The UE community is invited to attend the annual UE MLK, Jr. Day Speech Contest Semifinals on Monday, January 9 at 4:00 p.m. in Eykamp 251, Ridgway University Center. During the semifinal round, the six semifinalists (all local high school students) will present their speeches to the UE MLK, Jr. Program Committee and will be judged on their oratorical ability. 

These six semifinalists will be narrowed down to three finalists who will compete on Monday, January 16 during the Talk for Peace program at 1:30 p.m. in Eykamp 251. 

 The UE Bookstore will be open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, January 8 to accomodate any needs during that day. The Ridgway University Center will otherwise be closed on Saturday.  The Bookstore will be CLOSED on Sunday, January 9. 
 

UE faculty, staff, students, and community are invited to attend the free (bring your lunch) Lunch & Learn session on Wednesday, January 11, from noon–12:50 p.m. in Eykamp 253, Ridgway University Center.  The session will be presented by Centennial Wealth Advisory on "Maximizing Your Retirement Savings Program." Please contact Judy Caldwell at jc313@evansville.edu if you have questions. This event is sponsored by the Center for Adult Education. 
 

The Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, has presented UE Director of Financial Aid JoAnn Laugel with the State Leadership Award for Indiana. JoAnn has worked in UE's Office of Financial Aid since 1980, and has been the director since 1999. JoAnn’s service benefits not only the University of Evansville, but the entire southwestern Indiana region. She is viewed by local media and high school guidance counselors as an expert resource for financial aid information and advocate for students and families.

The MASFAA State Leadership Award is presented annually to recognize outstanding leadership. The recipients must have made outstanding contributions to the financial aid profession at the state and regional levels over a sustained period of time, i.e., seven years or more. The individuals selected for this award must: exhibit high integrity and character; have shown creative leadership; have inspired and encouraged others to participate actively in professional development activities; have sustained active involvement in professional organizations, and have supported the goals and objectives of MASFAA.
 

Phil Plisky, assistant professor of physical therapy, was a featured presenter at last weekend's Major League Soccer Medical Symposium, a professional educational event focused on treatment and prevention of soccer-related injuries.

The symposium, sponsored by the Hospital for Special Surgery Office of Continuing Medical Education and Major League Soccer, took place Saturday, January 7 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

In his presentation, titled “Screening Athletes for Injury Potential: Identifying the At-Risk Player,” Plisky spoke to some of the nation’s leading sports medicine professionals — including the medical personnel of Major League Soccer teams — about injury prevention research and practical implementation of injury prevention strategies.

Sympathy is extended to Kimberly Higgins, administrative assistant for Foreign Languages, Philosophy and Religion, and Archaeology and Art History, on the death of her father, Jerry W. Carmen, Sr., 73, of Evansville.  Mr. Carmen died Wednesday, January 4, at Deaconess Gateway Hospital. Services will be held at 2 p.m., on Sunday, January 8, at Blue Grass United Methodist Church, 14240 Petersburg Rd, Evansville.  Burial will be in Blue Grass Cemetery. Friends may call from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m., on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at Boone Funeral Home - East Chapel, 5330 Washington Ave., Evansville and again from 1 p.m. until time of service at 2 p.m., on Sunday at the church.  Memorial Contributions may be made to Feed the Children.org, PO Box 36, Oklahoma City, OK 73101. Condolences may be made to the family online at boonefuneralhome.net

Leading by just one point at the break, the visiting University of Northern Iowa Panthers used a 12-0 run to start the second half en route to a 61-51 defeat over the University of Evansville women’s basketball team Thursday night at the Ford Center. The loss drops the Purple Aces’ record to 3-11 on the season and 0-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while UNI improves to 9-5 overall and 2-1 in the MVC.

Junior Samantha Heck led the Aces with 15 points, 13 of which were scored in the first half, and six rebounds, followed by classmate Meagan Collins’ 11 points and seven boards. Senior Briyana Blair nearly had her fourth double-double of the season with nine points and 13 rebounds. Staci Gillum added eight points and four assists.

After Northern Iowa scored the first basket of the night, Evansville responded with a 7-0 run sparked by Collins’ three, and capped by Heck and Ware’s layups, as UE held a 7-2 advantage at the first media timeout. The rollercoaster first half consisted of five tied scores and six lead changes, including UNI’s 6-0 run that put them ahead, 8-7, briefly at the 13:55 mark.
Heck’s jumper regained the lead for the Aces, but another 6-0 run by the Panthers stretched the margin to five points, 14-9, at the under 12 team timeout.

Heck tied the score, 19-19, with back-to-back baskets and Gillum gave Evansville the lead, 26-23, draining a three with 4:44 remaining.

With the score tied in the final minute of the half, UNI’s Brittni Donaldson made 1-of-2 free throws to send the Panthers into the lockerroom leading 29-28.

Despite shooting 42.3 percent (11-26) from the field in the first half, Evansville came out cold to start the second, going 0-for-12 from the floor. The Panthers held UE scoreless in their 12-0 run until Collins broke the drought with two free throws at the 15:21 mark.

Gillum’s drive down the middle of the lane with 12:10 remaining, gave the Aces’ their first field goal of the stanza, cutting into UNI’s leads, 43-32.

Evansville battled back to get within eight points on Blair’s layup with 6:31 to go, but the Panthers used a 10-0 run to build their lead to an insurmountable 18 points, 61-43, with a little over three minutes remaining.

The Aces did not allow another UNI point in the final minutes, outscoring the Panthers 8-0, to cut the final deficit to 10 points, 61-51.

In the game, Evansville shot 31.7 percent (19-60) from the field and 28.6 percent (6-21) from three, while UNI shot 40.3 percent (25-62) from the floor and 28.0 percent (7-25) from behind the arc. The Aces won the battle of the boards, 42-39, pulling down 17 offensive rebounds, led by Blair’s five.
UNI’s Mercedes Morgan led all scorers with 17 points, as three Panthers reached double figures. Amber Kirschbaum recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Rachel Madrigal logged 11 points and eight boards.
The Aces are back in action Sunday, hosting Bradley University at 1:00 p.m. CT. The Braves (10-5, 1-2 MVC) topped Southern Illinois tonight, 72-59.