Engage Newsletter Fall 2010

Division of Outreach and Engagement/Extended Services University of Southern Indiana

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Fall 2010 • Issue Four Volume One

The University of Southern Indiana is the higher education partner for Innovation Pointe, an Indiana Certified Technology Park located at 318 Main Street in downtown Evansville. As the entrepreneurial division of the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville (GAGE), Innovation Pointe assists in the creation and growth of new businesses in the southwestern Indiana area.

The partnership between USI and GAGE, established in 2008, has allowed the University to better fulfill its mission of engaging regional businesses and industries. Fresh excitement is in the air as USI welcomes and looks forward to partnering with Debbie Dewey, the new president of GAGE, in the following areas.

USI offers undergraduate and graduate courses, noncredit courses, a certificate program in entrepreneurship, student interns, assessment, customized training, support for entrepreneurs, hands-on computer application courses, faculty applied research, and consulting support to businesses within Innovation Pointe. USI currently occupies a classroom and computer lab at Innovation Pointe and will soon add an additional classroom.

As a partner with GAGE, USI actively supports entrepreneurship and works with start-ups and small businesses. A grant-funded Breakout program led by Gene Recker, manager of education and entrepreneurship for USI at Innovation Pointe, works with seven small emerging businesses in the region to create a vision for success and roadmaps for getting there. USI is leading the Business Incubation Process at Innovation Pointe, designed to develop entrepreneurs and their companies.

GAGE and USI also are partnering to provide an Idea Lab designed for one-on-one

collaboration for Business Incubator clients and their associates. USI is designing, building, and furnishing the space while GAGE will be providing lab access to Business Incubator clients.

USI is constructing a state-of-the-art Innovation Lab that will open later this year. The lab is designed for structured and collaborative group work sessions enabled by expert facilitation. Clients will define the objectives while USI will design the processes to achieve them. USI experts will help clients develop strategies and strategic direction, identify potential commercialization opportunities for Federal Lab technologies, develop product concepts and business models, and more.

USI faculty, staff, and students from the College of Business, Pott College of Science and Engineering, and Division of Outreach and Engagement/Extended Services, will hold office hours at Innovation Pointe to provide mentoring and coaching for incubator client companies.

In partnership with the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC Crane), GAGE and USI hosted two technology transfer showcases in 2009 for patented inventions created at NSWC Crane. The partnership enables regional businesses access to NSWC Crane’s technology, expertise, and patents for the production of new products and processes that may be commercialized by the public sector. GAGE and USI also assist entrepreneurs and regional businesses as they pursue licensing NSWC Crane patents. Additional showcases will be scheduled in 2011.

In a separate Technology Transfer effort with NSWC Crane, the USI Center for Applied Research (CAR) received the Federal Laboratories Consortium Midwest Regional Partnership Award for its Innovation Discovery Process. Developed to help NSWC Crane identify potential disclosures by their scientists and engineers, the process helps increase the number of patents granted and positively impacts technology transfer and commercialization opportunities. Designed by Dr. Sue Ellspermann, director of CAR, and Recker, the Innovation Discovery Process also serves as a model for federal research laboratories across the country.

For more information about USI’s partnership at Innovation Pointe, visit www.usi.edu/extserv/outreach/innovationpointe.asp or contact Recker at 812/492-4394 or [email protected].

Innovation Pointe: Assisting in the creation and growth of regional businesses

I moved my business into Innovation Pointe in 2007 so I could take advantage of the different programs and services that are offered in the high-tech incubator. Gene Recker has provided me with a lot of great professional guidance and expertise. With a report that was generated from our conversations, I am able to see how I can plan and reach for future growth.”

— Joe Hoppe Owner Grace Unlimited Enterprises, Inc.

Gene Recker, manager of education and entrepre-neurship for USI at Innovation Pointe, poses outside Innovation Pointe, located at 318 Main Street in downtown Evansville.

I have found the services offered by USI at Innovation Pointe to be helpful. The people are readily available with an impressive depth of experience and the location is accessible, which allows for networking and human connections. These are important elements to job seekers and business developers in any community. Southern Indiana is fortunate to have these services located here.”

— Scott Angle Director, Cultural Transformation Ten Adams

3A Carnegie Foundation Engaged University

Division of Outreach and Engagement/Extended Services • University of Southern Indiana

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Division of Outreach and Engagement/Extended ServicesOffice 812/464-1989Fax 812/465-7061

Senior Advisor to the President Dr. Edward Jones 812/464-1863

Interim Dean of Extended Services and Director of Continuing Education Linda Cleek 812/464-1863

Grant Writer/Coordinator Jane Friona 812/455-7946

USI-Crane Partnership Manager Josh Mischler 812/461-5325

Academic Programs Coordinator/AdvisorLee Ann Wambach 812/464-1879

DepartmentsCenter for Applied Research Dr. Susan Ellspermann 812/461-5407

Center for Education Services and Partnerships Ginger Ramsden 812/464-1989

Center for Human Resource Development Charmaine McDowell 812/464-1816

Center for Continuing Education Linda Cleek 812/464-1863

Historic Southern Indiana Leslie Townsend 812/465-7013

Historic New Harmony Connie Weinzapfel 812/682-4488

USI @ Innovation Pointe Gene Recker 812/492-4394

Instructional Technology Services Dana Willett 812/465-7182

Service Learning Dr. Anne Statham 812/465-1203

Southern Indiana Japanese School Keietsu Nishimura 812/471-1210

U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Major Nathaniel Skelly 812/461-5303

engage Editor Brandi Schwartz 812/464-1854

If you know anything about the University of Southern Indiana, you know that change is a constant here. I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you about some major changes taking place this fall. On January 1, 2011, the Division of Extended Services will officially become the Division of Outreach and Engagement.

Our mission has been and will continue to be outreach. We complement the University’s tradi-tional role by providing and facilitating quality educational, research, and technical services for people, groups, and organizations in Indi-ana and the Tri-State. These activities support and promote individual well-being, social and cultural enrichment, economic opportunity, and regional development.

Our founding leader, Dr. M. Edward Jones, has stepped away from his position as vice pro-vost for Outreach and dean of Extended Ser-vices. Throughout the fall semester he is serving as senior advisor to the president on Outreach and Engagement. This assignment allows him to concentrate on several specific program areas, including the USI-Crane partnership, our work at Innovation Pointe, USI’s involvement in New Harmony, and other economic and regional de-velopment initiatives. He will retire at the end of the year and officially become a full-time boat captain on July 1, 2011. (Only kidding—we know Ed will continue to be involved in many University and civic endeavors!)

While a national search is underway for a new leader for the division, the associate pro-vost on Outreach and Engagement, I am serv-ing as interim dean. This gives me a chance to help smooth the way for that leader, and to en-sure the division continues and moves forward with its many outreach efforts.

Late in the fall semester, we will be physically uprooting ourselves from the Orr Center (where most of our offices are located) and moving into the newly expanded University Center. We will be on the upper level of the former Rice Library facility (just east of the new University Center tower) and will be happy to have our computer lab and conference facilities at our doorstep. Watch for news of an open house after Janu-ary 1.

Where in the world is Continuing Education/Extended Services/Outreach and Engagement?

August 1974 – Ed Jones becomes the first director of Continuing Education. Linda Cleek joins the operation as secretary a month later. Our offices are in the original (and brand new) University Center. Our first set of programs fo-cuses on leisure activities and gymnastics for children.

1978 – We move to the lower level of the original Rice Library. Our staff has grown to six and we have added professional development and children’s programs along with adult per-sonal enrichment courses and recreational ac-tivities. Our first computer class is programming on the TRS-80!

1981 – You could find us in the Wright Ad-ministration Center, Forum Wing (approximately where Human Resources and Travel Services are today). We have a staff of more than a dozen, and Historic New Harmony becomes part of our operation. We begin programming for healthcare professionals and add commu-nity and environmental issues to our mix.

1990 – We move into the Orr Center upon its opening. In our 20 years here, the staff grows to more than 60, including Instructional Technology Services and ROTC. Historic South-ern Indiana, the Center for Applied Research, the USI-Crane Partnership, Service Learning, the College Achievement Program, and the Bach-elor of General Studies are all part of Extended Services by 2010. Professional conferences are an important focus, as are contract programs for businesses and organizations.

Fall 2010 – Back to the University Center which now incorporates the original library. Who says you can’t go home again? The fu-ture’s so bright, I gotta wear shades (with apolo-gies to Timbuk3)!

Our Honor Roll of retirees includes:

Darrel Bigham, director of Historic Southern Indiana, 1970-2008

Larry Bohleber, manager of Human Resource Development, 1985-2008

Amelia Jane Reynolds, administrative assis-tant for Historic Southern Indiana, 1990-June 2010

Pamela Buschkill, manager of the Children’s Learning Center, 1990-December 2010

Jan Kahle, education coordinator in Historic New Harmony, 2000-December 2010

Through all the moves and changes we have held to our vision of developing the region through lifelong learning. We look forward to partnering with you for success for many years to come.

Linda Cleek Interim Dean of Outreach and Engagement/Extended Services

Letter from the Dean

en•gage (en’gaj) verb 1. to establish a meaningful contact or connection 2. to occupy, attract, or involve 3. to actively commit


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Looking for a career change? Beginning in November, the USI Center for Human Re-source Development will offer a four-part series called Career Change Series: Reinventing Your-self for the Future. Each session in the series is designed to guide individuals through the steps needed to find a new and satisfying career.

All sessions will be instructed by Pam Goedde, senior professional in human resources (SPHR) at Human Element, Inc. Goedde served on the board of the Evansville-area Human Resource Association (EHRA) for 18 years and received EHRA’s first HR Professional of the Year Award in 1995. She has served on the Indiana HR State Conference Committee for 14 years, in-cluding three years as conference chair.

“Since each person is unique, I am able to customize sessions in this series and individu-alize the process,” said Goedde. “Together, we will explore what each person has to offer in the work place and how to best showcase these offerings to potential employers.”

Sessions will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. at Innova-tion Pointe, located at 318 Main Street in down-town Evansville. The registration fee is $59 per session or $199 for the complete series. Two hours of optional one-on-one coaching will be available to participants who take the complete series for an additional $99.

For more information, or to register, call USI Division of Outreach and Engagement/Extend-ed Services at 812/464-1989 or 800/467-8600.

Session topics include:

What is Your Career Personality?Meeting on Monday, November 22, this ses-sion will be a self-assessment where partici-pants will learn about themselves, what they like to do, what is best for their personality, what their values and skills are, and how to uti-lize their natural abilities. The session will serve as a jump-start to the career reinvention process and will help identify the best career fit for each individual and the tools needed to get there.

Creating Your ResumeGetting your resume out and into the hands of decision makers is key to a successful job search. Learn what employers are looking for and find out how to make your resume stand out from the crowd. This session will meet on Monday, November 29.

Creating Your PortfolioLearn how to showcase past achievements and current skills in an effective way. Meeting on Monday, December 6, this session will help participants create a visual presentation that will showcase and document past experiences, accomplishments, work samples, and evalua-tions that will match up with what employers are looking for.

Successful InterviewingThe final step in landing a new job is having a successful interview. On Monday, December 13, learn how to polish your interview skills, pre-pare for an interview, and how to interview to match what employers are looking for. Follow-up etiquette also will be covered.

After approximately 40 years of combined service to the USI Division of Outreach and En-gagement/Extended Services, Pam Buschkill and Jan Kahle will retire from the University in December along with Amelia Jane Reynolds who retired earlier this year.

Pam Buschkill, manager of the Children’s Learning Center, began her career at USI in 1990 as a part-time teacher for three to five year olds. In 1993, she was promoted to coordinator and supervised the staff in the Center. During her 17 years of leadership, Buschkill brought many positive changes to the USI child care facility. These changes include the movement of the Center from its original location on Reflection Lake to its current loca-tion where it was renovated, expanded, and doubled in size; became state licensed in the early 90s; became accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in 2000 and recently became reac-credited until 2013; attained the highest level of the state rating system for child care facilities, Level 4 on 4C’s Paths to Quality in 2005; and recently attained the 3 Star level from the Indi-ana Department of Environmental Management 5 Star program, with expectations to receive the 5 Star rating later this year. Buschkill has

influenced the lives of hundreds of children who have attended the Children’s Learning Center and their parents. Although she will no longer be physically present at USI when she retires in December, Buschkill’s influence and expecta-tion for excellence will live on through the Cen-ter’s nurturing environment and her dedicated staff.

From 1975-1980, Jan Kahle was the visi-tor center director in Historic New Harmony (HNH). At the millennium, on November 27, 2000, to be precise, she rejoined the HNH staff as an education coordinator. During her final 10 years with HNH, Kahle streamlined

many complex events such as Heritage Arti-sans Week and Road Scholars (formerly Elder-hostel) into smoothly run-ning machines. Always proud to tell the story of her hometown, Kahle has shared the incredible his-tory of HNH with schol-ars, students, and tourists alike, with excitement and aplomb. Kahle will be honored with the title of

education coordinator emerita when she ends her employment with USI in December. Her friends at HNH will not say goodbye, as they fully expect that she will continue to work and give very special tours of utopia.

After 10 year of service, Amelia Jane Reyn-olds, administrative assistant in Historic South-ern Indiana, (HSI) retired from the University on June 30, 2010. Her love of genealogy and regional history has served HSI well. Reynolds looks forward to devoting more time to genea-logical studies, gardening, sewing, and other hobbies.

Career Change Series: Reinventing Yourself for the Future

Buschkill, Kahle, and Reynolds retire

Buschkill Kahle Reynolds



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While students enjoyed the final weeks of summer vacation, 48 participants from USI, Ivy Tech Community College, University of Evans-ville, Vincennes University, and special guest Yaw Bredwa-Mensah, senior lecturer of arche-ology at the University of Ghana, loaded a bus on Tuesday, August 10, to visit local community business leaders for the fifth annual Day on the Bus event. Sponsored by Old National Bank, the event gives faculty a behind-the-scenes look at area businesses and an opportunity to see how they can better prepare students for the workforce.

This year’s first stop took participants to the Vanderburgh County Jail where Eric Williams, Vanderburgh County sheriff and USI alumnus, provided a detailed tour of the Vanderburgh County Detention Center, explained the jail sys-tem, and his role as the county sheriff. Williams also commented on strengths and weaknesses he has observed from recent college graduates.

“I believe the students are very well educat-ed, know how to use technology, and know how to find answers,” said Williams. “The skill set found to be the weakest is their ability to write. We must document everything we do, first by logging it, writing it, and then putting it in a report. This is usually the only information that is provided to the court, since I am generally not able to be there to testify.”

From here, participants traveled to Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana for a guided tour of the plant. Representatives from Toyota spoke about leading car manufacturers around the globe and what learning skills students would benefit from in the future.

The final stop took Day on the Bus partici-pants to Old National Bank where President and CEO Bob Jones discussed current outlooks on the local and national economy and the rec-ognition the bank has received nationally for its commitment to the communities it serves, as well as its financial performance.

At the conclusion of this year’s event, Bred-wa-Mensah said, “I have become a better per-son by interacting with colleagues from different academic backgrounds. I have a better view and understanding of global family and the need to respect each other.”

To learn more about Day on the Bus, con-tact the USI Center for Applied Research at 812/461-5442.

The Division of Outreach and Engagement/Extended Services is currently accepting appli-cations for the Epi-Hab Scholarship and the Adult Learner Scholarship for the 2011-2012 year.

USI students who have a disability or assist in-dividuals with disabilities in either their personal lives or workplace are encouraged to apply for the Epi-Hab Scholarship. Applicants must be enrolled in a minimum of three semester hours at USI at the time of application and award; have completed at USI, or have had accepted for transfer to USI, a minimum of 12 semester hours; have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 (undergraduate) or 3.0 (graduate); complete an Epi-Hab application; compose a 1,000-word essay; and provide two letters of recommendation.

One student from each of USI’s five colleges and one student from the University Division/Bachelor of General Studies program will re-ceive $1,000 for tuition, books, or living ex-penses.

Sarah Munjas, a graduate student in the USI Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) program from Lowell, Indiana, is a recipient of the 2010-2011 Epi-Hab Scholarship. Munjas has worked with children with disabilities in the YMCA after-school program, completed philanthropic work with Special Olympics through her sorority Al-pha Sigma Alpha, and has helped serve the needs of elderly women with disabilities with the Little Sisters of the Poor in Evansville. She

holds a USI Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in public relations and political science and will complete the MALS program this spring. Her goal is to work for a nonprofit that aids children and adults with disabilities.

“I am grateful for receiving the Epi-Hab Scholarship, and with my future endeavors, I hope to help individuals with disabilities along the way,” said Munjas. “I believe it is important to raise awareness, knowledge, and education about disabilities not just to people in our com-munity, but to everyone.”

The Epi-Hab Scholarship application can be downloaded online at www.usi.edu/extserv/outreach/epihabscholarship.asp. For more information, contact Kimberly Armstrong, ad-ministrative associate in the USI Division of Out-reach and Engagement/Extended Services, at 812/464-1863 or [email protected].

Aimed at current USI students who are at least 25 years of age, the Adult Learner Schol-arship provides financial assistance to individu-als working on their first undergraduate degree.

To apply for the scholarship, students must complete an Adult Learner Scholarship appli-cation, compose a 300- to 500-word essay, provide a letter of recommendation from a USI faculty or staff member, and complete an elec-tronic FAFSA and USI Financial Aid Data form.

Scholarship recipients will receive up to $2,000 that may be applied toward tuition, fees, books, and other USI expenses.

Ashley Kinsey, a recipient of the 2010-2011 Adult Learner Scholarship, began her college career in 1997 at the University of Evansville but had to put her degree on hold due to un-fortunate family circumstances. She entered the workforce and was laid off from a job she had been in for eight years. With her husband’s encouragement to follow her dreams, Kinsey returned to school at USI as a full-time student majoring in elementary education with an em-phasis in visual art. Her goal is to become an elementary school teacher.

“Being a college student is difficult and de-manding in the first place, but when you try to juggle all of the responsibilities many adult learners have, like children, a spouse, work, bills, cooking, cleaning, etc., it can seem im-possible at times,” said Kinsey. “I am a mother, wife, student, employee, and homeowner. Try-ing to balance all of these aspects in my life and not cut any corners is a daunting task. The fact that USI offers the Adult Learners Scholar-ship is very reassuring and rewarding.”

The Adult Learner Scholarship application can be found online at www.usi.edu/extserv/adultscholarship. Contact Lee Ann Wambach, academic program manager in the USI Division of Outreach and Engagement/Extended Ser-vices, at 812/464-1879 or [email protected] for more information.

The application deadline for both scholar-ships is Friday, December 10, 2010.

Annual Day on the Bus: Faculty go beyond the jail door

Scholarship opportunities for USI students

Eric Williams, Vanderburgh County sheriff and USI alumnus, speaks to Day on the Bus participants



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The USI Service Learning Program has re-ceived a $2,000 Global Youth Service Day (GSYD) Lead Agency grant from State Farm Companies Foundation. The funding will be used to support youth leadership during GYSD, April 13-15, 2011.

As a lead agency, USI will organize a co-curricular trails project with partner organiza-tions during the 2010-2011 year, culminating with GYSD in mid-April to collectively engage more than 600 youth volunteers. The project will serve as an extension of a refurbishment project that took place earlier this year on USI’s Bent Twig Trail, which was also partly funded by a grant from State Farm.

The 2011 GYSD Lead Agency grant will be used to refurbish more trails on campus for bet-ter utilization by community groups. USI trails will eventually connect with a trail coming from Burdette Park. The project will serve as an im-portant part of the co-curricular Service Learn-ing program, which aims to integrate service learning goals into activities that students can participate in outside the classroom.

USI students also will work with youth in the area and par-ticipate in additional trail projects on campus and in the Evansville area. The Evansville Trails Coali-tion will serve as a major part-ner for the project and will help promote and facilitate work on an interconnected trail network throughout the county; USI trails will be part of that initiative. Plant and tree identification signs on campus trails also will be added.

Other project partners include Carver Community Organiza-tion, Westside Garden Club, Master Gardeners, Vanderburgh Soil and Water Conservation District, Evansville Bicycle Coalition, Miles Ahead Coalition, Burdette Park, Southwestern Master Naturalists, Keep Evansville Beautiful, YMCA, Wesselman Nature Center, Boys and Girls Club, Big Brother/Big Sisters, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts.

“This project will give our students an oppor-tunity to provide valuable services to campus

and the community in a way that will have a far-reaching impact in creating a healthier com-munity,” said Anne Statham, director of USI Ser-vice Learning and coordinator of the trail proj-ects. “Bringing together youth of different ages will give our young people the opportunity to have an impact on the development of the trails around the community.”

Service Learning receives State Farm grant

With a planning grant from the U.S. Forest Service, the Hoosier National Forest sponsored a Simplex workshop in Bedford, for Indiana’s Historic Pathways, a Y-shaped route that stretch-es 250 miles across 16 southern Indiana coun-ties. Led by USI’s Center for Applied Research (CAR), Simplex is a creative problem-solving methodology that utilizes creative and analyti-cal thinking in an atmosphere of collaboration, learning, and possibilities. Historic Southern Indiana (HSI), a regional outreach program in the USI Division of Outreach and Engagement/Extended Services, provides administrative sup-port for Indiana’s Historic Pathways.

Indiana’s Historic Pathways tells the story of early settlement, westward migration, and trans-portation in Indiana. The pathway runs along U.S. 50 from Vincennes to Lawrenceburg and U.S. 150, which overlaps U.S. 50 from Vin-cennes to Shoals and extends southeastward to the Falls of the Ohio. Portions of the old Buffalo Trace can be found on or south of federal high-ways connecting Vincennes and Clarksville. The United States Department of Transportation designated the pathway to America’s Byways collection in November 2009.

“The process to become a byway had taken many years and worn out a myriad of people,” said Teena Ligman, public affairs specialist for

the Hoosier National Forest. “When the effort began, we could fill a room with people ex-cited at the prospect of recognizing U.S. 50, U.S. 150, and the Buffalo Trace as a national byway. Over time, proceeding through all the hurdles required to become a national byway wore people out to where only a small core group of people were left at the table.”

In an effort to reenergize the group, rec-ognize the potential of the byway, and bring ownership back to the communities along the route, Indiana’s Historic Pathways put the Sim-plex process into action and examined ways to increase byway committee participation. By the end of the workshop, Indiana’s Historic Pathways had worked through several issues, determined desired results, and created a plan to achieve their goals.

“We developed an action plan to make personal contacts and invite people along the byway to one of four regional luncheons where we will present information on the byway, how they can help, and what the byway can do for their community,” said Ligman. “It was a good process and people were stepping up and volunteering to do their part. At the end of the regional meetings, we will hold a byway-wide meeting and bring new volunteers together to kick off a newly invigorated byway group with new committees and new leadership.”

HSI was created in 1986 to serve the south-ernmost 26 counties of Indiana. Its goals are to identify, preserve, protect, enhance, and promote the historical, natural, and recreational resources of the region. It seeks to implement those goals through programs in historic preser-vation, history education, heritage tourism, com-munity development, and scenic byways. Its of-fice is a part of the USI Division of Outreach and Engagement/Extended Services.

Additional information about HSI and Indi-ana’s Historic Pathways can be found online at www.usi.edu/hsi or by calling 812/465-7014.Information about CAR is available at www.usi.edu/extserv/car or 812/461-5442.

Indiana’s Historic Pathways utilize Simplex workshops

USI entrance to the Bent Twig Trails



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Three new faces have recently joined the Di-vision of Outreach and Engagement/Extended Services including Kimberly Armstrong, Me-gan Glenn, and René Koressel.

Joining our team as administrative associate, Kimberly Armstrong transferred to the USI Divi-sion of Outreach and Engagement/Extended Services from the USI Department of Athletics and has been employed with the University since 2006. Armstrong graduated from USI in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and an emphasis in creative writing. In addition to providing administrative support to the dean and associate dean, Armstrong will maintain the department’s web site and social media sites, facilitate various office procedures, and coordinate the Epi-Hab scholarship, ADA con-ferences and webinars, and the annual Rope-Walk Writers Retreat.

Meagan Glenn has joined the Historic Southern Indiana staff as senior program as-sistant. She attended the University of Evansville where she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication in 2009. Glenn will work on special projects including assisting with plan-ning workshops and special events, developing publications, communicating with regional part-ners, and maintaining the Historic Southern Indiana web site and social media sites.

Formally employed as a recruiting super-visor in USI’s Career Services and Place-ment, René Koressel has joined the Center for Human Resource Development (Center

for HRD) as a senior program assistant. She will monitor program budgets, maintain the Center for HRD web site and social media sites, plan program materials, and coordinate and pro-mote various departmental projects, including all aspects of Connect with Southern Indiana, a regional leadership program. Koressel has been with the University since 2005.

Evan Weinzapfel, an alumnus of the University of Southern Indiana’s Children’s Learning Center, chuckled at the men-tion of the big metal jungle gym, a fond memory for many children who played on it over the years. “I played on that, too,” he said, smiling. He can’t recall the names

of the teachers he had, but he remembers the Children’s Learning Center as a fun place.

The University figured into Weinzapfel’s Boy Scout experiences, too. As a young scout, he camped next to Bokelman #3 School at the Bent Twig Outdoor Education Center and at-tended the scouting merit badge programs held on campus.

Thirteen years later, Weinzapfel is prepar-ing to earn his Eagle Scout Award, the highest award presented to a Boy Scout. As he col-lected ideas of where to do his service project, good memories of times spent at USI prompted him to call Pamela Buschkill, manager of the Children’s Learning Center. Weinzapfel said, “I wanted to do something more than spreading mulch on a trail, something that would last.”

Buschkill said, “We were interested in quali-fying as a nature playground, and one of the

items we were lacking was an official entrance to the play area. However, we did not have any plan on how we could accomplish this on our budget.”

Thinking a pergola might be a natural en-trance in the playground, Weinzapfel began his research at Lowe’s Home Improvement. He built the pergola along with benches in his fam-ily’s barn. Upon completion, the parts were brought to campus on trailers and installed over a weekend.

Acknowledging the fact that a lot of paper-work goes into earning the Eagle Scout Award, Weinzapfel enjoyed the creative process of picking out and building the pergo-la, benches, and fencing.

“It was fun,” he said. “I had a lot of help. My dad and grandpa knew what they were doing and helped me a lot. But the fund-raising events to buy the materials, planning the details of the process, the interviews in front of the re-view committee, that was all me. The planning of the project was more stressful than the actual building of the project.”

Buschkill said, “I was

out of town the weekend the project was put together. When I came to work the following Monday, it seemed to have magically ap-peared. I was speechless when I first saw it. Not only did we have the fence and pergola, but he had reseeded the hillside and our pav-ing tiles had been reset. The benches were a definite plus and are thoroughly enjoyed by the children as well as the staff.”

Completing his Eagle Scout project has been rewarding for Weinzapfel. “The younger boys look up to you like a mentor. But it also feels good to give back to USI.”

New faces in the Division of Outreach and Engagement/Extended Services

Teen gives back to USI’s Children’s Learning Center

Armstrong Glenn Koressel

Weinzapfel

Children from the USI Children’s Learning Center gather around new fencing installed by Evan Weinzapfel. The fencing will help the Center qualify as a nature playground.



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Notes

Read engage onlineIf you would prefer to receive engage by

email instead of postal mail, send your name and email address to Brandi Schwartz, engage editor, at [email protected]. Current and past issues of engage are available online at www.usi.edu/engage/.

Find us on FacebookFollow USI Division of Outreach and Engage-

ment/Extended Services on Facebook for all the latest news and events. You can find us at www.facebook.com/usioutreach.

Survey for adult learnersIn coordination with the Council for Adult and

Experiential Learning (CAEL), the University of Southern Indiana will distribute an Adult Learner Inventory survey to all USI undergraduate stu-dents who are 25 years of age or older. Stu-dents are encouraged to complete the survey, as it will help the University discover new ways to meet the needs of adult learners. The survey will be distributed this fall by email to each stu-dent’s MyUSI account. Twenty-four percent of students who are currently enrolled in classes at USI, including undergraduate and graduate students, are adult learners.

Townsend presents at regional conference

Leslie Townsend, director of Historic Southern Indiana, presented a session, “Connecting Re-gional Partners with University Resources” at the 2010 University Professional and Continuing Education Association’s (UPCEA) regional con-ference on September 22 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Varallo to present RopeWalk Reading on November 15

Anthony Varallo will deliver a free Rope-Walk Reading at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Novem-ber 18, in Carter Hall in USI’s University Center. His short story collection, Out Loud, won the 2008 Drue Heinz Literature Prize and his first collection, This Day in History, won the 2005 John Simmons Short Fiction Award. Varallo is the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Literature and his stories have appeared in several publications including Get-tysburg Review, New England Review, and Harvard Review. A reception and book signing will follow the reading.

Joshua D. Mischler has been named USI-Crane partner-ship manager in the Division of Outreach and Engagement/Extended Services, a new position at the University of Southern Indiana. The posi-tion was created to expedite further de-velopment of the Uni-versity’s agreements

with the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane (NSWC Crane). The University and NSWC Crane collaborate in promoting economic de-velopment opportunities, technology transfer, and improvement of science and mathematics education in the region.

Mischler holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from USI and was employed at NSWC Crane as an electronics engineer. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science de-gree in engineering from Purdue University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Indiana University.

“This position is an important next step in building the USI-Crane partnership,” said Dr. M.

Edward Jones, senior advisor to the president on Outreach and Engagement at USI. “Because of his familiarity with both institutions, Josh can immediately provide leadership in leveraging the resources of each institution to meet our mu-tual applied research and educational missions. His experience and expertise will provide better focus on expanding relationships and moving projects that will be critical to the future eco-nomic development of the region and the state.”

Mischler will facilitate USI STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) coordination with NSWC Crane, identify op-portunities for greater student and faculty in-volvement in NSWC Crane research projects, and help facilitate innovation development pro-cesses with NSWC Crane. He will have of-fices in the new USI Business and Engineering Center and at NSWC Crane.

NSWC Crane, located in Martin County, is the third-largest Navy installation in the country, employing more than 2,000 scientists, engi-neers, and technicians. NSWC Crane provides comprehensive support for complex military sys-tems spanning development, deployment, and sustainment in three mission areas: electronic warfare/information operations, special mis-sions, and strategic missions.

Cadets from the Wabash Battalion, Eagle Detachment Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) program and the surrounding area will pack their rucksacks on Saturday, November 13, to participate in the 9th Annual Norwegian Road March.

With a start point at the University of South-ern Indiana, the 18.6-mile road march will be-gin at 8 a.m. and will require participants to march on a trail that covers a variety of terrain while dressed in military attire and carrying a 25-pound rucksack. Cadets and soldiers who complete the road march in an allotted amount of time will be awarded a certificate and the bronze badge for the first time finished, a silver badge after the fourth finish, and the badge in gold after the eighth finish. Participants may register individually or as part of a four-member team.

Sponsored by Dr. Nils Johansen, retired Nor-wegian Artillery Reserve Officer and USI Uni-versity Division advisor, the Norwegian Road March is a boot camp tradition for Norwegian soldiers. Johansen holds a Norwegian Road March badge in gold.

“When the ROTC program started at USI, I wanted to help bring something unique to the program,” Johansen said. “The Norwegian Road March is a great challenge for cadets.”

Civilians are welcome to participate in the road march but must provide their own clothing, boots, and rucksack. Clothing should be simi-lar to a uniform, no jogging shorts or jogging shoes. Those who complete the march within the set guidelines will receive a Norwegian Road March certificate.

Last year’s road march attracted more than 220 participants, making it the largest road march to date.

A registration fee of $25 is required to partici-pate in the Norwegian Road March; a portion of the fee will benefit the USI ROTC program.

Additional details and standards for the Nor-wegian Road March are available online at www.usi.edu/extserv/rotc/nrm.asp. To register, contact the Division of Outreach and Engage-ment/Extended Services at 812/464-1989.

Mischler joins the University as USI-Crane partnership manager

Norwegian Road March open to cadets, soldiers, and civilians

Mischler

8600 University BoulevardEvansville, IN 47712

10001-01030

www.usi.edu/extservRead engage online at www.usi.edu/engage/

Division of Outreach and Engagement/Extended Services University of Southern Indiana

P10-5058


Noncredit Course SamplerArts and LeisureNovember 22 What is Your Career Personality?, self-assessment session that will help you learn about yourself, what you like to do, what is best for your personality type, what your values and skills are, and how to utilize your natural abilities.November 29 Creating Your Resume, learn what employers are looking for and how to make your resume stand out in a crowd.

Personal FinanceNovember 8 Living Debt-Free in the 21st Century, learn a three-step system that will help you manage your debts and expenses.November 16-30 Passport to Retirement, learn how to get the most from guaranteed investments, tax-free income, and estate planning. Meets three Tuesdays at Innovation Pointe in downtown Evansville, Indiana.

Professional DevelopmentNovember 4 Making Business Connections with Social Networking, learn how to use social networking sites LinkedIn and Facebook to build awareness and support for your organization. Participants should create a LinkedIn and Facebook account prior to class meeting. Meets at Innovation Pointe in downtown Evansville, Indiana.November 11 or December 9 Management Diagnostic Center, USI’s award-winning Management Diagnostic Center is a well recognized and accepted center methodology to develop com-prehensive training needs profiles for supervisors, managers, and future managers.

Computers and Information ManagementNovember 9–December 7 Project Management with Microsoft Project, learn how to better organize work and people to help ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget with Office Project 2007. Meets at Innovation Point in downtown Evansville, Indiana.November 16 Getting Started with Windows, learn the basics of Microsoft Windows operating system for personal computers. Emphasis will be icon identification, shortcuts, learning how to click and drag to size and position, and exploring the control panel.December 1 and 8 Preparing A PowerPoint Presentation 2007, discover tips on using advanced PowerPoint functions to create an effective presentation: how to add animation and slide transitions, choose appropriate fonts and layouts, and creative web pages and transparencies using PowerPoint slides.

LanguagesNovember 9–December 14 More Conversational Spanish, continue learning conversational Spanish and grammar. Participants should have a basic knowledge of the language. Meets six Tuesdays.

Kids, Parents, and TeachersNovember 6 and 13 Saturday Art Workshop (ages 6-14), participants will join USI art students and faculty to create two- and three-dimensional artwork including collages, paintings, printmaking, sculpture, and more.

Visit usi.edu/extserv for more information and additional courses. Registration information: 812/464-1989 or 800/467-8600

Engage Newsletter Fall 2010

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Transcript of Engage Newsletter Fall 2010