Calling all students! Each year for Pep and Vim we place purple flags throughout campus to highlight our donors. Each flag represents one donor! We have 7,000 flags that need to be placed, and would love your help in doing it. We will meet in front of Olmsted Administration Hall on Sunday morning between 10 am and 12 noon. Please get your friends fired up for our Spirit Week and register to help.

If you were unable to attend either of the Open Enrollment Zoom meetings, you can view the entire benefit presentation in the Open Enrollment section of the MyUE portal at: https://bit.ly/2GcdKph. You can also view all of the relevant documents beginning with the open enrollment memo for important announcements, reminders, and changes which will occur June 1 to the University’s benefits.

During the period of April 5 through April 16, benefit-eligible employees may enroll or make changes in the University’s health, life, long term disability, and dental insurance, and ACES flexible spending account benefit plans. It is the only chance for benefit-eligible employees to enroll or make changes until the next open enrollment period unless you have a qualifying change in status.

We will once again utilize an on-line enrollment process, eliminating all paper enrollment forms for health, life, dental, and long term disability insurance, as well as the ACES flexible spending account. This will ensure the accuracy of your enrollment elections and maintain records electronically regarding your current and future participation. Enrollment/changes to your TIAA and Emeriti VEBA Trust retirement plan salary deferrals will continue to be processed on paper forms available in the Office of Human Resources. Therefore, you do not need to re-enroll in the TIAA or Emeriti retirement plans. ALL benefit eligible employees (including those who do not want to make any changes to their current coverage) must enter their elections by April 16. Please review the open enrollment memo and On-Line Benefit Enrollment Documents on the HR Area of the MyUE portal, which should answer many of the questions you might have about this system.

Please contact the Office of Human Resources at ext. 2943 with any questions.

Did you know UE has about 7,000 donors? Join us Sunday, April 11 from 10 till noon to put out purple flags to recognize our amazing donors. For each donor, we are placing one flag in front of Olmstead. Sign up at the following link to take part in this event!

Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805094EAEA62F4-uedonor

MYTH: One vaccine (Pfizer/BioNtech, Modera, Johnson & Johnson) is better than the other.

FACT: The Pfizer/BioNtech and Moderna vaccines are very similar and based on the same mRNA technology. Both of these vaccines require two doses for full protection. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a viral vector vaccine (not live virus) and has been shown to prevent COVID-19 in a single dose. The duration of immunity is unknown.

Currently, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) has identified the following Indiana residents as eligible to receive the COVID vaccine:

• Healthcare Workers
• First Responders
• Teachers and school staff in pre-K through high school, child care centers, Head Start and Early Start programs
• Licensed childcare providers, including center-based and family care providers
• Age 16 and above
• Specific groups of patients at highest risk of severe illness from COVID-19 who are identified by their healthcare provider are also eligible. These individuals will receive a unique registration link by text or email.

We will keep our patients updated as eligibility and administration sites broaden. Although currently there is no cost to patients for the vaccine, insurance information will be collected.

Vaccine Scheduling

The COVID-19 vaccine is available by appointment only. No walk-ins will be permitted. Once listed as eligible by the ISDH, go to www.ourshot.in.gov or by calling 211 or 1-866-211-9966 to schedule an appointment.

Detailed instructions

• Go to www.ourshot.in.gov
• Enter date of birth and attest to being over age 16
• Enter zip code and Select Ascension St Vincent Vaccine Clinic location
• Select appointment date and time
• Complete demographic information including accurate date of birth
• Confirm appointment

Ascension St Vincent Vaccine Clinic

For your convenience, the Ascension St. Vincent Vaccine Clinic is open 7 days a week and located on the hospital campus in the Manor Auditorium. When scheduling an appointment on the state website, select “Ascension St Vincent Evansville VAX” as site location. Directions: Enter the parking garage off of Bellemeade Avenue, immediately turn left and follow the directional signage to the designated vaccine clinic parking area. Patients should enter the clinic using the doors adjacent to the parking garage. Tri State Clinics patients are encouraged to call our office at 1-888-492-8722 with questions or for assistance with scheduling at the Ascension St. Vincent Vaccine Clinic.

Spencer County Residents

Spencer County Local Health Department
Heritage Hills High School

Perry County Residents

Perry County Local Health Department
Perry County Memorial Hospital

Posey County Residents

Posey County Local Health Department

Illinois Residents

Phase 1A: Healthcare workers, those in long term care facilities.
Phase 1B : Frontline essential workers, residents 65 years of age or older and under 65 with comorbidities.
Phase 1B+ : IL residents 16+ with disabilities or serious medical conditions. Higher education staff, gov workers, and media. Details and scheduling info at: https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/.

Kentucky Residents

Phase 1a: Long term care facilities, healthcare personnel
Phase 1b: First responders, anyone 70 or older, K-12 school personnel
Phase 1C : KY residents age 60+ AND 16 and older with serious medical conditions and essential workers
For locations and to schedule appointment go to: https://govstatus.egov.com/kentucky-vaccine-map or call the KY COVID-19 Hotline - (800) 722-5725 for more information.

Should you have any additional questions, please contact Ashley Chipps at ashley.chipps@ascension.org or Stacey Smith at stacey.smith1@ascension.org

The University of Evansville Theatre presents CRY IT OUT, by Molly Smith Metzler at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Apr. 9, and Saturday, Apr. 10, as part of ZOOMBOX, a student-directed play series on the online platform Zoom.

Two “postpartum survivors” find themselves becoming fast friends, as they slog through the day-to-day trials of raising newborn babies. Pushing the boundaries of reception for their baby monitors, they find solace over naptime-coffee-breaks in their adjoining backyards. When a new couple joins their ranks, they bring a different and disturbing socio-economic energy that shakes them out of their reverie and forces them to acknowledge and examine the effect class has on parenthood in America. This bittersweet comedy delves into the absurdity of those first months of parenting and serves as a reminder to not squander those precious moments and truly let the tenderness of life linger.

Sally Walker, a senior theatre management major, from Bettendorf Iowa, directs CRY IT OUT; Madeline Smith, a first-year theatre management major, from Clarksville, Ind., is the zoom environmental designer; Leila Bowman, a senior design and technology major, from Buford, GA., is the costume designer/stylist; Hannah Tarr, a sophomore theatre studies major, from Floyds Knobs, Ind., is the dramaturg; and Jamey Pearson, a first-year stage management major, from Temple, Texas, is the stage manager. The cast features Aivelyn Karsten, a sophomore theatre studies major, from Clackamas Ore., as Jessie; Riley Miller, a sophomore performance major, from Crown Point, Ind., as Lina; Garrett Hale, a first-year performance major, from Haslet, Texas, as Mitchell; and Beverly Buchanan, a freshman performance major, from Tomball, Texas, as Adrienne.

CRY IT OUT was commissioned by Actors Theatre of Louisville where it made its world premiere at the 2017 Humana Festival of New American Plays. Les Walters, Artistic Director; Kevin E. Moore, Managing Director. CRY IT OUT is produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois.

Tickets are FREE, but registration is required. To secure your spot, visit www.uealumnionline.com.

Sign up to participate in the next Healthy Behavior Challenge-- Bracket Busters! Just following March Madness, this is a group step challenge where those with the highest steps advance to the next round! Sign up today!!-- email ac375@evansville.edu. If you are enrolled in the Universities HRA Health Plan, those who complete this challenge can earn an additional $150.00 in HRA credits.

April 12 - May 21

• Must have a step counter to participate
• Track steps daily Monday– Sunday
• Submit weekly step totals by 10AM each Mon-day of the challenge to ac375@evansville.edu
• Those with the highest weekly step totals will advance to the next round.

Matthew 25 AIDS services will offer free and confidential HIV testing on Wednesday, April 14th at the UE Student Health Center from 9-11 a.m. No appointment necessary.

The front circle drive (Lot B/visitor parking) will be blocked off this Sunday, April 11, for photos. This lot will need to be free of all vehicles during the morning hours (approx. 7AM-12PM). Please do not park your vehicle on the drive until after 12PM on Sunday.

The religion of the day is Unitarian Universalism! Unitarian Universalism came about through the merging of two liberal religions of Christian heritage. Unitarians believed in the oneness of God and questioned the Trinity, while Universalists believed that a loving God would not condemn a person to eternal punishment for earthly errors. The two have since combined to form the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) which comprises of over 1,000 religious congregations in the US alone.

April is Religious Exploration Month! For the next 9 days in the month of April, the Center for Diversity Equity and Inclusion will send out religious profiles highlighting some interesting information about different religions! Please check Acenotes and our social media for the daily profile posted! These profiles are aimed at presenting our campus community with information to allow a better understanding of UE's diverse religious representation and background.

*Please note that the information in our profile is a summary and not exhaustive of everything encompassed in this specific religion and for more information please do not hesitate to reach out to the Director of Religious Life at jk383@evansville.edu.

Seniors who volunteer to participate in the Collegiate Learning Assessment on Tuesday, April 13 (7-9 pm) will be registered to win an iPad. The assessment measures critical thinking and writing, and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. It may be taken remotely or in person.

As the University of Evansville’s core values attest, UE values “the liberal arts, sciences, and professional programs as paths to intellectual and personal growth,” and Enduring Foundations courses are an important part of that commitment. For this reason, we seek feedback from our students as part of an assessment plan to ensure that we maintain high standards and excellent quality in this program. We’ll use the results to help measure how student learning across the four years at UE. As a senior, your input is central to this effort. You will also receive access to your personal results later this semester.

If you would like to participate in the CLA+ on April 13, please email Dr Kristina Hochwender at kh125@evansville.edu to register. Seniors who have taken the CLA+ on previous test dates are automatically entered in the iPad drawing.

Champion Ballroom Dance Teacher is Back! Saturday, April 17th, Jonah Schneider returns to teach ballroom dance lessons to anyone interested! Ever wanted to learn Waltz, Swing, Cha Cha, Rumba, Fox Trot, Tango or more? He’s teaching starting at 10am and going through 5:30pm in 45 minute blocks. First come, first serve. To sign up, text 812-449-1044 or email EL131. Private or group lessons available, masks required. All levels are welcome, no experience necessary! Final details sent upon RSVP.

It was the desire of the donor, Margery Florence Kahn, that her scholarship be awarded to "dedicated and conscientious students who exhibit a true passion for their chosen fields of study, and who, in the opinion of the members of the University of Evansville faculty, are likely to bring the same enthusiasm into the performance of their jobs or the practice of the professions which they will pursue following graduation."

All University of Evansville full-time undergraduate students who will be juniors or seniors in 2021-22 may apply. An essay of about 300 words must accompany the application, along with two to four faculty recommendation letters.

Application is available here: https://forms.office.com/r/8vduXcKZXa

Completed applications and recommendation letters should be returned to the Office of Student Financial Services by MAY 10th.

Questions may be directed to the Office of Student Financial Services via email or by phone at (812) 488-2364

We are inviting you to participate in a research study. You are eligible to participate if you are 18 years old or older and are currently affiliated with the University of Evansville as either a student or employee. Your participation in this online survey is completely voluntary. If you decide to participate in the survey, you are free to withdraw at any time without any negative effect on your relations with the University or the Department of Psychology. This consent form will give you information about the study to help you decide whether this is of interest to you. This study aims to investigate and understand whether or not a relationship exists between perceived student and teacher performance and the rollout and ramifications of the University of Evansville’s realignment.

We are asking you to participate because you are a student or teacher at the University. Although the results of this study may be published, no information that could identify you will be included. This study is low in risk, but may carry some risk of emotional or psychological stress for those most affected by the realignment. This risk is likely no greater than what you have naturally experienced due to the plan itself. Eligible students may receive compensation for their participation in the form of extra credit for courses in the Department of Psychology at the discretion of their professors. Those professors will also offer alternative means of earning extra credit in their classes besides participation in this study. Data will be stored electronically in a way that includes no personal identifiers. No identifying information will be collected. That is, your participation will be entirely anonymous.

Questions regarding this study should be directed to:

Marissa Kiessling mk308@evansville.edu

Nicholas Galloway ng94@evansville.edu

Kienan Corcoran kc313@evansville.edu

Here is the anonymous link: https://uoebusiness.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8J3X7brpYza4Rvg

Swap your old look for a new style with ECO! Drop off clothes in good condition at our table in Ridgway on 4/5, 4/6, and 4/9 from 11-1 and 5-7 to earn you credits, then swap your credits for clothes donated by others via our thrift store on Instagram! All remaining clothing after this swap will be donated to a local thrift store.

The month of April highlights Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Religious Exploration Month. Join the UE SAAM/REM Challenge sponsored by the Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion! In this challenge you will find 30 ways for 30 days of religious exploration and sexual assault awarness to actively learn, engage, support, communicate with individuals across the religion spectrum and survivors of sexual assault, while also breaking the stigma surrounding religion and sexual assault awareness. Items listed in the challenge can be done personally or in a social group! Join the Center in one of our many events for the month focused on religion or sexual assault awareness, research the origins and culture of Denim Day and/ or grab a friend and reflect about what religion means to you. However and whatever you do for the #SAAM/REMChallenge, challenge yourself!

We can't wait to see the ways in which you all #SAAM/REMChallenge yourself!

To make it extra fun, share what you're doing on social media and be sure to tag us!

Instagram: @uediversity Facebook: UE Center for Diversity Equity and Inclusion

Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Religious Exploration Month Task List

• Watch a documentary on sexual assault and have an open discussion
• Engage in productive discussions about consent and its importance in the campus environment
• Sign the consent pledge hosted by the CDEI
• Learn about UE’s Title IX policy and locate the Title ix officer on campus
• Host a trivia night on sexual assault resources (Resources available at WCSAP.org)
• Donate/volunteer/ support a charity aimed at raising sexual assault awareness Ex. Albion
• Uplift survivors of sexual assault by breaking the stigma and starting the conversation
• Research and learn about the spectrum of sexual assault
• Learn about local resources available to survivors of sexual assault
• Learn about the significance of Denim Day
• Learn about the common misconceptions and realities surrounding the prevalence of sexual assault
• Call out and have discussions about bad behaviors in people you know
• Research the way in which sexual assault affects people of different identities
• Break the stigma surrounding men identifying surviorvs of sexual assault by having open conversations
• Attend Sexual Assault Awareness Week events on campus
• Visit New Chapel on UE Campus
• Read a biography or autobiography of an influential religious figure
• Learn about the various religious holidays
• Research UE’s commitment to religious enlightenment/education
• Donate/volunteer for a religious affiliated charity
• Host/participate in a trivia on world religions
• Try practicing silence through meditation and spending time outdoors to appreciate nature
• Visit online museums to celebrate/appreciate religious art
• Learn about different religious origin stories
• Reflect on your personal biases towards other religions
• Research different important/famous religious cites/monuments around the world
• Visit the Candles Holocaust Museum & Education Center
• Learn about current issues/ stereotypes surrounding different religious societies
• Participate in center for DEI events for Religious Exploration month
• Talk to others about your personal experiences with religion and learn about theirs

Check out the March 2021 issue of the Crescent Magazine featuring articles about UE music, food insecurity, and Harlaxton. https://crescent.evansville.edu/issues/

Be sure to check out the Crescent’s brand-new website for monthly issues created by student reporters, designers, and photographers! The Crescent is now accepting content submissions and hiring for all positions. See website for more details. https://crescent.evansville.edu

Crescent Magazine is a monthly student magazine published six times during the academic year by and for the students of the University of Evansville. The magazine serves as an open forum for University of Evansville students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni through its editorials, columns and letters to the editor. With a focus on student life, the magazine provides coverage of campus news, features and sports, and select local and general-interest items of interest to the audience. The Crescent’s aim is to present relevant content in a fair, accurate and unbiased manner, to keep news items free of editorial comment, and to use editorial comment as a tool for informing and persuading through the use of factual information and opinion.

Crescent Magazine welcomes letters from UE students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni, but material the CMEB regards as libelous, malicious and/or obscene will not be published. Letters should not exceed 250 words. For verification, letters must include the author’s name, class standing or title and email address. Crescent Magazine does not print anonymous letters or those that cannot be verified. Letters will be edited as needed.

Crescent Magazine is committed to helping you bring your products and services to University of Evansville students and the UE campus community. To advertise in the Crescent Magazine or on the website email crescentmagazine@evansville.edu.

UPDATE: The scholarship deadline has been extended to Friday, May 7.

Family, friends and loved ones of the late Dr. Marvin E. Hartig are pleased to announce the application process for the Dr. Marvin E. Hartig Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is dedicated to the loving memory of Dr. Hartig, Dean of Evansville College’s Evening College in 1967, and administrator for the Center for Advanced Study, director of the Evansville chapter of the American Institute of Banking (AIB), and the international student advisor. In 1974, Dr. Hartig was appointed Dean of Academic Services. He retired in 1984 after serving his alma mater for thirty-five years and passed away in 2007.

This scholarship will be awarded annually to a deserving sophomore student. Preference will be given to a student working while being enrolled as a full-time student. International students are encouraged to apply.

Eligible students for the 2021-2022 Hartig Memorial Scholarship will be sophomores in the 2021-2022 academic year.

Download the 2021-22 Dr. Marvin E. Hartig Memorial Scholarship application.

Deadline: Please return all materials to the Office of Student Financial Services by April 23, 2021. The decision will be announced by June 14, 2021.

Questions: Amanda Wood, administrative assistant to the Office of Student Financial Services, at aw505@evansville.edu or 812-488-2364

The Department of Art would like to recognize the award winners from this year's exhibition. Please congratulate the following artists:

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

BEST IN SHOW PURCHASE AWARD
Sponsored by UE Friends of Art

DINAH FERGUSON Somewhere Beyond the C

This piece will become the property of the UE Permanent Collection.

1ST PLACE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
For any media
TESSA CHANLEY Nudist Beach

2ND PLACE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
For any media
MICHAELA KUNKLER Blue and White Teapot Set

3RD PLACE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
For any media
EVAN BARNETT Dysphoria

AWARDS OF RECOGNITION

DOROTHEA SCHLECHTE AWARD, two awards this year
For a senior art major
ROHAN KARANJIT
MICHAELA KUNKLER

DEAN LONG AWARD
For any media
EVAN BARNETT What Hath Been Pruned

LES MILEY AWARD
For any media
EVAN BOOK Mamo Teapot

PUND AWARD
Funded and chosen by Yvonne Pund
For any media
HANAH GIRTEN Entire Portfolio

MERIT AWARDS
Any Media Category

MERIT AWARD
EVAN BOOK Gold Platter

MERIT AWARD
ANNA BROUGH Bremen

MERIT AWARD
JENNA ZIRKELBACH A Grandmother’s Touch

MERIT AWARD
CHLOE FERGUSON Golden Hour

MERIT AWARD
XINUE BI Coffee?

MERIT AWARD
EVERIN CASEY No Rest

MELVIN PETERSON AWARD
Purchase Award funded and chosen by Dr. Melvin Peterson, two winners this year

ALAYNA ACREE Another Still Life
Michale Kunkler Blue and White Teapot and Teacup Set

GUMBERTS’ AWARD
The winner of the Gumberts Award must be a junior or senior art major. A committee of three members selected from campus and community chooses the recipient. This prestigious award is based upon quality of work, consistency of work and academic excellence.

2021 Winner: ROHAN KARANJIT

EMERITI FACULTY AWARD
For any media
DINAH FERGUSON Elizabethon Fowls

PRESIDENTIAL COLLECTION
Purchase Award chosen by President Pietruszkiewicz

ANNA BROUGH Bremen
This piece will be displayed in the office of the president.

The University of Evansville Department of Theatre received a $5000 grant from the Hitz Foundation, underwriting this semesters’ partnership with Play On! Shakespeare.  The mission of Play On! Shakespeare is to enhance the understanding of Shakespeare’s plays in performance for theatre professionals, students, and audiences by engaging with contemporary translations and adaptations.

This grant allowed for Play On! artists to work directly with theatre students, via Zoom, to explore three plays by William Shakespeare:  PERICLES, EDWARD III, and RICHARD II.  All three plays were presented to virtual audiences this semester.

PERICLES was translated by Ellen McLaughlin and directed by UE Theatre alumnus Taylor Bailey ’09.  EDWARD II was translated into modern verse by Octavio Solis and directed by Amelia Acosta Powell.  RICHARD II was translated by Naomi Iizuka and directed by UET 2020–21 Virtual-Artist-in-Residence Lavina Jadhwani.

In addition, a follow-up workshop was presented with an impressive array of panelists that included:  Taylor Bailey ’09, Associate Producer of Play On! Shakespeare; Kamilah Long, Managing Director of Play On! Shakespeare; Lou Morgan Douthit, CEO and Creative Director of Play On! Shakespeare; award-winning playwright Naomi Iizuka, and professional dramaturg Joy Meads.

“UE Theatre is grateful for the support from the Hitz Foundation and looks forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Play On! Shakespeare and future opportunities to provide students and audiences with a deeper understanding of Shakespeare’s plays,” says Eric Renschler, Department Chair.

UE Creative Writing Grad Jenna Sumpter publishes "The Sunday Incident in Nebraska (That Will Never Make the News)," a short fiction piece, in Flyover Country Magazine. It can be read online.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy department is proud to congratulate a team of professors and former students for their publication titled, "The Dorsiflexion Range of Motion Screen: A Validation Study" that was recently published in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, Volume 16, Issue 2, 2021. As students, Dr. Mary Beth Garner ('19), Dr. Risa Ricard ('19), and Dr. Josh Hayden ('19), collaborated with DPT professors, Dr. Phil Plisky, Dr. Kate Schwartzkopf-Phifer, Dr. Bethany Huebner, and Dr. Kyle Kiesel, to collect, analyze and publish a validation study of a novel ankle dorsiflexion screen. Publishing reliability and validity reports is an important step in advancing the field of physical therapy in evidence based practice. We are proud of how our students and faculty embrace the value of collaboration and the spirit of the University of Evansville as changemakers. See the article here: https://ijspt.scholasticahq.com/article/21253-the-dorsiflexion-range-of-motion-screen-a-validation-study

Harlaxton College has experienced a surge in applications for Spring 2022. While we are grateful that so many students are ready to come and study with us again, we will have more applications than spaces available. Please speak with your academic advisor to see if another Harlaxton semester may be a possibility if you receive a waitlist message. The entire Harlaxton team will work with you on options for studying at Harlaxton. If you have any questions, please contact harlaxton@evansville.edu.

Bringing a seven-game win streak into the weekend, the University of Evansville baseball team travels to Peoria, Ill. to take on Bradley in a Missouri Valley Conference series beginning on Friday at Dozer Park.
 
Evansville at Bradley | April 9, 10, & 11
Date | Time Fri., April 9 | 6 PM
Sat., April 10 (DH) | 1 & 4 PM
Sun. April 11 | 1 PM
Location Peoria, Ill.
Site Dozer Park
April 9, 10, & 11 Evansville at Bradley

Last Time Out: Evansville 14, SDSU 8
• Continuing its offensive extravaganza, the University of Evansville baseball team captured a 14-8 win over South Dakota State in Sunday's series finale, earning the Aces a weekend sweep, at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.
• The win extends Evansville's winning streak to seven games, its longest such streak since capturing eight-straight wins from March 24 to April 6, 2019.
• "Great weekend for our club. Our offense was led by (Kenton) Crews and (Troy) Beilsmith all weekend," said Evansville head baseball coach Wes Carroll. "(Danny) Borgstrom had a great game and it was refreshing to see his approach at the plate. (Eric) Roberts finally connected for a long ball, as well. Big week of practice for us and we get ready to get back into Valley play."
• Evansville jumped-out to a massive lead early in the contest, doing significant damage in the second inning. With Craig Shepherd on first and one out, the Aces got started generating runs.
• Sophomore Danny Borgstrom moved Shepherd over with a base-hit to right center to begin what would be an impressive day at the plate. Freshman Brent Widder drove home the first run of the game with a ground-rule double to right center, scoring Shepherd.
• Fellow freshman Max Malley nearly cleared the bases in the next at-bat, just missing a home run as the ball bounced off the wall, scoring Brogstrom.
• Off to an incredible start in his fifth season, redshirt junior Kenton Crews ripped a double to left field, bringing Widder home and pushing Evansville's lead to 3-0, still with just one out.
• Redshirt senior Troy Beilsmith reached safely on a fielder's choice as Malley scored on a throwing error by the Jacks third baseman.
• After Beilsmith stole second, freshman Simon Scherry drew a walk to fill the bases. With the bases loaded, freshman Mark Shallenberger was hit by a pitch, scoring another run, as the bases remained full.  Junior Eric Roberts responded to the opportunity, smashing a grand slam over the right field wall and handing Evansville a 9-0 lead after the second inning.
• South Dakota State showed resilience, scoring five runs in the top of the third to trim Evansville's lead to four at 9-5. After the third, Aces starter Donovan Schultz's day came to an end, being replaced by junior reliever Zac Cummins.
• In the fourth, Borgstrom added an RBI to his game line, driving in Shallenberger to push the Aces lead back to five. Rotating to the top of the fifth, Cummins continued to pitch effectively for the Aces as the newcomer finished his outing, lasting two innings, while not allowing a hit and striking-out one.
• The day continued to go well for Borgstrom in the sixth as the second baseman drove a two-run home run to right, scoring Roberts and elevating Evansville's lead back to seven at 12-5.
• A wild pitch from the Jacks in the seventh put Evansville in position to again earn a run-rule win as the bases were loaded with just one out and with the Aces owning a 13-5 lead. Following the run on the wild pitch, SDSU recorded back-to-back outs to end the inning and extend the game.
• SDSU would not go away in the series finale as the Jacks responded with two runs in the eighth to cut Evansville's lead to 13-7.
• Borgstrom closed his account on the day in a fitting way, launching another home run, this time with a shot to center field. The Jacks scored a run in the top of the ninth, but closer Jakob Meyer locked-down the 14-8 win for Evansville.

Previewing the Matchup: Bradley
• The Aces and Braves series hits a milestone on Friday night as both sides are meeting for the 100th time in the series history.
• Evansville owns a 56-43 advantage in the all-times series.
• The last time UE and Bradley met, Evansville earned a three-game sweep of the Braves during the 2019 campaign, capped-off by a 6-4 win in the weekend finale.
• Bradley enters the weekend with a 7-13 record and coming off a weekend split with Missouri State.
• Evansville holds a seven-game win streak coming into the weekend, its longest since capturing eight-straight wins from March 24-April 6, 2019 that included a three-game sweep of Bradley.
• Evansville has nearly mirrored its first 27 games of the 2019 season when the Aces opened the season 17-10.

Offense Growing
• Evansville has seen its offense come alive over the last week in series against Xavier and SDSU.
• Over the last five games, Evansville has scored nine-or-more runs in four games, averaging 10 runs per game during that stretch.
• Twice during the last five games has Evansville exceeded 13 runs, including a season-high 14 runs on Sunday over the Jacks.

It's Pronounced Bye-lsmith
• Saturday was a special day for redshirt senior Troy Beilsmith at the plate.
• The Weldon Spring, Mo. native opened the day with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh to give the Aces a 3-2 win over SDSU.
• In the second game, Beilsmith again found himself at the plate with an opportunity to end the game and he did just that. Beilsmith smashed a three-run homer to left field, walking-off with a 11-1 run-rule win for the Aces.
 

The University of Evansville men’s swimming and diving team kicked off the Mid-American Conference championship in Oxford, Ohio.

The 200-yard freestyle relay, consisting of Jackson Kennedy, Credence Pattinson, Diego Navarro, and Eli James, started the meet off with a 5th place finish and a time of 1:24.27.

Pattinson and Kennedy also swam in the 50-yard freestyle. Pattinson finished in 14th (21.12) and Kennedy finished in 16th (21.19).

Grant Kay and Jackson Caudill competed in the 500-yard freestyle and finished in 12th (4:35.07) and 13th (4:35.56) place, respectively. Austin Smith also competed in the 500-yard freestyle final finishing in 15th place at 4:36.44.

The 200-yard IM was swam by Zeke Metz and Griffin Hammet. Metz placed 12 (1:52.26) and Hammet placed 16th (1:54.49).

Reed Slayden placed 10th in the one-meter dive with a score of 197.2.

The Aces return to the pool tomorrow at 9:30a.m. CT for preliminary trials and 5:30p.m. CT for the finals. 

Just four days after wrapping up the ISU Invitational, the University of Evansville women’s golf team is back on the course for the Jan Weaver Invitational beginning on Friday.

Miller Memorial Golf Course in Murray, Ky. will be the host for the event.  Play gets underway on Friday with 36 holes before a single round on Saturday.  The action commences with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start each day.  Par will be 72 and the yardage is 6,024. 

Included in the field are Austin Peay, Belmont, Bradley, Central Arkansas, Dayton, Eastern Kentucky, Georgia State, Murray State, Samford, Seton Hall, Southern Illinois and Tennessee Tech. 

On Monday, the Purple Aces wrapped up the ISU Invitational in Terre Haute.  Allison Enchelmayer earned a top five finish in the tournament.  In the career outing, Enchelmayer was tied for the lead after day one, recording a 1-under 71 to open before finishing the tournament at 5-over par on her way to fifth place.

Tying for 18th was Sophia Rohleder.  After recording an 81 to open the tournament, she improved by five strokes to jump into a tie for 18th.  Carly Frazier and Alyssa McMinn tied for 27th spot.  Each finished with totals of 160.  Frazier posted rounds of 79 and 81, the top two scores of her freshman campaign. 

Mallory Russell (162) and Caitlin O’Donnell (163) completed the UE contingent.

Mark Cirino interviewed legendary documentarians Ken Burns and Lynn Novick on the most recent episode of One True Podcast, the podcast sponsored by the Hemingway Society. Burns and Novick discussed their new three-part Hemingway documentary and their challenge to separate the artist from the myth that burdened him. Dr. Cirino is Professor and Chair of English and holds the Melvin M. Peterson Endowed Chair in English.

The Burns/Novick interview is available at: https://www.hemingwaysociety.org/node/923
 

Paige Johnson, a sophomore at UE, has been named a “Realizing the Dream” recipient by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI). Made possible by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., this scholarship program annually recognizes 30 first-generation college students from ICI’s private, non-profit colleges and universities. Students are selected for the $3,000 award for outstanding achievement during their freshman year as they successfully advance toward completing their bachelor’s degrees.

The program historically honored recipients, their families and influential educators at an annual event. However, due to the current pandemic, organizers created individual videos of each student describing what it means to them to be a first-generation college student and thanking the influential educator they have chosen to honor. Videos can be found at icindiana.org/rtd. 

In addition to the students’ scholarship awards, the influential educators also receive $1,000 in professional development grants.

About Independent Colleges of Indiana
Independent Colleges of Indiana serves as the collective voice for the state’s 30 private, non-profit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,000 Hoosiers and generate a total local economic impact of over $5 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year, on-time graduation rates, and ICI institutions produce 30 percent of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20 percent of its undergraduates. 

About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. The Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. However, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. 

On Wednesday, April 7, the University of Evansville presented four individuals in Vanderburgh County with Outstanding Educator Awards. Each educator received a surprise announcement within their school as part of UE’s 30th annual presentation of awards.

The competition, which is specific to Vanderburgh County, recognizes current classroom teachers and building principals in grades K-12 with at least three years of experience. The Outstanding Educator Awards are sponsored by UE, Evansville Teachers Federal Credit Union, and the Evansville Courier & Press.

The following awards were presented on Wednesday:

Outstanding Elementary Educator of the Year: Cathy Hoffman, fifth grade teacher at Delaware Elementary School

Cathy has been an educator for 16 years, nine of which have been in her current role. 

As a teacher, Cathy believes building relationships with students and their families is essential to the profession. She always strives to make her students feel “safe and secure” in the knowledge that she is there to support them in every situation.

“My motto in the classroom is, ‘We don’t do easy. We make easy happen through hard work,’” says Cathy. “Many students want to give up if something is hard. But the relationships I have built with them allow me to show them they can achieve these things.”

When schools suddenly closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC) asked many teachers to create lessons that could be aired on WNIN for local students without cable or internet access. Cathy carried out this strategy the rest of the semester for her fifth graders so they could feel like they were still part of the classroom.

When summer arrived, she created new lessons for third grade summer school sessions. Cathy knew that her work created a lasting impact when students throughout the community would approach her in public, sharing that they recognized her from the educational lessons on WNIN. “During a time when there were many unknowns about the upcoming school year, this experience gave me the extra push I needed to mentally prepare for my classes,” she said.

Cathy says one of her main goals is to be in tune with her students each day, which allows her to build trust and encourage them.

“In my classroom, I make it a priority to have a conversation with each student, each day,” she said. “Whether it’s about their family, sports, or even favorite foods, I listen to anything they want to share. In return, I tell them about my own life outside of teaching. This reminds students that I’m not just their teacher, but I am also someone who is in their corner and cheering them on.”

Outstanding Middle School Educator of the Year: Gayle Mooney, sixth grade teacher at Scott School

Gayle Mooney has been a teacher for 28 years, and for the last nine, she has taught sixth grade math and science.

Over the last two decades, Gayle has served as a sponsor and coordinator for several organizations, including student council, cheerleading, technology, and book fairs.

Gayle’s teaching philosophy is based upon building relationships with each of her students. “I want my students to know that I care about them, respect them, and want the best for them,” she said. “Students want to feel respected and valued, and I believe my success depends on the success of my students.”

On top of their personal success, Gayle also strives to make learning enjoyable for her classes. She encourages her students to always ask for help when it is needed so they will learn to enjoy coming to school each day.

“I feel like I am fortunate to be in the classroom and learn with my students as they learn from me,” Gayle said. 

Outstanding High School Educator of the Year: Peter Barringer, English teacher at Harrison High School

Peter Barringer has been a teacher for seven years, and he has been teaching English at Harrison High School for the last five years.

Teaching the full spectrum of English classes, Peter says that each class demands a different skill set and unique approach. He also teaches in the Shepard Leadership and Law Academy, a rigorous four-year program that combine social studies and English. “This program has stretched my abilities as a teacher, and it has provided an additional opportunity for growth in my skill set,” he said.

Peter says his educational philosophy is very simple: “I believe all students are capable of learning and succeeding.” This principle guides his daily instruction, although he says that is just one aspect of his job. “I relish the opportunity to talk with my students on a personal level, because students often apply themselves in class more regularly when I engage with them about hobbies or extracurricular activities,” Peter said.

To put his philosophy into practice, Peter uses three strategies: 1) build both academic and personal relationships with students, especially those who have not experienced much academic success in the past; 2) respond quickly to student struggles through constant feedback and conversations; and 3) provide quality instruction that reaches the needs of all students.

In addition to teaching English, Peter serves as a coach for the speech team and recorder for the Harrison Social-Emotional Learning Team. He also established the Harrison Board Game Club to further engage with students.

Outstanding Building Principal of the Year: Susie Masterson, Principal of Evansville Christian School

Susie Masterson has been an educator for 44 years. This is her 34th year as principal for Evansville Christian School, where she oversees pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.

Throughout her career, Susie has been an elementary school teacher, principal, adjunct faculty member at the graduate level, and a professional development trainer. She has also served overseas in Afghanistan and Uganda, training teachers and planting schools. 

“In every situation, I have been challenged and equipped for the next opportunity,” said Susie, “And that’s what it means to be a lifelong learner.”

Since 1988, Susie has served in various roles with ECS. This year is a bittersweet one for her, as the elementary school campus prepares to say goodbye to its Bethel Church location and move to a new, freestanding location in Warrick County (near Crossroads Christian Church).  “I have loved working on the design and building of this new space as well as planning for new procedures and programming,” said Susie. “This will create a positive school culture for our K-6 students, where our school’s mission will thrive.” 

Susie wrote a life mission statement to guide her both professionally and personally. It reads, “Commit to serving God by continuing a spiritual legacy to my children and grandchildren; using my God-gifts of teaching and leading; and pursuing connections that serve as an outreach for the Gospel.” Susie has always aspired to be the leader that she needed at various seasons in her life. Today, she invests in teachers so they can invest in their students. 

In nominating Susie for an Outstanding Educator Award, an individual said that she is “the epitome of a selfless leader who is teacher-focused and believes in partnering with parents to positively impact each student’s learning.”