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Week of Oct. 15-21, 2007 Welcome to the Tower Topics E-newsletter for faculty, staff and students at Western. |
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Missouri Western State University, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64507, 816-271- 4200 |
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Click any link for these stories: Western Announces "Beyond Excellence" Initiative Western Announces $5 Million Gift Western to Host "When Writing Teachers Write VI" Lost & Found: If you have lost any items, please come to SU 228 to claim them. You may be required to describe the item. Click on
Guidelines for Tower Topics: Tower Topics submissions should state time, date, place, sponsor, title of event, name of speaker's and admission fees. Send complete information to the Public Relations and Marketing office (Leah Spratt Hall, Room 106). The deadline for all entries is 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, for the next week's issue. Tower Topics will be online weekly during the fall and spring semester. For more information call 271-5651. Student Editor:
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Western Announces "Beyond Excellence" Initiative Western has announced plans for a major new initiative called “Beyond Excellence” to develop state-of-the-art facilities and other resources. University officials anticipate the initiative will represent an investment of at least $40 million for facilities and programs at Western. “Western is already an excellent university,” said president Dr. James Scanlon. “The ‘Beyond Excellence’ initiative will give Western the tools to serve our students and community at an even higher level.” Planning for the initiative has been underway since as far back as 2001, said Dan Nicoson, vice president for university advancement. Many elements of the initiative relate directly to Western’s major role in developing science and technology education to support the already strong life science economy of the region, Nicoson said. “Western is committed to being a major force in the advancement of the life sciences,” he said. “This initiative strengthens that commitment.” The keystone project of “Beyond Excellence” is the expansion and renovation of Evan R. Agenstein Hall, Western’s science and mathematics building. The project will provide approximately 60,000 square feet of additional instructional facilities and renovate the existing space. The Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative approved by the Missouri General Assembly last session will provide $30.1 million of the estimated $35 million cost. Scientific equipment to be placed in the expanded instructional facilities is projected to cost another $1 million. Another major project is the Christopher S. “Kit” Bond Science and Technology Incubator already under construction on university-owned land west of Interstate 29. The 25,000 square-foot building could serve up to 15 high-technology start-up firms. The project is being paid for by a $2.5 million grant from the federal Economic Development Administration along with money from St. Joseph’s Institute for Industrial and Applied Life Sciences and from Western. In addition to the state and federal funds already committed, the university will raise money for “Beyond Excellence” through a capital campaign. Other possible components of the initiative include funds for scholarships, library acquisitions, the arts, and athletics. The MWSU Foundation has hired The Steier Group from Omaha, Neb. to conduct a study for “Beyond Excellence,” helping the university determine which priorities can feasibly be included, Nicoson said. |
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Western Announces $5 Million Gift Wes and Patsy Remington of St. Joseph have pledged a $5 million gift to the Western Foundation, university officials announced Oct. 10. It is the largest individual contribution in Western’s history. “We are delighted by the generosity of Wes and Patsy,” said Western president Dr. James Scanlon. “Their gift will benefit students, faculty and the region for decades to come.” The Remington gift will be the lead gift of a capital campaign being planned as part of a comprehensive initiative called “Beyond Excellence” that Western also announced today. Mr. Remington started as a sales trainee at Anchor Serum Co. in St. Joseph in 1956 and rose to the position of president. He went on to help found several animal health companies. Those firms and their successors now employ an estimated 1,200 to 1,500 people in the St. Joseph area. “We’re pleased that a pioneer like Wes recognizes the key role that Western plays in insuring the future growth of the life sciences in the region,” said Dan Nicoson, vice president for university advancement. “This is a great start for the capital campaign portion of the ‘Beyond Excellence’ initiative.” “I really, really like Missouri Western,” said Mrs. Remington, a 1979 graduate of Western with a degree in social work. “It fills a great need in St. Joseph. We’ve watched it grow.” The improvements in “Beyond Excellence” will be a major contribution to workforce development in technical fields, said Mr. Remington, including the animal health industry he helped build. That will strengthen the local economy, he added. “Patsy and I have always been huge advocates of wanting St. Joseph to grow,” Mr. Remington said. “It’s been a wonderful place to raise our children. St. Joseph has been good to us.” |
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Western to Host "When Writing Teachers Write VI" The Prairie Lands Writing Project (PLWP) at Western will host “When Writing Teachers Write VI” at 6 p.m. Oct. 17 in the Blum Student Union, room 222/223. The forum is free and open to the public. Tom Pankiewicz, assistant professor of English and PLWP Institutes director, will host the forum, which will feature National Writing Project Teacher Consultants and Western English faculty reading their original poetry and prose. Featured readers are: Bill Church, instructor of English at Western and creative writing doctoral candidate at the University of Kansas; Tina Janc, language arts teacher at the Buchanan County Children’s Aademy; Joe Marmaud, instructor of English at Western; Vickey Meyer, English teacher at St. Joseph Central High School; Melissa Robinson, language arts teacher at Cameron Middle School; Jill Steinmetz, language arts teacher at Savannah Middle School; Stacia Studder, language arts teacher at St. Joseph Bode Middle School; Dawn Terrick, instructor of English at Western; and Jennifer Vermilion, French and Spanish teacher at Lathrop High School. “When Writing Teachers Write VI” is the sixth annual reading by writing teachers sponsored by the PLWP. As a National Writing Project site, Prairie Lands is dedicated to improving student writing, providing professional development and expanding the professional roles of teachers. For more information contact Dr. Jane Frick, professor of English and PLWP director, at 4315. |
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Soccer
Volleyball
Football
Women's Golf
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Mitchell Opening Mitchell Avenue is scheduled to open for two-way traffic Oct. 15, which means one lane of traffic in each direction will be open from the Belt Highway to Riverside! The construction is still ongoing and work will continue after the lanes open. Motorists are encouraged to drive with caution through this active work zone. Thank you for your patience during the road work! Griffon Basketball Tip-Off Party Fans can get their first look at the 2007-2008 Griffon men's and women's basketball teams at 9:30 p.m. Oct. 17 in the MWSU Fieldhouse during the fourth annual Griffon Basketball Tip-Off Party. The night's festivities will open with the annual local media vs. Western faculty basketball games followed by the introduction of the teams. Coach Smith and Coach Plett will address the audience about the outlook for this year's teams and both teams will showcase their skills with the men's team holding a slam dunk contest while the women compete in the three-point shooting contest. The cheer squad and Mystics will also perform. Admission to the event is free, with the first 500 fans in attendance receiving free t-shirts, pizza and refreshments. Two Western students will have a chance to shoot for up to $500 in second semester books, one Western student will have a chance to win and iPod in a three-point shootout, and one lucky fan will have the opportunity to make a half-court shot for $10,000. CME Hosts disAbled Dancer The CME will host B-boy, break dancer Luca “LazyLegz” Patuelli at 7 p.m. on Oct. 17 in Kemper Recital Hall, Leah Spratt 101 during CME’s “Exapanding Our Horizons” series of programs for “disAbility Awareness Days.” The presentation is free and open to the public. Patuelli, who was born in Canada and raised in Maryland, has a muscle disorder known as Arthrogryposis (multiplex congenital) that limits motion in his joints. Patuelli travels and performs around the country speaking about his talent and disability. Patuelli’s condition does not keep him from being able to swim, ski, skateboard, dive and drive. Patuelli uses crutches to assist him daily. Patuelli enjoys sharing his story of determination and optimism with children in hospitals and schools. He believes that anyone can be an inspiration to him, since everyone can learn from one another. United Way Benefit Dinner The United Way will be hosting a benefit dinner as part of this year's campaign at La Dolce Vita - 36th Street Restaurant Oct. 25, with reservations running between the hours of 4:30 - 10 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person and all proceeds go directly to the United Way of Greater St. Joseph. Dinner includes bruschetta, house salad or soup, Italian bread, "Taste of Itally II," which includes homemade lasagna, chicken alfredo, and sausage and peppers. Desert will be 36th Street's signature Italian cream cake. Local celebrities, members of the community and United Way volunteers will serve for the event. Reservations may be made by calling La Dolce Vita at 364-1565. To purchase tickets, contact Darcy Groce at 4207, Barb Harris at 4293 or Jill Miller at 4434. 2007 Wellness Screening It's time again for the 2007 Wellness Screening. From 6-10:30 a.m. Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, all Western employees, their spouses and retirees can come to the Enright Room, Leah Spratt 214/216, for a wellness screening. Information and service elements include educational material, measurement of sit and reach, waste/hip ratio, blood pressure, height and weight along with other various lab tests. Lab tests include cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, glucose, hemoglobin and PSA. Flu shots will be available on a first-come first-serve basis. The screening is free to those covered by Western's insurance plan. For those not covered, cost is $20. Men wanting the PSA test will have a $24 fee to cover the cost of the lab fee. Other services such as osteoporosis screenings and massages are available also. Interested participants must register online at www.missouriwestern.edu/wellness. For more information contact Cristi Camplbell at ccampbell. Employee Award Reception A reception honoring the recipients of the Governor's Distinguished Professor Awards, Outstanding Staff Awards and Outstanding Administrator Awards will be held from 3-5 p.m. Oct. 29 in Blum 218-219. Congratulations to all the faculty, staff and administrators chosen to receive these awards. They are outstanding examples of the dedication of Western's employees to their work and to our mission and values as a public university. |
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Monday, October 15
Tuesday, October 16
Wednesday, October 17
Thursday, October 18
Friday, October 19
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Now Hiring: Y's Kids World Early Center is looking for an energetic and motivated person to work 6:30-8 a.m. and 3-6 p.m. Early education students or child care experience is preferred. If you are interested please see Mary at Y's Kids World. |
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