Chiefs Return To Western

The 2011 Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp presented by Heartland Health begins Friday, July 29 at Missouri Western State University. The most up-to-date information on the team's practice schedule during camp will be available at www.kcchiefs.com.

''We're excited to welcome the Chiefs back to St. Joseph,'' said Dan Nicoson, Western's interim director of athletics and vice president for university advancement. ''Last year was a great success, and weve made some changes to make camp even more fan-friendly, including moving the concession stands closer to the practice fields and simplifying the parking plan.''

The Chiefs hold their first public practice at 3:30 p.m. Friday, July 29. Western, the St. Joseph Metro Chamber and the City of St. Joseph are hosting a Red Rally to welcome the Chiefs back from 1:30 to 3:30 Friday afternoon at Spratt Stadium.
Gates open one hour prior to each practice session.

Missouri Western uses revenue from parking, admission to special events and concessions to offset the costs of hosting the training camp, Nicoson said. He announced the following details:

Parking
--Parking is $5 per vehicle per day for regular practice sessions, including accessible parking.
--Buses and recreational vehicles are $15 per day for regular practice sessions.
--A parking pass for the entire camp costing $30 is available at the MWSU Athletics Office, Looney Complex room 229.
--All vehicles will be directed to park in Lot H and a grass extension of Lot H. If necessary, overflow parking will be in Lot J.
--For special events where admission is charged, including Family Fun Day and the Camp Sendoff at a date to be determined, all parking will be free.

Admission Charges
--For regular daily practices: free
--For Family Fun Day on Aug. 6: $12 (children age 3 and under free)
--For Camp Sendoff on a date to be announced: $7 (children age 3 and under free)

Concessions
--Concession stands will be located behind the bleachers on the south side of the practice fields.
--Food concessions are available at all public events.
--Beer concession will be available at all afternoon and evening public events.

Nicoson encourages local fans to use the Faraon Street entrance, since most out-of-town fans will likely come in on Mitchell Avenue.

Top of Page
 

Student Rally

You Can't Keep A Griffon Down

At the last Missouri Western Board of Governors meeting this past June something amazing happened. Outside the Governors’ meeting room Western student leaders gathered to voice their support for a much needed tuition increase to help offset the effects of yet another decrease in state funding for Missouri Western.

The demonstration was captured on film and you are welcome to see firsthand the stirring voices of support the students lent to their university. You can view the video by clicking here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/mwsugriffons#p/u/0/r47PvTKa5bI

The theme the students used in their demonstration, “You Can’t Keep a Griffon Down,” more than expresses their disappointment in the continuing decline in state support for Western despite its many impressive accomplishments and record enrollment growth. Western is by far the fastest growing public university in Missouri and yet has the lowest per student appropriation of all the state universities.  

For good reason we are both proud and encouraged by that note of resilience in the students’ message that reflects Western’s ability to meet and overcome major challenges.  This “can do” attitude has become a hallmark of Western’s progress throughout its history.

During the next several weeks you will see more information about the factors challenging Western, the steps that have been and are being taken to meet the challenge, and the many reasons why as a campus community we join with our students in saying: You Can’t Keep a Griffon Down!
 

Top of Page

Nicoson Announces Retirement

Dan Nicoson, Missouri Western State University's vice president for university advancement, executive director of the MWSU Foundation and interim director of athletics, will retire effective June 30, 2012. Dr. Robert A. Vartabedian, Western's president, reported Nicoson's decision to the Foundation's Board of Directors at their regular meeting July 27.

''Dan is a valued member of my Cabinet, an outstanding administrator, a tireless cheerleader on Western's behalf and, on a personal level, a good friend,'' Dr. Vartabedian said. ''As the university's chief fundraiser, he has set a new standard of excellence. He has also willingly accepted a number of challenging assignments above and beyond his vice presidential duties. He will be missed, and I certainly want to wish him the very best in his retirement.''

Nicoson came to Missouri Western in 2004. He has administrative responsibility for the development, alumni services and public relations and marketing departments and the foundation. During his tenure, Western has received eight of its 10 largest gifts ever, including the largest gift of $5.5 million to endow the Steven L. Craig School of Business and the second largest gift of $5 million toward the construction of Remington Hall. Those two gifts were a part of Achieving Greatness, the largest capital campaign in Western's history. The campaign raised $17.7 million, exceeding the $15 million goal by 18 percent.

''It has been my pleasure to serve Missouri Western during one of the most exciting times in its history,'' Nicoson said. ''Achieving university designation in 2005 and becoming home to the summer training camp of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2010 are just a couple of the major highlights of the last seven years. It has been gratifying to see the university grow not only in numbers, but in its reputation in the community. St. Joseph is rightly proud of its hometown university.''

Nicoson has also been an active member of the St. Joseph community, Dr. Vartabedian said. He serves on the board of directors of the St. Joseph Metro Chamber, where he has also been vice chair for membership, Total Resource Campaign volunteer and vice chair, a member of the Diplomats Club and a member of the Public Affairs Committee. Nicoson was a member of the citizens' committee that successfully campaigned for passage of the hotel/motel tax in St. Joseph this year. He has consulted and advised the boards of several St. Joseph area organizations and is a member of the Downtown Rotary Club. In September, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Mid America Chapter will honor Nicoson with the Hope Award, the chapter's highest honor, for his noteworthy contributions to the St. Joseph philanthropic community.

Nicoson received a bachelor's degree in secondary education from the University of Indianapolis and a master's degree in secondary education from Indiana State University. He is a Certified Fundraising Executive and has taught as an adjunct faculty member at the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy since 1982.
Prior to coming to Western, Nicoson served as president of the Vincennes University Foundation, assistant to the president for institutional advancement at Marian College, and director of development at the University of Indianapolis.

A national search for Nicoson's replacement will begin in the fall.

After his retirement, Nicoson and his wife Linda plan to return to Indiana to be near children and grandchildren.

 

Top of Page

Humboldt School Visit

Points of Pride

June 2011

Excellence in our Faculty/Staff

• Dr. Ken Rosenauer, professor of journalism, was appointed to the Region One Advocacy Committee of the Missouri School Boards Association. The committee is responsible for reviewing and analyzing the perspectives of MSBA members concerning current issues impacting public education, recommending “planks” to the Delegate Assembly to adopt as MSBA’s platform, and assisting with legislative resolutions that will help to make Missouri’s public schools the best in the nation. Dr. Rosenauer was also re-elected to the Savannah R-III School Board for his third three-year term in April.

• Evan Noynaert, assistant professor of computer science, was invited to write the weekend blog for Techdirt. Techdirt is a prestigious weblog that reports on technology trends and related business and economic policy issues, often focusing on copyright and patent reform. It has been listed as one of PC Magazine’s favorite blogs.

• Dr. Mike Cadden, professor of English and department chair, published the entry, “Voice,” in “Keywords for Children’s Literature,” published by New York University Press.

• Dr. Justin Kraft, assistant professor of physical education, presented “Experience and Social Influence on Heart rate and Perceived Exertion during Interactive Video Gaming” at a research poster session at the American College of Sports Medicine National Convention in Denver.

• Dr. Randall Bergman, assistant professor of health, presented, “Is There A Valid App For That? Validity of a Free iPhone Pedometer Application,” at a research poster session at the American College of Sports Medicine National Convention in Denver.

• Roger Voelkel, assistant professor of nursing, presented a paper, “Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Mini Sims,” at the 2011 Midwest Healthcare Educators’ Academy in Grand Forks, N.D.

• Dr. Evelyn Brooks, professor of nursing, made a podium presentation, “Learning the DEAL: Ways to Play Instructional Cards to Enhance and Evaluate Critical Reflection in Classroom and Clinical Experiences,” at the 2011 Association of Community Health Nursing Educations Annual Institute in Chicago.

• Dr. Shensheng Tang, assistant professor of engineering technology, presented a paper, “Modeling and Analysis of a Power Line Communication Network Subject to Channel Failure,” at the 13th International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems in Beijing.

• Dr. Susan Claflin, associate professor of education, presented a poster, “Access for All: Embracing UDL principles as the Foundation for Instructional Planning,” at the 2011 Council for Exceptional Children in National Harbor, Md.

• Dr. Ian Roberts, associate professor of English, presented a paper, “Martian Picshuas: The War of the Worlds and Visuality, Or a Possible Caricature of Henry James,” at the 2011 Joint Conference of the National Popular Culture and American Culture Associations in San Antonio.

• Dr. Patricia Donaher, associate professor of English, presented a paper, “Where's the Beef?: The Rhetoric of Meat in Preschoolers’ Television Programming” at the 2011 Joint Conference of the National Popular Culture and American Culture Associations in San Antonio.

• Dr. Ben Caldwell, professor of chemistry and department chair, attended an Accreditation Exam Workshop in Bethesda, Md. The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is developing an accreditation program and the members of the accreditation group met to begin the process of developing criteria for a standardized exam to accompany degree certification.

• Dr. Ben Caldwell, professor of chemistry and department chair, hosted a chemistry demonstration show for 70 fourth-and fifth grade students from Noyes Accelerated Elementary School.

• Huey Shi Chew, international student coordinator, attended the National Association of International Educators 63rd Annual Conference & Expo in Vancouver, British Columbia. Nearly 9,000 international education professionals from around the world participated this year.

• Dr. Rick Hardy, assistant professor of recreation, attended the North American Society for Sport Management Conference in London, Ontario.

• Joanne Katz, professor of legal studies, attended the National Conference on Restorative Justice in Raleigh, N.C.

• Dr. Brenda Blessing, professor of recreation and department chair, represented the university as the faculty athletic representative at the MIAA Conference June meeting in Kansas City, Mo.

Excellence in our Students

• Students from Dr. Karina Vazquez’s SPA201 Intermediate Spanish II performed two chapters of Don Quijote for an ESOL classroom at Humboldt School, St. Joseph, Mo.

• Missouri Western is the server host for Missouri Youth Write 2011, which went online June 1 at missouriwestern.edu/scholastic/winners/myw11.pdf. The 357-page journal features 112 winning entries from this year’s Missouri Writing Region for the 2011 national Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Contest. The winning pieces were selected by Missouri teachers from among the 521 contest pieces submitted by students, grades seven-12, from throughout Missouri and the Kansas City, Kan., area. Dr. Jane Frick, professor of English and director of the Prairie Lands Writing Project, serves as the Missouri Writing Region Coordinator for the annual writing contest and Missouri Youth Write publication. Rebecca Dierking edited the publication; Rachel Stancliff, Western, graduate assistant, was this year’s Missouri Youth Write web editor.

• International students were invited to participate in the program, “In the World in 16 Days,” by Ann Miller, teacher at Humbolt Elementary School. Late May to early June, international students spoke with elementary students about their country or origin. First, Gilbert Imbiri, business management, and Kenny Ang, music major, shared about Indonesian culture. Ahmad Shah Salimee, political science major, discussed Afghanistan. Haneen Helwa, junior nursing major and native of Israel, spoke to students about her country and culture.

Excellence in our Programs

• “Rockin’ Writers” (grades three-six) and “Where Writing Hides” . . . (grades seven -eight) writing camps, co-sponsored by Prairie Lands Writing Project and the St. Joseph School District, met for four weeks at Missouri Western. The 110 campers from the St. Joseph public and private schools completed multiple writing and literacy projects, including digital pieces.

• The chemistry department hosted nearly 500 area high school students from 25 schools for the 34th annual Chemathon. Chemistry and physics faculty and numerous chemistry students contributed to the production of the event, which included a written test competition, team competitions and lab activities.

• Enrollment for summer session shows a 6.21 percent increase over last summer at 1,591 undergraduate students. These students are enrolled in 8,059 credit hours which is an increase of 9.33 percent over last summer.

• Kappa Mu Epsilon welcomed 14 new students into the mathematics honor society at an initiation ceremony, talk, and planetarium show held in Agenstein Hall.

• From summer 2009 to summer 2011, online course enrollment has tripled from 439 to 1,249, including 111 graduate students. Twenty-two are new courses bringing total online courses developed during past two years to 130.

• Pass the Power Adult Literacy has moved to the Kirkpatrick Building downtown, and an open house is planned for late August. The new site is convenient for Pass the Power clients and provides more space for this program than was available at its former site. The new site will serve more people and provide additional services.

Top of Page