Photos by Shauna Lampley:
Reception: The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Art Gallery hosted a reception for the Twelfth Annual SMWC High School Women’s Art Competition on Sunday, February 21, 2010. Many of the participants, along with families, friends, and art teachers, attended the reception, where awards were presented.

First Place: Azucena Monge, a sophomore at Fountain Central High School, was awarded first place for her ink drawing entitled “Amor Inmortal (Immortal Love).”

Top Ten: Among the top ten winners attending the reception were (Left to Right) Amy Brown of Fountain Central High School, Taylor Keiser of Northview High School (third place), Savannah Klinge of South Vermillion High School, Ayla Walter of Terre Haute North High School, Caitlin Pickens of South Vermillion High School, Shelby Porter (second place) of North Vermillion High School, and Azucena Monge of Fountain Central High School (first place).

The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) Art Gallery hosted a reception for the Twelfth Annual SMWC High School Women’s Art Competition on Sunday, February 21, 2010. This year, 66 high school women from five area high schools submitted art. Many of the participants, along with families, friends, and art teachers, attended the reception, where awards were presented.

Four members of the SMWC art faculty, along with two SMWC student art majors selected the top ten pieces of art. The ten artists will receive $1,000 Creative Art Scholarships for each year enrolled in the campus program at SMWC for up to four years if they choose to major in studio art or graphic design at the college. The top three also received monetary awards.

This year’s top ten included Taylor Keiser, junior, of Northview High School; Alexcis Thompson, junior, and Shelby Porter, senior, of North Vermillion High School; Caitlin Pickens, senior, Savannah Klinge, sophomore, and Stormi Baker, sophomore, of South Vermillion High School; Azucena Monge, sophomore, Andrea Wilson, junior, and Amy Brown, sophomore, of Fountain Central High School; and Ayla Walter, junior, Terre Haute North High School. Monge’s work was chosen for first place, while Porter’s and Keiser’s were selected for second and third respectively.

The SMWC Art Gallery is located in Hulman Hall, room 132. Admission is free and open to the public. Regular Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m. For more information, contact Rebecca Mollenhauer, Gallery Director, by phone at 812-535-5265 or by email at artgallery@smwc.edu.

Written by Christina Bessell

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and WTHI-TV announce that Katrina Muhs of Noble, Chelsey Burris of Odon, and Shelby Richardson of Spencer have been chosen as recipients of the Top Ten on 10 Scholarship.

Katrina Muhs attended Noble High School. During the last four years she participated in several community and school activities including: BBBS, ALPHA, FBLA, Spanish Club, FCCLA, Art Club, Science Club, and Project STOP, a branch of SADD. Katrina was also in band, volleyball, and cheerleading for four years receiving varsity letters each year. She went to IMEA District Festival three years and advanced to IMEA All- State Festival in 2009. She attended Scholar Bowl and won varsity letter for three years. At her local Crazyhorse 4- H club, she held several officer positions. Katrina won the highest award in TRIO Upward Bound program. She took summer classes at her local community college and attended study sessions during the school year. Last year Katrina job shadowed a local veterinarian. Her favorite hobby is spending time with her horses and taking them to local equestrian shows. She attended Horsemanship U Camp in 2007- 2008.

In her essay Katrina says that leaders need confidence and intelligence to gain the trust of followers, determination to motivate their followers, and good communication and organization skills. She says that she learned about leadership from the many great people in her life. She concluded her essay saying that, “The great leaders of today are the inspiration for tomorrow.”

In high school Chelsey Burris was a part of Beta Club, Art Club, Cougar Crazies pep club, Science Club, and French Club. She was Class President Sophomore year. Chelsey won American Legion Dept. of Indiana Post Award. She was on the honor roll all four years. Her senior year she volunteered at a local animal shelter and rescued a Thoroughbred ex-racehorse from slaughter. She is active in several animal rights groups such as World Wildlife Federation and Humane Society of the United States.

In her essay Chelsey says she is inspired by Sacagawea. She said in a statement about herself that she believes that all it takes to change the world is a few passionate individuals. She wants to study journalism and work in the Thoroughbred horse racing industry.

Shelby Richardson was in choir her first two years at Owen Valley High School. She participated in Winter Percussion Theatre and track and field her junior year. And she is taking band and marching band for her senior year. Shelby also is part of SADD and Jazz band. She is thinking of focusing on a music major and joining track and field in college.

Shelby says in her essay that a leader has a way to create an atmosphere around them, using determination, charisma, social skills, and organization.

The Top Ten on 10 Scholarship Competition, sponsored by Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and WTHI-TV, is open to any female student enrolled in grade 12 in a public, private or parochial school in the WTHI viewing area. Female students in grade 12 who are homeschooled are also encouraged to apply.

A total of 10 students have been chosen to receive a $13,000 renewable SMWC scholarship. Winners were chosen based on academic records, leadership and community service roles, high school/community references and a written essay. From the 10 winners, two students will be chosen in March to receive $20,000 renewable SMWC scholarships.

For more information about the Top Ten on 10 Scholarship Competition or Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, contact the SMWC Office of Admission by e-mail at smwcadms@smwc.edu or by phone at (812) 535-5106 or 1-800-926-SMWC.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is pleased to announce that their Women's Basketball Team has earned a spot in the USCAA National Basketball Championship Tournament. The Tournament will be held March 2 - 6, 2010, at Penn State Fayette, Eberly Campus, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.  SMWC will go in as the 7th seed.  They will play their first game on Wed, March 3, at 2:00 p.m. against Penn State-Brandywine.

“The team is very excited about playing in the national tournament.  Since day one of preseason back in September, we have talked about how hard we had to work to put ourselves in a situation to get to the tournament,” said SMWC Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach Deanna Bradley.  “With a record of 7-12 back on Feb. 3, we knew we had to win at least 5 of our remaining 7 games.  With lots of help from the good Lord, we won all 7, to finish the regular season with a 14-12 record, the best record since 2002 when the team was 18-14 and participated in the national tournament.  We appreciate all the support we have received from the entire campus.”

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College athletic teams have experienced great success in the 2009-2010 year.  The Cross Country Team took the USCAA National Women's Cross Country Championship, the Soccer Team went to the National Tournament seeded 8^th (of 8 teams) and beat the #1 and #3 seeds to finish with the Silver Cup, the Western Equestrian Team just won the IHSA Regional High Point Team Championship, and now the SMWC Women's Basketball Team will compete in the USCAA National Basketball Championship Tournament.

For more information on the SMWC Women's Basketball Team, visit www.smwc.edu.  For up-to-date information on the USCAA Tournament, visit www.theuscaa.com.

Official Women's Tournament  Seeding (Official Bracket)

• 1. Penn State Beaver
• 2. Talladega College
• 3. Robert Morris University Springfield
• 4. Spalding University
• 5. Rochester College
• 6. Indiana University Northwest
• 7. Saint Mary of the Woods College
• 8. University of Cincinnati Clermont
• 9. St. Joseph's College - Brooklyn
• 10. Penn State Brandywine
• 11. Southern Maine Community College
• 12. Penn State Fayette

The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Paralegal program has been approved by the American Bar Association. While the Paralegal Program has always enjoyed a high placement rate for its graduates, approval by the ABA tells potential employers that standards and guidelines that pertain to organization, administration, curriculum, faculty, admissions, placement, library and support facilities are of the highest caliber. 

“The approval of the American Bar Association is a designation that is recognized by members of the legal community as an indicator of quality and is respected by leaders in the field of paralegal education. We're very proud of our Paralegal program at SMWC,” said Kathryn Myers, chair of the program.  “An outside body of respected professionals looked at our program, materials, current students, graduates, faculty, and advisory board and agreed that we have attained a predetermined standard of delivery of legal education.”

The term of approval by the ABA for the SMWC Paralegal program is for a period of seven years, beginning February 2010 and ending February 2017. There are less than 300 ABA approved paralegal programs in the United States while over 1000 programs exist.  That means that ABA approval is not sought or obtained by every program.  The process itself is a rigorous self-study culminating in a report and exhibits totaling over 1000 pages and a site visit from a team of three professionals who spend 2.5 days on the campus meeting with every constituency and reviewing every document.

“For the SMWC paralegal program to be approved by the ABA is quite an achievement.  Lawyers will recognize that ABA approval means the SMWC paralegal program meets rigorous national standards,” said Senior Judge Barbara Braugnaux and adjunct faculty member. “That recognition should benefit SMWC graduates as they seek employment. It may give them an extra edge, because attorneys who are looking to hire a paralegal want to know that an applicant is prepared to contribute on day one.”

To learn more about the Paralegal Studies Program at SMWC, visit http://www.smwc.edu/paralegal-studies or contact Kathryn Myers at kmyers@smwc.edu.

Approximately 75 students at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College will be attending a “Wine, Dine, and Shine” event hosted by the SMWC Career Development Center and the National Alumnae Association Board of Directors.  The event will be held on Thursday, February 18, with registration beginning at 5:45 p.m.

“Wine, Dine, and Shine” includes a “mocktail” reception and a 4-course etiquette dinner.  “It promises to be a fun evening, full of teaching moments as we guide participants through ‘working a room' at a cocktail party to learning which fork to use when there are three to choose from,” said Susan Gresham, director of the Career Development Center.  “We really want to allow the student to learn the skill and then be able to practice the skill in a safe learning environment.  They can have fun learning together, but we have local professionals and alumnae present to give them the ‘real world' experience at the same time.”

Gresham noted that in today's society students are more apt to use technology, such as cell phones, social media outlets, and email to communicate.  She said, “These days it can be uncomfortable for students when they find themselves in a social setting.  It's our hope that this event will allow them to be in a professional setting and to have the opportunity to practice and build their confidence so when they go out and network or attend a business dinner, they'll be better prepared.”

Twelve local professionals (employers), eleven alumnae board members, and nine staff members will participate in this event and interact with the students. 

For more information on this event, contact the Career Development Center at (812) 535-5188.  

Within 10 minutes a Spring Break Mission Trip was booked at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a waiting list was developed. “I think the fact that the trip was booked within 10 minutes is very telling of the type of students we have at The Woods.  It is always inspiring to see our young women dedicate their spring break to serving others,” said Jeff Malloy, director of Campus Life.

The mission trip will be held February 27 to March 5. “We are taking 16 students accompanied by three chaperons to New York City.  We will be working in a soup kitchen serving the homeless in the East Village area of Manhattan.  We are staying at Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish and they run the soup kitchen,” said Malloy.

Briauna Davis, a junior and business administration major from Sullivan, Ind., signed up for the trip. “I chose to go on a mission trip for Spring Break because it is something that I do every year. I am very passionate about helping people and it is something I plan on continuing for the rest of my life by going into missions after I graduate,” said Davis.  “I have gone on quite a few mission trips in my life.  It is an indescribable experience.  Every time I go on a mission trip, I come back with a completely different outlook on life. It is an experience that affects you in many different ways.”

Sophomore Jordan Pirsch, a psychology major from Terre Haute said, “I have never been to New York before, and I am very excited to be able to go!  Helping to serve in the soup kitchens makes me feel like I am being a good citizen. It also helps me to realize that there are many people in need, and I am happy that I can do my part in order to help them.”

Several of the Woods women have already been serving in their own communities or on previous mission trips. “I've worked in soup kitchens several times from local ones such as the Light House Mission, to others in other cities and states on mission trips,” said business administration major and junior Erin Pugh of Terre Haute.  “I expect to see people who are in need and perhaps are in a slump in their lives and just need a hand up. I feel it's important to help those less fortunate than you and give back when you can.”

Pirsch also spent her Spring Break last year participating in a mission trip to Louisiana with the College.  “From my experience this year, I expect to be enlightened in a spiritual sense, and to meet people who I probably never would have met without this trip. I also expect to become a lot closer to my fellow Woodsies and hopefully to make lifelong friendships, like I did last year.”

Besides working in the soup kitchen and serving the homeless in Manhattan, the students will visit the Empire State Building, Ground Zero, Times Square, St. Patricks Cathedral, and other popular New York City sights. “I've never been to New York City before and I'm so excited to experience the big city life and take the subways. I'm excited to experience the food and culture of the city and to see either a Broadway show or a professional hockey game,” said Pugh.

Focus The Woods

Thursday February 18, 2010

An All-Day Teach-In about Water Issues

Water, Water, Everywhere?

Find out at Focus The Woods

Water is the basis for all life on our planet.  Meeting the needs of an ever growing population around the globe is an increasingly important issue that faces our society.  How do we preserve and protect this most precious natural resource?

Join us in this interdisciplinary look at local, regional, national and global information related to water (H₂O).

8:45- 9:00                  (Hayes Auditorium) Dr. Dottie King, Vice -President for Academic Affairs, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College : Opening Remarks

9:00- 9:30                  (Hayes Auditorium) Bob Flesher, Utilities Manager, Sisters of Providence & Bill Zink, Director of Facilities, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College :  Campus Water:  Sources, Systems, and Sinks

9:40- 10:30                  (Hayes Auditorium) Ron Moore, Adjunct Instructor of Business, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College :  Water Riddles- This session poses a few riddles about the economics of water as a way of getting us to think about the basic premise of Urinetown, the Musical.

                                    Eliezer Bermudez, Associate Professor of Health, Safety, and Environmental Health Sciences, Indiana State University :  Drinking water and wastewater pollution problems in Lima, Peru- Perú, a developing country, is experiencing a very fast development in the areas of technology, industries, mining and tourism. This rapid development has been accompanied by a push from the government to regulate and control water pollution created by this rapid development since the infrastructure for managing this pollution is minimal. The primary objective of this presentation is to offer an overview of current water pollution problems observed in Perú, primarily in Lima, Perú. The presentation will be based on the author's experience during a one month visit to Perú that included teaching at the Pontifical Catholic University of Perú and environmental health research with local municipality officials.

9:40- 10:30                  (Hulman 108) Tammy Tintjer,  Assistant Professor of Biology, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College : Drinking Water-Bottled or Tap?

Is tap water safe to drink? What is the impact of making, filling, transporting, and landfilling bottles of water? This talk will address some of the issues surrounding this choice, including the consideration of health and environmental consequences.

                                    Carolyn Sur, Campus Minister, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College :  Learn how World Religions use water. The faithful throw flowers into water, take ritual baths. Religious authorities breath over water during high holy days, immerse candidates under water in initiation rites. Some religions teach that water has the power to cleanse sinners from past wrongs and raise them to a new form of life. To image water calms the soul and offer a new lens for viewing its sacredness.

10:40- 11:50                   (Hayes Auditorium) Dave Grabowski,  Associate Professor of Biology, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College :  Water:  An essential component of all life- Water is the most abundant substance in living systems, making up 70% or more of the weight of most organisms.  All living organisms require water more than any other substance.  Human beings, for instance, can survive weeks without food, but only about one week without water.  The first living organisms on Earth arose in an aqueous environment, and the course of evolution has been shaped by the properties of the aqueous medium in which life began.  Water molecules participate in many biochemical reactions and other fundamental processes necessary to sustain life.  This presentation will look at the structure of water and several of its inherent properties that are the foundation for the importance of water to all living organisms.  What properties of the simple water molecule allow it to function as a support to all living organisms?

Chelsey Barron, Meagan Ryan and Sarah Garrett, Students, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College : Great Lakes Pollution- Students from the Introduction to Mathematical Modeling Course will present a simple mathematical model of pollution flow in Lakes Ontario and Erie, along with background on the current state of pollution in these lakes and efforts to combat it.

Rosemary Nudd, Associate Professor of English, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College :  Water and the Word- In this session, participants will explore the interconnection between water and language/literature through listening, writing, and sharing.

10:40- 11:50                   (Hulman 108) Joyce Cadwallader, Professor of Biology, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College :  Water and Health - As the world has seen in the most recent disaster in Haiti, water is necessary for life and health.  In theory, individuals become dehydrated after a short period of time and die.  The United Nations recommends a minimum of 50 liters of water per person per day for drinking, food preparation, personal cleanliness, and laundry.  Some of the major health issues are related to drinking are quality, quantity, proximity, reliability and cost.  A number of these issues will be discussed. 

April Baranowski and Courtney Schrink, Students, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College:  How Americans Can Help Poor Countries Solve Water Problems- After analyzing the global water access, exploring solutions to water shortages where Americans can make an impact.

Paul Salstrom, Associate Professor of History, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College :  Water Controversies in American History- Since 1607, at least 25 major water controversies have flooded this country with flagrant flotsam.   Dr. Paul's fast-paced summary will show where they happened and tell what consequences (both intended and unintended) flowed from their ‘solutions.'        

1:00                   (Hayes Auditorium) Pat Martin, Chief Planner, City of Terre Haute, IN :  Converting Brown Water into Clean Water:  Terre Haute's Environmental Restoration Program - Terre Haute's resource extraction and post-industrial legacy is clearly evident from long-vacant brownfield sites and leaching petroleum storage tanks that dot the community landscape.  The subsurface water quality impact of this legacy is less evident and presents unique identification, investigation and remediation challenges for municipal government to achieve environmental restoration.  This presentation documents Terre Haute's current program to realize clean water from a variety of publically owned brownfield point source locations.

1:30- 2:20                   (Hayes Auditorium) Max Miller, Purdue Extension Educator, Retired and Chairman of the Wetland Committee, Wabash River Development and Beautification , Inc. (Riverscape):  The new State of Indiana Department of Natural Resources Wabashiki Fish and Wildlife Area is a 7000 acre wetland along 17.5 miles of the Wabash River on the west side of Terre Haute.  It has several fishing lakes and shallow bodied areas for waterfowl. 

2:30                  (Hayes Auditorium) Sr. Terri Boland, Associate Professor of Education, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College:  A River Runs Through It- How teaching earth literacy and sustainable practices through each area of study on a college campus can enhance the vision of the institution.

2:50                  (Hayes Auditorium)­ Greening the Curriculum:  A roundtable discussion with students, faculty, and the administration about how environmental studies can be integrated across the curriculum.

7:00                  (Conservatory in the Cecilian Auditorium): The Music and Theatre Department at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College will be presenting the Wabash Valley debut of the Tony award-winning musical Urinetown, by Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis. Don't let the title fool you - this show is a hilarious conglomeration of every musical comedy style you've grown to love - all under the guise of a dystopia where a drought has caused a water shortage and all citizens must pay in order to relieve themselves. The musical will be performed on the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College campus in the Cecilian Auditorium. You can get in free with your Focus the Woods program.  Directly following the play, there will be a reception. Call the Music and Theatre Hotline at 812-535-6211 for further information.

On February 18, Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods College will host its second annual “Focus The Woods,” an all-day teach-in focused on sustainability. All presentations are free and open to the public.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), sustainability means “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,” and during “Focus The Woods,” SMWC faculty and staff will share information about ways to be better stewards of the environment while promoting positive economic growth and social objectives.

“This event promotes interaction and discussion about current issues across the campus and academic disciplines,” said Tammy Tintjer, assistant professor of Biology at SMWC. “This year we will be discussing water.”

Fresh water, clean drinkable, potable water, is becoming a rare resource.  Many think that because the planet is two-thirds covered with water that we will never run out.  The actual mater is that fresh clean water is running out.

“Large bodies of water have tremendous effects on the environment of localized areas as well as global climate alterations.  For instance, a few years ago La Nina and El Nino were in the news regarding how increased or decreased temperatures of ocean regions were affecting rain and drought patterns on various continents.
Understanding the biochemistry behind water molecules will help the general public better understand how important water is to our climate and why the potential scarcity of fresh water is becoming more and more important,” shared Dr. Dave Grabowski, associate professor of Biology at SMWC.

“Too many people in affluent countries take for granted the availability of fresh water because all they have to do is turn on a faucet.  An increasing number of communities, especially in the western states are beginning to see the impact of growing populations in areas that are not naturally suited for large populations.  Counties and states are now fighting over water rights,” Grabowski continued.   “Attempts to move or redirect major water flows are having tremendous effects on local environments out west. All of this is having a huge effect on agriculture.  The more we know about water, how precious fresh clean usable water is and the many impacts that running out of water can have on local and global areas and economies, the better we will be able to make proper decisions about maintaining or returning the planet to a sustainable home for all life.”

A full schedule of “Focus The Woods” presentations with times and locations can be found online at www.smwc.edu. The schedule can also be obtained by contacting Tammy Tintjer at ttintjer@smwc.edu or 812-535-5262.

Written by SMWC student, Christina Bessell

ST. MARY-OF-THE-WOODS - Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and WTHI-TV announce that Rudee Hanna of Terre Haute and Bailey Deakins of Brazil have been chosen as recipients of the Top Ten on 10 Scholarship.

At Terre Haute North High School Rudee Hanna is on the High Honor Roll, and a member of Link Crew, which helps with freshman orientation. She has been a member of the student council through both middle and high school. Rudee has been a cheerleader all four years and she is involved with the Big Brother Big Sister program at her school. “This is the most rewarding, being with my ‘little' makes my day brighter,” says Rudee, showing her passion for working with children and making a difference in their lives.

Rudee is also a member of Vigo County 4-H with sewing and swine projects. She is a member of the White River Valley Antique Tractor Association and the Vigo County Antique Tractor Club. Rudee has been competitive as a USTA and AAU Power Tumbler since she was 4 years old, winning numerous awards, including State Championships along with National and Junior Olympic Titles. In 2007 she was chosen to be Indiana's USTA Athlete of the Year.

Rudee says in her essay that leadership is what keeps society running smoothly. The important qualities of a good leader are being fair, non-judgmental, and knowing when to act. She believes that “these traits can define anyone if used in the proper setting, and anyone can have the chance to be a leader.”

Rudee's major is currently undecided, but she is considering Elementary or Middle school education to teach English or History.

Bailey Deakins is the vice president of the art club and participates in the school news/ announcements team at Northview High School. She is a regular volunteer at her church for Angel Food Ministries and will be going to Nepal on a mission trip in November 2010.

Bailey believes that “in order to be a great leader one must possess boldness, determination and integrity.” Great leaders must be morally inclined, they cannot waiver or back down, and they must be willing to give their lives to lead their people with honor and courage, she wrote in an essay about leadership.

Bailey is considering majoring in English, studio art or biology with possible future jobs as an English teacher or as a lab tech. 

The Top Ten on 10 Scholarship Competition, sponsored by Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and WTHI-TV, is open to any female student enrolled in grade 12 in a public, private or parochial school in the WTHI viewing area. Female students in grade 12 who are homeschooled are also encouraged to apply.

A total of 10 students will be chosen to receive a $13,000 renewable SMWC scholarship. Winners are chosen based on academic records, leadership and community service roles, high school/community references and a written essay. From the 10 winners, two students are chosen to receive $20,000 renewable SMWC scholarships.

For more information about the Top Ten on 10 Scholarship Competition or Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, contact the SMWC Office of Admission by e-mail at smwcadms@smwc.edu or by phone at (812) 535-5106 or 1-800-926-SMWC.