Centenary e-Extra!

A Newsletter for Faculty, Staff and Friends of Centenary College of Louisiana
Volume 3, Number 1
August 19, 2005

BREAKING NEWS

CENTENARY LISTED AMONG "AMERICA'S BEST COLLEGES" FOR 16TH YEAR! U.S.News & World Report has listed Centenary College of Louisiana among "America's Best Colleges" in its annual rankings announced today (Friday, Aug. 19, 2005). Centenary is ranked at No. 5 among 15 institutions designated as the South's "Great Schools, Great Prices." In addition to that ranking, U.S. News lists Centenary at No. 10 among the 65 top Southern colleges and universities offering master's degrees and listed in its top two tiers. Last year's rankings were No. 10 and 11, respectively. See details at http://www.centenary.edu/news/2005/August/USNews.html

CELEBRATE THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR 2005-06

HAVING RECEIVED A RECORD 1,347 APPLICATIONS, compared to 1,166 last year, Centenary welcomes some 268 students enrolling this fall, including first-year students, transfers, readmits, non-degree seeking students and those pursuing second degrees.

In this year's new class:
— 14 states are represented (14 last year)
— 58% are from Louisiana (61% last year)
— 37% rank in the top 10% of their class (35% last year)
— 14% identified as non-white (12.6% last year)
— Average ACT score is 25.5 (25 last year)

Their leadership activities showed:
—1 in 5 served as a team captain
—1 in 4 had at least one leadership role in a school organization
—1 in 5 had a leadership role in student government
—1 in 4 had leadership role in church youth organization

NEW STUDENTS MOVED IN WEDNESDAY, Aug. 17, and the remainder move back on Sunday, in time for the first day of classes on Monday, Aug. 22. Among the faculty and staff volunteers we spotted actually moving boxes were Amy Giglio, Kelly Schellinger, Harold Christensen, Betsy Rankin, Chris Martin, Betsy Eaves, Ken Schwab, Butch Jordan, Mimi McDowell and "Refrigerator Man" Mike Thomas. Many other students and staff pitched in. Thanks to all involved. See snapshots at http://www.centenary.edu/news/2005/August/0006.html.

EXCITING ORIENTATION ACTIVITIES CONTINUE through Tuesday, Aug. 23. See the schedule on the Web at http://www.centenary.edu/firstyear/studentorientation. Everyone is welcome to participate in activities like comedy night, Sunday evening worship service and Back to School Bash, as well as the President's Convocation Tuesday in Brown Chapel. Watch the web site for photos from various events.

NEW AT ORIENTATION THIS YEAR: SERVICE ACTIVITY. Many of our incoming first-year students will be serving at seven community agencies on Saturday, Aug. 20 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. The agencies are the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, ArtSpace, Red River Revel, Renzi Arts & Education Center, Providence House, Philadelphia Center and the Food Bank of North Louisiana. True to Centenary's mission, we are providing an introductory activity in civic responsibility as these new students begin their Centenary experience. The students will board buses at the College and be delivered to their chosen locations, where they will get a taste of service. Contact Dian Tooke, director of service learning, for more information.

CENTENARY HAPPENINGS, recent news and upcoming events

PRESIDENT'S CONVOCATION this year will feature remarks by the Rev. Paul Rasmussen, a 1990 graduate and a former Centenary admissions counselor, annual fund director and assistant basketball coach. He is now a minister at Highland Park Methodist Church's Cornerstone Worship in Dallas. Welcome back, Paul!

CENTENARY ONE OF 12 FEATURED IN NEW BOOK. Old Main: Small Colleges in 21st Century America by Samuel Schuman includes Centenary among 12 representative small colleges visited and profiled for the book. It contends that small colleges are different and that the difference is good for students. Read more about it at http://www.centenary.edu/news/2005/July/0009.html. Among readers we've heard about are David Hoaas, Derrick Head, Ken Schwab and Lynn Stewart. All give it great reviews.

CENTENARY'S FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES HUDDLE is spotlighted in the August/September 2005 edition of Sharing the Victory Faith and Sport Magazine. Centenary College Huddle Coach and FCA staff member Andy Stroup nominated Centenary's FCA Huddle for its intentionality in relating to students during the 2004-05 school year.

THE MEADOWS MUSEUM EXHIBITION SEASON kicks off Aug. 20 with the exhibit The Big Fish: The Art of Barbara Earl Thomas. See details at http://www.centenary.edu/news/2005/August/0001.html or contact museum director Diane Dufilho.

19 YEARS AND GOING STRONG—CENTENARY BOOK BAZAAR. This year's dates are Sept. 9 and 10, from 5 p.m. (an hour earlier than usual) to 9 p.m.on Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. If you see a Centenary Muse, or a colleague who helps with this big event, thank them for all their good work at this fundraiser for Centenary student-related projects. Volunteers are needed! For more information or to volunteer, contact Amy Giglio, emailbooks@centenary.edu or see http://www.centenary.edu/news/2005/July/0008.html.

FACES OF CENTENARY EXHIBIT opens Friday, Sept. 16 in the Magale Library Gallery with a reception from 3-5 p.m. The campus community is invited to enjoy some punch and light refreshments while looking at the "photo shoot" photographs taken by Neil Johnson, former instructor of photographer at Centenary. This exhibit is sponsored by the Women's Endowment Quorum and coordinated by the Office of Public Relations. Contact Kelsey Johnson for more information. See the photos online at http://www.centenary.edu/faces/

STUDENT UNION BUILDING RENOVATION NEARING COMPLETION! Significant renovations to the Moore Student Union Building (SUB) have been made over the summer and will continue into September. The SUB's new look will be unveiled, hopefully, during Parents and Family Weekend (Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23 and 24). In the meantime, from Aug. 15 through Sept. 9, books will be sold at the Haynes Conference Room in the Fitness Center. Hours of operation: Aug. 15-19 from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Aug. 21 from noon-5 p.m.; Aug. 22-26 from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Aug. 29-Sept. 2 from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sept. 5 closed for Labor Day; Sept. 6-9 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Randle's Place will be closed for a few weeks, but the cafeteria will be serving meals on an extended schedule. The Post Office is now located on the lower level of the SUB.

FORMERLY THE SHENANDOAH SHAKESPEARE EXPRESS, the popular troupe that comes to Centenary each year is now Shakespeare's Blackfriars Stage Company. Tickets go on sale Sept. 6. See details at http://www.centenary.edu/news/2005/August/0005.html or contact Patty Roberts.

DINNERS FOR THE ENTIRE CENTENARY FACULTY AND STAFF will be held at the home of President and Mrs. Schwab on Sept. 26 and 29. Watch the mail for your invitation and please RSVP to Connie Harbuck.

A FRIENDLY CROSS-TOWN RIVALRY. Braggin' rights for the first City Championship in Flag Football will be at stake Oct. 10 when intramural teams from Centenary and LSUS take to Jones-Rice Field. Co-rec will be at 7 p.m., followed by the men's competition at 8 p.m. Other multi-campus competitions are in the works. Contact Mike Thomas for more information.

FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THOSE WHO TARGET YOUNG SMOKERS. Congratulations to Centenary Health Services for receiving a new grant from the Louisiana Public Health Institute. Look for a year's worth of information and activities related to the health hazards of smoking. Look for details about the Health and Wellness Fair connection and a Smoke Free Zone Project. Contact Sherrie Murphy for more information.

MLP TO OPEN SEASON WITH COMEDY LYSISTRATA. See the list of the year's productions at http://www.centenary.edu/news/2005/August/0004.html .

IT'S NOT 'TIL NEXT SPRING BUT PLANS ARE UNDER WAY NOW for the seventh biennial Associated Colleges of the South Women's and Gender Studies Conference March 24-25 on the Centenary campus. See details at http://www.centenary.edu/genderconference or contact Michelle Wolkomir or Kim Van Hoosier-Carey.

SIX NEW TRUSTEES have joined the Centenary Board of Trustees and three new ex officio members have joined the board. Read all about them at http://www.centenary.edu/news/2005/June/0011.html.

TAKE A LOOK AT OUR NEW SITE MAP on the web site. Congratulations to Rosie Daniel, assistant web developer, and Michael Futreal, senior web developer, for completing the site map that is now linked from our main page.

A BANNER EVENT. Look for new banners on the Kings Highway side of the Gold Dome. The banners will represent each of the varsity sports offered at Centenary.

IN CASE YOU'RE ASKED, the Shreveport Peter Pan Players are presenting Aladdin at the Marjorie Lyons Playhouse Thursday, Aug. 18-Sunday, Aug. 21. Times: Thursday and Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. For additional information call 318-868-8619 or 318-869-5242. Cost: adults $13 and children $10.

SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS

CHOIR TOURED IN EUROPE, performing concerts in Switzerland, Germany and France during its trip May 17-June 2. The Choir received distinguished invitations to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and Lorraine American Military Cemetery in St. Avold, France for Memorial Day ceremony. See pictures from the tour at http://www.centenary.edu/news/2005/June/0003.html.

SUMMER EXPLORATION CAMP drew local high school students to Centenary's campus to delve into diverse areas of study. Participants and professors explored everything from screenwriting and photography to computer game design and shark dissection. Parts of the camp were covered by all three local television stations and The Times. See pictures from the camp at http://www.centenary.edu/news/2005/July/0003.html.

IN FACT, CAMPS WERE HERE ALL SUMMER. Congratulations to Francine Campbell et al for all their good work with the many camps that were here at Centenary this summer. The campus was abuzz with activity all summer.

AND THE FED WAS HERE THIS SUMMER AS WELL. “Interest Rates, Energy, and the Fed in Today’s Economy” was held on campus July 12. Harold Christensen worked with the one-day workshop for secondary teachers, which was cosponsored by the Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta and Dallas, the Louisiana Council on Economic Education, and the Centenary College Center for Economics Education.

JAZZ BAND ROCKS. Doug Rust, associate professor of music, and his Louisiana Jazz Repertory Ensemble joined the famous Jim Cullum Jazz Band in San Antonio, Texas, for coaching, instruction and sets. See details at http://www.centenary.edu/news/2005/July/0007.html.

STRICTLY PERSONAL, news about the Centenary family and extended family.

FACULTY BEGINNING THIS YEAR WITH NEW TITLES, their promotions having been approved at the December and April meetings of the Board of Trustees, are:

Mark M. Gruettner, Professor of German
Helen Sikes, Professor of Accounting
Maureen Murov, Associate Professor of Spanish
Lisa Nicoletti, Associate Professor of Art

Drs. Murov and Nicoletti were also awarded tenure in April as was Greg VanHoosier-Carey, Biedenharn Eminent Chair in Communication.

RETIREES at the end of the 2004-05 academic year were:

David Bedard, Professor of Health and Exercise Science
Robert "Bob" Buseick, Chair of Theatre and Dance
Rosemary Seidler, Professor of Chemistry

GREETINGS AND WELCOME to Centenary's newest members of the faculty and staff:

Faculty:
Philip Barker, Assistant Professor of Political Science
Daniel Henderson, Visiting Assistant Professor of Health and Exercise Science
Joshua Lawrence, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Steven Heath Mitton, Lecturer in History
Robert Prickett, Instructor in Education

Staff:
Sue Norris Callaway, Interim Director for Intercultural Affairs
Patrick Culver, Academic Specialist in Registrar's Office
Brandon Curran, Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
Rosie Daniel, Assistant Web Developer
Virginia "Ginny" Daniel, Director of Planned Giving
Linda Davis, Administrative Assistant to the Controller
Glenn Evans, Director of Athletic Academic Center
Jonathan Ferrell, Admissions Counselor
Rob Flaska, Head Men's Basketball Coach
Teri Fry, Assistant Volleyball Coach
Jason Gay, Network Systems Administrator for I.T.
Kristy Jackson, Assistant Director of Residence Life
Kelsey Johnson, Communications Specialist
Jason Keene, Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
Joshua Lawrence, Instructor of Chemistry
Jeff Messmen, Assistant Sports Information Director
Rebecca Montz, Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
Jennifer Pearson, Director of Capital Gifts for Development
Sally Phillips, Administrative Assistant for Dining Services
Robert Gayle Prickett, Instructor of Education
Rachel Robinson, Marketing Director for Athletics
Jennifer Semien, Student Life Administrative Assistant
Jason Stanley, Administrative Assistant to Men's Basketball Team
Joey Tullos, Assistant Basketball Coach
Kevin Wagner, Assistant Dean of Student Life/Director of Residence Life
Charles "Chuck" Wiggins, Plumber/Maintenance Technician

NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE CENTENARY STORK CLUB are Amy Petrus Giglio, director of annual giving, and son Charlie, who was born May 3.

DISNEY WORLD DELIGHTS. Jeannie Clements of the Provost's Office joined her daughter, Susan Orloff '83, and grandson, Alexander, in Orlando, Fla., for her very first trip to Disney World this summer.

WEDDING BELLS. Provost Darrel Colson and wife Christy will have a daughter-in-law after son Jacob gets married Saturday, Aug. 20, in California.

WORLD TRAVELER David Henington, over the past few months, has voyaged to Prague, Budapest, Alaska and Mexico. David will be taking a group of alumni to Ireland in late September through the Alumni Travel Program.

WHO KNEW HE COULD SING AND DANCE!? Loren Demerath, associate professor of sociology, had the lead in "Singin' in the Rain" this summer, performing alongside a cast and crew full of other Centenary folks, including Will Andress, Ginger Folmer, William Parsons, Anna Maria Sparke Keele '92 and Joshua Porter '04. Read more about it at http://www.centenary.edu/news/2005/July/0004.html.

DISTINGUISHED ROTARY AMBASSADORIAL SCHOLAR Anne-Marie Bruner, director of intercultural affairs, has headed to Wales for a year of enrichment and study abroad. She will be pursuing her M.A. in applied linguistics at Cardiff University.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY POLICE OFFICER EARNS TOP HONORS. Belated congratulations to Centenary's Eddie Walker, who graduated in December from the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office Regional Training Academy along with 30 representatives from 11 different police and/or sheriff's departments. He was elected president of the academy class and was third in his class academically and second in firearms proficiency. The academy staff voted unanimously to present him with the Leadership Award, which is one of four major awards given at graduation.

FROM THE SUGGESTION BOX

* SHOW SOME SCHOOL SPIRIT ON FRIDAYS by sporting your favorite Centenary shirt. Every Friday is now officially "Centenary Friday"— so wear your pride on the outside!

* PLEASE UPDATE YOUR VOICEMAIL MESSAGES. Make sure your voicemail message is brief and current for the beginning of the academic year.

* REMEMBER THE CENTENARY EVENTS CALENDAR at http://www.centenary.edu/calendar/ . Click on the "Submit an Event" side link to add your events to the calendar.

Send Suggestion Box items and news to news@centenary.edu .

Copyright © 2005 Centenary College of Louisiana

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