The Eastern Echo,
Eastern Michigan University's student newspaper, won 19
awards at the recent Michigan Collegiate Press Association
contest.
The Echo took first place awards in non-deadline story,
reviews, original cartoon, and two advertisement categories,
and received third place overall in the general excellence
category and
"This year's awards are a reflection of the level of talent
our team had last year. We were so lucky to have journalists
with so much talent and experience, and the awards individuals
received this year really reflected that," said Sarah Bricker-Hunt,
past editor-in-chief of the Echo. "The general excellence
award is especially meaningful to our team as a whole,
including all the writers, editors, photographers, advertising
staff and graphic design crew."
Michael Greenlee, of Dearborn, won first place in both
non-deadline story and original cartoon.
Ad designer Lisa Dubicki, of Dearborn,
won four awards in the various advertising categories,
including first place in both black-and-white ad more than ½ page
and spot color display ad. She also took third place in
black-and-white ad, less than ½ page and display
ad promotion.
The other first place winner was Drew
Dorian, of Brooklyn,
who won for reviews.
The Echo and Echo staff also won awards in investigative
reporting, editorial, columns, overall newspaper design,
news page design, feature page design, sports page design,
special ad section, and marketing and promotion.
The Eastern Echo is published three times a week from
fall to spring.
Nancy Caine Harbour,
assistant professor and coordinator of EMU's paralegal
program, wrote four chapters in the recently published
second edition of the law firm training manual entitled, "The
Effective Associate Training and Development Program." The
manual, published by the American Bar Association (ABA),
consists of a textbook and CD for use by law firms for
in-house training of their associate attorneys. Caine Harbour,
a Michigan trial lawyer for more than 25 years, wrote two
chapters focusing on communication skills, another chapter
on how law firms can develop their own attorney training
programs using a professional development director, and
a fourth chapter on how to develop civil litigation skills
in new lawyers. The opportunity to contribute was a "once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity," Harbour said.
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Johnston |
Robert Johnston,
a long-time friend of Eastern Michigan University and emeritus
trustee of the EMU Foundation, donated a $100,000 pledge
to EMU. The money will furnish an early education classroom
in memory of his late wife, Gail E. Johnston, who died
Dec. 22, 2005. The classroom, located in Room 223 of the
John W. Porter Building on EMU's campus, was dedicated
at a private reception Friday, Sept. 29. Gail Johnston
taught mentally, physically or
financially challenged children. Robert Johnston retired
in 1994 as vice-chairman of Gerber Products Co., after
a 38-year career with the corporation. He has served as
chair of the EMU Foundation Board of Trustees and was honored
by the EMU Alumni Association with the Dr. John W. Porter
Distinguished Service Award in 2005.
Eastern
Michigan University's chapter of Habitat for Humanity,
known as the Eagle's Nest Project, is partnering with
two chapters from the University of Michigan. EMU's chapter
of the organization, which helps put low-income families
into affordable housing, was contacted by Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley
and asked to join forces to fund a house for a family. The cost to build a Habitat
house is $65,000. EMU raised $21,000, while the two University of Michigan chapters
had accumulated $40,000 total.
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Mills |
Joan Abbey and
Crystal Mills, professors of social work, have
received a $72,700 grant from the Department of Justice
to implement "Weed & Seed
11th Precinct and EMU Collaborative." The program
is designed to help enable a group of repeat-truant youths
at Detroit's Pershing High School achieve the 10th grade. "Truancy
has become a national problem," Abbey said. "Skipping
school, as it used to be called, was, in years past, just
regarded as mischievous behavior. It is now known to be
an early warning sign for delinquency and is negatively
affecting all communities. Combating it, keeping kids in
school all day, every day, is serious business." Recognizing
that many factors cause truancy, Abbey and Mills are employing
a case management approach to the problem. The objective
is to keep kids in school by improving their overall well-being
and increasing academic performance.
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Bombyk |
Marti Bombyk,
professor of social work,
was recently honored as one of six "Women of Distinction" by the
Girl Scouts of Huron Valley. The award is given annually to women who exemplify
excellence in their professional and/or their community service work by giving
of their time and experience to enrich the lives of others. Bombyk has volunteered
for 20 different organizations during the past 30 years. She also is working
on the $3.4 million "GEAR-UP" grant EMU has received from the Department
of Education.
Karen Menke Paciorek,
professor of early childhood education, was recently quoted
in the Ann Arbor News about the trend of replacing recess
with an activity know as Brain Gym. Brain Gym provides
activities designed to get the left and right sides of
the brain working together.
Thomas Gephart,
a Milan High School history teacher, was recently recognized
as the district's Teacher of the Year. Milan High School
Principal Ron Reed presented Gephart with the award Sept.
13 at the Board of Education meeting. Reed pointed to a
number of reasons why he chose Gephart to receive the award.
He credits Gephart with contributing to the rise the school
has seen in student performance on social studies examinations
in the past few years. He also views Gephart's teaching
style as exemplary.
