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Magnolia campus hosts Fashion Show and Award Program

Saturday, April 17, 2010

By Josh Hepperly

The second annual Fashion Show and Award Program will be held on Friday, April 23, at the Magnolia campus and will begin at 5 p.m.

The event will be hosted by the Active Black Students Association (ABSA) and is a culmination celebrating the hard work of its members and their achievements this year.

Yolanda Roebuck, department secretary of Business and Computer Technology, said the award program will honor someone who ABSA members feel made a positive impact on the community.

This year’s recipient is John L. Jackson, music director at Community Evangelistic Church. His volunteer work includes directing music for FRESHWIND, a choir comprised of Knoxville city youth, Boy Scouts of America, Young Life, Emerald Youth Foundation, Cedine Ministries and many more.

“He is an inspiration to the youth and young adults,” said Roebuck.

The theme of the fashion show this year is “True Essentials.” Pellissippi students will be modeling clothing provided by Belk of West Town Mall.

Roebuck said admission is free and the event is open to the public.

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New funding formula for Pellissippi State

Saturday, April 17, 2010

By Max Smith

The new “outcomes-based” funding formula, expected to take effect in 2011, claims more fairness towards smaller institutions, especially community colleges.

Representatives of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) came to the Pellissippi campus on April 1 to discuss the funding changes.

Dr. Rusty Lieberman, who presented the new formula, said funding will be adjusted to each individual college’s mission statement and will be based on the achievement of predetermined “outcomes.”

“There are multiple productivity points…the school should be focused on those end points rather than who comes in the door,” said Lieberman. “As a student transfers, that’s a success. Job placement, that’s a success. These things aren’t included in the current model.”

Pellissippi can expect the selected outcomes for most community colleges to include not only achievement of associates degrees, but also success in remedial development, the success of students after they transfer and job placement of students.

The formula will also take into account certain subpopulations, such as military families, in how they weigh outcomes.

During the April 1 discussion, some members of the Pellissippi faculty and staff voiced concern about how THEC could reliably derive data from these “subjective outcomes.”

“It’s not without its vices,” acknowledged Lieberman. “But they are a trade up from what we are currently dealing with.”

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Successful RecycleMania competition awards the Science Club

Saturday, April 17, 2010

by Haylee Turner

The Science Club, under their advisor Dr. Jerry Burns, is enjoying a $500 prize as a reward for their work with RecycleMania.

The competition is an annual one which began Jan. 31 and ended March 27. The object of the project was to see which participating club could collect the heighest weight of recyclables from Pellissippi campuses.

A total amount of 12,984 pounds, more than 6 tons, was collected over the 10-week span, said Mary Denman, the project overseer.

Even though the actual competition is over, Recycling Club still plans to carry out their mission to make the Pellissippi Campus a greener place. Anyone interested in being a part of the effort can find information by emailing Denman at kilgorethecat@gmail.com.

Volunteers usually meet behind McWherter on the loading dock around 1 p.m. on Fridays.  Lending a hand to this project includes emptying, sorting, weighing and eventually placing the campus recyclables in the cardboard dumpster.

Before RecycleMania began, Pellissippi did not recycle cardboard, says Denman.  An estimated 15,000 to 30,000 pounds of the material was being wasted annually.

Once the project began gaining momentum, the faculty, staff and administration began stockpiling old magazines, newspapers and books and calling on the volunteers to recycle them rather than just throwing them in the trash.

In May of this year, Denman will be transferring to the University of Tennessee. She has been in charge of campus recycling for the past 2-3 years.  It is unclear what will happen to the program at that point.

“I am not sure what will become of the recycling yet, but I don’t see it going away any time soon,” said Denman. “Too many people have put their heart and soul into it.”

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Students name “Teacher of the Year”

Monday, April 12, 2010

By Brandon Lane

Professor Edward Francisco received the “Teacher of the Year” award on April 5, during a ceremony at the Goins Auditorium.

Francisco, a professor of English and writer in residence at Pellissippi, said he was “honored and humbled,” by the accolade.

The award was presented by the Council of Student Advocates. Students first nominated teachers they thought deserved the title, then voted to determine the recipient.

“It means a great deal more to me to have been selected by students,” said Fransisco.

Francisco currently teaches a variety of creative writing courses at Pellissippi, including Introduction to Creative Writing and Screenwriting. He will be offering a new course to students this fall entitled Introduction to Shakespeare.

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Naomi Tutu to speak at Pellissippi

Monday, April 12, 2010

By Ricky Schroeder

Naomi Tutu will speak at the Clayton Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, April 14, at 10:45 a.m.

“Naomi Tutu is the daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He is an activist from South Africa who was instrumental in the ending of apartheid with Nelson Mandela,” said Theresa Castillo, program director for the Tennessee Consortium for International Studies.

“She will be speaking on the subjects of ’striving for justice and seeking common ground’,” said Castillo. “She has a very good, inspirational message about tolerance, about taking chances and to open up your mind to other people in the world.”

Castillo said this event is open to the public.

Tutu will attend a luncheon in her honor with Pellissippi’s student ambassadors following her speaking engagement, said Castillo.

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Upcoming golf tournament

Friday, April 9, 2010

By Jacob Haskew

The Pellissippi State golf tournament will swing into action at the Centennial Golf Course on April 23.

The tournament will be a four person best ball scramble tournament said Dan Jones, director of Recreational and Intramural Sports.

Arrive no later than 12:30 p.m. to register the day of the tournament. Preregistration is available by signing up at the Student Recreation Center. There is no green fee for Pellissippi students.

Everyone is welcome to come out and play said Jones.

Russell Hill, who has played in the tournament two times, is looking forward to the upcoming event.

“It’s a ton of fun! Nothing beats free golf and not being in class,” said Hill.

Centennial Golf Course is located about 10 minutes away from the Pellissippi State main campus.

For more information, call Jones at (865)694-6576.

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The voice in the Rotunda

Monday, April 5, 2010

By Mark Attanasio

If you have heard Gregorian chants while walking through the Goins Rotunda, than you have heard the voice of Eleanor Wolf.

Eleanor is a math major in her second semester at Pellissippi State and is not at all timid in her surroundings. A very spiritual person, Eleanor does not feel the conforming pull of social acceptance. Rather, she feels that her public singing relaxes her as well as inspires her.

“Most people just worship in church,” Eleanor said. “Me, I worship outside of church.”

Eleanor is not at all fazed by the idea of fright and embarrassment that some would fear from what she does. Apart from inspiring herself, she hopes to inspire others to open up and see the beauty of the world.

“Some come and watch and listen, some even talk to me and say it was a blessing for them, because some could be under stress.” Eleanor said.

Celeste Delarosa, a music major who works in the media center above the Rotunda, is able to hear Eleanor sing several days a week.

“She has a very nice voice,” Delarosa said. “It’s really gutsy and cool of her to be able to share that with people in the way she does.”

Eleanor is also drawn to singing or worshiping in public because of her fancy for quality acoustic areas or venues. Her favorite acoustic singing venue, with an eight second reverberation time, is St. John The Divine Cathedral in New York City, but Pellissippi State’s very own Rotunda is a campus favorite for Eleanor.

“I love the acoustics in the Rotunda,” said Eleanor. “I love how the echoes lift up my voice. I can feel the presence of God.”

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New Blount County campus to be celebrated

Saturday, April 3, 2010

By Corey Ogle

The current Blount County Campus will host the Goodbye Bungalow event on April 26, from 4-6 p.m.

Pat Myers, director of Alumni Relations and Foundation Events, said this event is a “thank you” to everyone who has helped make the new Blount County campus possible.

Myers said Dr. Allen Edwards, president of Pellissippi State and Peggy McCord, a Pellissippi State Foundation member and co-chair of Connecting Communities, will be speaking at the event.

The fund-raising foundation has been working on this campaign for five years, raising $1.9 million, said Myers. They also received state funding which provided 47 percent of the total amount, said McCord.

Les Fout, director of Major Gift Development, said approximately $150,000 is still needed for equipment and technology.

Myers said the whole community is invited to the event and donations are welcome.

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“Imaginary Gardens” coming soon to Pellissippi

Saturday, April 3, 2010

By Michael Fritts

Pellissippi State’s yearly literary magazine, “Imaginary Gardens,” is scheduled for release this month.

“This (publication) is an opportunity for creativity here at Pellissippi State,” said Trent Eades, English instructor and head of the magazine.

“Imaginary Gardens” is a compilation of short stories, poetry and artwork from Pellissippi students.

Students sent their submission to Eades last semester, and acceptance to the magazine is decided upon by a body of student editors. Editors were chosen from among students in poetry and creative writing classes.

The last publication contained roughly 70 pages. Students are encouraged by Eades and the English Department to pick up the free publication when it becomes available to support local writers, poets and artists.

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Pellissippi theatre professor to direct contoversial play

Saturday, April 3, 2010

by Martin Wood

Pellissippi theatre professor Steven McBride is directing the Luigi Pirandello play, “Six Characters in Search of an Author,” opening Friday, April 9, at 8 p.m.

McBride said additional showings will also be at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 10; Friday, April 16; and Saturday, April 17, with a final showing at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 18.

Admission will be $8 for Pellissippi students, $10 for other students and $12 for general admission.

McBride said Charles Miller, director of the Pellissippi Theatre Program, will be the producer. Costumes will be designed by DeWayne Kirschner, and the lights will be run by Tony Lathroum. McBride said the play will be performed by a “veteran cast of 16 actors and actresses.”

McBride said that it is a “rare opportunity” to see this play performed in the U.S.  The play caused a riot when it first opened in Italy in 1921.

“The play questions illusion, reality and the theater itself,” said McBride. “But… it is now considered one of the most important plays of the 20th century.”

For more information visit  www.pstcc.edu/theatre/this-season.html .

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