One of the ways that the University of Evansville recognizes and publicizes student success is through Merit, a social media and hometown news service. Merit automatically creates a personal web page for each student where badges and stories about his or her achievements are displayed. Examples of achievements that might be highlighted in this way include being named to the Dean’s List, joining an organization, presenting at a conference, or receiving an award.

Whenever a student achieves something notable, the University adds a badge and information about that accomplishment to the student’s Merit page. The information is also sent it to the student’s hometown newspaper. Each time a badge and information is added to a student’s page, a notification email is sent to the student’s UE email address.

Each student can “claim” his or her page and then personalize it with photos and information on activities, jobs, volunteer work and more. (Those who would rather opt out of having a Merit page can do so, as well.)

These personal Merit pages can be shared easily by students with family, friends and potential and current employers through email or social media networks like Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Building a Merit page is, in a sense, like building a resume about one’s college career, and is a very useful asset when applying for jobs and internships.

The Merit program and its UE-related pages are managed by UE’s Office of University Relations. Students with questions about Merit should call University Relations at 812-488-2236 or 812-488-2241 or email uerelations@evansville.edu. For more information about Merit, visit meritpages.com.

Aces Media Group will be having a call out meeting on Tuesday, August 19th at 5:00 PM in SOBA 68. If you have ever wanted to gain experience with multimedia, marketing, or filmmaking, this is for you! YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A COMM MAJOR TO JOIN! Almost every major can benefit from the real world project, production, and management experience that AMG has to offer. Join us on the 19th to learn more! The projects that AMG takes on are real-world experiences that cover all aspects of multimedia.
If you have questions or can't join us at that time but would like to learn more, please email jl265@evansville.edu. 

This Thursday, September 21, ALL students are invited to volunteer with Seton Harvest. The event runs from 5:30-7:00 pm. Volunteers can meet at the Newman Center at 5:10 p.m. to carpool.

For any questions, contact Olivia at ov4@evansville.edu.

The campus community is invited to attend this week's Fireside Chat in Grabill Lounge tonight at 7:30 pm. We will be discussing how the Apostle Paul used his privilege as a Roman citizen to his advantage and how his story relates to our lives today. Join us for what is sure to be an exciting time of discussion and reflection. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome!

Submitted by Keith Turner kt160@evansville.edu

Please join us for I-House: Greece, tonight at 7:00 p.m., upstairs in Ridgway University Center. We hope you can make it!

Submitted by Alexis Whitacre aw339@evansville.edu

Interested in joining a sorority? Phi Mu will be hosting an informal recruitment event in the Phi Mu suite today - Wednesday, September 20 - from 6:00-7:00 p.m. The theme for this event will be Phi Mus in Paradise. This is a great time for you to meet our sisters, have a good time, and to see what our Phi Mu sisterhood is all about.

If you have any questions or unable to make the event but are still interested to the informal recruitment process, please contact Katelyn Hedinger at kh327@evansville.edu.

Submitted by Katelyn Hedinger kh327@evansville.edu

Family Weekend Concert

September 23, 2:00 p.m., Wheeler Concert Hall

During this year’s Family Weekend, the music department will present a special concert featuring University Choir, UE Symphony Orchestra, and UE Wind Ensemble. The concert will take place this Saturday, September 23, at 2:00 p.m. in Wheeler Concert Hall. Weather permitting, the second half of the concert will take place on the Krannert Lawn.

Directed by Dennis Malfatti, University Choir will kick off the concert with works by Busto and Rheinberger. Chun-Ming Chen will then direct the UE Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Dvorak’s The Noon Witch. The UE Wind Ensemble, directed by Kenneth Steinsultz, will conclude the program with works by Texidor and Zdechlik. The concert is free and open to the public. For complete program information, please visit the music department concert calendar.

Evansville Jazz Society Concert Featuring Tony Monaco
September 24, 4:00 p.m., Wheeler Concert Hall

One of the world’s leading artists of the Hammond B-3 Jazz Organ, Tony Monaco and his Trio will open this year’s Jazz Guest Artist Concert Series. They will appear in Wheeler Concert Hall on Sunday, September 24, at 4:00 p.m.

Performances by this group are always enthusiastically received, and they are returning to the local series for the third time, at the request of many of their local fans. Monaco has been elected to both the Downbeat Magazine critics’ polls and readers’ polls every year since 2003, and has also been voted into the JazzTimes Readers' Poll.

Monaco is the undisputed master in the world of the Hammond B-3 jazz organ. When he was 12, he first heard the legendary Jimmy Smith, who later would become his mentor. An enthusiastic student, Monaco began working in Jazz clubs as a teenager in his native Columbus, Ohio. When he was 20, Smith invited him to come and play with him at his club in California - a peak lifetime experience for Monaco.

Monaco and his group have recorded six highly acclaimed CD’s which have been successful nationally and internationally.

Admission to the concert is $15 for adults, $10 for Evansville Jazz Society members and $5 for students with I.D. Tickets can be obtained by contacting the UE Department of Music at 812-479-2754, or may be obtained at the door.

For further information, contact Edwin Lacy, professor of music, at 812-488-2227 or EL2@evansville.edu.

Submitted by James Sullivan js820@evansville.edu

The Newman Center welcomes Fr. Godfrey Mullens today at 5:00 p.m. for his talk "Paths to Holiness." All are welcome and dinner will be provided.

Submitted by Gabrielle VanBuskirk gv19@evansville.edu

Employers are seeking you for careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields! A STEM Career Day is planned for Tuesday, September 19 from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. in Eykamp Hall, Ridgway University Center. View registered employers and valuable information using our new app, Career Fair Plus. Just search for Career Fair Plus in the App Store or Google Play Store.

Submitted by Alison Morris-McDonald am268@evansville.edu

The University of Evansville Homecoming 2017 Reunion Weekend is October 13-15. Special events are planned for parents and alumni, many of which will be open to the public.

Dr. Guy Banta Distinguished Lecture Series – Speaker Zach Cheviron ’00, Environmental and Wildlife Biology
Friday, October 13, 3:00 p.m. Vectren Lecture Hall, Room 100, Koch Center for Engineering and Science.

Reunion Celebrations
Anniversaries to be celebrated at homecoming include the 50th anniversary of the Class of 1967, 65th anniversary of Phi Mu sorority, 60th anniversary of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and the 60th anniversary of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

Homecoming Tailgate
Saturday, October 14, 2:00-5:00 p.m., H-Lot, South Frederick Street
Food, games, live music, and fun. Open to public.

The Ace Race
Saturday, October 14, 9:00 a.m., UE campus.  Open to public.
This 5K run benefits Ace CARE, UE’s pro bono physical therapy clinic run by doctor of physical therapy and physical therapy assistant students for the uninsured, underinsured, and homeless. Participation fee for the public is $25 before October 1 or $30 after October 1. Those registering before October 1 will receive a long sleeve T-shirt. To register, go to www.uealumnionline.com/acerace2017.

UE Women’s Soccer versus Drake
Saturday, October 14, 2:00 p.m., Arad McCutchan Stadium. Open to public.

UE Men’s Soccer versus Loyola (followed by fireworks display)
Saturday, October 14, 5:00 p.m., Arad McCutchan Stadium. Open to public.

For the full schedule of events or more information, visit www.evansville.edu/alumni or contact alumni@evansville.edu or 812-488-2586. 

The Ace Race, a 5K run benefiting Ace CARE, UE's pro bono physical therapy clinic, is planned for Saturday, October 14, 9:00 a.m., on campus. This event is part of UE's Homecoming. The participation fee for students is $15. The fee for the general public is $25 before October 1 or $30 after October 1. Those registering before October 1 will receive a long sleeve T-shirt. To register, go to www.uealumnionline.com/acerace2017.

For more information, contact Michaela Bortle at mb315@evansville.edu.

For those covered on the Meritain Health Plan: Free Flu Shot Blitz will be offered in the Employee Health Clinic on October 3 from 7:00-11:00 a.m. and October 4 from 2:00-6:00 p.m. Those not insured can still receive the vaccine for $20. Please sign up though AceLink.

Submitted by Ashley Chipps ac375@evansville.edu

Harlaxton British studies professor Amber Pouliot, members of her Brontë class (English 348), and other Harlaxton students and visiting faculty were recently photographed by The Telegraph while visiting the home of the Brontes (now a café called Emily’s). The article and accompanying photograph are featured in a current article in The Telegraph.

The UE Bookstore has a limited number of 2017-18 Student Planners still left for sale. They are being offered at $2 off the regular price of $7.95 - for a total of $5.95. The planners go through July 30, 2018 and have a lot of useful information in them. Get them while they last.

Submitted by Doug Gustwiller dg57@evansville.edu

The Office of Study Abroad has worked to simplify the process of proposing faculty led programs in the hopes of receiving an increased number of ideas, destinations, and new opportunities for our students. Our new application does not ask you to make any arrangements or budgets, but to tell us your ideas for the program so that we can then assist with these details. We will review all proposals and those that are accepted will receive assistance from the office to make budgets, program materials, marketing, and reservations for the program.

The call is for the 2018 academic year (for any program occurring in fall 2018, spring 2019, or summer 2019.) This includes programming in the summer, spring break, tied to semester courses, or any other possible options for travel. It is imperative that we plan early so our students will get excited, plan their academic schedules, and save money for their study abroad experiences with you!

Please find the application here: https://www.evansville.edu/studyabroad/downloads/FacultyLedProposal2018.pdf.

We are accepting applications through November 1.

We hope our new process and straightforward and easy. Please let us know if you have any questions, concerns, or if you would just like to talk through an idea for a program. We appreciate your willingness to think ahead and to get these proposals in at a busy time of the year.

If you have any questions, please contact Amara Stuehling at as760@evansville.edu

Submitted by Greta Becker gb91@evansville.edu

The Newman Center is hosting a volunteer event this Tuesday from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Ronald McDonald House. Meet at Newman Center on Lincoln Avenue at 5:45 p.m. to carpool.

For questions, contact Paige at ph89@evansville.edu.

Submitted by Gabrielle VanBuskirk gv19@evansville.edu

The University of Evansville’s College of Engineering and Computer Science 2017 Webelos Engineering Pin Day is planned for Saturday, October 28, in the Koch Center for Engineering and Science. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. The event will be from 8:00-11:15 a.m.

Activities include a workshop with activity stations that will provide some of the experience required for a Webelos Scout to qualify for an engineering pin. Participants will be divided into four groups. Each group will have at least one host who will guide them through the station rotation. The participation fee is $6 per Webelos Scout, with registration limited to 200 scouts. Registrations will be taken until the event is full or until October 19, whichever comes first.

For further information, contact Kimberly Higgins, assistant to the dean, UE College of Engineering and Computer Science, at kh209@evansville.edu or 812-488-2651.

Submitted by Kimberly Higgins kh209@evansville.edu

Dear UE Community,

The UE Environmental Sustainability Task Force would like to share the draft of the Executive Summary Task Force Report, as well as relevant appendices, for campus feedback.

The documents may be viewed on AceLink here and all comments are welcome.

Please either give a verbal description in an e-mail with page numbers included as a reference, or download the document(s), highlight the changes you suggest, and send them to lk102@evansville.edu. Please use "Suggested Revisions to Task Force Recommendations" as the title in your e-mail.

Recommendations will be accepted at this address until Tuesday, September 19 at 5:00 p.m.

We very much look forward to your important input.

Warmest Regards,

The Environmental Sustainability Task Force

Are you interested in traveling to Mexico this summer? Join our interest meeting on September 21 at 4:00 p.m. in Graves Hall 302 (or come to the Study Abroad Fair to learn more)!

Spend 10 days in Mexico learning about that country’s school systems by visiting local schools and visiting the University of the Yucatan in Mérida, Mexico. Furthermore, have the opportunity to step out of the classroom and put your Spanish speaking skills to the test by immersing yourself in the rich Mayan and colonial Mexican heritage in the vibrant capital of the Mexican state Yucatán, Mérida. Also, see firsthand the beauty that the vast history of the Yucatecan Peninsula has to offer by visiting local museums, swimming in the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico, hiking through ancient Mayan ruins, or exploring some of the world’s most pristine cave systems!

Apply here: https://www.evansville.edu/studyabroad/facultyLed.cfm.

Interested? Contact George Iber about the exciting itinerary he is planning!

Questions? Contact Amara Stuehling at as760@evansville.edu about how to apply.

Submitted by Amara Stuehling as760@evansville.edu

Assistant professor of creative writing Katie Mullins' story "Bring Eliza Home" was recently selected for publication by Iron Horse Literary Review. The story will be out for Christmas, and is based on a true story out of Evansville.

The Department of Creative Writing is proud to announce that senior Sari Baum is this year’s recipient of the Gumbert Award in Creative Writing. The award was established at the University of Evansville to “recognize outstanding artistic excellence or achievement” in the arts. It is based on merit alone, and the Department of Creative Writing as a whole chooses each year’s winner. This process of nominating recipients - based on the quality of their creative work itself - means that her writing has made a strong impression on her professors. Congratulations, Sari!

In her sophomore year, Sari placed first in The Virginia Lowell Grabill Awards for Creative Nonfiction, and in 2016 she was named runner-up of the prestigious Norton Writer’s Prize for her essay Bánat is Hungarian for Grief. Sari is one of the editors in chief of The Evansville Review, and after graduation she hopes to continue her studies in graduate school.

UE violin professor Carol Dallinger was in Nashville last week serving as guest clinician at the 10th Annual Violin Workshop of the Middle Tennessee Suzuki Association.

The University of Evansville has received a $113,551 grant from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to support programs that recruit teachers in high-need subjects and schools.

“These grants are enhancing our efforts to prepare the next generation of Hoosiers for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers. “Rewarding and scaling effective programs throughout the state will help attract and retain STEM teachers who will make a difference in high-need areas.”

The University of Evansville School of Education has identified recruitment and retention of teachers as a priority and has already implemented new initiatives addressing these areas through the Teaching Aces Program. This STEM grant will allow the School of Education to expand the Teaching Aces program and license additional teachers in the math and science fields for public schools in Indiana.  This grant will also offset the costs of teacher preparation for Transition to Teaching students through full tuition scholarships.

Additionally, the grant will enable UE to train current, licensed elementary education teachers and undergraduate elementary education majors at the University of Evansville and enhance their knowledge of STEM education areas leading to more effective instruction in the elementary school classroom. 

Finally, this grant will provide funds to develop a formal orientation program for new Transition to Teaching students in the math and science fields as well as a mentoring program for math and science Transition to Teaching students and recent graduates.

“These funds will allow us to positively impact our entire region,” said Sharon Gieselmann, associate professor and chair of UE’s School of Education. “By increasing the quantity and preparedness of our teachers, we’re able to directly impact the quality of education offered in our schools.”

UE assistant professor of philosophy Lisa Kretz and former UE professor Matt Knoester recently published "Why do young adults vote at low rates? Implications for education" in the journal Social Studies Research and Practice.

Associate professor of archaeology Jennie Ebeling is in Mainz, Germany, for the second Association for Ground Stone Tools Research. She will be presenting a paper on rotary querns in the Levant based in part on her research while a Global Scholar in 2010. In addition, Ebeling is chairing an academic session and is a member of the association's international scientific committee.

Pengcheng Xiao, assistant professor of mathematics, organized a special session titled "Special Session on Differential Equation Modeling and Analysis for Complex Bio-systems" for the recent AMS Fall Central Sectional Meeting at University of North Texas.

Fourteen researchers presented their research work in the special session. Jonathan Rubin, professor and chair of mathematics at University of Pittsburgh and a world class researcher in computational neuroscience, delivered the 45 minutes survey talk in this special session.

Condolences to Mary Lombardo-Graves, assistant professor of education, for the passing of her beloved mother, Mary Lou McCan, on Friday night.

Submitted by Amy McBride am85@evansville.edu