Dear Staff and Administrators,

I trust that you have seen the new "IMPACT" banners on campus.  The banners are simply one part of a comprehensive approach to telling our story at UE.  Everyone who works at UE is very important to helping us deliver that story on a daily basis.

As a key step in this process, I would like to invite you to participate in a discussion facilitated by Don Jones, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, and members of the marketing team.  I encourage you to select and attend one of the following "IMPACT" sessions:

IMPACT Session I – UE Support Staff/Physical Plant Employees
Monday, May 13       
11:00 a.m. – noon
Ridgway University Center, Eykamp Hall, Room 251

IMPACT Session II – UE Support Staff/Physical Plant Employees
Tuesday, May 14
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Ridgway University Center, Eykamp Hall, Room 251

IMPACT Session I – UE Administrators
Monday, May 13       
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Ridgway University Center, Eykamp Hall, Room 251

IMPACT Session II – UE Administrators
Tuesday, May 14
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Ridgway University Center, Eykamp Hall, Room 251

The UE marketing team will discuss the meaning and intent of the "IMPACT" campaign, how we will tell the UE story to the groups we serve in all on and off campus communications, and the important part that you play in delivering that message.

Thanks,

Tom

Thomas A. Kazee
President

The OSA May luncheon will be held Tuesday, May 14, 12-1:30 p.m., in Grabill Lounge, Neu Chapel. Please bring your own lunch. Drinks and dessert will be provided by the officers. Bring a flower or plant for the flower exchange. We will officially announce the 2013-2014 officers. The group portrait will be taken and then we are off until the fall. Please let Kim Flener (kf129) or Donna Jones (dj32) know if you will be coming so we will have enough chairs.

The annual Purple Aces Club Golf Classic, which benefits University of Evansville Athletics Scholarships, is set to take place on Tuesday, May 21 at Quail Crossing Golf Club in Boonville, Ind.

Everyone is welcome to play as individuals can sign up for $125 while foursomes cost $500.  Registration and lunch will be from 11 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. before a shotgun start commences the tournament at 12:30.  At approximately 5:30 p.m., a post-event reception takes place followed by an awards ceremony.

For those wishing to be a sponsor, several opportunities are available including the sponsorship of holes, longest drive, closest to the pin and recognition on all carts that will be used at the event.

One of the top courses in the state of Indiana, Quail Crossing is on a natural terrain located just minutes from Evansville.  Known for their minimalist style or lay of the land design, Renaissance Golf Design (led by Tom Doak) complemented the natural terrain of Quail’s 320 acres.

Styling the course in imitation of Shinnecock Hills, with fairway bunkers framed by bluestem and other prairie grasses that were selected in conjunction with Quail Unlimited, provides suitable habitat for the birds after which the course is named. Quail’s links style routing is a real treat for golfers who will see an abundance of natural beauty during their 18-hole round.

Those interested in participating are asked to sign up by May 13.  You can register by sending in the entry form that is linked above, or by contacting Dwight Merilatt.  Sponsorship questions and other inquiries can also be directed to him at dm160@evansville.edu or 812-488-2287.

Douglas Reed, University Organist/Professor Emeritus of Music, will play a concert entitled Amazing Grace in Neu Chapel on May 12, at 4:00 p.m.  A matinee performance of his concert in Siegen, Germany later in May, the program will include music by American composers William Albright, William Bolcom, Sydney Hodkinson, and Daniel Pinkham.

Reed will perform three compositions based on familiar hymn tunes. These include Pulitzer Prize winning composer William Bolcom’s Gospel Prelude on “Amazing Grace” and Prelude on “Abide With Me" as well as Pinkham’s Variations on “Wondrous Love.” 

The program will also include a 35th anniversary performance of William Albright’s Organbook III (1977-78) premiered by the composer on the Neu Chapel Holtkamp organ in 1978.  Albright had strong ties with the University of Evansville who commissioned him to write Four Fancies for harpsichord (1978) with the support of the Mesker Music Trust, and Symphony for organ with percussion (1986) with the support of the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The most recent works on the program are Swing Shift and Zephyrs from Sydney Hodkinson’s Organmusic (2012). Hodkinson conducts the Contemporary Ensemble and teaches composition at the Aspen Colorado Music Festival and School.  A composition professor and conductor of the Musica Nova Ensemble at the Eastman School of Music for many years, Hodkinson wrote Papillons, Book III (1984) for Douglas Reed, and Cantata Sancta (2001) with the support of the McGary Family of Newburgh, Indiana and the Friends of UE Music for the dedication of the Francile MacDonald McGary portative organ.

Sponsored by the University of Evansville Department of Religious Life, the program is free and open to the public.

Come join TEAM UE as we attempt to defend our Gold bracket title in the Midwest Dragon Boat Race on June 1. This is a fun, exciting event that anyone can participate in (students, faculty, or staff). To sign up or for more information please  contact  Angie Stauber  ext 2622 or email as547 to be a team member.

The Department of Archaeology and Art History is pleased to announce the winner of its first Art History Internship Award: Art History major Elizabeth Long. Elizabeth will receive $500 to support her summer internship experience at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art in Norman, OK. Congratulations, Elizabeth!

The University of Evansville baseball team used a balance offensive attack and held off a late rally by visiting SIU Edwardsville to post its fourth-straight win with an 11-7 victory Wednesday night in non-conference action at Braun Stadium.

Five hitters recorded multiple hits for Evansville (20-29), while four tallied at least two RBI.  Senior Chris Pearson drove in three runs and scored three more, as he went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and a sacrifice fly.  Redshirt sophomore Kevin Kaczmarski finished the night 3-for-5 with a triple and two runs scored, while freshman Jonathan Ramon racked up three RBI and senior Andy Lasher drove in two more with a two-run single in the fifth.

Junior Cole Isom improved to 4-5 on the mound by allowing four runs on four hits in 6.0 innings of work.  Out of the UE bullpen, freshman Brent Jurckea and senior Jake Naumann combined for five strikeouts and did not walk a batter over the final 2.2 frames.

Evansville got off to a quick start at the plate, as the Aces recorded three-straight hits to start the bottom of the first.  Kaczmarski started the rally with a triple to the gap in right center and Pearson followed with an RBI double to left center.  Senior Jason Hockemeyer then reached on a single through the right side, before Ramon drove in Pearson with a deep fly ball to left to put UE in front 2-0.

SIU Edwardsville (14-30) took its first lead of the game at 3-2 in the top of the third, when Zach Little reached on a one-out single through the left side and Nick Lombardo followed with a single to shallow center, before Jacob Stewart cleared the bases with a three-run homer to left.

The Aces took advantage of a leadoff walk and a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning to tie the score at 3-3.  Pearson walked to start the frame and was able to move into scoring position on a wild pitch out of the hand of SIUE starter Sam Hopkins.  Two batters later, Ramon drove in his second run of the game with a two-out single through the hole on the left side of the infield.

Drew Johns regained the lead for SIU Edwardsville in the top of the fourth with a two-out, RBI single of his own to make the score 4-3, but the Aces would erupt for four runs in their half of the fourth to take the lead for good.  Kaczmarski drove in the first run of the frame by scoring freshman Shain Showers with a single to right, before Pearson followed with a single to center to plate Lasher.  Hockemeyer capped the inning with a two-run double down the right field line to give UE a 7-4 advantage.

UE broke the game open with a three-run bottom of the fifth, as Lasher drove home a pair of runs with a one-out single to right and later scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Pearson to extend Evansville’s margin to 10-4.

The Cougars would respond by scoring three runs in the top of the seventh off of Aces’ relievers Ryan Billo and Forrest Herrmann, but Jurceka got out of the jam with a strikeout and a ground out to strand the bases loaded and maintain a 10-7 lead for UE.

Evansville added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth on Ramon’s second sacrifice fly of the night that allowed Hockemeyer, who tripled to left center earlier in the inning, to tag and score and make the final tally 11-7.

The Aces will look to keep their winning streak alive when they return to Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend at Illinois State.  UE will open the series with the Redbirds Friday night at 6 p.m. on Duffy Bass Field in Normal, Ill.

After clinching the seventh spot in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament after going 11-12 in conference play, the University of Evansville softball team will face sixth seeded Missouri State on Thursday, May 9, at the CU Sports Complex in Omaha, Neb. The matchup will be the second of the day as first pitch will take place at 1:35 p.m.

Evansville (20-29, 11-12) took two games to one against the Bears in regular season conference play as senior first baseman Kendall Kautz led the offense, going 4-for-10 at bat with one run scored, a double, a RBI, and a 1.000 fielding percentage. Senior catcher Halie Malone notched two RBIs for the Aces as she went 3-for-9 in the batter’s box in the three-game series.

While spear heading the pitching staff, senior Sarah Patterson and freshman Sarah Baldwin each picked up a win against Missouri State as they combined for 15 strikeouts in 15.0 innings of work in the circle. Patterson walked away with a 0.70 ERA, one complete game, one save, and allowed just one run.

The winner of the matchup between UE and Missouri State will go on to face third seeded Illinois State (28-19, 13-7) later in the day on Thursday beginning at 6:35 p.m. CST.

Fans will be able to watch the action on Valley Live, a free video streaming program from the MVC. They will also be able to listen to Tom Benson from the University of Evansville as he will broadcast live on the radio at 91.5 WUEV. You can also listen online at wuev.org.

Scouting the Opponents

Missouri State University Bears (22-29, 13-12 Missouri Valley Conference)

Missouri State enters the tournament with a 22-29 record, with two wins against conference opponents Indiana State, Drake, and Bradley, and a three-game sweep of Wichita State. The Bears were picked to finish sixth in the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Preseason poll in which junior Ashley Bentz and senior Kirstin Cutter received 2013 Preseason All-Conference Team honors.

Kirstin Cutter leads Missouri State at the hitting position with a .324 batting average out of 173 at bats. While recording five doubles and one triple on the season, Cutter has tallied 33 runs, nine walks, 13 RBIs and has gone 15-for-18 in stolen bases. With a .280 average in the batter’s box, Stevie Pierce also proves to be a powerful force for Missouri State as she has tallied 25 runs, 10 doubles, 21 walks, 10 home runs and 35 RBIs while going 3-for-5 in stolen bases.

Chelsea Jones leads the pitching staff this season with 223.2 innings pitched and a 3.82 ERA. Jones has struck out 87 and has recorded 21 complete games in 46 appearances with three shutouts and one save for the Bears, making her 15-19 on the season.

This past season of University of Evansville Purple Aces Men's Basketball was an outstanding one and we appreciate you being a part of that by attending at least one game this season. The Athletic Department has put together a survey and your opinions are greatly appreciated to help continually enhance the Aces Basketball experience. Please take a moment to fill out the survey at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/UEMensBasketball

By completing the contact information at the end of the survey (which is optional if you would prefer your answers to remain anonymous), you will be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to the University of Evansville Bookstore.

Thank you for your support. Go ACES!!