The University of Evansville’s 166th Commencement Ceremony will take place tomorrow, Saturday, May 4th to honor the Class of 2024. The ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Ford Center. No tickets are required. For those who cannot attend in-person, the ceremony will also be live streamed at www.evansville.edu/live/. This will also include closed captioning for those in need. Full information is available on the Commencement Central webpage at evansville.edu/Commencement. Seniors should also complete the 2024 Graduation Survey.

Summer Hours

UE will reduce business hours during the summer from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Fridays. This schedule will be in place beginning Monday, May 6, and we will extend these hours for one additional week through Friday, August 9. Regular hours will return Monday, August 12.

Juneteenth

Starting this year, on Wednesday, June 19, all University offices will be closed in honor of Juneteenth. This significant day marks the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. We urge everyone to utilize this time for reflection and contemplation on the journey towards freedom and equality.

July 4 Holiday

The long Holiday weekend will get a little longer. The President’s Council has added one additional day to create a long holiday weekend. In addition to the University observing the July 4 holiday on Thursday, the University will also be closed on Friday, July 5.

The UE community is welcome to attend the Faculty Retirement Tree Planting Ceremony that will take place on Sunday, April 28.  This event will begin at 1:00 p.m. in the inner oval closest to Koch Center and Olmsted Hall.  The following faculty members will be honored at the event:

•    Jerrilee LaMar- Associate Professor Nursing
•    William Bryan Lynch- Professor of Chemistry
•    Bill Stroube- Professor of Health Services Administration
•    Gregg Wilson- Professor of School of Health Services

Please join us to wish them well in their retirement.

Jerrilee LaMar, Associate Professor of Nursing
Dr. LaMar graduated from University of Southern Indiana with a BS degree in Nursing.  She obtained her MSN degree from the University of Evansville with a concentration in Nursing Education and went on to earn her PhD degree from Indiana State University, focusing on curriculum and instruction.  She earned her National Certified Nurse Educator credentials from the American Association of the College of Nursing.

Dr. LaMar served as an American Heart Association Basic Life Support Instructor for over thirty years.  She has contributed chapters on Growth and Development and Culture to both the 8th & 9th Editions of “Essentials of Nursing” and the 9th & 10th Editions of “Fundamentals of Nursing” textbooks published by Mosby-Elsevier.  She revised the study guides for the 7th Edition of “Clinical Nursing Fundamentals Study Guide” and wrote the 600-item test bank for the 7th Edition of “Basic Nursing”.  In addition, she has served as an item writer for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's Clinical Nurse Leader Certification Exam.  Dr. LaMar served as a UE Faculty Senator for numerous terms, was Chair of the UE Faculty Senate in 2017, and served on several Senate Committees.  She served as a faculty advisor for the Professional Student Nurse Organization (SNAP) on the UE campus.  She held the White Family Endowed Professorship in Nursing until she retired.  Dr. LaMar served as the UE site coordinator for a national research study sponsored by the American Heart Association, the National League of Nursing, Laerdal, and HeartCode that measured the retention of CPR skills in nursing students using an e-learning tool to teach CPR.  She has co-authored three journal articles that reported the findings of the study.  This groundbreaking study changed the way that CPR is taught in the United States. 
  
Dr. LaMar has received the 2020 Eykamp Prize, the American Red Cross Hero in Education Award in 2012, and the Daisy Faculty Award in 2015.  In 2022, former UE nursing students from the class of 2016 had her inducted into the Florence Nightingale Book of Honor.  In 2023, she was honored by a former student, Dr. Nina Weiss, with a Leadership in Nursing Award in her name that will be given to a UE graduating nursing student each year at their pinning ceremony.  Dr. LaMar, through a partnership with Deaconess Hospital, led countless medical mission trips to Annotto Bay, Jamaica.  She took dozens of nursing students to Jamaica over the years.  She taught five semesters abroad at Harlaxton College, introducing nursing students to the UK's National Healthcare System.
Before retiring, Dr. LaMar received approval from the Indiana State Board of Nursing for the University of Evansville to launch a second-degree Accelerated BSN Degree to help with the severe nursing shortage in our community.  This is a project that she had worked on for several years.  She has temporarily come out of retirement in order to be Interim Program Director while a search is underway to permanently fill the position.  She looks forward to spending time with her husband, family, and animals on their Posey County goat dairy farm once that position is filled.

Bryan Lynch, Professor of Chemistry
Dr. Lynch received B.S. degree in Chemistry (magna cum laude) with department honors from University of Pittsburgh.  His PhD in Physical Chemistry was also awarded from the University of Pittsburgh, and his postdoctoral work was done at Cornell University.  His specializations are Laser Spectroscopy of Small Molecules and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

His research interests include studying the structure of electronic excited states of small molecules in the gas phase using a nitrogen-pumped dye laser, using the double resonance technique where the molecule is pumped to a low-lying excited state with the dye laser, then excite to higher lying states with a small portion of the initial nitrogen pulse.  Presently, he is working on probing the vibrational levels of ion-pair states and using Franck-Condon calculations to assign the various transitions observed.  He is also studying weak intermolecular attractive forces in small, organic molecules that give rise to short-range ordering and cluster formation in the solid state.

Dr. Lynch’s publications include “Observation of the Ã1A″ State of Isocyanogen”, “An EPR Study of Some Highly Distorted Tetrahedral Manganese(II) Complexes at High Magnetic Fields”, and ”1-mm Wave ESR Spectrometer”.

 
Bill Stroube, Professor of Health Services Administration
Dr. Stroube earned his B.S. in Chemistry from Murray State University, and an M.B.A. in Finance from University of Maryland.  His PhD in Analytical and Nuclear Chemistry was awarded from the University of Kentucky.
Dr. Stroube has served as Professor of Health Services Administration and Director of the Health Services Administration graduate and undergraduate programs.  Before joining the faculty in 1998, he spent twelve years in management positions in the pharmaceutical industry, and eight years at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in Washington, D.C.
At UE, he has served on various university committees, was Chair of the Faculty Senate, and served a three-years term as Chair of the School of Health Sciences.  He received the University Outstanding Teaching Award at the May 2008 Commencement.
Dr. Stroube has maintained an active research program and has authored and co-authored over seventy publications in peer reviewed journals and conference proceedings.  His research and teaching interests include international health care issues, health care strategy, and medical ethics. 
He has extensive international experience leading student groups through many health care systems with focus on England, China, and India. He has spent twenty summers teaching at Harlaxton.  For five summers, he taught a four-week study abroad course in China.  Since 2017, he has served as a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Health Innovation, Leadership and Learning at the University of Nottingham.  He was an Adjunct Professor in 2017 and 2018 at IMS Union University in Dehradun, India.  During numerous trips to India during the past fourteen years, he has provided workshops for faculty and students, and served on university and hospital advisory boards.  He plans to continue his work in India and England after retirement from UE.

Gregg Wilson, Professor of School of Health Services
Dr. Wilson is a UE graduate who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a minor in Psychology and a concentration in Liberal Arts.  He is a graduate of Indiana University, where he obtained his master’s and doctorate degrees, both in Exercise Science.  He is a former Department Chair of the School of Health Sciences.  

Dr. Wilson has received several teaching awards at UE, including the Dean’s Teaching Award, Chi Omega Outstanding Teaching Award, and the 2004 Exemplary Teaching Award given by the General Board of Higher Education of the United Methodist Church.  He has published four textbooks in the dual areas of Exercise and Health Science and has contributed eighteen book chapters to a variety of edited textbooks on a wide range of topics, including the relationship of exercise to mental health, the effects of anxiety on performance, exercise testing for special populations and overtraining and staleness.  In addition, Dr. Wilson has fifty publications in peer-reviewed journals and has been named a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and selected as a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars for his scholarly contributions.  He has also enjoyed teaching at Harlaxton College on multiple occasions.  Prior to his arrival at the University of Evansville, Dr. Wilson taught at Lander University in South Carolina and at Indiana University, where he was also an assistant track coach.

Aces Fans, Faculty, & Staff –

We are only 1 month away from hosting our first ever on campus MVC Baseball Championship. Due to this event being an MVC sponsored championship, UE Faculty/Staff will not be able to redeem their 2 free tickets as they would for a regular season competition event.

We would love to have you join us out at The Braun on May 21-25 and cheer on your Aces as we punch our ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

Interested in all-session tournament tickets for you and your family? Please contact Logan Belz in the Athletics Ticket office at 812-488-2623 or his email at lb334@evansville.edu.

All-Session Passes are:

• $65 for adults (17-59 years old)
• $45 for youths (3-17 years old)
• $45 for seniors (60+ years old)

You can view the full online ticketing site by clicking here.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Go Aces!!

The Office of Marketing is seeking a creative and driven student to join our team as a Student Worker for the fall semester. In this role, you will collaborate with the University Marketing Content Specialist, Abigail Perry, to assist in creating engaging and dynamic video content for the University's social media pages.

Responsibilities:

• Assist with the production of video content from concept to completion.
• Participate in brainstorming sessions to generate creative ideas for video projects.
• Video editing on CapCut and TikTok.
• Coordinate with Abigail to ensure projects are completed on time and meet quality standards.
• Stay updated and research current trends and techniques in video production to contribute fresh ideas and approaches.
• Attend student on-campus events and capture video content for future video projects (or recaps).

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student at the University of Evansville.
• Basic understanding of video editing software (e.g., CapCut, TikTok).
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to manage time effectively and prioritize tasks.
• Creative thinking and problem-solving abilities.

This position offers 6-8 hours per week with a pay rate of $10 per hour. If you're interested in this hands-on experience, reach out to Abigail Perry at ap445@evansville.edu with a copy of your resume.

The University of Evansville has done something culturally significant this past weekend for this campus and students! On Saturday, April 20th for the first time since the 90s UE has multiple D9 organizations on campus. It has been 5 years since we’ve had UE Kappas and 19 years since we had UE Deltas! It is also the first time ever that UE has had multiple D9 and a Latina/Multicultural (Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority, Inc.) chapter on campus! Below are the new members of the Divine 9 Organizations on campus. Please take a moment to congratulate these UE students on such an exciting milestone and accomplishment when you see them on campus.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Raymond Felton

1st-year Construction Management

Fellows Scholar

Track & Field student-athlete

Houston, TX

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Brynna Waters

3rd-year Theatre Performance

UE Theatre Artists of Color, President

Fellows Scholar

Brownsburg, Indiana

Alexis Stovall

2nd-year International Studies and Business Management

Member of Black Student Union

Gary, Indiana

Trinitie Terrell

4th-year Public Health (BS and MPH)

Black Student Union, President

Fellows Scholar

Indianapolis, Indiana

Calling all University of Evansville students!

We need YOUR help to capture the essence of campus life through your lens in our exciting photo contest! Submit your best snapshot showcasing the spirit of UE for a chance to have your photo displayed under the Powell Hall stairwell, where fellow students and visitors will admire it. Whether it's a study session at the library, a scenic stroll across campus, or a memorable moment with friends, we want to see your unique perspective on life as a student at the University of Evansville!

To participate, simply snap a photo that captures the spirit of campus life and share it on Instagram using the hashtag #CaptureUEContest and tag @UEvansville. Your Instagram account must be public to be considered for the competition.

Don't miss this chance to showcase your creativity and love for UE through the lens of your camera!

FIN 280 – Introduction to Personal Finance

I know the idea of taking a class during summer winter break doesn’t sound too exciting, but this is a great opportunity to take a class that is relevant to everyone and will benefit you all in the future! FIN 280 is an asynchronous online class that will introduce students to the basic concepts of Personal Finance. These concepts should be of great interest to all students, whether you are just beginning your college life or will soon be out in the working-world. The class will be set up so you can work more or less at your own pace. Lectures will be delivered via PowerPoints and videos going over the PPTs will be posted. This will  help you keep up with the class and be aware of exactly what you need to know.

SPAN-111 – Elementary Spanish will be offered as an online asynchronous class during Summer Session 1 (May 13 – June 14, 2024).  This course fulfills Outcome 6. If you have questions about this 3-credit hour course, please contact Dr. Diana Rodríguez Quevedo via email: dr130@evansville.edu

The library is offering to keep students' plants alive over the summer if they cannot take them home. Contact Meg Atwater-Singer at ma35 for more information.

Have an Eykamp event or meeting and need to use a microphone? Follow these three steps to ensure you have what you need!

1. Reserve the AV Equipment within Resource Scheduler.

2. Check out the Microphone(s) at the OTS Help Desk.

3. Return the Microphone(s) to the OTS Help Desk at your next availability.

And as always, call or email our Help Desk if you have any additional questions or needs!

812-488-2077
help@evansville.edu

The April issue of the Crescent Magazine is available online and in print.

There is an error in the magazine. The QR code in the ESPORTS article leads to the wrong video. You can find the Student Media produced ESPORTS Video here… https://youtu.be/08AVLyzrthw?si=IwMhn6lnCjeYvY-i

The Crescent Magazine is produced by Student Media. Student Media is a student organization at the University of Evansville. The Crescent Magazine is published online and in print three times a semester. Student Media utilizes design, photography, video, and sound towards experiential and academic learning in journalistic endeavors and engaging storytelling. Student Media elevates the voice of the student body and connects the campus and community to important information and points of view.

The print issues can be found all over campus be sure to pick up your copy. Student Media produces over a dozen podcasts available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and RSS. Listen on Fireside Aces Radio https://fireside.evansville.edu

To find the April Issue of the Crescent Magazine Visit: https://crescent.evansville.edu/2024/04/16/april-2024/

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 2024-2025 Hartig Memorial Scholarship will be sophomores in the 2024-2025 academic year.

The application can be found here.

Deadline: Please return all materials to the Office of Student Financial Services by May 3, 2024. The decision will be announced by May 26, 2024.

The Eykamp Center for Teaching Excellence (ECTE) offers certificates to faculty members who meet the requirement of engagement and participation in ECTE sponsored events.

Congratulations to the faculty who earned a certificate or award for the 2023-20234 academic year by demonstrating dedication to teaching and learning!

New Faculty Engagement Certificate:

·       Juliet Aura (Clinical Psychology)

·       Kyle Clark (Anthropology)

·       Tommy Housman (Communication/Student Media)

·       Fahad Humayun (Communication)

·       Jessica Snow (Health Sciences)

·       Michael Turlington (Chemistry)

Teaching Development Certificate:

·       Joan Fedor-Bassemier (Nursing)

·       Kristina Groves (English/FYS/Writing Center)

·       Lisa Hale (Education)

·       Sara Petrosillo (English)

·       Megan Voss-Warner (Civil Engineering)

Leadership award in recognition of exceptional dedication to course design and pedagogy by developing the online teaching certificate.

·       Leslie Barton (Director of Online Learning)

·       Kristen Strandberg (Assistant Director of Online Learning)

Outstanding New Faculty of the Year Award:

Tommy Housman (Communication/Student Media)

Congratulations, Tommy, for a terrific first year as a full-time faculty member at UE!

ECTE Team: Julie Merkle, Trenda Ridge, and Diana Rodríguez Quevedo

The Honors Program held its annual senior banquet on April 24 at Biaggi’s Italian Restaurant, where students received special Honors Program cords and an engraved medallion to be worn at graduation. Congratulations to the fourteen graduating seniors who completed the Honors Program requirements this semester: Bradley Baumhover, Alexis Carpenter, Avery Finn, Makayla Gomperts, Gabrielle Hardoin, Christina Jesenski, Rafay Karim, Dalton Lampert, Abbie Marlin, Jordan McKinney, Luke Robertson, Brad Schulte, Lizzy Stainback, and Ashton Wilson.

The Honors Program would also like to congratulate Rafay Karim on receiving the Honors Program Outstanding Senior Award.  In addition to Rafay’s academic achievements, he has been an integral part of the Honors Activity Board, which helps plan activities and implement other improvements to the program. We thank Rafay for his leadership and dedication to the Honors Program.

Congratulations to the Mechanical Engineering Class of 2024 on joining the Order of the Engineer as they prepare to enter the engineering profession. Congratulations to two of our alums, Mary Miller and Paul Simms, who also participated in this year's initiation ceremony. Details of the Order from the organization's website are included below.

The Order of the Engineer was initiated in the United States to foster a spirit of pride and responsibility in the engineering profession, to bridge the gap between training and experience, and to present to the public a visible symbol identifying the engineer. At the induction ceremony, engineers are invited to accept the Obligation of the Engineer and a stainless steel ring. The Order fosters a unity of purpose and the honoring of one’s pledge lifelong. The Obligation is a creed similar to the oath attributed to Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.) that is generally taken by medical graduates and which sets forth an ethical code. The Obligation likewise, contains parts of the Canon of Ethics of major engineering societies. Initiates, as they accept it voluntarily, pledge to uphold the standards and dignity of the engineering profession and to serve humanity by making the best use of Earth’s precious wealth.

The Dean’s Teaching Awards for 2023-2024 have been awarded. The faculty members being honored are:

Daniel Byrne, professor of History from the William L. Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences.

Alanna Keenan, associate professor of Music from the William L. Ridgway College of Arts and Sciences.

Christopher Brockman, professor of Finance from the College of Business and Engineering.

Maxwell Omwenga, assistant professor of Computer Science from the College of Business and Engineering.

Mark Marchino, director of Clinical Education and clinical assistant professor of Physical Therapy from the College of Education and Health Sciences.

Leanne Nayden, lecturer of Education from the College of Education and Health Sciences.

Congratulations to our most deserving faculty members!

Three students were presented with the 2024 School of Engineering and Computer Science Awards.

Zach Worley, a Senior Civil Engineering Student,  was awarded the Paul “PR “ Brown Spirit Award - This award is presented to a student who has created camaraderie in the School of Engineering and Computer Science and has encouraged fellow students by exhibiting a positive attitude that is inspiring to others.    
                       
Clay Dempsey, a Junior Electrical Engineering Student, was awarded the Dick Blandford Memorial Scholarship – This award is presented to a Junior level Electrical Engineering or Computer Science student who demonstrates excellence in scholarship, service, and leadership in memory of former Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, Dick Blandford.                   
                       
Swarup “Sam” Bhatta, a Junior Mechanical Engineering Student,  was awarded the James M Hall, Jr. Outstanding Engineering Student Award – This award is presented to an outstanding student majoring in Engineering at Junior class standing, based on scholastic achievement, extra-curricular activities, character, responsibility, attitude, and potential for professional growth.         

Dr. Immanuel presented the awards in a private ceremony on April 18, 2024.  Congratulations Zach, Clay, and Sam!

After seeing its eight-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday night at Purdue, the University of Evansville baseball team will try to begin a new winning streak this weekend by hosting the Missouri State Bears in a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville.  The series will begin Friday night at 6 p.m.

Evansville will bring a 22-18 overall record and 10-5 MVC mark into this weekend’s series.  The Purple Aces are currently in second place in the MVC, just two games behind league-leading and nationally-ranked Indiana State entering Friday’s action.  UE has swept back-to-back Valley series over Illinois State and Bradley, and the Purple Aces have won the last four Valley series overall.

Graduate outfielder Mark Shallenberger continues to pace the UE offense, as he will bring a team-best .370 batting average into this weekend’s series.  Shallenberger also ranks 19th in Division I baseball in on-base percentage at .520, and he has reached base safely in six-straight plate appearances entering Friday’s contest.  Graduate first baseman Chase Hug has been UE’s best hitter career-wise against Missouri State, as he has hit .405 (15-for-37) with three doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI in eight career games against the Bears.  Hug went 3-for-5 Wednesday night at Purdue and has hit .400 over his last four games to raise his season batting average to .295.

Missouri State will bring a 17-22 overall record and 6-9 MVC mark into this weekend’s series.  The Bears currently sit in eighth place in the MVC standings, but they are also only three games back of third-place UIC entering the weekend.  Missouri State once again leads the MVC and ranks among the national leaders in home runs this year with 69 as a team.  Sophomore outfielder Zack Stewart currently leads the MVC in home runs with 16, and he paces the Missouri State offense overall with a .333 batting average.

All-time, Missouri State leads the series over Evansville, 62-50.  Last year, Evansville won all four meetings over Missouri State, including posting an 11-3 victory over MSU in an elimination game at the 2023 MVC Baseball Tournament in Terre Haute.  Evansville will send freshman left-hander Kenton Deverman (5-1, 4.33 ERA) to the mound in Friday night’s opener.  He is scheduled to be opposed by Missouri State ace Brandt Thompson (5-0, 2.41 ERA).  Friday’s series opener can be heard live in the Tri-State area on 107.1 FM-WJPS and seen live on ESPN+.

Home action comes to a close for the 2024 season this weekend when the University of Evansville softball team plays host to Missouri State at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at Cooper Stadium.  The series runs Friday through Sunday and ESPN+ will have the coverage of the final two contests.

Senior Day

- Saturday’s game against the Bears will mark Senior Day as seven Purple Aces players will be recognized

- The 2024 senior class includes Megan Brenton, Alexa Davis, Hannah Hood, Mikayla Jolly, Brooke McCorkle, Jenna Nink and Marah Wood

Win #300

- UE head coach Mat Mundell picked up the 300th win of his career on April 24 as UE earned a 3-0 win at Indiana State

- Mundell won 117 games as the head coach at Illinois-Springfield with the remainder of his victories coming at Evansville

Last Time Out

- Wednesday’s game at Indiana State was a pitcher’s duel as the Aces clinched the season series with a 3-0 win

- A dropped third strike and error led to the Aces first run in the 5th before Niki Bode had a 2-run single in the 7th to add some insurance

- In the circle, Sydney Weatherford allowed just three hits in the shutout win

Locked In

- Over her last three starts, Sydney Weatherford has been lights out, allowing four earned runs on 18 hits in 22 innings of work

- That translates to a 1.27 ERA over the three contests

- She is coming off one of her top performances of the season, throwing a 3-hit shutout on Wednesday against the Sycamores

- Last Friday’s 8-inning win saw her go the entire distance allowing three runs on six hits; in Sunday’s win, she allowed two runs, just one being earned

Locked In

- Over her last three starts, Sydney Weatherford has been lights out, allowing four earned runs on 18 hits in 22 innings of work

- That translates to a 1.27 ERA over the three contests

- She is coming off one of her top performances of the season, throwing a 3-hit shutout on Wednesday against the Sycamores

- Last Friday’s 8-inning win saw her go the entire distance allowing three runs on six hits; in Sunday’s win, she allowed two runs, just one being earned

At Her Best

- Taylor Howe has gone 4-for-6 in the last two games for the Aces

- Following a 2-3 effort in the series finale against Murray State, Howe went 2-3 with two runs scored in victory at Indiana State

- Howe has recorded a hit in five of the last eight games and is batting .381 over that time with 8 hits in 21 at-bats

The Missouri Valley Conference has announced future sites for the MVC Women's Basketball Championship. 

The Purple Aces will have the Hoops in the Heartland tournament in their backyard next year as the MVC has unveiled a three-year rotation for the tournament that includes the Ford Center (2025); Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa (2026); and a return to Vibrant Arena at The MARK in Moline, Ill. (2027). MVC Commissioner Jeff Jackson says, "We're excited about developing new relationships and growing the sport of women's basketball in the region. The championship rotation model includes three great venues and three great communities who share the Conference's goal of prioritizing women's basketball."

All 12 MVC women's basketball teams will compete in the four-day tournament, with four opening-round games on Thursday, four quarterfinal games on Friday, two semifinal games on Saturday, culminating in a Sunday championship game in each of the next three seasons.  The league tournament champion earns an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.

The 2025 MVC Women's Championship at Ford Center will be the 18th-straight year the Conference will conduct a neutral-site championship for women's basketball. The MVC has played its premier event for women's basketball at Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo. (2008-2015) and Vibrant Arena at The MARK in Moline, Ill. (2016-2024). The previous 22 MVC post-season championships were held at campus sites. In 2024, the Missouri Valley Conference was one of only six conferences in which the women's basketball championship was played at a neutral site, separate from the men's championship and on a different weekend (ACC, A-10, Big East, Pac-12, and SEC were the others).

Three-Year Rotation Schedule
2025: Thursday-Sunday, March 13-16
2026: Thursday-Sunday, March 12-15
2027: Thursday-Sunday, March 11-14

About the Venues
Ford Center (6,300 lower bowl capacity) in Evansville, Ind., opened in November 2011, is in the core of Evansville's downtown district. The 290,000-square-foot facility serves as home to the University of Evansville men's basketball team and the Evansville Thunderbolts of the Southern Professional Hockey League. The Ford Center also serves as host to numerous sporting events and concerts on an annual basis, including the Ohio Valley Conference men's and women's basketball championships and the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Elite Eight.

Xtream Arena (5,100 capacity) in Coralville, Iowa, is a multi-purpose venue that opened in September 2020. It is the home to the University of Iowa volleyball team and the Iowa Heartlanders of the ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League). It already has proven to be a signature attractor of both amateur and professional sporting events on the national and international stage through its direct connectivity to the 53,000-square foot GreenState Family Fieldhouse.

Vibrant Arena at The MARK (12,000 capacity) served as the host site for the MVC Women's Basketball Tournament from 2016 through 2024. The league drew record crowds there, as the top-three championship game crowds (for a neutral-site MVC women's basketball event) have occurred at Vibrant Arena at The MARK. The venue has hosted hundreds of concerts each year, including acts such as Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, and Metallica. The building also serves as host to two of the Quad Cities storied professional sports teams – the Quad City Storm Professional Hockey Team and the Quad City Steamwheelers Arena Football Team.

During the momentous Saturday, the Missouri Valley Conference and the National Esports Collegiate Conference united to host the inaugural Missouri Valley Conference Esports Championship at the Illinois State University Redbird Esports facility. The University of Evansville's newly established Overwatch and Rocket League esports teams, despite facing off against experienced adversaries, demonstrated their prowess. In a display of their skill and determination, the Overwatch team secured an impressive fourth place, while the Rocket League team claimed a commendable fifth place.

In Overwatch 2, a team of 5 players competes on different maps and game modes where they must outlast or score more than the other team. For a team to win, they must win the best of five maps. The Aces started with fierce competition with Missouri State University. Previously, the Aces had lost to Missouri during the regular season; however, it would be different this time. The Aces started slow, losing a close Map 1 to Missouri. After shaking it off, the Aces would come back and win three maps in a row against Missouri to take their first win (3-1) in the MVC Esports Championship.

Following their initial triumph, the Aces faced their most formidable opponents yet, Illinois State University. The Aces struggled to find their rhythm in the first map, resulting in their first loss in the series. However, they regrouped and started the second map on the defensive, winning their fair share of engagements. Unfortunately, the Red Birds' offense proved too strong, leading them to victory in the second map. With the final map on the line, the Aces fought bravely but ultimately succumbed to the MVC Esports Champions, relegating them to the consolation round to compete for third and fourth place.

Despite being knocked down, the Aces had no problem picking up the win against Southern Illinois University—Carbondale. The Aces started strong against the Salukis and never released the gas, taking a dominant 3-0 victory.

The Overwatch team was up against Valparaiso University for their last match to secure third or fourth place. Although the Aces won the first game on Ilios, Valparaiso returned stronger, winning the second game in a close finish. They continued their momentum and won the third game, bringing the series to match point. However, the Aces made a strong comeback and handily the following map on Esperanca, tying the series 2-2. Valparaiso won in a thrilling and nail-biting game, making them the 3-2 victors of the series, ending the Aces season as fourth within the MVC for Overwatch.

In Rocket League, a team of three players competes on a soccer field-based map where they must outscore the other team. For a team to win, they must win the best of seven maps. In their first match, the Aces played against Valparaiso. Valparaiso took an early lead, resulting in the first win in the series. The Aces, unfazed, took the second game in a close battle. However, Valparaiso would ultimately prove too strong and win the series 4-1.

Following their loss, the Aces would drop to the Consolation bracket and win against the University of Northern Iowa 4-0. Continuing their consolation road, the Aces would play against the closely matched team, Bradley University. In the closest match yet, Bradley would ultimately come out victorious, winning 4-3, ending the Aces season as fifth within the MVC for Rocket League.

"They fought hard for their wins, accepted well their defeats, and surpassed expectations with their teamwork, skills, and professionalism," says Coach Henderson about his teams' performances last Saturday. "It was great to see how impressed other teams, who have been established for several years now, were with our esports program, and it was incredible to see our Overwatch team adapt so well to the new dynamic of playing in an in-person tournament," says Faith "Mrs. Coach" Henderson who spectated the competitions and provided much needed secondary support throughout the tournament. The regular season is over, but Coach Henderson and the many current and future players of the Aces Esports program are eager to return in the fall to prepare for next year's MVC Esports Championship.

Sydney Weatherford tossed a complete game shutout and Niki Bode picked up a late 2-run single to help the University of Evansville softball team earn a 3-0 win over Indiana State on Wednesday at Price Field.

Weatherford allowed just three hits while fanning three batters on the way to win #7 of the season.  The Purple Aces recorded six hits on the day with Taylor Howe going 2-3 with a double and two runs scored.

Pitching was the story as both starters were lights out with the game being scoreless after four innings.  Indiana State had the first hit of the day on a leadoff bunt in the first while Hannah Hood’s 1-out double in the top of the second was the first hit of the contest for UE.

As the game progressed, it was obvious that runs would be a premium and Evansville was the first to score on a fluke play that was keyed by heads-up baserunning.  Taylor Howe reached on a 1-out double.  Up next was Lacy Smith.  After striking out, Smith hustled to first on the dropped third strike and forced a throwing error by the Sycamores catcher.  Howe scored all the way from first to break the scoreless tie.

In the top of the 7th, UE came through with two important insurance runs.  Marah Wood and Howe recorded back-to-back singles with one out.  Howe stole second to put two runners in scoring position for pinch hitter Niki Bode.  The freshman came through with a single to right center to score both runners and make it a 3-0 game.

From there, Weatherford got the job done as she retired the side in order to clinch the victory.

UE returns home this weekend for its final home series of the season against Missouri State.

During the University of Evansville’s eight-game winning streak, pitching and defense helped power the Purple Aces’ success.  On Wednesday night, that wasn’t the case, as the homestanding Purdue Boilermakers scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back, as Purdue snapped UE’s winning streak with a 10-6 victory at Alexander Field in West Lafayette, Indiana.

After UE had jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by graduate first baseman Chase Hug and an RBI ground out by graduate third baseman Brent Widder, the Boilermakers sent 10 men to the plate in the bottom of the first inning and scored four runs on just two hits.  In the inning, UE committed three errors, issued two walks, and hit a batter to help Purdue grab a lead it would never lose.

Purdue would add two more runs in the second inning on back-to-back RBI doubles by catcher Connor Caskenette and outfielder Keenan Taylor to grab a 6-2 lead.  The Boilermakers would tack on single tallies in the third, fourth and fifth innings to build the lead to 9-2.  A walk scored in the fourth inning and a hit batter came around to score in the fifth for Purdue.

UE would finally answer back in the eighth inning with a run on an RBI double by Widder.  Then, after Purdue scored a run of its own in the eighth inning, UE was able to plate three runs in the ninth inning to make things interesting.  Senior outfielder Kip Fougerousse had an RBI single, and Hug added a two-run single to provide the final score of 10-6.

Hug went 3-for-5 with three RBI to lead UE offensively.  Graduate outfielder Mark Shallenberger also went 2-for-2 and reached base in all five trips to the plate, scoring two runs.  Fougerousse also had a two-hit day, while Widder drove in two RBI for UE.  On the mound, UE issued seven walks and hit five Purdue batters.  It equals the most free bases the UE pitching staff has allowed all year.  UE’s four errors also equaled a season-high.

With the victory, Purdue improved to 26-15 overall.  Evansville, meanwhile, falls to 22-18 with the loss.  The Purple Aces will now return home to German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium for an important three-game Missouri Valley Conference series against Missouri State.  Evansville is currently in second place in the MVC with a 10-5 conference mark, just two games behind league-leading and nationally-ranked Indiana State entering the weekend.  The series will begin on Friday at 6 p.m. and continue both Saturday and Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. and 1 p.m. respectively.  Tickets for each game are currently available by calling Logan Belz in the UE athletic ticket office by phone at 812-488-2623.

Gabriel Pozzato – a 6-foot-7 forward from Italy – has officially signed with the University of Evansville men’s basketball program.  Pozzato joins as a freshman for the 2024-25 season.

The high school senior comes to Evansville from the NBA Academy in Australia where he averaged 8.6 points per game in his final season with the program.

“We're extremely excited to add Gabriel and his family to our UE family.  Our staff had an opportunity to evaluate Gabriel while he was participating in the NBA Academy games.  We quickly noticed his athletic ability along with his ability to play multiple positions on both ends of the floor,” UE head coach David Ragland exclaimed.  “We have been focused on continuing to add height to our roster as well as continuing to add players that have the ability to dribble, pass and shoot.  During the recruitment process, Coach Snow did a wonderful job of cultivating a strong relationship with Gabriel and his inner circle.”

“We believe in recruiting young men that have been a part of winning programs.  Gabriel is the perfect example of that.  He is also the perfect fit for our culture,” Ragland added.  “Aces fans will love watching Gabriel play here at the University of Evansville.”

Last year, Pozzato participated in the FIBA U18 European Championship for Italy.  Over the course of seven contests, he averaged 6.9 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.  Pozzato scored 17 points against Denmark and added 15 tallies versus Croatia.

“I am excited to be a part of this team and family.  I believe this program is going to help me in this new chapter of my journey and will support me to grow and reach my goals,” Pozzato said.  “I want to thank Coach Ragland and his staff for the opportunity.  I look forward to representing UE!”