Blind Mountain ClimberErik Weihenmayerto Address USA’s Spring Commencementon May 8

A man who overcame dauntingchallenges to become one of themost intriguing athletes in theworld, blind mountain climber ErikWeihenmayer will address Universityof South Alabama graduates at theUniversity’s Spring Commencementceremony at 2 p.m. on Saturday,May 8, at the USA Mitchell Center.

The ceremony marks thebeginning for 1,275 graduates,bringing the total degrees awardedfor the academic year to 2,683. USAhas awarded 67,413 degreesthroughout its history.

At the Spring Commencementceremony, USA will award 860bachelor’s degrees, 250 master’sdegrees, seven educational specialistsdegrees, 66 doctor of medicinedegrees, 41 doctor of physicaltherapy degrees, 28 doctor of nursingpractice degrees, 11 doctor ofaudiology degrees, and 12 doctor ofphilosophy degrees.

Additionally, USA and theMobile County Public SchoolSystem will partner again this year toprovide live streaming of theUniversity’s Spring Commencement.The live coverage begins May 8 at 2p.m., CDST, on the University’sWeb site at www.southalabama.edu.

Recorded video of the event will beavailable online at the same addressfollowing the live Webcast.

Video streaming of all MCPSSschools to hold graduation inside theUSA Mitchell Center may be seen atwww.mcpss.com. A high schoolgraduation schedule is available onthe same Web site. Only CitronelleHigh School’s graduation will not be video streamed because it is not held inside the Mitchell Center.

Erik Weihenmayer:Overcoming Great Obstacles

to Achieve His Goals

A former middle school teacherand wrestling coach, ErikWeihenmayer overcame dauntingchallenges to become one of themost intriguing athletes in theworld. Despite losing his vision atage 13, he has become anaccomplished mountain climber,paraglider, and skier who has neverlet his blindness interfere with hispassion for an exhilarating andfulfilling life.

In 2001, Weihenmayer becamethe only blind man in history toreach the summit of the world’shighest peak - Mount Everest. By2008, he had completed his quest toclimb the Seven Summits, thehighest mountains on each of theseven continents. Fewer than 100mountaineers have accomplished this feat.

His accomplishments haveearned him an ESPY award fromsports network ESPN, recognitionby Time magazine, induction intothe National Wrestling Hall ofFame, the Helen Keller LifetimeAchievement award, Nike’s CaseyMartin Award, and the FreedomFoundation’s Free Spirit Award,among others. He has also carriedthe Olympic Torch for both theSummer and Winter Games. Inaddition to being a world-classathlete, Weihenmayer is also theauthor of the book, “Touch the Top

of the World,” which was made intoa feature film.

His second book, “The AdversityAdvantage: Turning EverydayStruggles into Everyday Greatness,”co-authored with business guru andbest-selling author Dr. Paul Stoltz,was released in 2007. Weihenmayerhas also been published in Time,Forbes, and Reader’s Digest. Hisaward-winning film, “Farther Thanthe Eye Can See” was ranked in thetop 20 adventure films of all time byMen’s Journal and was nominated fortwo Emmy’s.

Weihenmayer’s extraordinaryaccomplishments have gained himabundant press coverage, includingrepeated visits to NBC’s “TodayShow” and “Nightly News,” “Oprah,”“Good Morning America,”“Nightline,” and the “Tonight Show.”He has also been featured on thecover of Time, Outside, andClimbing magazines.

He is a co-founder of NoBarriers, a nonprofit organizationwith a goal of promoting innovativeideas, approaches, and assistivetechnologies, which helps peoplewith disabilities push through theirown personal barriers to live full andactive lives. Weihenmayer also servesas a National Braille LiteracyChampion on behalf of theAmerican Foundation for the Blind.

With a speaking career that hasspanned the globe, he has sharedspeaking platforms with notablessuch as former Secretary of StateGen. Colin Powell, and former VicePresident Al Gore. Weihenmayeruses these opportunities to encourageaudiences to harness the power ofadversity and pursue their dreams.His storied accomplishments clearlytestify to the power of hard work,determination and courage.

PARKING / SHUTTLEINFORMATION

For the graduating students,there will be reserved parking in theparking lot across from the StudentRecreation Center on Jaguar Drive,

which is located behind the MitchellCollege of Business. Admittance tothe Physical Education Building islimited to graduating students only.

Handicapped parking will belimited but is available for students,family and friends. Entrance to thisparking lot will be from Old ShellRoad only (behind the MitchellCenter). Proper tags must be visiblefor access to this lot.

SHUTTLE SERVICES (for family and guests)

Signage will be set up onUniversity Boulevard and Old ShellRoad, which will direct traffic to theshuttle/parking areas. In addition,directional parking signage will bedisplayed.

SHUTTLE TIMES: Shuttleservices will run from noon to 6 p.m.

SHUTTLE PICKUP POINTS:University Commons, GammaResidence Hall parking lot,Humanities Building parking lot,Administration Building parking lot,Jaguar Drive, and the parking lot eastof the Computer Science Building.

USA Approves NewResidence Hall toSupport EnrollmentGrowth

Responding to growingenrollment and increased studentinterest in on-campus living, theUniversity’s Board of Trustees hasapproved plans to construct a new300-bed residence hall on campus byfall 2011.

“As USA’s enrollment hassteadily grown in recent years, we’veobserved a significant increase in thenumber of students who desire atraditional on-campus livingexperience, especially as we haveenhanced campus life through theaddition of marching band, football,

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a state-of-the-art recreation centerand other amenities,” said PresidentGordon Moulton.

“We are certain these newresidence halls, like our existingfacilities, will be in high demandamong students and will enhance thelearning atmosphere on campus,”Moulton said.

USA’s enrollment hit a record14,757 this past fall semester, andover the last decade it has been oneof the fastest-growing universities inthe state. Currently, there are 2,787student housing beds on campus,1,787 operated by USA and 1,000 atThe Grove, a privately-ownedapartment complex located oncampus through a public-privatepartnership between USA andCampus Crest, Inc.

The new residence hall willinclude mostly two-bedroom, one-bath suites, as well as classroomspace and small-group study areas.It will feature “living-learningcommunities,” in which facultymembers live in the residence hall,conduct classes there and foster asense of connection. Campus officialssaid this living environment willenhance campus life and encouragestudent retention.

“The living-learning communityconcept leads students to feel moreconnected to the faculty, otherstudents and the fabric of campuslife, leading to greater retention andhigher rates of academic success,”said Dr. John Smith, USA vicepresident for student affairs.

USA Housing Director Dr. ChrisCharlton said the living-learningcommunity concept will begin oncampus in fall 2010 with anengineering community in one of theexisting residence halls. The newresidence hall will feature severaldifferent living-learningcommunities, Charlton said.

For more information onadmission to USA, call (251) 460-6141,or visit www.southalabama.edu. Formore information on housing, call(251) 460-6185.

USA Medical CenterStroke Program EarnsGold Achievement Award

The American HeartAssociation/American StrokeAssociation “Get With TheGuidelines” program has presentedthe University of South AlabamaMedical Center with the GoldPerformance Achievement Award forstroke care, the only hospital inMobile to be selected.

This is the second consecutiveyear USA Medical Center has beenrecognized with the Gold Award forexcellence in stroke care.

Get With The Guidelines-Strokeis an in-hospital program designedto improve acute stroke treatmentand prevent future strokes andcardiovascular events. GWTG-Stroke focuses on quick diagnosisand treatment of stroke patients. It

also involves care team protocolsonce patients are admitted to ensurethat they are treated and dischargedappropriately. The Gold awardrecognizes hospitals that achieveperformance scores of 85 percent orgreater compliance with qualitystandards for 24 consecutive months.

This latest award furtherrecognizes USA Medical Center’scommitment and success inimplementing a higher standard ofstroke care by ensuring that strokepatients receive treatment accordingto nationally accepted standards andrecommendations.

“With a stroke, time lost is brainlost, and the GWTG-Stroke GoldPerformance Achievement Awardrecognizes the crucial element oftime,” Dr. Dean Naritoku, medicaldirector of the Regional StrokeCenter at USA Medical Center andprofessor of neurology andpharmacology in the USA College of Medicine, said.

USA Medical Center hasdeveloped a comprehensive systemfor rapid diagnosis and treatment ofstroke patients admitted to theemergency department. Thisincludes always being equipped toprovide brain-imaging scans, havingneurologists available to conductpatient evaluations and using clot-busting medications whenappropriate.

“USA Medical Center isimproving the quality of stroke careby implementing GWTG-Strokeguidelines,” Naritoku said. “Thenumber of acute ischemic strokepatients eligible for treatment isexpected to grow over the nextdecade due to increasing strokeincidence and a large agingpopulation.”

According to the AmericanStroke Association, each yearapproximately 700,000 people suffera stroke; 500,000 are first attacks and200,000 are recurrent. Of strokesurvivors, 21 percent of men and 24percent of women die within a year,and for those aged 65 and older, thepercentage is even higher.

USA Medical Center receivedthe award by consistently complyingfor at least two years with therequirements in the GWTG-Strokeprogram. These include aggressiveuse of medications such as tPA,antithrombotics, anticoagulationtherapy for DVT prophylaxis,cholesterol reducing drugs andsmoking cessation.

GWTG-Stroke uses the“teachable moment,” the time soonafter a patient has had a stroke, whenthey are most likely to listen to andfollow their health care professionals’guidance. Studies demonstrate thatpatients who are taught how tomanage their risk factors while stillin the hospital reduce their risk of asecond heart attack or stroke.

Through GWTG-Stroke,customized patient educationmaterials are made available at thepoint of discharge, based on patients’individual risk profiles. The take-away materials are written in aneasy-to-understand format and areavailable in English and Spanish. Inaddition, the GWTG PatientManagement Tool provides access toup-to-date cardiovascular and strokescience at the point of care.

For additional information,please call the USA Stroke Center at 470-5801, or visit www.southalabama.edu/usamc.

Stroke Team Honored — Members of the stroke team at USA MedicalCenter include, front row, from left, Charlotte Craig, RN, ED; Kacey York,clinical educator; Dr. Daniel Dees and Sharon Ezelle, director of QualityManagement and Social Services/Utilization Review; second row,Debbie Brannon, RN, Case Management and Dr. Shannon Overs; third row,Elizabeth Allen, speech therapist; Dr. Dean Naritoku, medical director;Cindy Carrigan, special project coordinator; back row, Elmer Sellers, assistanthospital administrator; Anthony “Deek” Cunningham, occupational therapist;Dr. Izabela Koper, Dr. Elliot Foster and Mike Perry, physical therapist.

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Carol Ellis AppointedDirector of USA Archives

Dr. Richard J. Wood, dean ofuniversity libraries, has announcedthe appointment of Carol A. Ellis asdirector of USA Archives.

Ellis began working full-time asthe archivist at USA Archives in2005. She succeeds the foundingdirector of USA Archives,Dr. Michael Thomason, who recentlyretired from USA.

Prior to 2005, Ellis was a part-time project archivist and a studentassistant at USA Archives. Ellisholds a bachelor’s and a master’sdegree in history from USA. Shecurrently is completing courserequirements for the master’s inlibrary and information sciencesfrom the University of Alabama.

Ellis’ scholarship is evidenced bya number of publications and papers,as well as book reviews in manyjournals and books. She haspublished several articles in the GulfSouth Historical Review, TheHouston Review, and Provenance.Articles published in Gulf South

Historical Review include "TheHouston Catholic Worker: CasaJuan Diego, 1981-2004” and “TheTragedy of the White Moderate:Father Albert Foley and MartinLuther King, Birmingham 1963.” Inaddition, Ellis has presented papersto the Alabama Mosaic UsersGroup, the Gulf South HistoricalAssociation, and the AlabamaStudies Symposium. She hascoauthored publications such as“Mobile Bay: Yesterday, Today, andTomorrow” (Montgomery: Beers &Associates, 2009 with MichaelThomason) and “Historic Photos ofMobile” (Nashville, TN: TurnerPublishing, 2008 with ScottyKirkland). In addition, Ellis hassuccessfully written a number ofgrant proposals to the NationalEndowment for the Humanities, theNational Historic Publications and

Records Commission, and the J. L. Bedsole Foundation.

Ellis is involved in manycommunity outreach efforts toinform Mobile area residents,through the local media, about themany rich photographic andmanuscript collections held by USAArchives.

Find more detailed informationabout USA Archives’ collections onthe following Web site:http://www.usouthal.edu/archives/

Carol A. Ellis

Minority Preview Day 2010 — USA Dean ofStudents Michael Mitchell, right, and Dr. DavidStearns, associate vice president for enrollmentservices, far left, welcome prospective student Zachary Spencer, a senior at Murphy High School,and his mother, Esther Spencer, during the annualMinority Preview Day. More than 100 prospectivestudents and their parents attended the informativeevent held in the John Counts Room at the MitchellCenter.

USA Graduate Receives New Teacher Grant — AlabamaPower presents a $1,000 New Teacher Grant to USA Collegeof Education alumnus Matthew Joshua “M.J.” Blackburn of Mobile, right, for his outstanding service. Joining him,from left, are Mary Wood, principal of Causey MiddleSchool; Barbara Johnson, education and volunteer servicesrepresentative for Alabama Power Company; Sam Covert,area manager for Alabama Power Company; Blackburn; andDr. Peggy Delmas, director of student advising in the Collegeof Education at USA. The grant will allow Blackburn topurchase additional supplies for his seventh-grade socialstudies class at Causey Middle School. He was one of only 16 new teachers in Alabama selected to receive the grant.

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Editor: Alice Jackson. “Midweek Memo” is published by the Office of Public Relations for University of South Alabama personnel.News should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event. Visit us at www.southalabama.edu/publicrelations/midweek/

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMACAMPUS CALENDAR

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Saturday, April 24, 2010

Citizens for a Better Grand Bay will hold its 12th Annual “Walking forthe Memories” at 7 a.m. with the one-mile walk starting in front of theGrand Bay Middle School, located at the corner of School House andCunningham Roads. Held annually in honor and memory of cancervictims, the event will include a USA Mitchell Cancer Instituteinformation booth, bake sale, door prizes and a live auction. For moreinformation on how to participate or to contribute to the event, which has raised more than $20,000 for USAMCI, call Barbara Hudson at (251) 865-6998, or e-mail tweety4777@juno.com.

Friday, April 30, 2010

The department of philosophy will present Bill Karelis, a Colorado-based meditation instructor and founder of the Shambhala PrisonCommunity, at 7 p.m. in Room 212 of the Student Center. Karelis willlecture on the basic practice and theory of meditation from a non-denominational, non-religious perspective. All students and faculty areinvited. For more information, contact Dr. Eric Loomis atejloomis@jaguar1.usouthal.edu.

Chi Omega Begins$100,000 Campaign for Moulton TowerAmphitheatre at USA

The Beta Theta Chapter of ChiOmega has launched a $100,000campaign to raise funds toward theChi Omega Amphitheatre at theUniversity’s Moulton Tower andAlumni Plaza.

Chi Omega chapters typicallygive a large gift to their campuses tocelebrate their 50th anniversary. TheBeta Theta Chapter recentlycelebrated its 40th anniversary atUSA with a luncheon for 186 peopleat the Waterman Globe in theMitchell Center and presented an initial gift of $10,000 to President Gordon Moulton.

Maureen Frost, a charter memberof Beta Theta Chapter and ChiOmega House Corp. president atUSA, said she and other alumnaeand active members of Chi Omegawere looking for a significant projectto commemorate their 50thanniversary at USA in 2019.

“We wanted to plan ahead,” Frostsaid. “We wanted to do somethingnice for the University, and we thoughtit would be a wonderful thing forstudents and alumnae. It will besomething useable and recognizable.”

For Frost, a student at USA inthe mid- to late-1960s, MoultonTower and Alumni Plaza is a symbolof how far the University has comefrom those early days, she said.

Shelly Orr Priebe is chair of thecampaign, and Michelle CorkernBraswell and Natalie Price serve asco-chairs.

Dr. Joseph F. Busta Jr., vicepresident for development andalumni relations, said the ChiOmega gift is a wonderful exampleof a longtime USA group givingback to the campus. “We are pleasedthat they would direct their serviceand fund raising toward theamphitheatre, which will be agathering spot for our students andalumni. We look forward towelcoming generations of ChiOmega leaders back to campus formany events and celebrations overthe years.”

For more information on the ChiOmega Amphitheatre, or tocontribute, contact Ginny Turner at

(251) 460-7032, or gturner@usouthal.edu.

Monday, May 3, 2010

The University Bookstore will open in its new location in UniversityCommons while its present location is being renovated. Prior to the move,prices are drastically reduced on selected merchandise, including children’sbooks, general books, lab coats, T-shirts, and Nike caps. Faculty and staffdiscounts apply to the clearance prices.

Looking Ahead...

Saturday, September 4, 2010

The 2010 Jaguar football season begins. Tickets for the 2010 season areon sale now for only $70 each. The schedule includes seven home games.Faculty and staff members may have the cost deducted by payroll. Topurchase tickets or for more information, call (251) 461-1872.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

USA’s homecoming football game will be played against HendersonState University Reddies of Arkansas. The homecoming committee isseeking suggestions for the game’s “catch phrase.” The 2009 phrase was“First and Ten: A Tradition Begins.”For more information, call MelissaDickinson, chair of the homecoming committee, at (251) 460-7676, or e-mail her at mdickinson@usouthal.edu.

Contributing to the Future — Maureen Frost, left, a charter member of BetaTheta Chapter and Chi Omega House Corp. president at USA, presentsPresident Gordon Moulton with a check for the organization’s donation to theUniversity’s Moulton Tower and Alumni Plaza.