Archives for May 2024

2024 World Language Day “Just for Fun” recruiting event big success

May 13, 2024 by Lynn M. Lansdown

The Department of Languages, Cultures, and Religions (LCR) hosted its “2024 World Language Day—Just for Fun” recruitment event April 16 in the PSU Ballroom.

Over 400 high school students from across the Ozarks attended the event.

The organizers, Cristina Sepulveda-Hinojosa, Dr. Maria Alejandra Cerdas Cisneros and Jeff Loughary, along with LCR department head Dr. Stephen Berkwitz, started planning the event in October 2023.

“It took us almost six months to organize it,” said Sepulveda.

The purpose of the event is twofold, Sepulveda added. One goal is to encourage or motivate students to attend Missouri State University. The other is to encourage students to study languages.

“[We want to] motivate them to continue studying a foreign language and make them aware of the advantage they will have professionally by studying a foreign language,” she explained.

three teens sitting on floor doing an activity — High schoolers enjoyed foreign language activities like relays, karaoke, dances and crafting.

Interdisciplinary and community outreach key part of event

One of the early goals of the planning committee was to reach out in an interdisciplinary capacity to academic departments outside of its college home in the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH).

“We thought about which departments could gain from prospective students who can speak foreign languages and therefore invited them to join our event,” Sepulveda explained. “Now we realize that it was a success, and we are happy to have done it that way.”

“It has been an enriching experience working with international business, hospitality and education, because we have realized that by joining forces, we also increase resources and the possibility of success. We all benefit,” she added.

Dr. Fatih Benzer honored with Kenneth Marantz Fellows Award

May 9, 2024 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Associate professor of art Dr. Fatih Benzer was awarded the United States Society for Education through Art (USSEA) Kenneth Marantz Fellows Award at a ceremony in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in April.

The award recognizes “achievement in the field of art education and in service to USSEA that is exceptional in its depth and breadth,” according to the organization’s website.

Benzer has been a faculty member in the Department of Art and Design for eight years and a member of USSEA for over 20 years.

“I’m grateful that Dr. Benzer’s contributions to the field of art education are being recognized as significant by this important organization,” said Vonda Yarberry, head of the Department of Art and Design. “With all that he contributes to the field, this is a well-deserved and highly coveted national award.”

“What’s so beautiful is seeing how his work transforms our students right here at Missouri State University,” she added.

Benzer, who is also director of the Missouri Fine Arts Academy, continues to have a far-reaching influence on art education, according to Dean Shawn Wahl of the Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

“Dr. Benzer’s work in art education leadership and pre-college arts training will continue to have an impact across Missouri and beyond,” Wahl said. “This type of recognition is significant and well-deserved. I continue to be inspired by the life-changing work of faculty and staff across academic colleges at Missouri State University.”

2024 Judy Awards honor excellence in the Reynolds College community

May 9, 2024 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH) continued its tradition of honoring the legacy of Judith Enyeart Reynolds with the Third Annual Judy Awards May 3, 2024.

The event, held at The Old Glass Place, celebrated the achievements of faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends within the RCASH community.

Dean Wahl stands at podium — Dean Shawn Wahl announces his selections for the Dean’s Judy Awards.

A special moment of the celebration included recognizing MSU President Clif Smart and Gail Smart and then Dr. George Connor, professor of political science. All three received the Dean’s Legacy Award from Dean Shawn Wahl. Smart is set to retire on June 30. The legacy leadership and work of each recipient will continue to make a difference in the lives of RCASH members for generations to come.

Christopher DePriest, Mark Templeton, and Rob and Sally Baird were each honored with the Dean’s Champion Award. All have diligently worked, often behind the scenes, to positively impact RCASH.

MSU Alum Austin Elliott accepted the Dean’s Alumnus Award on behalf of Locke and Stache, a production company located in Springfield, Missouri. Locke and Stache was recognized for their exceptional achievements in video production.

The award ceremony concluded with The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice receiving the Dean’s Award of Distinction for excellent performance as an academic unit over the past year.

Named in honor of Reynolds, a dedicated staff member and role model for many years in the Department of English, the Judy Awards cover a variety of contributions to the college, ranging from traditional awards in teaching, research, and service to those that recognize collaboration, inclusive engagement and efforts to highlight the pillars of the University’s public affairs mission.

Except for the dean’s awards category, winners were nominated either by their peers or self-nominated, then selected by representatives from each academic department serving on the Judy Awards Selection Committee.

Hosts Dr. Alan Tinkler, Dr. Aida Hass-Wisecup and Mary Lynne Golden announced the following winners of the 2024 Judy Awards.

MSU students win Emmy Award for documentary

May 7, 2024 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Students from Missouri State University’s Department of Communication, Media, Journalism and Film have won a 2024 Student Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS)—Mid-America for an episode of their documentary, “Discovering Dickerson Park Zoo.”

Episode 3, “Medicine of Dickerson Park Zoo” not only won the Student Emmy for Best College Non-Fiction Long Form, it also won second place from the Missouri Broadcast Education Association in the Video Documentary category.

Another episode, “Education of Dickerson Park Zoo,” was nominated for a Student Emmy for Best College Non-Fiction Short Form.

The entire documentary is a nine-episode web series filmed and edited by students taught by Jon Mabee, associate professor of film and television.

Mabee co-directed the documentary, along with Autumn Girgin, a recent graduate of the MFA in Dramatic Writing program. Mabee was also one of the producers.

“The National Academy of Arts and Sciences-Mid America Emmy competition is one of the most prestigious of the awards festivals that we compete in, since they are judged by professionals in the industry,” said CMJF department head Dr. Deborah Larson. “With two wins and one nomination this year, our students showed how we can compete at this level.”

“This also speaks volumes about our faculty who mentor them and the production and journalism programs we offer to our students,” Larson added.

“Real world” project based on client need

The zoo documentary project came about when Mabee, who has worked with the Dickerson Park Zoo on other projects, agreed to help the zoo create content to celebrate its 100th birthday.

This was an opportunity for students to be involved in “real-world applications” that reflect content taught in CMJF courses, Mabee said.

During the project, Mabee supervised roughly two dozen students, some of whom were enrolled in his Client-Based Video Production (MED 385) and Editing for Film & TV (MED 466) courses.

Total production time was about 20 weeks, Mabee estimated, with about three weeks devoted to actual filming. The project began in March 2023 and concluded in December.

Man working with woman on film camera — Associate professor Jon Mabee with student videographer Amelia Kotulski.

Meghan McKinney named a top 10 finalist in the 2023 NPR College Podcast Challenge

May 7, 2024 by Damilola R. Oyedeji

Since 2022, Missouri State University journalism senior Meghan McKinney has been honing her skills in public radio.

She works as a student reporter and announcer at KSMU Radio, the region’s NPR affiliate based at Missouri State.

From submission to success

Recently, McKinney submitted an entry to the 2023 NPR College Podcast Challenge.

In its third year, the competition aims to find the best college podcasts in America. Entries must be three to eight minutes long about any topic.

McKinney’s podcast titled, “Breaking from the Bible Belt,” made it to the top 10 out of over 500 submissions from current undergraduate college students and recent graduates across the country.

“In it, I tell the story of a girl who’s trying to navigate religious trauma, deconstruct her childhood conservative Christian faith and articulate what she believes,” McKinney said.

“Being one of the top 10 finalists is exciting. I had forgotten I submitted an entry until NPR contacted me with the news. Such great news before my upcoming graduation reassures me of my abilities.”

As a finalist, she won $500. [Read more…] about Meghan McKinney named a top 10 finalist in the 2023 NPR College Podcast Challenge

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