News from Transy

LEXINGTON, Ky.—More than a dozen student playwrights at Transylvania University will soon see an anthology of their work released by a major U.S. publisher and available for productions in English-speaking theaters around the world. Dramatic Publishing has announced plans to release “My #*%!^X%#! College Life,” co-created by Transylvania professor Michael Dixon and 2016 graduate Brooke Jennett, who recently won the 2016 Dramatists Guild of America Young Playwright Award. The play, which features 40 monologues along with a few choruses, is a humorous and heartbreaking look into the hearts and minds of today’s college students. It touches on a wide range of issues—including social justice, gender identity, relationship boundaries, future prospects and roommate etiquette. “Throughout this creative process, Brooke and I have wanted the play to address a broad range of concerns identified by college students today,” Dixon said. “This dramatic journey reveals the difficult choices and revelatory encounters that lead to what colleges call ‘personal transformation,’ which is generally beneficial but, as this material attests, it’s never easy to change at any age and the individual outcomes are absolutely unpredictable.” The dramatic monologues were written by 17 Transylvania students and a dozen other playwrights, mostly in MFA playwriting programs around the country, including Ohio University, University of Arizona and University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The project has been in the works for two years and was originally conceived by Jon Jory, former producing artistic director at Actors Theatre of

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Riley Bresnahan, a junior from DeLand, Fla., received the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. She will study with the School for International Training’s Post-Genocide Restoration and Peacebuilding program in Rwanda during the winter 2017 term. Gilman scholars receive up to $5,000 to apply toward their study abroad or internship program costs. The program offers grants for U.S. undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies or credit-bearing, career-oriented internships abroad. Such international exchange better prepares students to thrive in the global economy and interdependent world. Students receiving a Federal Pell Grant from two- and four-year institutions who will be studying abroad or participating in a career-oriented international internship for academic credit are eligible to apply. Scholarship recipients have the opportunity to better understand other cultures, countries, languages and economies—making them better prepared to assume leadership roles within government and the private sector.  “Study abroad is a special experience for every student who participates,” said Congressman Benjamin Gilman (R-NY), who retired in 2002 after serving in the House of Representatives for 30 years and chairing the House Foreign Relations Committee. “Living and learning in a vastly different environment of another nation not only exposes our students to alternate views, but also adds an enriching social and cultural experience. It also provides our students with the opportunity to return home with a deeper understanding of

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LEXINGTON, Ky.— Several Transylvania University sororities and fraternities have received awards at recent leadership conferences and conventions. These Greek organizations continue a tradition of excellence and campus and community involvement that stretches back to 1888. Alpha Omicron Pi Chapter President Lesley Goodaker and New Member Educator Alexis Enix represented Tau Omega at the 2016 Leadership Institute. Throughout the weekend, the chapter received recognition for: Fundraising for Foundation Support, Total Honor Roll, Strike Out Arthritis Event, Initiation Honor Roll, Quota Honor Roll, Academic Honor Roll and Ruby Level SOE. Additionally, the chapter received the Outstanding Leaders Council and Collegiate Philos awards. These awards are given to the top-performing chapters across Canada and the United States for leadership and operations as well as exceptional panhellenic relationships on campus. Chi Omega The Chi Chapter of Chi Omega was honored this past summer at its convention with the National Chapter of Excellence award. This award is given to the top-performing chapters across the nation based on considerations such as recruitment, operations, programming, retention, scholarship and leadership. Delta Delta Delta At their Collegiate Leadership Conference last spring, the Delta Delta Delta members were awarded the Tri Delta Service Award for their outstanding service to the community. Phi Mu The Delta Theta Chapter of Phi Mu was awarded two awards at their National Convention over the summer. They won the Collegiate Academic Award in recognition of their outstanding scholastic achievement. They also were awarded the COB

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