The University of Evansville’s Winter Commencement ceremony is set for Thursday, December 13. The event begins at 3:00 p.m. in Meeks Family Fieldhouse, Carson Center, on UE’s campus. The ceremony will include the announcement of the recipient of the 2018 Exemplary Teacher Award, given by the University to an exceptional member of the faculty in acknowledgment of his or her teaching excellence.

Dave Dwyer, chair of UE’s Department of Mathematics, will be this year’s Winter Commencement speaker. Dwyer was given the Eykamp Prize during UE’s May 2018 commencement ceremony. This annual award, made possible by the generosity the Eykamp Family, recognizes UE faculty who have displayed extraordinary service to the University.

Dwyer has received the Dean’s Teaching Award, the Alumni Association’s Outstanding Teacher Award, and the Berger Award for Scholarship. He has been a member, chair, and co-chair of numerous campus committees. Most recently he was a faculty representative on the Presidential Search Committee. Notably, Dwyer spearheaded the Moonshot group of arts and sciences faculty who have put additional effort into assisting the Office of Admission. He secured two NSF grants totaling over $700,000, which funded the development of a textbook that is currently used in the University’s calculus sequence. Dwyer was instrumental in the decision to create a statistics and data science program, and sought grants to fund its development.

For those who cannot attend Winter Commencement in person, a video of the ceremony will stream live at www.evansville.edu/live.

Join the Newman Club for our traditional Blessing of the Brains Mass today - Friday, December 7 - at 8:00!

This year's Blessing Mass also counts as your Holy Day of Obligation Mass for The Feast of the Immaculate Conception (which is observed on Saturday the 8th). We can't promise that it'll help you on your finals, but we do promise fellowship and faith!

Submitted by Sam Wallisch sw265@evansville.edu

UE Clay Club will be hosting an art sale today - December 7 - from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on the first floor of Ridgway University Center. A vast array of ceramic work will be for sale including ornaments, serving trays, business card holders, cups, and bowls. They will also be selling recycled, slumped glass bottles they have transformed into spoon rests and serving trays (cheese, limes, olives, crackers, etc.). Other artwork such as prints and paintings may be available too. Please come support the Clay Club and find that one-of-a-kind gift for the important people in your life, or ... for yourself! Cash or check only.

Submitted by Todd Matteson tm8@evansville.edu

The UE Bookstore is offering 20% OFF all clothing and gift purchases during Buyback for the holidays, December 7 - 13 (Friday-Thursday). Discount is open to anyone and will be taken from the original price of the item. Items on clearance or already on sale are exempted from this sale amount. Stop in the UE Bookstore and get some holiday shopping done before you leave for the semester.

Submitted by Doug Gustwiller dg57@evansville.edu

The newly formed Soccer Club will be holding a callout meeting on Friday, December 7 at 4:00 p.m. in Carson Center, Room 113. Please email us if you have any questions.

Submitted by Sama Matkari sm456@evansville.edu

You're invited to the Alternative Energy- Puerto Rico change lab presentation on December 11 at 5:00 p.m. in Room 100 in the Koch Center for Engineering and Science. This will be an interactive presentation where you will be informed about our project in Puerto Rico this summer and get the chance to join in on the conversation of climate change! There will be food, trivia, and prizes. So take a break from the stresses of final weeks and join in on the fun!

Submitted by Patricia Joseph vj20@evansville.edu

Evansville Horn Choir
Sunday, December 9, 7:30 p.m., Wheeler Concert Hall

The Evansville Horn Choir, an ensemble comprised of community members and University of Evansville students, will be presenting a concert on December 9, at 7:30 p.m. in Wheeler Concert Hall. This free event will include Holst’s perennial favorite, The Planets, several student soloists, and holiday classics – with a twist!

Submitted by James Sullivan js820@evansville.edu

Neu Chapel has an abundance of snacks that we want to share with all students! Beginning today and continuing through the end of finals week, there will be a bucket of snacks available in the lobby with bags ready to be filled. This is first-come, first-served! On your marks, get set, and go!

Submitted by Keith Turner kt160@evansville.edu

Does your department need something that doesn’t have to be brand new like a piece of furniture or equipment? Check out the surplus (property disposal) website on AceLink Areas at acelink.evansville.edu/Areas/PropertyDisposal/ and complete a Wish List Email Request for Surplus Property to let your need be known.

Once on the surplus website, click on the Wish List Email Request for Surplus Property link and save the request form. After completing your Wish request, copy and paste it into an e-mail to centralreceiving@evansville.edu. Surplus requests will be matched to surplus property as it becomes available on a first come, first served basis.

Now is a great time to make your request known.

For questions, contact Kim Winsett, Director of Administrative Services, at kw83@evansville.edu or ext. 2940.

Submitted by Kim Winsett kw83@evansville.edu

PH 190 - Introduction to Public Health will be offered online during winter intersession. If you are interested in the class or would like more information, please contact Payal Patel-Dovlatabadi at pp42@evansville.edu.

The Fitness Center winter hours:

• Thursday, December 6 and Friday, December 7 from 8:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, December 8 and Sunday, December 9 from 11:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
• Monday, December 10- Wednesday, December 12 from 8:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday, December 13- Friday, December 14 from 8:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.
• Closed Saturday, December 15 and Sunday, December 16
• Monday, December 17- Thursday, December 20 from 8:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.
• Friday, December 21 from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
• Closed Saturday, December 22-Tuesday, January 1
• Wednesday, January 2- Friday, January 4 from 8:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.
• Starting Thursday, December 6 - Open swim from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., pending guard availability.

Submitted by Lori Adams la87@evansville.edu

The TIAA-CREF representative will be on the UE campus for individual counseling sessions on Wednesday, December 12 and Thursday, December 13. To schedule an appointment, call TIAA-CREF at 1-800-732-8353.

Please note that the meeting location has been changed to Room 153 (Eades Music Room) in the Schroeder School of Business Building.

Submitted by Lori LeDuc LL138@evansville.edu 

The University of Evansville, in pursuit of excellence in service, wishes to recognize monthly a non-faculty employee displaying records of achievement as a leader. Leadership may be demonstrated in any of the following categories:

• Service to the University community
• Service to students
• Job performance and attitude to fellow employees

One award is presented each month. To be eligible, an employee must be a full-time member of the administration or staff.  Nominations are due before the 15th of each month. Nominations are now being accepted for the month of January!

To nominate someone, or to find out more information about the Employee Excellence Award, go to acelink.evansville.edu/Tools/EmployeeAward.

Submitted by Lori LeDuc LL138@evansville.edu 
 

Are you graduating in December and planning on walking? If you need a cap and gown, please go to the UE Bookstore as soon as possible to purchase your garments.

Submitted by Doug Gustwiller dg57@evansville.edu 

Rental books rented through the UE Bookstore are due back at the bookstore by Thursday, December 13 at 5:00 p.m. Please make sure you return your rentals on time to avoid late charges. Rental books should be returned to the Rental Return station at the bookstore to ensure they are properly checked in. Please bring your student ID as well. If you have any questions, please contact the UE Bookstore.

Submitted by Doug Gustwiller dg57@evansville.edu

Book Buyback at the UE Bookstore starts Friday, December 7 and runs through Thursday, December 13. The UE Bookstore freely quotes any book you might want to sell regardless of where purchased or if used on this campus or not. You'll get CASH on the spot. You will need to bring your student ID to sell books. We have a new vendor this buyback with more titles and better prices. You can sell books as many times as you want but bringing them early might get you more money if we're buying the book for the store. Also bring any and all components that came with your book and make sure you do not need the book for the spring term before selling them. If you have questions, please contact the UE Bookstore.

Submitted by Doug Gustwiller dg57@evansville.edu

Just a friendly reminder that, as the Christmas season arrives, UE distribution services only receives and processes mail and packages that are UE business related. Distribution services does not accept personal packages and mail for UE employees from carriers. For liability reasons and UE policy, employees should have personal mail and packages delivered to their home address.

Submitted by Kim Winsett kw83@evansville.edu 

Please note that the Dean of Students’ office will not grant official excused absences during finals except for extreme circumstances (i.e.: death of an immediate family member, emergency surgery, etc.). Students who feel they are unable to take a scheduled final exam should work directly with their professors to discuss other possible options.

Submitted by Carleen Barnes cb131@evansville.edu

Please consider donating new gloves, mittens, socks, hats, or scarves for community children grades K-12 this season. These items can be placed on the tree in the Graves Hall lobby from now until December 14. The Center for Family, School and Community Partnerships will then distribute them to EVSC schools. Thank you.

Submitted by Karen Doss kd56@evansville.edu 

UE 2003 theatre graduate Rami Malek has been nominated for a Golden Globe (Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama category) for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in the movie Bohemian Rhapsody. The movie also received a Golden Globe nomination in the Best Motion Picture –Drama category.

Mary Kessler, dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences at UE, has been named one of the 2019 ATHENA Award® finalists. 

Recipients of the ATHENA Award® are exceptional leaders in the Evansville-area community that have actively and generously assisted others in the attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.

Those who nominated Kessler for the award cited many personal traits and professional accomplishments: 

"From assisting in career decisions, to helping advance careers, Mary encourages women to pursue their full potential and continually helps them along the way."

"While achieving a high level in her own career, Mary serves as a role model to many women, both young and mature. Regardless of her professional demands, Mary is devoted to guiding women in their pursuits through many fields including engineering, law, health and other professions, is an advocate for women in our community, and inspires women to attain the highest level within their careers. Most importantly, Mary promotes work-life balance and the importance of professional women finding time to care for themselves in order to be their personal best at home and work."

"Mary has been the recipient of UE’s Global Scholar Award, as well as the Dean’s Outstanding Professor Award for her work with students, and the Student’s Award for Advisor of the Year. She has mentored physical therapy students in the research process and has had several studies presented at national professional conferences. Mary has also been recognized for her leadership role in bringing the [Stone Family Center for Health Sciences] to completion."

The ATHENA Awards® have been hosted by the Southwest Indiana Chamber annual since the 1990s. The 2019 recipient will be announced at the annual ATHENA Award® Luncheon on February 22, 2019.

Other finalists include: Gina Gibson, executive director at Evansville Christian Life Center; Deena Laska Lewis, founder and choreographer at Children's Center for Dance Education; Millie Marshall, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana; Susan Parsons, CFO at Koch Enterprises; and Carrie Roelle, partner at Kahn, Dees, Donovan, & Kahn, LLP.

Chicago-based ATHENA International is a nonprofit organization founded in 1982 by Martha Mertz. In addition to supporting, developing, and honoring women leaders, the organization seeks to create balance in leadership worldwide and inspire women to achieve their full potential. Since the program’s inception in 1982, nearly 6,000 leaders in more than 500 communities have received the ATHENA Award®.

Our hearts go out to Gloria Spencer, payroll specialist in the Office of Fiscal Affairs, on the loss of her husband, Dean, on Sunday, December 2. Dean was also a former UE employee with the Chemistry Department. Our thoughts and prayers are with Gloria and her family at this time.

Visitation is from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 6 at the Love-Heitmeyer Funeral Home, Jackson Township Location, at 16085 St. Rt. 634, Fort Jennings, OH 45844. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 7 at the Catholic Church in Ottoville, Ohio.

Submitted by Michele Adams ma72@evansville.edu