Earlier this year, EKU awarded its first-ever doctoral degree in the Ed.D. program in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.

Also at the June 7 meeting, Regents approved the University’s 2010-11 budget.

In anticipation of expanded roles for advanced level practitioners, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing has called for the establishment of professional practice doctoral programs for graduate education in nursing by 2015. The Doctor of Nursing Practice programs, separate and distinct from research doctoral programs, are intended to eventually replace the current master’s degree programs in nursing that now prepare advanced practitioners.

EKU’s program will be online (mixed Web) and made available to nurses in the Commonwealth, particularly to nurses in rural and underserved areas. Recent data indicates that Eastern nursing graduates typically remain in Kentucky to practice. In fact, in 2008, 100 percent of the master’s degree graduates planned to practice in Kentucky, 69 percent in rural or underserved areas.

“As a result of EKU nursing programs, the educational level of health care providers in the Commonwealth has been raised and the health care needs of the people of the Commonwealth have been served,” said Dr. Deborah Whitehouse, associate dean of EKU’s College of Health Sciences. “The DNP program will serve to advance the educational level of health care providers in these areas even further.”

Eastern will maintain its current MSN degree program for the foreseeable future, Whitehouse said.

“This approach (BSN to MSN to DNP) will parallel our RN-BSN-MSN degree offerings, which provide nurses a frequently requested stop-out point while furthering their education,” Whitehouse added. “Our programs will continue to offer a traditional career pathway in Kentucky leading to baccalaureate and higher degrees to meet the needs of nurses in Kentucky and the region during this important transition period in nursing education.”

The Regents approved a $200,277,014 operating budget (educational and general) for the 2010-11 academic year, an increase of slightly more than $500,000 over the previous year.

The University suffered a $780,000 cut in state appropriations, but was able to absorb the loss because it had set aside approximately $3.7 million, through self-imposed budget reduction in fiscal years 2009 and 2010, for future state budget reductions and/or strategic uses.

The University’s budget incorporates a 5 percent tuition rate increase for undergraduate students and a 4 percent increase for graduate students. The budget does not include a salary increase for faculty and staff.

Debbie Newsom, vice president of financial affairs, noted that 38 percent of the University’s revenue now comes from state appropriations, compared to approximately 50 percent five years ago.

The Board also approved a 5 percent tuition increase for Model Laboratory School.

Regents also approved a Progressive Admissions Plan for College Readiness, creating a clear path to student success for special admissions students and aimed at increasing student retention and graduation rates.

The Plan calls for:

• The implementation of accelerated developmental and supplemental coursework in other than a full-semester format, allowing students to progress, in a more timely manner, through foundational coursework and shorten their time to degree.
• A gradual increase in the ACT composite score that defines special admissions students.
• The creation of bridge programming during academic semesters, which will allow special admission students admitted throughout the academic year greater access.
• Expansion of school-based mathematics transition programs.
• Full implementation of the Early Alert Program.
• The development and implementation of an advising model integrating best practices for students not meeting readiness benchmarks.
• A professional development model for students and faculty serving students not meeting readiness benchmarks.

In other business, James Street, associate vice president for capital planning and facilities management, informed the Board that:

• Construction on the Center for the Performing Arts is about 75 percent complete, and substantial completion is expected by May 2011.
• Construction on the New Science Building is about 43 percent complete, and the facility is expected to be completed by August 2011.
• Construction of the Noel Studio for Academic Creativity, located in Crabbe Library, is approximately 75 percent complete, with completion expected by early September.

The recipient is selected on the basis of peer review of instruction, student evaluations of teaching performance over the previous three years, curriculum development, teaching load, and innovative teaching methods.

The three-member selection committee noted that Brewer’s commitment to excellence in the classroom is supported by consistently high evaluations from students and peers.

“Students have commented that Dr. Brewer loves what she does, that the enjoyment of teaching is obvious in her classroom, that she is enthusiastic, student centered and eager to learn and remain current in her field. Alumni who have been in the field for several years thanked Dr. Brewer for providing the skills and knowledge to achieve success in their careers.”

The Committee also noted that Brewer is the curriculum leader for Management and spends hours reviewing current textbooks and instructional materials.

“Perhaps most impressive to me is Dr. Brewer’s emphasis on and dedication to focusing everything she does at EKU on what is meaningful and beneficial to students,” said Dr. Lana Carnes, chair of the Department of Management, Marketing and Administrative Communication. “Dr. Brewer’s commitment to providing quality educational experiences for students is exemplary.”

Brewer receives a $1,000 cash award, an individual plaque, and will have her name inscribed on a plaque on permanent display.

“It is wonderful to receive an award recognizing me for what I most love to do,” Brewer said. “I have been teaching at EKU for 30 years and have thoroughly enjoyed the students and the rewards associated with believing that I make a positive difference in their professional and personal lives. Additionally, it is a privilege to work with such dedicated colleagues who share the same commitment of providing high-quality educational experiences for our students.”

Dyer served the EKU business program for more than 30 years, including 13 as director of the University’s MBA program, before retiring in 2002.

The article, at www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1992425,00.html?hpt=T2, examines Detroit Police Chief Warren Evans’s paramilitary approach to police work. Increasingly, Kraska points out, police forces are using paramilitary units to search for illegal contraband such as guns and drugs. “This is a big free-for-all,” he tells Time.

Kraska, a Program of Distinction Research Fellow at EKU, is the author of numerous publications, including “Militarizing the American Criminal Justice System: The Changing Roles of the Armed Forces and Police.” One of his many research interests is the blurring distinction between the police and military in the wars on drugs and terrorism.

His work has been featured in The Economist, Washington Post and New York Times, and on National Public Radio, ABC’s World News Tonight and the Jim Lehrer News Hour.

He joined the EKU faculty in 1994.

“Recognition like this shows that EKU is taking every opportunity to make improvements in how we conduct business and lessen our impact on the planet,” said Mona Isaacs, associate vice president for information technology. “This demonstrates our commitment to being good stewards of the environment and resources at our disposal. The decisions that have led to these savings may have a common thread of IT, but they are part of a greater community effort to be more efficient and effective in our communications. Going paperless in these areas has taken the support of Financial Affairs, Financial Aid, and Student Accounting, to name only a few. The success of these initiatives is the result of collaboration and teamwork throughout the entire university.”

The magazine recognizes EKU’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint in each of three categories: Power, Paper and Virtualization.

In the Power category, Eastern’s IT staff was commended for beginning a process last year to configure desktop machines in all of its IT labs to go into power saver mode after a time of non-use, thereby minimizing off-peak power consumption and save on cooling.

In the Paper category, as e-mail has become the default mode of campus communication, IT has implemented many changes to reduce the number of printed pages, in some cases ceasing to print items. In recent years, the University has eliminated printing of payroll checks, grades, student invoices and financial aid award letters. In addition, many University forms are now web-based, and the telephone directory is only available online. Those changes alone have saved the University almost 400,000 pages per year and eliminated more than 150,000 pieces of outgoing mail, also saving on postage.

“We have also changed the way reports are distributed throughout campus,” said Isaacs. “In the old days, we printed box after box of ‘green bar’ paper. This was printed in the central data center and distributed daily through campus mail. Now reports are most frequently delivered electronically and printed only if necessary. This is not only a savings, but a culture change on campus.”

In the Virtualization category, EKU was recognized for moving individual servers to a virtual server environment, dramatically reducing power consumption, also enabling the host machines to run more to their intended capacity.

“Prior to virtualization, we had approximately 100 servers in our data center, each one doing a different job,” Isaacs noted. “Today we have reduced the number of servers by approximately 40. Now we have about 60 more energy-efficient servers doing the work that would take more than 130 individual servers without virtualization. Rather than increase our energy consumption by 30 percent, in a traditional server environment, we estimate our energy savings is in excess of 40 percent as a result of virtualization. An additional consequence of this virtualization is the reduction in cooling costs.”

Isaacs said that IT is currently researching virtualization of the desktop computer. “New developments in this technology offer hope for cutting computing costs, support costs, as well as energy usage and cooling costs.

“We continue to develop online tools and applications that can deliver information electronically,” she added. “Many enhancements to EKUDirect (a Web portal for EKU students and employees) have reduced the need for printing even further. While individuals can choose to print, or not print, we try to give everyone the opportunity to avoid printing whenever possible.”

Also, “we are conscientious of the way we dispose of obsolete equipment. Rather than send our e-scrap to the local landfill, it is recycled and returned to the manufacturing process.”

As the leading provider of smart management solutions for higher education administrators at two- and four-year colleges and universities throughout the United States, University Business (www.universitybusiness.com) is the most-closely followed and most-widely preferred information source in the industry, bringing top-quality journalism to the unique issues, challenges and opportunities faced by higher-education executives. University Business covers every important facet of higher education: technology, finance, facilities, recruitment and retention, security, management, administration, financial aid, and sustainability.

HNE was discovered by Esterbauer in 1980. “Through his discovery, I have been able to identify several HNE-modified proteins that were novel to Alzheimer’s disease,” Reed said. “These new developments can lead to new therapeutic targets and new drug therapies for the disease. Although there is no cure, we are now one step closer.”

Reed, who joined the EKU faculty in 2008, will be formally recognized at the fifth annual International Meeting of the HNE-Club in Torino, Italy, June 16-18. In addition to presenting her work at the conference, she will receive a commemorative prize and certificate.

The Esterbauer Award is presented every two years.

When it announced Cahill as a finalist, the Association cited his coaching longevity, record, championships, previous awards and service to the coaching profession and student-athletes.

Cahill, who has coached the Model and Arlington teams the past 30 years and Colonel Aquatics for the past 10 years, was recognized along with honorees from 19 other sports at the Association’s national awards banquet on June 23 in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Earlier this year, Cahill was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic and liver cancer, for which he is currently undergoing chemotherapy. At a local Relay for Life event earlier this month, friends and current and former swimmers organized a team in his honor and raised more than $13,000.

National awards are nothing new for Cahill, who two years ago received the Outstanding Service Award from the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association.

In addition to the tremendous success his Model teams have enjoyed at the regional and state level, he has coached dozens of high school individual state champions, and many of his swimmers have gone on to compete successfully at the collegiate and national levels and competed in four Olympic Trials.

Cahill, who also has served as an instructor in EKU’s Department of Health Promotion and Administration, has been recognized on many other occasions for coaching excellence and for his service to the sport. In 1999, he received the National Federation Interscholastic Coaches Association’s Section 2 Distinguished Service Award for Boys Swimming and Diving. The section includes seven states and the District of Columbia.

Throughout his coaching career, he also has remained active with the Kentucky High School Athletics Association, holding numerous offices.

Kentucky SROs are sworn law enforcement officer with specialized training to work with youth at a school site. These SROs serve in a variety of roles, including law enforcement officer, law-related educator, problem-solver, and community liaison. Approximately 230 SROs serve in more than half of Kentucky’s counties.

Early serves as the SRO for Model Laboratory School.

“He has made us very proud and has distinguished himself once again by his professionalism as recognized by this award,” EKU Interim Chief of Police Mark Merriman said. “Model Laboratory Director James Dantic nominated him because he was a great fit for Model and everyone from his staff to the students echoed those sentiments.”

KYASRO also named Whitney Maupin of the Richmond Police Department as Rookie of the Year and Madison Southern High School Assistant Principal Charles Cash as Administrator of the Year.

The awards will be presented at the seventh annual Kentucky Safe Schools and Communities Conference in Erlanger July 14-17.

KYASRO is a professional organization with the goal of furthering the education, awareness and professionalism of SROs in the State of Kentucky in order to make schools a safe and secure learning environment for children.

Housed in the Department of Psychology, the cross-disciplinary program will concentrate on non-human animals, their interactions and relationships with people, and the mutual influences that humans and non-human animals exert on each other’s existence, evolution and history. A growing field in academia, Animal Studies has garnered increasing attention lately and was the subject of an in-depth article last fall in The Chronicle of Higher Education entitled “Creature Consciousness: Animal Studies Tests the Boundary between Human and Animal ... and between Academic and Advocate.”

Incorporating applied fields, science and the arts and humanities, EKU’s Animal Studies major “will provide students with a means to become knowledgeable about animals and their relationship with humans from diverse perspectives, and simultaneously experience and learn from a strong, traditional liberal arts education,” said Dr. Robert Mitchell, professor of psychology, who developed the program and will serve as coordinator.

“Students are engaged by animals, and the program has the potential to draw students from all over the U.S., and perhaps the globe. With this program, EKU has the possibility of starting something intellectually challenging, novel, and on the cutting edge of academia.”

Courses in the program, which begins this fall, include Animals in History, Animal Ethics, Sociology of Animal-Human Relations, Animals in Literature, General Zoology, Comparative Psychology, Ecology, Animal Behavior, Principles of Animal Science, Primate Conservation, Animals and the Law, Wildlife Law and Law Enforcement, Principles of Biology, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology and Introduction to Physical Anthropology, among other requirements and electives.

In addition to their broad-based liberal arts background, Animal Studies majors will be able to concentrate on specialized areas for particular careers they wish to target. “The program allows a student to bring Animal Studies into whatever their area of interest is,” said Dr. Bob Brubaker, chair of the Department of Psychology. “To me, that’s a strength of the program.”

Because of the appreciation for multiple perspectives they’ll gain through the program, graduates should be highly valued in a variety of work environments, Mitchell said. For example, students who focus on biology or wilderness studies, or on agricultural studies, would be well suited for employment in more applied fields. Students eyeing animal advocacy careers can examine journalism, photography, art and other areas for support. Those who wish to develop skills in writing about nature and animals can elect to take courses in literature to maximize their potential.

“Students in Animal Studies should be able to apply their knowledge and experience with many disciplines to answer diverse questions,” he added.

Mitchell, who hopes to bring an international conference on Animal Studies to EKU, recently organized (along with Julie Smith of the University of Wisconsin and Marg Schneider of the University of Toronto) a conference in Toronto on “The Minds of Animals” that Columbia University Press has expressed interest in publishing in their Animal Studies series.

Mitchell is quick to point out that the establishment of EKU’s Animal Studies program has been a collaborative effort from the start, involving the cooperation and support of several academic departments and University administrators.

Brubaker added, “It took one person willing to spend the time to organize the program, academic departments willing to step outside their disciplines and cooperate, and University administration from the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, through the Provost, and up to the President to get behind it and support it.”

“We used a literary figure and movie clips to discuss an issue that’s sometimes taboo in our society,” said Compton. “Charles Dickens provides us with a pretty thorough case history, writing about Scrooge’s relationships with his family and peers. We were able to talk about this very lonely man and his mental health problems with our audience in a non-threatening, constructive way. I’m very grateful to the psychologists who were willing to put Ebenezer Scrooge on their couches and diagnose his problems.

The award-winning segment can be heard at www.publicbroadcasting.net/weku/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1590167.

“Our repeated success in such a highly competitive event is more evidence that WEKU has one of the best mid-sized public radio news rooms in the nation,” Station Manager Roger Duvall said. “These awards have also enhanced the reputation of Eastern Kentucky University as an institution with an outstanding staff who provide a top-notch education to its students and excel at serving our community.”

In addition to the honors for newscasts and soft features, PRNDI also has honored WEKU for Breaking News Coverage and Investigative/Enterprise Reporting.

WEKU can be heard at 88.9 FM from Richmond/Lexington, 90.9 FM from Hazard, 88.5 FM from London/Corbin, 106.7 FM from Frankfort, 96.9 FM from Barbourville, 102.5 FM from Middlesboro, and 95.1 FM from Pikeville, and on-line at www.weku.fm.

PRNDI is a non-profit professional association that exists to improve local news and information programming by serving public radio journalists across North America. Its annual competitions attract some of the best journalism generated by the nation’s public radio newsrooms. Previous PRNDI annual conferences have been held in New Orleans, San Diego, Chicago, Montreal and Washington, D.C.

A recognized expert on issues related to gender equality and women’s rights, violence against women and girls, and human rights and exploitation, particularly in Asia and eastern Europe. Haarr has regularly served as a U.S. speaker in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Malaysia, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Haarr focused her “Gender Equality” presentation in gender role socialization, feminist theories of women’s oppression and inequality, and international initiatives to promote equality, women’s advancement and women’s rights. In her other talk, where she was a keynote speaker on a panel, Haarr discussed issues and challenges in prosecuting human trafficking, including legal frameworks, cross-border cooperation in investigation and prosecution, and victim witness cooperation and protection in trafficking cases.

“The purpose was scholarly exchange, capacity building, awareness raising and public diplomacy,” Haarr said.

The program, a cornerstone of the University’s commitment to regional stewardship, was launched in 2008 to focus on the improvement of P-12 public education by improving leadership capacity, particularly in rural Kentucky schools. Forty-four students are enrolled, and additional graduates are expected in ceremonies in December 2010 and May 2011 and beyond.

“Being EKU’s first doctoral graduate is, of course, quite an honor,” she said, “but for me it means that I can now go on and set other goals, including writing articles based on my dissertation,” which focused on alternative teacher certification.

Moore, who has taught part-time in the departments of Computer Science and Curriculum and Instruction, now serves as Data Management Coordinator in the College of Education’s Office of Educational Research, Assessment and Technology.

That she is the first to complete the doctoral degree is no accident.

Moore was one of 15 recruited in 2007 to enroll in a specialist program as the University awaited approval of its Ed.D. degree program.

“To earn a terminal degree has been a longtime personal goal,” said Moore, who earned a bachelor’s degree in health education and a master’s in student personnel services in higher education. “The timing was right, the EKU faculty/staff scholarship was available, and I was accepted along with others from that ‘head start’ cohort.”

At the start, Moore set a goal to complete the program in three years.

“This meant taking courses every semester,” she said. “One advantage came from being on campus. I used the time reading, studying and writing that others had to spend driving to campus.

“I established a strict personal schedule of at least four hours per day devoted to my graduate work and a minimum of 14 hours every weekend, increasing the number of hours during the final semester.

“Another advantage was that I knew early in my program what I wanted to research (and) this allowed me to focus my individual course assignments in a way that benefited my own research agenda. The most important advantage came from having a dedicated committee (comprised of Dr. James Rinehart, Dr. Cynthia Resor, Dr. Paul Erickson and Dr. Kim Naugle).”

Moore also credited the assistance of Dr. Aaron Thompson (now Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs with the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education) and Dr. James Robert Miller, faculty emeritus and former chair of EKU’s Department of Philosophy and Religion, as well as the support of many family members and friends.

The program’s focus on enhancing educational quality in rural schools is reflected in the two courses that Moore cites as “most influential to me in my personal and academic growth”: Seminar on Rural Schools and Communities and Leadership in Rural Settings.

“The structure of the courses allowed the ‘head start’ cohort to conduct research in six counties in the EKU service region,” Moore explained. “We surveyed EKU students, high school teachers and principals from these counties, and we interviewed individuals from the communities, including some government officials. The focus of the research was ‘Discovering a Sense of Place in Rural Appalachia.’”

The research led to two national reviewed presentations and one regional reviewed presentation.

Moore’s dissertation, “A Case Study: Situated Pedagogy in a Foundations Course in an Alternative Teacher Certification Program,” explored how alternatively prepared teachers rate their experiences in a foundations course that takes them through a process of awareness to action and how meaningful that process was in their understanding of how to implement the knowledge in their profession.

She dedicated the work to the “loving memory of my father, Henry Martin, my greatest mentor.”

The doctoral degree is not the last of Moore’s professional goals.

“In addition, I was blessed that I was part of a supportive community of scholars. That made all the difference in the world.”

Bill Clements, Henderson, senior vice president and branch manager with Hilliard Lyons and a member of EKU’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni, addressed degree candidates in the Colleges of Business and Technology and Education at the day’s first ceremony.

Clements, a 1968 EKU graduate, spoke of the heroes in his own life and singled out one of his professors, Emogene Hogg-Hartman, for special praise. “I would not be standing at this podium if not for Dr. Hogg. I challenge this class to be heroes.”

Recalling Hogg-Hartman’s own words to him years ago, Clements told the degree candidates, “You can do anything if you put your mind to it. Don’t be the problem. Be the solution.”

Tom Coffey, Nashville, retired president and CEO of Lincoln National Life Midsouth Corporation, addressed degree candidates in the Colleges of Health Sciences and Justice and Safety. A 1965 Eastern graduate, Coffey is also a member of the University’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni.

“Life is not a spectator sport,” Coffey said. “You must get into the arena and compete. And you are equipped with the finest tools in the world to do that. You can compete anywhere.”

Coffey also urged the degree candidates to “embrace” diversity. “Seek first to understand and then to be understood.”

Jane Boyer, Prospect, a former member of the University’s Board of Regents and a past recipient of EKU’s Presidential Award of Merit, spoke at the evening ceremony, for degree candidates in the College of Arts and Sciences.

“What matters most,” Boyer said, “is how you treat people. Try to treat everybody with kindness and consideration. Try to treat everyone the same, whether it’s the person who collects your garbage or the Queen of England and believe that both are of equal value.

“Whatever you do and wherever you go, try to leave things a little better than they were before you came,” Boyer concluded. “If we all try to do this, the world will become a better place for everyone.”

All three speakers, current members of the University’s Foundation Board, received honorary doctor of humanities degrees.

Speaking as representatives of their graduating class were Mary Jennings, Beattyville, morning ceremony; Tejon Washington, Bartow, Fla., afternoon ceremony; and Jessica Slaton, Richmond, evening ceremony.

In addition to the milestone doctoral degree recipient, the honorees included 1,526 bachelor’s degree candidates, 457 master’s degree candidates, 134 associate degree candidates and 6 specialist degree candidates.

Holyoke, from Yellow Springs, Ohio, will teach English approximately 20 hours each week during his 10-month stay as well as learn Nepali and teach fire safety courses. He may also volunteer for a local fire department if time allows.

Holyoke said he’s excited about the opportunity to work in the Himalayan nation.

“When I was applying for the grant, I spoke with half a dozen exchange students from Nepal studying at Eastern,” Holyoke said, “and they are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. I’m incredibly excited to meet more people from Nepal, learn the language, and experience a culture vastly different from my own. It will help me career-wise by developing me as a more rounded person with world experience and a better sense of who I am, and what may values are.”

Holyoke, who chalked up a perfect 4.0 GPA while earning a baccalaureate degree in fire protection engineering technology from EKU, was active in the Student Government Association, the Association of Fire Science Technicians and the University’s nationally prestigious Honors Program.

“The Honors Program has developed in me a love of learning,” he said. “By providing an intellectually stimulating atmosphere, it helped me solidify my values. It is truly one of the best programs at Eastern, and I cannot speak highly enough of it. The professors are top-notch and pushed me to challenge myself to achieve things I never thought possible.”

Holyoke also credited Eastern’s Study Abroad Program as an “important” component in his academic and personal development.

“Without a doubt one of the best semesters I had at college was studying abroad in Vietnam,” he said. “If I could suggest just one thing to students, that would be to step outside their comfort zone, travel abroad for a semester, at least to Europe, but better still to South American, Asia or Africa.”

Holyoke also credited several “influential” professors and program directors at EKU: Dr. Larry Collins, Jim Pharr, Dr. Bruce MacLaren, Dr. David Zurick, Dr. Richard Freed, Dr. Linda Frost, Michele Gore and President Whitlock, “who took time out of his incredibly busy schedule to meet with and mentor me.

Professional activities for the group included visits to the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville and the Louisville Metro Police Department, a command staff briefing at the Kentucky State Police Headquarters, a tour of the KSP crime laboratory, a briefing by the Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, and a tour of Blackburn Correctional Institute.

Social and cultural activities included tours of the Kentucky Horse Park, Churchill Downs, and Woodford Reserve Whisky Distillery, culminating in "A Taste of Kentucky" cookout at the home of EKU faculty member Chuck and Joni Fields.

The visits were the result of almost a year of planning and preparation, and several years of research and study collaboration efforts between the College and several institutions in Finland. Professor Fields takes students annually on a Spring study visit to Finland, Russia and Estonia and this September will accompany four or five students to the biennial Conference on Policing in Central and Eastern Europe held in Lubljana, Slovenia. The conference has been co-sponsored by EKU’s College of Justice and Safety for the past several years.

The undergraduate inductees were: Johnathan Arnold, senior, Cincinnati; Kara Daughetee, junior, Somerset; Michael Flanary, senior, and Alison McFarland, senior, Lexington; Jacqualine Henson, junior, Manchester; Kaitlin Kirkpatrick, junior, Stanford; Rebecca Minton, junior, Richmond; Emma Moser, senior, Independence; Derek Wagner, junior, Wheelersburg, Ohio; and Robert York, junior, Monticello.

Graduate inductees, all students in the MBA program, were: Henry Moskal, Richmond; Randi Norwood, Lexington; and Gail Widmer, Buckhannon, W.Va.

EKU business seniors, representing the top 10 percent of their graduating class; master’s students representing the top 20 percent of their graduating class; and juniors representing the top 7 percent of their class were invited into membership in formal tapping ceremonies.

Also, during the spring, the junior with the highest GPA who is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma is also awarded a $500 scholarship. The Spring 2010 scholarship recipient was Jamie A. Gregory, a junior accounting and general business major from Gray, who was inducted in Fall 2009.

The mission and objectives of Beta Gama Sigma are to encourage and honor academic achievement in the study of business and personal and professional excellence in the practice of business; to foster an enduring commitment to the founding principles and values of honor and integrity; to encourage the pursuit of wisdom and earnestness; to support the advancement of business through, and to encourage, lifelong learning; and to enhance the value of Beta Gamma Sigma for student and alumni members in their professional lives.

The scholarships are awarded through a competitive application process that includes academic achievement, the recommendation of a faculty member, and extracurricular activities. The awards are renewable for a second year provided recipients continue to meet specified criteria.

“The Kentucky Broadcasters Association is proud to be able to help these talented students pursue their higher education," said Gary White, president and CEO of KBA. "The KBA has awarded a total of more than $130,000 in scholarships since the inception of the program in the 1992-93 academic year. Many of these recipients have gone on to successful careers in broadcasting.”

The program is named in honor of Harry Barfield, the late president and chairman of WLEX-TV in Lexington.

Griffith, who is pursuing a broadcast news option and a minor in English, has achieved a 3.94 GPA at EKU.

The group, representing EKU’s Women and Gender Studies Program, will present its research and prevention campaign during the international event in Leon Aug. 24-27.

“Human trafficking is the second largest and fastest growing criminal industry in the world,” said Marta Miranda, director of EKU’s Women and Gender Studies Program, associate professor in the Department of Anthropology, Sociology and Social Work and a licensed clinical social worker. “In Kentucky, men, women and children are being recruited and placed in unlawful and abusive sexual and labor practices. We want to be part of the effort to eradicate current-day slave trade. Our goal is to create an education and prevention campaign to increase awareness and prevent the use of human beings as labor and sexual products.”

Participating students are: Sarah McVey, Richmond; Ethan Connelly, Berea; John Bentley, Littcarr; Jeremy (Adam) Denney, Monticello; Laura Becerra, Bogota, Columbia; Adrienne Harper, Columbus, Ind.; Eden Kebede, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and Courtney Kinter, Cincinnati. They will be joined by faculty members Miranda and Maria Almario, both of whom have received statewide awards for their work on behalf of women who are victims of sexual violence.

The EKU group is working with volunteers of Colectivo de Mujeres Jovenes in Bogota, Columbia, Almario’s hometown, to develop the campaign, which will tackle issues of women’s empowerment and look at areas in which women are still vulnerable to exploitation in hopes of reducing incidents of human trafficking.

“We wanted to work with an activist group from another country, so she (Almario) connected us to Colectivo de Mujeres Jovenes, who are also presenting,” Miranda said. “So we now have an opportunity for our students to collaborate with another youth group and present together.

“Maria and I are bilingual, and we work as interpreters and translators as well as teachers,” Miranda added. “There are several Spanish majors and they will have the opportunity to apply their language skills.”

The group’s work will also be showcased at the EKU Global Perspectives Colloquium on Human Trafficking on Nov. 3 on the Richmond campus.

Several EKU departments and offices have helped finance the trip: Office of the Provost, Honors Program, Study Abroad, University Programs and the Department of Government.

During the 10-week program, she will work on Homeland Security-related research projects under the mentoring of UTEP professors. In addition to their research assignments, students are exposed to Homeland Security career opportunities through guest speakers and visits to U.S. Department of Homeland Security agencies along the U.S. Southwest border.

“I'm honored and thrilled to be given such an opportunity,” LaVictoire said.

“EKU Homeland Security Program Coordinator Dr. Mike Collier noted that “Katie is one of our top Homeland Security students and her being selected for this prestigious Scholars Academy demonstrates our students are competitive with the best students from across the United States.”

“The EKU Homeland Security program is finishing its third full year and already hosts more than 200 majors. The EKU Bachelor’s of Science degree in Homeland Security is the only such program at a public university in Kentucky.

He will present research he conducted on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) control methods on university campuses. He also receives a $500 scholarship, to be presented at the conference.

Slone worked closely with faculty mentor Sheila Pressley, from the Department of Environmental Health Science, to develop a project “that matched my interest in infectious disease. She suggested I look into a project on MRSA, which is currently a major public health concern.

“I became fascinated by the increasing number of MRSA cases found outside hospitals, what is called community-associated MRSA. We know a fair amount about the presence of the bacteria in people, but little is known about how the environment contributes to its spread.”

Slone worked with Dr. David Hufford in the Department of Clinical Laboratory Science on a method of detecting MRSA on environmental surfaces and began testing what he identified as high-risk areas on campus.

“I have always been interested in infectious disease,” Slone said. “It is something I am very passionate about.”

An active member of EKU’s nationally prestigious Honors Program and a McNair Scholar, Slone plans to attend graduate school and eventually pursue a career in international health.

As the eldest of six children, Danforth spent much of his childhood caring for his four brothers and baby sister after his parents divorced and his mother moved into the role of breadwinner for the family.

Even though she remarried when Danforth was a teenager, the years he spent as the “man of the house” left him with the desire to find a way to ensure the security of his family.

A few years after graduating from high school, he learned that his employer, Coca-Cola, offered a program would pay for college classes if he wanted to continue his education.

The dream began to take shape.

“Once you have knowledge, it is a gift you will have forever,” he explained. “And large numbers of the people unemployed often don’t seem to have degrees or advanced education.”

Danforth started taking courses at a local community college and, after 20 years of part-time classes, earned an associate degree in business.

By then, his family had expanded to include a wife and three children and the dream of continuing his education had expanded as well. Danforth recalled that pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Northwood University in Midland, an hour away from home, was challenging with young children and 10-hour workdays.

But he persevered, taking one or two classes a semester until he earned a bachelor’s degree in business in 2005. During this time, he also left Coca-Cola after 25 years to begin working at Ford Motor Company.

With his bachelor’s degree in hand, he turned his sights on a master’s degree. His work schedule, however, made it difficult to find classes he could attend.

But Danforth was determined.

He began looking at online options – and found EKU and its renowned College of Justice & Safety. A comprehensive university serving more than 16,000 students with four campuses and several regional sites, EKU was listed in the top 10 “Online Colleges with the Highest Retention Rates” and in the top 25 overall in national rankings published by Best Colleges Online in March 2010.

Danforth enrolled in Eastern’s graduate school in 2006 and began taking online courses. This semester, he received a master’s degree in Safety, Security and Emergency Management, with a concentration in occupational safety.

“EKU should be extremely proud of its online programs,” he said. “There’s not always a lot of respect for online education and people would be really surprised to know how much work it actually takes.”

Many of Danforth’s co-workers wondered why he continued to work so hard on his education when his professional career was going so well. But, while Danforth doesn’t plan on changing jobs any time soon, his newly acquired knowledge isn’t going to waste.

“I’ve started to teach health and safety classes for other employees in the company,” he explained. “And there have been times when I’ve had to make decisions about work issues where I absolutely use my education.”

Several members of his family made the trip to Kentucky to celebrate Danforth’s latest milestone in education and his first trip to Kentucky, including his 2 ½-year-old granddaughter and his mother, Sally Pasque.

Danforth credits his mother for much of his determination – not only did she lead by example when she became a single mother of six children, but her determination was displayed graphically during a house fire when Danforth was a child.

“When I was four, our house caught on fire,” he recalled. “Everyone got out except me and when my mother realized I was still in the house, she wouldn’t wait for help to arrive before coming back in to get me. We made it out, but my mother had to spend several months in the hospital because of burns and damage to her lungs. It created a very strong bond between us.”

Pasque said her “heart was overjoyed watching Lyle get his diploma. He worked so hard to get there. He wanted to go to college after graduating from high school but we were a family of 10 and there was no money for it.”

But it wasn’t regret for what might have been that caused his mother to fight back tears at Eastern’s commencement ceremony, but rather an overwhelming sense of pride.

“He wanted to make sure his family didn’t go without because he had been there,” she explained. “And he knew education was very important to succeed in life.”

And how did Danforth feel about meeting his most recent goal?

“I’m proud I stuck with it,” he said. “It’s given me a sense of security. With this degree, I know I can quickly transition into a different job in a different field if need be.”

The lineup includes 17 basket-weaving classes in Danville as well as more than 300 instructor-facilitated on-line courses through a partnership with Ed2Go.

The classes meet a wide variety of needs and interests among all ages and skill levels. Courses are scheduled in arts and crafts, computers, personal development, and recreation and exercise. Many of the classes meet only once, while others meet over a period of several weeks. Most of the Richmond campus classes are held in the Perkins Building, located on Kit Carson Drive, where public parking spaces are plentiful. Other Richmond classes are held elsewhere on campus or in the community.

Pre-registration is urged for all classes. To register, for more information or to obtain a brochure, call 622-1228, or, toll free, 877-358-6742 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays, or visit www.ceo.eku.edu/communityeducation to enroll online. EKU’s Community Education Office is located in Room 229 of the Perkins Building.

Individuals age 65 or older are entitled to enroll in any Community Education class for only a $5 processing fee, thanks to the O’Donnell Scholarship. The scholarship does not, however, cover class supplies, trips or tours.

Computer training courses cover many popular software programs, such as popular programs contained in Microsoft Office 2007, Adobe Photoshop and Acrobat, and Computer Basics.

Also, several computer science camps for youth are scheduled: Japanese Animation, Robotics, 3-D Modeling, and Animation 1, 2 and 3.

Personal growth courses include several writing and publication classes taught by Michael Garrett, Stephen King’s first editor and publisher, as well as courses in estate planning, investment basics, personal finance, basics of eBay, dog obedience, cat and dog first aid, digital photography, genealogy, handwriting analysis, vegetable gardening, Introduction to Spanish Language and Culture, and American Sign Language, among other classes.

Dozens of arts and crafts courses are scheduled. They include dozens of basketweaving and bake shop options, and courses on pottery (adults and kids), bonsai, soy wax candles, hand-carved dough bowls, natural soaps, knitting, gourds, vintage beads and sequin ornaments, and winter wreaths, among others. Music classes include Old Time 5-Sring Banjo (beginner and intermediate), Piano Lessons for Busy People (beginner and intermediate), Guitar, Musical Saw, and Mountain Dulcimer (beginner and intermediate).

Recreation and exercise classes run the gamut of activities, age requirements and skills. They include Exercise for Adults with Chronic Conditions, Body Recall, Karate for All Ages, a wide range of dance classes, Personal Fitness Trainer Certification Course, Adult and Junior Tennis, and Yoga, plus the usual array of children’s and adult swimming lessons.

On-line courses offered through Ed2Go include numerous computer (software and programming) and foreign language classes, grant writing, and many more. To see a complete listing, visit www.ed2go.com/eku.

EKU also continues to offer a wide array of workforce education courses, as well as a state-of-the-art outdoor challenge course.

There are six common reasons for not taking medications properly:

1. They’re too expensive.

If you are having trouble affording your medication, there may be help:

• Talk to your doctor about less expensive options.
• Review your prescription drug coverage. It may pay more toward a similar medicine to the one you are taking.
• Don’t stop taking your medicine without talking to your doctor first.

2. I’m confused.

Make taking your medicine a little easier.

• Ask your doctor to explain each medication and why you need it.
• Ask your doctor about an easier dosing schedule or combination products to reduce the number of pills you take.
• Use pill boxes to organize daily doses.

3. I’m too busy:

Make your medicine a priority.

• Add it to your to-do list every day.
• Keep a supply in your office.
• Learn all you can about your condition. This will help you focus on your health.
• Make sure you understand the benefits and risks of your medicine.

4. I forgot:

Make your medicine part of your daily routine.

• Take your medicine at the same time every day. Use a cell-phone alarm to remind you.
• Put a note where you keep your medicine — like the bathroom mirror or refrigerator door.
• Ask a family member to remind you.
• Mark your calendar or datebook to refill your prescription before it runs out.

5. I don’t need them:

Your medicine could be a lifesaver.

• Think of your medication as part of a healthy lifestyle.
• Having no symptoms doesn’t mean your condition is gone.
• Taking medicine doesn’t mean you are sick or weak.

6. I’m worried about side effects:

Be informed. Whenever your doctor prescribes a medication:

• Tell your doctor about any other medicines that you are taking, including vitamins, minerals, and over-the counter products.
• Read the patient information that comes with the medicine.
• Ask your doctor what to do if you experience any side effects.
• If you do experience side effects, ask your doctor about alternatives.

If you have any questions, contact the M.Y. Benefits Office at 622-1324.