The University of Evansville's 155th Commencement ceremony will take place this Saturday, May 4, at the Ford Center in downtown Evansville. The ceremony starts at 1:30 p.m. with student robing at 12:30 p.m. and faculty robing at 12:45 p.m. The Baccalaureate service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday in Neu Chapel.

Graduates, if you have family and friends who will be unable to attend, please let them know that they can watch Commencement via live streaming at http://www.evansville.edu/commencement/live.cfm. A video of the Commencement ceremony will be posted on this page next week. 

Please join the Department of Philosophy & Religion for a retirement reception honoring Professor of Philosophy Dick Connolly.  The reception will be held on Tuesday, April 30, from 2:00–3:30 p.m. in Olmsted Hall on the third floor. 

Connolly received his B.A. degree in Biology from Trinity College, and his M.A. degree and Ph.D. from Michigan State University.  A former Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, he has also served as the director of the Honors Program, Chair of the Promotion and Tenure committee, University Ombudsman,  past president and vice president of the Faculty Senate, guest lecturer for the Andiron and Crick Lectures as well as multitudes of other campus and community groups. 

He has published articles on David Hume as well as philosophy of religion as well as presented at numerous profession meetings in the areas of applied ethics, and was campus coordinator for the Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellows Program and numerous other standing and ad hoc committees. Connolly is also a member of the American Philosophical Association., the Indiana Philosophical Association., the International Hume Society, former president of the Evansville Green River Kiwanis, an NCAA soccer referee, and has taught various classes at Washington Middle School in Evansville.  (The man also LOVES Tootsie Rolls!)

The UE softball team is partnering with ZTA to host a PINK game tomorrow, Wednesday, May t at 6:00 pm. There will be raffles and t-shirts for sale. All proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. If you are still in town the Aces would love your support for this great cause!

There will be  an open house reception for Jackie Cooper-Galey on Wednesday, May 1 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Office of Accounting and Audit, OH 213.  Please join us in wishing her well in her new endeavor.

The Office of the Registrar and the Center for Academic Advisement are closing at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 3 in order to prepare for Saturday's commencement ceremony. The offices will continue to work with faculty members via phone and e-mail regarding any final grading issues on Friday.

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 Bookstore is having a 20% OFF sale April 25 through May 1.  All UE Clothing and Gift items will be discounted 20% off the original price of the item.  There are also a few clearance items still priced to sell.  It's a good time to get something for that special graduate.

Summer session I books are available for purchase in the store and on the bookstore website.  During buyback (Apr 24-May 1) the textbook area is closed BUT if you need a book for summer session I all you have to do is ask store staff and they will be happy to retrieve your book for you.  Once buyback is over (May 2) the textbook area will be open as usual.  If you have any questions please contact the Bookstore. 

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 to the statement on or before May 21 (cycle end date) will be paid from FY 2012-2013 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 22 through May 31 will be paid from FY 2013-2014 (new year) funds, unless the item purchased exceeds $500.  Purchases exceeding $500 will be paid from FY 2012-2013 funds.

Office Depot Orders
• Normally, Office Depot orders placed by 3 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 13 will likely post on the May 21 Pcard Cycle and be paid from FY 2012-2013 funds.
• Office Depot orders placed and received but posting to the Pcard between May 22 and May 31 will be paid from FY 2013-2014 funds, unless the items purchased exceed $500.  Purchases exceeding $500 will be paid from FY 2012-2013 funds.

Purchase Orders
• Approved requisitions converted into purchase orders and delivered by May 31 will be paid from FY 2012-2013 funds.
• Approved Requisitions indicating FY 2013-2014 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 2013-2014 funds.

Blanket Orders
• All FY 2012-2013 Blanket orders expire on May 31, 2013.
• Approved Requisitions for FY 2013-2014 (new year) Blanket Orders may now be submitted with June 1, 2013 through May 31, 2014 effective dates.
• Backordered Blanket Purchase Order items not delivered by May 31, 2013 will be paid from FY 2013-2014 funds.

Requisitions for Check Request
• All services completed and items purchased less than $100 and on campus by May 31, must be submitted on a requisition to Accounting & Audit by 5 p.m. on Monday, June 10 to be paid from FY 2012-2013 funds.
• The requisitions must have appropriate approvals and funds available to be charged to FY 2012-2013.
• Any requisitions less than $100 not submitted by this time or those submitted without appropriate approvals or without funds available will be charged to your budget in FY 2013-2014.
• All services completed and items purchased for $100 or more and on campus by May 31 must be submitted on a requisition to Accounting and Audit by Monday, June 17 to be paid from FY 2012-2013 funds. Any requisitions not submitted by this time will be charged to your budget in FY 2013-2014.

This is a reminder that all UrEntal books are due back in the Bookstore by May 1 at 5PM.  Rentals returned after that date will be assessed a late fee of $10.  Students that rented books from SKYO can also return their books to the Bookstore and the Bookstore will ship those books back for you.  UrEntal books are desiginated by the purple and white sticker on the spine, SKYO rentals have no designation on them.  During Buyback please bring all rental returns only to the station marked as the "Rental Returns".  Those books that are not rentals can be sold at the Buyback table next to the return area.  If you have any questions in regard to your rental books please contact the UE Bookstore.

The semester end book buyback at the UE Bookstore runs Noon, April 24th through 4PM on May 1st.  We freely quote books whether used on this campus or not.  Please remember to bring all components of books you purchased as it may affect the price you receive.  Workbooks and programmed texts generally need to be clean of marks to have any value.  We have a large listing of books we are offering special pricing well above wholesale.  Also everytime you sell books you can register for the drawing where we are giving away an iPad and a $100 Bookstore gift card. Winners will be notified.  Also during the week all clothing and gifts will be 20% off the regular price during the buyback period.  And don't forget if your group is registered for the Group Buyback Promotion be sure to use your code to credit your group's total so that your group can win the $200 first prize.  Bring your student ID as well, you do NOT need your original receipt to sell books.  AND YOU ALWAYS GET CASH ON THE SPOT!  If you have any questions please contact the UE Bookstore. 

UE Libraries will extend its schedule of hours for Final Examinations beginning on Reading/Study Day
through April 30th.  Hours schedule follows.  Contact William Louden, University Librarian, with
questions at either 488.2376  or wflouden@evansville.edu.


·         Wednesday, April 24th:     7:45  a.m.  -  1:00  a.m.
·          Thursday, April 25th:          7:45  a.m.  -  1:00  a.m.
·          Friday, April 26th:                7:45  a.m.  -  8:00  p.m.
·          Saturday, April 27th:         10:00 a.m.  -  8:00  p.m.
·          Sunday, April 28th:                      Noon  -  1:00  a.m.            
·          Monday, April 29th:            7:45  a.m.  -  1:00  a.m.
·          Tuesday, April 30th:            7:45  a.m.  -  Midnight
·          Wednesday, May 1st:       7:45  a.m.  -  5:00  p.m.

Please email Brittany Chidester if you are interested in being a part of a new, gluten-free group on campus! Whether you suffer from Celiac or wheat/gluten allergies, this is a great opportunity for you. Our objective is to provide a supportive network for students, to promote celiac disease and gluten-free awareness within our community and to advocate for gluten free options on campus.

Please email Brittany at bc63@evansville.edu if you are interested.
 

The Deans Teaching Award winners have been announced. They are:

Amy Hall, department chair and professor of nursing - College of Education and Health Sciences

Alan Kaiser, associate professor of  archaeology, and Anthony Beavers, professor of philosophy and director of the Cognitive Science Program– Arts and Sciences

Yasser Alhenawi, assistant professor of finance – School of Business

Mark Valenzuela, associate professor of mechanical and civil engineering – Engineering

Creative Writing Professors Rob Griffith and Margaret McMullan were guest judges and workshop leaders for the Letters for Literature State Contest and the Inaugural Young Literary Day sponsored by the Indiana State Library and the Library of Congress Center for the Book. Griffith and McMullan joined other professors from Purdue and University of Indianapolis to lead poetry and fiction writing workshops for the 185 winning Indiana students at the State Library in Indianapolis , Saturday, April 27. Over 300 guests, including students and teachers attended the ceremony. Professor McMullan delivered the keynote address.

Letters About Literature is a national reading-writing contest that asks students in grades 4-12 to write a personal letter to an author, explaining how his or her work changed their view of the world or themselves. Letters About Literature is a program of the Indiana Center for the Book and sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

Robin C. Sager, assistant professor of history, has been named a Summer Scholar by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). As one of twenty-five scholars selected, from an international pool, Dr. Sager will spend two weeks in June at a NEH Summer Institute in Savannah, Georgia. The Institute will focus on an exploration of African-American culture and life in Savannah and Georgia’s coastal islands and is co-sponsored by the Georgia Historical Society.

Freshman Rick Voyvodic and junior Quinn Vilneff are tied for tenth place as the University of Evansville men’s golf team finished the first two rounds of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship at Dalhousie Country Club.

Vilneff carded the low round of the day for UE in the first 18 as he finished with a 73.  Round two saw him notch a 77 on his way to a 150.  Voyvodic posted a 76 in the opening round of play before tallying a 74 on the second trip around the course to stand in a 10th-place tie at his first conference championship.

Fellow frosh Alex Turner is five shots behind the duo of Vilneff and Voyvodic with a 155.  Standing in a tie for 27th, Turner began with a 77 before registering a 78 in the second round.  Parker Hensley recorded a 157 and is tied for 33rd while Will Knights posted a 163 on Monday and is tied for 41st.

Pre-tournament favorite Wichita State is showing why with their performance on Monday.  The Shockers own the top four overall scores while all five of their players are in the top ten.  Their efforts have seen them take a healthy 24-shot lead going into Tuesday’s final round.

Louis Cohen Boyer is three under par with a 141 to lead teammate Rafael Becker by one stroke.  Boyer had a 3-under 69 in the first round before shooting an even 72.  Becker posted a 74 before carding the low round of the day, a 4-under 68, on his way to second.  Hunter Sparks and Calvin Pearson are tied for third with a 143.

WSU finished Monday with a 569 and are 24 shots over Illinois State, who is second with a 593.  Host Southern Illinois is in third standing at 600 while Drake (609) and Bradley (611) round out the top five.  Evansville is tied with Northern Iowa at 612, just one shot out of the top five.  Missouri State (615) and Creighton (629) round out the field.

Team and player standings will be posted as soon as they are available.  They can be viewed here right away:  http://www.golfstatresults.com//public/leaderboards/team/static/team_players_4138.html.

University of Evansville Athletics Director John Stanley has announced the hiring of Manolo Concepción as the head volleyball coach for the Purple Aces.

Concepción comes to the University of Evansville after working in several capacities in volleyball in Puerto Rico.  He was formerly the head coach at Western Carolina for two seasons and assisted at UE in 2008, helping lead the Aces to their last Missouri Valley Conference Tournament appearance.

“We are happy to welcome back Manolo Concepción to the University of Evansville family,” Stanley said.  “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will truly be an asset to our program.  His familiarity with UE along with the Missouri Valley Conference as a whole made him stand out as the person we need to lead our program.”

Since 2011, Concepción has served as the President of Sports Consultants Network, LLC, a company that he co-founded.  His company works with athletes in several sports and is regarded as the top consulting agency of its kind in Puerto Rico.  Their services have helped to get athletes over $5.5 million in scholarships, breaking every record the country has seen.

His company has helped over three-dozen athletes earn NCAA and NJCAA scholarships.  It helped to give the athletes organized and developed training guides that helped them to be successful while trying to gain an education at a student-athlete in the United States.

“I feel privileged and happy to have this opportunity, it will be a great challenge for me in my life,” Concepción said.  “I look forward to continuing to develop the Evansville program.  They have a great program and play in one of the top conferences in the nation.”

“Having the right philosophy and system in place along with getting the right kids into our system is very important moving forward.  I can’t wait to work with the girls, there is a bright future for Evansville and I appreciate the opportunity that John (Stanley) and Sarah (Solinsky) have given me.”

Along with his work at the Sports Consultants Network, Concepción has served as the assistant coach and defensive coordinator with the Guaynabo Mets of the Superior League in Puerto Rico.  In that position, he was in charge of scouting, blocking assignments and back row defensive locations.  He also plans practices while working in other facets with his squad. 

The Superior League is regarded as one of the top ten leagues in the world and Concepción has worked in coaching athletes worldwide including the United States, Puerto Rico, Italy and others. 

Prior to that, he spent two years as a Change Agent and Head Coach at the School of Sports in San Juan.  He rebuilt their program inside and out, working with young players on developing short and long-term goals using micro and macro cycles.  He taught them how to get to a different playing level using scientific-based programs.

Concepcion’s extensive coaching career began when he founded the Island’s Best Volleyball Club in Puerto Rico at the age of 21 and soon after became its president. In 2004, he became the assistant coach for the men’s volleyball team at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez before being named the head coach of the semi-professional team Vega Baja in the Puerto Rican League at the age of 22.

The Toa Baja, Puerto Rico native began his collegiate coaching career in 2005 where he worked at Colby Community College in Kansas.  In 2007, at just 25 years of age, he was the youngest head coach in the history of the Kansas Jayhawk Conference. He led the Trojans to a 20-19 mark in his only year as the team’s head coach.

In early 2008, he became an assistant at UE. He assisted the club jump from a seventh place finish in 2007 to reaching the Missouri Valley Conference tournament in 2008. He also helped the Purple Aces in upsetting national powerhouses Missouri State and Northern Iowa during his one-year stint.

Those efforts at Evansville helped him gain his first Division I head coaching job at Western Carolina.  He held that post for two years while taking on the task of rebuilding the program.  He implemented instructional goals and objectives that have seen the program turn around in recent years. 

Before his coaching career, Concepcion played college volleyball at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez before transferring to Concordia College in New York. In 2002, he was drafted by the San Sebastian Caribes of the Puerto Rico Professional Superior League. He was a member of the Puerto Rico Youth National Team in 1998-1999 that played at international tournaments held in Venezuela and Dominican Republic and also played club with three primary Puerto Rican clubs: Club Vaqueros, Club Torrimar, & Club Arsel.

Concepcion received his Bachelor of Arts degree in organizational management and leadership from Ashford University in San Diego, Calif. in 2008 before earning his M.B.A. from Ashford in 2011.  He is certified in all three national coaching levels given by the Volleyball Federation of Puerto Rico and completed the international coaching certification given by the International Volleyball Federation which allows him to coach in any part of the world.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“Manolo is a very good technical trainer and works very hard to help make his players become the best they can be.  He has a great passion for the game and I have enjoyed talking volleyball with him over the years.  I am excited to have him back in the Valley and know with his connections he will make an immediate impact on the Evansville volleyball program.”

- Melissa Stokes – head coach – Missouri State University – has led MSU to seven NCAA Tournaments and is the all-time leader in MVC history in conference wins

“Manolo worked our camp the summer prior to his time at Evansville.  What we learned during those weeks is obviously the same thing the University of Evansville saw during his tenure there: in Manolo you have a compassionate, hardworking coach, who has a deep love and respect of the game.  He has all the skills to be successful in this profession.”

-Mary Wise – head coach – University of Florida – 2-time AVCA National Head Coach of the Year, 12-time SEC Coach of the Year

“I am excited for Manolo. He is a great person and a good coach. He is honest, loyal and hard working. He cares about his athletes and will work extremely hard to help them reach their potential in the classroom and on the court. He has tremendous knowledge of the game of Volleyball and is a good teacher. Manolo will do wonderful things at The University of Evansville.”

- Jose Gandara – head coach – University of Miami – former assistant coach at the University of Washington

“This is a great situation for him and he will be an asset for the program and University.  He works extremely hard and is a tremendous teacher and communicator.  It was a very good experience for me to be able to work with him.  The players we worked with liked him a lot and he was a great asset for us to be able to make it to the playoffs together.  His knowledge in practice and running the team was great for us and will be the same at UE.”

- Javier Gaspar – mentor, former Penn State and USA National Team setter, coached together with Guaynabo Mets and in Pro League

“It is a great opportunity for Manolo.  He is a well-prepared young coach.  He has a lot to offer a great program like the University of Evansville.”

- Monchito Hernandez – former Penn State outside hitter, Beach Volleyball Olympian, current coach for Corozal Pinkin Pro Team

“He was my middles coach and was always very friendly and extremely smart.  His knowledge of the campus and how things run at UE makes him a great choice for the position.  He was a great leader and I looked up to him when on his team.”

- Emily Wandersee – former player – University of Evansville – 2-time All-MVC Second Team member, finished career ranked in the top ten in the UE record book in kills, blocks and block assists

Come out Wednesday, May 1 to cheer on your Ace's Softball team as they face Western Kentucky in the first annual "Save Second Base" game. This game is raising money for Susan G Komen. $1 from every ticket will go to the foundation. The game starts at 6 pm but get there early to check out the t-shirts for sale and raffles. Donations are welcome. So please come out and support Susan G Komen and UE Softball May 1st. And don't forget to wear pink! If you have any questions email Heather Sisk at hs92@evansville.edu. Hope to see you there!

University of Evansville senior pitcher Kyle Lloyd was named the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week, in an announcement made by the league office Monday afternoon.

Lloyd earned Evansville’s lone win on the mound last week by turning a stellar complete-game performance in the Aces’ 2-1 win over MVC foe Missouri State Saturday afternoon.  The senior right-hander allowed just one run and tied a career-high by notching 12 strikeouts around just two walks.  Lloyd scattered five hits in the outing and worked out of a jam in the top of the ninth, as the Bears’ leadoff hitter reached on a three-base error, before Lloyd kept MSU off the scoreboard with a pair of groundouts and a strikeout.

The MVC Pitcher of the Week honor is the second for Lloyd this season, as he previously earned the honor back on March 11.

The Aces will return to the diamond Wednesday, May 1, when they host cross-town rival Southern Indiana at 6 p.m.