SBU Driskill Gallery Reception for John Payne on Friday

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Driskill Gallery, located in the Jester Learning and Performance Center of Southwest Baptist University, will host a reception for abstract painter John Payne of Springfield, Missouri.  The reception will be held in the gallery from 6:30 - 7:30, Friday evening, March 2.

The exhibit will run through March 8, and is free and open to the public.  Gallery hours are Monday thru Friday, 9:00 A.M.– 4:00 P.M.  

 For more information contact Gallery Director Dianna Callahan, 417-328 1651.

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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. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.

www.Twitter.com/SBUniv

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SBU Students Selected for Membership in 2012 Missouri All-Collegiate Honor Band

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Five Southwest Baptist University students were selected for membership in the 2012 Missouri All-Collegiate Honor Band.  Students performed January 25-28 for the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference at the Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, Mo. The SBU students selected were:

            Lucas McLaughlin, trombone; junior music major from St. Joseph, Mo.

            Taylor Katz, euphonium; senior music major from Hampton, Iowa

            Andrew Lewis, percussion; senior church music major from Kansas City, Mo.

            Lauren Griffis, clarinet; junior music education major from Bentonville, Ark.

            Jamie Penick, clarinet; junior music major from Nixa, Mo.

Steven Thompson, alto saxophone; senior music major from Spokane, Wash. and Matt Hopwood, percussion; sophomore music education major from Bolivar, Mo. were chosen as alternates.

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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. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.

www.Twitter.com/SBUniv

www.Twitter.com/SBUbearcats

SBU Driskill Gallery Presents Art Exhibit

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Driskill Gallery, located in the Jester Learning and Performance Center of Southwest Baptist University, presents an exhibit by abstract painter John Payne of Springfield Mo.

Payne works as a professional artist and is pastor of the First Baptist Church in Morrisville, Mo. His work can be viewed online at www.artbyjohnlpayne.blogspot.com.

The exhibit will run through March 8, and is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday thru Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

 For more information contact Gallery Director Dianna Callahan, (417) 328-1651.

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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. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.

www.Twitter.com/SBUniv

www.Twitter.com/SBUbearcats

SBU Presents Faculty Saxophone Recital

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – On Thursday, March 1, Dr. Jeffery Waters will present a saxophone recital at 7:30 p.m. in Meyer Recital Hall at the Bolivar campus of Southwest Baptist University.

The program will feature works for alto saxophone and will include a transcription of Sonata No. 6 in G Minor by Antonio Vivaldi, “Caprice and Variations” (written for Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone) by Joseph Arban, “Ballade” by Alfred Reed, “Divertimento” by Roger Boutry, and “Fuzzy Bird Sonata” by Takashi Yoshimatsu.

Dr. Waters has served on the SBU music faculty since 1989 and is currently dean of the Geneva Casebolt College of Music, Arts and Letters. Dr. Bill Brown, professor of music and provost, will accompany Dr. Waters on the piano for the program. The recital is provided free of charge and is open to the public.

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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. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.

www.Twitter.com/SBUniv

www.Twitter.com/SBUbearcats

SBU Opera Theatre Presents “A Mozartian Montage”

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University’s Opera Theatre will present excerpted scenes from one of the world’s most beloved opera composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The program will be held in Meyer Recital Hall on Tuesday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m.  Admission is free and a reception will follow in the Casebolt Music Building.

The operas represented include: “Le Nozze di Figaro,” “Così Fan Tutte,” “Die Zauberflöte,” and one of his earliest works, “Bastien und Bastienna.” 

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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. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.

www.Twitter.com/SBUniv

www.Twitter.com/SBUbearcats

SBU Hosts Fourth Annual “I Love Nursing Day” College Fair

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Ronda Thomas 

(417) 820-5032

rthomas@SBUniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Southwest Baptist University-St. John’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences is hosting the fourth annual “I Love Nursing Day” college fair. The event will be held on February 25 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Springfield campus.

The public will be able to meet the faculty and staff, learn about the program, and acquire important information about beginning a career as a nurse. A pizza luncheon will be provided, and the SBU application will be free during the event.

To RSVP please contact Ronda Thomas at (417) 820-5032 or rthomas@SBUniv.edu, by Wednesday, February 22. The St John’s/SBU College of Nursing is located at 4431 South Fremont, Springfield, Mo.

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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. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.

www.Twitter.com/SBUniv

www.Twitter.com/SBUbearcats

SBU to Host Angela Morelock February 28

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University will host the assistant director of Bair, Kurtz & Dobson accounting firm of Springfield, Mo. Angela Morelock. She will be addressing issues on the “Preventing and detecting fraud in your organization” seminar held on February 28 in the Wheeler Science Center, room 101 at 6:00 p.m. at the Bolivar Campus of SBU. The seminar is free and open to the public.

For 14 years Angela has been providing fraud investigation and prevention, complex litigation support and forensic accounting services for a variety of business clients. Angela regularly provides consulting and expert witness assistance to attorneys in a variety of litigation matters.

Angela is a certified fraud examiner (CFE), accredited as a certified forensic accountant by the American College of Forensic Examiners, and also a certified public accountant. Angela is a member of the ACFA, AICPA, American College of Forensic Examiners, and Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants.  She graduated in 1993 summa cum laude from Missouri State University, Springfield, with a B.S. degree in accounting.

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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. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.

www.Twitter.com/SBUniv

www.Twitter.com/SBUbearcats

SBU Faculty and Student to Present Euphonium and Piano Recital

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Southwest Baptist University Department of Music presents Dr. Terri Knupps, euphonium, and Dr. Melinda Smashey Jones, piano, in recital on Thursday, February 23, at 7:30 p.m. in the Jane A. Meyer Recital Hall on the Bolivar campus. Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend.

The focal point of the recital is “Concertpiece” by British composer Philip Wilby.  Of this performance Wilby states, “I am delighted to hear that Terri Knupps will give my 'Concertpiece' its American Premiere at this recital.”

 Written in 2009, “Concertpiece” was commissioned by David Thornton, principal euphoniumist of the world famous Black Dyke Brass Band, to stand as a musical memorial to his late father David Thornton Sr. “Like many German forerunners, the ‘Konzertstucke’ is a short piece designed in part to be a demonstration of skill and expression, although the nature of this special commission has given the music a deeper elegaic tone. As ever, euphonium players are creating a new repertoire for their instrument, and with this score I was keen to compose a piece that could be happily programmed with piano accompaniment. My thanks to Terri and her partner for bravely undertaking its many technical challenges,” adds Wilby.

The event will also feature works by Antonio Vivaldi, Jan Hadermann, Alexander Tcherepnin, Herbert L. Clarke, and Vladislav Blazhevich. Besides pieces written or arranged for euphonium and piano, Dr. Knupps will present an unaccompanied piece as well as a euphonium duet in which she will be assisted by SBU student Taylor Katz. Katz is a senior music and communications major from Hampton, Iowa, and is pursuing a Performer’s Certificate along with his degrees.

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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. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.

www.Twitter.com/SBUniv

www.Twitter.com/SBUbearcats

SBU Athletics Names Dougherty and Dusenberg Rex Brown Recipients at HOF/Honors Night Banquet

Chris Martin, Assistant Director of Athletics for Operations

2/9/2012 2:10:00 PM

Photo Gallery

Bolivar, Mo. - On February 4, the SBU Athletics Department hosted its fourth annual Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Honors Night.  Over 250 people saw four new members inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame and seniors from every sport recognized along with their coaches.  Senior athletes Ryan Dougherty and Katie Dusenberg each received the Rex Brown Award for Excellence, the highest honor given by the SBU athletics department annually to a graduating male and female senior athlete.  SBU Director of Athletics Mike Pitts had this to say about the night, "The annual Honors Night Banquet is the absolute highlight of our entire year. It's a time when we get to honor our senior student-athletes and induct members into the SBU Athletics Hall of Fame. I enjoy the entire weekend, from the brunch in the President's home to the end of the banquet when we take pictures. My favorite part is hearing the stories that I've never heard before from all of the Bearcats who have made our program great."

The class of 2012 was comprised of Sheldon Pace (basketball), Dante Cipulli (tennis), Virginia (MacKenzie) Sparks (volleyball) and Dewayne Miner (cross country/track and field).  Pace led SBU to the 2006 MIAA regular season and tournament championships.  In that year he was named to four different All-American teams and finished runner up (Dee Brown, Illinois) for the Bob Cousy Award.  Cipulli won the ITA Division II Singles National Championship in 2004 and was a two-time All-American.  He holds the school record with 110 victories and led SBU to three MIAA championships.  Sparks was a NAIA All-American and Academic All-American in 1986.  In her two years at SBU she led the Bearcats to a 64-19 record.  She was a two-time All-Conference and All-District selection.  Miner was a two-time All-American in Indoor Track and Field and still holds the MIAA record for the Indoor Mile Run.  He owns three different SBU track and field records and was a two-time MIAA champion.

Ryan Dougherty and Katie Dusenberg were awarded the Rex Brown Award for Excellence.  Dougherty is a senior basketball player from Fort Worth, TX.  He is majoring in biology and will graduate in May.  Dougherty has been a team captain the last two seasons for the Bearcats, been active with Special Olympics and been a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee.  He plans on attending Physical Therapy school after graduating this spring and currently maintains a 3.6 GPA.  After last season Ryan was named to the NABC National Honors Court honoring the top student-athletes in college basketball.  Ryan has been a three year starter while at SBU, helped the 08-09 team advance to the Sweet 16 and holds the All-Time record for made 3 point field goals.  He ranks 9th all-time in points, 7th in assists, 6th in steals, 4th in games played and is the all-time leader in minutes played.  Head Men's Coach Jeff Guiot had this to say about him:  “Ryan Dougherty is an example of what excellence is in athletics and academics.  He has performed at the highest level in both areas while enduring personal injury and family tragedy.  Ryan has honored SBU and his family by demanding perfection from himself and doing his very best even when circumstances afforded him excuses to lower his expectations.  His lifestyle of “toughness” inspires those around him raise their standards making him a true Rex Brown Leader.”

Katie Dusenberg is a track and field athlete from Lebanon, MO.  Dusenberg is a psychology and sociology major.  She currently maintains a 3.66 GPA.  She was a member of the first women's relay team to earn All-American honors in SBU history.  She was a key member of the SBU women's 4x400 relay team that competed in the 2011 Indoor National Championships and came home with a 7th place finish.  She has provisionally qualified for the Indoor Nationals in the 4x400 relay this year.  She holds 4 SBU track and field records.  Dusenberg was named an Academic All-American last season and has been involved with SBU missions since coming to SBU.  Track and Field coach Corey McElhaney had this to say about Katie:  "Katie is a perfect example of what I expect of my athletes.  She is a hard worker and a team leader who is always eager to help one of her younger teammates.  Katie is active in strengthening her faith through attending church, going on mission trips through SBU and being involved in FCA.  Katie is a servant leader who is humble in success and motivated through defeat. I am so proud of the great young woman Katie has become and the impact she has made on her team and underclassmen.  Katie has raised the bar for SBU Track and Field not only by being an All-American but also through her dedication to academics and ability to inspire those around her."

For more information about the Hall of Fame at SBU, please go to the athletics website at www.sbubearcats.com/hof.aspx or visit the physical location of the Hall of Fame in the front lobby of the Meyer Sports Center. Please send nominations for the Hall of Fame to Jeff Weseloh, Director of Athletics Media Relations, at jweseloh@sbuniv.edu.

Speaking Bearcats Successful at Back-to-Back Tournaments

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Speaking Bearcats recently kicked off the spring portion of their season with great success in back-to-back tournament weekends.

Webster University Tournament (January 27-29)

The Speaking Bearcats took fourth place overall out of forty schools in attendance. In sweepstakes, SBU earned fourth place in individual events and fifth place in debate, competing against teams from New York, Illinois, Texas, Missouri, Kentucky, Kansas, and Iowa.

The debate team of Meg Burns and Jenna King took home a semi-finalist award in novice parliamentary debate, and the team of Shawna Barkley and Nik Fischer received a quarter-finalist award in junior parliamentary debate. Burns earned second place in top novice debate speaker awards, and Fischer earned seventh in top junior debate speaker awards.

The pentathlon awards also were given to students who competed in at least five events; the awards are highly respected since speakers must not only earn high rankings but must also compete in a variety of events.  In individual events Barkley received third place in pentathlon, third place in communication analysis, third place in informative speaking, third place in persuasive speaking, and top novice in duo interpretation. Fischer earned second place and top novice in impromptu speaking, fourth place in communication analysis, and fifth place in informative speaking. Burns earned an excellent in after dinner speaking. 

Kansas Wesleyan University Border Wars tournament (February 3-5)

The Speaking Bearcats earned first place overall at part one of the Kansas Wesleyan University Border Wars tournament. The Bearcats won the overall sweepstakes award, which is a combination of team points earned in debate and individual events.

According to Becca Koe, SBU lecturer in communication arts, the Bearcats won against a competitive field of teams from Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri.

Koe said, “The Bearcats competed all day Friday and Saturday, and they managed to come out with top ranks and close out the competition completely in the finals of novice parliamentary debate. The team also took third in debate sweepstakes, and fourth in individual events sweepstakes.”

Burns said, “This weekend was very stressful, but in the end worth it. I’m so blessed to be a part of the SBU Forensics family.” New team member Catie Lathrop added, “Through forensics you become diverse, are able to think on your feet, and reveal the performer you never knew you were.”

Going undefeated in novice parliamentary debate and winning the championship title were team members Barkley and Fisher. Also, sharing the champion title were King and Burns. Debate partners Lathrop and Kaila Todd also shared the championship title in novice parliamentary debate. Barkley earned top novice debate speaker in parliamentary debate followed by Todd in second, Burns in third, and Fisher in fourth.

In individual events, Fisher earned first place in informative speaking, second place in both extemporaneous speaking and communication analysis, and third place in after dinner speaking. King earned third place in program of oral interpretation and sixth place in after dinner speaking. Burns earned fifth place in communication analysis. Matt Adams earned fifth place in extemporaneous speaking.

Competitors King and Barkley earned second and third place pentathlon awards, respectively. In addition, students who meet the requirements for pentathlon and compete in debate qualify for the endurance awards. Competitors Barkley and King earned second and third place, respectively.

In two weeks, the Speaking Bearcats will be traveling to Kirksville, Missouri, to compete at the Missouri Association of Forensics Activities (MAFA) State Tournament hosted by Truman State University.

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PHOTO: From left to right: Jenna King, Kaila Todd, Matt Adams, Shawna Barkley, Meg Burns, Nik Fischer, and Catie Lathrop. All are freshmen except for Matt who is a sophomore.

Southwest Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at an affordable price. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.

www.Twitter.com/SBUniv

www.Twitter.com/SBUbearcats

SBU May Commencement Information Announced

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

Bolivar Campus May 2012 Commencement:

The Bolivar campus commencement ceremony will be held Saturday, May 19, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. outdoors on the Merrill Burnidge Memorial Forum (south of Mabee Chapel).  A graduation information letter will be mailed in March to the May candidates for graduation.  For more details, contact the Bolivar campus at 417-328-1601.

Springfield Campus May 2012 Commencement:

The Springfield campus commencement will be held May 17, 2012, 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of Second Baptist Church, 3111 E. Battlefield Rd., Springfield.  A graduation information letter will be mailed in March to the May candidates for graduation. For more details, contact the Springfield campus at 417-820-2069.

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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. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

SBU’s Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a day at (417) 399-7918.

www.Twitter.com/SBUniv

www.Twitter.com/SBUbearcats