1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

Scholarship winning Transylvania student to study in Rwanda

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

Transylvania Greek chapters receive national awards

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

Central Music Academy moving to Transylvania

LEXINGTON, Ky.— The Central Music Academy—a non-profit organization that provides free music education for low-income youths—is moving to a house on Transylvania University’s campus. The move to 338 North Upper Street will provide CMA students with a safe, centralized location to receive instruction. The organization strengthens the Lexington community one child at a time by building personal capacity, discipline, self-esteem and musical skills in high-risk youth. Lessons will begin there on Jan. 8. Providing a space for them is one of many ways Transylvania partners with the Lexington community—such as the Unlearn Fear + Hate art project and the university’s Pioneer Pathways program, which includes college and career readiness workshops and mentoring for high school students. The Central Music Academy is the only school in central Kentucky that provides free, weekly, half-hour private music lessons—on any instrument, genre or skill level—to a diverse group of children who qualify for free or reduced school lunches. Since CMA was founded in 2004, it has given more than 30,000 free private lessons to more than 900 children. These students have successfully auditioned into the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras; Lexington’s School for the Performing Arts; and all-district and all-state band, choir and orchestra. “The house will be the perfect spot for CMA, and we are so grateful to the Transylvania University faculty, staff, students and community for allowing us to use the space,” said program director Erin Walker Bliss. Transylvania, located in the heart

Leading Jewish-Muslim authority to speak at Transylvania University

LEXINGTON, Ky.— Reuven Firestone, who is a leading national authority on Jewish-Muslim relations, will give the Moosnick Lectureship in Judaic Studies at Transylvania University on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Firestone’s talk, “How the Birth-Pangs of Religion Complicate Peacemaking Between Faith Communities,” will begin at 7 p.m. in Carrick Theater. “The selection of professor Firestone as this year’s Moosnick lecturer in Judaic Studies is particularly significant,” said Transylvania religion professor Paul Jones. “Because many of the globe’s hotspots involve religion, it is imperative that we listen and learn from an informed voice who has spent his academic life dedicated to understanding and respecting the religious other.” As part of Firestone’s visit to Lexington, he will speak on Nov. 16 at Ohavay Zion Synagogue. The topic of the 7 p.m. talk will be “Diversity of Religious Expression in Islam.” Both lectures will be free and open to the public. Firestone has received numerous fellowships and authored books including “Children of Abraham: An Introduction to Judaism for Muslims” and “An Introduction to Islam for Jews.” Born in Northern California, he was educated at Antioch College and Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He received his M.A. in Hebrew literature and Rabbinic Ordination at Hebrew Union College; and he earned his Ph.D. in Arabic and Islamic studies from New York University. Firestone’s campus talk and the other endowed lectures at Transylvania this academic year follow the theme of “Unlearn Fear + Hate,” a public art project by

Transylvania to host Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University will host the 2017-18 Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs, an innovative program that teaches entrepreneurship to Kentucky high school students. During the three-week summer session, a select group of students will turn their bright ideas into real products with the guidance of high school teachers, college professors, business leaders and other mentors. There is no GPA or test score requirement to be accepted into GSE. The program looks for motivated teens who want to develop products that solve problems. Students apply to GSE online at www.KentuckyGSE.com in the fall. “We are pleased to have this relationship with Transy,” said Laurie Daugherty, GSE’s executive director. “Being here will allow us to expand on the resources and opportunities we offer our student entrepreneurs.” GSE is an enrichment experience similar to the state’s successful Governor’s Scholars Program and Governor’s School for the Arts, which Transylvania has hosted. The Kentucky Entrepreneurship Education Network (KEENStart), a Lexington-based nonprofit, manages GSE. Georgetown College had hosted the GSE sessions since they began in 2013. GSE is a public-private partnership with funding from the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet and many private foundations and sponsors. The immersive program teaches work and life skills, including teamwork and problem solving, in an environment where it is safe to take risks with ideas. Students are exposed to a variety of learning opportunities—from 3-D printers to a high ropes course. On a larger scale, these young entrepreneurs go on to contribute