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NASA'S STARSHIP 2040 TO LAND IN CAPE GIRARDEAU SEPT. 12-14
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Aug. 24, 2001 - NASA's Starship 2040, a full-size mock-up of a commercial spacecraft as it might look in the year 2040, will blast off from the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., and dock in Cape Girardeau Sept. 12-14.
Dr. Ernest Kern, director of the Linda M. Godwin Center for Science and Mathematics Education and the NASA Educator Resource Center at Southeast, said, "This is NASA's newest exhibit. It is only going to a limited number of places. Cape Girardeau is extremely fortunate to have it here for a few days. It is very exciting."
The Starship 2040 exhibit will be on display at Southeast Missouri State University's NASA Educator Resource Center, 222 N. Pacific. The exhibit is free and open to the public from 1 to 7 p.m. Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 13, and 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 14. A number of school groups are expected to tour the exhibit from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sept 13-14. The public also is welcome during these times.
An evening lecture titled "Building the Highway to Space" will be presented at 7 p.m. Sept. 12 in Glenn Auditorium of Dempster Hall at Southeast. John Green, a rocket scientist with the Marshall Space Flight Center, will present the lecture.
The Starship 2040 project is a traveling exhibit and outreach program from NASA designed to be an experience for visitors of all ages. The exhibit is housed in a 48-foot tractor-trailer rig and invites the public to imagine what commercial space flight may be like four decades from now. Visitors can walk through a full-sized mock-up of the spacecraft's control, passenger and engineering compartments and talk with NASA experts.
In addition to the exhibit itself, visitors will have the opportunity to participate in a short hands-on activity that reinforces the principles of propulsion. The activity will be conducted under a tent outside of the NASA Educator Resource Center. While visiting the exhibit, visitors may tour Southeast's NASA Educator Resource, which provides expertise and educational materials in science, math and technology for teachers and students throughout Missouri.
The Starship 2040 exhibit's stop in Cape Girardeau is made possible by U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond and the Linda Godwin NASA Education Resource Center at Southeast Missouri State University. Bond hopes the tour will highlight the significant role Missouri plays in America's space program and will be used as an opportunity to excite students about future possibilities and encourage an interest in science.
"This tour is an invaluable opportunity to excite the public, especially children, in the field of science," said Bond. "Also, NASA will demonstrate the tremendous benefits we all enjoy from space exploration, many of which are made possible from the academic and industry resources right here in Missouri."
Starship 2040 is created and managed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Visitors who board the "ship" can gain insight into technologies now being investigated by NASA to increase the safety and reliability of space transportation systems while dramatically lowering costs.
"Our ultimate goal is to make commercial space travel as routine and affordable as today's air travel," said Marshall Center Director Art Stephenson, whose center created and manages the traveling exhibit. "To accomplish this mission, we rely on the kind of academic resources, industry professionals and national pride we've found here in Missouri. Our continuing partnership with the Show Me state has helped NASA launch development of America's next-generation space transportation vehicles and has contributed to numerous other science and research programs. Together, we are propelling the nation into a new era -- one in which humankind will journey away from our home world as often and as safely as we travel around it," Stephenson added.
All the innovations suggested aboard the exhibit -- automated vehicle health monitoring systems, high-energy propulsion drive, navigational aids and emergency and safety systems -- are based on concepts and technologies now being studied at NASA Centers and academic and industry partner institutions around the nation -- some of them here in Missouri. In the last year, NASA obligated more than $36 million in contacts and research funding to Missouri businesses, academia and non-profit organizations. In the first nine months of fiscal 2001, Missouri has already received $37.2 million in contract obligations.
Systems like the Starship 2040 are currently being developed at NASA to lay the foundation for the "Highway to Space." Current launch vehicles lack the simplicity, dependability and low cost necessary to make space travel as common as road and air travel. But just as automobiles and airplanes have become safer and more reliable over time, NASA believes spacecraft will be the same.
Following the Cape Girardeau stop, the Starship 2040 exhibit will move to the St. Louis Science Center. The exhibit's stop in Cape Girardeau is part of a five-city tour through Missouri.
Starship 2040 will visit St. Louis Sept. 15-18, Columbia Sept. 19-21, Kansas City Sept. 22-25 and Springfield Sept. 26-28.
Starship 2040 is handicapped accessible and is free to everyone. For more information about the exhibit and a complete listing of upcoming tour dates, visit www.Starship2040.com.
EARLY CHILDHOOD SEMINAR ON 'BRAIN SMART DISCIPLINE' PLANNED FOR OCT. 6
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Aug. 24, 2001 - There's a revolution in brain research that is impacting teaching and learning. On Saturday, Oct. 6, Child Care Resource and Referral/Workshop On Wheels and Success By 6 will host an early childhood seminar on "Brain Smart Discipline."
This seminar is a personal and professional development opportunity for parents, childcare providers and other individuals working directly in early education of young children.
The seminar will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Dempster Hall at Southeast Missouri State University.
Presenting the seminar will be Cheri Sheridan, an enthusiastic and animated writer and speaker, nationally recognized for her expertise in childcare and early childhood education. Sheridan was selected as a Loving Guidance Associate for her expertise and commitment to teaching Dr. Becky Bailey's positive discipline principles and practical "hands on" strategies, which are grounded in the findings of current brain research. She has been featured on local and national broadcasts including "Good Morning America," Nation's Business Today and Working Women. Her efforts have won Congressional recognition, and she has inspired many, from the White House to Fortune 500 companies, to schools and child care centers throughout the nation.
"Using positive discipline principles and strategies developed through Loving Guidance Associates, Sheridan will provide parents, teachers, childcare professionals and anyone working with children insights and strategies for dealing with behavior issues," said Charla Myers, director of Child Care Resource and Referral/Workshop On Wheels.
Success By 6 is an early childhood initiative coordinated by the Area Wide United Way that focuses on ensuring all children enter school ready to succeed at their optimum potential. Currently, Success By 6 in this community is focusing on parent education, especially on recent brain research. Child Care Resource and Referral/Workshop On Wheels is part of the Missouri Child Care Resource and Referral Network. This agency can assist families in finding childcare, providing families and child care professionals with services for children with special needs and providing training and technical assistance opportunities for child care professionals. Child Care Resource and Referral serves 20 counties of Southeast Missouri.
Parent scholarships are available for parents who would like to attend. For more information or to obtain a registration form contact Child Resource and Referral at (573) 290-5595 or toll-free at (800) 811-1127.
SOUTHEAST SUNDANCERS, CHEERLEADERS BEGIN SEASON WITH COMPETITION VICTORIES
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Aug. 24, 2001 - The Southeast Missouri State University Cheerleaders and Sundancers have recently attended the National Cheerleaders Association and National Dance Alliance summer collegiate camp, where both teams showed strong promise by winning several events and competitions.
The competition was held at the University from July 30 to Aug. 4.
The Southeast Cheerleaders won the prestigious 'Most Collegiate Squad' award, which is voted on by the NCA staff. The squad also won the co-ed division 'Fight Song' competition and an automatic bid to the national championship competition held in Daytona Beach, Fla. They accumulated four superior blue ribbons and a spirit stick. Rachel Pointer, a co-captain of this year's squad, was named as the camp's sole All-American Cheerleader.
"I'm extremely proud of what our team accomplished during camp. We met and exceeded all of our goals. This is a very young team. It should be a great year," said Nancy Greaser, coach of the Southeast Cheerleading Squad.
The Southeast Sundancers did equally as well earning several top awards. The group won the coveted 'Best All Around' squad of the entire dance camp. They too earned an automatic bid to the national dance team championships in the spring. Individually, the Sundancers have three All Americans - returning dancer Heather Cook and newcomers Manda Hill and Kate Bryan. They also had success in the individual 'Top Gun' competitions, winning all three divisions: Heather Cook for "Leaps and Turns", Kate Bryan for "Kicks" and Chela Rutlin for "Funk."
"I'm extremely excited to be entering a program with a highly talented group of girls. We are all looking forward to the upcoming year," said first year Sundancer Coach Amber Martin.
SORORITIES TO HOLD PHILANTHROPY NIGHT DURING RECRUITMENT CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Aug. 21, 2001 - Southeast Missouri State University sororities will hold their third annual Philanthropy Night during the second night of recruitment on Aug. 23.
Philanthropy Night will allow approximately 400 sorority women and 300 potential members the chance to jointly engage in a service project devoted to the chapter's national or local philanthropy. This event provides an example to potential members of the wide array of community service activities in which sororities are involved. Sororities have the opportunity to reinforce founding ideals of leadership, scholarship and service to potential members.
Each sorority will complete an independent service project. The philanthropy project will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the University Center on the Southeast campus.
Alpha Chi Omega will take "care purses" to the Women's Safe House in Cape Girardeau. The "care purses" are bags filled with bath products and toiletries for women. Alpha Delta Pi will make "quilt blocks" for the Ronald McDonald House in St. Louis. Alpha Xi Delta will make cloth dolls to donate to Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis. Delta Delta Delta will make pillowcases for St. Jude's Hospital. Gamma Phi Beta will make memory books for area Girl Scouts. Sigma Sigma Sigma will make construction paper decorations for the Robbie Page Memorial.
Philanthropy Night is a part of formal recruitment for all sororities. Formal recruitment takes place Aug. 22-26. For more information on Philanthropy Night or formal recruitment, contact Kristi Keith or Jarrod Myers at (573) 651-2280.
OTTO AND DELLA SEABAUGH POLYTECHNIC BUILDING TO BE DEDICATED SEPT. 15 CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., July 25, 2001 - The Otto and Della Seabaugh Polytechnic Building at Southeast Missouri State University will be dedicated Sept. 15 during a ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m. on the University campus.
A number of dignitaries are expected to be on hand for the occasion, including Otto and Della Seabaugh of Cape Girardeau, for whom the building is named. The dedication is open to the public, and visitors are invited to tour the facility.
The new building is located on the north campus and is adjacent to the science quadrangle. The building was completed during the summer and opened with the start of the 2001-2002 school year earlier this week.
In addition to the dedication ceremony, the Otto and Della Seabaugh Polytechnic Building will be open for the public to tour during an open house from 2 to 3 p.m. Oct. 6 during Southeast Family Weekend.
The new state-of-the-art $8.8 million Otto and Della Seabaugh Polytechnic Building houses the School of Polytechnic Studies. The facility provides space for training for industries and the latest advanced manufacturing technology for students.
The Polytechnic Building at Southeast was named for Otto and Della Seabaugh of Cape Girardeau after the couple made provisions for a gift of more than $1 million to help fund construction of the new facility. Otto Seabaugh is a 1936 industrial education graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. His wife, Della, graduated from Southeast in 1941 with a bachelor of science in education.
The Otto and Della Seabaugh Polytechnic Building is the "anchor" for the northeast part of campus, has command of the surrounding area with a prominent view of the Mississippi River and has easy access and regress from the campus. The architectural design creates a unique appearance that exemplifies the high-tech curriculum that is offered in the building. The building is a three-story structure with labs and classrooms on the first and second floor and administrative offices on the third floor. Faculty offices are located in one area to promote interaction among faculty.
The Seabaugh Building contains four networked computer labs, five classrooms complete with the latest instructional technology packages, and one interactive television classroom, funded through a $200,000 Southwestern Bell Foundation grant, to accommodate expanding outreach programs which include a 2+2 program in St. Louis. Dedicated technology labs include automated manufacturing systems, multimedia, computer aided drafting and design, industrial power, industrial controls, computer networking, manufacturing, materials testing, and fluid power. Rockwell Automation sponsored the industrial control labs with gifts of equipment valued at $150,000, and Siemens Building Technologies, Landis Division, donated $125,000 in controls equipment for the Polytechnic Building.
A Manufacturing Technology Resource Center, established with assistance from Ameren, is housed in the building, where students and area manufacturers will be introduced to new manufacturing and energy-efficient technologies. Another space in the building was developed to be leased to area industry for training, testing or research activities.
Development of the School of Polytechnic Studies
As part of the University's Mission Enhancement Plan, the Polytechnic Institute was formed in November 1996. The purpose of the then "Polytechnic Institute" was to consolidate and focus Southeast's role in the implementation of the State Plan for Postsecondary Technical Education.
The University's 1998-2000 Strategic Implementation Plan identified the goal of moving the Polytechnic Institute to a School or College. This goal was considered necessary to provide the programs contained in the academic unit the same recognition, rights and responsibilities as the other academic units on campus.
In 1999, the Board of Regents at Southeast Missouri State University established the School of Polytechnic Studies, which comprises the Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology and the Department of Agriculture. Until now, the Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology has been housed in the Serena Building.
Development of the Polytechnic Building
Southeast made a new Polytechnic Building a priority after the Missouri State Plan for Postsecondary Education was drafted in 1996. It identified Southeast as one of only three baccalaureate institutions having an essential role in the implementation of the statewide plan. Southeast's Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology programs were recognized in the plan for their reputation of producing quality graduates, having model 2+2 articulation with area community colleges, possessing exemplary advanced manufacturing technology labs and national accreditation. Identification in the plan led to significant new state funding for high-tech equipment for existing programs and for the development of new programs to assist Missouri's manufacturing enterprise.
In 1999, the new technology building was approved. The late Gov. Mel Carnahan released $5.6 million in state money for the new $8.8 million building. Remaining funds for the building came from individuals, area industry and the University.
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Otto and Della Seabaugh Polytechnic Building were held June 25, 1999.
The architectural firm of William B. Ittner, Inc. of St. Louis designed the 60,000-square-foot building. The design of the Otto and Della Seabaugh Polytechnic Building received an award from American School and University, a nationally published magazine. BSI Constructors of St. Louis served as the construction management firm for the project.
SOUTHEAST OPENING DAY ENROLLMENT UP NEARLY FOUR PERCENT
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Aug. 21, 2001 - Total enrollment at Southeast Missouri State University is up by nearly four percent, according to a preliminary unofficial report compiled at the beginning of the first full day of the fall 2001 semester.
Classes at Southeast began Aug. 20.
Total combined undergraduate and graduate student headcount stands at 8,342, up 3.9 percent from 8,032 at this time a year ago.
When a final census report is issued in four weeks, Southeast Missouri State expects to have a total headcount surpassing 9,000.
Dr. Pauline Fox, vice president for administration and enrollment management, says total fall headcount last year increased by 919 from the first day of classes to the fourth week census. In both fall 1998 and fall 1999, Southeast gained more than 700 students during that four-week period.
"It is a good possibility that we will have a record enrollment," Fox said. "I am very pleased. Our numbers are really very good."
Fox added that it is likely Southeast will surpass a 1984 enrollment high of then 9,189. She says the Southeast campus is vibrant and that residence halls are full with 2,349 students living on campus.
"We are virtually at full capacity," she said, "but we have been able to accommodate everyone."
Fox said only a few students have been temporarily housed with community advisors, who generally are housed in private rooms.
In addition to the increase in total headcount, total full-time equivalency is at 6,868, up 4.6 percent from fall 2000. Fox says this indicates "more than just an increase in a few more students taking a few more hours. This means we have a significant increase in the number of credit hours students are taking."
Total undergraduate student headcount stands at 7,519 today, up 4.8 percent from fall 2000. Beginning freshman headcount is 1,607, up 6.4 percent from this time last year.
"That is just about where we expected our freshmen numbers to be," Fox said.
Continuing freshman headcount is 799, down five percent from fall 2000.
Sophomore headcount stands at 1,589, up 4.4 percent from this time last year. Junior headcount is 1,460, up 4.8 percent from fall 2000. Senior headcount is 1,784, up 4.5 percent from this time last year.
"In addition to our freshman numbers being up, sophomore, junior and senior headcount is up as well," Fox said. "This is due to our having several years in a row of steady enrollment growth."
Total graduate student headcount stands at 823, down 2.5 percent from fall 2000.
"While today's figures are preliminary, the indication is that our final enrollment figures will be even more positive," Fox said.
A final fall semester census report will be compiled in four weeks.
JAPANESE FAULKNER SCHOLAR TO SPEAK AT SOUTHEAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Aug. 27, 2001 -- A noted Japanese scholar of American and Japanese literature will deliver a public lecture Aug. 29 at Southeast Missouri State University.
Professor Toshio Koyama, of Kwansei Gakuin University in Nishinomiya, Japan, will present "The Literary Imagination: Kenzaburo Oe's Woods Saga and William Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha" at 3 p.m. in Crisp Hall Auditorium.
Professor Koyama is the 2001 ByoKyowa Visiting Scholar at Southeast's Center for Faulkner Studies.
His address is open to the public and free.
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