OCR Text |
Show REVI EW VOL L ISSUE 20 Old world healing for a new generation in the V. Trading up for future art students www.uvureview.corn JANUARY 24, 2011 The start of a new semester brings many things, including parking problems. A5 Coach Boone Awards of Excellence Board of Trustees presents highest honor given to employees By Paula Rogel Staff Writer Photo Courtest of Julie Pierce Julie Pierce is trying to get a bigger and better scholarship for the Fine Arts department by trading up from a single pen. By Tom Larsen News Writer Julie Pierce is a 51-year-old student in the Fine Arts department who has seen the benefits of financial aide and scholarship. She returned to school after taking a long break to raise her children. Now she's trying to help other students financially with their education. Inspired by Kyle Macdonald, who traded a red paperclip for something better until he was able to get a house, Pierce started Smart Trades for Art scholarships. Pierce has begun trading items for something "Bigger-or-Better." Her goal is to create a full-tuition endowed scholarship. "I have received quite a few scholarships myself," Pierce said. "I had a desire to give back and show general appreciation for what I have received." With an endowed scholarship, the money Macdonald earns would never be used. Only the interest from the money would be used to fund the scholarship. "The principle will always stay in the bank so it's always available. It's a scholarship that continues year after year," Pierce said. "I will be able to help lots and lots of students over the years." To reach her goal of having this endowed scholarship she will need to raise $75,000. "I may be working to create it, but I don't feel like it's just my scholarship," Pierce said. "I think it belongs to everybody that donates to it. They are all a part of it." Pierce has recently completed her first trade. She traded a pen used by local artist James Christensen for an 8-ounce silver certificate. CONTINUED on page A3 Randyl Nielson/UVU Review Legendary coach Herman Boone spoke to UVU students during the Martin Luther King, Jr. commemoration week about accepting differences in others. `Remember the Titans' coach addressed students about acceptance during MLK commemoration By Vanessa Perkins News Writer It wasn't his public speaking skills, nor the rapport he built with the audience that made the audience hang on Coach Herman Boone's every word. Instead, it was the message about diversity and embracing each other's differences that held the their attention fast. Boone spoke to students, faculty and guests on Jan. 18 as the keynote speaker of the annual Martin Luther king Jr. commemoration week on campus. "He's an amazing, humble man who's made a difference in so many people's lives through the film, and his beliefs and values," said Amity Smyth, a freshman at UVU. In 2000, Denzel Washington played Boone in the film Remember the Titans, which highlights Boone's days as the T.C. Williams race of people, but for all people of High School football coach. His the world." football players shared a goal of "The school does a really good winning, and through that goal, they job of showing that they really care were able to unite as a team and be about culture," said Breiyon Reynan example to not only a commu- olds, a sophomore. "That says a lot nity, but the nation. about UVU, that they care about " 'The Remember the Titans' everyone that's different and accept movie is not about football," Boone everyone's differences to build a said. "This movie is about young good school." Through Martin Luther King's people who accepted each other's soul, and accepted and celebrated message and anecdotes from his each other's differences." days as a high school coach at a time Focusing his address on being of racial turmoil, Boone left the aumore culturally accepting, Boone dience with one essential message of kept up with the theme of the week accepting differences. by using Martin Luther King Jr. to "If we are to grow as individureiterate his message of acceptance. als, we must learn to invite people "Even at the displeasure of many into our sphere of influence," Boone governments of other countries, they said. "You simply have to come out continue to march on in his name of your comfort zone if you want to because they know that he stood for move forward in this challenging truth," Boone said. "They know that life because you can't grow unless he stood for justice and not for one you're challenged." In an effort to recognize the outstanding achievement of faculty and staff at Utah Valley University, the Board of Trustees is currently accepting nominations for the Awards of Excellence. Established in 2001, this award focuses on teaching, scholarship, administration, service, student support and the advancement of the university core themes. Full-time faculty, staff or executive members who have made significant contributions in these areas over the course of at least five years can be nominated by colleagues. Members of the Board of Trustees review the nominations and have the job of choosing four award recipients from among the nominations. It's a job that a member of the Board of Trustees, said is difficult. "It is a difficult decision for two reasons," said Board member, Janette Hales Beckham. "First, it's difficult to reduce the number because there are so many who do excellent work and contribute significantly to the university. Second, it's difficult to evaluate an individual's accomplishments on paper," Ultimately, however, the job is rewarding, according to Beckham. "Truthfully, it is uplifting to read about the nominees," Beckham said. "At UVU I have observed an attitude of cooperation and contribution that exceeds the ordinary." According to Beckham, when it comes to what the Board is looking for, it comes down to excellence. "We're looking for an individual who goes beyond what is required of them in a normal job description," Beckham said. "Some individuals, through their work and relationships, seem to create a culture of excellence where they inspire others, both colleagues and students, to greater excellence. That's what you hope to find on paper." Along with a generous $3,000 financial award, recipients are given a certificate of excellence and honored at the UVU Celebration of Excellence Dinner and Awards Banquet held in the spring. Nominations for the award are due by Jan.31, 2011 and must be turned in to Karen Olsen in the office of the president located in BA 214. A complete list of nomination requirements can be found online at www .uvu .edu/president. Bye bye Blackboard By Ryan Whitecar Staff Writer The university's license for Blackboard, the current web-based course management module, will expire in the Summer of 2012, requiring instructors to migrate course materials to Instructure Canvas, the new online management tool. After six months of evaluating several different online course tools including Moodle, Desire to Learn, the newest version of Blackboard as well as others, Canvas was a clear choice for UVU and the other state institutions. There are currently ten faculty members experimenting with the new service, and instructors are saying that Canvas is a dramatic improvement from the previous online service. "Canvas is a lot more straightforward than Blackboard and much easier to use," said Jared Stein, the director of the Innovation Instruction Technology Center. "It's much more powerful than Blackboard and offers additional, easy to use fea- tures ." Canvas offers all of the same features as Blackboard, including discussions, mail, live chatting, online quizzes, assignments, learning modules and calendars. Unlike the Java-based Blackboard application, the open-source Canvas doesn't require students and instructors to constantly update plug-ins to keep the module operational. One of the most exciting features of Canvas for both students and proCONTINUED on page A7 Lyndi Bone/UVU Review Starting in Fall 2012 UVU will switch from the Blackboard learning module to Canvas, which includes Facebook and Twitter compatabilities. |