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Reka Zsilinszka’s stock rises to number one in nation

Dr. Lazslo Zsilinszka’s (Mathematics) daughter, Reka, is currently ranked number one in the nation by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) in the under-14 age group.

In just four years of playing competitive tennis, Reka has marched steadily up the tennis ladder. The breakthrough came at the USTA National Open in Marietta, Ga. where she conquered the field.

A home-schooled student who lives in Fayetteville, Reka turns 15 in July. The Zsilinszka family moved to the United States from Slovakia in 1996, and Dr. Zsilinszka joined the faculty in 1998.

Reka will have to decide about playing tennis in college or a professional career. Her coach recently told the Fayetteville Observer that her potential is unlimited. See you at Wimbledon Reka!

Janette Hopper to exhibit in Germany

Artist and Art Department Chair Janette Hopper will return to Europe this summer for a major show at Ludwigsburg Pedagogical University in Germany.

Hopper will open a one-woman show on July 14 with a gallery talk at 6 p.m. She will exhibit a variety of pieces in different mediums from several series she painted during European visits.

“The work is representative of paintings from seven summers spent in Germany and France,” Hopper said. “It’s a large show, a major show.”

Hopper, who has exhibited many times in the Old World, will become reacquainted with many of her paintings, which are in Germany.

“Peter Dines (director of International Programs at Ludwigsburg) gave my Web site to his University’s Art Department, and they liked the idea of an exhibit,” she said. “Many of the works were still in Germany, so they picked them up. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to show them.”

Located in southwestern Germany near Stuttgart, Ludwigsburg is a sister university of UNCP with several ongoing student, faculty and staff exchange programs.

Hopper will show oils from her Neckar River and Pyrenees Mountain series, linocuts from her Adam and Eve series and pen and inks from her Heidelberg/Mannheim Music Academy series.

The Neckar River series are industrial scenes will dramatic skylines. The mountain series was painted after a visit to the French Pyrenees and is filled with imagery depicting innocence, freedom and ecstasy.

Hopper will lecture on one of her more recent series, entitled “Dancing on the Last Stump.”

“I will explore issues in art education on bringing out a sense of place and the development of mythic forms in emerging artists,” she said.

A second lecture on the subject will be delivered at an international conference on “New Directions in the Humanities” at Monash University Center in Prato, Italy.

Travis Stockley at the Gilbert Theatre

Music Theatre Professor Travis Stockley directed “Man and Machine” and “Garage Tales” at Fayetteville’s Gilbert Theatre. The production ended in early June. The plays were written by Jim Geoghan, and Stockley was pleased with the talent and the production, according to an interview with The Robesonian.

Dr. King presents poster at society conference

Dr. Beverly R. King (Psychology) presented a poster at the 11th annual American Psychological Society/Society for the Teaching of Psychology Teaching Institute on May 27 in Chicago, Ill. The American Psychological Society (APS) is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1988 to advance scientific psychology and its representation as a science on the national level. The society's mission is to promote, protect, and advance the interests of scientifically oriented psychology in research, application, teaching and the improvement of human welfare. In 2003, APS membership exceeded 13,500 and included the leading psychological scientists and academics, clinicians, researchers, teachers and administrators.

The title of Dr. King’s poster was “Something for Everyone: Using Mixed Modalities to Teach General Psychology.” The poster presented information about a general psychology course Dr. King taught in which several modalities - live broadcasts, video broadcasts and Internet - were used to deliver the course to both on and off campus students, many of whom were new to college and to technology. Dr. King has been on the faculty since August 2003, and the course described in the poster was for a course at South Dakota State University.

Dr. Kania is published in justice journal

An article,“A Brief History of a Venerable Paradigm in Policing,” by Dr. Richard Kania (Criminal Justice), was published in The Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, February 2004, vol. 20, issue. 1, pp. 80-83, by SAGE Publications.

Dr. Shelby Stephenson reads at Spoleto; “POSSUM” is published

Dr. Shelby Stephenson (English) returned from Charleston, S.C., where he was part of the Spoleto Literary Fest. Dr. Stephenson was part of a three-person panel, called “The Art of Southern Storytelling in Prose and Lyrics.” Novelist Charles Price presented the prose, Dr. Stephenson presented the poetry of song.

“The session was wonderful,” Dr. Stephenson said. “I read from “POSSUM,” and I read from some new and old poems. We had a good audience, wandering-in people off the street.

Spoleto Literary Fest is part of the larger Spoleto arts festival. Other writers included Bob Morgan (see Pembroke Magazine No. 35) and Susan Ludvigson, Ron Rash and many more.

On June 14, Dr. Stephenson traveled to Treadwell, N.Y., to christen “POSSUM,” his latest book of poetry.

“A woman in the audience asked me to tell one myth on how the possum got its tail,” Dr. Stephenson said. “ I said, ‘That’s a secret. If I tell you, it won't be a myth!’”

Megan Jacobs graduates from Purnell Swett

Megan Renee Jacobs, daughter of Brenda C. Jacobs (Career Services), graduated from Purnell Swett High School in May.

She will attend Robeson Community College this fall in the nursing program.

Chiara and Shayla Oxendine win academic awards

Chiara Oxendine, 14 year-old daughter of Terry (Physical Plant) and Cynthia (University Center) Oxendine, received several awards at Prospect School's awards program, including highest GPA in language arts, second highest GPA in science and algebra, most improved in algebra, highest scale score in reading and math for an 8th grader, a Battle of the Books certificate, a Band Award and trophies for first place and best overall in the school Science Fair. She was also presented an IEA special award by the Public Schools of Robeson County. Chiara will be a freshman at Purnell Swett High School next fall.

Shayla Locklear, seven-year-old daughter of Terry and Cynthia Oxendine, received several awards at Prospect School's awards program, including certificates of achievement in all academic areas and a 3rd place accelerated reader award. Shayla will be a second grader next fall.

Holly Tyler earns scholarship for medical school

Congratulations to Holly K. Tyler, daughter of Darlene Cummings (Registrar’s office), on receiving the Board of Governors Medical Scholarship for the 2004-05 academic year. The scholarship includes full tuition and a $5,000 annual stipend.

The selection committee, which was composed of practicing physicians, educators and administrators, chose Tyler from candidates nominated by the four medical schools located in North Carolina. There were only 20 scholars selected this year. Tyler will attend Wake Forest University School of Medicine this fall.

“Holly has worked extremely hard and it has paid off!” her mother said. “We are truly thankful. I, along with her entire family, could not be more proud.”

Dr. Reising attends 50th baseball team reunion

Dr. Robert Reising (English, AIS) recently attended the 50th reunion of his Michigan State University baseball team that won the Big 10 championship and advanced to the College World Series. The reunion was May 21-24 in East Lansing, Mich.

In all, 17 of Dr. Reising’s former teammates were able to attend. Judy, Dr. Reising’s wife, also able attended. It was the team’s eighth reunion over the years. Many of the players went on to play professional baseball.

On Saturday, the group golfed and attended a banquet in their honor at the Kellogg Center on campus.

On Sunday, the 1954 Spartans were introduced at a Michigan State game. The team was featured on the cover of the game program and presented a baseball commemorating their glorious season.

On Monday, they attended the 2004 team banquet and met the players. Included here is a poster produced in honor of those who attended. Dr. Reising is at the bottom left-hand corner.

“We had a great time,” he said. “We are now meeting every five years, and I hope to attend the next reunion.”

Digital Academy at Canadian conference

The Digital Academy team presented at a New Media Consortium (NMC) conference at the University of British Columbia.

Pictured here, Dr. John Labadie (Art), Larry Arnold (Music) and George Johnson (Mass Communications) presented many student works and found themselves in the unique position of being one of the only fine arts based New Media centers, making UNCP's contributions even more important and unique internationally.

The NMC summer conference is a one-of-a-kind event, attracting an audience of highly skilled campus professionals who are very knowledgeable about and interested in the integration of emerging technologies into teaching, learning, and creative expression.

NMC conference attendees are often early adopters and represent the most innovative and creative areas on their campuses. Of the attendees from colleges and universities, about 30 percent of attendees are IT executives or senior managers. About 15 percent are mid-level IT managers, and about 15 percent are faculty. The remainder of the academic audience, about 40 percent of attendees, are generally specialists in specific technologies, such as digital video, web design, streaming, animation or graphics.

Dalsry Ray (Dallas) Jacobs honored at retirement dinner

On June 17 at the New Physical Plant Complex, a retirement dinner was held in honor of Dallas Jacobs. He received gifts, including a radio for his vehicle (with installation fee) and a pocket watch with engraving on both sides.

Jacobs worked for 31 years in Physical Plant and Housekeeping and is still employed 20 hours a week. His family and friends attended along with Chancellor Meadors and Neil Hawk, vice chancellor for Business Affairs, and other staff members.

Birthdays July
Kenneth Atkisson
Sharon Bell
Bruce Blackmon
Tarleton Blackwell
Rachel Blanton
Rhonda Brewington
Roger Brown
Teresa Bryant
William Campbell
Mike Cash
Sherlene Chavis
William Collier
Kay Erlich
Patricia Fields
Ronald Gaskins
Davina Gilbert
Oz Hamzah
Michael Hawthorne
Richard Hayes
Carl Howald
Bryan Hunt
Mary E. Hunt
Wanda Hunt
Brenda K. Jacobs
Debbie Jacobs
Mancil Jacobs
Joseph Lakatos
Ron Layne
Thomas Leach
Leanie Lewis
Danny Locklear
Gwendolyn Locklear
Judy Locklear
Marla Locklear
Penny O. Locklear
Emily Long
Judith Losh
Darleen Lowry
Virginia McClanahan
Douglas McLaughlin
Terry McNish
William Moore
Annette Morgan
Kay Oxendine
Reginald Oxendine Jr.
Saprina Oxendine
Teresa Oxendine
June Power
Saundra Richardson
Lorna Ricotta
Susan Roberts
Terry Roberts
Jessica Scott
Dennis Sigmon
Cynthia Sumpter
Preston Swiney
Tommy Thompson
Paul Van Zandt
Richard Vela
Gretchen Walters
Velinda Woriax

New Hires
David Girardot - Assistant Vice Chancellor for Facility Management, Physical Plant
Kristin Devany - Enrollment Services Officer, Admissions
Ryan Jones - Computer Lab Coordinator, UCIS
Joey Locklear - Computing Consultant, UCIS

Deaths
Cynthia Sumpter’s grandmother, Inez Galbreath, passed away on June 21. Sumpter is a lecturer in Mathematics and Computer Science Department

Beatrice Williams’ (Controller's Office) grandmother, Rosie Mae Johnson, passed away June 28.

Weddings

Aloha! Illya Chavis (Regional Center) and Alfred Boyd Lindsey were married Saturday, June 12, 2004 in Waikiki, Hawaii.

Barbara Locklear (Central Receiving) was married to Lacy Earl Locklear Saturday, May 29, 2004, at 3 p.m. The wedding took place at the residence of Ray and Barbara (retired UNCP) Locklear. Ray is Barbara’s brother.