Stonewall
Jackson’s Headquarters.
Participants will also visit the
battlefields at New Market,
Cedar Creek, Harper’s Ferry and
Antietam.
“This is a great
experience. When you are on the
battlefields, you walk the same
ground that the soldiers
walked. When you get to New
Market and walk through the
field of lost shoes, where 257
cadets, teenagers fifteen to
twenty-one years of age, charged
across the field and covered the
soaked wheat field,” said Larry
Mangus, vice president of
student affairs at SSU and civil
war tour guide. “As they ran,
their shoes came off. The mud
sucked them off their feet.
Think about it; how many
teenagers do you know today
would be that brave?”
According to Mangus,
Antietam was the turning point
of the Civil War and its
bloodiest day with 23,000
soldiers killed from both
sides.
“It’s a totally
different experience hearing
about a battle as you’re
actually standing on the site.
To be able to soak up the sights
and realize only time separates
you from what happened there is
awesome,” commented Chris Knox,
a past participant of the tour.
The tour is limited to
fourteen people and registration
ends September 15. Registration
for the tour includes a
nonrefundable deposit of $50
accepted beginning July 21 and
ending September 15. The total
cost for the tour, which covers
motels, travel, and admission
fees is $150 for students and
those taking it for class
credit, and $160 for non-credit
participants. Students can
receive two credit hours for
History 399.
“It will be a
beautiful trip, because in the
middle of October, the leaves
will be changing and we’ll be
going over the Allegheny and
into the Shenandoah Valley and
seeing all the mountains,” said
Mangus. “It should be a very
picturesque trip, as long as it
doesn’t rain on us. I have
completed eight civil war
trips. The eighth trip was
supposed to be my last trip, but
the people came back very
complimentary, so I agreed to do
one more trip.”
For more information,
contact Dr. Larry Mangus at
(740) 351-3280.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 9, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Stephanie Smith,
communications specialist)
NEW GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR
COLLEGE STUDENTS
The United
States Secretary of
Education, Margaret
Spellings, has announced the
availability of two new
grants for qualifying
college students, the
Academic Competitiveness
grant (ACG) and the National
Science and Mathematics
Access to Retain Talent
(SMART) grant.
Beginning
July 1, qualified students
receiving the
Pell grant may
apply for these grants,
which fund $790 million for
the 2006 academic year and
$4.5 billion over the next
five years. These grants
provide incentives for
students to pursue in-demand
college majors, such as
science, math, engineering,
critical foreign languages,
and technology.
Nationwide,
approximately 500,000
students will qualify to
receive ACG and SMART
grants.
The ACG will
provide college students who
completed rigorous courses
in high school with
additional funds of up to
$750 during their freshman
year and up to $1,300 during
their sophomore year, in
addition to any Pell grant
funds the student already
receives. The student must
also be enrolled in courses
full-time and maintain a 3.0
GPA.
“The ACG
enables students to be
better prepared for
college-level coursework,
which leads to increased
retention and graduation
rates,” said Barbara
Bradbury, SSU’s financial
aid director. “Research
shows college dropouts make
about the same annual salary
as those who have never even
enrolled in college.”
For SMART
grants, third and
fourth-year Pell
grant-eligible students must
major in designated science,
technology, math or critical
foreign languages and
maintain a 3.0 GPA.
Students who qualify will
automatically receive up to
$4,000 during the 2006
academic year. A complete
list of eligible majors is
available at
http://www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov.
“The SMART
grant award benefits
students financially and
also can help lead the
student toward a career with
opportunity in our global
economy,” said Bradbury.
Students may
determine their eligibility
for these grants and apply
at
http://www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov
or call (800) 433-3243 for
more information on these
grants and other federal aid
programs. Students who have
previously applied for
federal student aid and who
might be eligible for the
ACG will receive
notification from the
Federal Student Aid Office,
either by email or regular
mail with application
instructions. The Federal
Student Aid Office will
begin sending these
notifications July 1.
For a fact
sheet on the ACG and SMART
grants, visit
http://www.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/competitiveness/ac-smart2.html.
For more information, call
SSU’s financial aid office
at (740) 351-4243.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 9, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article
by Shanna Mustard, communications specialist)
SSU’S DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL SCIENCE RECEIVES GRANT
The Shawnee State University (SSU) Development
Foundation has awarded the Department of Natural Sciences a
$1,500 grant to continue departmental activities.
About five years ago, Gary Gemmer, former chair
of the department, applied for the grant to assist with
recruiting and retaining students. The Development
Foundation has re-awarded the grant since then.
“We want to increase the sense of community in
the natural science department by making the students feel
like they belong here,” said Eugene Burns, Ph.D., chair of
the Department of Natural Sciences. “In the past, we’ve used
this money to sponsor a video game night, a movie night, and
a scavenger hunt. We try to get faculty and students
together so students see professors on a more personal
level, instead of just in class, and this helps with
retention.”
The department has not decided exactly how to
use this year’s funds, but they use the grant each year to
cover costs associated with the department’s annual
newsletter, which reports the achievements of alumni and the
activities of current students and faculty, and a natural
science awards night for current students.
“We mail the newsletter to all department alumni
to keep them updated and to solicit donations,” Burns said.
“The awards night allows us to reward outstanding students
from various classes in the department.”
After
covering the costs of the newsletter and awards night, the
department will use the remaining funds for student-faculty
activities.
“These
activities build camaraderie and community in the
department,” Burns said. “We wouldn’t be able to afford
these things without this grant.”
The
department also received $1,000 in matching funds from the
dean and provost for these activities.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 9, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Shanna Mustard, communications specialist)
STUDENTS UTILIZE LAPTOPS AT CLARK MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Clyde and Maycel Clark,
namesakes of Shawnee State University’s (SSU) Clark
Memorial Library, continue to contribute to the
education of the next generation.
Clyde, along with William A. Burke and James
B. Miller, bought controlling interest in Portsmouth’s
Ohio Stove Company, which subsequently became OSCO
Industries, Inc. He served as the company’s chief
financial officer and secretary from 1943 until 1975,
continuing on its board of directors until his death in
1975. Maycel provided support to SSU, in remembrance of
her husband, for the Clark Memorial Library and the
Clark Planetarium.
The latest contribution, 14 laptops
purchased by SSU with a grant from the Clark Foundation,
allows students to better utilize existing resources in
the Clark Memorial Library.
Students have embraced the laptops as tools
for completing assignments, participating in group work,
and browsing library catalogs, according to Tess
Midkiff, director of the Clark Memorial Library.
Midkiff wrote a grant proposal in December
2004 for $25,000 to purchase laptops and submitted it to
the Clark Foundation. After receiving the grant, the
library purchased 14 laptops.
Since the
inception of the laptops last spring, students have
utilized the 14 laptops more than 1,500 times.
“That is more
than I ever expected. I was just amazed,” Midkiff said.
“When we asked for the money from the Clark Foundation
we thought students would use them, but we had no idea
students would be so receptive to the laptops.”
According to
Midkiff, students usually check out the laptops in
groups to take to group rooms. The laptops also provide
additional workstations in the building and have all the
capabilities of desktops in the library, except
printing, thanks to wireless capabilities. Students can
go sit in a soft seat, on the floor, or up on the quiet
third floor.
“The laptops
allow people to use Word and other available programs,”
Midkiff said. “They also have network connectivity, so
students can browse the Internet, access their files,
and anything else they can do at other stations in the
library. They can do everything from anywhere in the
building, except print documents.”
According to Midkiff, students like the freedom the
laptops offer.
“They’re not
locked to one of our desks,” she said. “They can find
any place they want and enjoy everything the Clark
Memorial Library has to offer.”
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Stephanie Smith, communications
specialist)
PAMBOOKIAN TO PRESENT LECTURE ON LEBANON
CRISIS
Shawnee State University (SSU)
professor emeritus of psychology Hagop
Pambookian, Ph.D., will present a
lecture titled, “Lebanon under Attack:
Do we Understand Everything That is
Happening There?” on Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. in
the Flohr Lecture Hall at the Clark
Memorial Library.
“We may see things on the
news or hear them on the radio but we do
not comprehend the situation,” said
Pambookian. “This lecture will help the
audience become better informed about
the situation, the Lebanese people, and
the country itself.”
Pambookian recently returned
from a month-long stay in Lebanon where
he visited the American University of
Beirut (AUB), his alma mater, and he met
with AUB officials and other
professionals.
He discovered how much has
changed in Lebanon as the country
recovers and rebuilds from a recent
civil war. Pambookian said, in the
past, he did not think the current
developments in Israel and Lebanon,
including attacks, destruction, and
death would ever become a reality.
During the lecture,
Pambookian will share facts and figures
to help the audience understand recent
events and reasons which led to such a
horrific situation. He will also
explain characteristics of Lebanon such
as its political and social structure,
and the governmental composition based
on a sectarian system, for example,
Christian (Maronite Catholic, Greek
Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, etc.) and
Muslim (Sunni, Shi’i, Druze, etc.)
“I believe no such
inhumanity should ever take place,” said
Pambookian. “Innocent lives are being
lost and I firmly believe the world
powers should care so this onslaught
stops right away.”
The lecture is free and open
to the public. Refreshments will be
served. For more information, contact
the SSU College of arts and sciences at
(740) 351-3554.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 16, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Monica Bradbury, Communications
Specialist)
Achievement
Scholarship awarded
The
Shawnee State University (SSU) Scholarship Committee
has awarded the 2006-2007 Achievement scholarship to
Henry Smith II of Lucasville, Ohio. Smith is the
son of Henry and Karen Smith.
The recipient must
be a member or child of a member of the Temple
Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Ohio, and the
recipient must have completed one successful quarter
of college to receive the $500 scholarship.
Smith, who is studying psychology, plans
to be a counselor. His hobbies include research,
reading, and working with computers.
The SSU Development Foundation administers
the funds for this scholarship. Individuals or
organizations interested in establishing a
scholarship should contact the SSU Development
Foundation at (740) 351-3284.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 16, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Monica Bradbury, Communications
Specialist)
AmericaN Legion Post 23 Scholarship Awarded
The Shawnee State University (SSU)
Scholarship Committee has awarded the 2006-2007
American Legion Post 23 scholarship to Katelyn
Dryden of Portsmouth, Ohio. Dryden is the
daughter of Rod and Donna Dryden.
The scholarship
is awarded to a resident of Scioto County or
member (or family member) of Post 23 with a GPA
of 2.0.
Dryden, a 2006 graduate of Portsmouth
High School, participated in the National Honor
Society, cheerleading, softball, swimming,
tennis, senior mentorship, show choir, and Girl
Scouts of America. Dryden also volunteers with
the hospital, Sierra’s Haven, and Red, White and
Blue Red Cross.
The SSU Development Foundation
administers the funds for this scholarship.
Individuals or organizations interested in
establishing a scholarship can contact the SSU
Development Foundation at (740) 351-3284.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 16, 2006
Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740)
352-5566
E-mail:
jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Monica Bradbury, Communications
Specialist)
Courtney Erin Todt Memorial Scholarship
Awarded |