Eastern ranks in the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools nationwide that are doing the most to embrace America’s veterans as students, according to G.I. Jobs magazine.

Gov. Steve Beshear named Dr. Bruce Pratt, director of Eastern’s Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technologies (CRAFT), to the Executive Task Force on Biomass and Biofuels Development in Kentucky. The 21-member group will work to facilitate the development of a sustainable biomass and biofuels industry in Kentucky.

Keith Neisler has joined the staff of WEKU-FM as program director.

Eastern ranks second nationally in the number of criminal justice textbooks produced by its faculty, led by Dr. Vic Kappeler, who ranks third nationally in publications.

Dozens of cultural events are scheduled during the fall semester at EKU. They include plays, dance programs and art exhibits.

Two members of Eastern’s faculty are among the eight Kentucky artists recently added by the Kentucky Arts Council to its Arts Education Roster.

The second Chautauqua Lecture of the “Creative Inquiries” series will be presented by award-winning author Kwame Anthony Appiah.

The College of Education has named seven more individuals to its Wall of Honor.

Music Professor Dr. Richard Crosby was recently honored by Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia with its highest honor for quality in service to the organization, the oldest and largest men’s music fraternity in the United States.

“Backing into Mountains,” the new book of poems by Dr. Dorothy Sutton, Foundation Professor Emeritus of English, is gaining international prominence.

Eastern will roll out the maroon carpet for family members of the approximately 15,000 students enrolled for fall semester classes during Family Weekend Sept. 18-20.

Jeannette Walls, author of "The Glass Castle," this year's EKU Reads selection, will speak on campus Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. in Brock Auditorium. A book signing will follow.

Brian Clark, assistant director of Campus Recreation’s Adventure Programs, rides one of the bicycles available for use on EKU Adventure trips. Campus Recreation offers three levels of bicycle rental for faculty, staff and student members of the Fitness and Wellness Center through its RECycle Program — for University-sponsored bicycling trips, independent adventure trips and general commuting. For information about renting a bicycle, contact Nicole Gallaher at nicole.gallaher@eku.edu. Eastern recently began adding bicycle lanes to Park and Kit Carson drives to make the campus more bicycle-friendly.

Eastern will host its annual EKU High School Choral Day on Thursday, Sept. 17.

EKU music students, from left, Heather Coombs, Chris Collins, Michael Wooley, Andrew Easley, James Adams, Jeremy Britt and Brad Howard attended the 2009 DCI World Championships in Indianapolis in early August as part of a research project examining the measurable attributes of competitive marching activities. The team of instrumental conducting students is participating in a research project coordinated between EKU and Bands of America and Drum Corps International – two of the premier associations in the marching competition world. The project, now in its second year, includes researching the measurable attributes of competitive marching activity to further the understanding and effectiveness of its practices and processes. Its purpose is also to provide EKU students an enhanced experience that prepares them for effective careers in music education and promote marching music activity as a valid and effective performance-based educational pursuit.

EKU senior Ashley Hutchinson has been named by Enterprise Rent A Car as Outstanding Summer Intern for 2009.

It was a win-win situation as EKU Master’s of Business Administration students prepared and presented a strategic analysis for Carhartt.

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi recently recognized the campus chapter at EKU as a Chapter of Merit.

Eastern will welcome prospective students and their families to the Richmond campus Saturday, Sept. 19, for the first Spotlight Day of the fall semester.

Eight undergraduate college students from around the nation, including three from Kentucky, joined three area teachers in a 10-week environmental research camp co-hosted by Eastern Kentucky Environmental Research Institute at EKU and the University of Kentucky’s Department of Civil Engineering that focused on “Carbon Storage and Headwater Health in the Appalachian Headwaters.”

QEP Stars, a regular feature in EKUpdate, will take a look at those faculty members who are incorporating critical/creative thinking and communication strategies with their students. The feature hopes to show how those strategies have impacted the classroom experience, both from a learning and teaching standpoint. This issue's "QEP Star" is Paula Kopacz, Foundation Professor of English.

New Arlington General Manager Peter Cizdziel is featured in this ongoing series designed to allow EKU leaders and others in prominent positions to discuss their roles as well as campus issues. Cizdziel holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing-professional golf management from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., and is a graduate of the Disney Institute of World Class Service.

Cynthia Harter, Center for Economics Education, was awarded $24,650 from the National Council on Economics Education for a teacher training program integrating economics and personal finance into math content for Madison County teachers in grades K-5.

Pat Calie, Biological Sciences, was awarded $40,000 from Kentucky NSF EPSCoR in support of research infrastructure development in the areas of genomics and bioinformatics.

Ian Mooers, Center for Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, and Technology, was awarded $11,612 from the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development to disburse prize money for the 2009 Idea State U Competition and provide a student entrepreneurship program.

William Davis, Technology, was awarded $27,000 from the Kentucky Office of Career and Technical Education in Perkins equipment funds for the purchase of a bench-top bio-reactor for training of associate degree students in the emerging field of renewable alternative fuel technology.

Amy Baker, Continuing Education and Outreach, was awarded $1,806,951 from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services to provide training, consultation, technical and administrative support and compliance monitoring to the Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

Bruce Pratt, Agriculture, was awarded $3,636,099 from the Defense Logistics Agency in support for the EKU Center for Renewable and Alternate Fuel Technologies to conduct research on cellulosic-derived biofuels in Kentucky.

Diana Porter, Curriculum and Instruction, was awarded $45,000 from the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development for the Adolescent Literacy Coaching program, a professional development program providing a three-hour graduate course and on-site visitation for 12 literacy coaches in Kentucky.

Nancy Thames, College of Education, was awarded $312,446 for the continuation of the AmeriCorps Student Service Corps, providing thirty AmeriCorps volunteers to work with partner school sites in the areas of literacy tutoring and drug abuse education.

Ronnie Nolan, College of Education, was awarded $10,800 from the Kentucky Department of Education to fund professional development opportunities through the Kentucky Educational Collaborative for state Agency Children.

Susan Fister, Baccalaureate and Graduate Degree Nursing, was awarded $472,915 from the Health Resources and Services Administration in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the renovation and expansion of Bluegrass Community Health Center's Versailles Road Clinic site and for the purchase of a new practice management system and electronic medical records.

Ryan Baggett, Justice and Safety Center, was awarded $1,036,462 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the IPAWS Common Alert Protocol Assessment Project.

Jane Tinsley, University Programs, was awarded $358,849 from the U.S. Department of Education for the continuation of the NOVA Student Support Services program, providing services to facilitate the retention and graduation of low income first generation students.

Tammy Horn, Eastern Kentucky Environmental Research Institute, was awarded $5,000 from Kentucky NSF EPSCoR for a project to assess the bloom/hive weight ratios at reclamation sites to determine suitability for beekeeping as a post-mining economic industry.

Beth Thompson, University Programs, was awarded $351,253 from the U.S. Department of Education for the continuation of the Educational Talent Search program, serving 650 youths with potential for education at the post-secondary level.

Mark Merriman, Police Department, was awarded $1,000 from the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety for EKU’s participation in the Blue Lights Across the Bluegrass campaign.