Eastern Michigan University's Pi chapter of the Kappa Delta Pi honor society has been named a 2005 ACE (achieving chapter excellence) Award winner for the third time, and is the only chapter in Michigan to achieve this distinction. The award will be presented at the biennial convocation Nov. 3 in Orlando, Fla.
The EMU chapter, which has 300 students, also won the ACE Award in 1999 and 2003. The award recognizes outstanding service activities, membership programming and society service. To join the honor society, a student must have at least a 3.0 grade point average, major in education and exhibit leadership qualities.
"You just don't get two, and three (ACE Awards) is unbelievable," said EMU chapter adviser Elizabeth Johnson, associate professor of teacher education. "Receiving three awards is rare and it comes out of dynamic student membership and commitment. Certainly, our chapter's fathers (EMU professors Jerry Robbins and Thomas Gwaltney) have nurtured the chapter."
Established in 1995, the award is presented every two years for a chapter's superior achievement in programming, scholarship, promotion of chapter ideals, community outreach, professional and leadership development, and member participation.
The ACE award is given to the top 5 percent of 600 chapters worldwide. It qualifies the EMU chapter for the "ACE of the ACE" award, which will be announced at the November meeting.
Neva Baron, academic adviser in the College of Arts and Sciences, will receive an Outstanding New Adviser Certificate of Merit from the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA).
Baron is one of only eight awardees nationwide in the academic advising, primary role category who will receive the award Oct. 5 during the association's conference in Las Vegas. Baron is a resident of Ann Arbor.
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Baron |
NACADA honors individuals and institutions making significant contributions to the improvement of academic advising. The award is given to individuals who have demonstrated qualities associated with outstanding academic advising of students and who have served as an adviser for a maximum of three years. Nominees are evaluated on interpersonal skills, appropriate referral activity, availability to students and mastery of institutional regulations.
"I am pleased and humbled to receive such recognition at the national level," said Baron. "This honor reflects positively on EMU. Students are our number one priority. We are committed to academic advising as a crucial component of student services."
"We are delighted, but not surprised, that Neva received this award. She consistently goes above and beyond for students," said Laura George, associate dean for EMU's College of Arts and Sciences.
EMU's CrossRoads Marketplace was named one of the "Best of the Best" C-Stores (convenience stores) by the National Association of College and University Food Service (NACUFS). The award, recognizing Crossroads' outstanding marketing and merchandising, was presented July 11 at the NACUFS annual conference in New Orleans.
"We feel very honored to be elected by a national panel for this outstanding marketing and merchandising award from the best of the best," said Anne Klaes, assistant director of dining services. "The manager of CrossRoads Marketplace, Robert Campbell, and his staff submitted their store to be considered for this award and this is the first time that any of the C-stores have won this type of honor."
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Booth |
Howard Booth, professor of biology, recently took home the silver medal in the pole vault at the National Senior Olympics in Pittsburgh, Pa. On June 16, Booth cleared 9 feet to capture second place in the 60-64 age group. Booth plans to compete in five events, including the pole vault, at the upcoming Michigan Senior Olympics in Kalamazoo this month.
Fraya Wagner-Marsh, professor and head of the management department at EMU's College of Business, was named the Ninth Annual Student Chapter Adviser of the Year by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Foundation.
Wagner-Marsh, the first Michigan student adviser selected for this award, received a plaque and $1,000 June 18 at the annual student conference in San Diego, Calif.
"I was thrilled to receive the honor, especially since my students nominated me," said Wagner-Marsh. "I know the high quality of the eight previous winners, so I am honored to be selected."
"She's just the best," said Kate Aken, past student chapter secretary. " Fraya's commitment to students is genuine, and she is a great asset to our chapter's membership."
"She is always willing to take time to help me make decisions and develop suggestions for the future," said nominator Erin Hoffman, SHRM student chapter president.
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Wagner-Marsh |
"Fraya is tireless in her commitment to the SHRM chapter. After her normal workday as department head, she is often meeting and working with students. It's inspiring to see how much she cares for students and the impact she has on them," said Rick Camp, professor in EMU's management department. "This honor brings national recognition to our department's program in human resources."
She was chosen from 430 active student chapter advisers eligible for the award. Judges cited the leadership and inspiration she has provided the student chapter.
The award is based on length of service to the chapter, merit award history, development of student leaders, innovative programs offered, obstacles overcome, involvement with other SHRM activities, percentage of members taking certification exam, percentage of national members and consistency of chapter quality.
Wagner-Marsh has been with EMU since 1982. During her 10 years (1995-2005) as the SHRM adviser, the EMU chapter won the Superior Merit Award every year from SHRM. Under her leadership, student teams in 2003 and 2005 took top state honors and have progressed to regional and national competitions.
The EMU chapter participates annually in the HR Games, a statewide human resources"Jeopardy-style" student competition that pits schools against one another with categories like recruiting, training, job descriptions and benefits. Human resource professionals are the judges for the students who are preparing for their professional human resource certification.
"SHRM allows students to build on their knowledge of the human resource field while helping them develop valuable leadership and organizational skills," she said.
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Branch |
Charles Branch, EMU's head wrestling coach, was recently selected as one of two college coaches to lead a National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Team on a 10-day tour of Beijing, China. The tour ran June 13-22.
Joel Welber,
an Eastern Michigan University associate professor, was recently honored by the Nation's Voice for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) for his three decades of community service to the organization.
The award was presented at a June 13 ceremony at St. Clare's Church in Ann Arbor.
"He has given tirelessly. He has volunteered many hours to NAMI and its causes. He is a great community advocate for mental health rights," said Patricia Doyle, a board member for NAMI of Washtenaw County.
"It's very nice to be appreciated for what you do," said Welber, an attorney.
As a an attorney Welber has helped many families with estate planning for children with mental illness and those with disabilities.
"It sort of evolved when I was an undergraduate and spent some time as a camp counselor for those with retardation," said Welber.
Since then, Welber has been actively involved with NAMI as well as ARC of Michigan and served as counsel to the Washtenaw Association for Community Advocacy.
NAMI is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic and other severe anxiety disorders, autism and pervasive developmental disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and other severe and persistent mental illnesses that affect the brain.
Founded in 1979 as the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, NAMI today works to achieve equitable services and treatment for more than 15 million Americans living with severe mental illnesses and their families.
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Flanagan |
Mike Flanagan, a 1974 EMU alumnus, ’77, has been named Michigan's State Superintendent of Public Schools by the State Board of Education.
Flanagan, who graduated from EMU with a master's degree in education administration, had been the executive director of the Michigan Association of School Administrators since 2001.
He also was the superintendent of Wayne County RESA (1994-2001) and Farmington-Farmington Hills schools (1989-94). Flanagan, 55, is a resident of Delta Township in Lansing.
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Stewart |
State Representative John Stewart (R-District 20), a 1971 EMU graduate, was recently appointed chair of the Michigan Higher Education Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. He also is vice chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee of Appropriations.
Mary Jo Desprez, associate director of health education programs at EMU's University Health Services, was recently profiled in a June 11 Ann Arbor News article. The article focused on Desprez's impact on the local running community, including overseeing registration of the Ann-Arbor Dexter run, which included a record 5,300 runners this year.
Tyler McDannold, a former EMU golfer, won the 2005 Ontario Men's Match Play Championship June 7-10 at the Mark O'Meara Course at Grandview Resort. McDannold, who graduated from EMU in April, finished third at the 2005 Mid-American Conference Golf Championships.
"This was definitely the highlight of my career so far," McDannold said of his Ontario win. "However, I hope it will jump-start me for the summer. I am playing good golf and look forward to more wins in the future."
Claudette Braxton, field coordinator for EMU's School of Social Work, was recently elected to a four-year term on the Willow Run Community School Board. Braxton was elected May 3, 2005, and began her term in July.
Ron Williamson, associate professor of leadership and counseling, gave the keynote address at the Association of British Columbia Middle School Conference in Vancouver April 22. The topic was "Creating and Sustaining High-Performing Middle Schools."
Pam Morgan, an EMU alumnus and first grade teacher at Bird Elementary in Plymouth, was named Teacher of the Year by The Arc of Northwest Wayne County. The Arc is an advocacy organization that works to support the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities.
"Pam is always looking for the benefit of the student and doesn't back down," said Arc Executive Director Christine Lerchen.
"I always tell my students not to use the word 'can't.' Education is a journey you have to take and keep revisiting," Morgan said in a recent Detroit News article. "It's amazing, to see the light go on."
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Cheboiywo
(above left) |
Boaz Cheboiywo, former EMU national cross country and 10,000-meter champion, continues to excel as a runner professionally. This year, he has set outdoor personal records in the 1,500 (3:35.20), 3,000 (7:39.04), two-mile (8:11.62) and 5,000 (13:22.12). He also has competed in the 10,000 meters and the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Former teammate Gavin Thompson, a two-time MAC cross country champion and a third-place finisher in the 2003 national cross country championships, also has found success. Thompson most recently won the British AAA National 10,000-meter championship June 11 in a personal best time of 28:40.58. The win qualifies Thompson for the Commonwealth Games next March in Melbourne, Australia. Earlier this season, Thompson represented England in the World Cross Country Championships.
The Children's Institute recently received accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The NAEYC Academy for Early Childhood Program Accreditation administers a national, voluntary accreditation system to help raise the quality of all types of preschools, kindergartens and childcare centers.
