All are welcome to join us as we celebrate Mass on Sunday, February 7, at 1:00 p.m., in Neu Chapel. We hope to see you there! Please call/text Kristel at 812-760-8610 for more information!

Eykamp String Quartet member and EPO principal violist Rose Wollman will present a Faculty Recital in Wheeler Concert Hall this Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. Accompanied by pianist Clare Longendyke, Wollman will perform works by contemporary French composer Emile Naoumoff, a student of Nadia Boulanger, and nineteenth-century Belgian composer Henri Vieuxtemps. The concert is free and open to the public. 

All are welcome to join us as we celebrate our Ash Wednesday Mass on Wednesday, February 10, 5:00 p.m., in Neu Chapel. Bishop Charles Thompson will be here to celebrate with us as we begin the holy season of Lent. We hope to see you there! Please call/text Kristel at 812-760-8610 for more information!

Please join Religious Life and the Department of History as we welcome Rabbi Mark Glickman to UE on Saturday, February 6. He will speak at 7:00 p.m. in Room 170, Schroeder School of Business Administration Building. This event is free and open to the public.

Glickman’s talk will be based on his book, Sacred Treasure: The Cairo Genizah: The Amazing Discoveries of Forgotten Jewish History in an Egyptian Synagogue Attic.

The subject of Glickman’s book and lecture is a discovery made in 1896, by Rabbi Solomon Schechter of Cambridge University. In that year, Schechter stepped into the attic of the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Cairo, Egypt, and found the largest treasure trove of medieval and early manuscripts ever discovered. He had entered the synagogue's genizah - its repository for damaged and destroyed Jewish texts which held nearly 300,000 individual documents, many of which were over 1,000 years old.

Considered among the most important discoveries in modern religious history, its contents contained early copies of some of the Dead Sea Scrolls, early manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible, and other sacred literature. The importance of the genizah's contents rivals that of the Rosetta Stone, and by virtue of its sheer mass alone, it will continue to command our attention indefinitely.

Glickman’s book has been described as “Indiana Jones meets The Da Vinci Code in an old Egyptian synagogue.” It is the first accessible, comprehensive account of Schechter’s astounding discovery. It is an amazing story of one of the most important discoveries in modern religious scholarship. The book explains why this enormous collection was amassed, how it was discovered and the many lessons to be found in its contents. It will also show how Schechter’s find, though still being "unpacked" today, forever transformed our knowledge of the Jewish past, Muslim history, and much more.

Need to improve your study and time management skills? Love technology? Then join us today at 4:00 p.m., in Eykamp Hall, Rooms 253 and 254, Ridgway University Center, for an informative and interactive program that will show you apps and strategies that will improve your note taking, studying, and time management skills. The presentation is hands-on as Brian Norton, director of assistive technology at Easter Seals Crossroads, will be bringing 50 iPads for participants to use. The apps and strategies demonstrated can be used on a variety of devices. This event is open to everyone on campus and sponsored by Disability Services, Academic Advising, and the Resource Center. Contact db132@evansville.edu with any questions.

It's almost time! The Honors Program is hosting Nerd Wars Trivia Night on Tuesday, February 16, at 7:00 p.m. in Eykamp Hall, Ridgway University Center Teams of five consisting of students, faculty, administrators, and staff will battle in a competition of wit while enjoying pizza, popcorn, and soda. The winning student team and the winning faculty/administrator/staff team will receive $25 MasterCard/VISA gift cards.

Registration materials can be picked up in the Powell Honors Lounge, from Jayme Williams in Room 238, Koch Center for Engineering and Science, or by clicking here.

The entry fee is $5 per person.

Those who are unable to compose a team of five may still register. Any questions can be e-mailed to Stephen at sl192@evansville.edu or Paige at ph89@evansville.edu.

Spectators and participants may also enter in the ELFFAR (this is not a raffle) for the chance to win a LG Tone Pro wireless headset, a Sony Blue Tooth wireless speaker, a Fitbit Flex wireless wristband, a Roku streaming stick with remote, Buffalo Wild Wings gift cards, Hacienda Mexican Restaurant gift cards, TGI Friday’s gift cards, Orange Leaf gift cards, a selfie stick, and more!

The UE Alumni Association is once again sponsoring Alumni Research and Scholarly Activity Fellowships (ARSAF) for faculty. Applications for funding for the 2016-17 fiscal year are due by 5:00 p.m. on April 1. More information and the online application can be found here on AceLink. 

Questions? Contact alumni@evansville.edu or ext. 2586.

Road Trip host applications are due today, Friday, February 5. Road Trip is February 19-21. Apply now to host at acelink.evansville.edu/forms/admission/RoadTripAssistance.cfm, by e-mailing Ashley Ross at aj53@evansville.edu, or Jonathan Kelly at jk115@evansville.edu, or stopping by the Office of Admission in Room 104, Olmsted Administration Hall.

Payal Patel-Dovlatabadi, assistant professor and director of public health, was invited for an in-depth segment on Eyewitness News to discuss the Zika virus. The interview can be found here.

The School of Education is proud to announce that its program in special education - mild intervention - has received national recognition from the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).

The CEC, considered the leading body in the field of special education, requires a lengthy, detailed process to verify that a program qualifies for recognition. Relevant student data must be tracked and gathered, and evidence must show that program quality meets CEC standards.

This recognition increases the program's credibility because of the excellence it requires. Students, professors, and administrators benefit as the program gains additional prestige. 

The School of Education is proud to announce that its program in elementary education has received national recognition from the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), a global community of educators and advocates who unite knowledge, experience, and perspectives in order to exchange information, explore innovation, and advocate for children.

The recognition is data driven. The school’s faculty develop rubrics and provide evidence that the programs meet ACEI’s standards, including that the school’s teacher candidates have demonstrated a high level of competence in the use of the major concepts, principles, theories, and research related to the development of children and young adolescents.

The data also provided evidence that teacher candidates are well educated in collaboration with families, colleagues, and community agencies, and in being able to reflect on their professional growth.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the 10 watch list finalists for the 2016 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award. Named after Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the annual honor in its second year recognizes the top centers in men’s college basketball. A national committee composed of top college basketball personnel, determined the watch list of 20 candidates in October, which has now been narrowed to just 10.

“When it comes to collegiate centers, none have accomplished more than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and we are pleased to include him in this celebration of the best in the game today,” said John L. Doleva, president and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “The 10 athletes on this list should be very proud of what they have accomplished, and we look forward to watching them play as they head toward the postseason.”

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played for legendary coach John Wooden at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1966-1969. He is a three-time NCAA Champion who earned numerous accolades including three-time Final Four Most Outstanding Player, three-time National College Player of the Year, and three-time Consensus First-Team All-American (1967-1969). Abdul-Jabbar is a 1995 inductee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and six-time NBA Champion.

In March, five finalists will be presented to Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee for the 2016 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award. The winner of the 2016 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy’s from Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California, on Friday, April 8. Broadcast information will be released at a later date.

Last season, Frank Kaminsky of Wisconsin was named the inaugural winner of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award. For more information on the 2016 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, log onto www.HoophallAwards.com.

2016 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award Finalists
Moses Kingsley, Arkansas
Josh Scott, Colorado
Egidijus Mockevicius, Evansville
Domantas Sabonis, Gonzaga
Zach Auguste, Notre Dame
AJ Hammons, Purdue
Jakob Poeltl, Utah
Ben Bentil, Providence
Josh Hawkinson, Washington State
Joel Bolomboy, Weber State

Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was invented, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate, and high school, for both men and women on the global stage.

One of the true legends of Purple Aces athletics was honored on Thursday as Lois Patton was presented with the Missouri Valley Conference John Sanders Spirit of the Valley Award at a luncheon on the University of Evansville campus.

“I give my thanks to the MVC for selecting me for this award,” Patton said. “John Sanders was a great man who worked with such a passion; it is great for the conference to keep his memory alive with this award.”

Senior associate commissioner of the MVC – Patty Viverito – was on hand to represent the league and present Patton with the award.

“I cannot think of a better way to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day than to be here honoring Lois Patton,” Viverito said. “Lois is such a deserving candidate for this award. This is a memorial award in honor of John Sanders, who died way too young in a car accident.”

Lois was a pioneer in women’s collegiate athletics, not just in Evansville, but the region as a whole. Her contributions gave countless female student-athletes the chance to play the sports that they love while also achieving a college degree in a time where that was not the norm. She helped to build women’s athletics at the University of Evansville into the Division I program that it is today.

Patton is a native of Harrisburg, Illinois. After graduating from Harrisburg Township High School in 1957, Patton officially commenced her career in athletics as she attended Middle Tennessee State University where she graduated with a degree in health and physical education in 1961.

Just a year later, she received her master’s in education from MTSU. Her work at UE began in 1966 when she joined another pioneer in female sports – Ida Stieler – in the physical education department. From the beginning, it was Patton’s goal to give females the opportunity to compete at the highest level of collegiate athletics.

Starting from scratch with a goal of that magnitude is a monumental task for most people. Good thing for UE, Lois Patton is not like most people. Her work culminated with the formation of the first four female varsity sports in program history at UE – tennis, volleyball, basketball, and softball. Patton immediately served as the head coach for basketball and softball while coaching tennis and volleyball in the years to come.

The formation of four varsity sports at a university is a task that took countless hours of work, recruiting, and practice. As impressive of a feat that is, that was only a small portion of the work that Lois did at UE. She simultaneously served as a professor of health and physical education, director of the women’s sports program, and a coach of two or more sports over the next 10 years. One of her most impressive coaching accomplishments came in 1976 when she led the Purple Aces to second place in the State Tournament.

In today’s world, budgets for collegiate sports teams can go into the millions. When Patton started, her budget totaled just $150. Despite all of the hurdles, she had a successful career in coaching that lasted until 1981. She did not let those hurdles limit what women’s athletics at UE could do. In fact, she expanded to six varsity teams. She also played a pivotal role in the Purple Aces joining the North Star Conference in 1983. Evansville was one of six charter members of the conference, joining DePaul, Detroit, Loyola, Notre Dame, and Xavier. It was Patton’s work as women’s athletic director at UE that gave them a chance to form the conference with some of the more established programs that were in the league. Despite leaving coaching in 1981, Patton’s work at the University was not done.

It was just beginning. In 1978, Patton became the head of the UE Department of Physical Education. In that era, it was truly a rarity for a female to be the head of the PE department. Following her departure from coaching, Patton put all of her concentration on that department where she looked to expand the curriculum. Just as she did in the athletic department, she was able to accomplish all of the goals that she set forth. In her time as chair, the major grew to include athletic training, sport studies, and exercise science.

Lois retired in the late 1990s, but her work with the University has continued to this day. She is one of the pivotal members of the UE Athletics Hall of Fame Committee. Her insight has opened the door for countless females to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Lois has been able to give details on these women that have made the difference in them being recognized by UE in a permanent fashion. Patton also continues to attend UE athletic events on a regular basis and even assists the Sports Information Department with photography.

One of the most prestigious awards that is given to a UE student-athlete is named in Lois’s honor. The Lois Patton Award is given annually to the top female senior student-athlete at the University and is based on athletic achievement, success in the classroom and community service, and is the senior scholar-athlete award

The Missouri Valley Conference presents the Spirit of The Valley Award to honor a student-athlete, coach or university administrator who exemplifies the spirit of the late John Sanders, former MVC assistant commissioner for operations. Criteria includes, but is not limited to, passion for the Conference, strong work ethic, and sense of humor.

“We are very grateful the Missouri Valley Conference selected Lois for this award,” said UE senior athletic director for internal operations Sarah Solinsky. “Her numerous contributions to women's athletics and the student-athletes experience at UE should always be remembered.”