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Points of Pride
Excellence in our Faculty/Staff
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Carol Roever, associate professor of business, received The Bernadine
P. Branchaw Spirit of Association for Business Communication Award for
“extra-ordinary contributions.”
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Anthony Glise, adjunct instructor of music and classical guitarist,
was named recipient of the 2006 Individual Artist of the Year Award by
the Missouri Arts Council. This is the first time that a classical
guitarist has been honored with this prestigious statewide award and
the first time anyone from the St. Joseph area has been cited for the
Individual Artist Award.
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Dr. Nancy Tanner Edwards, professor of education, has been reappointed
as the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics representative to
the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.
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Dan Nicoson, vice president for institutional advancement, was named
chair of the Downtown Rotary’s 4-way test high school speech
competition.
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Dan Nicoson, vice president for institutional advancement, was named
chair of the Chamber of Commerce Diplomats new executives luncheon.
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Dr. Nannette Wolford, professor of physical education, and Patty
Hartenbower, associate professor of physical education, received
recognition from the American Heart Association for their superior
dedication at the Missouri Alliance for Health, Physical Education,
Recreation and Dance (MOAHPERD) state convention at Lake of the
Ozarks. Dr. Wolford also received a 2005 Presidential Citation award
at the MOAHPERD state convention.
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Geo Sipp, assistant professor of art, had a print entitled “Baghdad
Oil Fields” selected for the Lindquist Purchase Award at the 2005
Delta National Small Prints Exhibition. This print, along with prints
by Warrington Colescott and Youji Hiratsuka, will become a part of the
Arkansas State University Permanent Collection of Art. Sipp also has
work included in the exhibition entitled “Girls, Girls, Girls” at the
Alice Gallery at Chameleon Arts in Kansas City, Mo.
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Dr. Susan Hennessy, associate professor of French, attended the 31st
annual Nineteenth Century French Studies Colloquium in Austin, Texas,
where she chaired a panel entitled “Balzac, Gautier, and the Feminine
Other.” She also recently had an article accepted for publication in
The French Review entitled “Consumption and Desire in Au
Bonheur des dames.”
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Dr. Tom Pankeiwicz, associate professor of English; Steve Frogge,
adjunct professor of English; and Charlotte Grider, adjunct professor
of English, were honored at the Prairie Lands Writing Project’s annual
Saturday Seminar, “Empowering Teachers Through Writing,” at Western.
Seventy-seven educators from 21 area schools, grades K-16,
participated in the daylong series of workshop sessions conducted by
Prairie Lands’ National Writing Project teacher consultants.
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Dr. Kaye Adkins, associate professor of English, attended the national
meeting of the Council of Programs in Technical and Scientific
Communication held on the Texas Tech campus in Lubbock. At the
conference, Dr. Adkins participated in a panel, “Musical Chairs When
There Are More Chairs Than Players,” which discussed problems faced by
smaller teaching universities as they hire faculty in technical and
professional communication.
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Jill Miller, professor of criminal justice, placed third in the
professional division in academic testing on juvenile delinquency at
the region 3 conference in Springfield, Mo.
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W. Robin Findlay, associate professor of theatre, has been cast in the
Robidoux Resident Theatre’s production, “Arsenic and Old Lace.”
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Linda Garlinger, director of career development, attended the United
Way budget meeting (she serves on the Allocations Committee), and
Western Industrial Advisory Board dinner and meeting. She is currently
teaching an online course entitled “Academic and Career Research.”
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Carol Roever, associate professor of business, and Adam Kling, senior
business major, participated on a panel discussing the writing
competition at the annual convention of the Association for Business
Communication. In addition, Roever was part of a panel discussing
“Building International Experience: Opportunities for ABC Members.”
Her presentation focused on the experiences Western students have had
in the ABC European Communication conferences.
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Dr. Reza Hamzaee, professor of economics, was invited as a visiting
professor to teach two intensive graduate courses, one for the
doctoral program, Quantitative Methods in Applied Management and
Decision Sciences; and one for the Executive MBA program, Financial
Management & Cost Analysis; for Bordeaux University of France, Uppsala
University of Sweden, and Industrial Management Institute of Iran.
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Dr. Reza Hamzaee, professor of economics, was invited by the Iranian
National Conference of Bankers and the Iranian Association of
Certified Accountants to present his contracted research, “A
World-Class Banking Model” in Tehran, Iran.
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Dr. Reza Hamzaee, professor of economics, was invited by the Ghadeer
Investment Co. of Iran to present a two-day seminar, “Global Economic
Trends and the Implications for Iran,” to its top managerial staff.
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Dr. Reza Hamzaee, professor of economics, was invited by the
Confederation of International Management Accountants, the Petroleum
University of Iran, and the Iranian Association of Certified
Accountants to provide workshops on Financial Economics, Investment
Appraisal, Risk Management, and Optimal Decision Making. Dr. Hamzaee
was also invited to present a two-day seminar to the top managerial
staff of Iranian Bank of Industry and Minining on “Risk Analysis,
Modern Banking and Financial Institutions.”
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Suzanne Kissock, associate professor of criminal justice, and Dave
Tushaus, associate professor of criminal justice and department chair,
participated in the 24th annual conference of the American Association
for Paralegal Education in Tampa, Fla.
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Dr. Robert Bergland, associate professor of English, had an article
entitled, “Simultaneous Emotions: Entwining Modes” published in
Children Books, Childrens Literature in Education: An International
Quarterly 36.3 (September, 2005).
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Dr. John Rushin,
professor of biology and chair of the department, published an article
entitled, “The Loess Hills: Missouri’s Prairie Giants,” in the summer
issue of the Missouri Prairie Journal.
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Dr. Reza Hamzaee, professor of economics, presented “Interest Rates
and the Economy” to the St. Joseph chapter of Daughters of American
Revolution.
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Dr. Catherine Lawson, professor of economics and department chair,
presented a paper at the Missouri Campus Compact annual conference
held in Jefferson City, Mo. The paper is entitled “Service-Learning,
Civic Engagement, and the Web: An Example from Economics.”
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Dr. Ken Rosenauer, professor of journalism and department chair,
presented two sessions at the Fall National College Media Convention
in Kansas City, Mo. They were entitled “Coaching Doesn’t Mean You
Have to Strike Out the First Amendment” and “Raising the Bar: If You
Want It, You Have to Ask for It.”
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Mark Hamilton, instructor of English, gave a talk and presentation,
“Pierre Cruzatte: the Eldest Engagé and River Boatman of the Lewis and
Clark Expedition,” to approximately 30 senior citizens at Country
Squire Retirement Living, St. Joseph.
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Dan Nicoson, vice president for institutional advancement, presented a
half-day program for the Council on Philanthropy in Kansas City, Mo.
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Dr. Ben Caldwell, associate professor of chemistry, presented a paper
entitled, “Gatekeeping: Screening Scholarship Candidates,” at the
40th annual conference of the National Collegiate Honors Council in
St. Louis.
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Dr. Patricia Donaher, associate professor of English, presented a
paper, “Lest We Forget: Remembrance and Healing in John Ford’s ‘She
Wore a Yellow Ribbon’” at the 40th annual Western Literature
Association Conference in Los Angeles.
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Dr. Ian Roberts, associate professor of English, presented a paper,
“Remembrance of Thins Pliocene: Western Literature and Evolutionary
Ethics,” at the 40th annual Western Literature Association Conference
in Los Angeles.
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Prairie Lands Writing Project held its annual “When Writing Teachers
Write” forum at Western. Over 40 students and community members heard
11 area educators, including Western English instructors Tom
Pankiewicz, associate professor of English; Steve Frogge, adjunct
professor of English; and Charlotte Grider, adjunct professor of
English, read from their original works. Dr. Jane Frick, professor of
English and Prairie Lands director, hosted the forum.
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Dr. Steven Greiert, professor of history, presented a paper entitled
“Disorder and Distraction in Colonial New York: The Sad Case of Sir
Danvers Osborn -- a Troubled Man in a Turbulent Colony during the
1750s” at the 40th annual Northern Great Plains History Conference,
sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
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Dr. Daniel Trifan, professor of history, presented a paper entitled
“Matthew Stewart, Earl of Lennox, the Murder of Lord Darnley, and
Upheaval in Scotland, 1567-1570” at the 40th annual Northern Great
Plains History Conference, sponsored by the University of
Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
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Dr. Daniel Trifan, professor of history, presented a paper entitled
“Minefields Within Minefields: The Political Dimensions of the Moray
Regency in Scotland, 1567-1570” at the 30th annual European Studies
Conference at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
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Dr. Teddi Deka, associate professor of psychology, presented a paper
entitled “Teaching Together or Apart, Program Changes and Their Effect
on Self-Esteem” with Jo Ann Wann, student, at the Gifted Association
of Missouri conference in Osage Beach, Mo. Dr. Deka also presented a
paper entitled, “Psychology Honors: Into the Mind of a Serial Killer,”
at the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference in St. Louis.
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Lou Fowler, associate professor of business, presented “Using
Simulation Games in the Introductory Accounting Class” to the Allied
Academies International Conference in Las Vegas. She also co-hosted,
with the Institute of Management Accountants, an accounting students
job fair.
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Dr. Sharon Wagner, associate professor of business, along with
Christiana Houck, integrated media technologist for the instructional
media center, presented, “Ten Things You Can Do With Your Internet
Class But Were Afraid to Try” at the Fall Educator’s Conference of the
Marketing Management Association. Dr. Wagner was an invited speaker
for the New Professors’ Consortium, speaking on “Techniques for
Successful Internet Classes.”
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Dr. Nannette Wolford, professor of physical education, gave a stress
presentation to Hall Elementary fifth graders. Dr. Wolford, along with
Dr. Evelyn Brooks, professor of nursing, accompanied their Learning
Community students to the St. Joseph Healthy Community Summit.
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Dr. John Rushin,
professor of biology and chair of the department, and Lisa Miller,
senior biology major, co-authored a poster for presentation at the
Natural Areas Conference in Lincoln, Neb.
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Dr. Bill Russell, associate professor of physical education, presented
a program entitled, “Youth Sport Coach-Parent Relationships:
Increasing Union and Decreasing Problems,” at the Missouri Alliance
for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance state convention
at the Lake of the Ozarks.
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Joanne Katz, professor of legal studies, presented, “Restorative
Justice and its Applications” at the New and Developing Horizons in
Alternative Dispute Resolution Seminar in Wichita, Kan. The seminar
was sponsored by the Heartland Mediators Association.
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Dr. Tim Crowley, senior counselor, made a presentation to the Pony
Express Health Information Management Conference, “Dealing with
Difficult People and Tough Situations,” and was the final facilitator
for the Leadership St. Joseph program discussing, “Modeling the Way:
Where Do We Go from Here?”
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Dave Brown, counseling center director, provided the keynote address
at the Psi Chi psychology club induction ceremony.
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Dave Brown, counseling center director and Steve Potter, counselor,
attended the Partners in Prevention coalition meeting in Columbia, Mo,
and provided a presentation on Western at the organization’s meeting
in December.
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Cathy Gann, reading and study skills coordinator, Dr. Diane Gorcyca,
professor of speech, and Dawn Terrick, instructor of English, made a
presentation entitled “Implementation of Curricular Integrated
Learning Communities: Successes and Challenges,” at the 10th annual
Learning Communities Conference in Chicago. Gann also attended the
College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) Conference and
currently serves as secretary/treasurer for the Heartland Region of
CRLA.
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Linda Garlinger, director of career development, facilitated the
“Career Services for Students with Disabilities” conference at the
Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City, Kan. Recent presentations included:
“How to Get Into Graduate School,” “Interviewing Skills,” and an
etiquette dinner and seminar for student athletes. She also made
several presentations in College 101 classes, scheduled mock
interviews for psychology majors and held an “Offer Meeting” for
Disney Interns.
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Linda Garlinger, director of career development, and Julie Fiedler,
director of alumni services, hosted the Alumni-Mentoring Program
orientation reception.
Excellence in our Students
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Tara Gnuschke, junior biology major, and Alicia Bowlin, sophomore
biology major, were both accepted into the
early matriculation program with Kansas City University
of Medicine and Biosciences (KCUMB). This program allows these
well-prepared students to move into the KCUMB medical program after
their junior year at Western and still receive their bachelor of
science from Western after their first year in medical school.
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Brandy Renee Criss and Ashleigh Hicks, junior psychology majors, were
inducted into Western’s Psi Chi, a national honor society in
psychology. New officers were also installed, including Amanda
O’Dell, junior, president; Erin Wilson, senior, vice president; Rachel
Lyday, junior, secretary; and Alyssa Myers, senior, treasurer.
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Karla Buckminster, senior music major; Susan Riddle and Mindy
Southard, junior music major, participated in the Missouri Music
Teachers Collegiate Honors Competition. In this statewide competition
held at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Southard was named the
winner in the upper division, while in the lower division, Riddle was
the first runner-up. These students are from the studio of Sharon
Gray, associate professor of music.
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Justin Tone-Pah-Hote, senior natural science major, was awarded one of
30 A.T. Anderson Memorial Scholarships. This is a national award
presented by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society.
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Delta Phi Upsilon, the student chapter of the American Criminal
Justice Association - LAE, attended the region 3 conference in
Springfield, Mo. along with 194 other members. They competed in
written, crime scene, firearms, and physical agility. In firearms, the
team of Mike O’Neil, Stuart Brought, and Travis Roe placed first in
upper division. In crime scene, the team of Tyler Davis, Mindy Swartz,
and Jared Musser placed second in upper division.
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The Region 3 AITP (Association of Information Technology
Professionals) Student Conference was held in Abilene, Texas. Six
students, Norman Beers, Danyel Becker, Brian Jacobs, Brian Parrish,
Amy Porter, and Rob Winkie, participated in the conference. Faculty
sponsors were Deborah Becker, instructor of computer science; Ken
Johnson, assistant professor of computer science; and Evan Noynaert,
assistant professor of computer science. Out of 30 contests and with
17 colleges and universities represented, Western computer science
student teams placed in five categories: Visual Basic, 1st place,
Parrish and Winkie; C++, 3rd place, Parrish and Winkie; C++, Honorable
Mention, Jacobs and Beers; Microsoft Integration, 2nd place, Parrish;
and Microsoft Integration, Honorable Mention, Winkie and Beers. These
students are eligible to compete in the National AITP Competition in
Dallas in the spring.
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Luis Gaytan, senior music major, was a participant in the piano
division from the studio of Jerry Anderson, associate professor of
music.
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Phi Epsilon Kappa, a club for recreation majors, sponsored the Highway
clean-up on 36 Highway. There were eight students and Dr. Nannette
Wolford, professor of physical education, who participated in picking
up trash along the highway.
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Christina Dixon, Karen
Calhoon and Rachael McElvain, senior nursing majors, presented a
poster entitled “Providing an Evidence-Base for Nursing Practice:
Mandatory Staffing Ratios.” This symposium, called “Mind and Heart
Together: Celebrating Intellectual Pursuit in Undergraduate Nursing,”
was hosted by William Jewell College, Liberty, Mo.
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Four computer science,
mathematics, and physics student interns presented an internship panel
discussion for a CSMP Colloquium. Jeff Puckett (Federal Reserve Bank),
Whitney Schell (Kansas City Life), Robert Smith (Hillyard Industries),
and Gavin Taylor (Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.) talked about
how they obtained their internships, and their associated learning
experiences.
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Jo Ann Wann, student,
and Dr. Teddi Deka, associate professor of psychology, presented a
paper entitled “Teaching Together or Apart, Program Changes and Their
Effect on Self-Esteem” at the Gifted Association of Missouri
conference in Osage Beach, Mo.
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Lisa Miller, senior
biology major, and Dr. John Rushin, professor of biology and chair of
the department, co-authored a poster for presentation at the Natural
Areas Conference in Lincoln, Neb.
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The Western Brass Trio, under the direction of Steve Molloy,
artist-in-residence, performed for the St. Joseph Area Chamber of
Commerce at their 2005 Stars Arrive Member Award Luncheon. The Brass
Quintet Chamber Ensemble performed for the St. Joseph Area Chamber of
Commerce Award Luncheon.
Excellence in our
Programs
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The history faculty sponsored the 15th annual Missouri Western History
Bowl, and eight high schools participated.
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The Department of Corrections recently reported that the Western
Institute Diagnostics Services in the St Joseph Correctional Center
had the best processing time of all such services in the state.
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After one year of intense recruiting, the Western Institute
successfully recruited Harmony University, with 800 attendees, back to
Western. Their conference is in August.
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The Department of Corrections recently reported that the Western
Institute GED education program had the second highest level of
effectiveness of the 15 similar programs across the state.
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Western Institute Conferences hosted a training session for the
Heartland Regional Medical Center, with approximately 30 attending.
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The Western Institute provided Command Spanish® for Missouri
Department of Vocational Rehabilitation employees in the Lee’s Summit,
Mo. region. The instructor was Lynn Hudson.
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Peggy Ellis, director of noncredit programs for the Western Institute,
taught Performance Management for 20 employees of Boehringer Ingelheim
Vetmedica, Inc.
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The counseling center’s peer education group, Sharing Our Stories,
sent a contingent of eight students to the national Baachus and Gamma
peer education conference in Orlando, Fla. -- the largest group of
students from any one institution in Missouri. The group presented a
breakout session at the conference on the use of improvisational
theatre groups on college campuses, and received high evaluation
marks. The group’s sponsor, Dr. Tim Crowley, senior counselor, also
provided a breakout session on the benefits of humor.
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Rhonda Rund, director for community arts of the Western Institute,
assisted with the United Way Early Care Awards and Celebration held on
campus in the Kemper Recital Hall in Leah Spratt Hall.
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The center for community arts private voice student, Anna Brockman,
gave a solo performance, “A Broadway Review,” to the residents of the
Saxton Care Center, in St. Joseph. Anna, who is 11 years old, has
studied voice for three years and is the private voice student of
Rhonda Rund, director for community arts of the Western Institute.
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The music department hosted a total of 37 bands involving more than
5,000 people on campus for their two annual fall competitions. Fifteen
bands participated in the annual Homecoming parade and marching
competition. Bob Long, professor of music, assisted the music faculty,
and students organized the high school band portion of the event.
Eight of the 15 band directors of the high schools competing in the
Homecoming band competition are alumni of Western. Twenty bands
competed in the Tournament of Champions, which is an invitational
field competition that was directed by Jeffrey Hinton, associate
professor of music and director of bands.
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Western Institute center for community arts symphonic youth orchestra
performed a public concert in the Potter Hall Fine Arts Theater. The
youth orchestra is under the direction of Terry Brock.
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Western Institute center for community arts Griffon Jr. Singers
premiere and prelude choirs performed holiday songs to approximately
200 people at the opening of the Mayor’s Festival of Lights at Felix
Street Square in downtown St. Joseph.
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Western Institute organized a meeting between federal officials from
the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and Dr. James
Scanlon, Western’s president; civic leaders and research staff,
regarding EDA funding of a Western technology incubator building.
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Western Institute sponsored the Women in Science & Engineering
Colloquium, given by Dr. Donna Shirley, NASA mission to Mars manager.
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