Alumni Center

AP ■ ALUMNI CENTER Reception Welcome Dr. Deborah Balogh, Associate Provost Dinner Remarks Dr. Beverley Pitts, Acting President Presentation of Omega Faculty and Professional Personnel Acting President Pitts Associate Provost Balogh Mr. Thomas L. DeWeese, President, Board of Trustees Conferral of Emeritus/Emerita Status Acting President Pitts Omega Photograph Alumni Center Library , SVP11■111111111111111111110118Mtg Field Green Salad with shallot vinaigrette Grilled Pineapple with toasted macadamia nuts Beef Filet with herbed goat cheese and demi-glace Roasted Polenta Rounds Baby Carrots Strawberries Romanoff Dr. James C. Helton Jr., pianist Assistant Professor of Music Performance Douglas D. Amman Martha L. Kendrick Nikki A. Assmann James J. Kirkwood Norman E. Beck Thomas W Koontz Donna L. Biggs Donald E. LaCasse Gilbert L. Bloom Harry J. Macy Ann L. Caslan Frank L. Meeker David L. Clayton Kenneth E. Miller John G. Condran Monte J. Reece Phillip M. Dunn N. Kirk Robey Paul R. Errington Gary J. Santoni Richard J. Falls Sharon H. Seager Julia C. Hemeyer C. Warren Vander Hill Kathleen M. Keil C. William Barnett Clinton P. Fuelling Nancy J. Mannies 3 Douglas D. Amman Douglas Amman, professor of music and director of choral activities, joined the Ball State faculty in 1982. Previously director of the choral program at Northern Michigan University, he conducted its Arts Chorale, which performed for both regional and national American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) conventions. It also twice performed at the St. Moritz, Switzerland, Choral Festival with guest conductors Neville Marriner and Robert Shaw. Upon coming to Ball State, Dr. Amman reorganized its choral offerings into eight performing ensembles, at one time conducting as many as five of them himself. He founded the Chamber Choir and has conducted it in a number of invited convention appearances: the Indiana Music Educators Association, the ACDA College-University Sing, and three regional ACDA conventions. The Chamber Choir has performed on tours in 36 states, Canada, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, and Germany, singing in such venues as St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Dr. Amman also has prepared choruses for the Muncie Symphony Orchestra and often conducted these choral-orchestral performances on a nearly annual basis. Dr. Amman has been especially proactive in his efforts to create linkages between the School of Music and Indiana public schools. To that end, he has served as clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor for schools, festivals, and contests, in Indiana and seven surrounding states. As a result, he was appointed to several task forces by the Indiana Department of Education to improve `sight-reading and set music performance guidelines. From 1987 to 1993, he served in various offices, including the presidency, of the 500-member Indiana Choral Directors Association (ICDA). Currently he serves as chair of the ICDA Youth and Student Activities Committee. In 2001 Dr. Amman received the Upper Peninsula Choral Leadership Award for service to choral music in the state of Michigan; in 1996 he was honored with Ball State University's Outstanding Creative Endeavor Award. However, his greatest joy in his 43-year professional life has been the success of literally hundreds of former students in becoming graduate students, public school teachers, college and university choral conductors, and directors of church choirs and community choruses. Often called "a people person," he continues to keep open his door, telephone, and e-mail account to his students—both past and present. Nikki A. Assmann Nikki Assmann began teaching at Ball State University in 1969 as a member of the Women's Department of Physical Education. During her time in this position, she taught, served as a sponsor for the synchronized swimming club, and coached the women's swimming team for seven years and the track team for two years. In 1971, during her term as coach, the women's swimming team placed fourth nationally. In 1986, Miss Assmann was appointed to director of aquatics. Since 1988, she has served as administrative assistant to the chairperson of the School of Physical Education. Over her professional career, Miss Assmann has made more than 30 presentations at state, regional, and national conferences, and she has authored articles in a number of state and national publications. She also is the co-author of the text Swimming Everyone. Her professional service includes journal editor, section chair, committee chair, conference manager, vice president, and 4 president of the Indiana Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (IAHPERD). Currently she is serving as the organization's executive director. Additionally, she serves as the treasurer and a board member for the Indiana Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (IAIAW); as committee member and chair, section chair, and program director for the regional organization; and as member of the AAHPERD Alliance Assembly and the United States Collegiate Sports Council Women's Swimming Committee. Miss Assmann has been recognized as an Outstanding Young Woman of America and in Who's Who in American Education. She has received the IAHPERD Leadership Award, IAHPERD Honor Award, a number of IAHPERD presidential citations, and two AAHPERD Physical Education for Public Information awards. Her colleagues will miss her and wish her well. Norman E. Beck Norm Beck has spent most of the past 48 years as student, teacher, or administrator at Ball State, taking time out only to fulfill his obligation to the United States Army in 1958 and to spend a brief period working in the private sector. In 1961, Dr. Beck began his successful career, which ultimately spanned two occupational specialties: financial aid and human resources. In his early years, he made his mark in the financial aid area, as assistant director and then as director. Under his guidance, Ball State became a national leader in the automation of the financial aid process. He was active on the College Board and numerous other financial aid councils and professional national, regional, and state committees, receiving awards for distinguished service from the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association, the Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and the U.S. Department of Education. He received Ball State's Outstanding Administrative Service Award in 1979. In 1981, Dr. Beck changed careers to direct the activities of the human resources and auxiliary services areas of the university. As associate vice president for human resources and auxiliary services in business affairs, he oversees the activities of Ball State's University Human Resource Services, Residence Halls Dining Service and Banquet and Catering, the Ball State Bookstore, the John R. Emens College-Community Auditorium, Printing Services, and Telephone and Postal Services. During his tenure in Business Affairs, Dr. Beck implemented a new job classification system for staff personnel, oversaw arbitrations and union negotiations for the university, worked with staff council, served as a member of the University Senate, was a member of a presidential search committee, directed the privatization of two auxiliary campus units (the Barnes and Noble Bookstore and the Cardinal Health System Health Center), served as liaison to university attorneys in personnel matters, and assisted in developing a full-service catering operation to support a wide range of university events. In addition to his commitment to the university, Dr. Beck is an active member of the community, contributing his talents to such civic endeavors as the United Way, Rotary Club, Ball Memorial Hospital Foundation, Chamber of Commerce, and First Presbyterian Church. His colleagues thank him for his deep commitment and dedicated service to Ball State and the Muncie community. 5 Donna L. Biggs Donna Biggs joined the faculty of Burris Laboratory School as a teacher of middle school and high school mathematics in 1988. Her expertise and ability to work with students of all abilities brought her well-deserved recognition as an exemplary classroom teacher. In 1996 she accepted the position of assistant principal of the school, and in 1998 she assumed the role of principal. For the past six years she has provided the school with stable leadership and a spirit of caring and concern for teachers, students, and parents. Mrs. Biggs' friendly demeanor and her desire to serve have characterized her leadership style. She takes an active role in the activities of the school and the daily welfare of its students and faculty. She greets all constituents with a cheerful smile and leaves them feeling that the most important thing she had to do that day was to spend some time with them. As the leader of the school, she has led the efforts to raise even higher the academic standards of an already exceptional school. Her leadership in curriculum design, utilization of instructional technology, academic assessment of students, and professional development of faculty has been outstanding. The entire Burris community will miss her leadership, her positive attitude, and her ability to give of herself for the benefit of others. Her presence has made Burris a better place, and she leaves the school with a solid foundation upon which to continue to expand its vision. Burris wishes Mrs. Biggs well in her retirement. Gilbert L. Bloom Since 1962, Gil Bloom has been a teacher, artist, colleague, and mentor in the Department

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