Sigma Tau Delta Initiation

On Wednesday, April 18, Sigma Tau Delta, the English Honorary Society, initiated the following majors and minors: Matthew Ausberger, Laura Ryckzek, Erin Cordonier, Mindy Erickson, Kayla Wiedmaier, Brian Ramsay, Andy Garrison, Caitlin McKinney, Bethany Hanson, Natalie Root, Stacey Weidemann, Jennifer Heater, and Alexa Adams.

2013 Sigma Tau Delta initiates and officers.

Initiation into Sigma Tau Delta requires a major or minor in a field of English studies, including Journalism and Convergent Media, a 3.0 GPA, and the completion of at least three courses in their degree program above general studies requirements. Tau Mu Chapter President Katie Walkup, Vice President Roxanne Chase, and Secretary Rochelle Whitman presided over the initiation. Missouri Western's chapter of Sigma Tau Delta is sponsored by Drs. Bergland, Roberts, and Donaher of the Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Journalism.

Ken Rosenauer Retirement and Student Awards Reception

Yesterday we gathered to honor our outstanding graduates and celebrate the 34-year Griffon career of Dr. Ken Rosenauer.

Matt and Dr. Fulton

Dave and Dr. Bergland

Students were honored to start the afternoon. The outstanding graduates in English (Staci Hersh), Convergent Media (Dave Hon), French (Donnie Hughes), Spanish (Eric McCrerey), and Education (Sarah McClure) were given their due, as well as the Sandy Jacobs Literature award winner (Matt Ausberger). Faculty close to each graduate presented the awards, citing the each student's numerous accomplishments and virtues.

Staci and Dr. Donaher

After the testimonies were given by faculty regarding the outstanding accomplishments of the graduates, we turned our attention to Ken. In his time here, Ken created our convergent media degree; he was a founding member of the AIM graduate faculty, leading that group for a time; he was EFLJ chair for six years (2 terms); he was newspaper adviser for 14 years, and he was yearbook adviser for 3.

Sarah with Ms. Terrick and Mr. Pankiewicz

Eric with Dr. Castilla-Ortiz

Ken has been honored with the Mehl award for scholarship, which recognizes his three textbooks on journalism. Ken was very active in the national College Media Advisers organization, serving as its president, board member, as well as its newsletter editor and conference planner. Ken is a recipient of the Goldon Key award from Columbia U. and is in the College Media Advisers Hall of Fame for his outstanding work teaching college journalism.

Donnie and Dr. Hennessy

 

Ken with Sandy Jacobs and Barb Scheidegger. Sandy and Barb served as administrative assistants when Ken was chair.

The Scanlon service award was awarded him for his outstanding, varied, and long-standing community service.  Of special note is his service as president of the Apple Blossom parade since 2000 and serving on the Savannah school board. Ken even did a term as mayor of Savannah from 87-91. 

Dr. Cadden presents Ken with his gift

Plenty of Three Stooges to fill Ken's retirement time!

Thanks to Bob Bergland for putting together a slideshow of Ken's time at MWSC/U, which features Ken with an enviable mustache that itself is worth the price of admission.

President Vartabedian chats with Ken

Congratulations to our graduates and to Ken for your hard work, accomplishments, and distinction.

2013 ENG 100 Reading and Reception

Dr. Vartabedian welcomes guests

On Wednesday, April 10, 2013, Dawn Terrick, Director of Developmental Writing, hosted 85 people at the annual reception for the ENG 100 student publication Discovering the Student, Discovering the Self.  Dr. Vartabedian kicked off the reception. Then students received certificates and awards and read their original work. Students were joined by their family and friends as well as MWSU faculty, staff and administration and all enjoyed an afternoon of celebration.  

Another big crowd for the ENG 100 Reading

Director Dawn Terrick hands out awards

This is the seventh edition of Discovering the Student, Discovering the Self.  The essays that appear in this publication were selected by the English 100 Committee from submissions from English 100 students from the Spring and Fall 2012 semester.  These student essays reflect the struggle and the joy, the hard work and the rewards that these students have experienced both in their lives and in the classroom.  Furthermore, these essays reflect the diversity of our English 100 students and the uniqueness of this course.  Our students are entering college straight out of high school and are returning to the classroom after years of work and family, come from urban and rural areas, and represent different races and cultures.  And this work is truly their work -- the committee has not made any revisions or corrections to the essays.   

We invite you to read these essays on our website and hope that you will discover the same things that the students have discovered:  during their first semester in college they are discovering themselves, realizing that they are part of many communities and defining themselves as individuals, students, scholars and citizens.

Alumna On Hand for 42 premiere in Kansas City

On Thursday, April 11, 2013, alumna Melissa (Bitterman) Cox was given the opportunity to photograph a one-on-one interview with The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum's president, Bob Kendrick, by Brian Freeman {from KTGR in Columbia} as they conversed about the film 42 based on the story of Jackie Robinson and the impact it's had on Kansas City. 

Melissa and Brian at the premiere

Melissa and Brian also attended the red carpet premiere of the film, where they met and (and Melissa photographed) many inspiring people, including Billy Butler, KC Mayor Sly James, Dennis Leonard, Lou Brock, George Altman, Luis Mendoza, Bruce Chen, Linda Paige-Shelby (daughter of Satchel Paige) & David Robinson (son of Jackie Robinson) as well as film stars Derek Phillips, Andre Holland, Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford.

Melissa, owner of Lifeshots Photography, said "It was one of the most surreal, exciting, awesome days of my life. I got to be part of a celebration of one of history's greatest moments. I am still pinching myself and looking over the photos again and again. Then the film itself: aside from the one-liners that just kept coming throughout the whole movie and the fact that Harrison Ford BECAME Branch Rickey, the message and portrayal of the story moved me to tears. Whether you are a baseball fan, a history buff, or a Harrison Ford lover-- If you are an American... you must go see this movie."

Foreign Language Day 2013

Welcoming this year's crowd

First Place for lip-synching

On Tuesday, April 9, the English/Foreign Languages/Journalism Department hosted 215 high school students from nine high schools for the annual Foreign Language Day. 

Students competed in a variety of language-related activities, including poetry recitation, a quiz bowl, impromptu skits and video commercials.

Students studying Chinese, French and Spanish participated. Two new events gave students the choice between a spelling bee in their language or Afro-Cuban dance lessons!

Thanks to the high school foreign language teachers for bringing students to campus, to our full-time foreign language staff ( Drs. Hennessy, Castilla-Ortiz, and Bausset-Page), our Fulbright fellows Vicky and Dominic, our Chinese exchange professor Juan, and all who worked to make the event so successful.

Spanish Poetry Slam Winner

 

Dancing lessons

Students Achieve General Studies and Majors Honors

The following students have fulfilled requirements for both General Studies Honors and Majors Honors:

Sarah McClure (English Education)
Eric McCrerey (Spanish)
Caitlin McKinney (French)
Katie Walkup (English)

Congratulations!

Students Weigh In On Popular Culture

English majors Sarah McClure and Roxanne Chase and English/French major Caitlin McKinney gave papers at the 2013 Popular Culture Association and American Culture Association Conference held in Washington, D.C., March 27-31.

Roxanne (left) and Caitlin take a breather from touring D.C.

Sarah visits the Vampire Slayer-in-Chief

The students presented in the area of Literature and Science and were accompanied at the conference by Drs. Ian Roberts and Trish Donaher. Their papers were developed in the fall in Dr. Roberts' Literature and Science course. Donaher and Roberts also presented at the conference in the areas that they chair, Language Attitudes and Popular Linguistics and Literature and Science, respectively.