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Jan. 27, 2009 issue
EMU alumnae participates in inaugural parade

By Heather Hamilton and Ron Podell

 

 

Samantha Giacobozzi, a 2006 graduate of Eastern Michigan University, marched with AmeriCorps in the inaugural parade in Washington, D.C. Jan. 20. She was one of 150 AmeriCorps alumni chosen to represent this national network of civic leaders.

"I am honored to represent this amazing network of AmeriCorps alumni on the national level. It's a great way to promote what we do and show our support of President-Elect Barack Obama," said Giacobozzi. "The parade launches the beginning of a dynamic year for AmeriCorps and I'm thrilled to participate."

Giacobozzi served as a member of Citizen Action AmeriCorps and Michigan Service Scholars. She is currently the programs director for Break Away, a national nonprofit that works to mobilize thousands of college students to do work.

George Liepa

Liepa

George Liepa, a professor of dietetics and human nutrition in EMU's School of Health Sciences, has been awarded the American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) Award of Merit. He will receive his award at the 100th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo in Orlando, Fla., in May.

"I am honored. They only give it to one person per year," Liepa said. "I'm pleased to be recognized in this way for my contributions to the society."

A 30-year member of the AOCS, Liepa previously served on their governing board for many years. The AOCS Award of Merit recognizes a member who has provided active, productive and meritorious service to AOCS committee work; shown leadership in technical, administrative or special committees; or performed an outstanding activity or service that has particularly advanced the society's prestige, standing or interest.

The AOCS is a professional, scientific society for all individuals and corporations with an interest in the fats, oils, surfactants and detergents. The AOCS consists of more than 4,000 members in 90 countries.

Thirteen students from Eastern Michigan University's American Humanics (AH) program participated in the American Humanics Management/Leadership Institute (AHMI) Jan. 4-7, in Indianapolis, Ind. More than 1,000 AH students, alumni, faculty, nonprofit executives and volunteers attended this educational symposium.

Laura Schultz, EMU's interim AH campus executive/director, and Jenny Sawtelle, a graduate assistant, accompanied the EMU students. Students that attended include Mona Awad, Christine Baker, Roy Blakely, Jessica Clay, Sydney Henry, Erin Kelly, Alison Kilduff, Sudani Knowles, Courtney Mahony, Erica McCullough, Kimberly Parks, Evelyn Shulan and Ericka Wilson.

The Institute provides AH students a unique opportunity to network with nonprofit executives, participate in case studies and attend workshops led by experts in nonprofit studies. American Humanics is a national alliance of colleges, universities and nonprofits dedicated to preparing the next generation of nonprofit sector leaders.

Katie Zundel

Zundel

Katie Zundel, an EMU senior from Utica, Mich., was recently named to the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA) All-Great Lakes Region Third Team.

Zundel started all 80 games throughout her four-year career. She racked up 21 points from the backfield, scoring seven career goals and making seven assists. Zundel has been an integral part of the defensive backfield for EMU.

She was a member of the Mid-American Conference All-Freshman Team in 2005, a first team All-MAC selection in 2007 and 2008, as well as a two-time Academic All-MAC honoree.

The NSCAA is the largest coaches' organization in the United States. It offers a national ranking program for colleges and high schools, and an extensive recognition program that presents nearly 10,000 individual awards every year.

Stephen Bradshaw

Bradshaw

Stephen Bradshaw, an Eastern Michigan University baseball player, was recently profiled on "The Real Winning Edge" television series, which aired nationwide, including on WXYZ Channel 7 in Detroit and WYSM FOX 47 in Lansing. Luis Pujols, an all-star third baseman with the St. Louis Cardinals, introduced the episode that focused on Bradshaw's inspirational story of excelling in spite of alcohol abuse in his family.

Eastern Michigan University's School of Social Work was well represented at the recent Poverty Summit in Cobo Hall Nov. 13, 2008. Approximately 250 students and 20 faculty and staff from the School of Social Work attended the event, sponsored by the Michigan Department of Human Services. The group joined approximately 5,000 other Michigan residents. The summit was designed to discuss the causes, consequences and solutions to poverty in Michigan, and launch Voices for Action Network, which will develop strategies to reduce poverty in the state.

"The next steps are to implement some of the plans that came out of the various regional meetings. Our students will continue to be involved through the efforts of the agencies in which they are doing their field placements," said Marjorie Ziefert, director of EMU's School of Social Work. "Agencies are taking on various issue areas such as housing, hunger, employment, meeting the needs of returning citizens from prison, and health. Our students at both the BSW- and MSW-level intern in the agencies involved, and are being asigned as a part of thier placements to work on communitywide efforts to impact poverty."

T.J. Lang

Lang

T.J. Lang, a senior offensive tackle on EMU's football team, has been selected to play in the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game Saturday, Jan. 31, at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas. The game, sponsored by Western Refining, pits the top college players, originally from the state of Texas or who played college football at a Division I-A university in Texas against top Division I-A players from the rest of the country. The game will be televised by CBS College Sports. During his career, Lang played in 47 games for the Eagles, 36 of which he started as offensive tackle and one as a defensive tackle. He earned the Harold E. Sponberg Award, given annually to the top down lineman scholar-athlete, in 2008.