The campus community knows UE is special, and now, the entire nation is taking notice! On Wednesday, Today Show co-hosts Kathie Lee and Hoda played a video produced by AcesTV as part of the "Go Back to College" Twitter contest. (If you missed it, you can watch the Today Show clip here.)

But we can't stop now! TODAY come to a flash mob, group video shoot, and mass tweet on the front oval. Grape snowcones will be served in honor of The Big Freeze (#UEBigFreeze) and in celebration of Purple Friday. Wear purple! 

In the meantime, keep tweeting your photos, videos, or messages with the hashtag #KLGandHodaU. Tell Kathie Lee and Hoda why they should broadcast the fourth hour of the Today Show live from UE's campus! The deadline to tweet is this Sunday at 8:00 a.m. CDT, after which six finalists will be chosen. Tweet as often as you like and ask your family and friends to do the same. Don’t forget to use #KLGandHodaU!

Are you interested in language and culture of Japan? The first Japanese Club meeting will be this Thursday, September 13 at 5 p.m. in Room 272 of the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building. All are welcome to join the club, and the registration form will be available at the meeting. Come by and help decide what activities we will do throughout the year! If you are interested in joining Japanese Club or have any additional questions, feel free to e-mail Sunghee Park at sp133@evansville.edu. See you there!

The Center for Student Engagement has discounted Roller Derby tickets for students. Tickets are for the Sept. 22 match at 7:30 p.m. at the Coliseum in downtown Evansville. Tickets are $5 with a student ID with no limit on the number of tickets. Stop in the Center for Student Engagement to get your ticket.

Several UE alumns are on Demolition City, Evansville's flat track roller derby team, which will be playing a team from Sioux Falls, SD during the event. Demoliton City has been together since January 2007, traveling around the Midwest. This is Demolition City's last home bout of the season, and they would love for  UE college students to attend!

Phi Alpha Delta is the pre-law fraternity on campus. It's a great way to network and learn about what law school can really be like. Join us for our first meeting on Thursday, September 13 at 6:15 p.m. in Room 72, Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Buidling
 

Adventist Campus Ministries will be having Bible study on Thursday night from 7-8 p.m. in Room153 (Eades Music Room) in the McCurdy Wing of Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building.

The topic this week is "Angels and Aliens". What does the Bible have to say about angelic beings and other extra-terrestrial life?  Anyone is welcome to attend and you can contact: Alexandra Statham (as509@evansville.edu) for more details.

The Accounting Club will be having its first meeting of the year on Thursday Sept. 13 from 12:15-1:15 p.m. in Room 273, Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building! SABIC will be coming to talk about its co-op opportunities.  Dues are $20 and pizza is served at every meeting and members get a t-shirt. If you are unable to attend this meeting, please e-mail Amanda Weisman (aw269@evansville.edu) with your name and student ID number so you can be added to the roster. If you have any additional questions feel free to e-mail Amanda for those as well.

Family Weekend 2012 is from September 28 to September 30!  Encourage your family to join the festivities!  Register before September 14 to be entered into a drawing to WIN a free overnight stay at one of the Family Weekend hotels or a $50 coupon to the UE Bookstore!  There are several ways to register for Family Weekend.   (1) Families can now see a detailed schedule of events and register online by visiting  www.evansville.edu/parents. (2) Return the registration form inside the Parents Connections Newsletter, (3) Call the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at 812-488-2586.   Questions? Contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, at 812-488-2586 or 800-423-8633 x 2586.

Do you have strong feelings about freedom of speech?  Join us for a forum entitled, "Is Freedom of Speech Under Attack?" in Schroeder 172 at 4 p.m. on Monday, September 17.  This event is open to all members of the University community and is part of our campus' observance of Constitution Day.  Don't expect any long presentations from professors about the Bill of Rights -- think of this as more of an "open mic" event for students to say what is on their minds.  

Rachel Edwards, a representative of Ohio Northern University, will be on campus on Tuesday, September 18 to speak with prospective law students about the opportunities at ONU Law. The meeting will be in Eykamp 253 from noon to 3 p.m. with an information table set up there from 1:30-3 p.m. There will be free pizza and drinks from 12:15-1:15 p.m. It is recommended to R.S.V.P. through UE Joblink at http://careercenter.evansville.edu

The Department of Communication will host a guest speaker as part of their Communication Scholars Lecture Series. Dr. Matthew Seeger, a UE communication graduate, will speak on Tuesday, September 25, at 7:00 p.m. in Eykamp 253/254/255, Ridgway University Center. Dr. Seeger’s lecture is titled “The Consequences of Crisis: From Ruin to Renewal.”

His speech will focus on how local events such as the Ohio River flood of 1937 and Purple Aces plane crash of 1977 have changed Evansville and the residents who experienced them.

Dr. Seeger is currently the Dean of the College of Fine, Performing, and Communication Arts at Wayne State University. His research includes crisis and risk communication, health promotion, crisis response and agency coordination, the role of the media, and post-crisis renewal. He has worked with the Centers for Disease Control, the National Center for Food Protection and Defense, and the International Crisis Communication Group. He has authored or co-authored seven books on crisis communication and has had articles published in numerous journals.

His lecture is free and open to the public.

The federally-funded Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship Program is now accepting applications for Spring 2013 from current Pell Grant recipients. To learn more about the program and how to apply, please attend one of two Gilman Scholarship Workshops on Friday, September 14 or Monday September 17, both at 4:00 p.m. and both in Room 250, Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building.  A major goal of the Gilman Scholarship is to enable US citizens “of limited financial means to pursue academic studies abroad.”  The Gilman organization defines “limited financial means” as being a recipient of a federal Pell Grant.  Only US citizens who receive Pell Grants may apply.  Pell Grant recipients who are applying to an approved Spring 2013 study abroad program may apply for a Gilman Scholarship in this application cycle. 

There is much useful information on the Gilman website:

www.iie.org/gilman

The application must be completed by October 2nd, so it is important to act promptly. 

The Gilman workshop will focus on the Spring 2013 application process, but students who are Pell Grant eligible and considering a future term abroad are also welcome to attend to start early planning. 

Questions?  Contact Earl Kirk (ek43@evansville.edu) in the Study Abroad Office, Room 263 in the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building.

Bring your lunch and enjoy a free performance by Douglas Reed, university organist and professor emeritus of music, as part of the Neu Chapel Organ @ Noon series.  

The series begins at 12:10 p.m. Thursday, September 20 in Neu Chapel, with "The Genius of Bach." The amazing J.S. Bach, known in his lifetime and ever since as one of the greatest composers of all time, left a rich heritage of over 1,000 works, many of which were written for the organ.  Dr. Reed will perform a selection of Bach’s most famous organ pieces including the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.

Also performing will be Mai ishihara, current UE organ student from Nagasaki, Japan, and Matthew Baugh, 1989 graduate of the University of Evansville and winner of the prestigious Gumberts Award, who earned his masters degree in organ performance from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester. 

The Neu Chapel Organ @ Noon series continues on Thursday, October 18 with "A Louis Vierne Tribute" (featuring selections from 24 Pièces en Style Libre and 24 Pièces de fantaisie) and Thursday, November 15 with "Special Birthdays" (featuring music from John Bull, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, John Staney, and John Cage). 

The Muslim Students Association (MSA) Call-Out Meeting on September 19, from 8-9 p.m. at in Room 273 in the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration Building.

The Muslim Students Association at UE consists of a group of students dedicated to preserving and educating the general public about their Islamic heritage along with providing necessary services to the Muslim students of UE. We would also like to promote awareness of issues related to Islam and Muslims across the world.

Further Goals:
• To take appropriate steps for establishing unity among Muslims and non-Muslims
• To conduct social, cultural, religious, and educational activities in relation to Islam
• To promote friendly relations between Muslims and non-Muslims
• To present Islam to non-Muslims so as to help them understand its message and teachings

If you are interested in joining the MSA or have questions, email Kareem El-Khodary at ke94@evansville.edu

UE PRI.DE is looking for coming out stories for the 2012 Coming Out Panel on October 1. If you are interested in being a part of this panel, please email your stories concerning LGBT issues to uepride@gmail.com.
 

The Registrar's Office would like to remind you of some important upcoming deadlines:

• September 28 - Last day to add all internships.

• October 25 - Attention: December Graduates! Commencement Central, Ridgway University Center, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
 

The ROTC (Army Reserves Officer Training Corp) has notified the Office of Financial Aid about an unusual opportunity that may be of interest to students needing financial assistance who are also interested in serving in the military.

Effective this year, ROTC is offering 2 and 3 year full tuition scholarships to sophomore and junior students in all majors.  However, students must respond by September 30 if they are interested.  It is relatively simple to apply and the military commitment is straight forward.  For more information, contact John Hubbard, ROTC recruiting officer, at (812) 461-5303 or email at jhubbard1@usi.edu. 

Reserve Component Scholarships
(starting as a college sophomore, 3 or 2 year award)
Scholarship benefits:
• Full tuition plus fees or room and board
• $1200 a year for books
• Up to $500 monthly stipend for personal expenses
The scholarships can be awarded for two or three years starting the sophomore year.
Requirements to be considered for a reserve component scholarship at UE include:
• Must have 30 credit hours toward degree
• U.S. citizen
• Minimum college cumulative GPA minimum 2.5
• Meet physical standards (Males 18-21 yrs old - 43 push-ups, 53 sit-ups, 15:56 for 2 mile run; Females - 17 push-ups, 53 sit-ups, 18:54 for 2 mile run)
• Pass an Army medical physical (at no fee to the student)
• Under 31 years old at time of commissioning (can be waived)
Obligation to the U.S. Army upon degree completion:
• 8 years in an active drilling status (i.e. National Guard or Army Reserves, 1 weekend per month and 2 weeks in the summer). 

To apply:
Indicate your intent to apply for an ROTC scholarship as soon as possible by notifying John Hubbard at (812) 461-5303 or email at jhubbard1@usi.edu to schedule an interview, medical physical, and physical fitness test. 

The University of Evansville Friends of Art are proud to present “Jerry Baum: A British Experience,” featuring original watercolors by a popular Southwest Indiana artist. The exhibit will run through November 9 in the Melvin Peterson Gallery, located on the corner of Lincoln and Weinbach avenues.

From London landmarks to countryside scenes, “Jerry Baum: A British Experience” will feature large watercolor paintings Baum produced from visits to England. The paintings, which have been on exhibit throughout the United States and Europe, are on loan to the Peterson Gallery from the Barning family’s private collection.

Baum has been a professional watercolor artist for over 55 years. He has held shows nationwide and in countries such as Bolivia and Germany, donating the proceeds from much of his work to religious, educational, and humanitarian causes. His work is featured in embassies around the world as well as notable private and corporate collections.

Baum was one of the founding members of the Watercolor U.S.A. juried exhibition and has taught workshops and master classes for the last 45 years in venues around the United States, including the University of Evansville.

The Melvin Peterson Gallery is open from noon-3:00 p.m. Monday-Friday or by appointment. All exhibits are free, open to the public, and handicap accessible. For more information, please contact the University of Evansville Department of Art at 812-488-2043.

The University of Evansville, in pursuit of excellence in service, wishes to recognize 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 towards fellow employees

To be eligible, an employee must be a full-time member of administration or staff.

Nominations for the October 2012 Employee Excellence Award are due no later than Wednesday, September 19, 2012.

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

Congratulations to Dr. Laura McDonald, assistant professor of exercise and sport science, and clinical coordinator, for the Athletic Training Education Program,  on the successful defense of her Ph.D. thesis “Biomechanical Variability in High School and Collegiate Softball Pitchers:  A Within and Between-Pitch Comparison”.  Dr. McDonald received her Ph.D. from the University of Delaware, her Master of Science in Biomechanics from the University of Delaware and her Bachelor of Science, Athletic Training, from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY.

University of Evansville men’s basketball coach Marty Simmons has announced that Kavon Lacey has been promoted to Director of Basketball Operations for the Purple Aces. Lacey played for Evansville from 2007 through 2011 and served as a graduate assistant for the team last season.

“I am excited about this opportunity and am looking forward to taking on a more active role in the everyday operations of our program,” Lacey said.

In his playing career at UE, Lacey saw action in 117 games as a guard while serving as the team captain in his last two seasons with the Aces.  Lacey has maintained a strong relationship with Coach Simmons as he was the first recruit to sign with Simmons after he accepted the head coaching position with the Aces.

Lacey replaces Lucious Wagner, who was also a player at UE.  Wagner held the position for the last two seasons.
 

With a pair of victories under her belt, junior Kelby Jenkins picked up another honor on Tuesday as she was named the Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week.Jenkins has gotten off to a blazing start in 2012, winning the UE Mid-America Opener prior to taking top honors in last week’s EIU Walt Crawford Open.  She picked up the win at EIU with a time of 17:56.00 in the 5K race, just the second sub-18 minute five kilometer run in UE history.

She bested the competition by eight seconds on Friday and also faced other battles along the way.  Due to severe weather, the men’s and women’s races were run at the same time.  Jenkins came across slower runners from the men’s side before battling a torrential downpour near the end of the event.

With the honor, Jenkins becomes the second UE runner to garner MVC honors in just the second week of the season.  Last week, senior Cody Stein took MVC Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week honors following a fourth place finish at the UE Mid-America Opener.

Jenkins will look to make it 3-0 on Friday as the Aces travel to the Indiana Intercollegiate.  The race is set for 2:30 p.m. CT in Terre Haute.

In addition to appearing on the front page of the men’s soccer section on TopDrawerSoccer.com and being mentioned as a “Story to Monitor” by J.R. Eskilson, the University of Evansville men’s soccer team received votes in three different national polls this week.

The Purple Aces received 13 votes this week in the NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Men’s Poll this week, after receiving only six one week ago.  Despite improving to 4-0-0 over the weekend, UE dropped a spot to seventh in the NSCAA Midwest Regional Poll.  Missouri Valley Conference member Creighton tops the poll, while SIU Edwardsville ranks fourth.  Valley schools Missouri State, Bradley and Central Arkansas ranked eighth, ninth and tied for tenth, respectively.

Evansville tallied votes in two other national polls, as the Aces garnered nine votes in the SoccerTimes.com  College Coaches Poll and also received votes in the College Soccer News Top 30 National Poll.

Prior to this weekend’s win over Cincinnati at the ProRehab Aces Soccer Classic, UE was mentioned by Eskilson as a team to monitor after the Aces’ early season success.  Evansville will look to keep its record unblemished this weekend when it travels to St. Louis, Mo., for a matchup with the Billikens Saturday evening at 7 p.m.