Is your photo featured on one of the UE banners hanging up around campus? Would you like to have the banner? If your photo is on a banner, and you would like to have it, e-mail  mh270@evansville.edu with a description of the banner and its location. The banners will be available in early August.

We are excited to announce that Hojun and Sunghee will be giving a presentation about South Korea to start off I-House for this semester. Hojun is studying electrical engineering and he loves to play ping pong. His favorite part about UE is that he has great relationships with both his friends and his professors. Sunghee is studying business and English here. Her favorite part about UE was orientation. So stop by tonight at 7:00 p.m., upstairs in Ridgway University Center, to learn all about South Korea!

Another Chance for Animals will be holding an event, Paws for a Cause, on Saturday, March 11, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at Tropicana. It's a pet fashion show! The organization is in need of volunteers. Volunteer duties will include changing the pets' outfits and walking them down the runway. If you think you'll be in town during spring break and are interested in this, please sign up ASAP! Money from the event supports animals that ACA rescues and cares for and for finding placement for homeless animals in the area.

Help volunteers who are working diligently to find forever homes and loving families for these animals.

You can volunteer by signing up on the ACA'S Paws For A Cause website.

Join us for our first Catholic mass of the new semester on Sunday, January 15, at 1:00 p.m. in Neu Chapel. Father Chris Forler will be our celebrant. All are welcome! For more information or questions on how to become involved in Mass, contact UE Newman Center director Jenny Koch at je46@evansville.edu.

Student Christian Fellowship’s Focus will now be meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Friday nights, in Grabill Lounge, downstairs in Neu Chapel. All are welcome to come!

Join us at Neu Chapel on Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. for the first worship service of the semester. On a week that begins with a celebration of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and ends with the Presidential Inauguration, we will pause to reflect on - and pray for - God's peace.

Family Weekend 2017 is set for September 22-24! The Office of Alumni and Parent Relations has started working on plans for the event. If your student organization or department would like to have an event for families or parents during this weekend, please complete the Family Weekend event participation form by March 3.

Like past years' successful events, we would like to have a lot of student and department participation. If you would like to volunteer assistance or if you have ideas, please contact us at alumni@evansville.edu or call 812-488-2900.

Orientation leader (OL) applications are now available!  To complete an electronic application before the deadline of January 23, visit the Welcome Week website.

Information on “What it takes to be an Orientation Leader” and the “OL Code of Conduct” can be found on the Welcome Week website along with the application and reference forms.
Current orientation leaders will be available in the Ridgway University Center from January 18-20 if you have any questions.  You can also contact the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students at 812-488-2500 or stop by Room 230 in Ridgway University Center during business hours.  

The UE and USI Newman Clubs are teaming up to volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Evansville. The events will take place on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, starting January 17. Volunteers will meet at the Newman Center at 5:40 p.m. and then carpool to the Ronald McDonald House. From 6:00-8:00 p.m., volunteers will help with general housekeeping and organization. Your help will be much appreciated by both the Ronald McDonald House staff as well as the families that this wonderful charity supports. If you plan on attending, please contact Paige Hignite at ph89@evansville.edu.

Welcome back to campus and classes during an Evansville winter where you can experience snow and freezing conditions on one day with rain and sloppy conditions several hours later. Meanwhile, the sun chooses to make appearances just to show us it can if it wants to. Given such conditions, it is important to be smart and pay attention to the walking surfaces you are utilizing whether it be inside or outside, on a relatively flat surface or on a ramp or staircase. Residue from pedestrian feet inside a building can make walking surfaces and stair steps slippery.

So, what can you do to help yourself and others stay safe on UE’s campus?

1) Be attentive to the surface conditions.
2) Utilize handrails.
3) Ensure stairways and ramps are well lit when in use and unobstructed at all times.
4) If indoors, ensure stairways and ramps are kept dry.
5) Report unsafe conditions to Facilities (812-488-2775) and/or Risk Management (812-488-2011).

Be safe with each step!

If you have any questions, please call the Office of Risk Management at 812-488-2011.

Students are able to adjust their meal plans for the Spring semester until Friday, January 13, at 5:00 p.m. You can request to change your meal plan on the meal plan webpage.

For students 21 years of age or older living in Village properties or fraternities, the process to apply for 21+ Status for Spring 2017 is under way.

All residents of the Village unit or fraternity room must:

• Submit an application and successfully complete the 21+ education program
• Be 21 years of age at the start of the Spring 2017 semester (students turning 21 during Spring semester will be considered upon successful completion of the program and one’s birthday).

Application materials and workshop dates on the alcohol policy are located on the alcohol policy 21 + webpage.

The UE Choirs invite singers to join us in making exciting and beautiful music. Sing in highly rated, talented choirs known throughout the region for their excellence. For more information, contact William McMillan, visiting assistant professor of music, at wm90@evansville.edu 

The UE Alumni Association recognizes an outstanding teacher for his or her exemplary instruction and student support at spring commencement. UE administrators, faculty, staff, students, and alumni may nominate a faculty member who exemplifies the award’s criteria for outstanding teaching effectiveness that inspires the intellectual development of students. The nomination form is located on the Office of Alumni’s Outstanding Teacher webpage.

Full-time faculty who have taught in the classroom at UE for two years or more and hold the rank of lecturer, instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, or professor are eligible for nomination.

Past award recipients are as follows:

• Associate professor of anthropology James Berry 2011
• Associate professor of sociology Mari Plikuhn 2012
• Associate professor of mechanical and civil engineering Mark Valenzuela 2013
• Associate professor of archaeology Jennie Ebeling 2014
• Associate professor of psychology Margaret Stevenson 2015
• Associate professor of sociology and criminal justice M. Kevin Gray 2016

The deadline to submit nominations is February 6, at 5:00 p.m. For questions, contact Tracey Folden at tf91@evansville.edu.

The Hansung International Summer Program is led by UE professor Young Kim, and consists of intensive classroom lectures and various cultural activities and field trips in South Korea. Classroom lectures cover Korean politics, economics, arts, costume, and language. This is a three credit course that transfers to UE as PSCI 390.

This summer program is accepting applications now. Find more information and cost of the program on the study abroad webpage. (Search for “South Korea” under Programs.)

Questions? Contact Amara Stuehling at as760@evansville.edu.

There are still a few spaces left in Harlaxton's Summer and Fall 2017 programs. Applications must be submitted and deposits paid by January 25 to secure your space. Create your application on the study abroad webpage or e-mail ls283@evansville.edu for more information.

We are also accepting applications for Harlaxton Spring 2018.

Heidi Strobel, associate professor of art history, received a Pasold Research Fund grant from the University of Edinburgh's School of History, Classics, and Archaeology. She will use this for a research trip pertaining to Leicester textile artist Mary Linwood (1755-1845).

UE student Anna Jean Stratman, who is minoring in German, has won the $150 third prize in the Indiana German Heritage Society's essay contest.

Rarely has the cliché “mixed emotions” been more apt for describing the feeling of saying farewell and good luck to everyone’s favorite Harlaxton transport coordinator, Zyggy Dekanski. After 16 years at the wheel, and some time spent behind reception on security, Zyggy has decided to turn over his keys. He will indeed be missed massively by his many adoring fans from around the globe. If you wish to join us in congratulating Zyggy, you may leave a comment on the Harlaxton Facebook page or send him a personal note care of Harlaxton. (We’ll make sure the cards and letters all reach him).

Congratulations and thank you, Zyggy!
 

University of Evansville Men’s Golf coach Jim Hamilton has announced the signing of Spencer Wagner to a National Letter of Intent to play for the Purple Aces beginning next season.

“We are very excited to have Spencer join the Purple Aces. He is a strong, determined, and hard-working player,” Hamilton said. “Spencer is just coming into his own and should be a great fit. An outstanding local golfer from Mater Dei High School, I am thrilled to have him join us.”

Wagner is an Evansville native who comes to UE from Mater Dei High School. The winner of the 2012 EJGA Masters Series Tournament was named an Academic All-City player in 2014. In 2015, he was named a First Team All-SIAC player and garnered top honors in the Boonville Invitational.

He had an impressive showing in the 2015 Evansville Courier and Press Men’s City Tournament, taking 15th place. He was also named to the Yestimeyer Team that season.

In 2016, he put forth another great season on the links. The IHSAA Regional Qualifier was named a Kiwanis Award recipient. He qualified and played in the International Optimist West Palm Tournament and took 10th place in the Men’s City Tournament just a year after taking 15th. He was named a Second Team All-SIAC golfer.

A quick 2-game road trip concludes today when the University of Evansville Men’s Basketball team visits Missouri State for a 7:00 p.m. game at JQH Arena.

A late rally saw Drake earn an 88-76 win over Evansville on Sunday at the Knapp Center. The Aces led by a 72-70 score with four minutes remaining, but a furious Bulldog rally saw them finish the game on an 18-4 run to earn the win. Jaylon Brown was the top scorer once again for the Aces, finishing with 23 points. Dru Smith had his best game as a member of the Purple Aces, totaling 14 points; Duane Gibson matched Smith’s total of 14 while Ryan Taylor had 10.

After missing five games due to injury, freshman Dru Smith came back with a vengeance at Drake. The Evansville native set career marks in points (14), field goal makes (5), attempts (11), 3-pointers (2) and assists (6). Smith showed no rust from his missed time as he saw 28 minutes of action. His return saw him notch six assists an no turnovers; his assist-to-turnover ratio for the season is 3:1.

Jaylon Brown continues to sit atop the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring (21.1 points per game), free throw percentage (.840) and minutes per game (36.1). Brown added 23 more points to his tally on Sunday at Drake as he hit 8 out of 13 shots and all four free throw attempts.

For the third time this season, Duane Gibson reached double figures as he set his season high of 14 points at Drake. Gibson knocked down 6 of his 9 attempts while recording six rebounds and six assists. He has started all 15 games that he has appeared in and currently stands with an average of 5.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Despite missing two games, Gibson leads the Aces with a total of 59 assists.

A 75-67 loss to Southern Illinois on Saturday has Missouri State standing at an 11-6 overall mark and an even 2-2 record in MVC play. Three Bears averaged double figures, led by Alize Johnson at 13.6 points per game; Johnson is the only MSU player to start all 17 games. Johnson is a beast on the boards, checking in with a conference-leading 9.8 per game; that tally is 1.4 more than any other player in the league.

Ronnie Rousseau III enters tomorrow’s tilt with 11.6 PPG while Dequon Miller stands with 11.1. In the loss to SIU, Miller and Jarred Dixon notched a team-high 15 points apiece while Johnson finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds.