Abigail Werling has been named the interim vice president for development and alumni relations for the University of Evansville. This announcement comes after Jack Barner’s retirement following 13 years in the position.

“Abigail was an obvious choice to step into the role of interim vice president,” says UE president Tom Kazee. “She has an impressive record of success as a major gifts officer, has developed great relationships with many friends of the University, and is committed to sustaining the philanthropic momentum that Jack Barner has generated.”

Abigail came to UE in 2004, and has since moved up through the office of development in positions including assistant director of gift planning and capital support, corporate and foundation relations officer, and most recently as the director of gift planning and capital support. In addition to her career at UE, Abigail also worked at Indiana State University as the Director of Development.

“I am honored by the opportunity to have been selected to serve as the interim vice president for development and alumni relations,” Abigail says. “Stepping into this role to join an accomplished administrative and academic leadership team led by Dr. Kazee, a highly capable and supportive Board of Trustees, and a truly talented and hard-working team in development and alumni relations, excites me. I look forward to continuing our division's success whose foundation has been set by the invaluable leadership of Jack Barner.”

Abigail will oversee operations in alumni and parent relations, annual giving, stewardship and special events, gift planning and capital support, and research and advancement services.

“Being involved with fundraising for and completion of the Ridgway University Center is certainly a highlight of my career at UE so far,” Abigail recalls. “The transformation it has and continues to make on our campus is immense.”

Abigail also worked with the class of 1959’s 50th reunion project, chaired by Rita Eykamp, that raised $250,000 to name the Class of 1959 Gallery and Lounge on the second floor of the Ridgway University Center. Early in her tenure at the University, Abigail also enjoyed working with volunteers, donors, and faculty members in the sciences on the Kresge Science Initiative.

“I’m excited for Abigail,” says Jack Barner. “She has grown professionally over the years, and this is an obvious next step for her; it’s a great opportunity.”

Abigail says she is most looking forward to “the challenges of continuing Jack Barner’s excellent work and combining my own personal experiences and direction to the continued forward movement of the University.” 

The One Book One Community – Book Fair at Barnes and Noble is Saturday June 6, at Barnes & Noble in Evansville. (624 S Green River Road). A portion of the book fair proceeds benefit Evansville’s One Book One Community program. Mention One Book One Community upon check-out, or use code 11610011 when you shop online June 6-12 for a portion of your sale to benefit this reading program.

This year’s One Book One Community selection is Orange is the New Black.

On Saturday from noon to 4 pm, stop by Barnes & Noble for some Orange is the New Black fun. Show up wearing orange to be entered into a prize drawing, test your OITNB knowledge with a trivia contest, snap a jail selfie, and enjoy refreshments.

For more information, visit: www.evpl.org/onebook

The Dragon Boat Race is this Saturday, June 6. Team members - please meet at Eagle Crest Lake at 8:00 am. We will have extra waivers and team shirts with us in case anyone wants to join us! Any questions please call the Fitness Center at 2397 or email la87.

Annual employee health screenings are June 9, 10, 11 in the Health Center. Schedule up to 2 appointments when you sign in to AceLink. There is a recommendation for a 12 hour fast because triglycerides are included with the blood fat/cholesterol testing. However, if you are selecting a Wednesday afternoon appointment, please arrive with no less than a 2 hour fast (we will not interpret your triglycerides unless you are fully fasting). Triglycerides do not affect your HRA credit.

Another screening is scheduled in September for those who cannot attend in June.

Questions? Email ch100@evansville.edu or mw307@evansville.edu

The Office of Development is wrapping up another banner fiscal year. Our accomplishments in 2014-15 would not have happened without your support. Whether it was to your department, a special project, or the Annual Fund, your generous gift had a major impact – thank you! Strong internal backing demonstrates the belief in UE’s mission and sends a strong message to alumni and friends of the University.

Please consider supporting UE this fiscal year. Your gift can be directed to anywhere your passion lives on campus – we have a fund for it! Let us help you find a fund on campus where you feel your gift will have the greatest impact.

We encourage you to complete the payroll deduction form by June 10 for bi-weekly payroll or by June 22 for monthly payroll. Contact Jennifer Jacobs at ext. 2021 or jj130 for more information. Thank you and go Aces! 

The summer Healthy Lifestyle Challenge is June 14 - August 8. Complete rules and a weekly tally form is in AceLink>Wellness>Healthy Lifestyle Challenge.

If you want to receive a weekly tally form plus additional health information, sign up during the Health Screenings June 9, 10, 11.

Contact ch100@evansville.edu or mw307@evansville.edu with questions. 

On Saturday June 6 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Civic Center Parking Lot, residents of Vanderburgh County can bring old mercury thermometers, oil based paints and other hazardous materials to be properly disposed of so they do not end up entering local streams and rivers.

This is for households only – no businesses. There are several materials not accepted.

Find out more at the UE Environmental Management Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/University-of-Evansville-Department-of-Environmental-Management/336316706575810?ref=hl

More BENEFITS for Alumni and friends taking the Mediterranean Mosaic 2015 Cruise

The Mediterranean Mosaic Cruise scheduled for October 4 – 13, 2015 offers:
• The $1,000 Early Booking Savings Deadline has been extended until June 30
• Free Pre-Paid gratuities
• Unlimited internet (1 per stateroom)
• $200 ship board credit
• Prices have decreased from the original brochure by $300 per person

Please e-mail alumni@evansville.edu or call 812-488-2586 to receive a cruise brochure. For more information, go to http://www.evansville.edu/alumni/travelCruise.cfm.

To make a reservation, contact Go Next at 800-842-9023 or 952-918-8950.
 

The annual Ohio River Sweep is coming up, and you can help! This annual cleanup for the Ohio River and its tributaries brings thousands of volunteers to the riverbanks to collect tons of trash and debris. River Sweep encompasses the entire length of the river, from its origin in Pittsburgh, PA to its end in Cairo, IL, including nearly 3,000 miles of shoreline and many tributaries. Find out more at the UE Environmental Management Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/University-of-Evansville-Department-of-Environmental-Management/336316706575810?ref=hl

Heidi Strobel, associate professor of art history, was awarded an Indiana Humanities and Indiana Landmarks Historic Preservation Education Grant. This grant will be used for educational materials relating to the Peters-Margedant House, a Usonian style structure which was designed and built by William Wesley Peters during his 1934-36 stay in Evansville. Peters attended Evansville College in the 1920s before going to MIT. He was also a close associate of Frank Lloyd Wright, eventually becoming the leader of Wright’s Taliesin Fellows.

Strobel was assisted in the grant writing process by her Museum and Gallery Studies class, UE grants manager Alicia Harris, and community activist James Renne. The Peters-Margedant House will be moving to campus later on this year. 

Helen Skuggedal Reed, Adjunct Instructor, Organ and Harpsichord, presented a recital, “The Livre d’orgue tradition and the Wolff organ at Redpath Hall,” for the International Conference of the Historical Keyboard Society of North America, held at McGill University, Montreal, Canada, May 21-24 2015.  She was also elected to a second term as Treasurer of the Society, which has over three hundred members worldwide.  For more information:  www.historicalkeyboardsociety.org

Professor of Creative Writing William Baer’s full-length play, Lighthouse, has been chosen as one of this year’s winners of NewPlayFest, a national competition sponsored by AACT (The American Association of Community Theater).  The award will be announced on June 26th at the AACT Convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the play will receive a full production and a three-to-six night run at the Windsor Community Playhouse in Windsor, Colorado, later this year.

Voting amongst coaches and staff members has been completed as Danielle Freeman and Kevin Kaczmarski have been named the top student-athletes for the 2014-15 season at the University of Evansville.

Freeman will receive the Ida M. Stieler Award while Kaczmarski is the recipient of the William V. Slyker Award.

As just a sophomore, Danielle Freeman accomplished the rare feat of earning All-Conference honors in two very different sports. She earned a spot on the First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference Team in swimming while being named a Second Team All-MVC player in softball.

In the pool, Freeman holds five program records and won three MVC Championship titles in her first two seasons with the program. Highlighting her efforts was her participation in the 200 free relay team that not only set the UE mark, but also set the conference record at the 2014 championships.

Due to her standing with the swimming and diving team, Freeman did not begin her softball season until a few weeks into the season as she played in 35 of the Aces’ 55 games in 2015. That had no impact on her play as she led the team with 13 home runs on the season. That put her second in the conference, despite playing at least 15 games fewer than the majority of her competition. She also led the Purple Aces with 28 RBIs and a batting average of .339.

In her senior season with the UE baseball team, Kevin Kaczmarski made program history. His batting average of .465 set the program record and also paced the NCAA. Kaczmarski also led the nation with nine triples while ranking second in slugging percentage (.746) and on-base percentage (.543).

The 2015 MVC Player of the Year was recognized as the NCBWA National Hitter of the Week in April. He was recognized by the Valley in all four of his seasons, earning 2nd team honors in 2012 while being named a First Team All-MVC Player as a sophomore, junior and senior.

Kaczmarski was a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and was also amongst the finalists for the Senior CLASS Award.
 

Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner Doug Elgin announced the championship sites for the 2015-16 season and the list features the University of Evansville hosting the 2015 Women’s Soccer and the 2015 Cross Country championships.

The 2015 MVC Women’s Soccer Championship will be hosted by UE at Arad McCutchan Stadium, on Nov. 6-8. The top six teams (of seven) advance to the championship, and the top two seeds receive a first-round bye. First-round games are on campus sites - Sunday, Nov. 1. The semifinals are Friday, Nov. 6, and the championship is Sunday, Nov. 8. The semifinals and final will air on ESPN3. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship.

Last season, Illinois State won both the regular-season and MVC tournament titles and represented the MVC in the NCAAs, advancing to the second round for a second-straight year. Evansville was the runner-up, coming up just shy of earning the tournament championship last season on ISU’s home field in Normal. McCutchan Stadium opened as an exclusive soccer venue in 2000 and most recently hosted the MVC Women’s Championship in 2013. The 2,500-seat stadium features an enclosed press box and locker rooms.

Evansville will also play host to the Cross Country Championship. Set for October 31, the races will be held at the Angel Mounds Cross Country Course. The Purple Aces ran their first races at the facility in October of 2014 as the women’s team took top team honors in the race. Located on the southeast side of town, the course provides easy access for everyone with its close proximity to Interstate 69.

A full list of all championship sites for the 2015-16 school year is below.

2015-16 Missouri Valley Conference Championship Sites

Date Championship Site (Host School)
Oct. 2-4 Individual Tennis Championship (W) Springfield, Ill. (Bradley)
Oct. 31 Cross Country Championship (M/W) Evansville, Ind. (Evansville)
Nov. 1, 6-8 Soccer Championship (W) Evansville, Ind. (Evansville)
Nov. 11-13-15 Soccer Championship (M) Edwardsville, Ill. (SIU Edwardsville)
Nov. 26-28 Volleyball Championship Springfield, Mo. (Missouri State)
Feb. 17-20 Swimming & Diving Championship (W) Carbondale, Ill. (Southern Illinois)
Feb. 27-28 Indoor Track & Field (M/W) Cedar Falls, Iowa (UNI)
Mar. 3-6 Basketball Championship (M) St. Louis, Mo.
Mar. 10-13 Basketball Championship (W) Moline, Ill.
April 17-19 Golf Championship (W) Chicago, Ill. (Loyola)
April 25-26 Golf Championship (M) Hutchinson, Kan. (Wichita State)
A29-30, M1 Tennis Championship (M & W) Wichita, Kan. (Wichita State)
May 12-14 Softball Championship Carbondale, Ill. (Southern Illinois)
May 13-15 Outdoor Track & Field (M/W) Terre Haute, Ind. (Indiana State)
May 25-28 Baseball Championship Terre Haute, Ind. (Indiana State)

*The opening round of the MVC Women’s Soccer Championship will be on Sunday, Nov. 1, at campus sites.
 

University of Evansville senior Kevin Kaczmarski was named a 2015 Louisville Slugger NCAA Division I First Team All-American, in an announcement by Collegiate Baseball newspaper on Thursday morning. Kaczmarski is one of only 17 players in the country who were named First Team All-American.

The UE outfielder leads all Division I baseball players in batting average (.465), triples (nine), and triples per game (0.20). He is also second in the nation in on-base percentage (.543), second in slugging percentage (.746), fifth in runs batted in per game (1.24), 15th in hits (86), 19th in total bases (138), and 22nd in doubles per game (0.21)

A Cary, Ill. native, Kaczmarski led the Purple Aces this season in batting average (.465), hits (86), doubles (19), triples (nine), home runs (five), runs batted in (57), total bases (138), slugging percentage (.746), on-base percentage (.543), stolen bases (13), and fielding percentage (1.000).

Kaczmarski was the Missouri Valley Conference’s Joe Carter Player of the Year this season, the first Purple Ace in program history to receive the honor. He was also named First Team All-Conference, and selected to the MVC All-Defensive Team this spring. A three time MVC Player of the Week this season, Kaczmarski was also named NCBWA National Hitter of the Week (Apr. 28). He is also on the Dick Howser Trophy Watch List, a Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist and one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award.

This is the second Louisville Slugger postseason honor for Kaczmarski. He was the 10th player in program history to be named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American in 2012.

Kaczmarski is the eighth postseason All-American in program history, and first since current pitching coach Cody Fick was named a Louisville Slugger Second Team All-American in 2011.

For all of the latest information on Evansville baseball, log on to GoPurpleAces.com or follow the team’s Twitter account @UEAcesBaseball.