A busy road stretch begins today for the University of Evansville Baseball team as the Purple Aces kick off a run of eight consecutive away contests with a trip to Nashville to take on Belmont at E.S. Rose Park.

The Aces (13-29) will be looking to put the brakes on a seven-game skid after nearly getting back on track over the weekend against Missouri Valley Conference-leading Missouri State. Despite the record, the Aces have pitched remarkably well at times over the rough stretch, and today, the team will turn again to a steadying force in right-hander Justin Hayden.

Hayden, a junior out of Mayfield, Kentucky, is normally a weekend starter, but due to some weather complications in each of the past two weekends, he will find himself toeing the rubber for a midweek game for the second consecutive start. Last time out, Hayden threw five scoreless innings against Murray State in Paducah, Kentucky. In all, he’s currently riding a 12-inning scoreless streak and enters Wednesday’s game with a 3-5 record and a 5.63 earned run average.

At the plate, the UE will be likely hoping for some continued production out of Korbin Williams. The junior power-hitter has not enjoyed the home run numbers that he had a year ago, but he has started to heat up over the past week, leaving the park once against Murray State before closing out play this weekend with a pair of solo blasts in the finale against Missouri State. The Newburgh, Indiana, native is hitting .293 with 24 scores and 13 runs batted in on the season.

Trey Hair leads the team with a .294 mark at the plate to go along with team-best totals in runs (28) and RBI (30). Travis Tokarek and his .289 average ranks third, and the Zionsville, Indiana, native also owns the team lead in homers with seven on the year.

Meanwhile, the Bruins have picked up four wins in their last six games to take their record 21-21. The team will be looking to avenge last season’s loss to the Aces at Rose Park, which saw them take a 6-0 lead in the first only to lose 13-7. It marked the first time UE had beaten the Bruins in Nashville.

First pitch is slated for 5:00 p.m.

Semester ending Book Buyback at the UE Bookstore runs during finals week, April 27-May 3. We freely quote prices on any books you might want to sell regardless of where purchased or if used on this campus or not. You'll get cash on the spot! Please bring your student ID with you, you do not need your original receipt. We've got loads of books we're buying at special prices so just stop in and check pricing.

Submitted by Doug Gustwiller dg57@evansville.edu

The UE Bookstore is offering 20 percent OFF all clothing and gift purchases during Buyback Week, April 27-May 3. NIKE and Under Armour merchandise is 25 percent OFF during the same time. Clearance items are exempted from additional discounts. Stop in the bookstore and save before the year is over.

Submitted by Doug Gustwiller dg57@evansville.edu

The University of Evansville's 159th Commencement ceremony will take place this Saturday, May 6, at the Ford Center in downtown Evansville. The ceremony starts at 1:30 p.m. and our annual Baccalaureate service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday in Neu Chapel.

The event will feature the Senior Keynote address, presentation of the University of Evansville Alumni Association’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year award, Eykamp Prize, as well as the Outstanding Senior Service Awards.

Graduates, if you have family and friends who will be unable to attend, please let them know that they can watch a live stream here: http://www.evansville.edu/live/

A video of the Commencement ceremony will be posted on this page in the coming weeks.

Additionally, you can follow along and post on social media using #UEGrad17.

All graduates and their families are invited to attend the 2017 Interfaith Baccalaureate Service this Saturday, May 6 at 10:00 a.m. Baccalaureate is a religious service that gives thanks to God and offers prayer for the graduating class in the context of sacred ceremony. President Kazee will be offering words of wisdom, the University Choir will be singing; Board of Trustee members will be processing with faculty and administrators; and 2017 graduates will be participating in the service.

Graduates are invited to participate in the Baccalaureate service by wearing full regalia (cap, gown, and honors cords), and processing with faculty, members of the Board of Trustees, President Kazee, and other guests.

Graduates, if you have not registered yet, you are invited to do so by going to the Baccalaureate web page so that the appropriate number of seats may be reserved.

Please note - University Choir members who are graduating are invited to register and wear full regalia.

Families are encouraged to arrive by 9:30 a.m. in order to get priority seating. Neu Chapel is always full for this special celebration.

A fundraiser will take place at the Evansville Chipotle today with proceeds going to the University of Evansville Women’s Tennis team. Between 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.,  everyone who shows this flyer to the cashier will have 50 percent of the proceeds of their order go to the Purple Aces women’s tennis program. This is only good at the Chipotle at 499 North Green River Road, Suite A, in Evansville. You may print the flyer or show it on your phone.

The Harlaxton Society and Office of Education Abroad are sponsoring a reception on Friday, May 5, from 2:00- 4:00 p.m. to welcome Harlaxton Principal Gerald Seaman and Harlaxton faculty members David Green and Amber Pouliot, to campus. The event will be in Dunigan Lounge in the Schroeder School of Business Building. Students, alumni, faculty and staff are all welcome to attend!

Submitted by Sylvia DeVault sy5@evansville.edu 

Students who have received federal direct loans (subsidized/unsubsidized) and plan to graduate in the spring or summer (or transfer after the spring semester) are required to attend a loan repayment counseling session. The Office of Financial Aid will hold the last session on May 5 at 11:30 a.m. in Eykamp Hall, Room 252, Ridgway University Center.

Submitted by Amy Sowders as560@evansville.edu

On Thursday, May 4, and Friday, May 5, a number of parking spaces on the front oval will be reserved for members of the Board of Trustees.  

Students at UE are in the process of starting a Lilly Scholars Network Chapter and are in need of an advisor! If you are a faculty or staff member on campus and interested in serving as the group’s advisor, please send an e-mail to mh445@evansville.com. Thank you!

Submitted by mh445@evansville.edu

Head over to the study abroad web page to read about Kellie Garrison's study abroad experiences in Italy! Kellie, a third year DPT student, has some great stories about the relationships she's formed, the trips she's taken, and the wonderful Italian food.

Submitted by Greta Becker gb91@evansville.edu

About 10 copies of the 2016 LinC remain and are available to those wanting a copy. Pick up your copy of the yearbook outside of student publications. First come, first served!

Submitted by Tracy Maurer tm2@evansville.edu

On Friday, May 5, join the study abroad team and your fellow Harlaxton alumni for a welcome back reception! The reception will be in Dunigan Lounge on the first floor of the Schroeder School of Business Building from 2:00- 4:00 p.m. Grab some free food, talk to other Harlaxton alumni, and reflect on your experiences abroad. The reception is open to all Harlaxton alumni.

Submitted by Greta Becker gb91@evansville.edu

This is a reminder to all UE students who rented books from the UE Bookstore for the Spring 2017 term that those rentals are due back in the store no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3. Avoid late charges and return on time. If you have questions please contact the UE Bookstore.

Submitted by Doug Gustwiller dg57@evansville.edu

When preparing and bundling UE intra-campus mail for UE distribution services courier pick-up, please DO NOT attach a UE Data Mail account barcode card. Mail bundled with that card is transported to Data Mail for postage processing. Using the card on bundled intra-campus mail will result in delivery delays. These cards are designed to provide required information for properly processing (USPS, UPS) mail and parcels to be delivered off campus.

Please contact Kim Winsett or Distribution Services if you have any questions. For additional information, visit the mail services website. 

Submitted by Kim Winsett kw83@evansville.edu

As the end of the University’s fiscal year approaches on May 31, administrative services and accounting and audit announce the following procedures related to purchases of goods and services during May.

Pcard purchases
Pcard purchases posting on the May statement (cycle end date is May 22) will be paid from FY 2016-17 funds. Most shipments post on your Pcard within three to four business days. However, vendors have up to nine business days to post transactions.

Pcard purchases posting from May 23 through May 31 will be paid from FY 2017-18 (the new year) funds, unless the item purchased exceeds $500. Purchases exceeding $500 will be paid from FY 2016-17 funds.

Office Depot orders
Normally, Office Depot orders placed online by 3:00 p.m. for items in stock are delivered the next business day. Upon delivery, the transaction should post on your Pcard within three to four business days.

Office Depot orders received by May 15 will likely post on the May 22 Pcard cycle and be paid from FY 2016-17 funds.

Office Depot orders placed and received - but posting to the Pcard from May 23-31 - will be paid from FY 2017-18 funds, unless the items purchased exceed $500. Purchases exceeding $500 will be paid from FY 2016-17 funds.

Purchase orders
Approved requisitions converted into purchase orders and delivered by May 31 will be paid from FY 2016-17 funds.

Approved requisitions indicating FY 2017-18 written on them in red ink will be processed with a delivery date of June 1 or later.

Backordered purchase orders not delivered by May 31 will be paid from FY 2017-18 funds.

Blanket orders
All FY 2016-17 blanket orders expire on May 31.

Approved requisitions for FY 2017-18 (new year) blanket orders may now be submitted with June 1 through May 31 effective dates.

Backordered blanket purchase order items not delivered by May 31 will be paid from FY 2017-18 funds.

Requisitions for check request
All services completed and items purchased (and on campus) by May 31 must be submitted on a WebAdvisor voucher to accounting and audit by Monday, June 19 to be paid from FY 2016-17 funds. Any pre-May 31 purchases submitted for payment after this date will be charged to FY 2017-18.

University of Evansville chaplain and director of religious life Tammy Gieselman has been selected from a competitive, national pool of nominees to participate in a faculty seminar on teaching interfaith understanding. The seminar is offered by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), with support from the Henry Luce Foundation. 

Twenty-five faculty members will participate in this seminar, set for June 18–22 at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. It will be led by leading scholars Eboo Patel, founder and president of IFYC, a Chicago-based organization building the interfaith movement on college campuses; and Laurie Patton, president of Middlebury College and former dean of Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and the Robert F. Durden Professor of Religion at Duke University. The program aims to broaden faculty members’ knowledge and strengthen their teaching of interfaith understanding with the development of new courses and resources.

“Strengthening the teaching of interfaith understanding at colleges and universities is a priority at a time when college enrollment - and American society - is becoming more diverse. Strengthening participation in American life with greater understanding of the distinctive contributions of different faiths is key to America’s future success as a democracy,” said CIC president Richard Ekman.

Commenting on Gieselman’s selection to the seminar, UE executive vice president for academic affairs Michael Austin noted that she “has been a passionate advocate for interfaith understanding on our campus and has overseen a concerted effort to make the University of Evansville a welcoming environment for students of all faiths. She has a passion to help people of all faiths understand each other better. This is not something she does because it is her job; it is a job that she does because of who she is.”

For more information, visit www.cic.edu/TeachingInterfaith.

Dear Campus Community,

It is with great pleasure that I announce the completion of the first critical goal in the fundraising campaign to renovate Hyde Hall. The generosity of our donors has enabled us to proceed with the renovations to one of our most-used buildings.

As you know, Hyde Hall is located in the heart of campus and houses Shanklin Theatre, home of the University of Evansville’s nationally renowned undergraduate theatre program. Hyde Hall is also home to the administrative offices for the William L. Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences and other faculty offices, classrooms, and core learning spaces.

Virtually every student who passes through the University of Evansville will have attended a class in Hyde Hall, making the completion of this fundraising goal one that will directly impact the entire campus community.

Renovations will provide academic space upgrades including interactive learning centers equipped with technology allowing for collaborative, project-based work and group learning.

Along with upgraded learning spaces, Hyde Hall will receive an advanced energy efficient heating and cooling system, illustrating UE’s commitment to providing a sustainable, healthy learning environment.

Construction is anticipated to begin in May 2018 with an estimated completion date in fall 2019.

Please join me in thanking the many donors who have helped us reach this significant milestone in our institution's history. We have reached the first $5 million milestone on a total project cost of roughly $8 million strictly through the generosity of our supporters. Their contributions will provide the next generation with an enhanced college experience grounded in the liberal arts.

Sincerely,

Tom Kazee
President

P.S. You can learn more about the campaign and see artists' renderings of the proposed renovations here: https://www.evansville.edu/makeanimpact/hyde.cfm

Tink Martin, Janet Szczepanski, Gifford Brown, and Renatto Butturi were the guests of honor on Sunday, April 23, at the annual Tree-Planting/Retirement Reception. Patti McCrory and Mike and Molly Zimmer are also retiring this year, but were unable to attend. We wish them all the very best in their retirement.

Submitted by Terri Ames ta74@evansville.edu

Ghaith Safi, a Schroeder School of Business finance major, has accepted a full-time position in Fifth Third’s wealth and asset management leadership program in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Safi has already completed two internships with Fifth Third, working in Evansville, Lexington, and Cincinnati in a number of roles including retail, commercial, and investment decisions.

One highlight of his internships with the bank was delivering a presentation to Fifth Third CEO Greg Carmichael.

“I have never been more excited about anything in my life,” said Safi, “and I can say with complete confidence that my time at the University of Evansville was very successful; my professors, peers, and advisor have helped me grow enormously, both in personal and professional terms.”

The Schroeder School of Business is ranked tenth among small private business schools by US News & World Report and is ranked first among over 500 small universities for accounting and finance programs.   

UE Schroeder Family School of Business Greg Rawski has published a journal article, “User Engagement in Social Media,” in the International Journal of Information Technology and Management.

The University of Evansville’s Professional Athletic Training Program has been granted five-year accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) with the next comprehensive review occurring during the 2021-22 academic year. .

UE hosted a site visit with a CAATE review team in January after an intense period of self-study, which began in the fall of 2015, and a self-study application that was submitted June 1. The site visit team reviewed extensive reports and interviewed members of the athletic training team to evaluate and verify the institution’s ongoing ability to meet the standards for accreditation.

The UE athletic training program is now one of only five schools in the country that has an accredited program at both the master’s level and bachelor’s level, giving students’ options for pursuing their athletic training degrees.

The athletic training program utilizes three universities and colleges, three out-patient rehabilitation clinics, and eleven high schools to provide their students with clinical placements within the Evansville area.

Kathy Liu, PhD, ATC, program director, states, “We are very proud of our programs here at UE. With a successful undergraduate program and a growing graduate program, gaining this accreditation will allow us to provide additional opportunities for students deciding on their career aspirations.”
“We recognize the faculty, staff, and administrators at the University of Evansville for their commitment to the advancement of education in athletic training, as well as the dedication to the preparation of qualified athletic training professionals,” said a representative from CAATE.

The University of Evansville is the smallest Division I CAATE-accredited school in the country. Athletic training students are challenged with rigorous course work and hands-on experiences, such as their involvement with UE’s Division I athletic programs, from their first week on campus. University of Evansville athletic training students have the flexibility to explore many branches of study and develop diverse skill sets through the athletic training, physical therapist assistant, pre-physician assistant, pre-med and Doctor of Physical Therapy-combination degree programs.

Megan King has been awarded the 2016-17 Wesley T. Milner Distinguished Senior Award of International Studies Program. The newly established honor is awarded annually to the outstanding senior of International Studies major. The award is named for the former director of the International Studies Program, Wesley T. Milner, in honor of his dedication in the IS program at UE for over two decades.

Pictured (from left to right): Richard Maass (political science professor), Wesley Milner (executive director of international programs), Megan King, and Young Kim (director of international studies)

UE vice president of academic affairs and Title IX officer Tracey Folden has been named to the 2017 class of the Henderson County Sports Hall of Fame.

Folden is a 1992 graduate of Henderson County High School. She won the indoor state championship in the 55-meter dash at Mason-Dixon Games. Folden was the anchor of the 4x200 relay team that still holds the school record that was set in 1989 and was part of the 4x100 relay team that held the school record for 15 years. She also held the school record in the 200 dash that stood for 27 years. She continued her track career at Western Kentucky University.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science congratulates Christina Howe, associate professor of electric engineering, on receiving the Dean’s Outstanding Teaching Award for 2017. Howe serves as the UE chapter IEEE advisor and SWE co-advisor. She is also the Indiana Space Grant representative for the college and serves on the board of directors for the Indiana Girls Collaborative Project.

Submitted by Kimberly Higgins kh209@evansville.edu

The Biology Awards Reception was held on April 26 to honor the outstanding achievements of UE biology students during the 2016-17 academic year.

The James A. Brenneman Student Service Award in Biology was given to Brooke Wininger, and the Patricia L. Akrabawi Teaching Assistant Award in Biology was presented to Andrew Nunn. These awards are named in honor of retired professor Jim Brenneman and Pat Akrabawi, respectively, for their long and generous commitment to UE biology students.

The Jerry T. Seng Freshman Biology Award recognizes retired faculty member Jerry Seng for his years of tireless devotion to the success of biology students, especially the freshmen class. The recipient of the most outstanding freshmen award was Skip Maas.

Colton Houchin received the David and Jennifer Pollock Sophomore Biology Award, named in honor of David and Jennifer Pollock (’78) for their generous support and contributions to the biology department.

Josh Baty received the P. “Louie” Winternheimer Junior Biology Award, named in memory of Louie Winternheimer for his 39 years of distinguished teaching and service at UE.

The outstanding senior award is named in honor of UE benefactors Dr. and Mrs. Robertson. The Charles and Patricia Robertson Senior Biology Award was presented to Shelly Sonnenberger.

Congratulations go out to all of the biology majors for their success over the past academic year.

(Photo: From left to right, Colton Houchin, Andrew Nunn, Brooke Wininger, Skip Maas, Josh Baty, and Shelly Sonnenberger)

The History Department of the University of Evansville would like to congratulate Mitch Rick and William Glasscock on their acceptance to law school. Rick received a full tuition scholarship to attend the John Marshall Law School. Glasscock received over $50,000 in scholarship support to attend the Southern Illinois University School of Law. The history department is proud of Mitch and Bill and our many alumni who graduated to pursue the law.

The Task Force would like to thank all the folks who contributed answers to the survey questions, we very much appreciate your contributions. There were numerous insightful recommendations; recycling and energy efficiency were two of the most popular topics. The survey helped to communicate a need for greater education about sustainability initiatives already happening on campus. The task force looks forward to increasing education and awareness. There were also a number of areas for growth identified, which will be outlined in the strategic plan that will presented to President Kazee in late Fall 2017.

Warmest Regards,

The Environmental Sustainability Task Force