Week of  Aug. 25 - Sept. 1, 2008

Welcome to the Tower Topics E-newsletter for faculty, staff and students at Western. 

Missouri Western State University, 4525 Downs Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64507, 816-271- 4200

Click any link for these stories:

Western Hosts Health and Wellness Program for Youths

Western Receives $100,000 for Endowed Scholarship Fund

Presidential Inauguration

Tower Sports

News Briefs

Calendar

Ads

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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.

Western Hosts Health and Wellness Program for Youths

Western wants to help youth in the community get fit while having fun, so next month they will kick off “G.A.M.E. – ON Griffs!” a 12-week program for parents and their children between eight and 13 years designed to improve health and wellness. The free program is limited to 30 parent/child teams and the deadline to apply is Sept. 1.

“We recognized this as an opportunity to provide kids information about healthy lifestyles and fitness,” said Dr. Stephanie Corder, assistant professor of nursing and one of the coordinators of the program. She said the nursing department has teamed with the health, physical education and recreation department to provide the program. Dr. Bill Russell, assistant professor of physical education, is the coordinator from that department. Diana King, assistant professor of nursing and a pediatric nurse practitioner, and Dr. Justin Kraft, assistant professor of physical education, are involved in the program as well.

G.A.M.E. stands for “Goal Accomplishment through Mentoring and Exercise,” Dr. Corder explained, and Western students in the two departments will serve as mentors, working closely with the teams and helping them progress toward their goals. “We’re very excited about having our students involved.”

Kickoff for the program will be from 9 a.m. - noon Sept. 13 on Western’s campus and includes breakfast. Then the teams will meet for activities in the M.O. Looney Complex from 6-7:30 p.m. each Tuesday through Dec. 2, and a celebratory wrap-up event will be held from 9-11 a.m. Dec. 6.

Planned activities include swimming, hiking, scavenger hunts, Frisbee golf, Dance Dance Revolution, Wii™, video game bicycles and more. “The program will focus on exercising and making healthy choices,” said Dr. Corder. “We want the participants to have a really good time and realize that exercise can be fun and make you feel good.”

Dr. Corder noted that research shows that children are more successful with fitness routines and making healthy choices when parents are involved, so parents will attend and participate in all sessions. Also, parents and their children will have a curriculum to work on at home.

Not only will those teams who complete the curriculum and weekly activities receive good health as a result of the program, Dr. Corder added, but they will also be eligible for prizes, including a Nintendo® Wii™, that will be given away at the Dec. 6 party.

For an application or more information, contact Dr. Russell at 4492, wrussell@missouriwestern.edu, or Dr. Corder at 4407, corder@missouriwestern.edu.

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Western Receives $100,000 for Endowed Scholarship Fund

A strong partnership between Western and a local corporation has led to a $100,000 scholarship for construction engineering technology students.          

The Beavers Inc., a national heavy construction association, recently presented a check for $100,000 to Western to create an endowed scholarship fund for construction engineering technology students. The Beavers Heavy Construction Scholarship was given by The Beavers Charitable Trust, which distributes funds to higher education institutions that offer engineering and construction management programs.

“Western is grateful to The Beavers Charitable Trust for their generosity. The establishment of the scholarship fund will help further the mission of Western, benefiting not only students, but the community and region as well,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Western’s president.

Al Landes, senior vice president, Herzog Contracting Corp. of St. Joseph, was president of The Beavers Inc. last year, and he said the president each year has the opportunity to select an institution to receive $100,000. Landes chose Western. 

“We consider this an investment,” said Landes. “Missouri Western has a philosophy that ‘we’re here to create a product that the industry can use.’” He noted that many employees at Herzog have earned their engineering technology degrees from Western.

“Without Al, this would not have happened,” said Dr. Virendra Varma, chair of the engineering technology department. “We are very grateful to Al and The Beavers Inc. for making this scholarship available to students.” He added that this is the largest donation the department has ever received.

Dr. Varma noted that the engineering technology department has had a strong partnership with Herzog Contracting Corp. for many years. In the early 1990s, Bill Herzog made a donation and helped raise funds for the department’s CAD lab, and Dr. Varma has served as a consultant for Herzog. Additionally, Landes has been a guest lecturer in Dr. Varma’s classes. “Relationships between Western and businesses in the community are so important,” Dr. Varma said.

Preference for the scholarship will be given to an upper-class student who is majoring in construction engineering technology and has a career goal of working in the heavy construction industry, which includes bridges, dams, highways and railroads. Western’s engineering technology department offers degrees in construction engineering technology, which stresses construction management; electronics engineering technology; electronics and computer engineering technology; and manufacturing engineering technology.

“This scholarship will attract new students and also benefit current students,” said Dr. Varma. “The heavy construction industry gives students opportunities for a wide variety of careers.”

According to their website, The Beavers Inc. is a professional association for construction companies and individuals who are engaged in heavy engineering construction. The group was founded in 1955. The Beavers Charitable Trust, founded in 1977, was established to distribute funds, generated by the trust assets, in the form of grants and scholarships to institutions of higher education in schools of engineering and construction management.  This year, the trust awarded $500,000 in scholarship grants.

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Presidential Inauguration

Western history will be made Oct. 17 when Dr. Robert A. Vartabedian is inaugurated as the university’s president. Vartabedian is the first Western president to have a formal inauguration ceremony. The inauguration is a symbol of the academic maturity and institutional quality that were recognized when Western was granted university status in 2005.

The inauguration ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 17 in the M.O. Looney Complex is the centerpiece of a series of events being planned for faculty, staff, retirees, students, alumni and special guests during Homecoming Week by a special Inauguration Steering Committee. Please watch for further updates as plans are finalized.

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Tower Sports

Football

• Aug. 28 at Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D., at 6 p.m.

Soccer

• Aug. 29 vs. East Central University in Drury Inn Classic at 7:30 p.m.

• Aug. 31 vs. Angelo State University in Drury Inn Classic at 12 p.m.

Volleyball

• Aug. 29 vs. Southwest Oklahoma State at Missouri S&T Tournament in Rolla, Mo., at 10 a.m.

• Aug. 29 vs. University of Southern Indiana at Missouri S&T Tournament in Rolla, Mo., at 2 p.m.

• Aug. 30 vs. Missouri S&T at Missouri S&T Tournament in Rolla, Mo., at 12 p.m.

• Aug. 30 vs. University of Missouri - St. Louis at Missouri S&T Tournament in Rolla, Mo., at 6 p.m.

Alumni Night at the Drive-In The Alumni Association is sponsoring a free double feature. Gates open at 6 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Horseshoe Lake Drive-In, east of St. Joseph on Highway 6. The first show will start at dusk. Proceeding the first show will be games, prizes concessions and family fun. For more information, call 5646.

Late Registration Late registration for fall 2008 classes will be held Aug. 25-29 in Eder Hall. Late registration fee is $50. Registrar’s office hours for late registration and schedule adjustments are Aug. 25, 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.; Aug. 26, 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.; and Aug. 27, 28 and 29, 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Classes begin Aug. 25. For more information, contact the admissions office at 4266 or 800-662-7041.

Worlds of Fun Trip As part of Western Warm-Up Week, the center for student engagement is providing $5 tickets to Worlds of Fun for students. Fifty tickets are given on a first-come-first-serve basis. Tickets go on sale Aug. 25. Students will travel to Worlds of Fun Aug. 30 at 10 a.m. and will return by 9 p.m. Purchase tickets in the center for student engagement with a valid student ID. Lunch is provided.

Griffon Luncheons Join Western athletics for lunch beginning Aug. 25 and each Monday thereafter in the upstairs banquet room at La Dolce Vita at 36th Street Restaurant for the Griffon Weekly Luncheon from 12-1 p.m. Griffon coaches will speak about the latest happenings within their respective sports, as well as enjoy a great buffet lunch for a minimal cost. Please note, the luncheon will take place on Tuesday, September 2nd the week of Labor Day.

Student Organization Orientation The annual Student Organization Orientation and Registration process will be held in September this semester. Please plan to attend one of the following events: Sept. 18 at 4:30 p.m.; Sept. 18 at 7 p.m.; Sept. 22 at 9 a.m.; Sept. 23 at 9 a.m.; Sept. 23 at 5 p.m.;  Sept. 24 at 9 a.m.; Sept. 24 at 6 p.m.; Sept. 25 at 11 a.m.; or Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. A student representative of every organization must also attend. All events are held in the center for student engagement. For questions, contact the CSE at 4159.

Alpha Kappa Psi's Rush Week Fall Rush Week for Alpha Kappa Psi is Sept. 3-11. Those interested must attend at least three events to rush. Following are the dates, events, and times: Sept. 3 - Informational Night at 8 p.m. Sept. 4 - Party in Vaselakos Basement at 7 p.m. Sept. 8 - Informational Night with Alumni at 8:30 p.m. Sept. 9 - Community Service (Highway Cleanup) at 6 p.m. (Meet in Blum parking lot at 5:30 p.m. for carpool) Sept. 10th - Resumé Workshop with Beverly Payne at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 11 - Mandatory Game Night in Vaselakos Basement at 7 p.m. Sept. 12 - Mandatory Carpool for pledges (Meet outside Blum Union parking lot at 5:30 p.m. All events will take place in Spratt Hall 214 unless otherwise noted. For questions, email Ashley Schrader at aschrader@missouriwestern.edu or Jessica Hills at jhills@missouriwestern.edu.

Griffon Junior Singers Receive Grant The Missouri Arts Council recently awarded a $9,010 grant to the Western Institute’s Center for Community Arts. The grant will be used to support the Griffon Junior Singers throughout the coming year by providing funds for teaching artists and educational materials. The Griffon Junior Singers, which began in 1990, is an educational choral music program coordinated by the Center for Community Arts and consists of three levels – preparatory, grades two – four; prelude, grades three – six; and premiere, grades five – eight. The program, offered to all students in St. Joseph and surrounding community, consists of weekly practices, classes, rehearsals and performances throughout the community. Last year, 120 students were involved in the program. According the their website, the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency and division of the Department of Economic Development, provides grants to nonprofit organizations to encourage and stimulate the growth, development, and appreciation of the arts in Missouri. Funds are available through the Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Cultural Trust, and National Endowment for the Arts. The grants are based on criteria that includes artistic excellence, education and outreach, community support, administrative ability and diversity of audience served.

Achieving Greatness Premiere Sept 16 will be an opening night gala at the Missouri Theater as Western’s Capital Campaign, Achieving Greatness, makes its public premiere. Country singer Deana Carter will provide the evening’s entertainment. Watch for a formal invitation coming soon.

Convocation on Critical Issues The 16th annual Convocation on Critical Issues for the first time features two speakers: the bipartisan husband-and-wife team of Mary Matalin and James Carville. In “All’s Fair: Love, War and Politics,” Matalin and Carville will provide an enlightening and entertaining look at today’s most important political issues, just five weeks before the presidential election. The Convocation will be held at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 30 in the Looney Complex, and is free and open to the public. Tickets are also available for the annual Convocation Dinner on Sept. 29. See /convocation for details.

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Monday, August 25

• Late Registration from 10 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. in Eder Hall

• Worlds of Fun tickets go on sale

• Community Blood Drive in Blum Union lobby

• Welcome Fair at the Clock Tower

• Greek BBQ at 6 p.m. in Blum Union courtyard

• Senate Welcome Back meeting at 5 p.m. in Blum Union lobby

• Griffon Luncheon from 12-1 p.m. in the upstairs banquet room at La Dolce Vita at 36th Street Restaurant

Tuesday, August 26

• Late Registration from 1-6:30 p.m. in Eder Hall

• WAC providing snow cones from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the breezeway between Murphy and Eder Halls

• Residence Council meeting at 7 p.m. in Commons Building conference room

• Meet and Greet Western athletics at 7:30 p.m. in the Commons Building

Wednesday, August 27

• Late Registration from 1-4:30 p.m. in Eder Hall

• Coffee and Conversation at 9 a.m. in the Nontrad Lounge

• WAC meeting at 4 p.m. in Blum 222

• WAC presents Drive-In Movie Night, "I Am Legend," at 8 p.m. in Blum Union north parking lot

Thursday, August 28

• Late Registration from 1-4:30 p.m. in Eder Hall

• Job Connection at 12 p.m. in Blum Union lobby

• Multicultural Institute Workshop at 5 p.m. in Blum 223

• The House Jacks - a rock band without instruments - at 7 p.m. in Spratt 101

Friday, August 29

• Late Registration from 1-4:30 p.m. in Eder Hall

Saturday, August 30

• Alumni Night at the Drive-In at 6 p.m. at Horseshoe Lake Drive-In

• Trip to Worlds of Fun, leaving Blum Union at 10 a.m. and returning by 9 p.m.

Monday, September 1

• Campus Closed - Labor Day

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