Children's Lifetime Sports Academy
	Physical education instructor Greg Kriewitz assists participant Andrew Poet as he rappels down a wall at the 31st annual Children's Lifetime Sports Academy, which took place June 7-11.

Taira Roth Recognized
Western golfer Taira Roth was recognized recently by the Missouri House of Representatives for her outstanding academic and athletic career at Western.  Pictured above left are Taira Roth and Rep. Ed Wildberger, who presented the proclamation to her.  Pictured above right are Taira's parents, René and Jim Roth, Taira and Rep. Wildberger.

Dr. Christopher Shove Joins Western

Dr. Christopher Shove was named founding director  of the Western Institute. He was formerly the director of the Center for Geographic Information Science and Applied Geographics at the University of Toledo, Ohio, and a consultant for Space Data Systems, Inc. of Houston, where he had served as president of the company.        

Dr. Shove had also served as an associate professor in the regional and city planning division at the University of Oklahoma for 10 years.

Missouri Western State College's head men's basketball coach Tom Smith has been selected to the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He will be inducted at a ceremony July 9 in Springfield, Mo. at the Hammonds Center on the campus of Southwest Missouri State University.

Smith recently won his 500th career game as a collegiate head coach and is the only active four-year college head coach among the 11 inductees in the MBCA Class of 2004.

Smith, a 29-year head coaching veteran, has a record of 334-142 at Western and a career record of 504-326. Smith is among nine active coaches in the NCAA Division II ranks with over 500 career wins.

Smith is the second Western men's basketball coach recognized in a hall of fame. Former Griffon head men's basketball coach Gary Filbert was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1989. Filbert coached the Griffons for 13 years from 1969-1982.

A Lot of Peanut Butter For a Good Cause
Western employees donated almost 250 jars of peanut butter for "Peanut Butter Friday" on June 18.  The peanut butter was delivered to the Second Harvest Food Bank by President James Scanlon and his wife Lauren.
Board of Regents Approve Budget The Board of Regents approved a $40.7 million operating budget for the next fiscal year. This is a $1.3 million increase over the $39.4 million budget approved for last year. Western received an increase in state appropriations of about $700,000 for a total appropriation of about $20.1 million. “For the first time in three years, Western expects to begin the new fiscal year with both an increase in state funding from the previous fiscal year and no additional withholding of funds,” said President James Scanlon. The approved budget plan includes a $146 per credit hour tuition for next fiscal year. This constitutes no increase in tuition for the first 12 credit hours. “Western has shared the benefit of increased state funding with its students,” added Dr. Scanlon. Another element of the budget plan is maintaining $3.5 million in budget reserves. According to Dr. Scanlon, the uncertain financial situation in Missouri warrants a conservative approach, including maintaining college reserves. There will also be increased support for employee salaries, including a general salary increase of three percent for all eligible employees as of July 1.  Individual equity adjustments in salary for many employees will take place as of Jan. 1, 2005 and there will also be increased support for employee benefits, including additional costs for healthcare and retirement.  Increases in salaries and benefits for the fiscal year 2005 will total approximately $2 million additional in compensation for employees, as compared to 2004. Dr. Scanlon also reminded the regents that over the past three years Western has experienced a loss in state funding totaling about $4.6 million. “The past three years have required substantial sacrifice by Western’s employees as they worked in the best interests of students and the larger community with dramatically reduced state support. The budget plan is the most optimistic plan in three years. It was developed mindful of Missouri’s improved fiscal situation and with certain assumptions about state funding and obligations to students and employees,” Dr. Scanlon said. Top of Page

Excellence in our Faculty/Staff

• Janice Ragland, vocal adjunct teacher, had a student from her studio receive second place in the nation in the voice division at the Music Teachers National Association Convention Competition that was held in Kansas City, Mo.
• Michele Linder, instructor of recreation management, participated at the North American Society for Sport Management conference in Atlanta.
• Jeff Wilson, coordinator of student employment, and Linda Garlinger, director of career development, attended the National Association of Colleges and Employers Annual Conference.  Linda has also met with area organizations working with employment issues for special needs clientele to co-host an employment fair in August. 
• Ellen Smither, coordinator of nontraditional student services, and Vincenza Marash, diversity and women’s issues counselor, held a Single Parent Support Group picnic (with children) at Bartlett Park.  The Single Parent Support Group will continue to meet once a week throughout the summer.
• Kathleen Andrews, associate professor of nursing and chair of the nursing department, received a grant from Johnson and Johnson’s Campaign for Nursing’s Future to fund her doctoral dissertation research, “Nursing as a Career for Men:  Measuring Young Men’s Perceptions Toward Nursing as a Career Choice.”
• Mark Hamilton, instructor of English, had a research article entitled, “A Purely Literary Expedition:  The Death of Sergeant Charles Floyd as Perceived by Captains Lewis and Clark,” published in the bicentennial commemorative issue of Heritage of the Great Plains, Spring/Summer 2004, Emporia University, Emporia, Kan.
• Dr. Elizabeth Latosi-Sawin, professor of English, had an article entitled “Living and Teaching in the Round” published in the Spring 2004 issue of Pedagogy: Critical Approaches to Teaching Literature, Language, Composition, and Culture.  Dr. Sawin’s article documents the effects of Western’s unique learning community, Outdoor Semester.  In fall 2004 Outdoor Semester’s theme and field treks will concentrate on Lewis and Clark’s journey.
• Dr. Monica Nandan, associate professor of social work, presented a workshop titled “Co-ops: A Lucrative Solution for Recipients of Social Welfare” at the Mid- America Assistance Coalition conference in Kansas City, Mo.
• Dr. Robert Bergland, associate professor of journalism, presented a paper, “The Promises and Perils of Convergence for Journalism Programs” at the Great Plains Computers and Writing Conference in Fargo, ND.
• Dr. Mitchell Haney, assistant professor of philosophy, gave an invited paper entitled “Collective Accountability and Self-Reactive Attitudes” at The University of Memphis.

Excellence in our Students

• Biology students Rebecka Goins of Kansas City, Mo.; Dan Bradford, Sara Freel and Steven Hart of St. Joseph, Mo.; and Bart Phillips of Shiloh, Ill. presented their work at the Tri-Beta National Convention at Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colo.  Dan Bradford won the first place John C. Johnson award for his poster presentation.
• Gabe Wishnie of Jefferson City, Mo. and Brandon Crosser of St. Joseph, Mo., were two of five finalists in the 2004 national writing contest sponsored by the Association for Business Communication.
• Percussion student Jason Baskin of St. Joseph, Mo. and French horn student Andrea Stanton of Savannah, Mo. were chosen to participate with the National Spring Orchestra in Carnegie Hall, New York City, during the Memorial Day programs.  They won a series of competitions in the North Central region of the country to earn this honor.

Excellence in our Programs

• Midland Empire Community Arts, a division of Western and the St. Joseph Allied Arts Council, has been approved for a grant by the Missouri Arts Council to assist in the production of a co-sponsored children’s summer mini-camp.  The camp is called:  “Corps of Discovery: Paint A Mural!,” and it brings elementary school children to campus to spend several days learning about the process of mural making and experimenting with creating their own ‘mini-murals.’  The camp culminates at the local Trails West! Festival on July 9 and 10, where participants join other children in the community to paint a large-scale mural at Civic Center Park. Instructors for the mural camp are art student Jane Travis, and professional muralist Stuart Morse.
• Conferences and Special Programs hosted the graduating seniors of St. Joseph Schools for an all-night Project Graduation.  Approximately 350 students spent the night in the arena playing games, dancing and sports.  Many prizes were given to the students.
• Continuing Education’s extended campus recorded 98 students enrolled in distance education courses for the summer 2004 semester.  There are four courses offered: two Teleclasses and two Internet courses.
• The Residence Council and Aramark sponsored the semi-annual Midnight Breakfast prior to final exams on May 5.  Approximately 375 students attended and were served by student leaders throughout the campus.
• Resident Assistants coordinated an end-of-the-year clothing drive during the last week of the semester.  Approximately 25 boxes of clothing items were donated.
• The Recreation Services Department has provided CPR certification for many community groups. The following groups have had their employees certified:      Y Kids World, The Explorers Day Care, Gower Kids Club Day Care, the YMCA community, and youth employees.

YWCA Gardeners Festival
Several business department interns helped out at the YWCA Gardeners Festival in April.  The students worked over a four-day period.  Pictured above left, from left: Interns Saralynn Richey, Katie Alvarez, Quintin Sperry and Zach Kennedy.  Pictured above right, from left: Sherry Taylor, coordinator of the festival; Jason Brushwood, intern; Marci Colescott, YWCA volunteer; and Nick Limle, intern.