The Record, June 23, 2003, V11.24>>Top of Page

Lasting tribute Robert W. McLean School of Music Announced

by Doug Williams

Wise parents, a love of music, time-tested financial skills and hard work all contributed to making the man that Bob McLean is today. All of those skills were recognized recently when President Sidney A. McPhee officially announced the naming of the School of Music the Robert W. McLean School of Music.

McLean is a 1972 graduate of MTSU and principal of the highly successful McLean & Company Investments. He long ago entertained U.S. troops in a Bob Hope-like musical tour of Europe. A $1.5 million gift by McLean enabled MTSU to become one of a handful of schools in the world to receive the “All Steinway School” designation.

"We are delighted and honored to put Bob McLean’s name on our School of Music," McPhee said. "Bob has made significant contributions to his chosen field of business, his fellow man while serving in the U.S. Armed Services, and to this university.

"His vision, working with the leadership in the school of music, enabled us to acquire 54 Steinway pianos for use by our music students and faculty. Steinway is a name associated with excellence throughout the world. It is only fitting that it is the instrument of record in the Robert W. McLean School of Music."

When MTSU was named an "All Steinway School" last summer, it joined a select group of institutions including The Juilliard School, Oberlin College Conservatory, Vassar College, the University of Melbourne Faculty of Music and Beijing’s China Conservatory of Music.

McLean began his love of music as a 5-year-old "just playing around" on the piano in his grandmother’s home in Shelbyville. McLean was never a serious musician, but he did play in the high school band at Shelbyville Central and in a local folk group.

"During the ‘60s, folk music, like The Kingston Trio, was popular, so I took up playing the guitar and the banjo," McLean said. "We would play for hours and eventually did some performing. Then, I went to MTSU and continued to have a good time."

Maybe it was too many good times or the increased military demands caused by the Vietnam era, but McLean was called up by Uncle Sam and soon sent overseas to serve in Germany.

"I began playing with a couple of guys at various service clubs, and we entered a U.S. Army Europe competition and were a finalist," McLean said. "The next thing you know, we were assigned to visit and play for troops all over Europe. One time we were ordered to report to a camp that was virtually empty.

"We were told we had 10 days to give the best performance ever at a birthday party for the commanding general. I never considered myself a serious musician, just someone who loved music."

McLean went back to MTSU, earned a degree in psychology with minors in business administration and finance, and developed a lifelong affection for his university. It was what his parents, Charles Andrew "Andy" and Elizabeth Coble "Libby" McLean, wanted.

"Growing up, my parents held education in very high regard. It was understood that my brothers and I would go to college and get a degree, no questions asked. Even when I was in the Army, I knew I would return to MTSU. I was ready for education when I returned, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me.

"I believe that MTSU is the single most important asset in this community. If you look at all of the things it adds to this region—the economic impact, the cultural benefits, the access to education—you see the impact it makes on the quality of people’s lives."

"When I was very young, my father taught me many things—one of the best lessons was the value and importance of money and how to manage it. From the age of 12 until manhood, he gave me an education in all things financial. It went a long way in making me what I am today.

"But I also learned that your tools are just as important as your talents. That is the reason I wanted MTSU students to learn on Steinway pianos. People are attracted to quality, and I feel MTSU’s School of Music is on a par with the best anywhere."

The MTSU music school has 300-plus majors and offers a wide variety of comprehensive undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Students study with nationally recognized music faculty who are outstanding performers, teachers and researchers at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

MTSU students perform in the university wind ensemble, symphonic band, the pep band and the Band of Blue marching band.

The Record, June 23, 2003, V11.24>>Top of Page

Riordan named director

by Lisa L. Rollins

The MTSU music school will have a new director beginning Aug. 1, when Dr. George T. Riordan of Florida State University (FSU) begins his new duties at MTSU.

Riordan’s appointment as director comes one year after the spring 2002 resignation of Dr. Roger Kugler, who subsequently became vice president and dean of Central Methodist College in Fayette, Mo. Dr. Stephen Shearon, an associate professor of musicology and coordinator of graduate studies for the Robert W. McLean School of Music, served as interim director for the 2002-2003 academic year.

Riordan, who currently serves as assistant dean for public service at FSU’s School of Music, has been an overseer of that school’s extensive outreach activities. Among other responsibilities, Riordan has coordinated the graduate arts administration program and directed the 1,100-student FSU Summer Music Camps.

Regarding his MTSU appointment, Riordan said, "This is an especially exciting time to be joining the MTSU School of Music family. The ongoing vigorous expansion of the school has mirrored the growth of the whole Middle Tennessee region."

Riordan cites MTSU’s location near Nashville, an internationally acknowledged music center, as being very attractive to him.

Riordan received his bachelor of music degree in music education from Michigan State University and his master of music degree in oboe performance from Northwestern University. He earned his doctor of music degree from FSU.

Riordan is regarded as a master of the Baroque oboe. He presently serves as the principal oboist with the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, where he also is the board president. He performs with Baroque Southeast, a faculty period instrument ensemble in residence at the FSU School of Music.

Riordan also performs on the modern oboe and English horn and was a charter member of the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra in 1981. Prior to his 1990 appointment at FSU, Riordan served three seasons as director of the Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI), which is part of the Tanglewood Music Center that is the educational wing of the Boston Symphony. In addition, he taught at the University of Montana and Lawrence University in Wisconsin.

Riordan’s civic work has included the founding and development of the string program in Leon County Schools in Florida, service as a board member of the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra and Tallahassee Ballet, and terms as chairman of the Tallahassee-Leon County Cultural Resources Commission and the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra.

Riordan said he is enthusiastic about his MTSU directorship and looks forward to working with members of the faculty to help young musicians develop meaningful careers in teaching, performance, composition, music business and administration.

"I'm very sanguine about the prospects for those who are drawn to our field of study," he said. "Music graduates are so very often able to develop innovative solutions to challenges of all sorts."

The Record, June 23, 2003, V11.24>>Top of Page

July 4th festivities, fireworks, fun take place at university

by Tom Tozer

Last year, it fizzled. This year, it will sizzle. Last summer's shutdown of state government and subsequent cancellation of "Celebration Under the Stars" at MTSU has only heightened the anticipation of this year’s Independence Day celebration on the university's intramural field, the traditional site for the countywide patriotic party.

"We're ready to celebrate, really ready, especially after last year's disappointment," said Marlane Sewell, program coordinator for Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation. "And since this year is also the 200th birthday of Rutherford County, we need to start the party on July 4th and keep the festive spirit alive through the Heritage Festival on Oct. 25th."

Karaoke will begin at 5:30 until 7:25 p.m. Large video screens and projectors will enhance audience participation. There will also be family games, activities and prizes. State Rep. John Hood, program emcee, will offer welcoming remarks at 7:25 p.m., followed by remarks from Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg, MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, and Rebecca Climer, chairwoman, Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, among others. The Murfreesboro Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Laurence Harvin, will perform at 8 p.m. Selections will include the traditional patriotic tunes. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. Concessions will be sold by the Blue Raider Athletic Association.

Guests should enter the campus on Faulkinberry Drive off Tennessee Boulevard and from Greenland Drive. The entrances along Rutherford Boulevard will be closed, and parking won’t be permitted on either side of Rutherford. The lots adjacent to the Recreation Center will be closed. MTSU personnel will direct people to parking areas, and directional signs will be posted.

Pets, alcoholic beverages, cooking grills and fireworks won’t be permitted. Families are encouraged to bring picnic baskets, lawn chairs and blankets. Sponsors include The Daily News Journal, the City of Murfreesboro and Parks and Recreation, MTSU, Rutherford County Government, and chamber. Wal-Mart will furnish a birthday cake. A June 29 DNJ insert will provide details. For information, call 615-896-6710 or 615-898-2919.

The Record, June 23, 2003, V11.24>>Top of Page

YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMP -- Trent rogers is followed by John Moorhouse in a football drill as MTSU Coach Carey Bailey observes. This is one of many drills for young people during the Youth football Camp at MTSU this summer. Trent will be in the third grade this fall at Northfield Elementary School. John attends John Colemon Elementary School in Smyrna and will be in the fourth grade.

The Record, June 23, 2003, V11.24>>Top of Page

IN BRIEF

GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FOR ARTS TAKING PLACE ON THE CAMPUS

More than 200 talented high school students are on the MTSU campus this summer.

MTSU is serving as host for the Governor's School for the Arts through July 12, said organizers.

The school for the arts is now 18 years old. This year’s session began at MTSU on June 15.

Many different artistic enrichment activities are part of the school for the arts.

Attending the school for the arts this year are exactly 229 students from across Tennessee.

Activities are held in various locations, including the Wright Music Building, Art Barn, Tucker Theatre and Belle Aire.

Participants for the school for the arts were selected from 1,100 high school students who auditioned for positions in the spring.

They are participating in areas of study, which include music, visual arts, dance and theater.

Also, 30-35 faculty and 20 counselors are involved in the school for the arts this year.

For more information, contact, Dale McGilliard at 615-898-2274.

TORNADO WARNING SIREN GETS A TEST AGAIN IN JULY

The next test of MTSU’s tornado warning siren will be conducted in July, according to the Department of Public Safety.

The specific time will be at 11:15 a.m. July 9. At this time, a routine test of the tornado warning siren will be done.

The Record, June 23, 2003, V11.24>>Top of Page

‘Older student’ doesn’t feel like a typical one

Katrina Anderson, English major

As a student returning to MTSU after a long hiatus, I’ve found that some things have changed since I last attended in 1999.

Sure, the new James E. Walker Library is inspiring, and the extra parking is convenient. It’s great that students can now register for classes online, too. And, President Sidney McPhee has begun improving several degree programs.

Why, then, do I feel so deflated at the close of my first semester back?

I have only recently identified the cause of my frustration: I am the biggest change in my experience from 1999 to 2003.

I am now officially considered an “older student.”

Granted, I’m not a typical older student, if typical means that I should work full time and attend evening classes in a career-track degree program such as business or nursing.

Instead, I attend regular classes during the day with the younger crowd, and I’m earning a B.A. in English.

So I’m caught in a sort of limbo.

For instance, I’m a huge “Beavis and Butthead” fan, only now I have tiny laugh lines to show for it. I’m a James Joyce freak, but I also have an unhealthy crush on Tom Robbins. My Steely Dan collection is my comfort food, even though I listen to today’s pop radio.

It seems that I should be able to blend in with younger and older folks, but I somehow feel out of place in most classes.

Professors’ benign comments, such as, "I forget that you were in Pampers when the Challenger blew up," or, "Keep in mind that this isn’t high school," send my teeth-grinding habit into overdrive.

Why? Because professors speak to 18-year-olds. They don’t speak to me.

If professors are responsible for setting the tone of the classroom, aren’t valuable dynamics altered by narrowing their audience without conducting a little research first?

I know that there are others like me, commuting and balancing household duties with a backpack full of textbooks bought with the family’s grocery money.

I’ve spoken with them. I’ve read about them. I’ve seen their children’s cheerfully patterned car seats baking in the high-noon sun in the back seats of their mid-sized sedans.

And, I hope to give them a voice.

The consequences of an older student attending a university can sometimes be monumental: ditching a high-paying job, putting family plans on hold or refinancing a home. So why should that stress be magnified any more than it has to be?

I believe older, commuting students are less likely to develop an allegiance to their university, but MTSU’s professors have the power to change those statistics. Loyalty begins with simply feeling welcome in the classroom.

The Record, June 23, 2003, V11.24>>Top of Page

BOUND FOR BRAZIL—Seven MTSU students will participate in an ethnographic field school in the Brazilian rainforest this summer. During their study, they will visit the Amazonian community of Gurupá, which was formed by the combination of the indigenous population, Europeans and Africans. Dr. Richard Pace, sociology and anthropology, captured this image of Gurupá in July 2002 when he was doing ethnographic field work.

Students trip to Brazil set July 7

Sleeping in hammocks with mosquito netting and consuming a diet of manioc and fish, including piranha, are all part of the rainforest-situated adventure that seven MTSU students will soon undertake as part of their summer coursework.

For four weeks beginning July 7, the MTSU students will conduct an ethnographic field school in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, where they will learn how to do cultural anthropology research while they live with and participate in the daily lives of the local population of 6,000. Dr. Richard Pace, an associate professor of sociology and anthropology, says the students’ study will take place in the Gurupá, a town in the state of Pará in Brazil, which is located on the southern bank of the Amazon.

"MTSU students have been preparing for this field course for a year," said Pace, who will oversee the students during their extended Amazon study. "Each participant has taken a year of Portuguese—the language spoken in Gurupá—and taken a special class on the Brazilian Amazon, (in addition to having) developed a research proposal to work on once in the field."

The MTSU students’ research topics cover a wide array of topics, from the role of women in social and political activities of the community, midwifery and the role of religion, to the types of local music and even folk beliefs about monkeys.

MTSU students confirmed to participate in the ethnographic field school are Tracy Beadle of Lebanon, Murfreesboro resident Justin Terrance, Jessica Delgado of Huntsville, Ala., and Jonathan Glover of Good Spring, Tenn., as well as Lara Dempsey, Jacob Harper and Monte Dawn Hendrickson, all of Nashville.

During the ethnographic study, the students will live with Gurupá-based families, most of whom make a living from small-scale agriculture, fishing, rubber and timber extraction, and some hunting.

Getting to the study site is work in and of itself, according to both student and instructor reports.

"To reach the field school site, the students will travel by boat up the Amazon River for 36 hours," Pace said. "Once settled in Gurupá, they will begin learning specialized techniques anthropologists use to observe the local culture, interview the local population and participate in everyday activities.

"Each student will keep a detailed daily journal," he adds, "as well as record field notes relating to their research project."

MTSU student Hendrickson, who is enrolled in the MTSU McNair Scholars Program, said that the monthlong anthropological learning opportunity will be like no other.

"This field school is unlike what most other universities do, specifically because of the difficult living conditions (such as) extreme heat and insects … and the remote location," said Hendrickson, who has studied Portuguese with Brazil native Dr. Soraya Norgueira, assistant professor, foreign languages and literatures, and attended Portuguese tutoring sessions with Pace.

Regarding the "hands-on" study, Pace said, "Students can expect to sleep in hammocks with mosquito nets, eat lots of Amazon fruits and manioc, which is the staple food, (as well as) fish for piranha, paddle canoes, and take long treks through the rainforest as they learn what it means to be an inhabitant of the Amazon."

Hendrickson said her reasons for participating in the field school are both academic and personal.

"Most importantly, I will be applying for graduate school in the fall and, just as many other disciplines, anthropology is extremely competitive," she explains. "(So) I want to get into the best school that I possibly can, and from what I understand, the more abroad travel and field experience, the better."

In addition, as the first person in her family ever to attend college and as the parent of a 7-year-old son, Hendrickson sees herself as a role model.

"I want (my child) to know that when I tell him that anything is possible, he can believe me," she said. "I have always dreamed of going to the Amazon, but until this opportunity arose, I never actually thought I would get the chance so soon."

Hendrickson said she is not worried about being an American abroad in spite of the current political climate internationally.

"I believe that as long as a person goes to another country and shows the proper respect and does not try to impose (one’s own) cultural beliefs on those around her or him, everything will be fine,” she said.

Pace said that all of MTSU’s participating students will “learn a great deal about themselves and their culture as they step outside of their own world to experience another," he said. "And experiencing and understanding the foreign, of course, is what anthropology is all about.”

The Record, June 23, 2003, V11.24>>Top of Page

June Anderson scholars announced

by Tom Tozer

The June Anderson Foundation annually awards scholarships to women age 23 or older—primarily undergraduate students—who recognize opportunity in every obstacle instead of the other way around. That formula for success opens doors to educational opportunities as well as professional challenges in careers typically occupied by men.

Since 1983, the foundation has awarded nearly $200,000 in tuition scholarships, said Dr. B. Ayne Cantrell, professor, English, and president of the foundation board. This spring the foundation awarded five women a total of $15,000 in scholarship assistance.

"These scholarships are for special people—women who are non-traditional full- or part-time students, a little older than the average student perhaps," Cantrell said. "These women are often mothers who are responsible for children as well as themselves."

This year's recipients include senior Vickie Lee Cole of Lebanon, a political science pre-law major, whose career goal is to practice law. "This award has made a tremendous difference in my life," Cole said.

Rebecca Jean Fraley, a junior from Smyrna, is majoring in biology and wants to become a veterinarian. Fraley is an EMT and in the Air National Guard.

Linda Marie Hendrickson, a junior from La Vergne, is majoring in chemistry and has helped develop labs in the chemistry department.

Samantha Lynn Martin, a senior from Murfreesboro, is an aerospace major, who in 10 years, may be on the jet intercom saying, 'This is your pilot Samantha Martin speaking,'" said her sponsor Bill Shulman, associate professor, criminal justice administration.

Jill Rae Roberson, a sophomore biology major, hopes to complete the pre-curriculum for pharmacy school.

"These scholarships are the legacy of June Anderson, who was a chemistry teacher at MTSU for many years," Cantrell said. Anderson died of a respiratory disease in 1984, and the women's center at MTSU, established in 1977, was named in her honor.

The Record, June 23, 2003, V11.24>>Top of Page

AWARD RECIPIENTS HONORED—Displaying the Young Alumni Achievement Award, from left, is Darrell Freeman, and displaying their Distinguished Alumnus Awards are William A. “Bud” Morris, Dr. Patrick Doyle and Emmett N. Kennon Jr. photo by Jack Ross

Distinguished Alumni

Four graduates recognized at recent ceremony

by Doug Williams

Four prominent individuals, who have made their mark on business, philanthropy and bettering their communities, were recognized as the 2002-03 Distinguished Alumni at a special ceremony on the MTSU campus recently.

William A. “Bud” Morris, Emmett N. Kennon Jr. and Dr. Patrick Doyle, were each awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award, and Darrell Freeman was given the Young Alumni Achievement Award at a gathering in the Alumni Center.

"The MTSU community can be very proud of these individuals, because they have made a significant impact on their given professions, their community and MTSU,” said Joe Bales, vice president of development and university relations, who served as master of ceremonies for the event. "The graduates of MTSU do not take a back seat to any in the country, and these individuals represent the best we have to offer."

Dr. Pat Doyle (M.A.’65), a retired biology professor at MTSU, is best known for his efforts in organizing the enduring recycling program at the university. The program has recycled tons of paper and aluminum and raised more than $625,000 for scholarships.

Doyle received the Presidential Service Award from President Bill Clinton in 2000, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 and the MTSU Foundation Outstanding Teacher Award in 1981. He taught biology at MTSU from 1966 through 2002, and in 1995, he received the Tennessee Education Association Distinguished Classroom Award.

Emmett N. Kennon Jr. (B.S. ’38) was a letterman on the Blue Raider football and baseball squads, editor of Sidelines, the student newspaper and Midlander, the university yearbook. After graduation, he founded the successful Kennon Construction Company. He has been active in the community as a member of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, former president of the Melrose Civitan Club and a member of the Cattleman’s Association.

Emmett and his wife Rose have been longtime supporters of the university and Blue Raider athletics. Through the generosity of the Kennons, MTSU broke ground on June 19 for construction of a Sports Hall of Fame.

Few people have been as active in the daily affairs of MTSU as Bud Morris (B.S. ’68, M.Ed. ’75, M.B.A ’81). Morris has been employed by State Farm Insurance for 32 years, but MTSU has been his avocation. He served three terms on the Blue Raider Athletic Association Board and has served on the MTSU Alumni Board since 1996. He has been actively involved with the Kappa Alpha Order and has been serving as secretary/treasurer for Kappa Alpha Housing Corporation since 1984.

Morris served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and received the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal.

A rising entrepreneur, Darrell Freeman (B.S. ’87, M.S. ’90) is the recipient of the Young Alumni Achievement Award. Freeman is the founder and chief executive officer of Zycron Computer Services. His company received three consecutive Music City Future 50 Awards and two consecutive Tennessee Minority Purchasing Council Impact Awards.

Freeman and his company are involved with several civic organizations, including the United Way, the Downtown Rotary, the Workforce Investment Board, the Boy Scouts and the Young Executives Organization. Freeman is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Small Business and Labor Advisory Council and is chairman of the Board of the 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee. He serves on the MTSU Alumni Board.

Each year since 1960, alumni who have distinguished themselves through service to the university, service to their communities or professional achievement have been recognized by the MTSU Alumni Association. In 1987, the alumni association found it necessary to establish the Young Alumni Achievement Award to recognize outstanding alumni under age 40.

These awards represent the highest honor presented by the MTSU Alumni Association and honor the tens of thousands who have studied and earned their degrees on this campus, Bales said.

The Record, June 23, 2003, V11.24>>Top of Page

Dr. Harley Foutch receives educator award

by Randy Weiler

Foutch

Dr. Harley W. Foutch received the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Distinguished Educator Award for 2003 on June 20 during NACTA’s annual conference at California State Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Foutch, director, agribusiness and agriscience, joins an elite group of college and university agricultural educators who have been presented this award.

The 45th selectee since 1976, Foutch is now recognized with the late Dr. Robert A. Alexander, former chairman, agribusiness and agriscience, who was honored in 1979. Foutch is a past president of NACTA, having served in 1994-95.

"It’s very humbling," Foutch said. "When I looked over the past recipients, I know a lot of them. That made it even more satisfying to be included in a very distinguished group. Many of these people were very active in NACTA when I first became involved. They were names I knew and respected.

"It’s an award to be shared with faculty and staff, and with students both present and alumni," Foutch added. "Any national exposure we get will benefit students and, hopefully, make the degree more attractive."

Foutch said he found it interesting to know that this year’s conference theme, "Developing Leadership in a Changing World," relates well with the MTSU program.

"One of our major objectives is to develop leadership skills in our students," he said. "Leadership is one of the primary reasons why we have 12 student clubs and teams. In the last three years, the SGA president has been an ABAS student."

He was referring to John Marshall and Brandon Robbins, both of whom served as Student Government Association presidents from 2000-02 and 2002-03, respectively.

"Dr. Foutch has been an integral part of the (NACTA) organization through the years," said Dr. Tom Cheatham, dean, College of Basic and Applied Sciences. "This is a tremendous honor for him. It speaks highly of his professionalism."

Foutch, who grew up on a farm in southern Illinois, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southern Illinois University. He joined the MTSU faculty in 1970. He became full professor and department chairman in 1979.

He continues to teach six to nine credit hours per semester. Foutch has received the University Outstanding Teacher Award twice and the Alpha Gamma Rho Teacher of the Year three times. His service in academic student clubs has been recognized with him being named University Outstanding Student Organization Adviser.

MTSU’s agricultural education program was named No. 1 in the Southeast by the National Association of Agriculture Education in December 2000.

The Record, June 23, 2003, V11.24>>Top of Page

GIFTED ACADEMY PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES -- Gifted academy students last year look for artifacts that they created, which were buried by teachers. This was one of the activities held for participants.

Academy for Teachers of the Gifted set for July 8-17

by Lisa L. Rollins

A devoted and well-trained team can get the job done when it comes to educating Tennessee’s gifted students, according to those in the know.

"It takes a team to enhance the services to the gifted student—teachers, parents, benefactors … and the gifted students themselves," said Dr. Bella Higdon, director of The Academy for Teachers of the Gifted, which will be held July 8-17 at MTSU.

Now in its fifth consecutive year, the academy is a 10-day educational experience designed for Tennessee teachers who work with gifted students in grades K-12.

This year’s academy—with a "Discoveries" theme—was funded under an "Improving Teacher Quality" (ITQ) grant through the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

"As a federal program, the ITQ operates under the legislation known as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001," Higdon said. "(And), it represents the largest federal initiative for using professional development to improve teaching and learning."

In addition to its ITQ grant, funding for the 2003 academy also will be provided with the assistance of Jennings and Rebecca Jones, longtime Murfreesboro residents and devoted supporters of gifted education.

The primary objective of the 2003 academy is to provide educational experiences for three specific target populations of teachers in Tennessee K-12 schools—namely, those teachers serving gifted students in traditional "pull-out" programs, teachers in special-education resource settings and teachers in general education inclusive settings, Higdon said.

About 45 teachers will be selected to attend the 10-day academy, which will be in BAS 118. Participating teachers will receive free lodging and meals, as well as a $500 stipend.

"There are universities that offer coursework, individual school systems that provide in-service training, but the Academy for Teachers of the Gifted is the only one that provides room and board, materials and presentations from a wide range of expertise in gifted education from national, state, and local levels," Higdon said.

Regarding the teacher-selection process, Higdon said, "The highest priority will be given to those who teach in inner-city or in isolated, rural county schools."

The first week of the academy will concentrate on current research on the characteristics, needs and identification of gifted students, as well as best practices in gifted education, with a major focus on effective strategies in math and science.

A professor of elementary and special education at MTSU, Higdon said the academy’s second week will provide for the application of the teachers’ newly learned pedagogical skills. In addition, about 200 identified gifted children in K-12 will attend half-day "action labs," where the participants will develop and implement enriching mini-courses for the students. During this time, students in grades 1-5 will meet at the Homer Pittard Campus School and grades 6-8 will meet in MTSU’s Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building, while grades 9-12 will assemble in BAS.

Higdon said facilitators from throughout the state will serve as mentors to the participants.

"Now, more than ever, we need to collaborate with each other in new configurations, like the academy, that will allow the special needs of gifted learners to be appropriately met," she said.

For more information about the academy, including a schedule of guest speakers and presenters, visit www.mtsu.edu/~gifted.

The Record, June 23, 2003, V11.24>>Top of Page

LAST YEAR AT CAMP PRISM—Mariah Bragg, right, and Wesley Stiles enjoy Camp PRISM last summer. Photo by Charles Gross

Camp PRISM enhances knowledge of math, science, technology

Camp PRISM returned this summer, expanding to a select group of 25 rising fifth-grade Murfreesboro school children who gained greater knowledge in math, science and technology.

The 10-day camp ends June 25 with a practice program and a closing ceremony that will feature WKRN-Channel 2 meteorologist Davis Nolan.

"Camp PRISM is a collaboration between Murfreesboro City Schools and MTSU," said Dr. Rebecca Zijlstra, professor, mathematical sciences, who coordinated the event again with her husband, Dr. Jan Zijlstra, associate professor, mathematical sciences. "The camp serves children from all the city schools."

Each weekday from June 16-25 will begin at Hobgood School, but sometimes move to MTSU or downtown for field trips before returning to Hobgood to finish the day.

Various MTSU departments have collaborated to make Camp PRISM — practice in science and math — special to the children. Zijlstra said departments making contributions this year include chemistry, biology, engineering technology and industrial studies, math and geology."

The children will learn about "color magic" through chemistry; various ETIS aspects; rocks and fossils and earthquakes (geology); microscopes (biology); math methods, screen art, robot session, marble ramps and more.

Other highlights included a June 16 trip to City Hall, where traffic engineer Ram Balachandran talked to them about how math and technology are used to regulate traffic flow, and the Murfreesboro Police Department, where Maj. Jim Gage and Lt. Chris Guthrie offered "an interesting session on blood splatter patterns and how trigonometry can be used to analyze the patterns," Zijlstra said.

Participating MTSU faculty and staff included Drs. Diane Gower and Jan Zijlstra (math), Kim Sadler (biology), Judith Iriarte-Gross (chemistry and Women in Science and Engineering), Mark Abolins (geology), Diane Miller (interim vice provost for Academic Affairs), and Lisa Mayo (geology) and Rick Taylor (ETIS). Miller will be part of the closing program.

Rebecca Zijlstra said funding is from the Jennings and Rebecca Jones Foundation and a MTSU Public Service grant. She added that a new sponsor is the Tennessee Center for Math, Science and Technology.

For more information, contact Zijlstra at 615-898-5776.

The Record, June 23, 2003, V11.24>>Top of Page

LEARNING AT HORSEMANSHIP CAMP—Sarah Elder, former MTSU equestrian team member and graduate, instructs Joy Coppock, 16, and her horse "Burt" at the MTSU/UT Youth Horsemanship Camp recently at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum.

The Record, June 23, 2003, V11.24>>Top of Page

Graduate researches reliability of survey results

by Tom Tozer

Angie Walker's research into the reliability of survey results may one day carry over into the area of test-taking in school and not only affect the way standardized tests are administered but also their format, length and even content.

Completing her master's degree last year in industrial organization, Walker recently represented MTSU at the national Industrial Organizational Convention in Orlando, Fla., where she spoke with executives from Pepsi, Dell, The Centers for Disease Control and others about organizational testing. Her contention was that employee tests and questionnaires need to be shorter to obtain better and more accurate information.

Working with mentor Dr. Beverly Burke, associate professor, psychology, Walker administered a Survey of Organizational Attitudes and Perceptions, using a validity scale developed by Burke. The validity scale, in this case, was a set of questions inserted at the beginning or the end of a long survey that helped to determine the consistency and accuracy of the answers throughout the survey.

"We had two long surveys (363 questions)—one that had the validity scale toward the beginning and the other with the validity scale toward the end. Then, we had a short survey that was just the validity scale," Walker said. "We compared the two long surveys to see if there was a difference between the validity at the beginning or the end. That's when we found out that students got tired or bored toward the end of the test. Then, we compared the short survey to the (validity-scale questions) at the beginning of the long survey, and we did not find any difference. … The tests that had the validity scale toward the beginning proved to be more accurate."

A question on the validity scale might be, "Do you prefer an indoor job?" In some cases, a person might answer "yes" on a survey where this question was at the front end of the survey—but might answer "no" when inserted on the tail end of another survey.

"We found that the scale inserted at the beginning of a long survey had more valid answers than were the answers when we put the scale at the end of a long survey," Walker said.

"We had items like that matched up within the scale so that we could test the validity of the responses," she added. "People were not aware that there was a scale in the survey. We had a work ethic survey and psychological questionnaire all meshed together. They didn’t know there was a separate (validity) survey."

What Walker discovered revealed possible ramifications beyond employee surveys.

"This led us to the conclusion that because people get tired or bored on long surveys and tests, their answers become less accurate," she noted. "I made A's in high school but just scored average on the ACT. There are other people like that. It's not the information in the test that's difficult—it's the length of the test, even the environment you're in."

Walker said at least 15 different company representatives at the Orlando conference asked her for more information on her research that they could take back and share with their management team in hopes of altering their own testing procedures. While Walker believes a survey with 363 questions is unreasonably long, she said she learned in Orlando that many companies routinely administer even longer tests and questionnaires. Walker said that companies need to shorten employee surveys or break the surveys up on different days. For accurate information, employers need to administer surveys in hour-long segments on separate days, she said.

"There's not a lot of research in this area," Walker said. "It was very difficult to find information to support my work. … This paves the way for further research in testing areas, whether it's with employees or children. The longer the test, the more drained and tired people become, thus performing less accurately."

Even though motherhood takes priority these days, Walker said she would like to conduct more research in the area of school testing with children—and someday pursue a Ph.D. degree in business management or industrial psychology.

The Record, June 23, 2003, V11.24>>Top of Page

Business students bring home competition honors

by Tom Tozer

Students in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business make it a regular habit of bringing home top prizes in business competitions around the state and nation—and not just the old-timers.

Breanna Randolph, a rising sophomore from Dowelltown, placed second in "Public Speaking"—and Nikki Kiszenia, a rising junior from Murfreesboro, placed first in "Job Interview" and second in "Impromptu Speaking" at the recent Phi Beta Lambda State Conference competition held in Chattanooga. They, along with four other students, will attend the national PBL competition this summer in Dallas. Drs. Martha Balachandran, associate professor, and Janice Cole, assistant professor, business education, marketing education, and office management, have served as their faculty advisers.

Future Business Leaders of America‘s Phi Beta Lambda is a nonprofit education association of students who are preparing for careers in business and business-related fields. There are four divisions in the association. The Reston, Va.-based association strives to link business and education together in a positive working relationship through leadership and career-development programs.

Randolph was elected state PBL president.

"I like the organization because we also do a lot of community service projects and provide gifts for needy children at Christmas," she said. Because of a lack of recruiting, the membership in the MTSU chapter had dwindled to zero members last fall, and a strong recruiting effort was launched in the spring.

"Dues are only $15 a year, and we need new members at MTSU," she said. "As incoming state PBL president, I also want to help reactivate other chapters throughout Tennessee."

"I looked for job interview questions on the Internet and prepared myself for the actual interview by studying those—not to have a memorized answer but to have an idea of what needed to be said and what the judges wanted to hear," Kiszenia said.

Other students, all from Murfreesboro, who earned awards in the state competition included Emmett Haley, third place in the "Marketing'" category; Kassi Jo Littlepage, second place, "Business Principles"; Chris Williams, first place, “Word Processing,” and third place, “Impromptu Speaking"; and Kendrick Woods, second place, "Computer Applications," and second place, "Computer Concepts.”

The Record, June 23, 2003, V11.24>>Top of Page

Basketball championships for state here through ’07

by MTSU athletics

PIGEON FORGE —MTSU was chosen by the TSSAA Board of Control as the site for the 2006 and 2007 state basketball championships.

"We received outstanding bids from all three cities," said Ronnie Carter, executive director of TSSAA.

"We were excited to know that any of the three cities would have been a wonderful choice to host the state basketball tournaments. After weighing all of the factors, the best choice for the member schools was to choose MTSU as the host site for the tournaments,” Carter said.

Proposals were made to the TSSAA Board of Control by the Memphis and Shelby County Sports Authority, the Chattanooga Sports and Events Committee, and MTSU and the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.

The proposal by Memphis was to host the boys’ tournament only. MTSU and Chattanooga bid on both tournaments.

The Record, June 23, 2003, V11.24>>Top of Page

OLD BARN DEMOLISHED— James Hardy, an equipment operator who works for AMX Corporation, works on demolishing an old barn at the corner of Founders Lane and Blue Raider Drive. Debris was quickly removed. Now, the site will be used as a gravel parking lot. photo by Ken Robinson