Summer Camp For Gifted and Talented Focuses on STEM-H Subjects

A summer camp at Eastern Kentucky University for gifted and talented students entering grades 6-8 will emphasize the STEM-H disciplines: science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health.

The sixth annual event, titled “Soar to the New Heights,” will be held June 24-28 at EKU’s state-of-the-art New Science Building.

The camp runs 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on each weekday through the one-week period and features a choice of 10 courses – five morning sessions and five in the afternoon – taught by EKU faculty, staff and graduate students. Participants will have the opportunity to take two different courses but, due to class size limitations, each student is asked to select his or her top three choices of classes offered during the morning session and top three choices of classes offered in the afternoon.

Morning courses:

·         Lego-Botics, which will allow students to enjoy a hands-on robotics lab as they build problem-solving skills in the STEM disciplines. Students will model real-life mechanisms to explore the world of engineering while showing their critical thinking and logic skills.

·         Where Does Your Food Come From?, which will explain how food gets from farm to table in a sustainable manner, the role technology plays in the dairy industry, what ethical issues are involved involved in the growing, harvesting, and processing of crops, and more as students get up close and personal with the management of animals and agriculture at Meadowbrook Farm, the EKU Dairy and EKU Greenhouses.

·         Is a Career in Health Care for You?, which will expose students to various healthcare professionals and their job responsibilities, education/training and salary information. Short video clips will show the professionals as they work. In addition, each student will get to choose a profession they are interested in and will do some guided research. The findings will then be discussed as an interactive group.

·         CSI: Crime Science Investigators, where students will be part of a detective team and learn about different techniques forensic scientists use to catch lawbreakers.

·         What’s in Your Water?, which will allow students to explore the unique physical, chemical and biological qualities of Wilgreen Lake, located just 10 miles from campus, through a series of hands-on scientific inquiries that combine field and laboratory experiences.

Afternoon sessions:

·         Exploring Nature with Technology, where students will explore nature through a variety of technologies, including iPods, GPS, digital cameras, and LabQuest sensors.

·         This is your Brain: Get Movin’!, where students will get fit with a daily dose of BrainDance to energize the mind and body, and learn simple folk dances and creative movement. Participants will reflect on the need for regular BrainDance in society today and how to bring about change. Dance experience is not required.

·         Put A Face on It, which will examine forensic facial reconstructing, an important ability to solving missing person investigations and more. Using clay and sculpting tools just like scientists and museum curators, participants will learn how to put a face on a skull.

·         Renewable & Alternative Fuel Technologies, offered in conjunction with the EKU’s Center for Renewable & Alternative Fuel Technologies (CRAFT), where students will actively explore alternative energy through interactive learning activities. Activities will include the evaluation of various materials for liquid renewable fuel production (for cars and trucks), evaluation of various materials based on heat generation for use in electricity generation, calculation of students’ individual carbon footprints, and construction of a solar oven.

·         The Science of Sports!, which will look at the relationship between sports and physics. During this session campers will conduct experiments that explore how the laws of physics shape the way that we play many sports. Sports explored will include basketball, baseball and skateboarding.

Enrollment is limited, so early registration is urged. The cost is $145 per student, and all registration by mail must be postmarked by May 17. For more information or to initiate registration, contact Vickie Moberly or Debra Sparks with the Gifted and Talented Program in EKU’s College of Education, 859-622-2154, Registration with payment may also be sent to: Curriculum and Instruction, Gifted and Talented, Combs Building 215, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Ave., Richmond, Ky., 40475-3102, attention Debra Sparks. Checks should be made payable to the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Gifted and Talented.

Published on May 09, 2013

View the original article here

Read More

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

View the original article here

Read More

“STOMP OUT SEXUAL ASSAULT” EVENT SET FOR APRIL 6 IN ADA

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)

“Stomp out Sexual Assault”, a community-wide awareness day, will be held on Saturday, April 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wintersmith Park in Ada.

East Central University’s Campus Initiative to Reduce Crime Against Women (CIRCAW) in partnership with The Chickasaw Nation, Family Crisis Center and the Pontotoc County District Attorney’s Office is staging the event in conjunction with April’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

The event will feature a 5K walk, free hamburgers, entertainment and other free park activities.

For more information on the event contact ECU CIRCAW Program Coordinator Peggy Saunkeah at 580-559-5892.

- # # # -

View the original article here

Read More

Unlocking TV Shows to play on other devices

Hi

I finally thought instead of buy DVD tv series i would buy TV series on itunes. I didn't research at first but i figure if i can buy my songs and play them anywhere i can buy tv shows and play them anywhere too... Oh how wrong was I.

I can't play them back on my media player i have hooked up to the tv. I normally buy my dvd's and copy them to my server so i can play them through my network. I can't do this with Apple TV shows.. which is a shame. I'll stick to buying DVD's unless there is a way to unlock?

To sum it up, is there a way i can play my purchased TV shows on other devices. If not is there a way i can get a refund on the Falling Skies series so i can go purchase them instead on DVD?

Thank you

View the original article here

Read More

REVERSE ARTICULATION AGREEMENT ENABLES ECU STUDENTS TO EARN ASSOCIATE’S DEGREES FROM PREVIOUS INSTITUTIONS

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 students, who have transferred in from Murray State College, Eastern Oklahoma State College and Seminole State College, have the opportunity to earn their associate’s degrees through a reverse articulation agreement with those three partner institutions by taking classes at ECU.

In order for the ECU students to achieve those associate’s degrees, they must have completed at least 50 hours at those three colleges.

East Central University is actively engaged in assisting students who transferred to ECU without an associate of arts or associate of science degree who have taken or could take courses at ECU that would meet the requirements for these degrees to transfer back to Murray State College, Eastern Oklahoma State College and Seminole State College,” said Dr. Duane C. Anderson, provost and vice president for academic affairs at ECU.

Transcripts of ECU students are in the process of being identified in order for the students to complete their degrees, according to Claudia Hisle, director of the ECU Academic Advising Center.

“We will work with advisors from those colleges to determine what courses need to be completed here to transfer back there toward their associate’s degree,” said Hisle.

According to Anderson, it’s a great opportunity to complete a two-year degree.

“Sometimes students find themselves in life circumstances that cause them to transfer to a four-year university before they have completed their associate’s degree,” Anderson said. “We encourage such students to take advantage of this because it is always better to have earned a degree from a two-year college than to not have done so.”

For more information on ECU’s reverse articulation agreement with Murray State College, Eastern Oklahoma State College and Seminole State College, contact Mitchelle Barton in the ECU Academic Advising Center at 580-559-5697.

- # # # -

View the original article here

Read More

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.

- # # # -

View the original article here

Read More

ECU EARNS CERTIFIED HEALTHY CAMPUS STATUS BY OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

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 has been selected as a Certified Healthy Campus by the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

There are three levels of certification: basic, merit and excellence. ECU received merit certification with the help of its new tobacco-free campus policy.

“I’m very proud to be part of a campus which promotes health and wellness,” said Holli Witherington, executive director of East Central University’s Brandon Whitten Institute.

ECU Vice-President for Student Development Dr. Jerry Forbes also serves as the campus’ Tobacco Free Task Force Director.

Six standards make the certification possible including: integration with the learning mission of higher education, collaborative practice, cultural competence, theory based practice, evidence based practice and professional development and service.

- # # # -

View the original article here

Read More