Giving Thanks

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Future pre-med students at the University of Northern Colorado will have much to be thankful for because of an alumna who is saying "thank you" to the university via a $1.5 million planned gift.

Mary Jo Drew’s recently announced bequest made through the UNC Foundation will fund student scholarships and research, and provide a biological sciences professorship to attract and retain distinguished faculty scholars.

Drew, who was born and raised in Greeley, graduated from UNC in 1979 with a degree in Biological Sciences. Today she is a physician specializing in transfusion medicine.

According to Drew, she studied under many great professors while she attended UNC, not only in the sciences, but also in English literature, anthropology and the fine arts. She considers the UNC pre-medical program vital to her success in being admitted to the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

"I will always be grateful for the mentoring and friendships first nurtured at UNC," Drew said. "I have a strong desire to continue this legacy by supporting upcoming generations of students in achieving their life goals through the best in higher education."

When she started medical school in 1979, Drew’s goal was to be an internist or oncologist, but she discovered an affinity for clinical laboratory work her sophomore year and for a time considered pursuing a career in anatomic pathology – diagnosing disease by examining organs, tissue and whole bodies.

During her pathology residency, however, she spent time in the blood bank and coagulation labs and discovered she had a talent in those areas and in hematopathology – diagnostic evaluation of blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes and other blood-related tissues.

She ultimately chose and completed a fellowship in blood banking and transfusion medicine because she felt she could most fully utilize her analytical abilities and people skills in that area of clinical pathology.

"I have been very fortunate over the years to have the opportunity to practice in all the venues transfusion medicine has to offer and in widely - some would say ’wildly’ - different areas of the country: Tampa, Little Rock, Detroit, and now, Portland," Drew said. "Each area of the country and mode of practice has broadened my perspective and underscored the vital role UNC played in getting me where I am today in my life and career."

Drew, who earned a master’s in health services administration from the University of Michigan in 2000, is now chief medical officer for the American Red Cross Northwest Blood Services Region, which serves Oregon, Washing and Alaska from its headquarters in Portland, Ore.

"I think alumni need to get involved, if they haven’t. They need to get back in touch with their school to see the great stuff that is happening,"� said Drew. "Once they support the place that got them launched professionally, they’ll realize the impact it had on their lives."�

Pepping Things Up

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 MDT

The University of Northern Colorado’s basketball and volleyball teams are enjoying larger and louder crowds in the stands of Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion this year. The recently formed UNC Bear Necessities pep band has played its way onto the sports scene to fill a void at basketball and volleyball games.

According to Student Activities Director Evan Welch, the advisor to Bear Necessities, the group’s main goals are to boost Bear Pride at sporting events and gain more members in the next year. Currently there are about eight to 15 active members in the pep band.

The band practices two or three time a week. Practices are held in the Bishop-Lehr gym.

According to Welch, the band has collaborated with the cheerleaders to play live music for their performances, as opposed to playing music over the sound system.

The band played at its first home games at the men’s and women’s basketball exhibition games Nov. 4 and 6. Its presence has already been noticed.

"The coaches have been tremendously supportive because they understand the correlation between an excited crowd and the cheer team’s performance,"Welch said.

Band member Nichole Creger agreed.

"Since we’ve been going to the games I can see a significant impact on the students attending the games and even the players themselves," said Creger, a senior business accounting major. "It seems that there’s more school spirit and more students want to come to the games to support our teams, and the players can feel their excitement."

How to Get Involved with Bear Necessities
The band is open to any student of any major who has his or her own instrument. Students who are interested in joining the band can go to Facebook and search for "UNC Bear Necessities" for more information and to send a message and join the group. The Facebook group is used for announcing practices and other news.

- Christina Romero

Building Understanding in Criminal Justice

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 MDT

UNC’s Criminal Justice program has formed a unique relationship with a unique group of people. The common goal: educating students about the justice system by putting faces on victims of a murderous crime.

Sheila and Ron Kimmell, who set up a scholarship at UNC in memory of their daughter Lisa Marie Kimmell, join Judy Mason in visiting UNC’s victim studies class to share their story each semester.

The three were on campus this week to speak to the class about Lisa’s murder in 1988 at the hands of Mason’s brother Dale Eaton. Sheila has since written a book about the events of the murder, recounting the families’ experience with the justice system in "The Murder of Lil Miss."

They have used the terms "ultimate victim," "secondary victim" and "victim in the third degree" to describe the different levels of victims. Lisa is considered the ultimate victim, the Kimmells are secondary victims and Mason is the victim in the third degree – a person who is related to the criminal.

In Assistant Professor Mary West-Smith’s introduction to victim studies class, the students get to read Sheila’s book. While most victim studies courses are electives for those studying criminal justice, West-Smith said, UNC’s is mandatory for students majoring and minoring in the program.

"We feel really strongly here that the law enforcement, the courts, people who are going to work in these systems, need to understand how crime affects victims," West-Smith said.

Although the Kimmells haven’t forgiven Eaton, they have become friends with Mason because they understand that she too is a victim. According to West-Smtih, this relationship and their travails with the justice system provide a presentation that students can learn from.

And they do.

Two years ago, Jared Palma, a senior criminal justice major seeking a career in law enforcement and a 2008-2009 recipient of the Lisa Marie Kimmell Scholarship, read Sheila’s book and said it is eye opening about the flaws in America’s justice system.

"After reading the book, I have become more aware of some the emotions that victims go through, and the process that they must go through to achieve justice," Palma said. "I will keep this in mind as I begin my career in law enforcement."

About the Scholarship

The Lisa Marie Kimmell Scholarship was started three years ago and is funded by the Southern Institute for Forensic Science, a private consortium that provides a variety of courses that are offered for college credit at sponsoring institutions, including UNC.

Students who are active members in the criminal justice program and maintain a 2.5 grade point average are applicable for the scholarship. In the spring, two students with either junior or senior status are awarded $500 each with the scholarship.

Al Price, UNC Criminal Justice faculty member and the program director at the SIFS, with the help of Colleen Fitzpatrick, the program director and a professor of criminal justice, introduced the Kimmells to UNC. Price and Fitzpatrick met the Kimmells at an SIFS Major Case Management for Violent Crimes seminar in which Sheila gave a compelling discussion about her experiences from Lisa’s death.

"We have instituted this scholarship in Lisa Marie Kimmell’s memory on behalf of the family’s wishes to promote education in the criminal justice system," Price said.

- Story by Christina Romero

Friday Night Lights

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MDT

For three University of Northern Colorado employees, "Friday Night Lights" isn’t just a TV program. It’s how they refer to officiating high school football games, an avocation that allows them to stay involved with a sport they love, work with young athletes and operate as a team away from the university.

At UNC, Scott Schuttenberg directs the Campus Recreation Center and its programs, Sam Penn oversees Information Technology’s Technical Support Center and Brad Sharp manages IT’s Desktop Support functions.

On most Friday nights and some Saturday afternoons from September through November, they’re the core of a five-person crew that enforces the rules and maintains order on high school football fields as close and as big as Greeley, Fort Collins and Longmont, and as far away and small as Holyoke, Wray and Burlington.

As members of the Colorado Football Officials Association (CFOA), they are certified by the Colorado High School Activities Association to officiate all levels of junior and senior high school football.

Schuttenberg, who has been officiating for eight years and is director of the 65-member local chapter of CFOA, conducts weekly training sessions during the season and pre-season clinics in the summer. He recruited Penn to become an official three years ago. The two then recruited Sharp, who is in his second season.

They admit that they’re not in the game for the money. They each receive $55 for a high school game and a $6 meal allowance if travel to an assignment occurs during a normal meal time. They ride together to those assignments, with the driver receiving mileage reimbursement, but they’re not paid for their travel time, which can be six hours roundtrip to places like Burlington, and the hours and hours of training also happens on their own time.

Rather, they say, they simply enjoy staying close to the sport they all played in high school, working with the kids and meeting the challenges of working well as a team during the unique, emotionally-charged atmosphere found only at high school football games.

"These student-athletes are learning and growing through their thoughts and actions on the field, and being part of that is the most enjoyable aspect of officiating to me," Penn said. "That and being part of the energy and adrenaline levels that you feel on the field from the players, coaches and other officials."

Schuttenberg agreed, saying, "I considered coaching as a way to stay involved in the sport and work with kids, but the time commitment for that is prohibitive. Officiating is a great alternative that doesn’t require as much time."

The three also agree that their roles at UNC and on the football field complement each other.

"Situational awareness is something that’s critical in both my role as an official and as a manager," Penn said. "On the field, you have to be aware of the actions of players, coaches and other officials at all times. That’s helped me in my job as a manager by heightening my awareness and utilization of alternative communication methods in varying situations."

Sharp echoed those sentiments.

"I think I’ve learned to communicate better and listen better from officiating," he said. "Plus, it used to be that members of my family would only call me when they needed help with their computers. Now they also call wanting help understanding football rules."

Of Note

- According to Schuttenberg, 16 of the 65 officials he’s responsible for are either UNC alumni, such as Penn and Sharp, or current students.

- UNC has three alumni who became National Football League officials. Ben Dreith (BA-50) spent 30 years as referee (1960-1990) and worked two Super Bowls. The late Pat Haggerty (BA-51, MA-53) served from 1965 until 1992 and worked three Super Bowls. Jim Saracino (BA-76) worked NFL games as a field judge from 1995 until retiring after the 2008 season. He worked one Super Bowl.

- Story by Gary Dutmers

Faculty Move In

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Associate Professor of Journalism and Mass Communications Lee Anne Peck, one of six University of Northern Colorado faculty members participating in the university’s Faculty in Residence program, shares her impressions from the first nine weeks living among 362 students, any of whom are welcome visitors to her apartment – whenever her door is open.

"Hi, Professor Peck!" I hear from the outside hallway as I sit inside my laundry-room-turned-office. I can’t see who has just passed my open apartment door with a greeting, but I answer with a "Hello!" As I sit in my apartment, I can hear the voices of students in the lobby, joking loudly with the resident assistants on duty. I can hear a music student practicing piano scales and balls clicking on the pool table in the next-door game room.

Welcome to my world as a faculty in residence. I’m now in my ninth week of living in the new North Hall on West Campus. I leave my faculty-in-residence apartment door open most mornings and evenings–afternoons, too, if I am "home." This adventure might not be suitable to some faculty members, but I’ve come to love it.

Last spring, UNC’s Housing and Residence Life office asked interested faculty members to apply for the newly created Faculty in Residence program. Eighteen people applied, and six of us were chosen; four of us live in residence halls on West campus while two of us live on Central Campus. Our contracts run through July 2010 with the opportunity to stay for the next school year.

According to Housing and Residence Life literature, FIR program goals include the following:

- To increase outside-of-classroom interaction between faculty and students

- To provide role models for students as they explore their studies

- To showcase the approachable nature of the faculty who teach at UNC

Because the program is in its infant stages, our duties as FIRs are somewhat flexible – but we are expected to be involved in hall programming for about 10 hours per month. Each FIR also has a budget to create our own unique programming for the students – be it a social or academic program. We live in our apartments free of charge and get 50 meals a semester in the dining halls.

So, what have I done so far? I have conducted an Academic Success seminar at the beginning of the semester; I have painted doorstops with my fellow residents. I have held a "Grey’s Anatomy" TV party, and I watch "Glee" most Wednesday nights with students who live in my hallway. I have given advice on English composition papers. And I have baked cookies – lots of cookies, which are always very appreciated by the residents. Next week, I am the honored judge for the hall’s Halloween costume contest.

Eleven resident assistants – all quirky and lovable, hall director Erin Dewese and I live with 362 student residents. One of my dogs is allowed to live with me, and Dewese and her husband have a dog and are expecting a baby in March. As Dewese said, "We’re just one happy family at North"

And why is my office in the laundry room? It’s a fabulous space, and I don’t need a washer and dryer. Using the laundry facilities down the hall is free – plus, I can receive a cell-phone text message when my clothes are finished.

About the Faculty in Residence Program
The Faculty in Residence Program started this school year and is expected to continue for another year. It’s funded through a reallocation made possible by residence hall restructuring that included eliminating the assistant hall director position.

"It gives students an opportunity to interact with faculty outside of the classroom," said Jenna Finley, director of UNC Residence Life.

The faculty members have done a number of events for students such as documentary nights, weekly creative writing groups and trips to Rockies games, among others. They have the freedom to create events based on the interest of themselves and the students, as well as their field of expertise.

"Encouraging this contact and having some academic programming in the halls influences student’s connection to the university," Finely said.

2009-10 Faculty in Residence
- Mary Angeline, instructor of English and chair of the Rosenberry Writers Conference, is housed in Snyder Hall.

- Matt Birnbaum, assistant professor and faculty member of Higher Education and Student Affairs Leadership program, is housed in Harrison Hall.

- Lyda Ellis, instruction librarian and assistant professor of University Libraries, is housed in New South Hall.

- Diane Gaede, associate professor of Recreation and Tourism, is housed in Bond Hall.

- Lee Anne Peck, associate professor of Journalism and Mass Communications, is housed in New North Hall.

- Gary Swanson, Mildred S. Hansen Endowed Chair in Journalism, is housed in Lawrenson Hall.

Student to Share Stories of Istanbul

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Letisha Brown knows that her trip to Turkey over the summer has, and forever will, enrich her life, but now she wants to share with others how they can take the reigns and find the study abroad experience that will enrich their lives.

Brown is a senior majoring in Africana Studies and is a member of the McNair Scholars Program, which provides undergraduate research opportunities designed to prepare eligible juniors and seniors for graduate school.

She will share her story about her trip, which included seven weeks of study at Bogazici University in Istanbul, at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, in the University Center in Columbine A.

Brown will discuss how it felt to be immersed in a non-English country, why she was interested in studying abroad, the importance of taking advantage of international travel opportunities, the classes she took and the people she met, and the resources on campus that will help students accomplish their study abroad goals.

"I’ve benefited in many ways from my experience at Bogazici University," Brown said. "I was able to push my limits as a student and succeed academically in a setting that is unlike any other that I have ever dealt with. It taught me to see my world, or the Western world rather, through different eyes. It was a beautiful campus, and I had a beautiful experience."

She initially heard about Bogazici University through UNC Professor of Africana Studies George Junne, who is also an adjunct professor at the Turkish university during the summer.

According to Joe Tort, study abroad and exchange coordinator for UNC’s Center for International Education, UNC has several connections with Bogazici University and is pursuing a formal agreement with it.

The CIE offers over 400 programs in 50 countries, but sometimes, as in Brown’s situation, a student wants to attend a university that doesn’t have a formal partnership with UNC.

In those cases, Tort said, the CIE will make sure that the credits at the desired university abroad will transfer back to UNC and that it’s a government-accredited body within the host nation.

"We haven’t had a strong connection with Bogazici, so by going there it definitely opened more communication between UNC and them," Brown said of her role in helping facilitate establishment of a formal partnership.

The CIE provides multiple ways for exchange students, both those from abroad and from UNC, to share their experiences. Students can participate in a speaker bureau or submit their blogs and photos to CIE’s website.

For more information about study abroad experiences at UNC, visit http://www.unco.edu/cie/.

- Christina Romero

Bringing the World Together

Fri, 9 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Although Gene Aitken retired from the University of Northern Colorado in 2002 after teaching in the Jazz Program for 27 years, he still hasn’t stopped teaching.

Aitken received the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Emeritus Award at the Honored Alumni Reception on Oct. 9. The emeritus professor was recognized for his international work and dedication to the arts.

Aitken travels to the Middle East through American Voices, a nonprofit performing arts organization that creates nationwide training programs in countries emerging from conflict and isolation.

American Voices provides a 10-day intensive program with instructors who emphasize in different areas of the arts and teach everything from how to play an instrument to learning music theory. The organization also donates music, instruments and accessories to musicians overseas, with the help of local business.

Aitken started with American Voices in 2006. He said the first goal of American Voices was to bring people of different backgrounds, culture and religious beliefs together through the arts.

"There’s something about making a significant difference in the lives of very deserving and wonderful people that makes one think of how very fortunate we are in America, and how much more we need to do to help musicians in other countries," Aitken said.

In an earlier project with the organization SAYOWE (South East Asia Orchestra and Wind Ensemble), Aitken worked with youths of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and said he discovered that music can bring people together and enrich their lies beyond what we can imagine.

"These students will be the countries’ leaders in the years to come and if we can get them while they are students then we have a chance to bring the world closer together," Aitken said.

Other Honored Alumni
- Alena Watters, Creative Achievement Award
- Brian M. Davidson, Young Alumni Award
- Frank and Betty Ottesen, Honorary Alumni Award
- Randy Watkins, Distinguished Alumni Service Award
- Tim Jorstad, Distinguished Alumni Award
- Randall Zila, Distinguished Alumni Award
- Sharon Lee Parker, Distinguished Alumni Award
Read the stories of the other honored alumni

’Kruizin’ with Klawz’ Takes Homecoming Back to the ’50s

Fri, 2 Oct 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Students, faculty and staff at the University of Northern Colorado will be taking a trip back in time to the 1950s with this year’s homecoming theme, "Kruizin’ with Klawz." Homecoming week is Oct. 4-10. Here’s what’s in store.

Sunday
The women’s soccer team kicks off Homecoming week with a match at 3 p.m. Sunday at Jackson Field against the University of Wyoming. At 5 p.m. on the Turner Green there’ll be a Root Beer Float Social with live music.

Students will be passing out cards with blue and gold ribbons attached to promote the spirit of homecoming. Homecoming shirts will also be available in the Student Activities Office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Short-sleeved yellow shirts are $10 and long-sleeved blue shirts are $15.

Monday
At 3 p.m. fraternities, sororities, residence halls and various student clubs and organizations will be hanging their banners for the Banner Contest, one of many events during the week in which groups of friends and teams from residence halls, Greek organizations and student clubs compete for Spirit Week points. The team with the most points at the end of the week will take home the coveted Spirit Stick in recognition of their exemplary demonstration of school spirit.

At 8 p.m. the University Center Ballrooms will be turned into the UNC Comedy Club, featuring Jeff Dye from the popular TV show "Last Comic Standing." Complimentary appetizers and beverages will be available.

Tuesday
At 6 p.m. in the UC Ballrooms, students can sing their hearts out at Bear Sync, a lip sync competition in which contestants can dance and use music in keeping with the Kruizin’ with Klawz ’50s theme. Winners earn points for their team in the Spirit Week competition.

Wednesday
Also in the spirit of Kruizin’ with Klawz, Dining Services will offer a 1950s-inspired menu, serving everything from tomato soup, popular salads of the ’50s and meatloaf, to burgers and chili dogs just like at the drive-ins. The Homecoming Kick-off Dinner will be served 5-7 p.m. at Holmes Dining Hall and Tobey-Kendal Dining Room.

At 8:30 p.m. in the UC Ballrooms, students can play Bingo at "BINGO Night – It’s not just for Grandma." A variety of prizes include an iPod at this event provided by the Center for Peer Education.

Thursday
Thursday will start out with UNC’s annual food drive - Cans to Candelaria - from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Campus and community members can drop their non-perishable food items and cash off in front of Candelaria Hall in the parking lot for the benefit of the Weld Food Bank. The drive is another chance for teams to earn Spirit Week points.

At 8:15 p.m. the men’s ice hockey team will play the University of Colorado Buffaloes at the Greeley Ice Haus, 900 8th Ave.

Friday
The focus of Friday’s events will be on alumni when members of the class of 1959 will be welcomed back to campus for their 50-year reunion. The day will start with the Alumni Association 50 Year Reunion Breakfast Social – "Stay Classy UNC!" at 9 a.m. in the Panorama Room of the University Center. The continental breakfast is complimentary for registered alumni and their guests.

At 10 a.m. the alumni will embark on a bus tour of UNC followed by the Reunion Luncheon and Pinning Ceremony at 11:20 a.m. in the Panorama Room at the UC. The guest speakers at the ceremony include President Kay Norton, head football coach Scott Downing and head women’s basketball coach Jaime White. Lunch is $15 per person.

At 4:30 p.m. the Honored Alumni Awards Ceremony and Banquet will be begin. Dinner will be served along with a cash bar present in the U.C. Ballrooms. Dinner is $30 per person. Eight individuals will be recognized and awarded:

- Allan "Gene"Aitken, Distinguished Emeritus Award
- Alena Watters, Creative Achievement Award
- Brian M. Davidson, Young Alumni Award
- Frank and Betty Ottesen, Honorary Alumni Award
- Randy Watkins, Distinguished Alumni Service Award
- Tim Jorstad, Distinguished Alumni Award
- Randall Zila, Distinguished Alumni Award
- Sharon Lee Parker, Distinguished Alumni Award

For more information on Homecoming Week events for alumni, call the UNC Alumni Association at 351-2551 or visit http://www.uncalumni.org/events/.

Also on Friday, at 8:30 p.m. a free pep rally, bonfire and fireworks display will happen in Doubenmier Field adjacent to Bishop-Lehr Hall. The Residence Hall Association and Student Activities Office are sponsors of the event.

Saturday
Saturday is Homecoming Day, complete with a parade, tailgating, the homecoming football game, closing ceremonies and the annual homecoming formal dance.

Don’t forget to get up early for the Homecoming Pancake Breakfast at 9 a.m. on the lawn of Snyder Hall. Call Student Activities, host of the event, at 351-2871 for more information.

At 11 a.m. friends, family and the Greeley community can gather anywhere along the parade route to watch the Homecoming Parade. The parade begins on 10th Ave. and 19th St. near the Visitor’s Center on Central Campus and includes floats, bands, cheerleaders, dancers and more. The parade route can be found at www.unco.edu/homecoming.

UNC fans can gather in the northeast corner of the parking lot at Nottingham Field from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for the Athletics and Alumni Association tailgating event. In addition to giveaways, entertainment and visits from the UNC cheerleaders and marching band, burgers, brats and beverages catered by Jackson’s All-American Sports Bar will be available. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids 10 and under, and $5 for UNC students and faculty, and can be purchased at the gate.

At 1:35 p.m. it’s the Bears versus the Vikings from Portland State in the traditional homecoming game at Nottingham Field. Homecoming royalty will be introduced at halftime, and winners of Spirit Week awards will be announced.

Homecoming will come to an end with the annual Homecoming Formal 9 p.m. to midnight at the UC in the Panorama Room. Admission is $1 or two cans of food for the Weld Food Bank.

For more information on Homecoming Week, contact UNC’s Office of Student Activities, 351-2871.

- Christina Romero

UNC President Optimistic in Annual Fall Address

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 MDT

University of Northern Colorado President Kay Norton spoke to a crowd of about 400 who attended her annual state of the university address Thursday, Sept. 24, at the University Center.

In her speech, Norton exuded optimism amid the current economic backdrop and acknowledged the challenges and opportunities present at UNC in a new environment where many unknowns exist.

She alluded to building on the university’s strengths as a leader, from its pedigree as an authority in education to its future role informing education policy through the Education Innovation Institute and the campus community’s ability to work together - noting increases in new freshmen (12 percent), graduate enrollment (5 percent) and total enrollment (2 percent).

"If universities are to thrive in this new environment, we must see possibilities rather than merely problems," Norton told the audience. "We must develop the flexibility to take advantage of emerging opportunities and to respond to rapidly changing needs without compromising who we are."

She added: "We must invest our energy in the individual success of our students, in research that advances human understanding, and in connecting with the community around us."

The university’s strategic financial planning to date and under way will guide decision-making as increasing pressure mounts on an overburdened state budget.

"We must develop the capacity to make good decisions given any circumstances," Norton said.

A transcript of Norton’s address is available at http://www.unco.edu/pres/pdf/StateUniversityAddress2009.pdf. View video of the speech at http://www.unco.edu/pres/sou2009.html.

Teacher Training without Borders

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 MDT

For a group of 20 teachers and school administrators from rural areas in Central America and the Dominican Republic, a professional development program at the University of Northern Colorado goes far beyond helping them improve their teaching techniques.

That’s because the teachers sometimes teach in facilities without electricity or plumbing. Some of them don’t even have a classroom to teach in; their classes meet outside, which can be a problem during the rainy season.

The 20 are part of the Cooperative Association of States for Scholarships program, an initiative funded by the United States Agency for International Development and coordinated by Georgetown University, to improve the academic skills and practices of teachers in rural areas in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.

UNC is one of four U.S. colleges selected to offer the highly specialized program. At UNC the CASS program operates as part of the School of Teacher Education with the support of $168,000 in USAID funding and collaboration with the Hispanics Studies Program, Extended Studies, Housing and Residence Life and the Sponsored Programs and Academic Research Center. The program is in its second year at UNC and has been funded for next year.

"Teachers and administrators in rural areas of these countries frequently struggle with a lack of supplies, electricity and bathroom and classroom facilities," said Professor Madeline Milian, who directs the program at UNC. "So, in addition to learning subject content and teaching techniques, they learn how to identify funding resources, write grants and organize community projects to help improve infrastructure and supply basic needs."

The program incorporates classroom instruction, practicum experiences at local K-12 schools, mentorship opportunities with teachers and administrators, and volunteer activities with local community agencies such as Head Start and United Way. Participants also work on their English speaking and reading skills. Some of them had never used a computer before starting the program, so technology also is included in the curriculum.

The six-month-long program gives the participants ample time to become part of the campus community, Milian said, noting that although they were the only residents of Lawrenson Hall when the program started in July, once students began returning for fall semester, they soon had many new friends.

The visitors recently entertained some of those new friends and other members of the campus community with songs and dances from their countries at the Cesar Chavez Cultural Center’s annual 16 de Septiembre celebration, which this year also commemorated Hispanic Heritage Month.

CASS participants will return to their countries in December with new understandings of teaching techniques, enhanced academic skills, materials to use in providing professional development for their colleagues and action plans to implement in their schools and communities to assist in the improvement of services offered to children and their families.

Sandra Guerra, an English teacher from El Salvador, is already looking forward to sharing what she’s learning in the program.

"I’m learning new techniques and information that I can show my colleagues how to teach better and do a better job for our students," Guerra said. "It was also wonderful to share experiences with and learn from teachers from our neighboring countries."

Miriam Feliciano, a fifth-grade teacher from Guatemala, echoed Guerra’s sentiments.

"In addition to learning many new things to share, I’ve also learned to be humble because I now know that there is still a lot to learn," she said.

Milian noted that the group’s time at UNC will pay big dividends.

"We figured out that as a group, they serve about 10,000 students," Milian said. "The impact of the program is far-reaching."

- Gary Dutmers

Featured Stories for UNC

Giving Thanks

Pepping Things Up

Building Understanding in Criminal Justice

Friday Night Lights

Faculty Move In

Student to Share Stories of Istanbul

Bringing the World Together

’Kruizin’ with Klawz’ Takes Homecoming Back to the ’50s

UNC President Optimistic in Annual Fall Address

Teacher Training without Borders