New Center Demonstrates University CARES about Service Region

Eastern Kentucky University CARES about its service region and Appalachia.

That’s the impetus behind the establishment of the Center for Appalachian Regional Engagement and Stewardship (CARES), a unified, comprehensive approach to stewardship and engagement that focuses on the five areas identified by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education: economic and workforce development, education, environment, collaborative government and health, wellness and safety.

CARES encompasses the work of the Center for Appalachian Studies, the Environmental Sustainability and Stewardship Program, Service Learning, PRISM: A Journal of Regional Engagement, the Kentucky Institute for Public Governance and Civic Engagement, the Office of Regional Stewardship and the Regional Extension Agent Program. The academic minors in Appalachian Studies and in Environmental Sustainability and Stewardship will also join the new center. CARES is housed in EKU’s Office of University Programs and will be headed by Ian Mooers, who also serves as director of the Center for Economic Development, Entrepreneurship and Technology, based at Eastern.

Dr. Sara Zeigler, dean of University Programs, said: “CARES represents EKU’s continued commitment to our service region, to Appalachia, and to educating people about the rich cultural heritage of the region. Because more money will be available to go directly into the communities, rather than operating multiple centers, CARES will enable EKU to use resources more efficiently and will provide a single point of contact for our regional engagement and stewardship efforts.”

 In addition to Mooers, whose focus will be economic and workforce development, CARES staff members and their respective focus areas will include Dr. Alice Jones, environment, academic minors and service learning; Dr. Joseph Gershtenson, collaborative government, internships and PRISM; Tom Parker, education; Karrie Adkins, health, wellness and safety; and the team of five community-based regional extension agents who, together, are responsible for connecting EKU resources to communities throughout the University’s service region.

Zeigler thanked Dr. Alan Banks, the retiring director of the Center for Appalachian Studies, for his many years of service.

One of the Center’s goals is to involve more faculty and students in internships and service-learning projects that will benefit communities throughout the area. Increased faculty involvement should lead to more grants.

 “I think we’ll be more visible in communities, doing things that make a more immediate impact,” Zeigler said.

A series of community forums will be scheduled this fall “to give us a chance to better understand community needs,” Mooers said.

The work of EKU’s five regional extension agents will continue largely unchanged, Mooers said, adding that gifted-and-talented programs organized by the agents throughout the region are proving very popular.

The five agents and their county coverage areas are: Vickie Moberly, Madison and Garrard; Mark Reese, Powell, Estill, Lee and Owsley; Michelle Allen, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Laurel, Jackson and Knox; David Gover, Boyle, Casey, Lincoln, Wayne, McCreary and Whitley; and Ryan Watts, Perry, Leslie, Harlan, Bell and Clay. For more information, visit extensionagents.eku.edu.

This summer, CARES will announce an opportunity for communities to apply for five $10,000 community-development grants, each centered on one of the Center’s five focus areas of regional stewardship. The extension agents will work with interested communities to help them organize project proposals and assist in planning and implementation.

For more information about how CARES can assist with community needs, contact Ian Mooers at 859-622-2334 or ian.mooers@eku.edu or Karrie Adkins at 859-622-6168 or karrie.adkins@eku.edu, or visit regionalstewardship.eku.edu/eku-cares.

Published on May 07, 2013

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EAST CENTRAL UNIVERSITY'S NEWEST FACILITY TO BE NAMED CHICKASAW BUSINESS AND CONFERENCE CENTER

ECU's mission is to foster a learning environment in which students,
faculty, staff and community interact to educate students for life.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

East Central University Communications and Marketing580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)

East Central University is pleased to announce that its newest facility on campus will be named the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center.

Chickasaw Nation Gov. Anoatubby said that having the Chickasaw name on the business center is a tribute to centuries of Chickasaw history.

“Chickasaw people have been entrepreneurs for centuries,” said Gov. Anoatubby. “East Central University has a great record of preparing students for success in the world of business and we are delighted to be a part of this worthwhile endeavor. We have a long record of working successfully with ECU on projects such as the Native American Studies Center, the Dynamic Women’s Conference, Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy and National Night Out, so we are confident this will be a success as well.”

The $10.65 million and 62,000-square-foot building, located on the west side of campus at Main and Center Streets in Ada, is set to open this fall and will house the new Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business.

The facility sits directly west of another of ECU’s newer buildings, the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center, which opened in 2009.

“We’re honored and pleased to be in yet another valued partnership venture with the Chickasaw Nation and Governor Bill Anoatubby. The Chickasaw Nation, like ECU, places a high value on education and this enables our students to get the most out of their learning experience,” said ECU President John Hargrave. “This state-of-the-art facility will only enhance the educational opportunities of students who will be future business leaders or simply those involved in the business world.”

The Chickasaw Business and Conference Center’s first floor will house the ECU Police Department, a synergistic learning center and a food court.

The Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business will be on the second floor where each classroom will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, a specialized financial lab/classroom, several student-friendly study areas and lounges.

The third floor is reserved for offices for the dean of the business school and faculty members, conference rooms, technology lab/classrooms, several faculty lounges and a balcony/reception area.

The center’s unique design allows the conference center to double as a Federal Emergency Management Agency safe room, in case of a disaster like Hurricane Katrina, by providing short-term shelter. The safe room functionality is possible because of a $1.46 million grant awarded to ECU by FEMA.

Miles Associates of Oklahoma City is the architect for this project.

Construction progress on the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center can be viewed at: http://www.ecok.edu/it/cameras.htm.

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EAST CENTRAL UNIVERSITY'S NEWEST FACILITY TO BE NAMED CHICKASAW BUSINESS AND CONFERENCE CENTER

ECU's mission is to foster a learning environment in which students,
faculty, staff and community interact to educate students for life.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

East Central University Communications and Marketing580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)

East Central University is pleased to announce that its newest facility on campus will be named the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center.

Chickasaw Nation Gov. Anoatubby said that having the Chickasaw name on the business center is a tribute to centuries of Chickasaw history.

“Chickasaw people have been entrepreneurs for centuries,” said Gov. Anoatubby. “East Central University has a great record of preparing students for success in the world of business and we are delighted to be a part of this worthwhile endeavor. We have a long record of working successfully with ECU on projects such as the Native American Studies Center, the Dynamic Women’s Conference, Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy and National Night Out, so we are confident this will be a success as well.”

The $10.65 million and 62,000-square-foot building, located on the west side of campus at Main and Center Streets in Ada, is set to open this fall and will house the new Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business.

The facility sits directly west of another of ECU’s newer buildings, the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center, which opened in 2009.

“We’re honored and pleased to be in yet another valued partnership venture with the Chickasaw Nation and Governor Bill Anoatubby. The Chickasaw Nation, like ECU, places a high value on education and this enables our students to get the most out of their learning experience,” said ECU President John Hargrave. “This state-of-the-art facility will only enhance the educational opportunities of students who will be future business leaders or simply those involved in the business world.”

The Chickasaw Business and Conference Center’s first floor will house the ECU Police Department, a synergistic learning center and a food court.

The Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business will be on the second floor where each classroom will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, a specialized financial lab/classroom, several student-friendly study areas and lounges.

The third floor is reserved for offices for the dean of the business school and faculty members, conference rooms, technology lab/classrooms, several faculty lounges and a balcony/reception area.

The center’s unique design allows the conference center to double as a Federal Emergency Management Agency safe room, in case of a disaster like Hurricane Katrina, by providing short-term shelter. The safe room functionality is possible because of a $1.46 million grant awarded to ECU by FEMA.

Miles Associates of Oklahoma City is the architect for this project.

Construction progress on the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center can be viewed at: http://www.ecok.edu/it/cameras.htm.

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Edinboro University establishes Veterans Success Center to better assist returning vets in higher education attainment

01/22/2013

Taking its nationally recognized status as a “Military Friendly School” to the next level, Edinboro University has created a Veterans Success Center to better serve returning vets in their transition to civilian life and higher education attainment.

As part of Edinboro’s long-standing commitment to veterans, the University recently appointed a Veterans Success Center Coordinator to further enhance the outreach and support extended to veterans. Edinboro has been named a “Military Friendly School” by GI Jobs magazine the past four years.

“But now we’re taking it to the next level by making Edinboro even more veterans-supportive – that’s what the Veterans Success Center is all about, supporting our returning veterans, ” explained the Center’s new coordinator, Anthony G. “Tony” Canzonieri.

Canzonieri, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq in Military Intelligence, knows firsthand just how difficult transition to civilian life can be without an advocate to help returning veterans adjust, especially those who saw combat. Often they’re dealing with physical, emotional, and financial issues. When veterans seek to take advantage of government sponsored benefits and opportunities available to them, other issues can surface as well.

“Student veterans have unique needs,” Canzonieri explained. “They’ve been out of school for a while and might need remedial help. They’ve also been told what do every day of their adult lives after high school, so now they might need help just getting their lives organized, or perhaps refreshing them on study skills or time management.”

He will serve as their advocate, providing quick advice and taking action on veterans’ behalf with the broader campus, also helping Edinboro’s faculty become more aware of veterans’ needs.

“I have a passion for working with veterans, so this position is ideal and tailor-made for me,” Canzonieri said. At 26, Canzonieri brings vision, drive and a youthful enthusiasm that will resonate with young returning veterans because he can so easily empathize with them.

Situated in the Crawford Center on the west side of campus, the Veterans Success Center gives veterans a space dedicated exclusively for them, a centralized location to get help with their special needs and issues. They can also use the space to lounge, mingle and study with other veterans.

The VSC is part of Edinboro’s Career Development and Adult Student Services Department.

“Our new Veterans Success Center will immediately enhance the ability of current and prospective students to access a variety of University resources that will enable them to have a successful collegiate experience,” said Dr. Jody Gallagher, director the department.

Canzonieri, who was wounded during his service in Iraq, comes from a military family. Growing up in the Pittsburgh area, he earned an AS degree in Business from Westmoreland County Community College, a BS in Science and Technology from California University of Pennsylvania, and will earn his MBA in Finance from Cal U in May. After that, he plans to enroll at Robert Morris University in pursuit of a doctoral degree.

Despite his youth, his experience working with veterans is extensive – and a perfect match for Edinboro. Since being discharged from the Army, he’s worked with Veterans Affairs officials in Pittsburgh, providing peer support and dealing with virtually every issue facing vets in general, those coming back from combat zones in particular. He was instrumental in securing a private agency grant for Vets4Vets, an organization that helps returning veterans with social, physical health and employment issues. At Edinboro, he’ll help establish a veterans group as part of Student Veterans of America, a national organization providing financial scholarship assistance and promoting veteran-friendly legislation.

Canzonieri is committed to retention of student veterans. “We don’t want veterans to just come here. We want them to graduate in four years and leave here with degrees, and also with the smallest amount of student debt possible,” he said.

Military reservists who attend Edinboro are eligible for Federal Tuition Assistance. State tuition help is also available for students serving in the National Guard, while most veterans are eligible for aid through the GI Bill. Canzonieri can help facilitate applications and other often cumbersome governmental paperwork required of vets and military personnel seeking financial aid.

There are about 200 student veterans now on campus, a number expected to grow as more service members are discharged from active duty.
Supporting veterans is not only about what the University can offer them, Canzonieri points out, but equally important is what they offer Edinboro.

“They bring an amazing quality to the classroom. They have life experience, and just their presence and participation enhances the quality of education of the students sitting next to them.”

Edinboro’s ongoing commitment to returning veterans is probably summed up best by Dr. Michael Hannan, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

“Edinboro University is strongly committed to providing the best possible education and service to our nation’s veterans,” Hannan said. “Our investment in the Veterans Success Center is our next tangible step toward providing individualized support for these important students.”

The Center is now fully operational. Veterans can contact Canzonieri directly by phoning 814-732-1553, by e-mailing acanzonieri@edinboro.edu, or by logging onto the Veterans Success Center website at veterans.edinboro.edu.

(Source: Estimates from U.S. Census/VA summaries)

Number of U.S. military veterans: 21.5 millionNumber of U.S. Vietnam War-era veterans: 7.5 millionNumber of Veterans of the Gulf Wars (Aug. 1990-present): 5.1 millionNumber of Pennsylvania Veterans: Nearly 1 millionNumber of regional veterans served by Erie Vets Center: 64,000Number of Erie County veterans: 24,000

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Edinboro University’s ‘First Friday Concert’ series resumes March 1 at Alexander Music Center

02/22/2013

Edinboro University’s monthly “First Friday Concert” series will resume Friday, March 1, in the Dr. William P. Alexander Music Center’s Recital Hall.

The performance will be held from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.

This free March First Friday Concert, which is open to the public, will feature Music Department faculty members Patrick Jones on alto saxophone and Kristine West Denton on piano. The concert will include music of Michael Lysight, David Maslanka and Rudy Weidoeft.

First Friday Concerts, which feature Edinboro University Music Department faculty, are held monthly at the Alexander Music Center throughout the fall and spring semesters.

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GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES BEING OFFERED AT ECU’S TOMMY HEWETT WELLNESS CENTER

ECU's mission is to foster a learning environment in which students,
faculty, staff and community interact to educate students for life.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

East Central University Communications and Marketing580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)

A variety of group exercise classes for all fitness levels is being offered at East Central University’s Tommy Hewett, M.D. Wellness Center.

Instructors for the program will provide motivation, challenge and encouragement in order to obtain fitness goals.

Three early-morning low impact classes are available to those who are kick-starting their fitness. The Beginner Fitness/Prenatal class is ideal for beginners, pregnant women and anyone trying to ease into an exercise routine. In Walk away the Pounds, participants will walk a total of three miles with small bouts of resistance training included.

A Sunrise Yoga class is also available. This gentle yoga class accommodates all fitness levels while improving strength, flexibility, balance and coordination. The activity reduces stress and enhances the well-being while linking mind, body and breath.

Intense workout classes such as Interval Blast, Core Power, Lower Body Sculpt, Cardio Boot Camp and Zumba are also available to those seeking a more high-impact glass.

In Interval Blast, the class gets your heart pumping with intervals of cardio paired with segments of strength training.

Those wanting to work on their abs can participate in the mini Core Power class.

Another class which emphasizes the lower body is Lower Body Sculpt. The emphasis for this class will be on the hips, glutes and legs.

Cardio Boot Camp will include a full-body, calorie-blasting workout, which is designed for men and women, wanting a challenging and intense workout.

Zumba combines body-sculpting movements with easy-to-follow dance steps. This class will help dance the pounds away with high-intensity workouts which help shed the pounds that the holidays left around.

Instructors for the programs will provide motivation, challenge and encouragement in order to obtain fitness goals.

Classes are included in a Wellness Center membership and also free to ECU students. For more information on Wellness Center memberships and group exercise classes call 580-559-5744 or go by the Wellness Center, located on the second floor of the Bill S. Cole University Center on the ECU campus or visit online at https://www.ecok.edu/wellness/index.htm.

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RUSSIAN PIANIST GLIADKOVSKY TO PERFORM CONCERT AT ADA ARTS & HERITAGE CENTER ON MARCH 13

ECU's mission is to foster a learning environment in which students,
faculty, staff and community interact to educate students for life.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

East Central University Communications and Marketing580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)

Acclaimed Russian pianist Kirill Gliadkovsky will perform a free concert, hosted by the East Central University Department of Music, on Wednesday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Ada Arts and Heritage Center.

Gliadkovsky’s performances have been met with great enthusiasm by both audiences and music critics in Russia, Europe and North America. His popularity has been fast-growing as well. He has been a featured artist in numerous live television and radio broadcasts and programs on such networks as NPR, CBS, PBS, CBC, WQXR, KBYU, KPAC and Russian State TV. He has recorded six CSs for Alexei Records and for CMK Classics labels.

Joseph Woodard, a critic for the Los Angeles Times, wrote. “…the intensity and a nicely honed musicality left the audience stunned…enthralling…all in all, a gripping and masterful performance.” Dany Margolies at the Malibu Times describes his playing: “wondrous range…impassioned depth…enormous physical and emotional power…a complete artist”. “Fine dramatic senese…appealing range of emotional effects and pianistic devices…wonderful,” wrote the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Since making his first public appearance at age 6, Gliadkovsky has toured extensively on three continents, performing piano and organ recitals and as a soloist with orchestras in various cities in Russia, including Moscow’s prestigious Bolshoi, Maliy and Rachmaninioff Halls, St. Petersburg Philharmonic’s Glinka Hall, as well as in Italy, U.K., Poland, Mongolia, Canada, Japan and throughout the United States.

Gliadkovsky was born in Moscow and has studied music since the age of 5. He attended the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow where his teachers included renowned musicians Lev Vlasenko, Mikhail Pletniev (piano) and Leonid Royzman (organ). Gliadkovsky also earned both his master’s and doctor of musical arts degrees as the University of Southern California with Professors Daniel Pollack (piano), Cherry Rhodes (organ) and William Schaefer (conducting).

He also coached with Ann Schein, Herbert Stessin, Stephen Kovacevich and Lev Naumov. Gliadkovsky took numerous prizes at international piano competitions in Europe and the United States.

Gliadkovsky is an orchestra and choir conductor and performs on the harpsichord as well. He is part of a duo and trio piano team with his wife and a concert pianist Anna Gliadkovskaya and their 14-year-old daughter Anastasia. They have toured together in many states and internationally, to a critical acclaim. Gliadkovsky has been on piano faculties at USC, Pepperdine University and Santa Monica College. He has been the music director and organist at Westwood Hills Christian Church in Los Angeles for 10 years.

Additionally, Gliadkovsky has been a sought-after adjudicator at piano competitions across the nation and a guest artist-teacher in lectures and master classes in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Dallas as well as universities in Indiana, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, California, Colorado and Oregon.

His students have won prizes in numerous piano contests and have been accepted (often with full scholarships) at schools such as Manhattan School of Music, Northwestern University, Peabody and San Francisco Conservatories, USC, UCLA, UC Berkley, University of North Texas and others.

Gliadkovsky combines his busy concert schedule with teaching. His recent engagements include tours in the Midwest and on the East Coast, solo and concerto appearances in Costa Rica, California, Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, and Colorado, as well as collaborative performances in Oregon and California. Prior to coming to Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., where he serves as the director of keyboard studies, he had been the head of piano area at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah. His wife, Anna, has also been on the piano faculty at Southern Utah. She currently teaches as Saddleback and Irvine Valley Colleges.

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Edinboro University’s ‘First Friday Concert’ series resumes March 1 at Alexander Music Center

02/22/2013

Edinboro University’s monthly “First Friday Concert” series will resume Friday, March 1, in the Dr. William P. Alexander Music Center’s Recital Hall.

The performance will be held from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.

This free March First Friday Concert, which is open to the public, will feature Music Department faculty members Patrick Jones on alto saxophone and Kristine West Denton on piano. The concert will include music of Michael Lysight, David Maslanka and Rudy Weidoeft.

First Friday Concerts, which feature Edinboro University Music Department faculty, are held monthly at the Alexander Music Center throughout the fall and spring semesters.

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Edinboro University establishes Veterans Success Center to better assist returning vets in higher education attainment

01/22/2013

Taking its nationally recognized status as a “Military Friendly School” to the next level, Edinboro University has created a Veterans Success Center to better serve returning vets in their transition to civilian life and higher education attainment.

As part of Edinboro’s long-standing commitment to veterans, the University recently appointed a Veterans Success Center Coordinator to further enhance the outreach and support extended to veterans. Edinboro has been named a “Military Friendly School” by GI Jobs magazine the past four years.

“But now we’re taking it to the next level by making Edinboro even more veterans-supportive – that’s what the Veterans Success Center is all about, supporting our returning veterans, ” explained the Center’s new coordinator, Anthony G. “Tony” Canzonieri.

Canzonieri, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq in Military Intelligence, knows firsthand just how difficult transition to civilian life can be without an advocate to help returning veterans adjust, especially those who saw combat. Often they’re dealing with physical, emotional, and financial issues. When veterans seek to take advantage of government sponsored benefits and opportunities available to them, other issues can surface as well.

“Student veterans have unique needs,” Canzonieri explained. “They’ve been out of school for a while and might need remedial help. They’ve also been told what do every day of their adult lives after high school, so now they might need help just getting their lives organized, or perhaps refreshing them on study skills or time management.”

He will serve as their advocate, providing quick advice and taking action on veterans’ behalf with the broader campus, also helping Edinboro’s faculty become more aware of veterans’ needs.

“I have a passion for working with veterans, so this position is ideal and tailor-made for me,” Canzonieri said. At 26, Canzonieri brings vision, drive and a youthful enthusiasm that will resonate with young returning veterans because he can so easily empathize with them.

Situated in the Crawford Center on the west side of campus, the Veterans Success Center gives veterans a space dedicated exclusively for them, a centralized location to get help with their special needs and issues. They can also use the space to lounge, mingle and study with other veterans.

The VSC is part of Edinboro’s Career Development and Adult Student Services Department.

“Our new Veterans Success Center will immediately enhance the ability of current and prospective students to access a variety of University resources that will enable them to have a successful collegiate experience,” said Dr. Jody Gallagher, director the department.

Canzonieri, who was wounded during his service in Iraq, comes from a military family. Growing up in the Pittsburgh area, he earned an AS degree in Business from Westmoreland County Community College, a BS in Science and Technology from California University of Pennsylvania, and will earn his MBA in Finance from Cal U in May. After that, he plans to enroll at Robert Morris University in pursuit of a doctoral degree.

Despite his youth, his experience working with veterans is extensive – and a perfect match for Edinboro. Since being discharged from the Army, he’s worked with Veterans Affairs officials in Pittsburgh, providing peer support and dealing with virtually every issue facing vets in general, those coming back from combat zones in particular. He was instrumental in securing a private agency grant for Vets4Vets, an organization that helps returning veterans with social, physical health and employment issues. At Edinboro, he’ll help establish a veterans group as part of Student Veterans of America, a national organization providing financial scholarship assistance and promoting veteran-friendly legislation.

Canzonieri is committed to retention of student veterans. “We don’t want veterans to just come here. We want them to graduate in four years and leave here with degrees, and also with the smallest amount of student debt possible,” he said.

Military reservists who attend Edinboro are eligible for Federal Tuition Assistance. State tuition help is also available for students serving in the National Guard, while most veterans are eligible for aid through the GI Bill. Canzonieri can help facilitate applications and other often cumbersome governmental paperwork required of vets and military personnel seeking financial aid.

There are about 200 student veterans now on campus, a number expected to grow as more service members are discharged from active duty.
Supporting veterans is not only about what the University can offer them, Canzonieri points out, but equally important is what they offer Edinboro.

“They bring an amazing quality to the classroom. They have life experience, and just their presence and participation enhances the quality of education of the students sitting next to them.”

Edinboro’s ongoing commitment to returning veterans is probably summed up best by Dr. Michael Hannan, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

“Edinboro University is strongly committed to providing the best possible education and service to our nation’s veterans,” Hannan said. “Our investment in the Veterans Success Center is our next tangible step toward providing individualized support for these important students.”

The Center is now fully operational. Veterans can contact Canzonieri directly by phoning 814-732-1553, by e-mailing acanzonieri@edinboro.edu, or by logging onto the Veterans Success Center website at veterans.edinboro.edu.

(Source: Estimates from U.S. Census/VA summaries)

Number of U.S. military veterans: 21.5 millionNumber of U.S. Vietnam War-era veterans: 7.5 millionNumber of Veterans of the Gulf Wars (Aug. 1990-present): 5.1 millionNumber of Pennsylvania Veterans: Nearly 1 millionNumber of regional veterans served by Erie Vets Center: 64,000Number of Erie County veterans: 24,000

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RUSSIAN PIANIST GLIADKOVSKY TO PERFORM CONCERT AT ADA ARTS & HERITAGE CENTER ON MARCH 13

ECU's mission is to foster a learning environment in which students,
faculty, staff and community interact to educate students for life.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

East Central University Communications and Marketing580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)

Acclaimed Russian pianist Kirill Gliadkovsky will perform a free concert, hosted by the East Central University Department of Music, on Wednesday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Ada Arts and Heritage Center.

Gliadkovsky’s performances have been met with great enthusiasm by both audiences and music critics in Russia, Europe and North America. His popularity has been fast-growing as well. He has been a featured artist in numerous live television and radio broadcasts and programs on such networks as NPR, CBS, PBS, CBC, WQXR, KBYU, KPAC and Russian State TV. He has recorded six CSs for Alexei Records and for CMK Classics labels.

Joseph Woodard, a critic for the Los Angeles Times, wrote. “…the intensity and a nicely honed musicality left the audience stunned…enthralling…all in all, a gripping and masterful performance.” Dany Margolies at the Malibu Times describes his playing: “wondrous range…impassioned depth…enormous physical and emotional power…a complete artist”. “Fine dramatic senese…appealing range of emotional effects and pianistic devices…wonderful,” wrote the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Since making his first public appearance at age 6, Gliadkovsky has toured extensively on three continents, performing piano and organ recitals and as a soloist with orchestras in various cities in Russia, including Moscow’s prestigious Bolshoi, Maliy and Rachmaninioff Halls, St. Petersburg Philharmonic’s Glinka Hall, as well as in Italy, U.K., Poland, Mongolia, Canada, Japan and throughout the United States.

Gliadkovsky was born in Moscow and has studied music since the age of 5. He attended the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow where his teachers included renowned musicians Lev Vlasenko, Mikhail Pletniev (piano) and Leonid Royzman (organ). Gliadkovsky also earned both his master’s and doctor of musical arts degrees as the University of Southern California with Professors Daniel Pollack (piano), Cherry Rhodes (organ) and William Schaefer (conducting).

He also coached with Ann Schein, Herbert Stessin, Stephen Kovacevich and Lev Naumov. Gliadkovsky took numerous prizes at international piano competitions in Europe and the United States.

Gliadkovsky is an orchestra and choir conductor and performs on the harpsichord as well. He is part of a duo and trio piano team with his wife and a concert pianist Anna Gliadkovskaya and their 14-year-old daughter Anastasia. They have toured together in many states and internationally, to a critical acclaim. Gliadkovsky has been on piano faculties at USC, Pepperdine University and Santa Monica College. He has been the music director and organist at Westwood Hills Christian Church in Los Angeles for 10 years.

Additionally, Gliadkovsky has been a sought-after adjudicator at piano competitions across the nation and a guest artist-teacher in lectures and master classes in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Dallas as well as universities in Indiana, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, California, Colorado and Oregon.

His students have won prizes in numerous piano contests and have been accepted (often with full scholarships) at schools such as Manhattan School of Music, Northwestern University, Peabody and San Francisco Conservatories, USC, UCLA, UC Berkley, University of North Texas and others.

Gliadkovsky combines his busy concert schedule with teaching. His recent engagements include tours in the Midwest and on the East Coast, solo and concerto appearances in Costa Rica, California, Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, and Colorado, as well as collaborative performances in Oregon and California. Prior to coming to Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., where he serves as the director of keyboard studies, he had been the head of piano area at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah. His wife, Anna, has also been on the piano faculty at Southern Utah. She currently teaches as Saddleback and Irvine Valley Colleges.

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EAST CENTRAL UNIVERSITY'S NEWEST FACILITY TO BE NAMED CHICKASAW BUSINESS AND CONFERENCE CENTER

ECU's mission is to foster a learning environment in which students,
faculty, staff and community interact to educate students for life.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

East Central University Communications and Marketing580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)

East Central University is pleased to announce that its newest facility on campus will be named the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center.

Chickasaw Nation Gov. Anoatubby said that having the Chickasaw name on the business center is a tribute to centuries of Chickasaw history.

“Chickasaw people have been entrepreneurs for centuries,” said Gov. Anoatubby. “East Central University has a great record of preparing students for success in the world of business and we are delighted to be a part of this worthwhile endeavor. We have a long record of working successfully with ECU on projects such as the Native American Studies Center, the Dynamic Women’s Conference, Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy and National Night Out, so we are confident this will be a success as well.”

The $10.65 million and 62,000-square-foot building, located on the west side of campus at Main and Center Streets in Ada, is set to open this fall and will house the new Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business.

The facility sits directly west of another of ECU’s newer buildings, the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center, which opened in 2009.

“We’re honored and pleased to be in yet another valued partnership venture with the Chickasaw Nation and Governor Bill Anoatubby. The Chickasaw Nation, like ECU, places a high value on education and this enables our students to get the most out of their learning experience,” said ECU President John Hargrave. “This state-of-the-art facility will only enhance the educational opportunities of students who will be future business leaders or simply those involved in the business world.”

The Chickasaw Business and Conference Center’s first floor will house the ECU Police Department, a synergistic learning center and a food court.

The Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business will be on the second floor where each classroom will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, a specialized financial lab/classroom, several student-friendly study areas and lounges.

The third floor is reserved for offices for the dean of the business school and faculty members, conference rooms, technology lab/classrooms, several faculty lounges and a balcony/reception area.

The center’s unique design allows the conference center to double as a Federal Emergency Management Agency safe room, in case of a disaster like Hurricane Katrina, by providing short-term shelter. The safe room functionality is possible because of a $1.46 million grant awarded to ECU by FEMA.

Miles Associates of Oklahoma City is the architect for this project.

Construction progress on the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center can be viewed at: http://www.ecok.edu/it/cameras.htm.

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GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES BEING OFFERED AT ECU’S TOMMY HEWETT WELLNESS CENTER

ECU's mission is to foster a learning environment in which students,
faculty, staff and community interact to educate students for life.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

East Central University Communications and Marketing580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)

A variety of group exercise classes for all fitness levels is being offered at East Central University’s Tommy Hewett, M.D. Wellness Center.

Instructors for the program will provide motivation, challenge and encouragement in order to obtain fitness goals.

Three early-morning low impact classes are available to those who are kick-starting their fitness. The Beginner Fitness/Prenatal class is ideal for beginners, pregnant women and anyone trying to ease into an exercise routine. In Walk away the Pounds, participants will walk a total of three miles with small bouts of resistance training included.

A Sunrise Yoga class is also available. This gentle yoga class accommodates all fitness levels while improving strength, flexibility, balance and coordination. The activity reduces stress and enhances the well-being while linking mind, body and breath.

Intense workout classes such as Interval Blast, Core Power, Lower Body Sculpt, Cardio Boot Camp and Zumba are also available to those seeking a more high-impact glass.

In Interval Blast, the class gets your heart pumping with intervals of cardio paired with segments of strength training.

Those wanting to work on their abs can participate in the mini Core Power class.

Another class which emphasizes the lower body is Lower Body Sculpt. The emphasis for this class will be on the hips, glutes and legs.

Cardio Boot Camp will include a full-body, calorie-blasting workout, which is designed for men and women, wanting a challenging and intense workout.

Zumba combines body-sculpting movements with easy-to-follow dance steps. This class will help dance the pounds away with high-intensity workouts which help shed the pounds that the holidays left around.

Instructors for the programs will provide motivation, challenge and encouragement in order to obtain fitness goals.

Classes are included in a Wellness Center membership and also free to ECU students. For more information on Wellness Center memberships and group exercise classes call 580-559-5744 or go by the Wellness Center, located on the second floor of the Bill S. Cole University Center on the ECU campus or visit online at https://www.ecok.edu/wellness/index.htm.

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EAST CENTRAL UNIVERSITY'S NEWEST FACILITY TO BE NAMED CHICKASAW BUSINESS AND CONFERENCE CENTER

ECU's mission is to foster a learning environment in which students,
faculty, staff and community interact to educate students for life.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

East Central University Communications and Marketing580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)

East Central University is pleased to announce that its newest facility on campus will be named the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center.

Chickasaw Nation Gov. Anoatubby said that having the Chickasaw name on the business center is a tribute to centuries of Chickasaw history.

“Chickasaw people have been entrepreneurs for centuries,” said Gov. Anoatubby. “East Central University has a great record of preparing students for success in the world of business and we are delighted to be a part of this worthwhile endeavor. We have a long record of working successfully with ECU on projects such as the Native American Studies Center, the Dynamic Women’s Conference, Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy and National Night Out, so we are confident this will be a success as well.”

The $10.65 million and 62,000-square-foot building, located on the west side of campus at Main and Center Streets in Ada, is set to open this fall and will house the new Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business.

The facility sits directly west of another of ECU’s newer buildings, the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center, which opened in 2009.

“We’re honored and pleased to be in yet another valued partnership venture with the Chickasaw Nation and Governor Bill Anoatubby. The Chickasaw Nation, like ECU, places a high value on education and this enables our students to get the most out of their learning experience,” said ECU President John Hargrave. “This state-of-the-art facility will only enhance the educational opportunities of students who will be future business leaders or simply those involved in the business world.”

The Chickasaw Business and Conference Center’s first floor will house the ECU Police Department, a synergistic learning center and a food court.

The Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business will be on the second floor where each classroom will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, a specialized financial lab/classroom, several student-friendly study areas and lounges.

The third floor is reserved for offices for the dean of the business school and faculty members, conference rooms, technology lab/classrooms, several faculty lounges and a balcony/reception area.

The center’s unique design allows the conference center to double as a Federal Emergency Management Agency safe room, in case of a disaster like Hurricane Katrina, by providing short-term shelter. The safe room functionality is possible because of a $1.46 million grant awarded to ECU by FEMA.

Miles Associates of Oklahoma City is the architect for this project.

Construction progress on the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center can be viewed at: http://www.ecok.edu/it/cameras.htm.

- # # # -

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GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES BEING OFFERED AT ECU’S TOMMY HEWETT WELLNESS CENTER

ECU's mission is to foster a learning environment in which students,
faculty, staff and community interact to educate students for life.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

East Central University Communications and Marketing580-559-5650 or 405-812-1428 (cell)

A variety of group exercise classes for all fitness levels is being offered at East Central University’s Tommy Hewett, M.D. Wellness Center.

Instructors for the program will provide motivation, challenge and encouragement in order to obtain fitness goals.

Three early-morning low impact classes are available to those who are kick-starting their fitness. The Beginner Fitness/Prenatal class is ideal for beginners, pregnant women and anyone trying to ease into an exercise routine. In Walk away the Pounds, participants will walk a total of three miles with small bouts of resistance training included.

A Sunrise Yoga class is also available. This gentle yoga class accommodates all fitness levels while improving strength, flexibility, balance and coordination. The activity reduces stress and enhances the well-being while linking mind, body and breath.

Intense workout classes such as Interval Blast, Core Power, Lower Body Sculpt, Cardio Boot Camp and Zumba are also available to those seeking a more high-impact glass.

In Interval Blast, the class gets your heart pumping with intervals of cardio paired with segments of strength training.

Those wanting to work on their abs can participate in the mini Core Power class.

Another class which emphasizes the lower body is Lower Body Sculpt. The emphasis for this class will be on the hips, glutes and legs.

Cardio Boot Camp will include a full-body, calorie-blasting workout, which is designed for men and women, wanting a challenging and intense workout.

Zumba combines body-sculpting movements with easy-to-follow dance steps. This class will help dance the pounds away with high-intensity workouts which help shed the pounds that the holidays left around.

Instructors for the programs will provide motivation, challenge and encouragement in order to obtain fitness goals.

Classes are included in a Wellness Center membership and also free to ECU students. For more information on Wellness Center memberships and group exercise classes call 580-559-5744 or go by the Wellness Center, located on the second floor of the Bill S. Cole University Center on the ECU campus or visit online at https://www.ecok.edu/wellness/index.htm.

- # # # -

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Edinboro University’s ‘First Friday Concert’ series resumes December 7 at Alexander Music Center

11/30/2012

Edinboro University’s monthly “First Friday Concert” series will resume Friday, December 7, in the Dr. William P. Alexander Music Center’s Recital Hall.

The performance will be held from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.

This free December First Friday Concert, which is open to the public, will feature Music Department faculty member Erik Mann on guitar. The concert will include music of Marco Dall’Aquila and Wenzel Matiegka.

First Friday Concerts, which feature Edinboro University Music Department faculty, are held monthly at the Alexander Music Center throughout the fall and spring semesters.

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Edinboro University establishes Veterans Success Center to better assist returning vets in higher education attainment

01/22/2013

Taking its nationally recognized status as a “Military Friendly School” to the next level, Edinboro University has created a Veterans Success Center to better serve returning vets in their transition to civilian life and higher education attainment.

As part of Edinboro’s long-standing commitment to veterans, the University recently appointed a Veterans Success Center Coordinator to further enhance the outreach and support extended to veterans. Edinboro has been named a “Military Friendly School” by GI Jobs magazine the past four years.

“But now we’re taking it to the next level by making Edinboro even more veterans-supportive – that’s what the Veterans Success Center is all about, supporting our returning veterans, ” explained the Center’s new coordinator, Anthony G. “Tony” Canzonieri.

Canzonieri, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq in Military Intelligence, knows firsthand just how difficult transition to civilian life can be without an advocate to help returning veterans adjust, especially those who saw combat. Often they’re dealing with physical, emotional, and financial issues. When veterans seek to take advantage of government sponsored benefits and opportunities available to them, other issues can surface as well.

“Student veterans have unique needs,” Canzonieri explained. “They’ve been out of school for a while and might need remedial help. They’ve also been told what do every day of their adult lives after high school, so now they might need help just getting their lives organized, or perhaps refreshing them on study skills or time management.”

He will serve as their advocate, providing quick advice and taking action on veterans’ behalf with the broader campus, also helping Edinboro’s faculty become more aware of veterans’ needs.

“I have a passion for working with veterans, so this position is ideal and tailor-made for me,” Canzonieri said. At 26, Canzonieri brings vision, drive and a youthful enthusiasm that will resonate with young returning veterans because he can so easily empathize with them.

Situated in the Crawford Center on the west side of campus, the Veterans Success Center gives veterans a space dedicated exclusively for them, a centralized location to get help with their special needs and issues. They can also use the space to lounge, mingle and study with other veterans.

The VSC is part of Edinboro’s Career Development and Adult Student Services Department.

“Our new Veterans Success Center will immediately enhance the ability of current and prospective students to access a variety of University resources that will enable them to have a successful collegiate experience,” said Dr. Jody Gallagher, director the department.

Canzonieri, who was wounded during his service in Iraq, comes from a military family. Growing up in the Pittsburgh area, he earned an AS degree in Business from Westmoreland County Community College, a BS in Science and Technology from California University of Pennsylvania, and will earn his MBA in Finance from Cal U in May. After that, he plans to enroll at Robert Morris University in pursuit of a doctoral degree.

Despite his youth, his experience working with veterans is extensive – and a perfect match for Edinboro. Since being discharged from the Army, he’s worked with Veterans Affairs officials in Pittsburgh, providing peer support and dealing with virtually every issue facing vets in general, those coming back from combat zones in particular. He was instrumental in securing a private agency grant for Vets4Vets, an organization that helps returning veterans with social, physical health and employment issues. At Edinboro, he’ll help establish a veterans group as part of Student Veterans of America, a national organization providing financial scholarship assistance and promoting veteran-friendly legislation.

Canzonieri is committed to retention of student veterans. “We don’t want veterans to just come here. We want them to graduate in four years and leave here with degrees, and also with the smallest amount of student debt possible,” he said.

Military reservists who attend Edinboro are eligible for Federal Tuition Assistance. State tuition help is also available for students serving in the National Guard, while most veterans are eligible for aid through the GI Bill. Canzonieri can help facilitate applications and other often cumbersome governmental paperwork required of vets and military personnel seeking financial aid.

There are about 200 student veterans now on campus, a number expected to grow as more service members are discharged from active duty.
Supporting veterans is not only about what the University can offer them, Canzonieri points out, but equally important is what they offer Edinboro.

“They bring an amazing quality to the classroom. They have life experience, and just their presence and participation enhances the quality of education of the students sitting next to them.”

Edinboro’s ongoing commitment to returning veterans is probably summed up best by Dr. Michael Hannan, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

“Edinboro University is strongly committed to providing the best possible education and service to our nation’s veterans,” Hannan said. “Our investment in the Veterans Success Center is our next tangible step toward providing individualized support for these important students.”

The Center is now fully operational. Veterans can contact Canzonieri directly by phoning 814-732-1553, by e-mailing acanzonieri@edinboro.edu, or by logging onto the Veterans Success Center website at veterans.edinboro.edu.

(Source: Estimates from U.S. Census/VA summaries)

Number of U.S. military veterans: 21.5 millionNumber of U.S. Vietnam War-era veterans: 7.5 millionNumber of Veterans of the Gulf Wars (Aug. 1990-present): 5.1 millionNumber of Pennsylvania Veterans: Nearly 1 millionNumber of regional veterans served by Erie Vets Center: 64,000Number of Erie County veterans: 24,000

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Veterans Resource Center Opens at EWU

CHENEY, Wash. - As part of its goal to ensure Eastern Washington University will meet the needs of the thousands of service men and women returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan, EWU has officially opened its new Veterans Resource Center.

Just four months after announcing the creation of the center, Eastern President Rodolfo Arévalo gathered with university leaders and community supporters who made the project possible to get a sneak peek at the facility.

The 2,000 square-foot center includes a lounge, kitchen area, computer lab, conference and workshop space as well as office space for support staff. The center will provide critical services and resources veterans will need as they integrate back into civilian life and learn to navigate the university system. There are currently more than 500 veterans enrolled at EWU, and the university expects to see a 10 percent increase annually in the number of veterans seeking college degrees and utilizing GI benefits.

Eastern has named M. David Millet as director of the Veterans Resource Center. A Lieutenant Colonel (Retired), Millet has more than 25 years of success in increasingly demanding leadership and management positions within the U.S. Army and at Eastern Washington University, with significant experience in management, strategic planning, fundraising and program assessment. In addition to Millet, staffing includes a recruiter/advisor, a GI benefits coordinator, graduate assistants, a VetCorps representative and faculty liaisons.

In addition to the strong program on campus, the center will develop a robust online presence to reach individuals even while they are still on active duty. The center is located on the first floor of Showalter Hall.

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Virginia Glennan Ferguson was driving force behind Glennan Center

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Capstone Center Gives Students Essential Elements of Success

The comments Dr. Allen Ault heard from employment recruiters formed a familiar refrain, all centering on their need for creative and critical thinkers who are strong communicators with leadership skills.

So the dean of Eastern Kentucky University’s College of Justice & Safety determined that his students would possess those “essential elements of success.”

Initially established as a series of social intelligence classes for Justice & Safety students, EKU’s Capstone Center now is expanding campus wide, coinciding with the University’s Quality Enhancement Plan, which calls upon Eastern to graduate informed, critical and creative thinkers who can communicate effectively.

“I had read the research and the comments from business, industry and government that college graduates did not possess the skills needed to obtain a job or succeed after they got a job,” Ault said. “I also looked at what they said was deficient – their ability to analyze problems, create solutions to problems, or communicate whatever they did effectively. We also noted that our students were very deficient in successful interviewing skills. We had to assume that a lot of this deficiency was from how they currently communicate by texting with no emotional overlay or not being able to perceive how they were being judged or evaluated and then not responding in an appropriate manner. Even if they got the job the deficit in communication skills did not allow them to be successful.”

Taking critical thinking, creative thinking, effective communication and leadership skills as the foundational elements of success, the Center quickly developed a series of courses around the “Essential Elements of Success” theme. Hundreds of students at all levels have taken classes since classes were first offered in 2009.

“We do not think we should wait until they are seniors to begin the learning process of these essential elements,” Ault said. “If they can start with any of these subjects as soon as possible, especially critical thinking, that will put them in good stead while trying to get an education. Hopefully, they will use them in their college career to enable them to be better students both academically and socially. They would be able to practice them on other students, faculty and staff so that these skills will be honed by the time they do seek employment.  We believe these skills are applicable to any discipline, essential in any field of endeavor.”

Pre- and post-test research from the program’s Social Intelligence classes reveals marked improvement, Ault noted. “Anecdotally, we have heard of tremendous benefits from taking this course. The positive responses and evaluations from our students have been so rewarding.”

A sample of student comments:

“This course made my job interview a breeze, which gave me the confidence I needed.”

“My relationship with my professor is so much better since I took this class.”

One of EKU’s 1,000-plus military veterans considered the classes to be “a good next step after the transition assistance program. I also feel these classes could help my battle buddies find a sense of peace in their private lives.”

The benefits extend well beyond the classroom. One student said the classes helped him to “to talk to and understand my roommate and not get upset,” while another said they “gave me the communication skills to help save my marriage.”

In the area of effective communication, Basic and Advanced Social Intelligence are offered both semesters. In the area of leadership, the course “Leaders without Titles” was first offered this fall; because of student interest and demand, two sections will be offered this Spring.

The Critical Thinking and Creative Thinking courses are typically offered during the week at normal class times, while the Social Intelligence and Leadership courses are offered on weekends. “Students have told us that the weekend classes allow them to take regularly scheduled classes and work while they go to school, in addition to family responsibilities,” said Dr. Charlotte Tanara, director of the Capstone Center. “It also provides a time frame that enables them to earn an extra three hours credit for the semester in which they are currently enrolled.”

Projects under development include:

·         Courses to be offered both on campus and online.

·         Proposal of a capstone minor, “The Essential Elements of Success,” in collaboration with Dr. Scotty Dunlap, Applied Critical Thinking; and Dr. Rusty Carpenter, Dr. Hal Blythe and Dr. Charlie Sweet, Introduction to Applied Creative Thinking.

·         Optional graduate level courses.

“In addition to providing necessary skills for our students,” Tanara said, “these courses are offered to support the University’s effort to increase retention rates at the undergraduate level. We are also working to offer these courses as optional graduate-level courses.”

Officials are also working to offer Capstone Center courses online, beginning in Fall 2013.

“There is a lot of work to do,” Tanara said, “but we are excited about the opportunity for our students.”

For more information about the program, visit the Capstone Center in Room 287 of the Stratton Annex, or contact Program Specialist Rebecca Moore at 859-622-7873 or rebecca.moore@eku.edu.

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