FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 7, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Article by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)

 

Shawnee State University offers real estate classes

(Prepare for real estate license at Shawnee State University)

            Shawnee State University’s Department of Business Administration in collaboration with the Office of University Outreach Services, Business and Industry Education is offering real estate classes needed to prepare for the Ohio real estate license examination beginning on Monday, Jan. 14.
            The first class, on Mondays and Wednesdays from Jan. 14 to March 10, is “Real Estate Law” and includes the “law of agency” as applied to real estate brokers and salesmen to “law of fixtures,” estates, conveyance of real estate, license laws, zoning, cooperatives and condominiums.
            “Real Estate Principles and Practice,” on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Jan. 15 to March 6, will introduce real estate economics and administration, and includes elementary physical, legal, location and economic characteristics of real estate, markets, and national, regional and local economic influences on real estate values.
            “Real Estate Finance and Appraisal,” on Tuesdays and Thursdays from March 11 to May 8, includes the nature and characteristics of mortgage loans, government influence on real estate finance, the mortgage market and the effects of monetary and fiscal policies on real estate financing. All three classes are from 5:30 to 8:20 p.m.
            “Participants are required to have all three classes, 120 hours of class work, in order to take the state licensure exam,” said Brenda Covert, director, Office of Business and Industry Education. “The classes can be taken in different semesters or they can be completed within a ten-week period in one semester.”
            The courses can be taken for college credit or non-credit. The non-credit fee is $389 per course or if registering for all three courses, the fee is $1,049. If registering for credit, the appropriate in-state and out-of-state credit tuition and fees apply.
            For more information or to register, call (740) 351-3171 or (866) 672-8778, fax (740) 351-3591, e-mail bcovert@shawnee.edu or visit the Web site at www.shawnee.edu/off/uos.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Cutline by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)
 

Coat, hat and glove drive successful at Shawnee State University

(The SSU campus community shared the holiday spirit by donating warm clothing)

            The Omega Pi Mu members at Shawnee State University collected about 70 coats and the SSU Special Events Committee received nearly 100 hats, gloves and scarves from the campus community during the annual Board of Trustees Holiday Luncheon on Dec. 14 at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts. The items were distributed to the Scioto County Homeless and Domestic Violence shelters. Members of the committees are shown with the donations before they were distributed.
            Pictured from left are Angela McKain, Chelsey Phillips, Kelly Cottingim, Gina Cistone, Jessica Smith, Penny Merritt, Kim Robbins, Mistie Spicer and Nicole Montgomery. Special Events Committee members not in photo were Angela Henderson, April Barnett and Denise Brockett. Omega Pi Mu members not in photo were Chelsee Gloyd, Krystina Preece, Alea Crosby, Kristen Fike, Lindi Harden, Tabitha Reveal, Jessica Gray, Heather Devoe and Heather Selanders.
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

 Spring orientation successful at Shawnee State University

            Nearly 100 students and their families attended spring semester orientation for new and transfer students on Friday, Jan. 4. They toured the campus with emphasis on their major courses of study. Trained orientation leaders and staff from throughout the university were on hand to help students adjust to different aspects of college life.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Article by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)



 

Shawnee State University hires new director for Upward Bound, Math Science office

(Stewart excited to be new director University as new Upward Bound, Math Science director)

            Aaron Stewart has been named the new director of Shawnee State University Upward Bound, Math Science office.
            Stewart was a technical instructor at Dawson-Bryant High School in Coal Grove. He has worked as an instructor at Collins Career Center and was an online course consultant for the Adult Technical Education office at Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va. He serves on the Coal Grove Village Council.
            Stewart received his bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in English at Ohio University and his master’s degree in adult technical education at Marshall University.
            “At that point I decided to go to Collins Career Center and study computer repair and advanced networking,” Stewart said. “Then I went to Rio Grande to get my teaching license. The experiences have all been great.”
            He will be working with high schools in Scioto, Lawrence and Pike counties to help students with potential who may not have been introduced to higher education and he will be leading the Educational Talent Search program.
            Students in the summer program will live on campus during the week for five weeks and then take a trip that is being planned.
            “We’ll give the students more math and science, give them hands-on training and make it as exciting as possible,” Stewart said. “We’ll also give them opportunities to help determine their interests, what they may want to study in college and how to fill out the paperwork. It is such a great program and I’m so excited to work with it.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Article by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)


 

Shawnee State University presents award-winning musical at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts

(See the Mel Brooks’ musical ‘The Producers’ that has received more awards than any other musical on Broadway)

            “The Producers,” one of the most acclaimed Broadway musicals in history is coming to the main theater at Shawnee State University’s Vern Riffe Center for the Arts on Saturday, Jan. 12.
            Mel Brooks, famous for the movies “Blazing Saddles” and “Young Frankenstein,” received an Oscar for the 1968 movie “The Producers” and received 12 Tony awards for the musical adaptation of the movie, the most awards in Broadway history.
            The show is about two con artists trying to scam money from investors by deliberately producing a flop. A shady producer, Max Bialystock, and his accountant, Leo Bloom, put together a show with a terrible story line and horrific actors in the play written by a zany neo-Nazi playwright. Their plan backfires when the show “Springtime for Hitler” becomes a hit.
            “A matinee has been added because of the tremendous response to this show,” said Carl Daehler, executive director of the art center at Shawnee State University. “We have held this possibility in reserve and the production company has been very helpful to make sure everyone who wants to see this exclusive engagement in our area can see it.”
            Southern Ohio Performing Arts Association season ticket holders who have tickets for the evening show may exchange their tickets for the afternoon matinee.
            The local production of “The Producers” is sponsored by the Southern Ohio Medical Center as part of the 2007-2008 Broadway Series.
            The matinee will begin at 3 p.m. and the evening show at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12 at the VRCFA. Tickets are available by calling the McKinley Box Office at (740) 351-3600.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Article by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)


 

Shawnee State University Community Choir seeks new members

(Community members interested in music and fun are invited to join)

            Shawnee State University Community Choir, under the direction of Shirley Crothers-Marley, will meet for the first rehearsal of the spring semester at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15 in Room 130 of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts, and anyone interested in joining should report a few minutes early for a brief interview.
            “We welcome people from the community of all ages,” said Ginnie Moore, University Outreach Services director. “For a non-credit course, the cost is only $25.”
            The choir, which presents several concerts each year, will be preparing for the annual spring concert that will feature pop with a Beatles medley and Broadway music. 
            The SSU Community Choir can be taken as either a credit or non-credit course. Those interested in becoming a member of the SSU Community Choir for credit should contact the Office of the Registrar or for a non-credit course contact University Outreach.
            For more information about the SSU Community Choir or to schedule an audition, call Shirley Crothers-Marley at (740) 351-3577 or the Office of University Outreach Services at (740) 351-3274.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

 

Groundbreaking for University Center expansion at Shawnee State

             Marking an exciting new phase in Shawnee State’s growth as a university, a groundbreaking for the renovation and expansion of the University Center was held on Friday, January 11 outside the current center.
            Board of Trustees Chairman Howard Harcha noted the changes Shawnee State has undergone, and the vital role the University Center will play in the university’s continued growth.
             “In the last 20 years, Shawnee State has gone from a handful of buildings to a campus with over 30 structures,” said Harcha. “As our university has grown, so have the needs of a growing student body. Once renovations are complete, the new and improved University Center will reflect the vitality and diversity of our students.”
             The University Center project is the largest at Shawnee State since construction of the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts over 10 years ago. When finished, the University Center will more than double in size, from the current 39,000 sq. ft. to 89,000 sq. ft. Construction is slated to begin in the spring and be completed in about two years.
             “The University Center renovation is in the neighborhood of $15 million, making it the largest facilities investment in the university’s history. It will double the size of our dining facilities, provide meeting space and offer a host of activities and services upon which our students depend while on campus,” said Shawnee State University Rita Rice Morris.
             Improving the current University Center was a high priority for Shawnee State students. With about 600 students living on campus and more students attending full-time, the University Center is a refuge from the rigors of their classes and a center for student activities. Not only did students ask for a bigger facility they approved an increase in student fees to help pay for it.
            “The UC is our home away from home, so it was really important that the expansion meet our needs,” said Student Government Association Vice President Jennifer Bourne. “We really appreciated how the university asked students for their opinion about what should be in the UC and how space should be used.”
            Morris also noted an environmental awareness that is being brought to the project.
            “I am proud of our commitment to making the University Center as “green” as possible. Of course we will use recycled materials when possible and install energy efficient equipment,” said Morris. “We are also digging test wells to find out if there’s enough underground water for a new system to help with cooling the University Center, the ATC, and perhaps even the Clark Library.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Article by Astra NG, communications specialist)



 

Shawnee State having its second annual Relationship Workshop Series

(Got relationship problems? SSU is holding a series of workshops to help singles and couples improve relationship skills)

            Shawnee State University will have a series of workshops focusing on improving relationships every Tuesday at 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. from Jan. 22 through Feb. 12 at the SSU Clark Memorial Library Alcove.
            The first workshop, Relationship 1100, will be held Jan. 22 and will focus on attitudes, behaviors and communication, the foundation of all relationships. The second workshop, Healthy Intimate Relationships, focuses on the progression of a healthy and bonded intimacy. 
            The third workshop, Unhealthy Intimate Relationships, helps identify potential abusive relationships. The last workshop, Sexual Relationships and Legal Issues, talks about the characteristics of a healthy sexual relationship and define what is considered to be legal sexual consent.
            “Some of our students are seeking a way to help improve their relationship skills after a break up or with an existing relationship through these workshops because relationships are key to success in our lives,” said Linda Brown, M. Ed., P.C.C.
            The Relationship Workshop Series is presented by Shawnee State’s Office of Counseling and Psychological Services. For more information, contact Linda Brown at (740) 351-3655 or e-mail her at lbrown@shawnee.edu. For registration, contact Roberta Milliken at (740) 351-3738.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Article by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)

 

Shawnee State University homecoming planned

(Big Blue Bonfire kicks off Shawnee State homecoming festivities with the Blue Crew, students and alumni)

            Shawnee State University Homecoming is a special time for alumni and students. To kick off the event, the annual Big Blue Bonfire will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 25 at the Cedar House Campus Green and the community is invited.
            Join the Blue Crew, the Student Programming Board and the Women’s and Men’s Basketball teams to get the Bears fired up to take on the Ohio Dominican Panthers.
            “This will be the third time that we’ve had the bonfire and each year it grows,” said Angela Henderson, assistant director, Development/Alumni Affairs.
            On Saturday morning, the Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Brunch will take place at 11 a.m. in the Micklethwaite Banquet Hall, in the University Center. Reservations are required for the brunch by calling (740) 351-3285.
            The games begin at 2 p.m. with SSU Women’s Basketball vs. Ohio Dominican at the James A. Rhodes Athletic Center and at 3:45 p.m., the new Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned.
            “Students are nominated by faculty, staff, administrators and student groups and 20 students with the highest scores will be eligible, ten men and ten women,” said Tiffany Weaver, coordinator, Student Activities.
            Students who have a 2.0 or higher GPA and are a sophomore, junior or senior are eligible to be nominated. The procedure for determining the Homecoming King and Queen is based on four equally weighted categories: scholarship (cumulative GPA), campus Involvement, community service and popular vote. The 10 males and 10 females with the highest scores will be named to the homecoming court. If there is a tie, overall GPA is the deciding factor. Voting occurs January 22–25.
            Alumni can get in free with their families by presenting the postcard that was mailed to them with the Homecoming schedule. Each card will be entered into a special prize drawing during the men’s basketball game.
            At 4:15 p.m., the SSU Men’s Basketball vs. Ohio Dominican game begins and at 6 p.m., the Men’s and Women’s Alumni Basketball games begin, after which a post-game Athletic Alumni Reception will take place at 7 p.m. in the Scioto Room at the Ramada Inn.
            “Alumni come from all over the states and one alum from South Carolina always tries to make it,” Henderson said. “Alumni play cross court and both the men and women will be playing at the same time. It’s not a full game but they do it for the fun of it and continue to party at the athletic reception.”
            The day ends with the Student Programming Board’s Homecoming Dance for students and alumni at 9 p.m. at the American Legion at 705 Court Street. For ticket information, call the Alumni Office at (740) 3510-3182 or e-mail ahenderson@shawnee.edu by January 18.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Article by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)

 

Shawnee State University Financial Aid Office kicks off new campaign to help students fill out FAFSA forms
(Financial Aid Office at Shawnee State University offers workshops to help students with FAFSA)

            The Shawnee State University Financial Aid Office is offering workshops to help students seeking financial aid to fill out their FAFSA applications. The applications are available both online and at the Financial Aid office.
            “Unfortunately, if students wait until summer to turn in their FAFSA applications, they will miss the chance for some types of aid that are given out first come, first serve,” said Barbara Bradbury, director of Financial Aid. “The best time to submit the FAFSA is January, or February at the latest.”
            Last year, the Financial Aid Office found that about 55 percent of returning students did not turn in their applications until after June 1.
            “We will be offering workshops to help the students with their FAFSA and they only need to attend a one-hour session to complete it,” said Regina Bradley, financial aid advisor.
            The online FAFSA workshops will be offered at the Student Success Center, Room 111, at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 23; 2 p.m., Monday, Jan. 28; 11 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 5; 1 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 7; and noon, Monday, Feb. 11.
            Students should be prepared with both student and parent 2007 taxes and W2 forms and other necessary income documentation.
            “We’re trying to eliminate mass confusion in the fall because so many students have not been completing their FAFSA until after June 1,” Bradbury said. “That’s why we’re urging them to apply now.”
            Assistance with completing the online SSU Scholarship application will be offered at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 30 in the Financial Aid Office in the University Center. The Scholarship application deadline is Jan. 31.
            For more information, go to the Financial Aid Office at the University Center or go to www.shawnee.edu or e-mail fin_aid@shawnee.edu.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Article by Astra NG, communications specialist)



 

Shawnee State having its second annual Relationship Workshop Series

(Got relationship problems? SSU is holding a series of workshops to help singles and couples improve relationship skills)

            Shawnee State University will have a series of workshops focusing on improving relationships every Tuesday at 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. from Jan. 22 through Feb. 12 at the SSU Clark Memorial Library Alcove.
            The first workshop, Relationship 1100, will be held Jan. 22 and will focus on attitudes, behaviors and communication, the foundation of all relationships. The second workshop, Healthy Intimate Relationships, focuses on the progression of a healthy and bonded intimacy. 
            The third workshop, Unhealthy Intimate Relationships, helps identify potential abusive relationships. The last workshop, Sexual Relationships and Legal Issues, talks about the characteristics of a healthy sexual relationship and define what is considered to be legal sexual consent.
            “Some of our students are seeking a way to help improve their relationship skills after a break up or with an existing relationship through these workshops because relationships are key to success in our lives,” said Linda Brown, M. Ed., P.C.C.
            The Relationship Workshop Series is presented by Shawnee State’s Office of Counseling and Psychological Services. For more information, contact Linda Brown at (740) 351-3655 or e-mail her at lbrown@shawnee.edu. For registration, contact Roberta Milliken at (740) 351-3738.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Article by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)


 

More prizes to win for United Way contributors at Shawnee State University

(Everything from hand-knitted scarves to Boy Scout popcorn to homemade goodies will be given out over the next month)

            The annual United Way campaign has officially begun with members of the Shawnee State University community donating to their favorite charities either as a payroll deduction for one year or as a one-time donation.
            The campaign will continue until Feb. 14 and prizes will be given out weekly to donors, such as exercise videos, hand-knitted scarves, an SSU sweatshirt, Portsmouth Little Theatre tickets, Boy Scout popcorn, homemade goodies and more.
            “We are working on putting together even bigger prize packages to give away the last week of the campaign,” said Mistie Spicer, assistant to the president. “The earlier you donate, the more chances you’ll have to win.”
            Employees can donate to their favorite United Way charities either as a payroll deduction through 2008 or as a one-time donation.
            The charities are Operation Safety Net (The Homeless Shelter), Sierra’s Haven, Scioto Radio Reading Service, American Red Cross, Reach, Arthritis Foundation, RSVP, Boy Scouts of America, Salvation Army, Catholic Social Services, SCM-West End Day Care, Community Partners of SMH, Community Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Girl Scouts, Task Force on Domestic Violence, Operation Baby Buckle, United Way Endowment Fund, Helping Hands Process and Pastoral Counseling Center.
            To donate or for more information, call or e-mail Denise Gregory at ext. 3481 or dgregory@shawnee.edu or Mistie Spicer at ext. 3635 or mspicer@shawnee.edu.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Submitted photo by Serge Litgenberg)
Must give credit to publish

(Cutline by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)

 

High energy performers from Amsterdam coming to Shawnee State University’s Vern Riffe Center for the Arts

            Combining athletics and dance, the Amsterdam troupe “4-ISH” has thrilled audiences with their performances using skateboards and rollerblades, a DJ and a human beat boxer on stage.
            The spectacular family show, part of the Family Pops series sponsored by USEC, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at Shawnee State University’s Vern Riffe Center for the Arts. Tickets for the show are available by calling the McKinley Box Office at (740) 351-3600.

(Article by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)


 

High energy performers from Amsterdam coming to Shawnee State University’s Vern Riffe Center for the Arts

(Amsterdam performers will thrill audiences with non-stop action using athletics and dance, a beat boxer and a DJ at SSU’s Vern Riffe Center for the Arts)

            Flipping, leaping, twisting and soaring across the stage with rollerblades and skateboards, members of the group “4-ISH” push their bodies to the limit.
            Combining the rhythms of hip hop, athletics and dance, 4-ISH creates a whole new genre of theatre. The internationally acclaimed dancers and skaters will be performing at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at Shawnee State University’s Vern Riffe Center for the Arts.
            Known as the hottest young troupe from Amsterdam, 4-ISH will thrill the audience with their up-beat performance and unsurpassed display of dance and athleticism. The troupe dances nonstop with a human beat boxer and a DJ on stage.
            “The February 5th performance of the Amsterdam-based 4-ISH company will be one of our most exhilarating events at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts this season,” said Carl Daehler, executive director of the VRCFA. “You will see routines never performed before on our stage. This is a spectacular family show that includes break dancing, inline skating complete with ‘half pipes’ and ‘sit tights’ as well as humor, acrobatics and a whole lot more. The show has a European flare that will have you sitting on the edge of your seats.”
            The New York Times raved about the troupe saying, "[4-ISH] had audience members of all ages roaring with laughter and cheering."
            This show is part of the Family Pops series which is sponsored by USEC. Tickets for the show are available by calling the McKinley Box Office at (740) 351-3600.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

 

(Article by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)

(Photo and Cutline by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)

 

High School students learn about pre-med program at Shawnee State University

            High school students watch intently while SSU pre-med student Gerad Gray explains different parts of a cadaver during Pre-Med Day at Shawnee State University on Friday, Jan. 11.
            SSU’s pre-med program has been touted as one of the best pre-med programs in the region. For the past two years, every pre-med graduate at SSU who has applied for medical school has been accepted.


 

Prospective pre-med students learn about Shawnee State University’s program

(High school students spend the day at Shawnee State University touted as one of the finest pre-med programs in the region)

            Junior and senior high school students from throughout the state of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Maryland attended Shawnee State University’s Pre-Med Day on Friday, Jan. 11 to learn about the program and visit SSU’s campus.
            Students were introduced to the program by pre-med students, faculty and previous students who are now in medical schools. More than 120 students with their parents attended the day-long event.
            At the opening introductions, Dr. Jeff Bauer, interim associate provost, spoke to the students.
            “I can tell you with great assurance that the pre-med program is one of the finest programs we have going not only here on campus at Shawnee State University but in the region,” Bauer said. “We have had phenomenal success in preparing students to get what they need to get into medical school.”
            The sessions not only introduced students to the program but also to the faculty and the university.
            “We’ve had a very good success rate for getting students into medical school,” said Dr. Eugene Burns, chair, Department of Natural Sciences. “For the past couple of years, all Shawnee State students who applied to medical school were accepted. We’re very proud of that.”
            The goal of the day was to answer all the questions that students and parents wanted to know, he said.
            Amy Montavon, president of the Pre-Med Club, greeted the students and organized them into several groups.
            “If a student has the desire, passion and drive to learn and make a difference in someone's life, then Shawnee State University has the guidance, professors and education to make his or her dream of becoming a doctor a reality,” Montavon said.
            Students were divided into four groups led by an SSU student tour guide.
            One of the sessions included viewing and examining cadavers while SSU pre-med students Gerad Gray and Matt Watson explained different parts of the cadavers to the students.
            “We’re a small school with small classrooms and that helps us to know our students and they get to interact with the faculty also,” Burns said. “We can give them a better education because of that.”
            SSU’s pre-med school also offers specialized courses that many other schools do not offer, he said.
            “For instance, in the cadaver class, students can actually dissect a cadaver where most schools just show them a cadaver,” he said. “That is a very unique aspect of our program.”
            SSU also has an immunology class and other higher level classes that help prepare students for entrance into medical school, he said.
            Ivy Smith came from Maryland to find out more about SSU’s pre-med program. She has been searching for a pre-med program.
            “I’ve narrowed it down to a few colleges that have certain criteria I’m looking for,” Smith said. “I like it that when medical schools find out you’re from Shawnee State, they put you on a higher level, because of the classes here.”
            Justin Dzik, a pre-med graduate of SSU, is in medical school at The Ohio State University. He said the advanced classes at SSU gave him the edge he needed in medical school.
            “I’m really prepared and I can study and I can relax,” he said. “If you work hard in the pre-med program and you put the hours in, it will really pay off in the end and you can go far.”
            Jerod Walker, a former SSU pre-med student and now a medical student at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine said there are eight medical students in his program from SSU and they tutor other students who have not had the training that SSU offers in the pre-med program.
            “We’ve had a lot of anatomy that other schools do not offer,” Walker said. “Shawnee State has a good reputation.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Article by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)


 

More activities planned for Homecoming at Shawnee State University

(Show the school spirit for Homecoming at a pep rally and by wearing blue on Blue Friday Jan. 25 at Shawnee State University)

            More activities have been added to Shawnee State University’s Homecoming week including a pep rally sponsored by the Special Events Committee in conjunction with the Blue Crew at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at the University Center. The fall sports teams and the basketball teams will be recognized at the rally.
            “We are sponsoring the pep rally to increase school spirit on campus,” said Nikki Montgomery, chair of the Special Events Committee. “We are asking everyone to come out and support our men’s and women’s basketball teams.”
            Also, the committee is asking everyone to show the school spirit by wearing a Blue Crew shirt or something blue on Friday, Jan. 25.
            The Homecoming Week activities are:
            · Pep Rally, Noon, Tuesday, Jan. 22, University Center;
            · SSU Women’s Basketball vs. Cedarville Yellow Jackets, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22 at James A. Rhodes Athletic Center;
            · SSU Men’s Basketball vs. Cedarville Yellow, 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22 at James A. Rhodes Athletic Center;
            · Blue Friday, all Day, Friday, Jan. 25;
            · Big Blue Bonfire, Friday, 7 p.m. at the Cedar House Campus Green;
            · SSU Women’s Basketball vs. Ohio Dominican, 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 26 at James A. Rhodes Athletic Center;
            · Homecoming King and Queen crowned between men’s and women’s basketball games, 3:45 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 26; and,
            · SSU Men’s Basketball vs. Ohio Dominican, 4:15 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 26 at James A. Rhodes Athletic Center.
            Alumni can get into the games free with their families by presenting the postcard that was mailed to them with the Homecoming schedule. Each card will be entered into a special prize drawing during the men’s basketball game.
            The day culminates with the Student Programming Board’s Homecoming Dance for students and alumni at 9 p.m. Saturday evening at the American Legion, 705 Court St. For ticket information, call the Alumni Office at (740) 351-3182.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Article by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)

 

Go Red For Women campaign begins at Shawnee State University

(SSU’s Women’s Center encourages women to be aware of symptoms because heart disease is No. 1 killer of women)

            Shawnee State University Women’s Center is participating in the “Go Red for Women” campaign to increase awareness of heart disease in women and help raise money for the American Heart Association that founded the national movement.
            According to the association, since 2004 “Go Red For Women” has celebrated the energy, passion and power women have to band together to wipe out heart disease and stroke.
            “It’s all designed to raise awareness for women’s heart health,” said Dr. Roberta Milliken, director of the Women’s Center. “Cardio-vascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women now.”
            Many times women will dismiss the symptoms of heart disease, she said. This year, the national “Go Red For Women” set a goal that by 2010 one million women will take the “Go Red For Women Heart Checkup,” a free online health assessment that predicts a woman's personal risk of having a heart attack within 10 years. The assessment is on the American Heart Association’s Web site at www.goredforwomen.org.
            The campaign will culminate on Feb. 1 with National Wear Red Day when members of the SSU community are invited to gather at the University Center for photos. Last year the group raised $1,000 for American Heart Association research. Prizes for donors will include tote bags, lunch bags and coffee mugs as well as red dress pins and stickers.
           SSU representatives across the campus are available to accept donations: Jim Arnzen, Rhodes Athletic Center; Lisa Basham, Facilities, Office Annex; Gail Chinn, Teacher Education, Massie Hall; Laurie Hatton, Financial Aid, University Center; Cindy Hopkins, ATC Building; Roberta Milliken, Women’s Center, Massie Hall; Mistie Spicer, Office of President, Administration Building; Donna Thompson, Clark Memorial Library; Randy Warman, Student Activities, University Center; and Sarah Clausing, Cindy Haney, Debra Howell, Penny Merritt, Judy Morrow and Lanette Wagner, secretaries, Health Sciences Building.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Article by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)

 

Shawnee State University offers national certification for personal fitness trainer course


(A six-week intensive program for beginner and intermediate individuals interested in personal training will be available starting in February at Shawnee State University)

            Shawnee State University, through World Instructor Training Schools, is offering a six-week intensive program to train both beginner and intermediate level individuals to become certified personal fitness trainers.
            The first of its kind at SSU, the program will offer in-class theory, hands-on practical training and preparation for taking the national exam in the sixth week. The U.S. Labor Department predicts a 40 percent shortage of personal trainers by 2012.
            “It’s a great opportunity for local people to get certified as personal trainers with a nationally recognized organization,” said Cathy Mullins, assistant to the provost and academic grants officer, University Outreach Services.
            Included in the lecture series of the course are exercise physiology, fundamentals of anatomy, biomechanics, applied kinesiology, muscular strength, endurance and flexibility.
            The practical section with hands-on training includes fitness assessments, client rapport, equipment usages and weight training techniques.
            Classes are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays from Feb. 2 to March 8 at the James A. Rhodes Athletic Center at SSU.
            World Instructor Training Schools has established partnerships with health clubs, recreation centers, wellness studios and gyms across the nation to serve as internship sites for students. After passing the exams, students will complete a 20-hour internship in the field.
            The course costs $519 and includes the written and practical exam fees but not the textbook. For course details, contact W.I.T.S. at (888) 330-9487 or visit www.witseducation.com. To register, call University Outreach Services (866) 672-8778 or (740) 351-3274.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu
 

(Article by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)


 

Shawnee State University celebrates Black History Month in February

(Activities planned each week with a high school dance team, lecturer, Soul Food Festival and Gospel Festival)

            Shawnee State University has scheduled special events every week in February at Shawnee State University for Black History Month to celebrate the positive contributions of African-Americans in United States history.
            The first Black History Week was celebrated in 1926 and organized by Dr. Carl Woodson, of Huntington, W.Va., who was the second African-American to earn a Ph.D. degree from Harvard University. In 1976, the week was expanded to Black History Month.
            At 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 7, the Ironton High School Dance Team will perform in the lobby of SSU’s University Center. The well-known dance team with about 20 students has performed throughout the Tri-State area.
            “They perform a step routine they call a ‘stomp’ dance,” said Matt Matthews, coordinator of Multicultural Student Affairs at SSU. “The dance is in rhythm and stomp. It’s like the fraternities who challenge each other to find out who is the best.”
            Beverly J. Gray, the Ohio consultant for the Getting Word Project, an oral history research project of Monticello, The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation and a native of Ross County, will present a program at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12 in the Flohr Lecture Hall of the Clark Memorial Library at SSU. The program is free and open to the SSU community and the public.
            Gray has been named a Jennings Scholar which honors outstanding classroom teachers who improve the quality of elementary and secondary education in Ohio and she has been recognized in a resolution by the state of Ohio for her work in researching and documenting family histories and for bringing families together. She has been recognized as well by the U.S. Department of Energy and the president of the United States for her work with disadvantaged youth.
            Gray has compiled the histories of several African American families, written a children’s story, “Sarah Hemmings,” and produced a video called “Road to Freedom: The Underground Railroad in Ohio.”
            The following week at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20, the AHANA Student Club is sponsoring a “Taste of Soul” Festival in the lobby of SSU’s University Center.
            AHANA students are inviting the university and the community to bring a favorite dish or dessert to share at the festival. The Student Programming Board and AHANA will be passing out Black History Month T-Shirts to students with IDs.
            The last week of Black History Month, AHANA will be sponsoring a Gospel Festival at 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 29, in the Micklethwaite Banquet Hall in the University Center. Students are inviting school show choirs, local church choirs and individuals to come and participate in the program.
            For more information about Black History Month programs, call Matt Matthews at (740) 351-3553.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

            Sodexho at Shawnee State University received an award on Jan. 3 for 10th place in the nation for the “Cans Across America” food drive. The award was presented to Rachel Steele, Sodexho’s general manager at SSU, at the corporation’s winter conference at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. On Tuesday, Jan. 22, Steele shared the award with SSU President Rita Rice Morris at the University Center. From left are Steele, Morris and Elinda Boyles, vice president of finance and administration.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu
(Article by Astra NG, communications specialist)



 

Shawnee State University hosted the OEP Portsmouth Energy Fair

(OEP student leaders help Scioto County middle school students learn about energy and ecology)

            Ohio Energy Project student leaders from the Wheelersburg and Minford school districts and Gallia Academy worked with 550 fifth-, sixth- and seventh-grade students and teachers from area schools teaching the facts of energy and how to be energy sufficient on Jan. 8 at Shawnee State University.
            The goal of the fair was to engage students through OEP’s philosophy of “Kids Teaching Kids” to help them become leaders in their school and community.
            Students participated in hands-on activities such as understanding the transformation of energy through the energy bike, making sense of sound and light energy as well as understanding electrical safety through a high wire demonstration called “Duke’s High Wire demonstration.” The day ended with a fun Energy Carnival using information learned throughout the day.
            “We believe in empowering the students by training them to teach the younger students and that is when students learn the best,” said Debby Yerkes, executive director of OEP. “OEP believes when you are teaching, that is when someone learns and can begin to make a difference.”
            OEP in conjunction with SSU’s University Outreach Services has been facilitating the Energy Fair for four years.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Article by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)



 

Shawnee State University’s Dr. David Finlow returns from China sabbatical

(Associate professor has returned from sabbatical in China where he taught polymer processing to Chinese graduate students)

            David Finlow, Ph.D., associate professor in plastics engineering technology, returned last week after one semester on sabbatical in Guangzhou, China, in the Guangdong Province, teaching polymer processing to Chinese graduate students.
            “I was invited to South China Normal University to teach second year graduate students,” Finlow said. “It was very interesting teaching a technical subject in a foreign language.”
            While he was there, the students requested copies of his notes to study, so he typed them up and the notes are becoming part of a text book he is writing.
            While all the students at SCNU are taught English as a second language, they were very nervous about speaking it, Finlow said. Eventually they loosened up.
            In order to graduate, the students had to have a paper published in English, so they asked Finlow if he would help them translate their work from “Chinese English” to English.
            “Getting published in a reputable American or European journal is quite difficult,” he said. “They really struggle. I translated between 25 and 30 papers while I was there.”
            Finlow also gave three presentations to more than 400 students and faculty in the School of Chemistry at the university.
            The dean of the school organized a trip to Bejing for Finlow and his wife, Rosalind, who accompanied him on the trip. They were met by former students of the university in Bejing who acted as tour guides. The Finlows saw the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China, among other sites.
            “It’s a much more structured society and a more harmonious society,” Finlow said. “It’s based more on community but they pretty much all work together, unlike here which is an individualistic society.”
            The students attended all the classes and did all their assignments while he was there.
            “They wanted to learn,” Finlow said. “It was an incredible experience, the most professionally rewarding experience I’ve ever had.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu
 

            Who’s that bear?
            Shawnee State University Homecoming week began on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at a pep rally for the Bears men’s and women’s basketball teams as they went up against the Cedarville Yellow Jackets on Tuesday evening.
           Shawnee State University President Rita Rice Morris made a special appearance as Shawn E. Bear for the pep rally, leading the crowd in cheers with the SSU cheerleaders and holding two blue fly swatters to “swat” the Yellow Jackets.
            Roger Gray from WNXT and Skip Hickman, PA announcer for the games, attended the rally to introduce the teams, while Ralph Kavanaugh, equipment manager for the Athletics Department, led the crowd in several rounds of lively cheers.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Article by Astra NG, communications specialist)

 

Shawnee State and the Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators will be hosting “College Goal Sunday”

(Students and families searching for financial aid to fund their college education can receive help through the free state-wide college financial aid event at SSU)

            Shawnee State University will be a host during a state-wide college financial aid event, “College Goal Sunday,” at 2 p.m. on Feb. 10 in the Massie Auditorium.
            This free event is presented by the Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and endorsed by the Ohio Board of Regents to assist students and parents with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
            The FAFSA is the federal application required to receive federal financial aid such as Federal Pell Grant, student loans and other forms of public and private support.
            OASFAA strives to offer resources to students, families and high school advisors to promote higher education and increase the awareness of financial aid opportunities that are available.
            The goal of this state-wide financial aid event is to help students and families complete the FAFSA to receive federal student loans to fund their college education.
            Register for “College Goal Sunday” at www.ohiocollegegoalsunday.org. For more information, contact Nicole Montgomery at (740) 351-3140 or e-mail at nmontgomery@shawnee.edu.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

            On Jan. 20 Shawnee State exchange student, Ahmad Ibrahimov of Azerbaijan, and his hosts, Dr. George and Carolyn Pettit, enjoyed dinner with Governor Ted Strickland at the Executive Mansion in Columbus, Ohio. Ibrahimov is a senior at SSU pursuing a degree in environmental management. Pictured is Strickland standing with Ibrahimov at the mansion.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

 

(Photo and cutline by Jeff Perez, executive director communications and government affairs)

            Danica Myers and Lora Barnhart enjoy alcohol-free drink during the “Mocktails” and Blow-Up Toys party celebration that was part of this year’s homecoming celebration. The Student Programming Board sponsored the event to celebrate the university turning 21 as a means to promote alcohol awareness.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Article by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)

 

Artist Lori Nix to share research and creative challenges in her ‘disaster’ art as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series
(Artist constructs dioramas of environments memorializing disasters that she photographs for dramatic affect)

            As part of Shawnee State University’s Distinguished Lecture Series, artist Lori Nix will share her research and challenges in her art memorializing disasters at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 14 in the Appleton Gallery at the Vern Riffe Center for the arts.
            She will also teach a workshop on constructing dioramas from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15 in the Photography classroom at the VRCFA. There is limited seating available and registration is required for the workshop.
            Living most of her life in the rural Midwest, storms and natural disasters left an indelible mark on Nix who has a deep appreciation for the American landscape.
            Nix’s photographs of environments that she constructed in her series, “Accidentally Kansas,” capture the drama of tornadoes, floods, insect infestations and other cataclysmic events.
            After moving to New York City, Nix created more urban themes in her series, “Some Other Place,” using sidewalks and city parks playing out dark little dramas before the camera.
           Her newest series, “Shadows of the City,” is created indoors with empty buildings, her vision of a city without people.
           “This series of photographs is my vision of how a post-human future might look,” Nix said. “Public spaces dedicated to history and science lie deteriorating and neglected while nature slowly takes over.”
            In the “Natural History Museum” photograph, animals are free of their glass cases and seem reanimated to run amok. Bees now thrive in the “Museum of Art” where honey mixes with genius.
            Nix has received several photography awards and she is a NYFA Individual Artist Grant recipient. In 2001, Nix was awarded a Light Work Artist-in-Residency, an internationally recognized photography organization in Syracuse, N. Y. and she was a 1999 recipient of an Ohio Arts Council Individual Artist Grant. Nix has exhibited her work in galleries throughout the country.
            For more information, call Allyson Klutenkamper at (740) 351-3117 or e-mail aklutenkamper@shawnee.edu.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Photo and cutline by Jeff Perez, executive director of Communications and Government Affairs)

            Members of Shawnee State University men’s and women’s basketball teams enjoy the “Big Blue Bonfire” with supporters on Friday night, Jan. 25 during Homecoming week.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Photo and cutline by Jeff Perez, executive director of Communications and Government Affairs)

 Shawnee State University President Rita Rice Morris, Shawn E. Bear and cheerleaders get in the spirit at the ‘Big Blue Bonfire’

            Shawnee State University President Rita Rice Morris, Shawn E. Bear and members of the cheerleading team get into the spirit of Homecoming at the “Big Blue Bonfire” on Friday night, Jan. 25 at the Cedar House Campus Green.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Perez, Office of Communications and Government Affairs
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 352-5566
E-mail: jperez@shawnee.edu

(Article by Phyllis Noah, communications coordinator)

 

Auditions scheduled for production of ‘Sylvia’ at Shawnee State University’s Vern Riffe Center for the Arts

(Two men and four women needed for the cast of the modern romantic comedy with five performances in April)

            Shawnee State University announces auditions for the upcoming 2008 spring theatre production of “Sylvia” under the direction of John Huston, SSU’s coordinator of theatre.
            This staged production of “Sylvia” by A. R. Gurney is to be presented in five performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. on April 9, 10, 11 and 12 and at 2:30 p.m. on April 13 in the Kahl Studio Theatre at SSU’s Vern Riffe Center for the Arts.
            Auditions will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 6 and 7 in the Kahl Studio Theatre. Those auditioning are requested to prepare a short one-minute monologue. Additionally, performers will be asked to read selections from the play.
            “Sylvia” is a modern romantic comedy about a marriage and a dog. It was originally produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club in 1995 with Sarah Jessica Parker in the leading role as Sylvia. Greg and Kate have moved to Manhattan. Greg brings home a dog he found in the park bearing only the name “Sylvia” on her name tag. Sylvia becomes a major bone of contention between husband and wife as she rivals for affection. The marriage is put in serious jeopardy until Sylvia becomes a valued part of Greg and Kate’s lives.
            Cast requirements are for two men and four women. Anyone interested in any aspect of theatre production is encouraged to attend auditions or call John Huston at (740) 351-3335 for further information.