Peggy Harless, assistant
director of EMU's Diversity and Community Involvement,
will head up a collaboration between EMU and Ypsilanti
Parkridge Community Center that focuses on youth empowerment.
A $30,000 grant from The McGregor Fund through Michigan
Campus Compact is supporting a broad-span community collaborative
to assist young people from the community center.
 |
Harless |
"The programs we're implementing focus on youth development
and empowerment, mentoring, and encouragement to consider
college as a viable future option," Harless said. "We'll
assist with new programming at Parkridge and, at the same
time develop new or enhanced service-learning courses here
at EMU for our students, some of whom will be acting as
mentors for these area youth.
Parkridge Center serves the needs of more than 60 young
people living in the subsidized housing complexes on the
south side of Ypsilanti," Harless said.
The collaboration will offer programming that will improve
lifestyle choices; provide opportunities for exposure to
college for the area's disadvantaged youth; de-mystify
the process of college application and admission; and challenge
the youth to seriously consider college. Other services
include information about resources within the community,
tutoring and academic support, nutrition, personal hygiene
and development of similar life skills. EMU students will
benefit from increased opportunities to develop mentoring
skills and from knowing that they are serving a worthy
cause.
"Our students will gain new experiences by becoming involved
in the community, increasing civic engagement and raising
retention rates," Harless said.
Other community partners include Growing Hope, Ozone House
and the Washtenaw Community College Harriet Street Center.
Kay Woodiel, director of Diversity and Community Development,
and Kathleen Stacey, director of the Office of Academic
Service-Learning, also are involved.
Eastern Michigan University was
named to the second annual President's Higher Education
Community Service Honor Roll Feb. 11. This distinction
recognizes students, faculty, staff and alumni for helping
to build a culture of service and civic engagement in the
United States. In its second year, 528 colleges and universities were named
to the honor roll.
Launched in 2006, the President's Honor Roll recognizes
institutions of higher education that support innovative,
effective, and exemplary community service programs. Honorees
for the various award levels, including the Presidential
Award, were selected based on a series of factors, including
scope and innovation of service projects, percentage of
student participation in service activities, incentives
for service, and the extent to which the school offers
service-learning courses.
"There is no question that the universities and colleges
who have made an effort to participate and win the Honor
Roll award are themselves being rewarded today," said David
Ward, president of the American Council on Education. "Earning
this distinction is not easy. But now each of these schools
will be able to wear this award like a badge of honor."
Sandi Nielsen, director
of the Professional Education Center at EMU's College of
Business, was named to the 2008 Board of Examiners for
the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award. The award,
created by law in 1987, is the highest level of national
recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization
can receive.
James M. Turner, acting director of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced Nielsen's
appointment June 4.
As an examiner, Nielsen will be responsible for reviewing
and evaluating applications submitted for the award. The
board is composed of approximately 500 leading experts
selected from industry, professor and trade organizations,
education and health care, and government.
The award program is managed by NIST, a program of the
Commerce Department's Technology Administration, in close
cooperation with theprivate sector. The American Society
fo Quaity (ASQ), located in Milwaukee, Wisc., administers
the program. Awards may be given annually in each of six
categories: manufacturing, service, small business, education,
health care and nonprofit.
Eastern Michigan's Professional Education Center provides
customized technical and leadership training programs to
help businesses and individuals meet challenges, and build
technical and leadership skills.
 |
Bunsis |
Howard Bunsis,
an EMU accounting professor and president of EMU's chapter
of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP),
was recently elected secretary-treasurer of the AAUP's
National Council. Bunsis received 4,445 votes to his opponent's
1,516. Council members serve three-year terms. Members
were elected from 10 geographical districts representing
colleges and universities in the United States, Canada,
Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The 40-member
council meets twice a year to determine AAUP policy.
 |
Podell |
Ron Podell,
assistant manager of news services in the Office of Marketing and Communications,
received an honorable mention for his script, "Pulp Science Fiction," in the
thriller/horror category of the Screenplay Festival. A grand prize winner and
five honorable mentions were named in each of five categories. For his efforts,
Podell will receive a framed certificate and his script will be made available
for review to production companies, agents and managers who are sponsors of
the Screenplay Festival. His script also was recently named a quarterfinalist
in the StoryPros competition.
Daniel Holtzclaw,
a senior middle linebacker on EMU's football team, has
been named to two preseason watch lists. The Football Writers
Association of America placed Holtzclaw on the list for
the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded to the best
defensive player in college football and sponsored by the
Charlotte Touchdown Club. The Bronco Nagurski Trophy has
been presented since 1993 and is awarded in memory of the
legendary Nagurski, a former All-American lineman at the
University of Minnesota from 1927-29 and a star for the
Chicago Bears in the NFL during the 1930s.
 |
Holtzclaw |
He also was named to the Rotary Lombardi Award preliminary
watch list earlier this spring. The Rotary Lombardi Award
is presented by Wachovia and awarded annually to the most
outstanding defensive down lineman or other defensive players
who play within five yards of the line of scrimmage. The
players named to this year's preliminary watch list earned
All-American honors last year or were named first-team
All-League in their respective conferences.
The 6-foot-1, 246-pound Holtzclaw has started all 35 games
at middle linebacker during his three-year EMU career.
He has accumulated 330 tackles in three seasons, good for
10th on the EMU career tackles list. He was a freshman
All-American in 2005 and a first-team All-Mid-American
Conference selection in 2007. Last year, he finished third
in the MAC and tied for 21st in the nation with his 125
tackles.
Steve Bradshaw,
a senior first baseman on EMU's baseball team, was named
to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA (College of Sports
Information Directors of America) Academic All-District
IV Baseball Second Team, the organization announced May
9. Bradshaw graduated in April with a 3.37 GPA, majoring
in construction management. This season, he leads the Eagles
in nearly every major offensive category. For the third
consecutive season, Bradshaw leads the team in batting
average, hitting .389 through 47 games this year.
 |
THREE EARN HONORS: (above,
from left)
Ashley Strauss and
Jenny Scherer were named to
the All-Mid-American
Conference softball team while
Stacie Skodinski made the All-
MAC Freshmen Team. |
Ashley Strauss, Jenny
Scherer and Stacie Skodinski,
members of EMU's women's softball team, recently earned
All-Mid-American Conference honors. Strauss, a senior
first baseman, was named All-MAC. She led the league
in batting average in both overall games (.388) and
MAC games (.518). She ends her EMU career with 41 doubles,
third on the all-time list. Her career batting average
of .318 and fielding percentage of .986 ties her for
second-best in EMU history. Scherer,
a sophomore outfielder, also was named All-MAC. She hit
11 home runs this season, tying her for the most in
the conference. Her .312 batting average is the team's
second highest. She led the Eagles in slugging percentage
(.630), runs scored (30), RBIs (20), home runs (11)
and total bases (87) this season. Stacie Skodinski,
a freshman shortstop, was named to the All-MAC Freshman
team. She started all 45 games this season at shortstop.
She hit .264 overall, with nine doubles, two triples
and three home runs. Skodinski had nine multi-hit games
this season, good for third on the team, while compiling
three games with multiple RBIs. Strauss and and Scherer
were later named to the Academic All-MAC Team. Strauss,
an art/graphic design major, carries a 3.42 GPA while
Scherer, an accounting major, has a 3.63 GPA.
Del Young,
an EMU assistant baseball coach, was recently crowned champion
of the first-ever Coaches Fungo Challenge at the Mid-American
Conference Tournament. A coach from each tournament team
participated in the challenge during pre-tournament festivities
in Chillicothe, Ohio. Fungo is a fielding practice concept
in which a coach tosses the ball up and hits it with a
long, thin, light bat to specific spots on the field. Coaches
had six attempts each to hit a fungo through posts set
up in left and right field.
"It was a great event to participate in," Young said. "I
am thrilled that, with the win, Eastern Michigan University
will receive $500 toward its general scholarship fund."
 |
Fleet |
Stephany Fleet, a junior
on EMU's women's golf team, was named Academic All-Mid-American
Conference and to the All-MAC Second Team for her efforts
this year. Fleet boasts a 3.79 GPA in marketing and this
is her second consecutive selection to the Academic All-MAC
team. She has finished in the top 20 in seven events and
placed in the top five four different times. One of the
best golfers in school history, Fleet has recorded nine
top-five showings in her career and 22 top-20 finishes
for an all-time record of 1,764-516. Fleet maintains the
second lowest career scoring average, at 77.3, in program
history.
Josh Ivan, a senior
second baseman on EMU's baseball team, was voted to the
All-MAC First Team. At the time of the announcement, Ivan
was batting .335 through 51 games this season. He currently
ranks third on the team in hits (62); second in triples
(2); second in home runs (6); and fourth in RBIs (39).
Matt Shoemaker, a junior
pitcher on EMU's baseball team, was elected to the All-MAC
Second Team for the second straight season. At the time
of the announcement, he tied for the team highest in wins
with four for the year. Shoemaker leads the Eagles in ERA
(4.58); ranks second in strikeouts (36); and second in
innings pitched (72.2). He was voted MAC West Division
Pitcher of the Week following his performance against the
Chippewas in the season-ending series.
Jake Boss Jr., EMU's
first-year head baseball coach, was named MAC Coach of
the Year. In his first year as head coach at EMU, he guided
his team to the West Division MAC title, where they were
15-8 in conference play and 25-32 overall during the regular
season. Boss returned to the Eagles after a three-year
stint as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan,
where he helped the Wolverines to win back-to-back Big
Ten titles. Before his time at the University of Michigan,
Boss spent seven years as an assistant at EMU.
 |
Frankowski |
Vanessa Frankowski, a
senior on EMU's women's tennis team, has been named to
the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Women's
At-Large Second Team, the College of Sports Information
Directors of America announced May 22. An international
business student with a 3.83 GPA, she earned the honor
for the first time in her career after being named to the
Academic All-MAC team earlier in May. She ended the year
on a seven-match winning streak, including winning nine
of her last 10 matches. Frankowski was a three-time MAC
Player of the Week during 2008.
Don Ellison, a junior
on the EMU men's swimming team, was named to the 2008
ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV At-Large First
Team. Ellison carries a 3.98 GPA as a physics major. He
helped lead the Eagles to their second consecutive and
27th overall MAC title this past season. He was elected
MAC Swimmer of the Week once this season. He won three
events to help EMU defeat Miami University and accomplish
a historic feat.
Charlie Pienaar, a
senior on EMU's wrestling team, was named to the 2008
ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV At-Large Second
Team. He carries a 3.84 GPA as a physical education student.
He is currently working toward a master's degree in sports
management. Pienaar finished the regular season with a
second-place finish at the MAC Championship, receiving
an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. He posted a 22-8
overall record, which included a 12-match winning streak.
He also posted perfect records at three competitions during
the regular season.
 |
SMOOTH SWING: Graham Hill,
a senior on EMU's men's golf
team,
was recently named to
the Academic All-MAC Team. |
Graham Hill, a senior
on EMU's men's golf team, was named Academic All-MAC, the
conference announced May 28. He also was named to the All-MAC
First Team for his efforts this year. Hill has a solid
3.66 GPA in finance and has earned his second consecutive
selection to the Academic All-MAC team. As one of the best
golfers in EMU's history, Hill played in 110 career rounds
with an average of 73.2 strokes per round. His career average
of 73.2 is the lowest for any EMU golfer in recent history
and the fourth lowest in the MAC.
Sarah Allison, a senior
on the EMU women's rowing team, was named to the second-team
All-Central team, when the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association
(CRCA) announced the All-Region teams. This award recognizes
outstanding performances of rowers from each of the five
Division I regions. Allison holds the team's second-fastest
ergometer time this season and participated in all of the
competitions.
"She has helped this team grow in a positive direction
through all of our recent setbacks and circumstances. If
it weren't for Sarah's leadership during the past several
years, this program might not be looking towards such an
optimistic future," said Brad Holdren, EMU's head women's
rowing coach.
 |
MIDEAST BEST: (above, from left) Eric
Alejandro, Josh Karanja and Xavier Clais
— all
members of EMU's men's track and
field team — were
recently named to the
U.S. Track and Field/Cross
Country
Coaches Association All-Mideast Team. |
Three members of EMU's men's track team,
by virtue of their performances at the NCAA Regionals in
May 29-30 at University of Arkansas -- were named to
the U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association
(USTFCCCA) All-Mideast Region team. Senior Eric
Alejandro was
elected to the 400-meter hurdles team after finishing second
in 50.51 seconds. Alejandro advances to the NCAA Championships.
Junior Josh Karanja was selected to the
3,00-meter steeplechase team after finishing seventh in
9:00.46. Sophomore Xavier Clais finished
fifth in the high jump team with a leap of 6-9, but lost
a bid to nationals after losing a five-way jump-off. To
be named to the team, a student-athlete must finish in
the top-eight in their respective event at the NCAA Regionals
and the student-athlete's institution must be a current
paid member of USTFCCCA.
Eastern Michigan University rowers
Heather Anderson, Maria Clary, Kate
Dirks, Jackie Domin, Kristen Dunkin, Beth Logsdon, Noel
McAuliffe, Becky Ohnmeiss and Alex Stoddart were
all named scholar-athletes by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches
Association. All nine earned the honor for the first time
in their careers. Scholar-athletes must be in their second,
third or fourth year of eligibility; row in 75 percent
of the current spring races or at the regional conference
championship; and have a cumulative 3.5 GPA.
Eastern Michigan University's
baseball team recently announced the winners of their team awards for the 2008
season. Senior Steve Bradshaw was named most valuable player. Junior
Sean Hoffman won the most valuable pitcher award. Freshman
Zack Leonard won the newcomer of the year award. Freshman
Jake Stapf was the recipient of the most improved player
award. Senior Dan Puls won the scholar athlete award. Juniors
Kyle Rhoad and Hoffman were elected co-captains of the
2009 team.
