GEM of the Hills | Spring 2013 1 of 64 : President’S Letter
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GEM of the Hills | Spring 2013 1 of 64 : president’s letter GEM OF THE HILLS contents JSU PRESIDENT William A. Meehan, Ed.D. ’72/’76 VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT Dr. Charles Lewis DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS DEAR ALUMNI, AND EDITOR Kaci Ogle ’95/’04 As we do once a year, this edition I am pleased to report that on April COORDINATOR OF PUBLICATIONS Mary Smith ’93 26 at the spring commencement, JSU features the JSU Honor Roll of Contributors from the previous calendar awarded 707 degrees, our second largest GRAPHIC DESIGNER class ever. Next month we will begin year. We thank all those who have helped Morgan Christopher ’10 support our institution and programs welcoming our incoming fall freshman STAFF WRITERS class at summer Gamecock Orientation throughout the years. Your generosity Angie Finley continues to make a profound impact on Heather Greene, Graduate Assistant sessions. It is a great time to be a Ashley Siskey, Graduate Assistant Gamecock! our university and the students that we Emil Loeken, Graduate Assistant serve. On page 10 you will see some of In this edition of the Gem, you will PHOTOGRAPHER learn about our CORE partnership and our generous scholarship donors and their Steve Latham Matt Reynolds, Student Photographer how our relationship with our local k-12 recipients who joined us for our annual northeast Alabama community schools Founders Day luncheon in March. COPY EDITOR Bill Hubbard is evolving in an innovative and As always, we hope you enjoy this collaborative way. You will also read edition of the Gem. We want to see you back on campus for Homecoming on 28 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION about how one of our own, Dr. Donald EXECUTIVE OFFICERS: Prudlo, was invited to serve as a historical October 12, if not before. David Hammett ’73/’81/’94 correspondent on Vatican Radio during PRESIDENT the papal conclave. And speaking of one Darren Douthitt ’88/’97/’00 of our own, we are excited to introduce VICE PRESIDENT Sincerely, you to JSU’s new head football coach, Chris Reynolds ’85 TREASURER Bill Clark. Coach Clark becomes the first Nancy Turner alumnus to hold that position. Read about RECORDING SECRETARY him and his family and the upcoming 18 25 26 Kaci Ogle ’95/’04 season on page 28. William A. Meehan, Ed.D. DEPARTMENTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR This spring, JSU also welcomed a new President Alan Renfroe ’88/’07 head soccer coach. Neil McDonald comes FOUNDATION BOARD ASSISTANT DIRECTOR 18 adds three new members 2 to us from Mississippi State University. To Gem of the Hills is published by the learn about his background and plans for 4 Division of University Advancement: the 2013 season, see the article on page 20. DR. PRUDOLO 700 Pelham Road North, Jacksonville, 25 Alabama 36265 © 2013 Jacksonville reports from vatican 20 State University 32 phone: (256) 782-5404 or 877-JSU-ALUM fax: (256) 782-5502 CORE email: [email protected] 26 a partnership between the university 36 web: jsu.edu/alumni and the regional school system JSU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action 42 institution and does not discriminate based on age, religion, race, color, sex, veteran’s status, national origin, or disability. Pursuant to Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Director of BILL CLARK Government Relations, 101 Bibb Graves Hall, phone 28 returns home 256.782.5278 is the coordinator for Sec. 504/ADA. 76-13 University Publications 5/13 GEM of the Hills | Spring 2013 3 of 64 news news JSU GREEKS GET INVOLVED Sara Beth Drake crowned miss jsu 2013 By HeatHer Greene In January, former Miss JSU Beth start…children need to start learning how former Miss JSU, at the Miss Alabama Milam crowned Sara Beth Drake as the to read very early.” pageant last year helped draw her to JSU new Miss JSU 2013. Eighteen contestants Drake will be partnering with First in her college search, in addition to the competed for the crown, making it one Book, an organization that raises money campus size and community surroundings. of the largest preliminary pageants in the for books to give to parents of newborn She values the experience she gained state this year. babies at hospitals to start the learning from the Miss Alabama pageant last year Drake tap danced her way into first process early on. She plans to have a book and feels it has helped her to be better place in the pageant’s talent competition drive and raise money for First Book with prepared for this year’s competition. in addition to winning the overall crown. the assistance of various organizations Drake is a member of the Marching Although this is her first year at JSU, a around campus such as SGA, the Senate, Ballerinas, the GoGo basketball dance fast track program at Drake’s high school and Freshman Forum. Drake will also read team, Phi Mu Sorority, and Freshman allowed her to complete forty-eight credit weekly to children in the community at Forum. She describes herself as a “risk- Fraternity and sorority life at Jackson- organizations achieved GPAs above the all hours through Wallace State Community the Jacksonville Public Library. taker” and “outdoorsy” in her hobbies. ville State University is doing extremely undergraduate average and fifteen of the College thereby giving her sophomore Drake is excited about working on “I love to skydive,” said Drake. She also well in the areas of leadership, academics, eighteen organizations achieved a 2.5 for more status. campus during the year ahead. “I really lists rock climbing, hiking, dancing, and and philanthropy. During 2012, JSU’s or higher GPA. As all contestants are required to want to get more people involved in more reading among her other activities. Greek community raised over $68,000 The 2013 Panhellenic recruitment INFORMATION select a charity or cause to represent, organizations around campus. Our campus Drake looks forward to representing JSU to be donated to various philanthropic will be held August 16-19. IFC recruitment ABOUT THE NATIONAL Drake’s platform is Improving Literacy has so much to offer, and I just want to get and the Jacksonville community at Miss efforts. They also performed over 13,500 will follow on August 23-27. PANHELLENIC COUNCIL (NHPC) Throughout Your Community. Drake every student involved,” she says. Alabama. hours of community service. CONTACT KRISTEN SMITH, explains that she selected this platform In June, Drake will compete with For more information about the Greek students are leaders on campus. DIRECTOR OF GREEK LIFE after working at her parents’ law firm last other young women across the state for the Miss JSU pageant, visit our website at Currently ten of the fifteen Gamecock summer and having her eyes opened to the title of Miss Alabama. However, this will www.jsu.edu/studentlife/miss-jsu Orientation leaders are fraternity or [email protected] reality of illiteracy present today. not be her first trip to the state competi- sorority members. “Literacy is just such a huge factor tion. Drake won the title of Miss Wallace For the fall of 2012, all five of the in our state today,” says Drake. “It is not State 2012 and was a contestant in the Panhellenic organizations at JSU earned just the adults in our state, but it is also 2012 Miss Alabama pageant last June. above a 3.0 cumulative grade point average the children and that’s where it needs to Drake explained that meeting Ms. Milam, (GPA), eleven of the eighteen GEM of the Hills | Spring 2013 5 of 64 news news This was the third year JSU’s team had entered the robotics contest. The first year, the robot won its first round of competition but was disqualified in the second round due to complications following a battery failure. Last year, the team was second. This year’s winning robot was appropriately named “Anita Wynn.” At the conference the students had the opportunity to participate in profes- sional development workshops and sit in on several of the breakout sessions where they learned about current trends in applied engineering education. LEFT: (Left-Right) Tina Civitello, Ben Ledbetter, Jessica The JSU Robotics Team won for best Civitello and instructor Phillip Dean. Team members electronic controls, best fabrication, and not pictured are, Sam Thompson, team leader, Jonathan had a perfect score during the competition * Thompson, Morgan McDonald, Aimee Montgomery, and phase. Slayton Acker. roBoticS team winners in national competition Choosing the right home can By Dr. Dana InGalsBe be difficult, but choosing the RIGHT Real Estate Agent does At the 2012 conference of the The team was made up of students (without human control) go to a table not have to be... Association of Technology, Management, from different academic majors. Students and pick up thirty-six ping-pong balls and Applied Engineering (ATMAE) in majoring in design and applied manufac- (red, green, blue, and yellow) and back Carra Smith...right for you! Nashville, Tennessee, the JSU ATMAE turing engineering and applied electron- out of the circle. The team received one Robotics Team won first place in the ics engineering took care of the robot point per ball picked up by the robot. The nation with a perfect score during the building and programming, while there robot, while sorting the balls by color, robot competition. The team members was an art student who made the poster. next backed out of the circle. The student were Mr. Sam Thompson, Ms. Jessica The students presented their posters to the controller reestablishes remote control and Civitello, Ms. Tina Civitello, Mr. Jonathan judges, and also had to provide a detailed drives to four different drop off points.