SIU President's Communique (2-24-2012)

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Weekly Communiqué (February 24, 2012)

SIUC’s Up ‘Til Dawn Philanthropic Efforts Growing
SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School Opens STEM Classroom
Panel Will Meet at SIUC to Discuss Success Stories in Africa
SIUC’s Social Work Day Presentation to Focus on Bullying
SIUE Chancellor Recognized among Most Influential St. Louisans
Tickets Available for SIUC’s Celebrate Women Luncheon
SIU School of Medicine Offers Drumming For Health Classes
SIUE Nursing Faculty Awarded Fellowship for Teaching
SIUC’s Maple Festival-Pancake Breakfast Starts Feb. 25-26
Saluki Swimming and Diving Teams Earn Scholar All-America Honors

1. SIUC’s Up ‘Til Dawn Philanthropic Efforts Growing

When Salukis do something, they do it all out. SIUC’s ongoing Up ‘til Dawn philanthropic effort is certainly proof of that. Since the fundraising effort on behalf of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital began with a November kick-off event, hundreds of students have helped raise more than $61,000 for the facility that treats children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. With donations still coming in, SIU Carbondale’s effort currently ranks fourth in the country in college benefit fundraisers for the hospital. But, students aren’t satisfied with fourth and they’re hoping that by the time the final tally rings up this summer, they’ll win “top Dawg” bragging rights while helping a most worthwhile cause. The announcement of the final totals will occur at the 2012 St. Jude Collegiate Leadership Seminar in July. Up ‘til Dawn is accepting online applications for chair and committee positions in recruitment, fundraising, public relations, advocacy, sponsorship and entertainment. Undergraduate and graduate students from all majors can apply.

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2. SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School Opens STEM Classroom

The SIUE East St. Louis Charter High School recently hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of its nearly $1 million cutting-edge science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) classroom. The event marked a special donation from Robert H. Graebe, an East St. Louis native, and his wife, Norma J. Graebe. The couple lives in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The gift made the new state-of-the-art facility, named the William Frederick Graebe Sr. STEM Learning Center, a reality. The Learning Center features the latest technology, including a 70-inch multi-touch SMART interactive LCD board, 3D scanning and printing, and HD teleconferencing capabilities, and a fabrication laboratory that allows users to design and create prototypes with moving parts that can be tested. The gift is part of Defining Excellence: The Campaign for SIUE.

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3. Panel Will Meet at SIUC to Discuss Success Stories in Africa

A panel discussion at SIUC will examine the success that several countries in Africa are experiencing. Professor John Kiggundu, who teaches law and business at the University of Botswana, is the featured speaker for the panel discussion, “Good News from Africa: Success Stories in African Development, Democracy and Culture.” Other panelists include SIU Carbondale faculty Frank M. Chipasula, a professor in Africana Studies who is originally from Malawi; Leonard K. Gadzekpo, an associate professor in Africana Studies who was born in Cote d'Ivoire and grew up in Ghana; and Uche Onyebadi, an assistant professor in the School of Journalism, who is originally from Nigeria. The event is at 5 p.m., Thursday, March 1, in the SIU School of Law courtroom, room 108. The panel discussion is free and the public is encouraged to attend. During Kiggundu’s visit, Chancellor Rita Cheng will sign a memorandum of understanding between SIU Carbondale and the University of Botswana. The memorandum is aimed at create new opportunities for students and faculty at both schools.

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4. SIUC’s Social Work Day Presentation to Focus on Bullying

SIUC Social Work Day 2012 is a celebration of the region’s social workers of today and tomorrow. The annual Social Work Day luncheon and awards ceremony will take place on March 19 in the Student Center Ballrooms. The day begins with the workshop “Love Me or Hate Me…” from 9 a.m. to noon in Ballroom C featuring Karla Horton, associate professor in social work. The registration deadline for the workshop is March 5 and Continuing Education Units are available for participants. The cost of the workshop varies depending upon a participant’s involvement in the field of social work. To register, or for more information, contact the Division of Continuing Education at (618)536-7751. Lunch is available for a fee, too.

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5. SIUE Chancellor Recognized among Most Influential St. Louisans

The St. Louis Business Journal has recognized Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift among its Most Influential St. Louisans class of 2012. ”We are so grateful for his leadership and hard work…” SIU System President Glenn Poshard has said of Vandegrift. The article from the Journal stated: “This year’s Most Influential St. Louisans class of 2012 features more than 250 of the area’s top minds in business, banking and finance, law, government, entertainment, education and health care. But in addition to their professions, these leaders have also illustrated their impact in the local community, too.”

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6. Tickets Available for SIUC’s Celebrate Women Luncheon

The Celebrate Women Luncheon at SIUC on March 8 is a triple-purpose event. It commemorates March as Women’s History Month, recognizes the contributions of women to University life, and raises funds for student scholarships. The event includes guest speakers, special performances and presentations, displays of student work, and awards presentations. It is a time to showcase the work and accomplishments of the University’s faculty, staff and students. This is the 16th year for the Celebrating Scholarship By and About Women Luncheon and it is set for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Center’s Ballroom B. The soup and salad luncheon tickets help fund scholarships for students. Tickets are $25 and the deadline for reservations is March 1. To purchase tickets, email uwpa@siu.edu, call the University Women’s Professional Advancement office (618)453-1099, or contact Martha Ellert at msellert@aol.com.

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7. SIU School of Medicine Offers Drumming For Health Classes

Cancer patients are invited to register for “Drumming for Health,” a free, four-week class that will be held from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, March 10, 17, 24 and 31 at the Simmons Cancer Institute at Southern Illinois University, 315 W. Carpenter St. in Springfield. Drums will be provided. The class will use the HealthRHYTHMS program, an interactive drumming program with all participants involved in “in-the-moment music making.” Group drumming has been shown to lower stress levels, improve self-esteem and enhance the immune system. The program is open to any cancer patient, regardless of where they are being treated. To register for the program, call (217)545-0798. More information about Maberry’s drumming programs can be found at www.rhythmspirit.com.

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8. SIUE Nursing Faculty Awarded Fellowship for Teaching

Amelia Perez, assistant professor of Primary Care and Health Systems Nursing through the SIUE School of Nursing, was among 18 nursing faculty at Illinois colleges and universities who were recipients of $10,000 fellowships awarded by the Illinois Board of Higher Education at its December meeting. The fellowships may be used as salary supplements or to fund professional development activities. The state of Illinois faces a shortage of well-trained nurses, along with a shortage of highly qualified nursing faculty to educate new nurses. The Illinois Nurse Educator Fellowship Program rewards well-qualified faculty for remaining in the classroom rather than relocating to better paying private sector positions. Perez plans to use her fellowship funding to attend various continuing education conferences and workshops to learn best practices for incorporating diversity, culture competence and health care, specific to the Hispanic population, into SIUE’s nursing curriculum, and to develop her skills as a teacher-scholar. Fellows are nominated by Illinois institutions of higher learning with a nursing program approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the National League for Nursing Accreditation Commission.

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9. SIUC’s Maple Festival-Pancake Breakfast Starts Feb. 25-26

It’s not too late to sign up for a SIUC event that couples a pancake and real maple syrup breakfast with an educational workshop. There are still a few spots available in each session of the 2012 Maple Festival and Pancake Breakfast. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, and Sunday, Feb. 26, as well as March 3 and 4. Each session includes a breakfast featuring pancakes with maple syrup and sausage served up at Freeburg Hall and Sledgefoot Lounge from 9 to 11 a.m. Participants will find out about tree identification and physiology, discovering why trees have sugar and why sap flows when it does. Visitors will also learn about proper techniques to tap the trees and boil sap into syrup, along with legends, history and the significance of the maple syrup harvest to Native Americans and early settlers and even today. You must pre-register in advance to attend. The registration deadline is 4:30 p.m. on the Friday prior to the date of the festival you are signing up for. To register, or for more information, call (618)453-1121.

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10. Saluki Swimming and Diving Teams Earn Scholar All-America Honors

The SIUC swimming and diving teams earned Scholar All-America honors by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America. Both the men's and women's teams earned All-America recognition for reaching a cumulative GPA of 3.0. The men's team posted the 15th-highest GPA among men's swimming and diving programs. The men's team posted a 3.25 GPA in the fall 2011 semester, tied with Alabama for the 15th-best GPA in the country. The women's team posted a 3.2 GPA to also earn recognition. The award is given out to any Division I team with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. The swimming and diving teams join a successful academic fall 2011 semester for Saluki athletics. More than 250 Saluki athletes posted a 3.0 or better GPA, including 45 4.0 student-athletes. The baseball team announced one of the highest GPAs in team history earlier this year, and the softball team posted the second-highest GPA in the country.

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