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Dr. Bukowy picks up one degree; contemplates another

Dr. Stephen Bukowy graduated May 8 from the University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Indian Studies (AIS).

One of the University’s newest graduates is also a professor in the School of Business.

Dr. Bukowy, who picked up his diploma in person, was first in a line of 406 graduates, thanks to the alpha-ordered lineup.

It was his fifth degree in higher education, and he is already thinking about the next.

“I started out just taking classes in American Indian Studies,” Dr. Bukowy said. “A degree was not a goal in the beginning.”

He took all 36 hours required to complete a major, then decided to “cash in his chips” and take the degree. There were several good reasons Dr. Bukowy chose American Indian Studies.

“I could take a history class anywhere,” he said. “American Indian Studies is a unique program to UNCP.”

“Also, I hope to gain a better understanding of Native American culture,” he said. “Given where our University is located and its history, I can gain a better understanding of our students.”

Dr. Bukowy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Penn State University, a Master of Business Administration degree from William and Mary College, a Master of Forestry Resources and a Ph.D. in accounting from the University of Georgia.

Dr. Bukowy said he is not finished yet.

“Spanish would be useful,” he said. “Whether it leads to another degree or not is not important.”

SBTDC hires small business counselor

As an engineering student, Alban S. Burney helped finance his college education with a part-time job at Blockbuster Video. He worked his way up the ladder to manage eight stores for the giant retailer.

Burney is the new small business counselor for the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC). His offices are at the Regional Center for Economic, Community and Professional Development at UNC Pembroke.

A Columbus County native, Burney graduated from North Carolina A&T with a degree in industrial engineering. His professional experience includes international consulting work. He jointly reports to Sylvia Pate, director of the Regional Center and Greg Taylor, Cape Fear regional manager for the SBTD.

Burney said he is enjoying working at the University.

“The staff at the Regional Center is extremely helpful, and the atmosphere on campus is electric,” he said. “You can feel the energy here just walking on campus.”

The new small business counselor began seeing clients in late April. His role is to help start-up and existing businesses with their planning needs, including assisting businesses with creating business plans to seek financing.

The SBTDC also assists small businesses in research, training and marketing. Burney will serve Robeson, Scotland, Richmond and Moore counties. He will work closely with the Regional Center Director Pate.

“We are so appreciative to have Alban on board because this position was vacant for over three years due to budget limitations,” Pate said. “The services provided by the SBTDC are in demand in our regional and compliment the mission and services of the Regional Center. Our efforts are focused more on economic development, but with a growing emphasis on small business development.”

“With our pending move to COMtech, our efforts become more focused on assisting businesses locate at COMtech,” the Regional Center director said.

Burney’s most recent job was with the rural scholars program for the Duke University Endowment. He also worked as an engineer for giant pharmaceutical company Johnson and Johnson and as a math teacher and football coach at South Columbus High School.

A Chadbourn, N.C., resident, Burney is very active in his church and in community affairs. He works with the Young Adult Missionary Department of the 1st Missionary Church. He is a member of the NAACP and a volunteer tutor with the DREAM Center in Whiteville, N.C.

A graduate of West Columbus High School, Burney lists computing and Web site design among his interests.

Small Business Counselor Alban Burney may be contacted at 910.522.8410 or by email at alban.burney@uncp.edu.

Dr. Stephenson publishes a book of poetry

Dr. Shelby Stephenson (English) has a new book, entitled “Possum,” coming out in June. It will be published by Bright Hill Press.

Dr. Stephenson also had an essay on Fred Chappell’s fiction in “More Lights Than One: on the Fiction of Fred Chappell.” The book is from LSU Press, edited by Patrick Bizzaro, with a foreword by Robert Morgan. His essay is entitled: “Chappell’s Women: Models from the Early Novels.”

This spring, Dr. Stephenson served as the Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet for Eastern North Carolina, mentoring a middle school student winner Shauna Pratt of New Bridge Middle School in Jacksonville, N.C., and Gilbert Abraham, a St. Andrews College student. He did readings with Pratt in Jacksonville Public Library and with Abraham at Scotland County Public Library.

On May 16, Dr. Stephenson and his wife, Linda, helped celebrate Lee Smith’s fiction with a performance of traditional music, interweaving songs into a reading by actress Quinn Hawkesworth. The event was sponsored by Library Friends of the Washington County Public Library in Abingdon, Va.

Beth Jacobs graduates from UNCP

Elizabeth LaChelle Jacobs, daughter of Brenda Jacobs (Music), graduated cum laude from UNCP on May 8. She received a Bachelor of Arts in political science with a concentration in pre-law.

Jacobs will attend law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall.

Pamela Chavis gets second UNCP degree

Pamela Chavis, wife of Tony Chavis (Athletics) graduated with her second degree in elementary education from UNCP. Her first degree was in American Indian Studies. Also Tony’s daughter, Cierra Chavis, got “fours” in reading and in math at Deep Branch School. That is the highest ranking in the state’s End of Grade test.

Elizabeth Taylor graduates from Lumberton High

Sarah Elizabeth Taylor, daughter of Janet (Advancement) and Charles Taylor, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Lumberton Senior High School on May 28. She will attend UNCP in the fall and plans to pursue a nursing career.

She is the recipient of the North Carolina Incentive Scholarship and the Kiwanis of Robeson Scholarship in memory of Morris Britt.

Chavis graduates from Purnell Swett High

John Christopher Chavis, son of Sherlene B. Chavis (Police & Public Safety), graduated from Purnell Swett High on May 28. His plans are to pursue a career in law enforcement. He plans to enroll at Robeson Community College with plans to transfer to UNCP.

Krista Dees graduates from Scotland High

Krista Dees, daughter of Pattie Dees (Housekeeping), will graduate from Scotland High School on May 28. She will attend UNCP this fall.“GoKrista..... We Love You!” said Mom, Dad, Kayla and Coco.

Blair Mills graduates from Lumberton High

Megan Blair Mills, daughter of June Mills (Library), was a Cum Laude graduate from Lumberton Senior High on May 28th.

She was selected as one of 25 students who will spend six weeks at UNCP this summer in the Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP). This program targets high school seniors and rising college freshmen who are considering careers in medical or health related professions.

Blair will receive academic instruction by UNCP faculty in the areas of English, physics, chemistry, biology, math, computer science, basic study skills and communication skills.

Adriane Mullin graduates from N.C. Central in nursing

Adriane Mullin, daughter of Vivian Oxendine (Library) graduated magna cum laude from North Carolina Central University on May 1 with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.

Kenney graduates from UNC Wilmington

Geoff Kenney, 22, son of Dan (Athletics) and Mira Kenney, graduated from UNC Wilmington on May 8 with a degree in political science.

Patrick Jacobs wins wrestling award

Patrick Lynn Jacobs, son of Debbie (Human Resources) and Mark Jacobs and a junior at Purnell Swett High School, was recently recognized at the annual Athletic Awards Banquet for wrestling.

Patrick pinned an opponent, who was ranked ninth in the state, in six seconds at a tournament held at Wilmington’s Ashley High School. Swett's wrestling coach said that Patrick's win was the momentum needed for Purnell Swett to take home a first place trophy. Patrick now holds the school record for the fastest pin. He is a second-year varsity wrestler and is in the 125-pound weight class.

Mallorie Dial graduates from Purnell Swett High

Mallorie Alease Dial, daughter of Lori Carter (HR), graduated from Purnell Swett High School on May 28. She plans to attend Robeson Community College this fall.

Rachel Ensing wins Superintendent’s Award

Rachel Ensing, daughter of Kay Oxendine (Student Activities), finished her freshman year at Purnell Swett High School with honors. She received a certificate for getting straight As all year, the Superintendent Award and an Art Award for outstanding art achievement.

Ensing was on the Junior Varsity Cheerleading Squad, and selected to be a member of the squad next year. She also participated on the track team at Purnell Swett and was showed some dramatic flair in the play, “To Kill A Mockingbird.”

Chiara Oxendine wins awards at athletic banquet

Chiara Oxendine, 14 year-old daughter of Terry Oxendine (Physical Plant) and Cynthia Oxendine (University Center) was recognized at Prospect School's athletic banquet. Chiara received participation trophies for cheerleading and softball. She received a certificate and trophy recognizing Prospect School as the 2003-2004 Robeson County middle school softball champions, posting a 15-0 record. Chiara also received the Sportsmanship Award in softball and the Coaches Award in cheerleading.

Next generation UNCP cheerleader

Ila Killian (Controller) sent this photo in of her granddaughter Megan. Tommy McKenzie (Purchasing) and Cindy Revels (Bookstore) gave Megan the uniform that was purchased from the Bookstore. Megan is Killian’s daughter Theresa's child. Theresa was a cheerleader at UNCP when she was a student.

Friends of the Library elect new officers

The Friends of Sampson Livermore Library elected new officers for 2004-05.

Helen Pate of Rowland is president and Dr. Nancy Barrineau (English) is vice president and president-elect.

Nikki Blanton (Library) is secretary, and Susan Whitt (Library) is treasurer. Dr. Bruce Ezell (Biology) is outgoing president.

Beth Carmical to lead International Educators

Beth Carmical (International Programs) was elected chair-elect of the North Carolina Association of International Educators. She will become chair at the annual meeting next spring. The association’s Web page is www.uncp.edu/ncaie/.

Dr. Parnell publishes in business journal

John A. Parnell (Business) has published an article, “Variations in strategic philosophy among American and Mexican managers,” in the Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 50, pp. 267-278.

Honors College students present research

Bruce Pier, a senior chemistry major, and Jason Bentley, a junior philosophy major, recently presented papers at the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Indianapolis, Ind.

The students were selected to present their research at the largest student research conference in the country. Both are members of the University Honors College (UHC), according to Dr. Carolyn Thompson, director.

Pier’s research presentation was entitled, “Toward Development of a Fiber Optic Electro Chemical Sensor in Metal Ion Determinants.” He conducted research with Dr. Paul Flowers (Chemistry).

Bentley’s presentation was entitled, “A Theory of Justice as Indirect Utilitarianism.” He is a rising senior from Wake Forest, N.C. He worked with Dr. Merrill Miller (Philosophy and Religion) on the project.

NCUR, which was founded at UNC Asheville, is dedicated to the promotion of undergraduate research scholarship and creative activity in partnership with faculty or other mentors as a vital component of higher education. It is the most prestigious conference for undergraduate research in the country. It was the first year that UNCP participated in the conference.

The conference was at Indiana University/Purdue University. Several hundred papers were delivered in a variety of disciplines.

Pier, from Fayetteville, served as a combat medic in the Army National Guard, where he received the Army Achievement Medal for service as a combat medic in the line of duty. A cum Laude graduate in May, he has been accepted to medical school.

Psychology student presents research project

Psychology student Michael Zimmermann presented the results of a research project at the Carolinas Psychology Conference on April 17, in Raleigh.

The talk was titled “Relative importance of Psychology graduate admissions criteria: Current data.” He plans additional analyses of archival data to look for multi-year trends in those criteria. Zimmermann’s work was supervised by Dr. Patrick Cabe (Psychology and Counseling).

Birthdays June 1-30
James Bass
Patsy Bass
Sharon Blue
Amanda Brooks
Robert Brown
Lois Bullard
Patrick Cabe
Rey Craig
Dennis Edgell
Emma Evans
Michael Fairley
Paul Flowers
Elinor Foster
James Frederick
Fran Fuller
Gregory Harris
Karen Helgeson
David Helton
James Hooks
Cammie Hunt
Bridget Jones
Karen Jones
Julie Layne
Bonnie R. Locklear
Caverlen Locklear
Jennifer Locklear
Joseph Locklear
Von Locklear
Jennifer Lowry
Phyllis McGirt
Gail Morfesis
Sara Oswald
Penny L. Oxendine
James Parker
Chris Perry
Veronica Powell
Frank Rendulic
Rebecca Roberts
Mary Russell
Jean Sexton
Esther Simmons
Shelby Stephenson
Sandy Stratil
Aubrey Swett
Debra Thompson
Jo-Ann Tumilty
Blake Tyner
David Underwood
David Vanderhoof
Mark Vesely
Rebecca Vogler
Mary Walker
Shannon Wharry
Justin Winans

New Hires
Esther Zamora - Police Officer I, University Police
Genett Locklear - Telephone Operator Supervisor, Enrollment

Promotion
Christel C. Parker - Administrative Secretary III, CED

Reclassifications
Cathryn Shooter - Office Assistant IV, Student Affairs

Deaths
Jose Gomez’ (English) mother, Edelmira Salazar, of Cali, Columbia, died May 28.

Births

Jaleigh Jor-Dan Strickland was born May 27 at 11:30 p.m., weighing eight pounds, four ounces and measuring 21 inches. Proud parents are Jamey and Ginger Strickland (Regional Center).

‘Candy Guess’ winners announced

Charlie Britt (Physical Plant) won the candy guess competition with a guess of 1,238. He won a $25 gift certificate to Sheff’s Seafood Restaurant. It was sponsored by the Office of Human Resources.

Congratulations to Sharon Bien (Academic Affairs). She was runner-up with a guess of 1,230. There were 1,307 pieces of candy in the container. She got to keep the candy.

Winners of the first ERC raffle

Winners in the first-ever Staff Council Employee Recognition Committee (ERC) raffle were: Beverly Justice (Athletics) winner of a bracelet, Alban Burney (Regional Center) won the TV and Juanita Deese (Controller) won the tank of gas.