Fall 2010 MAGAZINE Where it all began... acclaimed soprano found her voice at PSU From the Oval 2 Baby Boomer Fashions 20 College Updates 22 Alumni News 34 Vol. 18 No. 2 Fall 2010 MAGAZINE Features 12 Where it All Began... 16 A Greener Future: Algae 17 A River Runs Through It 18 Neat Trick 19 Summertime is No Vacation 20 Baby Boomer Fashion– the ’60s College Close-up 22 College of Arts & Sciences 24 College of Business 26 College of Education 28 College of Technology Departments 2 From the Oval 9 Fine Arts Calendar 10 Where in the World is Gus? 30 Athletics Update 34 Alumni News 38 Class Notes From the editor This issue of the PittState Magazine comes to you as a new semester is about to begin. The opening of a new term is always an exciting time full of opportunity and anticipation. We hope you enjoy this issue of the magazine and the stories about the campus, students and faculty, and alumni. The PittState Magazine is an important link to your alma mater. It would also be great if you could take some time to come back for a visit. Family Day is Sept. 18 and Homecoming is Oct. 16, but you’re welcome anytime. Until we see you in person, remember to send your class notes, letters, comments and suggestions to us at [email protected] or by regular mail to the Office of Marketing and Communication, 106 Russ Hall, Pittsburg State University, 1701 S. Broadway, Pittsburg, KS 66762. ContainsFall 10% 2010 post consumer PITT recycledSTATE fiber. 1 Please recycle FROM THE OVAL Record setting become the choice of more domestic minority students. numbers This spring, minority PSU set a record for enrollment was up 7.5 enrollment this past spring percent, with Hispanic with a total of 6,752 students students constituting the - a 2.4 percent increase largest increase (13 percent). over the spring 2009 There was also a 9 percent semester. The university increase in American reported the numbers to the Indian students and an 8 Kansas Board of Regents percent increase in African for the annual spring 20th American students. day count of the six state “We feel very good about universities. this, and we give a lot of “We are extremely pleased credit to our people who to see this number. Even do so much in the way of with the budget challenges recruitment and retention,” Inez Kaiser we face, which have resulted said Dr. William Ivy, dean Apple Day features wisdom of in a cut of $4.7 million in of Enrollment Management state funding, Kansas and Student Success. African-American pioneer students and parents “People are returning to continue to see Pittsburg school to increase their When Inez Kaiser arrived at Chicago University, State as offering a great skills and marketability in on the PSU campus in the Rockhurst University and value when they consider the workplace, and they are ‘30s, opportunities were very Dartmouth College. In 1952, postsecondary education seeing PSU as the place to limited for a young African- Lincoln University awarded options,” said President do that.” American woman and there her an honorary doctor of law Steve Scott. “Clearly that seemed no shortage of people degree. is the result of the efforts around to tell her what she Over her lifetime, of the entire campus could do and become. Dr. Kaiser has been a pioneer, community. I’m very proud Her return in 2010 to recording a long list of “firsts” Travis of and grateful to our faculty Stewart deliver the keynote address as an African-American and and staff. They have put the at Apple Day was a tribute as a woman. She has advised budget challenges aside and not only to social change, but presidents and directed the have focused on ensuring a also to the determination and marketing efforts of major quality experience for our grit of a unique person. corporations hoping to reach students.” The first African- African-American customers. PSU experienced American woman to open Despite her long list increases in several areas, and operate a public relations of accomplishments, including new freshmen, firm in the U.S., Dr. Inez Y. Dr. Kaiser’s words to the transfer students, new Kaiser earned a bachelor of students gathered that day graduate students, and science degree in education were simple. Gorilla Advantage students. (home economics) from “You’ve heard my life’s The university also saw an PSU in 1938 and a master’s journey,” she told the increase (66 students) in the of science degree from audience. “If I did it, you can number of Kansas residents. Columbia (N.Y.) College do it, too.” In addition, PSU has in 1958. She also studied 2 PITT STATE Fall 2010 FROM THE OVAL Honoring beyond simply getting the work done, however. student “Students are the front employees line people” who visitors and other prospective students Rebecca Bauman, a senior meet, the president said. “In English major who works many ways, they carry the as a writer and designer for culture of the campus. It’s not the Collegio newspaper, just work to do, it’s part of was named the 2010 PSU the campus culture.” Student Employee of the For more information Year in April. Bauman on the award and winners, was also named Student contact the Office of Career Employee of the Year for Services at 620-235-4140. the State of Kansas. At the same time, Travis Stewart, a senior plastics engineering Students say technology major, was Yard tools named Student Employee of ‘Thanks!’ with in hand, the Year in a new category Big Event energetic established for students who students Nearly 600 students put work off campus. Stewart fan out on gloves, grabbed rakes was nominated by his across and shovels and set out employer, Plastic Resource Pittsburg across Pittsburg in April Group, Inc. to say to say “thank you” to the “thanks” President Steve Scott said community. to the students are critical to the The Big Event is the largest community. operation of the university. community service event of He said their role goes the year and lets Pittsburg citizens know how much students appreciate their support during the year. Rebecca Participants in the service Bauman project went to 100 homes throughout the community to do yard work, painting, repairs, and other odds and ends. Organized by the Student Government Association and supported by PSU fraternities and to say thank you to the SGA has been putting sororities, students plan community,” said Alyssa on the Big Event for the the event throughout the Hillman, SGA’s Big Event past eight years, assisting year, take applications from director. “It’s important for primarily retired community residents needing help and us to help the people in the members and in some cases organize the volunteers. community who can’t do this even former and current PSU “It’s our biggest way kind of work themselves.” faculty. Fall 2010 PITT STATE 3 FROM THE OVAL for the end of the stimulus Gorilla money and for a range of higher costs over time. I Advantage really appreciate the efforts Program I’ve seen across campus to use our limited resources wisely expands and to come up with creative The Kansas Board of ideas for saving money.” Regents recently granted the Scott said the university university permission to add has approached the Benton and Washington budget crisis as a shared counties in Arkansas to responsibility. the university’s Gorilla “At the budget forums, Advantage program. I’ve seen faces from every Beginning in fall 2011, the President Steve Scott Difficult budget year ends– department on campus and program allows qualified there have been very good students in border counties President offers thanks, questions,” Scott said. “These to attend PSU at in-state encouragement candid, open discussions rates. have been key to our shared In its proposal to expand As the fiscal year ended in “Some local legislators understanding of the issues Gorilla Advantage into June, President Steve Scott made difficult decisions to we face and to finding northwest Arkansas, PSU took a few minutes to thank prevent even more drastic solutions to some of our pointed out that large high the university community cuts to higher education problems.” schools in those counties and friends of PSU for their and alumni and community The president pledged are actually much closer efforts in getting through a members added their voices to keep the lines of than some of the university’s very tough budget year. to those calling for an end to communication open in the large feeder schools in the cuts to university budgets,” months ahead and to share Kansas City, Wichita and “On campus, everyone Scott said. “We appreciate information as it becomes Tulsa areas. from administrators their courage and their available. “Pittsburg State has a and faculty and staff, commitment to education.” “We’ll have more budget number of highly ranked President Scott said the forums in the future,” Scott programs that are not to physical plant difficult budget year ahead said, “and I’ll post relevant available at any other workers and part-time could have been much worse news stories and other university in the region, student employees if the current budget plan information in the budget and would be beneficial have pulled together had not been passed. As it area of my web pages as it to students in these fast- is, the university is facing comes along. And I need growing counties,” said so the university a 2010-2011 budget that is feedback, as well.