“This is a great way to really rejuvenate a passion for art and learning,” said Ginnie Moore, director of UOS at SSU. “It will be a fun, interesting course taught by some very talented individuals.”

            The course is being held from June 14 to 18, at SOMACC. Emphasizing a renewal of the enjoyment in creating and appreciating art, “The Shape of Our Lives” also investigates area environments such as the Floodwall Murals and Shawnee State Park, and views them as a source of inspiration and a connection to the area in which we live.

            “The Shape of Our Lives” will be instructed by Terry Hermsen, Ph.D., and Lauralee Webster. Hermsen, who has conducted poetry residencies for the Ohio Arts Council for over 20 years, has also authored several books on poetry, including “O Taste and See: Food Poems.” Webster, who has over 18 years of experience teaching art in public and private schools in Florida and Kentucky, is currently the education specialist for SOMACC.

            With the ability to receive graduate credit for the work through Ohio University Southern Campus or to receive undergraduate credit through SSU, “The Shape of Our Lives” will certainly try to prove that too much of a good thing is just enough.

            Enrollment is $189 for a non-credit enrollment, the current in/out-of-state tuition for undergraduate credit, and $239 for graduate workshop credit.

            For more information, call (740) 351- 3281.

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            Portsmouth area businesses are showing support to Shawnee State University (SSU) through a new commemorative brick project conducted by the Office of Development at SSU.

            The brick garden on the Alumni Green on the SSU campus has displayed commemorative bricks with inscriptions from family, friends, colleagues, and alumni since last year. Now, bricks bearing inscriptions from area businesses will be featured along with the others, said Susan Warsaw, executive director of the Office of Development at SSU.

            “Things have been looking up in the Portsmouth area for a while now,” said Warsaw. “Because Portsmouth businesses and SSU are a part of the same community, we thought this would be a good way to acknowledge our partnership.”

            Already, area businesses such as Best Care Nursing and Rehabilitation, Deemer’s Inc., The Emporium at Portsmouth, Horr-Ace Hardware, Dean Knittel and Son, Lewis Furniture Company, Roberta’s Tax Service and Star Dry Cleaners have purchased a commemorative brick.

            Warsaw hopes the trend will continue.

            “This is a great way of showing support to the university; to the faculty, staff, administration who work here; and the students who attend,” said Warsaw. “SSU depends on the support of the community, so we want this community to succeed in every way.”

            The commemorative bricks, which are available in 4 by 8-inch bricks for $100 or 8 by 8-inch bricks for $250, will also be inscribed with a message of the business’s or individual’s choosing. Money used to purchase the brick will also be donated to whatever university department the business or individual chooses.

            Donations for commemorative bricks go directly to the Development Foundation at SSU, which handles all philanthropy to the university and ensures the donations (tax deductible) are distributed properly.

            For more information, call (740) 351-3284.

McKinley Elementary School students, from left, Olivia Penn, Megan Cornett, and Katie Anderson, all of Portsmouth, are just some of the over 600 area students attending the Shawnee State University “Explore Your Future” summer enrichment program this week, sponsored by the Office of University Outreach Services (UOS) at SSU. The three participants are exploring their artistic and creative abilities while making a necklace in the course “Hippie Chic Boutique” taught by Leah Kochendoerfer. UOS provides a wide array of specialized educational opportunities, including the educational and cultural enrichment opportunities critical to young students in the surrounding communities. For more information, call (740) 351-3274.

            Still looking for an elusive Father’s Day gift? Look no further, as two books on Portsmouth’s extensive baseball heritage are the perfect gift for the father who has everything.

            Written by Shawnee State University’s (SSU) own Dale Taylor, “Simpler Times: Baseball Stories from a Small Town,” ($13.92 including tax) and “Baseball Through Small-Town Eyes” ($10.70 including tax) contain many records and photos of Portsmouth’s significant contribution to America’s favorite pastime.

            The books, which can be purchased individually or together for the low price of $21.80, are being sold by the SSU Development Foundation, the philanthropic arm of SSU, located on the ground floor of the Administration Building on the SSU campus. They may also be purchased from the SSU Bookstore.

            According to Susan Warsaw, executive director of Development at SSU, the books are an excellent way to support SSU students as well as making a great gift idea.

            “Not only will you be purchasing a very thoughtful gift,” said Warsaw. “But you’ll also be helping to support SSU students.”

            For more information, call (740) 351-3284.

            After the success of the Pharmacy Technician test prep course held by Shawnee State University’s (SSU) Office of University Outreach Services (UOS) in the fall of 2003, it is easy to understand why many were looking forward to the course being held again.

            Thankfully, that time has come, with the course to be offered on Monday evenings from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., beginning July 26 and continuing through Sept. 27.

            The 40-hour program, taught by registered pharmacist Jeremy Janney, is a non-college credit, test prep training program designed to prepare individuals who want to upgrade their skills as pharmacy technicians in hospitals or retail pharmacies.

            With key topics in medical terminology, prescription interpretation, dosage calculation and conversion, intravenous therapy and aseptic techniques, and inventory control, the program is sure to be very educational and highly rewarding for those involved, according to UOS representative Tracy Conn.

            “We offered this class in the fall, and it was a great success,” said Conn. “Not only do we expect participants to benefit from the original coursework, but we have also added an additional segment this year devoted to math, an addition we believe will increase the success of the course.”

            The Pharmacy Technician Test Prep course costs $339.

             For more information, call (740) 351-3490.

                                           
Larry L. Mangus, Ed.D., vice president for student affairs at SSU (right), presents the Larry L. Mangus National Scholarship award from Phi Eta Sigma to SSU junior Eric Marit.

            Eric Marit, a junior social science major at Shawnee State University (SSU), is the 2004 recipient of the Larry L. Mangus National Scholarship award from Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, the largest collegiate honor society in the country.

            The award, which is for $2,000, is particularly significant because it is named for Larry L. Mangus, Ed.D., SSU’s vice president for student affairs, for his 30 plus years of service to the organization.

            “I have known Eric for about three years,” said Mangus. “He’s a campus leader in the Student Government Association, a student member of the Board of Trustees, and an officer in Phi Eta Sigma. He was also an excellent student in the Civil War history class that I teach. He’s a great guy and a very worthy recipient of the award.”

            Winning the scholarship is a particularly remarkable accomplishment because Phi Eta Sigma members are required to have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 for membership and the competition for scholarships is only among members, said Mangus.

            “Competition for this scholarship is incredibly tough,” said Mangus. “There are approximately 450 applicants from among 350 schools in the country. This year there were 31 scholarship awards of $2,000 and 73 scholarship awards of $1,000 to undergraduate students.”

            The West Alexandria, Ohio, native received a $1,000 national scholarship in 2003.

            Marit is not the first SSU student to receive the Mangus scholarship. Past recipients include Kelly Blake (1998) and Ambra Knoche (2001).

            “Phi Eta Sigma recognizes our very best students,” said Mangus. “In fact, Shawnee State is the only university in my 30 years of advising Phi Eta Sigma chapters where students have won scholarships. We’ve had seven scholarships in the past seven years, which is almost unheard of for a university our size.”

            Mangus feels the quality of SSU’s Phi Eta Sigma chapter is reflected in Marit’s accomplishment.

            “We’re all very proud of Eric and I am very pleased to have another Shawnee State student receive my award. This speaks volumes about the excellent students who have chosen to attend SSU,” Mangus said.

            Offering more than 80 bachelor’s and associate degree programs in areas such as fine, digital, and performing arts; English and humanities; mathematical sciences; natural sciences; social sciences; teacher education; business administration; industrial and engineering technologies; and health sciences, SSU has over $2 million available to students in both need- and academic-based scholarships.

             For more information, call (740) 351-3221.