SBU Newsroom

SBU Presents “Off the Wall: The Music of the Spheres”

2012-03-14T13:42:00.002-05:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Chamber Singers of Southwest Baptist University will present “Off the Wall: The Music of the Spheres,” a program of early music on Tuesday, March 27, in the Meyer Wellness Center racquetball courts. The concert is free but seating is limited and reservations are required. The ensemble will present the program twice, at 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

The Chamber Singers is an auditioned ensemble of 17 singers whose repertoire consists of vocal music of the Medieval and Renaissance eras. “The title of our program gives a hint to the audience,” say assistant professor of music, and director of choral studies at SBU, Dr. James Tarrant. “The concert will take place in the only venue in southwest Missouri suitable for this type of music!” adds Dr. Tarrant.

The ensemble will present works from obscure composers such as Landini, Peñalosa, and Gesualdo, chant from anonymous manuscripts, and music from more well-known composers such as Josquin, Palestrina, and Victoria.

For more information or to make reservations, please contact the Department of Music at (417) 328-1644.

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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.

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SBU Awarding Two Honorary Doctorates on Founders’ Day

2012-03-14T13:24:00.000-05:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University will celebrate Founders’ Day with a formal chapel program on Monday, March 26, 2012, in Pike Auditorium on the Bolivar campus. Dr. C. Pat Taylor, SBU president, will deliver the address. All current and retired faculty and staff are welcome to attend the chapel service.

During the program, SBU will present Donald Babb, CEO of Citizen Memorial Hospital, an honorary Doctor of Business, and John Marshall, Lead Pastor of Second Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo., an honorary Doctor of Theology.

Biographies of Honorary Doctorate Recipients

Donald J. Babb

Donald J. Babb was born on October 19, 1940, in Piedmont, Missouri. His family moved to the small town of Silva and eventually West Plains, where he was raised by his mother and maternal grandparents.

With a natural affinity for healthcare combined with education and duties while in the Air Force, Mr. Babb focused his energy in the healthcare field. He returned to school at Mineral Area College where he completed a business degree, and later continued his education earning a master’s degree in healthcare management and finance at Ohio State University.

Mr. Babb was working for Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1981 when he was called to help construct and develop a new hospital in Bolivar. What started out as a short-term project quickly developed into a life-long goal of creating a rural healthcare system that set the standard for care throughout the nation.

Mr. Babb has provided visionary leadership for Citizens Memorial Healthcare (CMH) for more than 29 years. Since 1981, Mr. Babb has led Citizens Memorial Hospital as its one and only chief executive officer. He also serves as the executive director of the Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation and Riverside Management and Rehabilitation, LLC. Under his leadership, CMH has transformed from a small, acute care hospital into a fully-integrated health care delivery system. CMH has grown at a rate seldom seen in rural areas and now provides a broad array of healthcare services to 100,000 residents of an eight-county area in southwest Missouri. CMH is Bolivar’s largest employer.

In recognition of his leadership and service, Mr. Babb has been presented with six major awards. In 1993, he received the Missouri State Association of Health Occupations Educators Distinguished Service Award for Community Involvement. He was honored with the Missouri Hospital Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 1994. In 1997, Mr. Babb was presented the prestigious Shirley Ann Munroe Leadership Development Award by the American Hospital Association’s Section for Small and Rural Hospitals and the Hospital Research and Educational Trust. He received the Visionary Leadership Award in 1999 from the Missouri Hospital Association. Honored for his outstanding contribution to healthcare in the state, Mr. Babb was presented the Missourian Award in September 2008.

Mr. Babb is a previous chairman for the Missouri Hospital Association and served on the board of directors for the Missouri Health Care Association. Mr. Babb is the current chairman for the Hospital Services Group, a company established to provide malpractice coverage for health care facilities and physicians. He also is a member of the board of directors for Southern Missouri Bank in Marshfield and Bank of Bolivar, and Silo Ridge Country Club in Bolivar. Recognizing that “good health” is a lifestyle, Mr. Babb has worked extensively toward the development of a wellness and fitness facility for the Bolivar community. He served as a member of a community steering committee for the development of a YMCA for Bolivar. He currently serves on the board of the Roy Blunt YMCA, which was constructed and opened in 2007.

A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Mr. Babb and his wife, Carrie, have lived in Bolivar, Missouri, for 30 years and have two children and four grandchildren

John E. Marshall

John E. Marshall was born on December 22, 1951, in Sikeston, Missouri. He is a sixth generation preacher who was called to the ministry at age 15.

The Marshalls came to Second Baptist Church, Springfield, Missouri, in November 1995. The church is annually one of Missouri’s leading churches in baptisms and is the state’s largest contributor to the Cooperative Program. Second averages 1700 in its three Sunday schools, and 2200 in its six worship services: two blended, two contemporary, one Burmese, and one Chinese. Second sends out hundreds of people each year on mission trips and has planted seven new churches in the past four years.

Dr. Marshall earned a degree in mathematics from Southeast Missouri State University in 1972. In 1975, he graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, becoming the youngest man ever to earn a Doctor of Ministry from a Southern Baptist seminary at the age of 23.

In 2004, Dr. Marshall won the New Orleans Seminary “Distinguished Alumnus Award.” He preached the 2009 Annual Sermon for the Southern Baptist Convention. Midwestern Seminary named him its 2011 “Honorary Alumnus of the Year.” He has served as second vice president, first vice president, and president of the Missouri Baptist Convention.

Dr. Marshall married Ruth Huey on March 20, 1971. They have two children and five grandchildren.

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Speaking Bearcats Finish Strong at State Tournament and at LSU

2012-03-12T16:04:00.000-05:00

Speaking Bearcats Finish Strong at State Tournament and at LSU

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. –The Southwest Baptist University Speaking Bearcats recently competed at the Missouri Association of Forensics Activities (MAFA) State Tournament at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo., and at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

At MAFA, the Speaking Bearcats earned second place in overall team sweepstakes, finishing just behind their host Truman State University. The Speaking Bearcats also finished third in individual events and debate sweepstakes.

The Speaking Bearcats won the following individual awards:

Freshman Shawna Barkley qualified to attend the prestigious Interstate Oratorical Competition in April with her second place finish in persuasive speaking. Barkley also placed fourth in communication analysis, and fifth in informative speaking.

Freshman Meg Burns won pentathlon (best overall individual events speaker at the whole tournament) on the strength of her excellent results such as first place in forensics criticism, second place in communication analysis, fourth place in after dinner speaking, sixth place in program of oral interpretation, and fourth place in prose interpretation.

Freshman Kaila Todd was top novice in poetry interpretation and impromptu speaking with sixth place finishes in each event.

Freshman Nik Fischer placed third in communication analysis and seventh in informative speaking.

Sophomore Matt Adams placed sixth in informative speaking.

Freshman Jenna King was the sixth place speaker in after dinner speaking.

The freshman team of Nik Fischer and Shawna Barkley were Missouri State Champs in novice Parliamentary debate. Jenna King and Meg Burns reached the quarterfinals of novice parliamentary debate.

SBU’s Director of Forensics Dr. David Bailey said, “In the ‘Mardi Gras Classic’ on the campus of Louisiana State University, the contest was a small but very competitive swing tournament (two back to back tournaments in a single weekend) drawing national-caliber competition from all over the Southern United States, including perennial powerhouses such as the University of Alabama, George Mason University, Texas State University, McNeese State University, and William Carey University. The Speaking Bearcats finished first in overall sweepstakes for both halves of the swing and for the weekend.”

In debate, Speaking Bearcats won the following awards:

Catherine Lathrop reached the octofinals of international public debate.

Kaila Todd was a quarterfinalist in public debate.

Meg Burns and Jenna King had the sixth-best preliminary round record at the tournament and just barely missed breaking to the semi-finals of parliamentary debate.

Nik Fischer and Shawna Barkley took second place in parliamentary debate.

The two individual events tournaments were also quite rewarding for SBU. A few of the highlights included:

Nik Fischer took third place in pentathlon behind a fourth place finish in extemporaneous speaking, a sixth place finish in persuasion, a fourth place finish in informative, a fourth place finish in after dinner speaking, and a first place finish in communication analysis.

Shawna Barkley placed sixth in extemporaneous speaking, third place in communication analysis, and third place in persuasion.

Meg Burns was the tournament champion in dramatic interpretation taking first place in the event. She also won second place in communication analysis, fifth place in after dinner speaking, seventh place in prose interpretation, and sixth in program of oral interpretation.

Jenna King also had a strong showing in her events with a fourth place finish in persuasion and a sixth place finish in after dinner speaking.

The Speaking Bearcats also received recognition for their comprehensive approach to forensics. The LSU tournament gives a special award called the “Tiger Award” recognizing the total point contributions made by individual speakers in both speech and debate combined.

Dr. Bailey noted that “in an era when so many intercollegiate forensics programs specialize in one category or the other but rarely both, the Tiger Award is excellent recognition for the hard work students do to be effective competitors in both debate and speech.”

Dr. Bailey added, “I am delighted to report that SBU competitors took five of the top seven places in the ‘Tiger Award’ competition at the LSU tournament. This is a powerful testament to the tremendous talent, dedication, and work ethic of our student competitors. SBU’s top ‘Tiger Award’ winners were: Nik Fischer (1^st), Shawna Barkley (2^nd), Meg Burns (4^th), Jenna King (5^th), and Kaila Todd (7^th).”

The Speaking Bearcats have been at home the past two weekends but are busy practicing for the National Comprehensive Tournament in Overland Park, Kan., March 16-18.

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

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SBU Student Receives Library Student Assistant Award

2012-03-12T14:16:00.002-05:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Southwest Baptist University Libraries announced that Sky Scholz from Pineville, Missouri, was honored as the Outstanding Student Assistant of the Month for February 2012.

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. Scholz, a student assistant in the 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 27 part-time student assistants through the University’s work-study program. Scholz is an elementary education and childhood development major in SBU’s College of Education and Social Sciences.

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SBU CIS Names Nine to Advisory Board

2012-03-07T15:10:00.002-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The 2012 SBU Computer and Information Sciences (CIS) Advisory Board will bring together nine technology leaders to help set the future direction of the CIS department when it meets on Friday, March 9. An informal career fair will coincide with the advisory board meeting. Advisory Board members include the following individuals:

Neil Anderson, Manager of Application Development, ANPAC, Springfield, Mo.

American National Property and Casualty (ANPAC) is located in Springfield, Mo., and is a subsidiary of the American National Insurance Company. ANPAC was listed in Forbes Magazine in its "100 Most Trustworthy Companies" list for 2009.

John Carr, Retail E-Commerce Manager, O’Reilly Automotive Corporate, Springfield, Mo.

O’Reilly Automotive has over 3600 stores in 39 states with more than 47,000 employees.

Chuck Campbell, Manager, GTS Services Delivery Center, IBM, Columbia, Mo.

IBM is a global technology company with close to 400,000 employees worldwide and revenues in excess of 13 billion dollars. Campbell is a 2001 SBU CIS alumnus and is located in Columbia, Mo.

Melissa Green, Group Technical Director, VML, Kansas City, Mo.

VML, headquartered in Kansas City, is one of the world’s leading digital advertizing agencies with offices in 11 other major media markets worldwide. In 2012, VML was named to the Ad Age A-List, which recognizes the top agencies in North America.

Kirk Hay, Director of Corp. Info. Services, Jack Henry & Associates, Monett, Mo.

Jack Henry, with headquarters near Springfield, Missouri, is an S&P 400 company and is the 18^th largest provider of financial software services in the world.

Mary A. Hunt, EBS Professional Services Manager, FISGlobal, Little Rock, Ark.

FISGlobal, whose data processing division is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, is the world’s largest global provider dedicated to banking and payments technologies.

Jeff Jackson, Project Leader, Intel, Seattle, Wash.

Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products, and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Intel employs over 82,000 individuals, over half of whom work in the U.S.

Damon Overboe, Research and Development Lead, Accenture, Bolivar, Mo.

Accenture is a Global Fortune 500 company and the largest employer of SBU CIS Department graduates. Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with more than 244,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries.

Owen Straub, VP of Software Engineering, Cerner Corporation, Kansas City, Mo.

Cerner is the largest provider of electronic medical systems in the United States. Based in Kansas City, Mo., Cerner employs over 8,000 employees worldwide and is the second largest employer of SBU CIS Department graduates.

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

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SBU Literary Artist Series Presents Bryan Norman

2012-03-07T11:53:00.002-06:00

SBU Literary Artist Series Presents Bryan Norman

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Barnett-Padgett Literary Artists Series at Southwest Baptist University will present Bryan Norman, associate publisher for Thomas Nelson Non-Fiction Trade Group, on March 29 at 6:00 p.m. in the Jester Learning & Performance Center, room 273, on the Bolivar campus. Admission is free and the public is invited.

An informal question and answer session will be held at the end of Norman’s presentation about editing in the publishing world.

Bryan Norman joined Thomas Nelson Publishers in 2004 after receiving his Master of Arts in English literature and language at the University of Colorado where he graduated with honors. Norman previously worked as associate acquisitions editor and senior editor of the Non-Fiction Trade Group. Since his employment with Thomas Nelson, he has worked closely with best-selling authors, such as Charles Swindoll, Charles Stanley, John Eldredge, Sheila Walsh, and John MacArthur. Norman lives in Nashville, Tenn., with his wife, Suzanne (Whisler), and son, Miles.

PHOTO: Bryan Norman

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

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SBU to Present Winds and Friends March 15

2012-03-06T09:47:00.002-06:00

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 will present “Winds and Friends” Thursday, March 15, at 7:30 p.m., featuring music performed by the SBU Wind Symphony, Brian K. Hopwood, conductor. The concert is free and open to the public.

Works by Stamp, Margolis, Giannini, Dello Joio, Paulson, Himes, and Shostakovich, will be featured. Guest ensemble will be the Reeds Spring High School Band with John Devos and Heather Vondrasek, conductors. The free public performance will be held at Pike Auditorium on the SBU Bolivar campus.

The Reeds Spring High School Band will perform a variety of music including “Boy Scouts of America March” by John Philip Sousa and ”Anthem for Winds and Percussion” by Missouri composer, the late Claude T. Smith. The band performance also will include “Queen Anne's Revenge” by Robert W. Smith. The Wind Symphony performance will open with “Gavorkna Fanfare” by Jack Stamp, which is dedicated to his teacher and mentor, Eugene Corporon, director of wind studies at the University of North Texas.

“Dedication Overture” by Vittorio Giannini was the composer’s fourth band work and was written for the commencement ceremony of the first graduating class of the North Carolina School of the Arts. The composition, “Epinicion,” was written during the final days of the Vietnam War and is the composer John Paulson’s personal abstraction of war, in general. An epinicion is an ancient song of victory sung at the conclusion of a triumphant battle.

Additional works include “Satiric Dances” (for a Comedy by Aristophanes) by Emmy award-winning composer Norman Dello Joio and William Himes’ arrangement of one of the world’s most beloved hymn tunes, “Amazing Grace.” Claude Gervaise’s “Fanfare, Ode & Festival,” a suite of French dance music originally written for a small Renaissance wind band and arranged for the modern wind band, by Bob Margolis and “Folk Dances” by Dmitri Shostakovich will round out the Wind Symphony’s performance.

William Latham’s “Brighton Beach” will be performed jointly by both bands and will conclude the concert.

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SBU Hosts Annual Meet the Author Series

2012-03-01T10:46:00.002-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

Dr. Rodney Reeves

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University Libraries will host its annual Meet the Author Series on March 29 at 7:00 p.m. in the Harriett K. Hutchens Library. The Hutchens Library is located in the Jester Learning and Performance Center at the Bolivar campus of SBU. Admission and parking are free.

Dr. Kelly Malone

Dr. Rodney Reeves and Dr. Kelly Malone of the Courts Redford College of Theology and Ministry at SBU will discuss their latest books – “Spirituality According to Paul: Imitating the Apostle of Christ” and “The Sword of the Spirit”. Dr. Malone will share about the Bible’s ability to transform individual lives and Dr. Reeves will provide insight on the significance of the Apostle Paul’s spiritual example for individuals in the twenty-first century.

The evening will begin with refreshments and music by the Clarinet Quartet, followed by author presentations and book signings. This event is open to the University and Bolivar communities.

If you have any questions, please contact Bethany Messersmith via phone at (417) 328-1626 or via e-mail at bmessersmith@sbuniv.edu.

SBU Libraries is committed to nurturing students’ research needs by providing the information resources and services needed to support their academic programs. For more information about SBU Libraries, visit: http://www.sbuniv.edu/library/

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

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SBU Theatre Presents “Between the Crosses”

2012-03-01T10:45:00.001-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University’s Theatre Department will present two plays from the World War I era as part of a season-long exploration of war, forgiveness, and healing. “War Brides” by Marion Craig Wentworth and “Behind the Lines” by Helen Bagg will be presented back-to-back in the Davis-Newport Theater on the campus of Southwest Baptist University on March 8-10 at 7:00 p.m.

Assistant Professor of Communication Arts and Theatre and Director of “War Brides” Dr. Elissa Sartwell states, “As a society, we tend to collectively forget the parts of the past we no longer find useful or important.” Dr. Sartwell adds, “Both of the plays we’re presenting examine the war we’d rather forget (WWI), but they are also both written by women. They were written during an era that we also tend to forget – the era before women had the right to vote.” Dr. Sartwell goes on to suggest that the plays represent one way women could voice their positions on the most important public policy issues of the day.

Instructor of theatre, Jonathan Wehmeyer will be directing the evening’s second play, “Behind the Lines.” Wehmeyer points out that the two plays are very different from one another, reflecting the changing perception of the war from early isolationist policies to America’s entrance in the war. “’Behind the Lines’ is subtitled ‘A War Comedy in One Act,’ and the play’s comic elements provided a way for audiences to cope with the darkening cloud of war that was spreading from Europe to the United States,” Wehmeyer states.

Both Dr. Sartwell and Wehmeyer are excited to see how audiences today respond to these very different dramatic approaches to the reality of war. Sartwell invites the audiences to attend a post-show discussion following each performance.

Ticket prices are as follows: $5 for adults; $3 for SBU alumni, senior citizens, and students of other schools; $2 for SBU students; and complimentary for SBU faculty and staff. For more information, call (417) 328-1691 or visit www.sbuniv.edu/theatre.

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SBU Driskill Gallery Reception for John Payne on Friday

2012-02-27T15:09:00.002-06:00

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

2012-02-20T15:09:00.002-06:00

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

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SBU Driskill Gallery Presents Art Exhibit

2012-02-17T16:45:00.001-06:00

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

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SBU Presents Faculty Saxophone Recital

2012-02-17T16:42:00.001-06:00

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

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SBU Opera Theatre Presents “A Mozartian Montage”

2012-02-17T16:40:00.001-06:00

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

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

2012-02-14T14:05:00.002-06:00

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

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SBU to Host Angela Morelock February 28

2012-02-14T13:59:00.000-06:00

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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SBU Faculty and Student to Present Euphonium and Piano Recital

2012-02-13T16:25:00.003-06:00

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

2012-02-10T13:13:00.001-06:00

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

2012-02-06T12:38:00.000-06:00

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.

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SBU May Commencement Information Announced

2012-02-03T09:55:00.000-06:00

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

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SBU Director of Safety and Security Receives Professional Certification

2012-01-27T15:16:00.001-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University’s Director of Safety and Security Mark Grabowski recently earned the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) title from the American Society for Industrial Security International (ASIS).

“The CPP is the most rigorous, prestigious, recognized professional designation in the international security community,” said Grabowski, “and I am honored to be one of only a few individuals with a CPP in Southwest Missouri.

ASIS is the largest organization for security professionals, with more than 37,000 members worldwide. Founded in 1955, ASIS is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals by developing educational programs and materials that address broad security interests. ASIS also advocates the role and value of the security management profession to business, the media, governmental entities, and the public.

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PHOTO: SBU’s Director of Safety and Security Mark Grabowski

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SBU Annual Church Music Workshop Feb. 2-4

2012-01-27T15:05:00.002-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University's thirty-eighth annual church music workshop will take place February 2-4 on the Bolivar campus. The event will bring together church musicians from across the state for three days of sharpening skills, reading new music, and receiving encouragement.

This year's workshop will feature seven-time Dove Award winning song-writer, arranger, and music producer Craig Adams of Nashville, Tenn. Adams will teach sessions on song writing, worship preparation, and music selection for worship.

Other clinicians include SBU provost Dr. Bill Brown, leading sessions for keyboard minister’s worship; pastor at McCarthy Baptist Church, Dan McLaughlin of St. Joseph Mo, leading sessions for bi-vocational ministers; Tanya McMillan of the Missouri Baptist Convention teaching children's choir leadership; and Anne Blankenship of First Baptist Church, in Bolivar, teaching preschool and kindergarten choir leadership.

There will be a concert on Friday evening, February 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Meyer Recital Hall in the Casebolt Music Center featuring Craig Adams, the Missouri Music Men and Brass, and members of the SBU music faculty. The concert is free and the public is invited to attend.

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

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SBU CIS Department to Receive NVIDEA Instrumentation Award

2012-01-27T13:23:00.002-06:00

SBU CIS Department to Receive NVIDEA Instrumentation Award

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University’s nationally-recognized Department of Computer and Information Sciences (CIS) announced today the department has been chosen to be the recipient of an instrumentation award supported by NVIDEA, a world leader in visual and parallel computing products.

The award includes four high-end NVIDEA GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) which can be used for extremely advanced video and graphics processing. Together the four cards are valued at $6,000.

According to Dr. Baochuan Lu, CIS department faculty member, the cards will be used in the CIS department’s parallel processing curriculum. “These cards represent cutting-edge graphics processing achieved through multi-core, parallel processing approaches. Two of the GPU’s have 448 cores, in essence achieving the work of 448 computers all in one unit. We’ve been given two of these cards and two more which have the ability to supply high-end graphics to three monitors simultaneously. Our students are really going to enjoy working in this kind of environment.”

The instrumentation award resulted from the CIS department’s participation in the early adopter program of the NSF/IEEE TCPP’s (National Science Foundation, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Technical Committee on Parallel Processing) curriculum initiative for parallel and distributed computing. SBU joins only 33 universities around the world who have achieved the same status. The initiative, which is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, Intel, and IBM, encourages universities which have the faculty expertise to adopt the curriculum to prepare their students for the next generation of computational devices.

The GPU’s will be housed in the CIS department research lab located in the Gene Taylor Free Enterprise Center on SBU’s Bolivar campus, and pose special challenges for the Lab.

“These GPU/parallel processing boards require a significant amount of power,” said Dr. James Cain, CIS department faculty member and research lab coordinator. “We’ve spec’ed the systems at 1200 watts, which is the largest I have ever dealt with. These GPU’s are incredibly powerful.” The GPU’s are projected to be available for use by CIS department students sometime during the spring semester.

SBU’s CIS department four full-time faculty members, two faculty associates and close to 80 students majoring in the computer or information sciences. Among evangelically Christian institutions, SBU is one of the leading producers of software engineers in the United States.

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PHOTO from left to right: SBU’s Dr. James Cain and Dr. Baochuan Lu

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

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SBU to Receive Commerce Bank Scholarship Grant

2012-01-20T17:47:00.001-06:00

SBU to Receive Commerce Bank Scholarship Grant

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University will benefit from a recent grant to the Missouri Colleges Fund (MCF). This $16,000 grant underwrites the Commerce Bank MCF’s 16 member schools including SBU. These scholarships will be awarded by the member schools on the basis of financial need.

MCF member schools are independent baccalaureate degree-granting liberal arts and comprehensive colleges and universities in the state of Missouri. Their income is derived primarily from private sources.

The MCF was incorporated in 1952 as a partnership of private enterprise and the member independent colleges and universities in the Show-Me State. The Fund is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt corporation; therefore, all contributions to the Fund are tax-deductible up to the limits prescribed by the law.

More information about MCF can be found online at www.mocollegesfund.org.

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SBU Gallery’s First Exhibit of 2012: “Small Town Images”

2012-01-20T13:27:00.002-06:00

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 “Small Town Images”, a photography exhibit by Gregory Booker.

Booker received his Bachelor in Fine Arts from Drury College and his MFA in Design from the University of Oklahoma. He is currently the Assistant Professor of the Art/Art History and Communication Department at Drury University. He is also the Pool Art Center Gallery Director at Drury.

The exhibit will run through February 17. Gallery hours are 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. For further information, call Gallery Director Dianna Callahan at 328-1651.

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

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SBU Announces December 2011 Graduate/Honor Roll Lists

2012-01-20T13:15:00.003-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Since its founding in 1878, SBU has enjoyed a legacy of excellence in academics along with an intense passion for building Christ’s kingdom.

Follow the link below to see the December 2011 graduation list.

http://www.sbuniv.edu/news/graduates/index.html

Undergraduate students will graduate with honors according to the following GPAs. In order to be graduated with honors, students must have earned a minimum of 45 semester hours of credit at SBU prior to the semester of graduation.

Summa cum laude 3.850-4.00

Magna cum laude 3.700-3.849

Cum laude 3.500-3.699

December 2011 honor roll lists: http://www.sbuniv.edu/news/HonorRoll/index.html

Honor Roll
To be listed on the semester's honor roll, students must carry at least 12 hours of college work at Southwest Baptist University and earn at least a B (3.00 GPA), with no grade below C.
Trustees’ List ..................... 3.85 - 4.00 Deans’ List......................... 3.50 - 3.69
President's List ................... 3.70 - 3.84 Honor's List........................ 3.00 - 3.40

SBU graduates have gone on to excel at Harvard, Notre Dame, Dartmouth, and other Ivy League schools. Our graduates have served and are serving in national, local, and state government. They have had successful careers with companies such as Cerner, Smith Barney/CitiGroup, Hallmark, Proctor & Gamble, Dannon Inc., New York Life, Bayer, Eli Lilly and Company, John Deere, Boeing, Motorola, Intel and Microsoft.

Many SBU graduates have been chosen to pastor churches, lead worship, and serve as missionaries in North America and around the world. SBU is a leader among private universities in the Midwest 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 as servant leaders in a global society. For more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.

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SBU CIS Faculty Research to be Published

2012-01-10T11:35:00.000-06:00

Research to be published in the May 2012 issue of Journal for Computing Sciences in Colleges

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University's Department of Computer and Information Sciences (CIS) announced today that three CIS Department faculty members and one SBU alum will be published in the May, 2012 issue of the Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges (JCSC). The faculty will present their work at the Central Plains Regional meeting of the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges (CCSC-CP) in Springfield, Missouri, on March 31st.

CIS Department professors Dr. James Cain, Jeff Kimball, and chair Dr. Tim DeClue collaborated on a paper titled “Learning Theory in Computer Science 1: An Experiment Supporting the Use of Multiple Languages.” The paper reported on an educational experiment conducted at SBU which documents the educational benefit to learning concepts of computer science through multiple computer languages.

The second paper, “Silent Partners: Discovering Computer Science in the Missouri K12 Math Curriculum,” reviews the connections between the Missouri K12 Math Curriculum and foundational topics in computer science. Dr. DeClue teamed up with Ashley Copeland (SBU ’11), math teacher at Macks Creek High School and Jennifer Ray, math teacher at Stockton High School to explore how Missouri math teachers are using computer science in the classrooms.

“It is an honor to be selected by such a prestigious conference and publication,” said Dr. DeClue. “It speaks well of the SBU CIS Department that our faculty continue to have their work acknowledged. I am also extremely grateful for the CIS Department Faculty and the help of Ashley Copeland and Jennifer Ray, both talented teachers at their respective schools. I am sure I speak for everyone when I say it is a blessing to have your work recognized”

The JCSC is a publication of the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges, an endorsed society of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) the world’s largest and oldest association for computing professionals. Besides appearing in the JCSC, the papers will be housed in ACM’s searchable Digital Library. According to the ACM, the DL is the leading digital library of computer science literature, world class publications, and online books.

SBU’s Department of Computer and Information Sciences has garnered multiple national awards in recent years, and is housed in the nationally ranked College of Business and Computer Science.

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SBU to Host Angela Morelock in February

2012-01-09T13:08:00.001-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

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

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SBU Announces New Major in Web Systems & Design

2012-01-05T11:13:00.002-06:00

SBU Announces New Major in Web Systems & Design

Unique Interdisciplinary Computing program has ties to Marketing, Art, and Communications

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University’s Department of Computer and Information Sciences (CIS) announced today the approval of a new major leading to a bachelor’s degree in Web Systems and Design (WS&D). The degree, which meets the growing need for web-based, visual and mobile software design and development, joins two other bachelor degree programs housed in SBU’s nationally-recognized Department of Computer and Information Sciences.

According to Dr. Tim DeClue, CIS department chair, “The World Wide Web is what made the Internet a success. Prior to the Web, the Internet was a technical phenomenon…it was the introduction of the browser about 20 years ago that changed things and made the Internet available to everyone. Now almost everything we do is touched by the Web.

"When we use a cell-phone, we use the Web. When we watch a movie, we use the Web. When we pay bills, communicate with our doctor, attend classes, we use the Web. Even the military uses the Web. This degree is designed to produce individuals who can design, build, implement, and manage web and mobile software systems, especially as they relate to software engineering, visual content, business value, and security.”

“Demand for individuals with a WS&D degree will be high,” Dr. Declue said. “Dice.com, a leading technical career search engine, returns over 14,000 job opportunities using web systems as the search term. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports high demand for computer professionals through 2018, and PayScale.com reports that web system designers can expect salaries in the $55,000 to $70,000 range depending on location and experience.”

The WS&D degree joins two other bachelor’s degree programs in the CIS Department, Computer Science and CIS. According to Dr. DeClue, the WS&D program is similar to the others because of its software development focus, yet different because of its web, marketing, and art orientation. “All three programs are incredibly good and complementary,” he added. “Computer Science retains a strong connection to the traditional scientific and mathematical basis for all computing while CIS focuses on the business application of computer science and software engineering.” Every student in the CIS Department—including WS&D majors—completes a 28-hour core of CIS courses before specializing in their specific degree requirements.

For individuals with a strong desire for a quantitative and scientific degree, computer science remains the best known and strongest preparation for a career in scientific computing, software engineering or graduate school. A computer information science degree prepares you for business oriented software development career or a graduate program in a technical MBA or software engineering. The CIS Department also points out that most computer science majors double major in mathematics due to the large amount of math required by the CS degree. This situation creates a defacto fourth degree program (computer science and math) which fits the needs of many quantitatively-talented students.

SBU’s Computer and Information Sciences Department is home to approximately 80 students, four full-time faculty members and two faculty associates. CIS students enjoy the benefit of over 80 years of combined faculty experience which includes teaching, writing, research, and experience in industry. In 2011, the SBU CIS Department’s curriculum was recognized by the National Science Foundation’s Technical Committee for Parallel Processing, and in the last six years SBU CIS students have brought home over thirty national awards including four national championship trophies.

The CIS Department’s competitive programming teams have been the Central Plains regional champions in the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges (CCSC) five of the last six years.

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Speaking Bearcats Claim First Place in Overall Sweepstakes at Oklahoma Tournament

2011-12-13T13:43:00.001-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Speaking Bearcats recently traveled to their final tournament of the fall 2011 semester at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, December 1-3. The Speaking Bearcats finished in first place in overall sweepstakes for the weekend.

In addition to claiming the top sweepstakes prize, the Speaking Bearcats won first place in individual events sweepstakes, first place in Pi Kappa Delta sweepstakes, and finished third in debate sweepstakes.

“We were very proud of the team not only for what they accomplished but for the work it took to generate the excellent results we had from this weekend” said Director of Forensics Dr. David Bailey. “The SBU scholars faced tough competition from 20 schools from throughout the region. To commemorate their victory (and the upcoming Christmas season) the team was presented with a three-foot-tall nutcracker as the first place sweepstakes trophy. His name is Ferdinand. If you come and visit him in the Jester Building he will give you a host of reasons why you should join the SBU Forensics Team.”

Dr. Bailey added, “This was an excellent way to finish the semester. We began the semester with a group of brand new untested freshman competitors. They are now starting to become a true team. We still have much work to do, but this is an exciting time for our forensics program.”

There were many outstanding results from the weekend’s competition. Dr, Bailey said, “Of the 29 individual events SBU brought to the tournament 16 of them broke to finals. Individual results include:

For the first time ever Freshman Lauren Hembree advanced to finals in Prose Interpretation .She finished in seventh place in the event.

In only her second tournament, Freshman Kaila Todd added to the team’s sweepstakes total by earning a “1” in a round of Poetry Interpretation.

Matt Adams was a Semi-finalist in junior parliamentary debate with his partner Jiri Rivera (from Cameron University). Matt also finished fifth in impromptu and informative speaking.

Shawna Barkley and Nik Fischer went to finals in junior parliamentary debate and finished in second place.

Shawna Barkley earned a second place finish in Pentathlon (meaning she was the second highest point-scorer at the tournament). In the rest of her events she finished third in communication analysis, and second in persuasion.

Nik Fischer took first place in communication analysis, and third place in persuasion.

Lauren Schriver captured a first place in prose interpretation (the largest event at the tournament) and second place in dramatic interpretation.

Jenna King took third place in after dinner speaking, and fifth place in program of oral interpretation.

Meg Burns brought home a first place in after dinner speaking, third place in program of oral interpretation, second place in communication analysis, fourth place in dramatic interpretation, and third place in prose interpretation.”

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Photo: Back row left to right: Shawna Barkley, Matt Adams, Nik Fischer, Lauren Schriver, Jenna King, Lauren Hembree. Front row left to right: Meg Burns, Kaila Todd

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The ABA Journal Chooses SBU Grad’s Blog as one of America’s Top Law Blogs

2011-12-13T12:56:00.000-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

NEW YORK, NY– Editors of the American Bar Association’s magazine, The ABA Journal, recently announced that they have selected a blog written by Russell Jackson, a Southwest Baptist University graduate, as one of the 100 best law blogs by lawyers, for lawyers. His blog – www.consumerclassactionsmasstorts.com – was one of only five selected in the tort law category. This is the second year Jackson’s blog has been an ABA Journal “Blawg 100” honoree.

Jackson’s blog is now in competition for the top blog in its category. Anyone may register for free and vote at http://www.abajournal.com/blawg100. Voting ends Dec. 30, 2011.

“Blogging has become an important, even vital, source of information, education, entertainment and inspiration in the legal community,” said Allen Pusey, editor and publisher of the ABA Journal. “And choosing just 100 of the best from our directory of over 3,500 legal blogs is becoming an increasingly daunting task.”

“I am truly gratified by my readers’ strong support,” Jackson said. “They nominated me for this honor, and hopefully their continued actions will help me win the honor of top blog in the torts category,” Jackson said.

While he was at SBU, Jackson was the Omnibus opinions editor and competed on the SBU debate team.

He received his B.A. in communication and political science, graduating from SBU as valedictorian in 1987. He received his law degree from the College of William & Mary in Virginia, and has practiced in New York City for more than 20 years. He is a partner at one of the world’s largest law firms: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Jackson also taught products liability as an adjunct professor at two New York City law schools, and recently completed his term as Chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Products Liability Committee.

Besides just covering legal developments and new decisions, Jackson’s blog has a feature unique to legal blogs: a photo diary in which he chronicles his travels and life in New York. His office is in Times Square, directly across from where the ball drops on New Years’ Eve.

About the ABA Journal:

The ABA Journal is the flagship magazine of the American Bar Association, and it is read by half of the nation’s 1.1 million lawyers every month. It covers the trends, people and finances of the legal profession from Wall Street to Main Street to Pennsylvania Avenue. ABAJournal.com features breaking legal news updated as it happens by staff reporters throughout every business day, a directory of more than 3,000 lawyer blogs, and the full contents of the magazine.

About the ABA:

With approximately 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

For more information contact Russell Jackson at 212.735.7839 or russell.jackson@skadden.com.

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PHOTO: Russell Jackson

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Dr. John Marshall to Speak at SBU Commencement

2011-12-13T12:26:00.004-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University’s winter commencement is scheduled for Friday, December 15, 2011, at 7:00 p.m., in the Jane and Ken Meyer Wellness and Sports Center on the Bolivar Campus.

The commencement address will be given by guest speaker Dr. John Marshall. Born December 22, 1951, in Sikeston, Missouri, Dr. Marshall is a sixth generation preacher who was called to the ministry at age 15. He earned a degree in mathematics from Southeast Missouri State University in 1972. In 1975, he became the youngest man ever to earn a Doctor of Ministry degree from a Southern Baptist seminary at age 23.

Dr. Marshall married Ruth Huey on March 20, 1971. They have two children and five grandchildren. The Marshalls came to Second Baptist Church, Springfield, Missouri, in November 1995.

Dr. Marshall won the New Orleans Seminary “Distinguished Alumnus Award” in 2004. He preached the 2009 Annual Sermon for the Southern Baptist Convention. Midwestern Seminary named him their 2011 “Honorary Alumnus of the Year.” He has served as second vice president, first vice president, and currently serves as president of the Missouri Baptist Convention.

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Dr. Rodney Reeves New Book: “Spirituality According to Paul” Featured on Scot McKnight's Blog

2011-12-09T11:35:00.000-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University Professor of Biblical Studies and Dean of the Courts Redford College of Theology and Ministry Dr. Rodney Reeves has released a new book on the apostle Paul: Spirituality According to Paul: Imitating the Apostle of Christ.

Spirituality often evokes images of quiet centeredness, meditative serenity and freedom from life's pressures. It’s become a chic commodity, with its benefits evoked by images of sunrises and secluded retreats.

Contrast the apostle Paul, who promotes a cross-shaped spirituality for fools making their way though life's trials. Paul realized that images of crucifixion, burial and resurrection would never be popular images of the spiritual life. So he encourages his fellow travelers, who are spiritually united with Christ, to "follow me as I follow Christ."

As he explores this ancient spiritual path, Dr. Reeves probes our understanding of what Christian spirituality should be. And to illuminate its transformative power, he gives us living illustrations of what it means to follow Paul as he followed Christ. This is a book that joins a deep understanding of Paul with a pastoral and spiritual wisdom born of experience.

Recently, Dr. Reeves book was a featured by Scot McKnight on his blog, Jesus Creed. McKnight’s blog is one of the top ten Christian blogs in the country. To see the blog post visit: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2011/12/09/pauls-spiritual-vision-1/

Dr. Reeves is also coauthor of Rediscovering Paul and author of A Genuine Faith.

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SBU Professor of Mathematics Dr. Glasgow Receives MCTM Award

2011-12-07T12:00:00.000-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University Professor of Mathematics Dr. Bob Glasgow was honored by The Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM) on Friday, December 2. Dr. Glasgow received the Post-Secondary Outstanding Teacher Award for 2011 at the awards ceremony held in Columbia, Mo.

Dr. Glasgow is the second SBU professor to receive the MCTM Post-Secondary Outstanding Teacher Award. Last year Professor of Mathematics and Department Chair Dr. Kevin Hopkins was honored with the same award. This makes SBU the only private university to receive two MCTM awards in consecutive years.

The Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics is a 501(c) 3 not-for profit organization dedicated to supporting and improving mathematics teaching and learning at all levels. With a membership of 1,800, the organization has a long history of quality activities and programs. Affiliated with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, MCTM maintains strong contacts with the national agenda and with its own affiliated groups within the state.

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PHOTO: From left to right: Julie Holstein - High School - Northwest R1 District, Marilyn Cannon - Middle School - Raytown School District, Bob Glasgow - Post Secondary - SBU

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Save Access Missouri for SBU Students and Other Students from Missouri

2011-12-07T09:48:00.004-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

Save Access Missouri - ACT TODAY!

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- Access Missouri is at risk! We need to send Gov. Nixon a clear message that Missourians support need-based financial aid to help students attend college.

Gov. Nixon is now working on his proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. It’s critical that he allocate the full $64 million in state general revenue dollars just to maintain the current Access Missouri award levels.

This is important because Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority – which kicked in $30 million each of the past two years – says it won’t bailout the program again. If Gov. Nixon doesn’t act to restore this funding, our already reduced Access Missouri awards could be slashed in half!

Take action TODAY and tell Gov. Nixon to fully fund Access Missouri.

Keep Me In College has created a quick-send email at http://keepmeincollege.org/emailNixon/ to make it simple for you to tell the Gov. Nixon that you support funding for Access Missouri.

Prefer to call? Call the Governor's office at (573) 751-3222 and tell them you support funding of Access Missouri.

Want to do more? Click on the Twitter or Facebook icons at the bottom of the page (http://keepmeincollege.org/emailNixon/ ) to tell your friends to send Gov. Nixon a message too!

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SBU and Ministerial Alliance to Present 31st Annual Festival of Christmas

2011-11-28T16:07:00.001-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The public is invited to observe the Christmas season Sunday, December 4, at the 31st annual Festival of Christmas. This year's special holiday program will begin at 6:00 p.m. in Mabee Chapel on the Southwest Baptist University campus in Bolivar.

The Festival of Christmas, sponsored by Southwest Baptist University and the Bolivar Ministerial Alliance, brings together the churches of Bolivar and surrounding communities for a spectacular Christmas celebration each year.

The program is free to the public, but as part of the festival tradition, the Bolivar Area Ministerial Alliance will collect a special offering to be used for purchasing food for Christmas baskets and to help those in need throughout the year. Local ministries include emergency relief, utility, food, fuel, prescription assistance and transient aid.

Christmas music will be provided by the Festival Choir, SBU Wind Symphony and Chamber Orchestra. The Bolivar High School Concert Choir, directed by Anna Wooderson, will be performing “Canon of the Bells” and “The Hills of Judea Ring.”

For more information about the Festival of Christmas, call 417-328-1630.

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SBU Student Receives Library Student Assistant Award

2011-11-24T15:38:00.000-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The SBU University Libraries has announced that Moriah Carnahan from Eolia, Missouri, was honored as the Outstanding Student Assistant of the Month for October 2011.

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. Ms. Carnahan, a student assistant in the Technical 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 27 part-time student assistants through the University’s work-study program. Ms. Carnahan is an Elementary Education Major in SBU’s College of Education and Social Sciences.

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SBU Speaking Bearcats Finish Third in Overall Sweepstakes at LSU Competition

2011-11-18T14:48:00.000-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Speaking Bearcats of Southwest Baptist University had an excellent weekend of competition at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, Ill., November 3-6.

Facing challenging competition from approximately 30 schools from all across the nation, the team finished third in overall sweepstakes for the weekend. The Speaking Bearcats finished just behind last year’s Pi Kappa Delta National Champion Boise State University, who finished in second place and long-time fellow Baptist rivals from William Carey University who finished first.

“We were especially proud of the results for this past weekend given that we had by far the youngest and smallest team to finish in the top three in sweepstakes” noted Dr. David Bailey, assistant professor of communication arts, director of forensics, and chair of the school of communication arts.

Assistant Director of Forensics Ms. Rebecca Koe added that “These results certainly bode well for the future of the team.” The SBU team consisted of five students (four of whom were freshmen). Given their small numbers they posted some impressive results.

For the first half of the swing

Nik Fischer: “Top novice” in extemporaneous speaking, tied for sixth place in extemporaneous speaking; “top novice” in communication analysis, sixth place in communication analysis; fifth place in informative speaking; fourth place in impromptu speaking

Shawna Barkley: Fifth place in duo interpretation with Jenna King

Meg Burns: “Top novice” in after dinner speaking, third place in after dinner speaking

Jenna King: Fourth place in after dinner speaking, fifth place in duo interpretation with Shawna Barkley

For the second half of the swing

Matt Adams: Fifth place in after dinner speaking

Shawna Barkley: “Top novice” in communication analysis, seventh place in communication analysis; fifth place in duo interpretation with Jenna King

Jenna King: Fifth place in duo interpretation with Shawna Barkley

Meg Burns: Fourth place in after dinner speaking, octafinalist in novice public debate

Nik Fischer: “Top novice” in impromptu speaking, second place in impromptu speaking; octafinalist in varsity public debate

The SBU Speaking Bearcats will take the next few weekends off and then head to the “Cameron Christmas Classic,” December 2-3, in Lawton, Okla., for their last tournament of the semester.

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SBU Dean and Professor of Physical Education Honored

2011-11-18T14:42:00.000-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. Southwest Baptist University Professor of Physical Education, Dr. Linda Wooderson was honored with the Robert M. Taylor Professional Service Honor Award at the Missouri Association for Health Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (MOAHPERD) Conference November 11-13 in Lake Ozark, Mo. Dr. Wooderson is the acting chair of health, education and recreation and dean of the college of education and social sciences.

This award is presented annually to the top outstanding teachers and administrators in physical education, health, recreation, and dance who have served the Association. The mission statement of the MOAHPERD is to support, encourage, and provide assistance to promote programs in health, leisure, and movement related activities for the enrichment of human life.

Dr. Wooderson was awarded for her effort in connecting the MOAHPERD membership (faculty of all Missouri institutions, public and private, in physical education) with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to improve Praxis scores across the state in physical education.

The theme of the conference was, “Building on the Past, Shaping the Future.” Three students from SBU also attended the conference; Lindsay Carter, Keeshia Deshields, and Debbie Easter.

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SBU to Benefit from the Harry Cooper Supply Company Grant

2011-11-18T12:15:00.000-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University will benefit from a recent grant to the Missouri Colleges Fund (MCF). This $12,000 grant underwrites the Harry Cooper Supply Company at MCF’s 16 member schools including SBU. These scholarships will be awarded by the member schools on the basis of financial need to outstanding qualified students.

More information about MCF can be found online at www.mocollegesfund.org.

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SBU Chamber Singers present “Ye Olde Madrigal Dinners”

2011-11-18T10:22:00.001-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Chamber Singers of Southwest Baptist University will present the traditional “Ye Olde Madrigal Dinners” on Thursday and Friday, December 1 and 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the McClelland Dining Facility on the Bolivar campus. Tickets are on sale now and must be reserved in advance by calling the music department at (417) 328-1644.

The annual event features a five-course meal served to patrons amid the merriment, music, revelry, and traditions of Elizabethan England. The Chamber Singers will present repertoire from Renaissance to contemporary genres.

“The music, the decor, the costumes, the antics of our Lord of Misrule, the lovable Court Friar—this is truly an evening of great entertainment,” said Dr. Jim Tarrant, professor of music and director of choral studies at SBU. Dr. Tarrant continues, “Add to that the fantastic food and you have an evening out, full of memories. How can there be a better way to open the Yuletide season?”

The SBU Chamber Singers are Amy Marrs, Deborah Breon, Leigha Stockton, Elizabeth McClure, Shannon Gray, Michaela Tucker, Scott Davis, David Ezzell, Scott Summers, Patrick Mattia, and Jesse Wright.

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SBU Graduating Seniors Present Art Exhibition

2011-11-18T09:57:00.000-06:00

SBU Graduating Seniors Present Art Exhibition

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 graduating senior art majors. Nancy Rector, Haley Green, Stephanie Howell, and Cassandra Carney are exhibiting photography, digital imaging, jewelry, fibers, sculpture, graphic design, drawings, and paintings.

The exhibit will run through December 17, and it is free and open to the public. A reception will be held immediately following graduation ceremonies on Friday, December 16.

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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SBU Student Receives Library Student Assistant Award

2011-11-18T09:37:00.001-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The SBU University Libraries has announced that Moriah Carnahan, Eolia, Mo., was honored as the Outstanding Student Assistant of the Month for October 2011.

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. Carnahan, a student assistant in the Technical 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 27 part-time student assistants through the University’s work-study program. Carnahan is an elementary education Major in SBU’s College of Education and Social Sciences.

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SBU Concert Choir and Bolivar Community Chorus to Present Fall 2011 Concert

2011-11-10T14:43:00.002-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Southwest Baptist University Concert Choir and Bolivar Community Chorus will present their fall 2011 concert on Tuesday, November 29, at 7:30 p.m. The event will be held in Pike Auditorium on the Bolivar campus.

A new composition scored for orchestra, piano, and choir by composer Michael Cox titled “Te Deum” will feature the SBU Chamber Orchestra and selected wind players. In addition, works by SBU composer Dr. Renee Waters, as well as Joseph Martin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, John Rutter, Felix Mendelssohn, György Orbán, and Lloyd Pfautsch will also be performed.

The concert will conclude the evening with a few Christmas selections. Admission is free and open to the public.

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SBU CIS Receives Top Honors at Regional Programming Contest

2011-11-09T15:02:00.002-06:00

SBU CIS Receives Top Honors at Mid-Central Region Intercollegiate Programming Contest

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University’s Department of Computer and Information Sciences (CIS) Competitive Programming teams received top honors at Missouri State University, Saturday, November 5, in the IBM-sponsored Mid-Central Region Intercollegiate Programming Contest.

“It was a pretty exciting finish,” said Dr. Tim DeClue, chair of the CIS department. The contest is sponsored by IBM and is held at sites all over the world.

Dr. DeClue adds, “One of our teams, SBU-B, led the competition for most of the five-hour contest and our other team, SBU-A, had locked in third place. In the judge’s room Dr. [James] Cain [assistant professor of CIS] and I thought that’s where our teams would finish. But in the last five minutes—the last two minutes really—SBU-A managed to complete a final solution. I can only imagine what that must have been like for them. It was pretty amazing. Our kids have worked hard, our coaches have worked hard, and God has blessed the effort. This is quite an honor.”

The competition, informally called the “Battle of the Brains,” is held annually among leading colleges and universities with computing programs. Undergraduate and graduate-level students are allowed to compete together.

According to DeClue, “Allowing graduate students to compete is good, because it certainly raises the level of problem-solving and analytical ability in the contest. It also makes our students’ achievement even that much more remarkable. We [SBU CIS] only have an undergraduate program and the one team that edged us out in the whole state was from Washington University—an institution with both master’s and doctoral-level programs in computer science.”

Competing on SBU’s A team was Weston Herrington (Junior, Carthage, Mo.), Luke Abbott (Junior, Camdenton, Mo.), and Jacob Foster (Sophomore, Webb City, Mo.).

SBU’s B team was comprised of Maaura Stucky (Junior, Kansas City, Mo.), Jason Jakusz (Sophomore, Ava, Mo.), and Justin Stout (Freshman, Gardner, Kan.). Also practicing with the teams this fall were Ellie Fjellman (Freshman, St. Joseph, Mo.), Tanner Barnes (Freshman, Dallas, Texas), and Steven Hopkins (Freshman, Lebanon, Mo.)

The SBU Competitive programming teams are coached by Dr. Cain and Dr. Baochuan Lu.

The competitive programming teams will practice and compete again in the spring at the Consortium for Computing Sciences Central Plains Regional Programming Contest where they are the 2011 defending champions.

Complete Missouri Results

Place School/Team Problems Solved

1. Washington University-St. Louis – A 5

2. SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY – A 5

3. SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY – B 4

4. College of the Ozarks – A 4

5. Drury University – A 4

6. Park University 4

7. Missouri State University – A 3

8. College of the Ozarks – B 3

9. Washington University – B 3

10. Saint Louis University-A 3

11. University of Central Missouri – A 3

12. Saint Louis University-B 3

13. Park University –B 3

14. Missouri State University – B 3

15. University of Central Missouri – B 3

16. University of Missouri – Kansas City – A 3

17. Drury University –B 2

18. Lindenwood University-A 2

19. Lindenwood University-B 2

20. Northwest Missouri State University 2

21. College of the Ozarks – C 2

22. University of Missouri-Kansas City – B 2

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SBU Presents The Wind Symphony in Concert

2011-11-07T16:06:00.002-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University Department of Music presents the Wind Symphony in concert on Thursday, November 17, at 7:30 p.m. Works by Schuman, Lauridsen, and Carroll will be performed by the 60-member ensemble. The SBU Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Marc Baker, will also be featured. The free public performance will be held at Pike Auditorium on the Bolivar SBU campus.

“This performance represents a varied library of wind band music with something old, something new, something borrowed... and percussion, too!” states Dr. Brian Hopwood, conductor, assistant professor, and director of instrumental studies at SBU.

The concert will open with American composer William Schuman’s ”New England Tryptich”–Three Pieces after William Billings, a work originally written for orchestra in 1956 and transcribed for wind band by the composer. In the words of Schuman, “…these pieces “Be Glad Then, America,” “When Jesus Wept,” and “Chester” do not constitute a fantasy on themes of Billings, or variations on his themes, but rather a fusion of styles and musical language. In contrast, a recent work from Irish composer Fergal Carroll will be performed. “Winter Dances” (2002) was commissioned to mark the opening of an arts venue (The Pyramid) in Warrington, Ireland. It was written to allow performance with dancers, and in order to accommodate this, each of the three movements has its own distinct character.

The titled movements, “November,” “December,” and “January,” represent the winter months in Ireland according to their Celtic calendar. Borrowing from the choral repertoire, H. Robert Reynolds arranged the wind band version of “O Magnum Mysterium” with the approval and appreciation of composer Morten Lauridsen. The composer offers a unique insight on his setting: “For centuries, composers have been inspired by the beautiful “O Magnum Mysterium” text depicting the birth of the newborn King amongst the lowly animals and shepherds. This affirmation of God’s grace to the meek and the adoration of the Blessed Virgin are celebrated in my setting through a quiet song of profound inner joy.”

For more information, please call Dr. Brian K. Hopwood, department of music, at 417-328-1647 or email him at: bhopwood@sbuniv.edu.

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Speaking Bearcats Perform Well at Longview Tournament

2011-11-07T16:03:00.001-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Speaking Bearcats from Southwest Baptist University recently represented their competitive speech and debate legacy well with an outstanding performance at the Longview Swing Tournament against twenty-four other teams. On the Friday-Saturday tournament, the team earned second place in debate sweepstakes and first overall in individual events and debate combined.

Nik Fischer earned second in impromptu speaking, second in extemporaneous speaking, and fourth in communication analysis. Lauren Schriver earned fifth in dramatic interpretation. Shawna Barkley earned third in persuasive speaking and fourth in informative speaking. Meg Burns earned sixth in after dinner speaking. Jenna King earned fifth in program of oral interpretation.

In debate, Nik Fischer and Shawna Barkley were the tournament champions in novice parliamentary debate. Matt Adams, Meg Burns, and Jenna King were all quarterfinalists in novice parliamentary debate. Kaila Todd and Lauren Hembree were honorably mentioned for their winning results in novice parliamentary debate.

Sunday had its own victories of first place in individual events sweepstakes and second overall in the tournaments combined.

Nik Fischer earned fourth in extemporaneous speaking, fourth in communication analysis, and fifth in persuasive speaking. Matt Adams earned fifth in informative speaking, and sixth in after dinner speaking. Jenna King earned second in after dinner speaking. Shawna Barkley earned third in persuasive speaking and second in informative speaking. Lauren Schriver earned third place in dramatic interpretation. Meg Burns earned first in prose interpretation and fourth in dramatic interpretation.

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

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SBU Presents Fall Chorale Concert

2011-11-07T16:00:00.002-06:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Chorale of Southwest Baptist University will present its fall concert on Tuesday, November 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pike Auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public.

The Chorale, newly returning from a seven-performance tour through central Missouri, will present a fall program of music ranging from the Renaissance to works published within the past year. Though traditionally an a cappella ensemble, the 41-member Chorale will present the newly published “Te Deum” by Dan Forrest. Among the other composers represented are Antonio Gabrielli, Randall Thompson, and Blake Henson.

For more information, contact the Chorale’s director, Dr. James Tarrant at 328-1635 or visit the SBU music department’s web site at www.sbuniv.edu/MUSIC.

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SBU’s Dr. Cox Earns Fellow Status

2011-11-03T14:39:00.000-05:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University’s Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Dr. Terry Cox has earned the prestigious Fellow status of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT).

Dr. Cox received a fellowship certificate from Regis University in Denver, Colo., after taking management courser for upper extremity, lower extremity, cervical spine, thoracic spine, and lumbar spine. He presented and discussed cases with other fellows and colleagues via computer- based simulations, and he experienced mentoring hours with other colleagues treating patients. To finalize the certification, Dr. Cox had to undergo a written and practical examination.

After graduating with a fellow certificate from Regis University, Dr. Cox was able to apply to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical therapists to become a Fellow of the Academy. This process took two-and-a-half years to be completed.

Dr. Cox is the first physical therapy faculty member at SBU to be recognized by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists. Dr. Steve Lesh, chair of the SBU department of physical therapy, said, “This is a tremendous honor and clinical recognition of Dr. Cox’s advanced training, skill, and scholarship in the field of manual physical therapy.”

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Think Outside the Can with SBU Behavioral Sciences Club

2011-11-01T14:30:00.000-05:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Behavioral Sciences Club at Southwest Baptist University has taken on the challenge of serving those in need in the Bolivar area and asks the community to help them “think outside the can” from November 1-16.

On November 4, the group will be located at the entrances of Wal-Mart from 2- 6 p.m., collecting boxed food items as well as money donations. On November 12, they will be located at the entrances of Woods Grocery Store from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donations also can be dropped off at the SBU Wellness Center front desk or in Gott Education building located on campus.

SBU student and president of Behavioral Science Club Brianna Robinson said, “The holiday season is arriving quickly, a time characterized by cold weather, family gatherings, gifts, and, most of all, a wide array of traditional foods. The winter season is a critical time for food banks around the country.

“As The Salvation Army’s shelves are depleting, we can make a difference by donating to those in need. Please consider how you can contribute to this cause. We will be collecting boxed food items, such as Mac ‘n Cheese, Hamburger Helper, instant potatoes, cereal, oats, noodles, and much more. Give anything you can because one box is one more than before.”

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SBU Presents “The Sound of Music”

2011-10-26T11:15:00.002-05:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – “The Hills Are Alive” this fall as Southwest Baptist University presents “The Sound of Music,” November 10-13 in Pike Auditorium on the Bolivar Campus. The final collaboration between Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, “The Sound of Music” has been a crowd-favorite since it premiered in 1959.

“To me, ‘The Sound of Music’ is a story of love and faith during a time of evil,” says director of the production, Assistant Professor of Communication Arts-Theatre Dr. Elissa Sartwell. “When most people think of the show, they tend to remember the raindrops on roses and the whiskers on kittens. Yet the musical tells a much stronger story than that. The Von Trapp family demonstrates tremendous courage and faith in their opposition to Hitler and the Nazi takeover of Austria.”

The SBU production does not downplay the elements of war.

SBU’s production features sophomore Leigha Stockton as Maria and senior Scott Davis as Captain Von Trapp. The cast includes more than 25 SBU students as well as several Bolivar community members: Beth Grabowski, Maggie Hopwood, Anna and Addison Meadows, Joseph Plunkett, Lily Shepard, Makenzie Stepp, and Grace Young. The production presents designs by SBU’s new theatre instructor, Jonathan Wehmeyer.

Performances run November 10-12 at 7 p.m. and November 13 at 2 p.m. There will be a special sing along performance at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 12. All audience members will be invited to sing their favorite songs along with the performers during the sing along.

Ticket prices range from $3 to $8 and can be purchased at the SBU Theatre box office, located in the Jester Learning and Performance Center. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone at 417-328-1691 or at the SBU Theatre website, located at www.sbuniv.edu/theatre.

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SBU Presents Jazz Concert November 3

2011-10-24T12:19:00.001-05:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The SBU Jazz Ensemble will be featured in concert under the direction of Professor of Music, Dr. Jeffery Waters on Thursday, November 3. The program will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Meyer Recital Hall on the SBU campus in Bolivar, admission is free, and the public is invited.

The 18-piece Jazz Ensemble is dedicated to being the voice of American jazz in the campus community, and will once again feature SBU student performers in a program which includes the wide variety of styles associated with today’s big-band jazz ensemble.

For more information contact Dr. Jeffery L. Waters, Department of Music, jwaters@SBUniv.edu , 417-328-1632.

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SBU Driskill Gallery Hosts Art Exhibition

2011-10-24T12:14:00.002-05:00

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 retired SBU Professor Carl Huser and SBU graduate Ellen Tappmeyer Reynolds. Work includes turned wooden vessels by Huser and oil and watercolor paintings by Reynolds.

The exhibit will run through November 11, and it is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday thru Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The gallery will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. during homecoming, Saturday, October 29.

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

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SBU Homecoming 2011: Cirque Du Southwest Alumni Awards

2011-10-24T11:44:00.003-05:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University will be celebrating Homecoming 2011 on Friday, October 28, and Saturday, October 29. Students will begin their activities earlier in the week with traditional events such as "Spirit Chapel" and "Bed Races." This year’s theme is “Cirque Du Southwest.”

Alumni will have the opportunity to catch up with classmates on Friday at a pre-dinner social followed by a banquet. On Saturday, everyone is invited to the parade starting at 10:00 a.m., followed by the football game where the SBU Bearcats face the Griffons of Northwest Missouri State University at 2:00 p.m.

Approximately 2,000 SBU alumni and their families are expected to come to Bolivar for the homecoming events. Bolivar businesses are encouraged to decorate their windows using the homecoming theme and the SBU school colors, purple and white.

For more information about parade entries, participating in the car show, or other Homecoming activities, contact the SBU Homecoming hotline at 417-328-1806, or visit the SBU website at: http://www.sbuniv.edu/alumni/homecoming

Alumni Awards Life Service Award

Inspired by the Life Beautiful Award presented each year to one male and one female graduate, President John Dowdy suggested to the Southwest Baptist College Board of Trustees in 1955 that the Life Service Award be given annually to graduates whose lives have exemplified the principles, which are upheld at Southwest. Currently, the SBU National Alumni Association Board nominates a maximum of six names of prospective recipients from business, missions, church-related vocations, education and other fields of service. The recipients are ratified at the May meeting of the SBU Alumni Board. The award, presented during Honors Chapel at Homecoming by the president of the University, is the highest recognition that the University can bestow upon an alumnus or alumna.

Emma Karr Bishop ’47

“Thank you for the Life Service Award from Southwest Baptist University. It is an unbelievable honor for me to receive this award. The two years I spent at Southwest Baptist College were probably the most fun and maturing years of my life. I thank God for those past years. I was a backward country girl from Iberia, but meeting and socializing with other Christian young people was priceless to me and my growth. The education I received at Southwest Baptist College was more than academic. The classes with special, unique professors were exceptional; but the social life with the students was wonderful and maturing too.

“The various organizations and activities were important to me then, as I know they are to you students today. Working in the kitchen was a special and necessary experience for me. The memories of outstanding fun times with my roommate and other friends have lasted through the years. I thank Jesus for precious memories of all the experiences at Southwest Baptist College. God Bless Southwest Baptist University.”

•A.A. from SWBC in 1947; B.A. from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1950.

• Was married to the late Floyd Bishop, a professor of aviation for LeTourneau University.

• Retired from Longview Independent Schools (Longview, TX) after 19 years of service.

• Has five siblings who also attended SWBC.

• Proud member of the Happy Hookers crochet club.

• Attends Chambers Road Baptist Church in Aurora, CO, where she volunteers and is involved in the seniors group.

Richard Propes ’51

“I am deeply humbled and honored to be nominated and selected to receive this cherished Life Service Award. While at Southwest, it was never in my wildest dream that I would be standing here today receiving this award.

“After graduating from high school, I had a job but seemed to be searching for something more fulfilling. With encouragement from my father to get an education, I found myself enrolled here at Southwest. I will always be grateful to all the professors and staff who created a wonderful Christian atmosphere. Also, my association with prayer mates, roommates, and other Christian students had a big influence in my life.

“I have always believed that God called me into the teaching profession. God opened doors for me to spend my life in the field of education. I found great satisfaction working with elementary students trying to instill good morals and values in many young lives. My prayer is that I have made a difference for many of my students.

“God has a plan and a purpose for each individual and there is a place for everyone to serve. The really important things we do in life, we do for others. Volunteering can help to change the world. It has always been my motto “to serve God is to serve His people.”

“As I receive this Life Service Award, I want to share this honor with all of those who helped bring me to this point. I thank God for leading me to Southwest.

Thank you and God bless Southwest!”

•A.E. from SWBC in 1951; B.S. in 1955 and M.A. in 1959 from Southern Illinois University.

• Married to Marge, a retired music teacher.

• Retired elementary school principal , 36 years of service.

• Served in the Korean War and earned a service medal.

• Has been honored with a Hometown Hero Award, a Lions Club Achievement Award, and Retired Teacher of the Year Award.

• Attends Main Street United Methodist Church in Godfrey, IL, where he serves as his Sunday school class president and as an usher.

Alice Garner Davis ’73

“I want to thank you so much for this honor. The award and even the nomination came as a complete surprise and caused me to ask, “why me?”. It is awesome to think of the people I have met through the years who have called Southwest/SBU home at some time or another, many of whom should be receiving this award today.

“As I reflect on my time at Southwest I can see how it was a time that not only changed my life then but formed the years to come. It was a time of a new kind of acceptance, a time of learning and growing, a time of opening my life to the future God had planned for me. Having teachers who cared about me as a person made the lessons I learned even more invaluable. Added to this was the environment Southwest gave me, the people I met and the experiences I had only because I was here.

“The biggest blessing for me was that I met my husband and life partner here, and we started the adventure of our lives together. While we were here we had the privilege to begin a ministry to the hearing impaired at First Baptist. I praise God for Maggie, a deaf lady in Bolivar, who showed us so much patience. We were two young people who had no idea what we were doing, but Maggie taught us and loved us as we grew in our understanding of the language and ministry. This formed a foundation for a life of ministry among the deaf and gave us the heart that later helped us start deaf churches.

“Through our years of ministry, starting and pastoring churches, and now as we serve in Associational Missions and my service to Ministry Wives, I have been thankful to Southwest for the foundation and training it gave. Thank you SBU!”

•Graduated from SWBC in 1973 with degrees in sociology and psychology.

• Married to Duane, a 1975 SWBC graduate.

• Career missionary with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) from 1978-1984 and 1998-present.

• Serves as Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) director for the East Central Illinois Baptist Association.

• Member of Gibson City First Baptist Church

• Enjoys crocheting and crafts.

Mel Skinner ’85

“Thank you for choosing me to receive the Life Service Award. I am humbled to receive it and am grateful to Jesus Christ who changed my life. When I was a young boy, He forgave my sin, called me to be His child, and gave me a relationship with Himself. When I was a young man, in rebellion to His will, He pursued me to the point of repentance and called me to be His servant. When I was a middle-aged man, living under the burden of “secret” sin, He graciously intervened and would not let me be satisfied with living like the world. He is giving me victory daily to live a holy and separated life. If there is any good that comes from my life, it is thanks to the Lord Jesus.

“It is also humbling because of the incredible opportunities God has availed to me. He let me be born at a time and place where I might hear and respond to the gospel. He let me receive an education at an institution like SBU, where He used godly professors to shape my theology, philosophy of ministry, and character. He let me have a wife that loves, supports, encourages, and forgives me and is willing to go wherever the Lord would call us. He’s allowed us the privilege of living, working, and serving at a very exciting time in human history.

“Finally, it is humbling, because serving Him is my privilege and responsibility. As Jesus said, “... when you have done everything you were told to do, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty’”(Luke 17:10). When I think about all that Jesus has done for me, I wish that I had been more faithful in my service to Him.

“May God grant each of us grace to live a life that would ‘... show forth the excellencies of Him Who called (us) out of darkness into His marvelous light’ (1 Peter 2:9 ASV).”

•B.A. from SBU in 1985; MDiv. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1988.

• Career missionary with the International Mission Board (IMB) for 20 years. (Currently on leave of absence from active service).

• Married to Nancy. Two children, Sarah Boecker and Anna Skinner, both college students.

• When they return to the field, the Skinners will be moving to the Chuvash Republic to work with the Chuvash people, the largest non-Muslim people group in Russia.

Edwin Lightfoot Distinguished Alumni Award

The Alumni Association presents the Edwin Lightfoot Distinguished Alumni Award annually to an alumnus or alumna who demonstrates the ideals personified by the late Edwin Lightfoot ‘40. The award criteria include alumni leadership in the University, dedication to the education and welfare of youth, and demonstrated support for SBU.

Pat Hoffmeister Baker ’51

“To have my name associated with the Dr. Edwin Lightfoot Award is a distinct honor. I have often heard people talk about his love for SWBC while he was a student and about how he continued that love long after he graduated from the “Campus of Christian Ideals.”

“I have had my own on-going love affair with SWBC/SBU for sixty years. It started on a Sunday afternoon in September 1949 as I moved my life’s belongings into Blue Home. It was there that I would live with thirty other girls for the next two years.

“Upperclassmen created ways to help me become acquainted quickly with other students and with campus life so I wouldn’t have time to get homesick. I would eventually meet teachers who would encourage me to be more than I ever believed I could be. I was chosen to sing in the girls’ quartet and presented concerts in churches across Missouri. Relationships started happening during chapel services and around meals that were served family-style in Muirhead Dining Hall. Basketball games, concerts, drama, and revival services in old Pike Auditorium were highlights of campus life.”

“Ten years after graduating, God provided a way for my family to come back to SWBC where my husband Don, an SWBC alumnus, would work in administration for ten years and later, as a professor in the School of Theology for twenty-five years.

“I fell in love with SWBC in 1949. I am still in love with her. I drive slowly by Blue Home at least once a week and reminisce. I enjoy walking around campus or yelling at basketball games, or attending drama productions or listening to vocal and instrumental concerts. I have had the privilege of seeing one of our daughters and two grandchildren graduate from this school. Their time here helped shape their future just as it has helped shape mine.

“I graduated from SWBC in the spring of 1951. As I packed up my accumulated belongings and headed for my first teaching job, I knew that what I had experienced on the “Campus of Christian Ideals” could never be taken from me. And it hasn’t!”

•A.A. from SWBC in 1951.

• Married to Don Baker, a 1950 SWBC graduate and retired SBU professor.

• Serves on the SBU National Alumni Board.

• Member of First Baptist Church of Bolivar, where she serves on the Worship, Senior Adult and Nominating Committees and also sings in the choir.

• Enjoys landscaping, gardening, cooking, reading, and traveling.

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

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SBU to Benefit from Edward D. Jones & Company Foundation Grant

2011-10-24T08:15:00.000-05:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University will benefit from a recent grant to the Missouri Colleges Fund (MCF). This $19,000 grant underwrites the Edward Jones and Company Foundation at MCF’s 16 member schools including SBU. These scholarships will be awarded by the member schools on the basis of financial need to outstanding qualified students.

More information about MCF can be found online at www.mocollegesfund.org.

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Dr. Bob Derryberry Honored by the Speech & Theatre Association of Missouri

2011-10-19T16:24:00.001-05:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

The late Dr. Bob R. Derryberry

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The late Dr. Bob R. Derryberry, a former senior professor, chair of the Derryberry School of Communication Arts, and director of forensics at SBU, was posthumously honored by his colleagues in the Speech & Theatre Association of Missouri (STAM) with the organization’s “Emeritus Award” at their annual convention on September 23, 2011, in Lake Ozark, Mo.

STAM’s Emeritus Award is given to retired members of the organization who have exhibited exemplary service to the organization and excellence in teaching throughout their careers.

The Speech and Theatre Association of Missouri Director of Publications Gina Jensen of Webster University said, “STAM was pleased to honor Dr. Derryberry in this way. The recognition was a reflection of the love, respect, and high regard in which he was held by his colleagues in the organization.”

SBU’s Provost Dr. William Brown accepted the award on behalf of SBU and its forensics team while they were competing in Kansas that weekend. Dr. Brown said, “It was a moving tribute to Dr. Derryberry, and I was honored to see further evidence of his extraordinary influence.”

Dr. Derryberry served at SBU for forty-six years. He passed away in April of 2010.

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PHOTOS:

SBU’s Provost Dr. William Brown and The Speech & Theatre Association of Missouri Director of Publications Gina Jensen of Webster University.

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Speaking Bearcats Finish Sixth at Competitive Early Season Tournament

2011-10-19T16:17:00.002-05:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Speaking Bearcats competed with 24 other schools at the Hutchinson Community College Tournament September 23-25. The team finished in sixth place in overall sweepstakes. Freshman Nik Fischer reached the semifinals of extemporaneous speaking, freshman Shawna Barkley reached the finals of persuasive speaking, and freshman Meg Burns reached the semifinals of prose interpretation. The freshman debate team of Fischer and Barkley posted a winning record in the varsity division of parliamentary debate.

The team’s strong finish was aided by valuable contributions from sophomore Matt Adams, junior Lauren Schriver, freshman Jenna King, and freshman Alicia Briggs.

Reflecting upon the weekend SBU’s Director of Forensics Dr. David Bailey noted that he was encouraged by the team’s finish: “Of the 24 schools present at the tournament, at least four or five of them were national-caliber teams mostly populated by juniors and seniors. Although we expect to see continually improving results throughout the season, we were encouraged that our young team of mostly freshmen were able to ‘hold their own’ against some very tough competition. We are expecting great things from this young team in the future.”

The Speaking Bearcats will travel to Bethel College in Newton, KS for the Sunflower Swing October 14-15.

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PHOTO:

Back row (closest to the rail) from left to right or bottom of the stairs to the top. Shawna Barkley, Lauren Schriver, Matt Adams, Nik Fischer. Second row from the bottom to the top Jenna King, Meg Burns, Alicia Briggs.

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SBU Physical Therapy Faculty Published in Journal

2011-10-19T16:07:00.001-05:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Dr. Terry Cox was published in the most recent issue of the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT).

Dr. Cox co-authored the article “Treatment of Patients With Degenerative Cervical Radiculopathy Using a Multimodal Conservative Approach in a Geriatric Population: A Case Series.” The piece is a retrospective clinical case series. The article has the objective to describe the management of 10 patients with advanced cervical spondyloarthrosis with radiculopathy, using manual therapy, intermittent mechanical cervical traction, and home exercises.

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Information for SBU's December 2011 Commencement Ceremonies

2011-10-19T15:59:00.000-05:00

Southwest Baptist University News Release

Contact: Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications

417-328-1803 / ssmith@sbuniv.edu

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Southwest Baptist University’s winter commencement dates and times are as follows:

Bolivar Campus

The Bolivar campus commencement ceremony will be held Friday, December 16, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. on John Q. Hammons Court (sports arena/gymnasium) in the Jane and Ken Meyer Wellness and Sports Center.

Graduates should report for lineup at 6:00 p.m. in the Glen and Elsie Blair Intramural Center (intramural gym), also located in the Meyer Wellness and Sports Center. The intramural gym (lineup location) is in the NE corner of the wellness center, and the Hammons Court (ceremony location) is centrally located in the complex. There is no rehearsal for the Bolivar campus graduation.

Springfield Campus

The Springfield campus commencement ceremony will be held Thursday, December 15, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of Ridgecrest Baptist Church located at 2210 W. Republic Rd., Springfield.

Graduates need to report for lineup and pictures at 6:15 p.m. in rooms 138 and 140, just outside of the auditorium. Commencement rehearsal will be 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 8, in the sanctuary of Ridgecrest Baptist Church. For more details, contact the Springfield campus at 417-820-2069.

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