Wednesday, November 17, 2010

SBU Library Announces Outstanding Student Assistant Award

SBU Library Announces Outstanding Student Assistant Award

Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
417-328-1803 / scsmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. - The Southwest Baptist University Libraries recently honored Rex Ybanez, Bolivar, Mo., as the Outstanding Student Assistant of the Month for October 2010. Ybanez is a Bachelor of Arts in English major at SBU’s Geneva Casebolt College of Music, Arts and Letters.

The University Libraries’ faculty and staff established the monthly award to recognize outstanding employment characteristics such as dependability, quality of work, motivation, attitude, and cooperation. Ybanez, a student assistant in Media Services Department, received an award letter from Edward W. Walton, Dean of the University Libraries, a certificate of recognition, and a gift. 

The University Libraries employs 25 part-time student assistants through the University’s work-study program and one part-time graduate assistant.

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Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. Since 1878, the faculty and staff have created a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. The University has been named one of America’s Best Christian Colleges® for 14 consecutive years, one of America’s 100 Best College Buys® for 15 consecutive years, and it has been named among institutions with America’s Best College Scholarships ® for the past four years by Institutional Research and Evaluation, Inc. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing & Communications is available to news media 24/7 at 417-399-7918.


SBU Invites Faculty and Staff to Christmas Banquet

SBU Invites Faculty and Staff to Christmas Banquet

Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
417-328-1803 / scsmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University announces its annual employee Christmas Banquet will be held at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 9, in the Mellers Dining Commons. Both current and all retired faculty and staff are invited to attend. The Faculty and Staff Life Beautiful Award and the Annual Service Awards will be presented.

For more information, contact Paula Livingston, director of major events at 417-328-1807

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SBU’s Office of Marketing & Communications is available to news media 24/7 at 417-399-7918.


Wednesday, November 10, 2010

SBU Speech & Debate Team Make Top Ten at Louisiana Tournament

Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
417-328-1803 / scsmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Southwest Baptist University speech and debate team finished in eighth place among the 28 schools in attendance at the Red River Swing Tournament Nov. 5-6, at Louisiana State University Shreveport. The Bearcats were quite efficient given that they had the fifth smallest entry at the tournament.

Junior Chelsea Turner and her debate partner senior Jordan Hart reached the semi-finals of Varsity Parliamentary Debate. Hart brought home a third place trophy in Persuasive speaking and earned a sixth place finish in Communication Analysis. Freshman Matt Adams just missed reaching the Octafinals of Public Debate by a few speaker points. Hart's successes in individual events competition were rewarded with a second place finish in pentathlon—meaning that he scored the second most in individual events points at the tournament.

Each member of the SBU team contributed to the team's success. Each member of the team placed in the Pilot Award standings, which honors the students who participate in both speech and debate and ranks them according to how many points they scored for their team over the weekend. In this category Hart was the seventh most productive competitor at the tournament. Turner finished in 16th place in this category while Adams was the 25th most productive competitor at the tournament this weekend. 

"We have much growing to do, but we are very proud of the way our team performed with style, skill, and grace throughout the weekend,” said Dr. David Bailey, director of forensics. “Our good results at the tournament were particularly impressive in light of how short-handed we were. The average team at this tournament had around 10 competitors each. We managed to hold our own and compete very well with only three." He added, "Perhaps our good results will encourage more talented SBU students to come be a part of our winning tradition."

The team competes next Nov. 19-20, at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.

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Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. Since 1878, the faculty and staff have created a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. The University has been named one of America’s Best Christian Colleges® for 14 consecutive years, one of America’s 100 Best College Buys® for 15 consecutive years, and it has been named among institutions with America’s Best College Scholarships ® for the past four years by Institutional Research and Evaluation, Inc. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing & Communications is available to news media 24/7 at 417-399-7918.

SBU CIS Team Places in Top 25 in Regional Competition

Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
417-328-1803 / scsmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – A team of three students from Southwest Baptist University’s Department of Computer and Information Sciences left their mark on the IBM-sponsored 2010 Battle of the Brains, Saturday, Nov. 6.  Senior Ashley Jones (Shawnee Mission, Kan.), Sophomore Weston Herrington (Carthage, Mo.) and Sophomore Jordan Hull (Greenfield, Mo.) claimed a spot for SBU at the prestigious competition among the elite top twenty-five teams in the Mid-Central region of the United States (Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee).


“Our team was doing well, but hadn’t made into the top 25 with about five minutes to go in the five-hour competition,” said Dr. DeClue, Chair of the CIS Department.  “One of the last correct solutions in the contest came from SBU and that grabbed a spot in the top 25. That’s a pretty amazing accomplishment given that any school with a graduate program in computer science can put their grad students on their teams.  Our kids were happy, and I know I was very satisfied with their performance.  They worked hard, they had fun, and God blessed their efforts. That’s a good day in anybody’s book.”

SBU’s finish among the elite top 25 in the region placed it in the top three from Missouri along with Washington University (5th), and Missouri State University (18th).  Other Missouri schools represented included St. Louis University (27th), University of Central Missouri (35th), the University of Missouri-Kansas City (43rd), College of the Ozarks (51st), Park University (57th), Northwest Missouri State University (74th), Drury University (76th), Maryville University (98th), Lindenwood College (119th) and Missouri Western University (136th).

Also competing for Southwest Baptist University was a team of freshmen who completed five problems and finished in 33rd place.

“These three freshmen finished higher than any team of freshmen I’ve ever seen,” said DeClue.  “It’s a real testament to their high school programs and to their work ethic since they’ve arrived on our campus.”

Competing on the freshman team were Luke Abbott (Camdenton High School, Camdenton, Mo.), Jacob Foster (Webb City High School, Webb City, Mo.) and David Haugh (Heartland High School, Belton, Mo.).

Finishing four problems and rounding out SBU’s effort in 94th place were juniors Maaura Stucky (Kansas City, Mo.), Matt Copeland (Springfield, Mo.), and Ryan McGlaughlin (Molene, Ill.).  Coaches for SBU this year included Dr. Baochuan Lu, Dr. Jim Cain, and DeClue.

The ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) is a multitier, team-based, programming competition operating under the auspices of ACM.  The contest involves several tens of thousands of the finest students and faculty in computing disciplines at almost 2,000 universities from over 80 countries on six continents.  It is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious programming contest in the world.

FINAL RESULTS
PLACE TEAM                                                        LOCATION                   SOLVED            MINUTES
1.       University of Illinois – A                          Urbana-Champagne, IL         9                                     948
2.       University of Chicago – A                   Chicago, IL                                   9                                  1175
3.       University of Chicago – B                    Chicago, IL                                   8                                     768
4.       Illinois State University – A                                  Normal, IL                                   7                                     488
5.       Washington University – A                                  St. Louis, MO                             7                                     496
6.       Wheaton – A                                                             Wheaton, IL                               7                                     634
7.       Washington University – B                                   St. Louis, MO                             7                                     708
8.       Loyola University – A                                              Chicago, IL                                   7                                     809
9.       Northern Kentucky University – A                    Highland Heights, KY               7                                     832
10.   University of Illinois – B                                         Urbana-Champagne, IL         7                                     849
11.   Middle Tennessee State University – A         Murfreesboro, TN                   7                                     864
12.   Northwestern University                                     Evanston, IL                                                                           7  867
13.   University of Louisville – A                                   Louisville, KY                              6                                     487
14.   Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology             Terre Haute, IN                         6                                     497
15.   Centre College – A                                                  Danville, KY                                 6                                     512
16.   Hendrix University – A                                           Conway, AR                                                                           6  522
17.   DePaul University – A                                            Chicago, IL                                   6                                     557
18.   Missouri State University – A                              Springfield, MO                        6                                     569
19.   University of Arkansas-Little Rock – A             Little Rock, AR                           6                                     624
20.   Tennessee Tech University – A                          Cookville, TN                              6                                     626
21.   University of Central Arkansas – A                   Conway, AR                                                                           6  643
22.   Principia College – A                                               Elsah, IL                                        6                                     646
23.   University of Chicago – C                                      Chicago, IL                                   6                                     660
24.   SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY – A           BOLIVAR, MO                            6                                     666
25.   Harding University – A                                           Searcy, AR                                   6                                     671
26.   University of Arkansas – A                                   Fayetteville, AR                        6                                     706
27.   St. Louis University – A                                          St.  Louis, MO                            6                                     939
-                                                                                      -                                                      -                                           -
32. University of Kentucky – A                                   Lexington, KY                             5                                     388
35.  University of Central Missouri – A                    Warrensburg, MO                   5                                     506
37.  Belmont University – A                                         Nashville, TN                              5                                     531
43.  University of Missouri-Kansas City – A            Kansas City MO                         5                                     594
51.  College of the Ozarks – A                                     Point Lookout, MO                  4                                     214
57.  Park University – A                                                  Kansas City, MO                       4                                     279
74.  Northwest Missouri State University - A        Maryville, MO                           4                                     384
76.  Drury University – A                                               Springfield, MO                        4                                     387
98.  Maryville University – A                                                                St. Louis, MO     4                                     610
119.Lindenwood College – A                                       St. Louis, MO                             3                                     261
136. Missouri Western University – A                     St. Joseph, MO                         2                                     390

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PHOTO:
L-R is Weston Herrington, Jordan Hull, and Ashley Jones

Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. Since 1878, the faculty and staff have created a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. The University has been named one of America’s Best Christian Colleges® for 14 consecutive years, one of America’s 100 Best College Buys® for 15 consecutive years, and it has been named among institutions with America’s Best College Scholarships ® for the past four years by Institutional Research and Evaluation, Inc. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing & Communications is available to news media 24/7 at 417-399-7918.


St. John’s/SBU College of Nursing hosts Fourth Annual Homeschool Health and Safety Fair

by N. Lee Weeks

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The fourth annual Homeschool Health and Safety Fair sponsored by Southwest Home Education Ministry (SHEM) and St. John’s/SBU College of Nursing and Health Sciences will be held Friday, November 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm at the College of Nursing, 4431 S. Fremont, in Springfield. The fair is free for all Southwest MO families who homeschool their children.
According to Dana Hunt, BSN Program Director, for St. John’s/SBU, “This is a wonderful community event sponsored by SHEM and St. John's/SBU. We are offering a variety of health screenings and health education opportunities. Immunization information and the flu vaccine will be available by the Springfield-Greene County Health Department.”
Screenings include dental, vision, hearing, blood pressure, lead exposure risk assessment, and height, weight, and BMI measurements. Educational opportunities include nutrition/healthy eating, physical activity, handwashing/illness prevention, diabetes and obesity, smoking/tobacco prevention, infant safe sleep, emergency preparedness, fire safety, bike and helmet safety, and science education.
The fair is staffed with College of Nursing RN to BSN students and a variety of community agencies.
For additional information contact Dana Hunt at 417.820.5060 or e-mail dhunt@sbuniv.edu.

SBU Professor Presents at Recent Math Conferences, Nominated for Teaching Award

Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
417-328-1803 / scsmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University Professor and Chair of the Mathematics Department Dr. Kevin Hopkins recently presented at the Kansas City Regional Mathematics Technology EXPO (http://www.kcmathtechexpo.org/). His session was titled "Calculus Animations with Geogebra". 

According to Dr. Hopkins, the abstract for the session was "Geogebra is a free, web-based software that does dynamic geometry and graphing. The dynamic feature of the software allows for animations that can illustrate a variety of topics in Calculus. This talk will show some of the animations the speaker has used in Calculus, but also feature some instruction on how to create such animations.” Dr. Hopkins said attendees were impressed by the ability of the software to produce dynamic illustrations and by the "on the fly" creation of some animations for use in their classes.

Dr. Hopkins also presented at the Southwest Missouri District Association of Mathematics Teachers Fall conference on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield.  This was the 2nd Annual Drive-In Conference and the theme was "Encouraging Reasoning in the Mathematics Classroom." 

Dr. Hopkins presented two sessions - one for elementary teachers and one for middle school teachers - entitled "Math Contest Probability."  An abstract of the session was "Math contests are one way to challenge mathematically gifted students.  Probability questions, in particular, allow for consideration from a variety of viewpoints, so can open the door to many possible discussions.  The ideas of probability occur in society in a variety of ways.  Probability questions are typically easy to state, easy to think about and easy to simulate, but often the results are unpredictable."


At the SWMDAMT conference they also announced the group's nominations for the MCTM (Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics) Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards.  Dr. Hopkins was selected by the Executive Board to be the group's post-secondary nomination.   Other groups in the state can also make nominations for the MCTM Awards (
http://moctm.semo.edu/awardsscholarships/awards_scholarships.htm). The MCTM's award will be presented in December at the Annual Conference in Columbia.  Dr. Hopkins will present at that conference with a session titled "PreCalculus Animations with Geogebra."

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Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. Since 1878, the faculty and staff have created a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. The University has been named one of America’s Best Christian Colleges® for 14 consecutive years, one of America’s 100 Best College Buys® for 15 consecutive years, and it has been named among institutions with America’s Best College Scholarships ® for the past four years by Institutional Research and Evaluation, Inc. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing & Communications is available to news media 24/7 at 417-399-7918.


Tuesday, November 9, 2010

SBU Jazz Ensemble in Concert Nov. 16

Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
417-328-1803 / scsmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Southwest Baptist University department of music is proud to present the Jazz Ensemble in a free concert at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16, in the Meyer Recital Hall at the Bolivar campus. The ensemble is under the direction of Dr. Jeffery Waters, professor of music and dean of the Casebolt College of Music, Arts and Letters. 

The 18-piece big-band ensemble is the champion of American jazz in the campus community, and will once again feature student performers in a program of standards and contemporary jazz tunes.  Favorites from the standards include “My Foolish Heart,”  “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” and Dave Brubeck’s “In Your Own Sweet Way.”  Contemporary selections on the program include “Street Music,”  the jazz waltz “Step Lively,” and a new up-beat Latin tune called “Emergency Stopping Only.”  A rather novel tune on this fall’s concert is “Hunting Wabbits,” which has recently been made famous by Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band.  “Hunting Wabbits” mixes more serious jazz elements with playful music that is reminiscent of the music which accompanies cartoons. 

“If you like jazz in any of its flavors—swing, Latin, contemporary, ballads—we like to think we offer a little something for everyone,” said Waters. 

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Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. Since 1878, the faculty and staff have created a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. The University has been named one of America’s Best Christian Colleges® for 14 consecutive years, one of America’s 100 Best College Buys® for 15 consecutive years, and it has been named among institutions with America’s Best College Scholarships ® for the past four years by Institutional Research and Evaluation, Inc. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing & Communications is available to news media 24/7 at 417-399-7918.

SBU Awards High School Bands During Homecoming

Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
417-328-1803 / scsmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University recently held its annual Homecoming Parade in which several local high school bands participated. Parade bands were judged on music, marching, auxiliary groups, drumline, and drum major.  At the conclusion of the parade, the bands heard a mini-concert by the SBU Jazz Ensemble during the awards ceremony in Pike Auditorium. 

The following awards were presented:  Class 1 First Place, Wheaton High School Band, Michael Robbins, director; Class 3 Second Place, El Dorado Springs High School, Ken Eberhart, director; Class 3 First Place, Strafford High School, Shane Harmon, director; Best Auxiliary Group, Strafford; Best Drum Major, Strafford; Best Drumline, Strafford; and Oustanding Band of the Day, Strafford. 

The Bolivar High School Liberator Pride Marching Band, directed by Steve McClard and John Trew, also marched in the parade as the hometown host band, and not in competition. 

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Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. Since 1878, the faculty and staff have created a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. The University has been named one of America’s Best Christian Colleges® for 14 consecutive years, one of America’s 100 Best College Buys® for 15 consecutive years, and it has been named among institutions with America’s Best College Scholarships ® for the past four years by Institutional Research and Evaluation, Inc. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing & Communications is available to news media 24/7 at 417-399-7918.


Monday, November 1, 2010

SBU Hosted Qualifying Math Contest

SBU Hosted Qualifying Math Contest

Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
417-328-1803 / scsmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Southwest Baptist University mathematic department recently hosted The Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics/mathleague.org qualifying mathematics contest. Forty-two students from eight schools participated in the competition. Of these students, 40 were high school students, and two were seventh graders.

The contest consisted of two individual tests (called Sprint and Target) and two team tests (one a relay event).  All students took the same exams, but on the individual events, awards were given by grade level.  Top place finishers were: Sprint, overall: Gerhardt Hinkle-Springfield Central-1st, Shelby McMurray-Spokane-2nd, and Warut Virjitenbaronk-(a seventh grader) Branson-3rd; Target, overall: Gerhardt Hinkle-Springfield Central-1st, John Olomon-Howell-Bolivar-2nd, and Joe Walegir-(a seventh grader) Nixa-3rd. 

On the small school team contest, Brandon McCoy, GW McElfresh, and Shelby McMurray from Spokane formed the first place team.  In the large school team contest; Michael Bakker, Gerhardt Hinkle and Jonathan Richards from Springfield Central formed the first place team.  In the relay event, the team of Michael Bakker, Gerhardt Hinkle and Jonathan Richards from Springfield Central and the team of Megan Reed, Cody Watson, and Brandon Yokely from Forsyth tied for first place.

School totals of all test scores are computed for a sweepstakes total.  In the large school division, Springfield Central took first among the four large schools, beating Branson, Nixa and Ozark.  In the small school division, Spokane took first among the four small schools, beating Bolivar, Forsyth, and Springfield Catholic.

At each competition, students achieving a certain score on any exam qualify for the state competition in Columbia, on April 16, 2011.  Students qualifying at this event were Brandon McCoy, GW McElfresh, and Shelby McMurray from Spokane and Michael Bakker, Gerhardt Hinkle and Jonathan Richards from Springfield Central.  This was the first of six qualifying events that will occur during the year.  The next qualifying event is Saturday, November 6, at Spokane High School.  Information on the contest is available from http://mathleague.org/hsevents.php.

SBU Department of Mathematics Chair and Professor Kevin Hopkins said, “Congratulations to all participating students, and their coaches, for their dedication to mathematics.”

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Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. Since 1878, the faculty and staff have created a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. The University has been named one of America’s Best Christian Colleges® for 14 consecutive years, one of America’s 100 Best College Buys® for 15 consecutive years, and it has been named among institutions with America’s Best College Scholarships ® for the past four years by Institutional Research and Evaluation, Inc. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing & Communications is available to news media 24/7 at 417-399-7918.


SBU Theatre to Present “Pride and Prejudice”

Southwest Baptist University News Release
Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
417-328-1803 / scsmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. - SBU Theatre will present Jane Austen's classic "Pride and Prejudice" at 7 p.m. on Nov. 4-6 and Nov. 12-13 in Davis-Newport Theater in the Jester Learning and Performance Center on the Bolivar campus. There will also be a 2 p.m. matinee on Nov. 6 and Nov. 13. Advance tickets are recommended.

Tickets may be purchased at the box office in Jester 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tickets may be purchased over the phone with a credit card at 417-328-1691. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.sbuniv.edu/theatre.  Tickets can no longer be reserved without payment.

Ticket prices are as follows:
$2 for SBU Students
$3 for SBU Alumni, Senior Citizens, and Students of Other Schools
$5 for Adults
Each faculty/staff member will receive 1 complimentary ticket.

Please call 417-328-1691 with any questions.

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Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. Since 1878, the faculty and staff have created a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. The University has been named one of America’s Best Christian Colleges® for 14 consecutive years, one of America’s 100 Best College Buys® for 15 consecutive years, and it has been named among institutions with America’s Best College Scholarships ® for the past four years by Institutional Research and Evaluation, Inc. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing & Communications is available to news media 24/7 at 417-399-7918.