More than 50 recruiters met with 150 students last week during the annual AIKCU Spotlight event in Lexington. This marked the 25th year of the collaborative Spotlight event, which provides juniors and seniors from AIKCU member colleges a chance to explore employment opportunities, internships, and graduate schools in a single location. Thanks to all the recruiters and students who participated, and a special thanks to the career services directors at our member institutions for putting the event together.

Want to see more? Check out photos from earlier Spotlights (2006, 2007) and this video from Spotlight 2009.

This originally appeared on the Asbury College website on January 28th. See the original article (with photos)

More than 40 media communications students to work in paid broadcasting positions; 2 students will report for Lexington NBC affiliate

WILMORE, KY-More than 40 students and four faculty members from Asbury College’s School of Communication Arts are headed to Vancouver, British Columbia for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Feb. 12-28. This is the ninth consecutive Olympics that Asbury College media communications students have worked in paid broadcasting positions.

This year, a few students will be broadcasting about their experiences on the Lexington news station, WLEX-channel 18. Junior Janelle Gore is heading to the Olympics on Feb. 11 and will sending stories to the Lexington television station. Gore’s task is to “bring the Olympics back to Lexington” by finding ties between Vancouver and Kentucky.

Last fall, WLEX-channel 18 sought correspondents to represent Asbury College and send reports back to Kentucky. Gore and fellow student, Natalie Clements, earned the opportunity as performance majors. Alumnus and WLEX employee Taylor Vinson ‘07 helped facilitate venture between the station and college. Vinson worked at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, and had a vested interesting in seeing both his alma mater and employer represented well on air. Vinson held a teaching session to help the new broadcasters learn the station’s expectations for videography, editing and writing.

“My hope is that the Olympic correspondents will be able to tell the story of what it’s like to be at the games,” Vinson said. “It’s wonderful that while telling those stories, they’ll also be getting invaluable experience in the field of television news.”

This will be Gore’s first experience with news broadcasting. Her previous experience has been with theatre and film. “Having a broad education in so many subjects will be helpful also having public relations as well as media writing experience will benefit me in piecing together stories for WLEX.”

Gore and all Asbury Colleges are well-prepared for their endeavors before reaching the Olympic village. Asbury College students were originally only offered 30 slots in broadcasting positions, but due to their experience and knowledge their allotment was increased in the days prior to the games to allow more than 40 students to go. “All of the professors really care about each student getting these opportunities and help us all prepare as much as we can,” Gore said.

When she isn’t broadcasting, Gore is looking forward to watching short track speed skating and her favorite athlete, Apolo Ohno. “I am most excited about seeing all of the different countries come together for one purpose, and celebrating athleticism, competition and having fun together.”

Since 1984, more than 350 Asbury College students have worked in paid broadcasting positions at almost every Olympic Games. Asbury College was the only school outside of the host country that was invited to send media students to work for pay in Vancouver, Beijing, Torino, Athens, Salt Lake, Sydney and Atlanta. Students have worked in such positions as camera operators, camera assistants, liaison officers, audio assistants, and loggers for a variety of broadcasters including NBC, CBC, BBC, European Broadcast Union and others. Students must apply and be accepted by professors as well as the broadcaster in order to work for the Olympics.

This past summer we began our 2 Minute Tour project. These videos are our attempt distill the campus visit into two minutes in order to pique the interest of prospective students. Our latest 2 Minute Tour takes us to Lindsey Wilson College:

If you liked this one, check out our previous visits to Midway College and St. Catharine College. Which AIKCU campus do you want to see next? Email us or leave a message on our Facebook page.

Midway College Western Coach Marianne Bartley-Lehman, Senator Alice Forgy Kerr, Christina Campbell.

Midway College senior Christina Campbell receives recognition from Kentucky Senate

Christina Campbell, a 2009 Midway College graduate, has been recognized and honored by the Kentucky Senate for her outstanding achievements at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association’s National Horse Show earlier this spring. Campbell finished sixth in the nation in the Advanced Western Horsemanship Division.

Campbell received a commendation from Senator Alice Forgy Kerr on Friday, May 15 at Midway College.

Upon making the presentation of the commendation to Campbell, Forgy Kerr remarked, “There are so many outstanding Midway College students, and Christina is one of the most outstanding.”

After the presentation Campbell said, “This is really a surprise! I was not expecting anything like this.”

Coach Marianne Bartley-Lehman, Campbell’s western riding coach, was also at the presentation. She expressed her pride for Campbell, “She has done an exceptional job, worked very hard, and she really deserves this recognition.”

Campbell quickly responded, “I had a great coach!”

Campbell, an Elizabethtown native, graduated from Midway College on Saturday, May 16 with an Associate of Arts in Computer Information Systems, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting and Equine Business. Forgy Kerr serves as an advisor with the Teacher Education Program at Midway College.

2009 AIKCU Interns, L-R: Jeweli Wright (Asbury), Jessica Boggs (Campbellsville), Amy
Anderson (Lindsey Wilson), Emily Buckman (Campbellsville), and John Graves (St. Catharine)

Students attending five of Kentucky’s independent colleges have been awarded internships to spend their spring semester working in state government agencies in Frankfort.

While in the state capital from mid-January through mid-April the students will spend 30 hours per week working in state agencies and also complete two state government related seminars. Students will receive up to 15 hours of academic credit from their home institutions.

The internship program is tailored to give college upperclassmen an up-close look at state government.   A related purpose is to help them explore public service as a career option, said Gary S. Cox, president of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities, the organization sponsoring the program.

“Our 2009 class is another group of outstanding young people, and I am sure that they will perform well in their assorted duties in the governmental agencies to which they’ve been assigned,” said Richard Wilson, the internship program’s coordinator.

Cox said the administration of Governor Steve Beshear deserves particular thanks for its cooperation and strong support of the program and its continuation.  “Without the assistance from the governor’s office and several of Gov. Beshear’s cabinet agencies, this very successful program would not be possible,” Cox added.

Students chosen for the 2009 intern class and the agencies in which they will be working are:

• Amy Anderson, of Columbia, a Lindsey Wilson College sophomore, Council on Postsecondary Education
• Jessica Boggs, a Campbellsville University junior from Whitesburg, Kentucky History Center
• Emily Buckman, a Campbellsville University senior from Lebanon, Department of Fish and Wildlife
• John Graves, a junior at St. Catharine College from Springfield, office of Cabinet Secretary Larry Hayes
• Jeweli Wright, an Asbury College senior from Magnolia, Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Selection to the intern program is based on applicants’ desire to work in government, skills needed by state agencies participating in the program, past academic performance, letters of recommendation and personal interviews.  Participating students receive a stipend to partially cover their living expenses.

The 2009 interns are the ninth class of students to participate in AIKCU’s Frankfort-based internship program. During odd-numbered years, the internships are in agencies of state government’s executive branch. In even-numbered years, students do their internship as aides to members of Kentucky’s General Assembly.

For more information about AIKCU’s Frankfort internship program, visit http://www.aikcu.org/about/initiatives/frankfortinternships/.

WILMORE, KY—For the second time in less than a year, Asbury College students are published authors. Freshmen Ali DeSpain and Lucinda Laughlin of Henderson, Ky., began writing short stories together their junior year of high school. Last month, their Christian fantasy novel Calitare hit bookstore shelves.

“It’s cool to be able to say I’m 18 and have written a book,” Laughlin said.

Calitare is the first in a seven-book series called Restore. The main characters, twin sisters Evadne and Willow, are based upon DeSpain and Laughlin’s personalities. They borrowed atmosphere for their kingdom from their experience at Asbury College. DeSpain said, “Each kingdom is known for love between the people and how they take care of and protect each other.”

Laughlin added, “Everybody there cares and you all have a common bond…it’s an encouraging place.”

As for the next books in the series, the women say they have plot lines established, but school and college life will come before writing their next book. “Once you finally get your first book out there, you feel like you can do it again. It’s not as overwhelming,” DeSpain said.

The pair offered advice for future writers after having difficulty finding a printer because of their young ages. Laughlin, “Do it anyway, even if people don’t take you seriously.” Laughlin and DeSpain have also found support and constructive criticism through a writing group at Asbury called Inkings.

Calitare can be purchased through the Barnes and Noble online store or from the printer Xlibris.

Asbury College’s other student author, junior Emma Sleeth, published It’s Easy Being Green, about creation care through Zondervan.

Story courtesy of Asbury College. Read the original piece at Asbury.edu.

Campbellsville University freshman and US veteran Alexander Nima Violet (R) was recently honored by the Taylor Co. Fire Department for pulling two people from a burning vehicle; Senior Scholar Tom Fisher (L) recognized as firefighter of the year

By Linda Waggener

, CU Communications

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Campbellsville University freshman Alexander Nima Violet was given a special award for having pulled two people from a burning vehicle at the Taylor County Fire Department annual awards dinner Dec. 6.

“Each year we look back at runs we’ve had,” said Taylor County Firefighter Howard Dobson who presented the award to Violet, “and we recognize those involved in any extraordinary circumstances. On the night of Sept. 25, just after 9 p.m., we were dispatched to an accident with a vehicle on fire. The location was on Highway 55 at the intersection of Lone Valley Road. Multiple people were in both vehicles. One person, came upon the accident and was successful in getting two or more victims out of the vehicles, drastically improving their chances for survival — for this act we give the Above and Beyond Award to Alexander Violet.”

Violet, 24, said that he frequently seeks the quiet of Green River Lake State Park as a place to study. On that night he was on his way back to campus when he became the first on the scene of the car and van collision.

“The car caught on fire,” Violet remembers, “and I immediately pulled into a safe zone and got the first aid kit from the trunk.” As he ran across the highway to the scene, hearing frantic screams to call 911 and get an extinguisher, his mind was assessing the situation.

All of his training as an Active Navy Corpsman came into play that night. Officially he is an HM-NEC 8404, Field Medical Service Technician serving with the U.S. Marine Corps. He is highly trained in operational and emergency medicine and trauma management.

In order to get the situation under control as quickly as possible, Violet yelled, “everyone who can hear me, listen up — I need you to move to the safe zone if you are able,” and pointed to the area he hoped those who were able to would go.

Once those who could move did so, but before an unconscious man in the vehicle could be gotten to, he found an unconscious little girl in her child safety seat and got her out through the window. After getting her to safety, Violet quickly checked others who had been able to get away from the wreck, finding that while several had cuts and lacerations, none were life threatening, so he returned to the burning car.

“I could feel the heat of the flames on my face but couldn’t leave the one unconscious man in the car,” he said. When Violet saw that he was going to have to have help, he called out and someone came to his side. Two men working together were able to pull the victim out of the wreckage. Violet said that his training enabled him to recognize the symptoms of someone whose chances of survival were extremely poor, so he made sure that the unconscious man was first to be gotten to the emergency personnel as soon as they arrived.

Campbellsville University President, Dr. Michael Carter, said, “Congratulations to Alexander on receiving this award from the Taylor County Fire Department. His act of heroism is noteworthy and exemplifies the spirit of Christian service that we stress.”

Carter also noted that he was grateful to CU Trustee Dr. E. Bruce Heilman for guiding Violet to Campbellsville University. “I have been impressed with him since he first arrived on the campus,” Carter said, “and he is to be commended for having served his country.”

The GI Bill enabled Violet, a native of France who has lived in Texas since he was 15, to come to CU right out of service. He is a member of the CU Student Government Association, a member of the Pre-Law Society and is actively organizing a campus Veteran’s Club.

Campbellsville Senior Scholar Tom Fisher was honored as the Taylor County Firefighter of the Year. He was acknowledged by Taylor County Fire Chief George Wilson for his efforts to expand the fire department, both city and in the county. He was given particular credit for expanding firefighters’ access to working hydrants in rural areas.  Fisher was credited for having been on 103 fire runs in one year. Fisher is a former resident of the Knifley area currently living in Taylor County, where he attends Campbellsville University as a Senior Scholar.

Richmond senior gives speech to UN session; assists Congo delegation

LEXINGTON, Ky.- Transylvania University senior Marcie Smith, of Richmond, has been playing a particularly unique role at the U.N. Climate Change negotiations in Poznana, Poland. The two-week conference is wrapping up this week as world leaders try to make headway on a global climate agreement to be completed in Copenhagen, Denmark, next December. Smith is one of 20 youth delegates from the U.S. to attend the talks and be part of an international youth delegation of over 500 from 54 countries, sponsored by SustainUS.

Smith is one of the group’s deforestation policy experts, and gave a speech to the final U.N. session on deforestation policy. Because of her expertise, she has also been in consultation with other countries. The Democratic Republic of Congo was not able to send enough delegates to Poland to keep up with the workload, so Smith has been serving as their eyes and ears at meetings they have not been able to attend. She has assisted with policy statements to increase the capacity of the African country that is one of the most important players in a global deal on deforestation.

Frustrated by the lack of progress at the U.N. climate meetings, Smith and the rest of the international youth are taking the process into their own hands. They are demanding that the outcome of the talks be anchored by a survival principle that any global climate treaty must safeguard the survival of all countries and peoples.

Their efforts are paying off. Nearly 80 countries, from Italy to the Marshall Islands, have committed to the survival principle. Online, nearly 5,000 citizens have signed onto the principle. In case this is not enough, youth are preparing to boldly intervene at the eleventh hour if this call for survival goes unanswered.

“SustainUS headed to Poland hoping to engage with the United States State Department and work towards American engagement with the international community,” says Smith, “but is has become clear that the United States is not only a lame duck at these negotiations, they are a dead duck.”

“Marcie is definitely one of our most exciting delegates with all the policy work she has done and her role in assisting the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said SustainUS Climate Program Coordinator Kendra Kallevig.

The young people have decided to take the lead where the U.S. government has failed, by engaging with delegates from other countries to work constructively toward a climate treaty. The U.S. Youth Delegation has already met with the official delegations of Sri Lanka, Kenya, Benin, Malawi, Sweden, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Poland and South Korea. The group has also met with Wisconsin Representative Sensenbrenner, staffers of Indiana Senator Lugar, and staffers of more than 20 other congresspeople.

Smith, an international relations and French double major and environmental studies minor is a graduate of Madison Central High School and the daughter of David and Dorothy Smith of Richmond.

SustainUS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization or young people advancing sustainable development and youth empowerment at the policy-making and grassroots levels. SustainUS was founded in 2001 to prepare US youth for the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Story courtesy of Transylvania University Communications.

DANVILLE, KY—Centre College senior Chase Palisch, of Calvert City, Ky., has been named a 2009 Rhodes Scholar. The winners were announced on Sunday. Palisch, a biochemistry and molecular biology major, is one of 32 winners among 769 applicants from 207 different colleges and universities across the United States.

A Goldwater Scholar, Palisch is president of the student government senate, editor-in-chief of The Cento, the college newspaper, founding member of Centre’s science journal, and founder of the College’s club soccer team. He has done research assistantships at Princeton and Duke and has a strong interest in virology. Palisch plans to pursue a doctorate in infection, immunity and translational medicine at Oxford.

“The excitement really hasn’t sunk in yet,” Palisch said. “I was completely surprised, and now all I realize is that I don’t realize what’s going to fully happen.” The Rhodes application is a two-tier process, and Palisch was one of 12 finalists from District 5 (the district in which Kentucky belongs) invited to Washington, D.C., this past weekend. Overall, Palisch was one of 209 applicants from 107 different colleges and universities who reached the final stage of the competition. On Friday evening, the finalists attended a reception, where they met the other finalists and the judges; on Saturday, they had their final interviews.

At the end of the reception on Friday, finalists drew numbers out of a hat to determine what time their interviews would be the following day. Palisch was third in line, and his interview was at 9:30 a.m. It wasn’t until 6 p.m. that the judges finished deliberating and prepared to announce their choices.

“At this point, I resigned myself to the idea that I wasn’t going to be chosen,” Palisch said. “I was in a room full of people who absolutely deserved to win. Then the finalists were asked to line up, a judge pulled a card out of the envelope, and said ‘Chase Palisch,’ and I didn’t hear anything else after that!”

Palisch said that Centre helped prepare him for winning the Rhodes Scholarship.

“I’ve been at Duke and Princeton doing research, at premiere universities, and always felt as prepared. I’ve always known Centre’s education is on par with the top universities,” he said. “Centre gave me tools to get where I got.”

Palisch is Centre’s eighth Rhodes Scholar. In the last 50 years, two-thirds of Rhodes Scholars from Kentucky schools have come from Centre.

About Rhodes Scholarships
Rhodes Scholarships provide all expenses for two or three years of study at the University of Oxford in England and may allow funding in some instances for four years. The Rhodes Scholarships are the oldest and best-known awards for international study and arguably the most famous academic award available to American college graduates. They were created in 1902 by the Will of Cecil Rhodes, British philanthropist and African colonial pioneer.

The American students will join an international group of scholars selected from 13 other jurisdictions around the world. Approximately 80 scholars are selected each year.

The value of the Rhodes Scholarship varies depending on the field of study. The total value averages about $50,000 per year.

Story courtesy of Centre College communications. See additional coverage in the Lexington Herald-Leader: 2 Kentuckians named Rhodes Scholars for 2009.

Crestview Hills, KY - Thomas More College student Elizabeth Fricke, a political science major, was elected to the Kenton Vale Board of Commissioners this past election.

“I’ve always been interested in public service with both of my parents having been on council,” Fricke said.  The city of Kenton Vale has a council-manager government with a mayor and four commissioners.

Ms. Fricke’s decision to run for public office was fueled by the city’s mayor, Mike Pendery, who suggested that Fricke look at serving the community of about 160 people located in Kenton County.

Although Fricke out polled her father by two votes, she joked that the vote differential did not cause a family crisis; “he wasn’t stressed by it,” she explained.

As a commissioner, Fricke hopes to gain additional leadership skills and a better understanding of local government.   She expects to graduate from Thomas More during her two-year term as a commissioner, in the spring of 2010.

Fricke’s major is political science, her minor area of study is history, and her principle academic interest is international affairs. In January Fricke will be leaving for Washington, D. C. where she will intern with Congressman Geoff Davis’ office for the semester.

Article courtesy of Thomas More College.