1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

Events

Beshear to speak at Transylvania’s commencement

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear will speak at Transylvania University’s  commencement ceremony Saturday, May 24, at 9:30 a.m. in front of historic Old Morrison. Two hundred and forty-six students will receive bachelor’s degrees before they head off to graduate and professional programs or enter the workforce with the critical thinking and creative problem solving skills that a liberal arts education provides—and the current economy demands. “Transylvania University has produced smart, well-rounded and well-equipped graduates longer than any other institution in Kentucky, and I am honored to serve as the commencement speaker,” said Gov. Beshear. “I’m looking forward to sharing a few pieces of hard-earned advice before these bright young men and women venture out into Kentucky and the rest of the world. I am confident that they’re going to make our Commonwealth very proud.” A two-term governor, Beshear has championed education initiatives that improved the state’s rankings in areas such as the number of young adults who have received a high school diploma or its equivalent and the number of high school graduates who go on to college. Transylvania senior Karl Alexander Schmitt, a biology major from Fort Mitchell, Ky., will give the student address, “What’s in a Name?” During the commencement ceremony, Transylvania will also award an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters to two alumni: Lula Morton Drewes, class of 1967, and Patrick H. Molloy, class of 1963. Drewes, a Lexington native and graduate of Bryan Station High School,

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Transylvania’s Morlan Gallery recognizes student artists

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  Kara Sparks, “Tayler,” oil on canvas LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University’s Morlan Gallery wrapped up the academic year by awarding 14 prizes to deserving students who submitted artwork for the annual Juried Student Art Exhibition. The university’s Fine Arts program and the dean of the college announced the awards May 2 at the opening reception. The exhibition remains open to the public from noon to 5 p.m. weekdays through May 16. Four students were recognized with $50 Honorable Mentions: senior Jennifer Smith (Fort Mitchell, Ky.) and sophomores Elizabeth Garduno (Fairmount City, Pa.), Trent Redmon (Burlington, Ky.) and Kristen Frost (Sextons Creek, Ky.). Five Excellence in Media prizes, worth $100 each, were awarded to students who produced exceptionally strong work in various media: junior Savanna Barnett (Harrodsburg, Ky.) for digital media; junior Luke Gnadinger (Fisherville, Ky.) for ceramics; junior Chelsea Pharris (Leitchfield, Ky.) for drawing; sophomore Kara Sparks (Pataskala, Ohio) for painting; and junior Stacey Venneman (Southgate, Ky.) for sculpture. The Fine Arts program selected two pieces, Sparks’ painting “Tayler” and Pharris’ drawing “Wii Controller,” to become part of the permanent collection displayed in the Mitchell Fine Arts Center.   Stacey Venneman, Self-portrait, ceramic Dean Michael Bell personally selected two pieces, which will be added to the university’s permanent collection, for the prestigious Dean’s Purchase Award: Smith’s “Oreo” and Venneman’s “Trophies of Mediocrity.” Senior Amanda Stoddard (Crittenden, Ky.) received the prestigious Nana Lampton Prize. Named in honor of the Louisville artist and

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Transylvania University to dedicate Athletics Complex on April 26

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University will open its arms to the neighborhood Saturday, April 26, with the dedication of its $10-million Athletics Complex. Public tours will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the 555 West Fourth Street facility and resume after the 1:30 dedication ceremony. Then, at 3, the women’s lacrosse team will take on Defiance College. The event coincides with Transylvania’s Alumni Weekend. “I consider the dedication to be like a neighborhood open house,” said Mike Vetter, special assistant to the university. The facility, which is home to the university’s field hockey, lacrosse, soccer and track and field teams, will benefit not only the college but also the surrounding community. The transformation of an old tobacco warehouse site is part of a wider revitalization effort in the area that includes the Newtown campus of Bluegrass Community and Technical College as well as new restaurants and entertainment venues along Jefferson Street. West Fourth Street recently received a facelift, going from one- to two-way traffic and getting sidewalks and bike lanes. The community will be able to use the facility for events such as clinics and tournaments. The Athletics Complex features an 860-seat grandstand, an eight-lane track, and an artificial turf field with lights for night games. The 18,000-square-foot field house has locker and conference rooms, coaches’ offices, public restrooms, a sports medicine facility, concessions and a ticket booth. The university’s teams began playing on the field this past October while construction continued on

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Transylvania to remember Rwandan genocide

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—As part of its growing international engagement, Transylvania University plans to mark the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide Friday, April 11. The school, which has four students from the central African country, will remember the atrocity with a candle lighting ceremony, poetry readings, coffee, tea, food and a musical performance by the Dreamin’ Rovers, who will debut a new song based on hope and renewal. Because many college-age students weren’t even born in 1994 when the genocide killed 800,000 to a million people, this will be an educational opportunity. The wider community is welcome to attend the event, which begins at 9 p.m. in Back Circle, the grassy courtyard off West Fourth Street. Lexington has a larger Rwandan community than many people would expect, said Serenity Wright, international student services coordinator. “It’s important to recognize what brought these residents here and let them know they’re respected members of our community,” she said. Rwandan students from Transylvania, the University of Kentucky and Bluegrass Community & Technical College will speak at the event about the future of Rwanda, how they see their role in continuing to develop the country, and what their hopes, dreams and goals are. The theme for the event, which is being celebrated around the world, is “Remember, Unite and Renew.” Everyone is encouraged to wear gray the week leading up to the event to mark the anniversary. Those who come out to the Transylvania event are

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Transylvania University students endorse a safe community for all during Gender Week

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—As part of their commitment to fostering dialog about gender issues, Transylvania students have planned a variety of activities—from participating in the annual Take Back the Night rally, sponsored by the University of Kentucky, to a campus panel discussion on feminism—during the week of March 24. Events are sponsored by various campus groups, including SAGE, the Sexual Awareness and Gender Education committee, and VOICE, which encourages discourse on gender equality and justice. “Gender Week promotes a safer campus and lets students show commitment to ending violence in our community,” said Ashley Gutshall, assistant director of residence life and coordinator for interpersonal violence prevention programming. Students will be active participants in a number of events, including the Clothesline Project, which encourages them to paint messages relating to interpersonal violence on colorful T-shirts that are then displayed in the university’s dining hall. Students will also present a performance of “The Vagina Monologues” to raise awareness about sexual violence and sexual assault. A favorite event is the Holi Festival, a Hindu celebration of spring during which there is traditionally a loosening of social norms of gender and caste. As part of the celebration, students toss brightly colored powder into the air. Free events of interest to the public include: A Creative Intelligence lecture presented by Karen Tice about her book “Queens of Academe: Beauty Pageantry, Student Bodies, and College Life,” which examines the themes of class, race, beauty, body discipline and self-regulation

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