27 November 2012

KOKOMO, Ind. – Overseas study can have the greatest impact on students' collegiate experiences and life. Many students who travel overseas claim the trips are life changing.

Donna McLean and Minda Douglas lead a group of students on a previous trip to Italy.Fortunately, for students at Indiana University Kokomo, there are multiple overseas study opportunities. Currently, faculty members Donna McLean and Minda Douglas are gearing up for an overseas study trip to Italy slated for March 2013.

McLean and Douglas anticipate this trip will give students the "travel bug," which helps build confidence to pursue international travel in the future. Ultimately, they want students to challenge themselves and step outside their comfort zone.

"Italy can really change your perspective on a lot of things, and allow you to grow in new ways," McLean said. "It's always fun to watch the students have new experiences and build new relationships that will last a lifetime."

McLean, associate professor of communication arts, and Douglas, assistant professor of fine arts, have designed courses focusing on art, communication, culture, and travel to Italy. Students can take one of two classes during the spring semester, S302 Rhetoric and Society: Italian Culture and Communication or A200 Topics in Art History: Foreign Study in Italian Art. The courses are offered on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

McLean is looking forward to taking students on the trip for the third time.

"Italy is a place that can capture student's imaginations," she said. "It's a great opportunity to see and do things that we've been fascinated with since we were young."

There are spots available for six more students to travel to Italy, and interested students should contact McLean or Douglas as soon as possible. Students have until December 7 to register for the course and pay a travel deposit.

The cost is about $3,500, which includes airfare, three-star hotel with breakfast each day, all in-country transportation, and all site and admission fees. In addition, students should plan to bring $500 for spending money.

Overseas study scholarships are available to all students who register for either course. There are 14 scholarships at $500 each and four scholarships at $1000 each, available to students who meet the criteria. Fundraising will continue through the beginning of the spring semester.

The trip will be 10 days long, and students will travel to Rome, Pompeii, and Florence to understand historical works by Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo and important communicators, such as Cicero and Mussolini.

McLean and Douglas chose spring break so that students will learn about what they will see in Italy, the ability to see a lot of sites, and the nice weather.

"Traveling as a group allows us to see quite a bit in a short period of time, and we appreciate the sites so much more once we have read and researched them ahead of time," McLean said.

The course is built so that students can learn from each other, with students in the art course giving presentations to the students in the culture and communication course and vise versa. Either of these courses fit in as a great elective for communication, humanities, education, or fine arts students, but any student is encouraged to attend.

When students return from the trip, they hope to have photos displayed around campus, as well as having a photo contest. In addition, there are plans for the students to assist with International Day, where the International School in Kokomo comes in for a day of service learning.

For further information, contact McLean, domclean@iuk.edu, or Douglas, mimdougl@iuk.edu.

Story written by Mary Olk, a senior majoring in communication arts. She works in the Office of Media and Marketing.

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

27 November 2012

KOKOMO, Ind. – SumAntics, Indiana University Kokomo's first-ever improvisation troupe, presents their fall show "Ugly Christmas Sweaters." They can't promise the content will be directly related because they make it up as they go.

The show is Thursday, November 29, at 7:30 p.m. in Kresge Auditorium, located in the Kelley Student Center. It's free admission and requires some audience participation and interaction to keep the show going. SumAntics highly encourages wearing an "ugly Christmas sweater" and joining in the fun. Expect adult content.

A second performance will take place on Wednesday, December 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Kelley Student Center. "All Things IUK" will kick off the Homecoming festivities. This show is appropriate for all audiences.

Emilee Benge, founder of SumAntics, is looking forward to this performance, since their spring show was such a hit.

"It's exciting to have students, faculty, and staff ask me when the next show is because they are anxious to see the performance," Benge said. "We are ready to show them what we've got and introduce the new faces we have this semester."

Benge and other students who fell in love with improvisation during their Acting I class with Joann Kaiser founded the group in January 2012 as an extension of Drama Club.

"We wanted to bring something new to campus that would draw student interest," Benge added. "You can't get this type of live, comedic entertainment in Kokomo, and it's fun."

SumAntics has increased membership this semester to nine members, but only five are returning members. This year, they have more girls than guys, which has made the chemistry of the group much different than last semester.

"There is a new energy to the group this semester, and everyone is pumped," Benge said. "We have new skits and games, and the new members have worked really hard to improve their improv skills."

SumAntics has worked hard this semester to expand their campus involvement and are trying to help promote IU Kokomo through student organizations. They have started performing during the campus Visit In Person (V.I.P.).

"We are a prime example that if you want to start a club on campus, you can. That is really important to share to incoming students," Benge said.

Story written by Mary Olk, a senior majoring in communication arts. Mary works in the Office of Media and Marketing.

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

27 November 2012

KOKOMO, Ind. – An Indiana University Kokomo program with the goal of preparing children to succeed in school has received an extension of its Lilly Endowment Inc. grant for an additional two years.

Marilyn SkinnerMarilyn Skinner, director of the IU Kokomo Center for Early Childhood Education, said the extension allows programming to continue through the end of 2014.

"Our role is the help our community know the importance of early childhood education, provided by the parent or some other adult, so that the children of our community will be successful when they enter school," Skinner said. "This grant extension is recognition by the Lilly Endowment that we are doing important work."

The center's signature program is "Totes for Tots," which provides a bag of age-appropriate books, toys, and learning materials to Howard County children from birth to kindergarten, free each month.

The center, 2725 S. LaFountain St., also publishes a monthly informational newsletter for parents, and provides materials for Kokomo Urban Outreach's Baby University. It has an activity room open weekdays, for parents, grandparents, and other caregivers to come play and learn with their children, and often gives away books. All of its programs are free.

Skinner said their goal is to support parents in their role as their child's first teacher.

"Research on parental involvement with a child, and the growth of a child's brain in the first five years of life, shows how important it is to provide educational experiences in those first five years," Skinner said. "We want to provide parents the books, toys, games, and an age-appropriate environment for the children to play."

Skinner said the extension gives the center two more years to use the $1.5 million Community Alliances to Promote Education (CAPE) grant funds originally awarded in 2005. It originally was to end in 2010, but she has been able to save money by using resources for free books, and by accepting donations of toys from families whose children have outgrown them. This is the third grant extension.

The CAPE initiative was aimed at boosting educational attainment throughout Indiana, by helping individual counties address their areas' most compelling education needs. The Community Foundation of Howard County partnered with IU Kokomo to apply for the grant.

For more information about the Early Childhood Education Center, call Skinner at 765-455-9427 or e-mail msskinne@iuk.edu.

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

21 November 2012

KOKOMO, Ind. – After two seasons leading the Indiana University Kokomo women's volleyball team, Kristen Snoddy has announced her resignation as the first head coach of the Cougars.

Coach Snoddy talks with players between volleyball sets.

"I feel very honored to have been a part of the initial phase of the Cougar athletic program. What has been particularly special for me is that I was able to combine two of my passions – athletics and the IU Kokomo campus," Snoddy said. "Even though I have stepped down as a head coach, I will continue to follow this new aspect of student life with pride as it matures."

Snoddy guided the Cougars to a 9-25 record in her second season, including a historic first NAIA win – a tough four-set match – against Purdue University Calumet at the Illinois Institute of Technology Kickoff Tournament in August.

"Coach Snoddy was this program's foundation, and without her we wouldn't be where we are today as a team and program," said veteran player Emily West, a sophomore. "She means the world to me, specifically by being there to talk to and get advice."

The Cougars finished the 2012-2013 inaugural NAIA season with a hard-fought, five-set win over Aurora University. They recorded a total of nine wins, eight of which were on the road, as well as a home victory against IU Northwest in a three-set sweep at the end of September.

"Coach Snoddy genuinely cares for our team and wants us to succeed in the classroom and on the court," said sophomore libero Lael Burrus. "She helped establish something that is going to continue at IUK for years to come. I have a great amount of respect for her."

Off the court, Snoddy, a senior lecturer in English, played an important role in helping her team stay focused on academics. She encouraged and mentored the student athletes to concentrate on succeeding in the classroom. In addition, the team devoted time to community service projects, such as spending time with senior citizens during the Senior Olympics at the Kokomo Senior Center.

"We are very appreciative to Kristen Snoddy for launching our women's volleyball program. Having a faculty member as a coach emphasized the campus commitment to an athletic program with a foundation of academic excellence," said Interim Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke. "Kristen is an outstanding instructor who created a quality volleyball program with solid student athletes. Her efforts provide a great vehicle for future successes."

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.