Smith named interim president

by Doug Williams

Smith

Dr. R. Eugene Smith has been named interim president at MTSU, announced Dr. Charles Manning, chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents, Aug. 25.

Smith, an MTSU alumnus, has served as the vice president for Business and Finance at The University of Memphis since 1971. He has a unique blend of outstanding administrative leadership and knowledge of MTSU and the TBR system that will enable him to maintain the forward momentum of the university, Manning said.

"Gene Smith is an outstanding leader who has served the TBR well for almost 40 years," Manning said. "He was born in Middle Tennessee, is a Distinguished Alumnus of MTSU, and knows the region well.

"We have been very impressed with the leadership of Dr. (James E.) Walker and the direction that MTSU has been traveling during the last decade. We want to maintain that momentum, and Gene Smith is the best person to do just that.

"The leadership team at MTSU is strong and capable, and Gene will work well with this team to keep the university moving during this interim period," the chancellor added.

Smith will work closely with President Walker until Walker leaves MTSU on Oct. 1, Manning said. Smith will remain interim president for approximately one year.

Born in Walter Hill in Rutherford County to the late Nora and Eugene Smith, Smith attended elementary and high school in Lebanon. A 1957 graduate of MTSU, he was awarded the university's Distinguished Alumnus Award for Professional Achievement in 1997.

Highly respected for his business acumen, Smith has had tremendous influence among his business and financial peers in the academic world. He is the only Tennessean ever to be elected president of both the Southern and National Association of College and University Business Officers.

Smith also received the National Association of College and University Business Officers Distinguished Business Officer Award in 1994 and the University of Memphis Society Educator of the Year Award in 1999.

Smith has a doctor of philosophy degree from the University of Mississippi (1979) and a master of arts from Memphis State University (1966). He is married to Anne Clement Smith of Paris, Tenn., and has three children--Danny, David, and Genie Ann.

The Record, September 4, 2000, V9.05

The Record, September 4, 2000, V9.05

$2 million gift for Honors College inspires big plans

by Tom Tozer

		Paul Martin			Lee martin

It's just "a walk across the street" for Paul and Lee Martin. But their $2 million matching gift is a giant leap into the future for MTSU and its new Honors College--the only Honors College at a public university in the state.

Their gift, the second largest ever given to the university, will launch a new fund-raising campaign at MTSU to build a permanent home for the university's Honors College, a tribute to the memory of Paul W. Martin Sr., Paul and Lee's father.

The Martins will be honored at a special invitation-only reception 5-7 p.m. Sept.14, in the south lobby of the Business/Aerospace Building. Special invitations have been sent to Honors College faculty and students, but all faculty and administrators are welcomed to attend.

The gift, however, is much more than a monument to someone who has passed on, Paul Martin noted.

"We hope it will be an inspiration to those who are living to find an environment in which they can discover their own combination of education, morality, and community involvement," he said, referring to the three pillars of wisdom that emerge from Middle East culture. "Those who will improve our society are the people who have the desire to improve themselves, to exceed even their own personal expectations--that's really the motivation behind this gift."

A stipulation is that the university must match the $2 million.

"If the honors program is of real value to the university, then the match won't be a problem," Paul said.

"We're excited about the permanence of this opportunity to make a difference," brother Lee echoed. "The thing to me that I don't think MTSU realizes is that it has grown rapidly, and it is a major university. It's time to start thinking like a major university."

That "walk across the street" refers to the fact that the Martin brothers grew up in a little duplex across Tennessee Boulevard from MTSU. They played tennis on the MTSU tennis courts and often listened to music coming from the music buildings. Years later, Paul decided to enroll at the university that seemed almost like home to him, and in 1975--just two years and one semester later--was the first-ever graduate of MTSU's honors program.

"I found that the education stood me in good stead," he said. "It was as high quality as I could have gotten anywhere. I went to Sewanee Military Academy for high school and found the same level of instruction inside MTSU's honors program. ... It was focused on the student with an emphasis on critical thinking."?

Paul is No. 2 man at Professional Project Services, better known as Pro2Serve, headquartered in Oak Ridge and set up to provide project solutions in three areas--technical recruiting, business solutions, and technical solutions. He earned a law degree while working in international banking with Jerre Haskew, husband of Dr. Barbara Haskew, MTSU provost. In between his international banking stint and his current position as chief financial officer of Pro2Serve, Paul was involved with five public companies, serving in various positions including chairman of the board and chief executive officer. Now he says he's itching to retire.

In addition to his business side, Paul is also a president emeritus of the Florida Holocaust Museum and co-founder of the Kentucky Gift of Life, a program through Rotary International that brings children from around the world to Louisville for heart surgery. Paul brought together the heart group, Rotary, and Humana to initiate that effort. ?

He also helped his brother when Lee started TeleRobotics International Inc. (now known as iPIX), which specialized in remote-handling methods for hazardous environments. One of the company's major contributions was the development of a remote camera that was so innovative that it attracted major investments from the likes of Motorola and the Discovery Channel.

Lee earned an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at UT-Knoxville, then his master's at Purdue. He returned to Tennessee and took night classes for his Ph.D. degree while working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Today, Lee is executive director of TennesSeed, formally known as the Tennessee Technology Development Corp., which was established by the General Assembly in 1997. In January 1999, TennesSeed began its East Tennessee operations, its mission being to help launch technology-related business ventures in the state.

The influence of their father on both men is profound. Lee tells the story of asking his father on his deathbed what made his professional life worthwhile. Paul Sr. told him to drive to a ridge outside of town and "you'll figure it out."

Lee was clueless. "Dad said, 'Just sit there and in a few minutes you'll see a light come on, then another, then another.' He told me that made all the difference for him. I said, 'What do you mean?' He said, 'I realize that through my efforts and the efforts of my team, I touch people who I will never meet.'"

Shortly after that conversation with his father, Lee left ORNL to start his company because "I didn't want all my ideas to die behind a fence."

Paul remembers when his dad helped to build what was then Stones River Country Club.

"The whole community got together, and everyone went out there with tractors and caterpillars and wood and nails and electrical wire and built it!" Paul recalled. "My father wired parts of the old clubhouse. They got their hands dirty. That was the spirit of community involvement--the willingness to make a difference." They succeeded because they were family-oriented people who changed society based on their deep sense of morality, he added.

"They were very close to their father," echoed Murray (Burke '75) Martin, Paul's wife, who said she met Paul while she was building a set for a theater production. "He had just gotten out of the Navy and was starting college and was trying to meet people. ?

"Both boys were aware that their mother never went to college and their father never finished and that the key was education," she continued. "Their dad always encouraged them to get the best education they could and go as far as they could go ... because he didn't get to. But they thought so much of what he had accomplished. He worked hard all his life and instilled the work ethic."

Regarding their $2 million gift, Paul makes it clear that once the matching dollars are found, "I want them to make this their building, not ours. This will not be something we gave so much as it will be something they earned. In that way, the gift will be more valuable and useful than if we had just written a check."

The Martin brothers call their gift one of "educational renewal and educational commitment," in recognition of the honors program.

"It's a wonderful program, and I'm very proud," Paul said. "It has blossomed under Dr. [James E.] Walker's leadership and Dr. [John Paul] Montgomery's dedication."

"We are eternally grateful to Paul and Lee Martin for their generous gift of $2 million to kick off the campaign to build a permanent home for the Honors College at Middle Tennessee State University," Walker responded. "I do not use the words 'eternally' or 'home' loosely. I believe that when you invest in something as worthwhile as an honors program and the students it attracts, you are investing in their futures and the futures of all those who will be touched by their imagination, skills, and accomplishments. I believe also that an Honors College provides a home away from home where high-ability students can flourish in a true 'family' atmosphere."

Provost Haskew said the Martin gift is a celebration of Paul and Lee's academic successes and their real-world successes.

"It is just delightful to have that sort of connection with individuals who are going to help us build a building for what I would say is the core of our emphasis on quality, which is our honors program and Honors College." Haskew added that the new building will be a magnet to the best and brightest students in the region.

Dean Montgomery describes the Martin gift as "the key to our completely outstripping all the other schools. The Honors College offers special skills. We've graduated over 130 superstars who have gone out and opened doors for the ones who have followed them. ... That "H" designation on their transcript signifying that they graduated from university Honors really means something [an idea first suggested by Paul Martin]. We are indebted to the Martins and their families."

"The generosity of the Martin family exemplifies the very best of what every educational institution desires," noted Dr. Linda P. Hare, vice president, Development and University Relations. "It sends a wonderful message to alumni about alumni who feel strongly enough about the institution and its programs to make a significant investment in its future."

Dr. June McCash, professor, Foreign Languages and Literatures, and founding director of the honors program, established in 1973, remembers what the small honors classes and the personalized attention from faculty meant to Paul.

"He understood the value of the education he received, and he has always tried to give something back. I'm very proud of Paul and all that he has accomplished. His challenge gift to the university bespeaks the value he places on his honors education at MTSU."

Paul graduated right before Dr. Ron Messier became honors director, following McCash in that role. However, they became good friends when Paul moved to Florida. When Messier visited his sister in St. Petersburg, he would also visit Paul.

"I would describe Paul as very outgoing, dynamic, and a self-made entrepreneur," Messier said. "I think he worked hard and had a lot of imagination."

Paul says he is looking forward to the Sept. 14 celebration at MTSU because his mother, Kathleen Lee Simmons, who is now remarried "to a great fellow, Gene Simmons," and lives in Houston, Texas, plans to attend.

"I like to help people help themselves," Paul summed up. "Our gift is a kind of logical extension of that effort. It's not about me or my brother. It's about helping people--improving the world."

Or as the old man would have put it--reaching out and touching the lives of countless people you'll never meet.

The Record, September 4, 2000, V9.05

Let's hear it for the heroes who make all this possible

Adjuncts and graduate teaching assistants keep MTSU moving

For the Record

by Barbara Gray, HPERS

Do you hear that sound? Yes, it is the sound of our hands clapping in the Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Safety Department (HPERS)!

All of us are applauding our adjuncts and graduate teaching assistants for the great job they do in helping us to keep things going over here. Whatever would all of our departments do if we were without the services of these wonderful people?

There are about 275 adjuncts and 300 graduate teaching assistants, or GTAs, throughout campus. The HPERS department employs approximately 32 adjuncts and 28 GTAs each semester.

Our GTAs have very busy schedules, trying to obtain their graduate degrees as well as keeping their teaching schedules going for us. Still, they continue to give us a great effort and tirelessly keep going and giving us their very best.

In spite of the fact that all of our department's 28 graduate teaching assistants are basically sharing only two offices and two phone lines, we never hear any of them complain about the cramped office space. As a matter of fact, we never hear them complain about anything! They just keep doing an excellent job day after day. (Way to go, GTAs!)

And then, of course, there are our adjuncts, many of whom are retired and help us out in their spare time. But we also have many who have full-time jobs and teach for us as their second job. They, too, seem tireless in their efforts to help us in this department, and they are so very dedicated and conscientious. Some of our adjunct instructors, in fact, have been working for our department and students for more than 15 years.

In short, we could not function without them. Most of them even work here without office space or an on-campus phone. But again, never do we hear them complain about anything. They, like our GTAs, just keep doing a great job for us each day. (Way to go, adjuncts!)

And as long as I am recognizing those who do their jobs each day with little or no acknowledgment for a job well done, I would like to stand up and applaud all of our support staff throughout campus, too. Even though I am a part of this elite group, I think it's time for all of the support crew to get a big pat on the back as well. I think that everyone is aware of the fact that if it were not for the support staff across campus, things would not flow quite so smoothly. So before I break my arm patting myself on the back, I would like to encourage others to also extend their thanks to all of the support staff across campus, too. (I know I am personally applauding all of you for the great job you all do for this university.)

So, if you have graduate teaching assistants and adjuncts in your department, please put a copy of this article in their boxes.

Without the services of these two groups of wonderful people, our campus would not be able to continue forward. They are all conscientious and professional individuals who give all of our departments 100 percent.

And, yes, I DO hear that sound! It is the sound of hands clapping across campus in appreciation of our graduate teaching assistants and adjuncts! A great big THANK YOU from ALL of us!

Barbara Gray is a publications assistant in the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Safety. Do you have something to say "For the Record?" Submit column ideas to Mike Reed at mreed@mtsu.edu

The Record, September 4, 2000, V9.05

WAY TO GO: Shown here are the five faculty members who received the Outstanding Teacher Award at the recent fall convocation. They are, from left, Dr. Kevin Smith, associate professor, Sociology and Anthropology; Dr. Jette Halladay, associate professor, Speech and Theatre; Dr. Stephen Krau, associate professor, School of Nursing; Dr. Cindi Smith-Walters, associate professor, Biology; and Dr. Ron Moser, professor, Management and Marketing. Each honoree received a check for $3,000, presented by Tommy Campbell, president of the MTSU Foundation, sponsor of the annual awards.

MTSU celebrates Founder's Day Sept. 11

by Doug Williams

Members of the MTSU community will celebrate Founders Day, the university's 89th birthday, with a variety of activities including a special ring ceremony Monday, Sept. 11.

"Ringing in a Tradition" is the theme of this year's celebration, which will feature the introduction of a new, official class ring. The Founders Day ceremony will last 9-11 a.m., and include a breakfast buffet and an exhibit of photographs and other artifacts courtesy of MTSU's Photographic Services and The Gore Center, as well as several MTSU graduates and local businesses.

"Founder's Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate MTSU's rich traditions," said President James E. Walker. "MTSU has changed a great deal in the past 89 years. We have become a major university with the latest in educational technology and in state-of-the-art facilities like our University Library.

"But the one thing that remains the same, is the enthusiasm and dedication of the many supporters who make this university great."

The new class ring will be unveiled at approximately 9:30 a.m., immediately following the welcome by Dr. Walker. John Marshall, president of the SGA, will join Dr. Walker in the ring presentation. The official ring was designed by Josten's and is available only through the Campus Bookstore.

In addition to the new ring, there will be a display of university rings from past decades, including a 1941 class ring. Other university artifacts will include historical publications and dance cards that were used by former MTSU students. The photographs and artifacts will be on display in the Alumni Center until Saturday, Sept. 16 which is also the date of the first home football game.

"The ring ceremony will add a special touch to this year's celebration," said Susan Grear, coordinator of the event. "And people always have a good time looking at the photographs and artifacts.

"I think they will enjoy seeing the old dance cards with the students' names, next to the songs of that era. We have also arranged to have pianist William Richardson playing music of that period."

Visitors to campus are welcome to park in the areas along Tennessee Boulevard if open spaces are available; however, there should be ample parking in the Tennessee Livestock Center lot off Greenland Drive. A blue-route Raider Xpress shuttle bus will run every 5-10 minutes from that lot to Kirksey Old Main, which is adjacent to the Alumni Center.

The Record, September 4, 2000, V9.05

The story of the ring

Since early last century, students have come to MTSU seeking preparation for their lives. Programs have changed as the world has changed, but a desire to give each individual a strong foundation has remained constant. The Old Main column on this official MTSU ring symbolizes the strength of dedication to learning and foundation in tradition that is part of Middle Tennessee.

Through your efforts, you have earned the right to wear this ring. Do so with pride as you remember the historic campus and treasure the unique experiences that are part of Middle Tennessee.

Congratulations! You are forever part of the MTSU legacy.

The Record, September 4, 2000, V9.05

MTSU President's Ball courts rich heritage

Foundation founders saw need for private dollars

	Cope		Pittard		Wood		Stegall		Beasley

by Tom Tozer

It all began with a $40,000 gift from Randolph C. Wood to The Middle Tennessee State College Loan, Scholarship, and Development Foundation. The charter required approval by the Secretary of State after it was signed by founders Wood, Quill E. Cope, Nathaniel Craig Beasley, Homer Pittard, and Whitney Stegall.

On Dec. 31, 1961, The Middle Tennessee State Foundation was incorporated. That same year, Wood was named a "Distinguished Alumnus."

This year's MTSU Foundation's President's Ball, which will be held Sept. 30 at The Country Club at Stones River, will pay special tribute to the five visionaries who laid the groundwork for the MTSU Foundation. The proceeds of the Ball will provide support for the MTSU Presidential Scholarship Program, ensuring that MTSU will continue to attract the best and brightest young men and women.

The idea for attracting private dollars to Middle Tennessee State College may have been planted when Randy's Record Shop in Gallatin became the world's largest mail-order record business, and Wood began to send money back to Middle Tennessee State College to help other struggling, deserving students. As Wood's business flourished, he added a recording company called Dot Record Company. And he never forgot his Tennessee roots.

Wood was born in Morrison, Tenn. A 1941 graduate of State Teachers College, Wood served as a trustee of both George Peabody College in Nashville and the president's board at Pepperdine University. While living in Gallatin, he was active in the Shrine Club and served as president of both the Lion's Club and Jr. Chamber of Commerce. After moving to California, he became president of a recording club in Hollywood, and, after selling his record company, took over as vice president of Paramount Pictures. In 1960, he was named to Who's Who in America. Wood and his wife, Lois, still maintain their Gallatin residence, even though they reside on the West Coast near their children, Linda, Larry, and John. Although he has retired from the music business, Wood is still a director of Nashville's Country Music Association.

"I always got a thrill out of helping causes that I thought were good," he once said.

It took a lot of courage to draft a charter for a foundation, Stegall commented, regarding those early years. No regional university had ever been granted such a charter, and it was not authorized by statute (until 1965).

"If [Quill Cope] had said no, it would have been dead right there," Stegall noted.

Cope became the fourth president of then-Middle Tennessee State College in 1958, after serving as State Commissioner of Education from 1952 to 1958. He was born in White County, Tenn. He received his B.S. degree from Tennessee Technological University and master's degree from George Peabody College. He served as principal of White County High School and later as superintendent of the system. He earned his doctorate degree from New York University and returned to teaching at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. It has been said that, as president of MTSC, Cope interviewed virtually every faculty and staff member in order to get to know them. Colleagues called him "dedicated and prophetic." Cope and his wife, Mary Kate, had two sons, John and James. He passed away in 1968.

If it was Cope's vision, it was Beasley's insight and leadership that brought the foundation to fruition, Stegall said, adding that Beasley made sure that any money that came through the Foundation was earmarked properly. Having earned his B.S. and M.A. degrees from George Peabody College, Beasley served for one year as principal of Strong High School in Mississippi and three years as assistant principal at Giles County High School. After a stint in the U.S. Army, he became chief clerk in the Tennessee State Department of Education. He arrived as dean-registrar at Middle Tennessee State Teachers College in 1927. In 1946, he became academic dean at MTSC, and, in 1956, took over as dean of admissions. Beasley served the school for 34 years under three presidents and retired from full-time duty in 1961.

"Under his direction the registrar's office assumed dignity and importance," according to Pittard in his book The First Fifty Years, a history of Middle Tennessee State College. Pittard was the wordsmith in the group and helped shape the fledgling Foundation's organizational materials, Stegall recalled. "He had a brilliant mind."

Pittard was born in Rutherford County. During his senior year at Central High School, he won a football scholarship at Columbia (Tenn.) Military Academy. He graduated from there in 1929 and pursued his college education at State Teachers College. Following graduation in 1936, after playing football for four years (team captain his senior year), he became principal at McFadden School in Murfreesboro. He earned his master's and doctorate degrees from George Peabody College and later served as principal of Central High School. The following 20 years until his retirement he served as an assistant professor at MTSU and director of University Relations. During his tenure, he founded The Mid-Stater (1959), the alumni publication. He was named a "Distinguished Alumnus" in 1969 and also elected to the Blue Raider Hall of Fame. Pittard and his wife, Mabel (Baxter '36), had two children, John and Ann Smith. Pittard passed away in 1981.

Of the five, Wood and Stegall survive. Wood's initial $40,000 "was the same as $400,000 today," Stegall points out. ... It was Dean Beasley's insight, Randy's $40,000, and Cope saying 'Yes, boys, go ahead' that made it all happen. While Stegall gives most of the credit to his fellow founders, it was he who drafted the original charter and delivered it to the Secretary of State, making sure all the legal i's were dotted and t's crossed. The charter that he helped to establish served as a prototype for other schools to follow, he noted.

Stegall was born in Rockvale, Tenn., and attended Rutherford County public schools. He graduated from State Teachers College in 1937 with a B.S. degree and later taught chemistry and biology at Smyrna High School for three years. From 1939 to 1942, he served as educational adviser and administrative officer for the Civilian Conservation Corps. He retired from the U.S. Army with the rank of major after serving from 1942 to 1947. He then entered Vanderbilt Law School and earned a J.D. degree in 1950. Since then, Stegall has practiced law, serving as a judge for 17 of those years. He is still practicing law today. Stegall was named a "Distinguished Alumnus" in 1971, and he is an Honorary Trustee of the MTSU Foundation.?

"The Foundation gives me a great deal of personal satisfaction--it's the pride of my life," he once said. "To have had the opportunity to make a little contribution."

An understatement if ever there was one.

The Record, September 4, 2000, V9.05

Talking trash: you are what you throw away

Criminology class reminds students to watch what they waste

by Lisa L. Rollins

Sesame Street's beloved Oscar the Grouch isn't the only one who loves trash--so do some predators and would-be criminals.

Dr. Pat Nation, assistant professor, Sociology and Anthropology, recently explained to members of the media and those enrolled in her Criminology 430 class how one person's trash can easily serve as a treasure chest of information for someone wanting to know more about an individual or family.

"For everything that comes into our households, there has to be waste," says Nation. "[And] our waste can be a direct reflection of our households; socioeconomic, gender, age, family size, ethnicity, religion, political affiliations and more."

In short, "With a few bags of garbage obtained in a consistent manner, a profile of a family can take shape," she adds.

What do our throw-away items tell those who are willing to rummage through our garbage about us? Well, they can reveal quite a bit, actually, notes Nation, including information about one's age, gender, sexual behaviors, socioeconomic status, credit information, health, political and religious affiliations, hobbies, place of work or school--and that's just for starters.

"Celebrities aren't the only ones who are stalked," says Nation, a criminologist and sociologist. "And once it leaves your possession, there are no legalities and your trash becomes public domain."

To demonstrate her point, Nation presented students with a long table strewn with "clean" trash-- as well as a box of surgical gloves for her students to wear. Then, as an in-class exercise, Nation encouraged students to pick through the debris and glean what information they could discern.

Only minutes later, a fairly well-rounded profile of an upper-middle class, four-person, coupon-cutting, fast food-eating, family began to emerge.

For example, an inordinate amount of emptied transmission fluid containers and auto repair bills indicated that one of the family's cars--possibly driven by a teen female--was on the blink. And while this bit of information might be no big find to many, for someone with a criminal mind, especially someone who wished to prey upon the young woman, the find would be quite valuable--and for all the wrong reasons.

Other tossed-away items revealed that a young son in the home was involved in Scouting, while paycheck stubs and bank receipts hinted at the family's monthly income and discarded food packages pointed toward a family often on the go.

"We typically throw away enough information about ourselves to give someone access to our identity," warns Nation. "When we throw away old phone bills, electric bills, advertisements, receipts, et cetera, we give direct access to our economic world."

Even renting a video, says Nation, can require that individuals reveal very personal data, from social security and driver's license numbers to the maiden name of one's mother.

To regularly give out such personal information, and especially one's driver's license number, can easily set one up to be victimized, she adds.

"We give a tremendous amount of information to people when we interact, and when you give out your driver's license, you're allowing someone to have information to access your life," she says.

Nevertheless, "There are precautions that we can take to lessen the probability of being victimized," Nation offers.

"It's important to be aware of what can be used against you, and you need to be alert. Utilize the power that you do have and ask questions. If someone asks you information that you are not comfortable giving out, or if someone asks you information that is too personal, say 'no,'" she advises.

A good first step toward protecting one's self from "trashing-digging" predators is to buy a paper shredder--one with "a good gauge that will do a decent job," and use it, says Nation, who adds that such shredders are considerably more affordable than they've been in the past.

As for hard 'n' fast rules of protection, Nation says, "If a video store wants your mom's maiden name, don't give it out. They probably already have your driver's license and credit card, and that's plenty of information to rent a $1.99 movie.

"And never," she says, "give out information on the phone. ... Always be aware of what you're making available to those who may want to victimize."

The Record, September 4, 2000, V9.05

State's stature in national, global economy conference topic

MTSU's Economic Outlook Conference will feature Dr. Donald Ratajczak, economic forecaster, and Dr. H. Lee Martin, executive director, TennesSeed.

by Tom Tozer

This year's Economic Outlook Conference, sponsored by MTSU's Jennings A. Jones Chair of Excellence in Free Enterprise and Business and Economic Research Center, will again kick off with Dr. Donald Ratajczak, the perennial favorite economic forecaster whose prognostications have been more on target than off in conferences past.

The conference will be held Friday, Sept. 29, in MTSU's Tennessee Room of the James Union Building, with registration and continental breakfast beginning at 8:15 a.m., followed by an official welcome at 8:45.

Ratajczak, former director of the Economic Forecasting Center at Georgia State University, a position he held for 27 years, is now retired and currently holds the title Regent's Professor of Economics Emeritus. The internationally known economist will provide a studied economic overview of the region and take questions from the audience.

Dr. Albert DePrince Jr., director of MTSU's BERC, will speak on "Tennessee in a National Setting," followed by Dr. Steven Livingston, associate professor of political science and editor of Global Commerce, who will address "Tennessee in a Global Economy."

Special luncheon speaker will be Dr. H. Lee Martin, UT graduate and executive director of TennesSeed, located in Knoxville and formally known as the Tennessee Technology Development Corporation. The conference is a coming-home for Lee, who, with his brother Paul (MTSU '75), grew up in Rutherford County and watched MTSU change and grow. (Paul was the first graduate of MTSU's honors program.) ?

Lee Martin has developed the Tennessee Technopreneurial Leadership Center (TTLC), a technology entrepreneurial leadership program which he describes as "a Junior Achievement for higher education of sorts." The program's first class will begin this fall at UT-Knoxville and will include students from graduate-level engineering, law, business, and returning non-credit participants. Students will be able to develop their own products and companies using the research and resources from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The objective of the TTLC is to attract the finest students and create a steady stream of new high-tech businesses in Tennessee.

"The Economic Outlook Conference has become a tradition at MTSU because it delivers what it promises--substance, expertise, and an opportunity for business and industry professionals to share common concerns," said Dr. Jim Burton, business dean. "This year's conference is no exception. Anyone who cares about the economic future of our state and region will leave that day more enlightened."

During lunch the annual Jennings A. Jones Champion of Free Enterprise Award will be presented. The award recognizes a person who shows promise of an outstanding career while also exemplifying the ideals of free enterprise through any combination of entrepreneurship, governmental involvement, participation in civic and charitable affairs, and education.

The conference will dismiss at 1:30 p.m.

Registration fee is $25 per person, which includes materials and lunch. To register or for more information, call Angie Ray, Jennings A. Jones College of Business, at 615-898-2764 or <aray@mtsu.edu>.

The Record, September 4, 2000, V9.05

MTSU golf tournament dollars make a real-life difference

by Tom Tozer

"As a parent of a child with heart disease, the scholarship meant that my family could afford my part-time work while finishing school," says Susan Wilson, Lebanon resident, who is working toward a degree in finance at MTSU. Wilson puts a face and voice to the scholarships provided through the MTSU Foundation by the annual Jack O. Weatherford Chair of Finance Invitational Scramble Golf Tournament at MTSU.

The chairholder is Dr. Bill Ford, former CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

Lee Moss, SunTrust president and chair of the Liaison Committee, is anxious to fill the 144 player slots for this year's tournament, which will be held at The Country Club at Stones River on Tuesday, Sept. 26.

"This event brings together professionals in the finance field through a fun golf outing to raise dollars for this worthwhile cause," Moss said, adding that in recent years, the event has raised annually more than $16,000.

Over the last several years, the event has grossed more than $300,000, Ford added.

"This committee, consisting of representatives from practically every bank in Murfreesboro, sets aside the daily competitiveness we face with each other and works as a team that accomplishes a significant amount of value that benefits a lot of students enrolled in the finance programs at MTSU," noted Brian Wilcox, vice president, Commercial Lending, for National Bank of Commerce.

Other testimonies from appreciative students serve as evidence that the true impact of every well-driven ball and every meticulous putt is the life-changing difference those tournament dollars can make in a student's life.

MTSU's Joventa Monique James calls the scholarship through the Weatherford Chair of Finance "a blessing from God."

"This fall I will be able to pay for my tuition all at once thanks to the financial aid provided by the Weatherford Chair of Finance. I am truly grateful," she said.

Tina Witherspoon says she appreciates the fact that the Weatherford Chair of Finance is investing in her future. "The scholarship means to me that the Foundation recognizes that my hard work and dedication to my education will allow me to become successful in my career," she said.

Jennifer Petrone has received a Weatherford Chair of Finance scholarship for the past three years.

"Not having to worry about financing my education has helped me have more time to concentrate on excelling in my courses," she commented. "I hope to make everyone [associated with] the Chair of Finance proud of [their] investment."

The Weatherford Chair of Finance was established in 1986 to honor Jack O. Weatherford, one of Tennessee's most distinguished bankers of the post-war era. A decorated Navy veteran of World War II, Weatherford completed his education at MTSU and UT, earning a B.S. degree in business administration in 1949. In 1989, after 40 years as a Tennessee banker and industry leader, Weatherford retired in Murfreesboro where he remains active in all aspects of the community.?

On tournament day, lunch and registration will begin at 11 a.m., with the shotgun start at noon. Awards will be presented during social hour at 5 p.m.

Individuals and teams should call Gina Poole at 615-898-2883 to register or for more information.

The Record, September 4, 2000, V9.05

MTSU announces 14 McNair Scholars

by Lisa L. Rollins

Fourteen undergraduates recently became the first group of students to participate in MTSU's McNair Scholars Program, a program named in honor of Dr. Ronald E. McNair, the second African-American astronaut in space, who died in the Challenger space shuttle accident on January 28, 1986.

The purpose of the federally funded grant program is to prepare promising students for graduate-level studies leading to obtaining a doctoral degree and becoming university faculty members. Scholars conduct primary and secondary research, then write their results in a paper that will be submitted to journals for publication. Each scholar should have at least one journal publication before completing his or her baccalaureate degree.

McNair Scholars Program participants come from financially disadvantaged backgrounds and are first-generation college students or students who are underrepresented in graduate studies.

Linda D. Brown, a specialist in Information Technology and coordinator of the MTSU McNair Scholars Program, said the program provides support that students need to understand the process of graduate school and the importance of obtaining a terminal degree.

The scholars, with the assistance of their mentors, participated in a 10-week intensive research program that concluded with a two-day research seminar in which the McNair scholars presented their summer research findings, Brown reported.

Workshops were conducted weekly by volunteers from MTSU's teaching faculty on topics such as "The Faces of Research," "Writing a Professional Paper and Publishing It," "How to Make a Professional Presentation," among other subject areas.

"Many members of the MTSU community donated their time to the program this summer," said Brown, "and we express our thanks and gratitude to everyone that has contributed."

Among those faculty members who donated their time to present workshops were Dr. Judith Iriarte-Gross (Chemistry), Dr. Will Langston (Psychology), Dr. Mary Magada-Ward (Philosophy), and Dr. Tom Tang (Management and Marketing).

Also, Brown said, "The program was fortunate to have Dr. Orlando Taylor, dean of Graduate Studies at Howard University, to speak on 'Graduate School and How to Fund It.'"

MTSU McNair scholars attended their first McNair Scholars Conference at UT-Knoxville, with one of the scholars, Freneka Minter of Murfreesboro, presenting at the poster session.

Brown said that in addition to the educational opportunities it provides, the program also exposes the scholars to cultural activities that they otherwise would not have the opportunity to attend.

"This summer they attended a play, 'The Scarlet Pimpernel,' at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center," she said. Students also participated in social outings that included a cookout at the ranch of Dr. E. Ray Phillips (Graduate Studies), McNair Program director for the McNair staff, mentors, and scholars.

Those students who participated in the first McNair Scholars Program were Tashauna Buchanan (Columbia), Nicole Clarke (Powell), Rhonda Earl (White House), Melody Haley (Woodbury), Shemika Harris (Bolivar), Thomas McCuddy (Memphis), Nathaniel Mills (Nashville), Freneka Minter (Murfreesboro), Raven Neese (Gallatin), Lisa Ooten (Oliver Springs), Ellie Taylor (Huntland), Lauren Wright (Germantown), Lori Bruner (Trenton), and Bethany Brent (Chicago, Ill.)

Faculty members who served as McNair mentors were Drs. William Langston, Michelle Boyer-Pennington, and Christopher Tate (Psychology); Dr. Anthony Newsome (Biology); Dr. Tom Cheatham (Computer Science); Dr. Linda McGrew (Business Education); Drs. Yuri Melnikov, Xiaoya Zha, and Rebecca Zijlstra (Mathematics); Dr. Judith Iriarte-Gross (Chemistry); Drs. Doug Heffington and Warner Cribb (Geography & Geology); Dr. Margaret Ordoubadian (English); Dr. Laurie Katz (Early Childhood Education); and Dr. Mary Magada-Ward (Philosophy).

The program is part of a group of programs known as TRIO. Presently, there are only 156 McNair programs nationwide, with four in Tennessee. MTSU was given $760,000 from the U.S. Department of Education to fund the McNair Program for four consecutive years.

To qualify for this program, students must have completed at least 60 hours of college credit by the application deadline date, have a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or better, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, be a first-generation college student, and qualify as low income, as determined by federal guidelines.

Students also may qualify if they are a member of a group underrepresented in a degree program at MTSU or planning to transfer to MTSU to participate.

Those who are interested are encouraged to visit the program's MTSU web site, which includes student-created homepages, at http://www.mtsu.edu/~mcnair/

SHARING RESEARCH: Chemistry major Freneka Minter, right, discusses her research/poster on "pH Studies of Te(OH)6" at the Sixth Annual SAEOPP/UTK McNair Scholars Research Conference at UT- Knoxville. A resident of Murfreesboro, Minter is one of 14 MTSU McNair Program scholars who attended the conference. Minter's faculty mentor for the McNair Program is Dr.Judith Iriarte-Gross (Chemistry).

The Record, September 4, 2000, V9.05