Students Angel Butler, Jessica Grant, Katana Lemelin, Elizabeth Mosher and Cole Johnson created the golf course as a work of art itself almost completely from found and second-hand materials. They incorporated challenges such as requiring a golfer to send a ball through a Slinky. In addition, the students placed works of art within the course.

“The art students applied their talents and created something that could be enjoyed by children and adults,” said Richard Tichich, professor in the School of Art and Design. “A father was calmly teaching his son how to hit the ball. At the same time, four older students were competing as if it were the Masters tournament.”

The course will open again Saturday, Sept 21, at the Jackson County Green Energy Park’s Youth Arts Festival in Dillsboro. The annual festival features art, music, green energy and community fun.

The College of Education and Allied Professions held a ceremony in honor of the late Janice Holt, who was WCU’s executive director of teacher recruitment, advising and career support, on Monday May 6, and planted a dogwood tree in her memory.

Holt, of Webster, died unexpectedly Nov. 1, at the age of 58. A faculty member in the WCU College of Education and Allied Professions, Holt was a National Board certified teacher who arrived at WCU in 2000 after more than two decades in Jackson County schools. She was instrumental in developing the university’s programs to support beginning and career teachers and maintain partnerships with regional schools. She had been in her current position since 2010.

Holt held bachelor’s (1976), master’s (1977) and education specialist (1987) degrees in middle grades education from WCU. In 2012 she earned her doctorate in educational leadership from WCU, receiving the American Educational Research Association’s Research on Teacher Induction special interest group’s first Dissertation Award. Holt said her work supporting beginning teachers in Western North Carolina sparked her interest in the topic that developed into her dissertation, which examined teacher retention and student achievement.

A plaque at the base of a dogwood tree in honor of the late Janice Holt, who was WCU’s executive director of teacher recruitment, advising and career support.

Holt was named the 1999 National Science Teachers Association/Space Foundation National Space Educator of the Year. At WCU she taught the methods courses for the School of Teaching and Learning and the freshman seminar for the WHEE Teach Living Learning Community. WHEE Teach has emerged as a shining star of best practice and commitment from the College of Education and Allied Professions and was recently honored by the North Carolina Association of Residence Halls with the Silver Seymour Community of the Month award. The community has grown from one cohort of 25 students to 50 students this year and is expected to grown again this fall to 75 students.

In addition, Holt received grants totaling more than $1.5 million that focused on the support of beginning teachers and college access.

Those who wish to support the Janice Holt Scholarship Fund can write a check payable to the WCU Foundation and note that it is for the Janice Holt Scholarship Fund. Send checks to Brett Woods, Office of Development, 201 H.F. Robinson Building, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, N.C., 28723. Gifts also may be made online at www.wcu.edu/27669.asp. Select the College of Education and Allied Professions from the “area of giving” drop-down box and note in the comments box that the gift is for the Holt scholarship. For additional information, contact Woods at bwoods@wcu.edu.

WCU students Tim Kay, Stiles Burr, John Gilliam and Chris Kidd competed as a team at the College Sport Research Institute Conference. (Photo courtesy Kadence Otto)

Kadence Otto, associate professor of sport management, accompanied the team of students, Tim Kay, Stiles Burr, John Gilliam and Chris Kidd, to the event.

Under the supervision of Marie-Line Germain, assistant professor of human resources and leadership, and working with graduate student Olivia Graham, who served as liaison between the students, professors and organizations, 12 teams of five to seven students each helped their clients address a specific human resources need.

Four teams worked with the nonprofit organization Dorcas Ministries associated with Christian Community in Action Inc. located in Cary. One team revised and updated the employee handbook. A second team revised policies and procedures. The third team updated the nonprofit’s volunteer handbook. A fourth team created an employee performance evaluation system, including forms and processes. Howard Manning, executive director of Dorcas Ministries, said the organization leaders had recognized several human resources needs after the recent acquisition of a larger facility that necessitated an increase in the size of the staff.

“We needed a set of human resources policies and procedures to make sure we were providing fair and beneficial opportunities for our employees and volunteers,” said Manning. “We were struggling to develop a strategy to accomplish this without having a human resources department. Dr. Germain and her teams provided an invaluable resource for us at exactly the right time. This allowed our small staff to focus on work related to our mission and strategic plans. The teams were very professional and thorough. They delivered a final product that not only meets our current needs but will be useful as we continue to grow.”

Two teams worked with Liberty Corners Enterprises Inc. located on Coxe Avenue in Asheville. One team focused on developing a performance appraisal process. The other developed a step-by-step orientation process, including forms, checklists and presentation tools. Tonya Andrews, finance director of Liberty Corners, was a key point of contact for the students, who ensured that the products developed were tailored to the organization’s needs.

Merry Michalsen, who served as a team leader for the group that assisted with creating an orientation process for Liberty Corner Enterprises, described the experience as a tremendous opportunity to get hands-on experience working with a nonprofit organization in ways that many have not had the chance to do. “This truly shows that an online education doesn’t have to remove you from that real world — it just allows you to see it and access it in a different way,” said Michalsen.

Two teams worked with the Asheville Buncombe Community Relations Council located on South French Broad Avenue in Asheville. One team developed a performance evaluation process that included forms, step-by-step instructions and checklists. Another team created a volunteer handbook. Sarah Nunez, the nonprofit’s executive director, said the organization was delighted to have the opportunity to work with the WCU students and faculty. “The projects produced by the teams were beneficial to our internal structures and will assist our organization for years to come,” said Nunez.

Three teams worked with Asheville City Schools Foundation located on Mountain Street in Asheville. One team worked on updating the nonprofit’s employee handbook. A second team created a performance evaluation process that included forms and instructions. Kate Pett, executive director of the foundation, said she was grateful for the assistance. “We will joyfully be implementing these tools in the coming weeks, and I am confident that they will enhance our ability to serve children and our community,” said Prett.

Cortne Schanbacher, one of the graduate students who worked with Asheville City Schools Foundation to create a performance appraisal process and forms, said the hands-on consulting experience was rewarding and invaluable. “We were able to help an amazing organization expand on their HR processes and gain valuable knowledge at the same time,” said Schanbacher.

Another team worked on an independent project creating a portion of a human resources handbook for nonprofit organizations, which Germaine will continue to develop.

“The projects also were rewarding for students, who overwhelmingly reported they benefited personally and professionally from this consulting experience.” said Germain.

For more information, contact Germain at 828-227-3959 or mgermain@wcu.edu.

The issue includes stories about the need to enhance endowed scholarship funds at WCU, what it takes to maintain the outdoor beauty of WCU’s campus, and a three-time Super Bowl champ returning to help coach football team.

Visit the magazine online at magazine.wcu.edu.

The camera, one of less than a dozen gifted to film programs across the nation, offers cutting-edge features including a higher resolution than any previous digital motion picture camera.

The festival features student-created films and will be held in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center and begins at 7 p.m. Admission is $10.

Anna Browning (Photo courtesy Josh Crawford)

Josh Crawford (Photo courtesy Josh Crawford)

The book, illustrated by Josh Crawford, a 2010 WCU alumnus, shares the story about boy whose tree house turns into a spaceship that takes him to the moon so he can gather the moon rocks he has always wanted.

“The story began as an educational adventure, born out of my love of space,” said Browning, who has worked as a prekindergarten teacher assistant and earned bachelor’s degrees from WCU in communication sciences and disorders and from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in English

Browning said the story took several days to write but three months to revise.

“It changed from a dull, educational tale to a magical, thrilling story that I think kids will love,” said Browning.

The book, which is being published by Diamond DMT Publishing, is the first in a series. A book release event will be held at The Vine in Waynesville on Saturday, June 1, from 4 to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit www.anna-browning.com.

WCU alumnus Andy Miller traveled to Kenya last summer and plans to return as part of an initiative to build a well in the village of Gerleich. (Photo courtesy Andy Miller)

Christopher Pedo, international student adviser at WCU, began working with Andy Miller when Miller was a student at WCU to organize an effort to raise money to build a well in the village of Gerliech, where residents sometimes have to travel as far as 20 miles to retrieve water.

The fundraising event will begin at 6 p.m. Attendees will enjoy live music as well as appetizers and be able to purchase or sample Oskar Blues beer for $3. Participants are asked to donate $20 to the cause. Miller said $2,000 is needed to move forward with constructing the well this summer.

The nine-hole course, which five students built as part of a three-dimensional design honors project, features not only student art but also creative miniature golf challenges, such as putting a ball through a Slinky. The students made the course using primarily found or second-hand items.

Opening play on the course and establishing the “par” for each hole will be sculpture teachers Jan Parker and Brad Wines; Brian Railsback, dean of the Honors College; and Matt Liddle, director of the School of Art and Design. The course will be open for play on the University Center lawn on May 2 and Friday, May 3.

For more information, contact Richard Tichich, professor in the School of Art and Design, at 828-227-2464 or rtichich@wcu.edu.

Western Carolina University students filmed “Emeralds of the East,” a coming-of-age drama about a boy being raised by a single mother in the Appalachian Mountains during the 1940s, last fall. The film will be shown Friday, May 3, at WCU’s Controlled Chaos Film Festival. (Photo by WCU student Mason Taylor)

The festival begins at 7 p.m. and features short works from a range of genres and senior these films created entirely by students from the Motion Picture and Television Production Program and School of Stage and Screen.

“This year’s festival promises to make you laugh and will tug at your heartstrings,” said Alexa Rufty, an event organizer and a senior from Hickory majoring in motion picture and television production. “If you want to see some incredible up-and-coming filmmakers, you need to be at this festival. You won’t be disappointed.”

The first senior thesis film, “Emeralds of the East,” is a coming-of-age drama about Carver, a boy being raised in the Appalachian Mountains during the 1940s by a single mother.

The second senior thesis film, “Jerry,” is a dark “bromantic” comedy centered on a homeless man who comes back to haunt the local politician, Dick Heard, that ran him over.

In addition, a short teaser for a third senior thesis film, a documentary to be titled “Cataloochee,” will be shown. When complete, the film will tell the story of the valley from the Cherokee origins of the land to the movement to the movement to develop Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

“Controlled Chaos is the highlight of the Stage and Screen production season,” said Tom Salzman, director of the school. “It’s a combination of our motion picture and our theater students being represented in one festival. These students have been working all year on these films, and it shows.”

Working on “Emeralds of the East” was director Tim Rudisill, a senior from Hendersonville; writer Abigail Taylor, a senior from Hickory; actors Alexander Quitman Volpi, a senior from Jacksonville; Amanda Wilson, a junior from Mount Airy, and Gavin K. Reep, a sixth-grader at Evergreen Community Charter School from Asheville. Collaborating on producing the film was Andrew Duncan, a senior from Sylva; Jeff McElmurray, a junior from Brevard; and Rufty, who also served as assistant director. David Elder, a senior from Cary, served as director of photography, and David Bennett, a senior from Lake Lure was the editor. Rudisill, Taylor, Duncan, McElmurray, Elder and Bennett are majoring in motion picture and television production. Volpi and Wilson are majoring in acting.

Western Carolina University students filmed “Jerry,” a dark comedy about a homeless man who comes back to haunt the local politician, Dick Heard, who ran him over. The film will be shown Friday, May 3, at WCU’s Controlled Chaos Film Festival. (Photo by WCU student Mason Taylor)

The cast and crew of “Jerry” included Christy Conyers, a senior from Chapel Hill; writers G.M. Hill, a junior from Fort Mills, S.C., and Grant Hengeveld, a junior from High Point; and actors Hengeveld, Joseph Callahan, a senior from Shelby, Hannah Chatham, a senior from Statesville, Jaclyn Helms, a senior from Spruce Pine, and Claire Eye, director of WCU’s theater program. The producer was Andrew Dyson, a junior from Spartanburg, and the director of photography was Jason Ledford, a senior from Cherokee. Taylor Peasants, a senior from Lexington, served as assistant director and the editor is Mitchell Metz, a senior from Chapel Hill. Conyers, Hill, Dyson, Ledford, Pleasants and Metz are majoring in motion picture and television production. Hengeveld, Chatham and Helms are majoring in acting. Callahan is majoring in musical theatre.

Working on “Cataloochee” is Katherine Bartel, a senior in WCU’s motion picture and television production program.

Also at the festival, WCU will celebrate a gift from Sony of a state-of-the-art F65 camera valued at nearly $100,000. The camera, one of five Sony gave this year to film programs across the nation, offers cutting-edge features including a higher resolution than any previous digital motion picture camera.

Admission to the Controlled Chaos Film Festival is $10, cash only, at the door. Proceeds and donations benefit the Motion Picture Student Project Fund, which helps students with the cost of creating their senior thesis films.

Watch a trailer for the 2013 Controlled Chaos Film Festival. For more information, contact Rufty at 828-781-0577 or atrufty1@catamount.wcu.edu or the School of Stage and Screen at 828-227-7491.

For more information, contact Lauren Bishop in the Energy Management office at 828-227-3562 or lbishop@wcu.edu.

The event will begin at 3 p.m. Results will be shared of a salary survey of SPA and nonfaculty EPA employees.

Throughout the week, reading enthusiasts are invited to bring a hanging ornament based on one of their favorite books to the circulation desk to be hung on a “tree of favorite books.”

On Thursday, April 18, those who come to the library dressed as their favorite book character and have their photograph taken at the circulation desk will be entered in a costume contest. Photos will be posted on Hunter Library’s Facebook page, and the person in the picture that receives the most votes will win a certificate from City Lights.

Also on April 18, book-making workshops will be held at 10 a.m. and noon for up to 20 participants at each session. Materials will be provided. To sign up, visit the circulation desk.

On Friday, April 19, the library will host an edible books contest. Entries must be submitted to the circulation desk by 10 a.m. Prizes will be awarded for best visual, most creative, most literary, most edibly appealing, people’s choice and best overall.

The Coulter Faculty Commons presents the annual institute to enable faculty and instructional staff to examine, reflect on and discuss teaching and scholarship with colleagues. Participants convene from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day with a break for lunch.

The theme of the 2013 event is “Teaching Across Divides,” and focus teams will explore the theme from different angles. Participants note their top three focus team choices during registration.

Teams for 2013 will be:

·        Cross-Disciplinary Course Design: Classroom Wisdom to Cross Divides

·        Game on! Gamify Your Class with Peer Instruction

·        Reciprocal Engagement ‘Across Divides’: Building Bridges, Not Burning Them

·        Crossing the Ocean that Separates Us: Overcoming Large Class Sizes to Connect With and Engage Our Students

·        Hello, Hello, Hello… Is there Anybody Out There?

·        Seeing Ourselves, Seeing Others (Bridging the Divide: Diversity)

·        Undergraduate Research:  Bridging the Divide Between Student Engagement and Faculty Scholarship

·        The SoTL Connection

·        Moving Beyond Teach, Test, and Hope for the Best: Connecting your Student’s Learning, Assessment and Classroom Technology

For more information and to register, visit the Summer Institute for Teaching and Learning 2013 website. Questions can be directed to Laura Cruz, director of Coulter Faculty Commons, at lcruz@wcu.edu or 828-227-2093 or Freya Kinner, instructional developer, at fkinner@wcu.edu or 828-227-3456.