News from Transy

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Twenty-four upperclassmen at Transylvania University have been named August Term Scholars for the 2012-13 academic year. August Term Scholars will serve as role models and mentors to first-year students while working with faculty members. August term will take place August 10-30 and will provide new students with an engaging and exciting introduction to Transylvania. During the fall semester, August Term Scholars will continue to meet weekly with a small group of students. This is the first year for Transylvania’s August term, a three-week academic and cocurricular program for entering students. August term students take a single course, a seminar titled “First Engagements: Enculturation into a Scholarly Community.” Basic texts are common to all students, while professors teaching the various sections of the course supplement their class with materials from their own academic disciplines. August term also includes traditional new-student orientation sessions on alcohol awareness, academic integrity and other topics. This year’s August Term Scholars were chosen from a pool of applicants. Requirements included a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, rising junior or senior status and a letter of recommendation from a faculty member. “They are outstanding students selected to help our new students make the academic and social transitions to college life,” said Michael Covert, associate dean of students and director of retention programs at Transylvania. “We couldn’t run the program without them.” The August Term Scholars are: Daniel Barber, rising junior from Frankfort, Ky. Carrie Burt, rising

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Sallie Showalter, communications and technology branch manager of the Kentucky Arts Council, has been named Transylvania’s web content writer/editor, effective May 1. “We are delighted to have Sallie join Transylvania University and our communications team,” said Sarah Emmons, associate vice president for communications and public relations. Showalter recently lead a team that reorganized and redesigned the Kentucky Arts Council website, improving its appeal and usability. She edited and designed the award-winning book, “Discover Art in Kentucky,” to promote opportunities for Kentuckians and visitors to engage with the arts. “Last fall, our web development manager Mariana Shochat completed the first phase of our newly designed site (www.transy.edu),” said Emmons. “Sallie will play an important role in enhancing the editorial content.” Showalter previously worked for IBM, Fazoli’s Management, Inc., Lexmark International and Toyota Motor Manufacturing. In 2000 she was honored as one of three Lexmark International employees around the world with a Vision Excellence Award. Showalter earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Centre College and her master’s in comparative literature from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She was a Rhodes Scholar nominee and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Forty-six first-year students at Transylvania University were recently inducted into Alpha Lambda Delta, a national honor society that recognizes academic excellence. To be included, students must have maintained a 3.5 or higher GPA during their first year or term of college. The new inductees are: Cordelia Addington, Thomas Amburn, Aimee Ashcraft, Ajibola Bakare, Therese Boeding, Rachel Burns, Alexis Carey, John Carter, Jade Clemons, Casey Coomes, Casey Crutcher, Mallory Cummings, Jerica Duke, Henry Eberhardt, Lauren Gallenstein, Sebastian Guerra, Elizabeth Hardt, Rachel Hempel, Jesse Johnson, Rebecca Keith, Nashwin Laungani, Brooke Lee, Katelyn Long, Jessica Mahoney, Courtney Marshall, Emily Martin, Keri Mayhew, Kayla Miller, Stevie Morrison, Julia Murray, Paige Napier, Matthew Nease, Taylor Nossokoff, Alyssa O’Bryan, Bria Parker, Kristen Pope, Rachel Sanders, Skyler Slone, Rachel Smith, Donovan Sowder, Miller Travis, Tyler Turcotte, Valerie Whitlock, Michaelah Wilburn, Graham Winchester and Jacquelyn Young. Three honorary members were also inducted: Jim Mills, registrar; Carole Barnsley, assistant professor of religion; and Jeff Freyman, professor of political science. Transylvania, founded in 1780, is the nation’s sixteenth oldest institution of higher learning and is consistently ranked in national publications as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Even the London fog can’t dampen the spirits of Transylvania juniors Andrew Goff, of Louisville, Ky., and Lindsey Anderson, of Shelbyville, Ky. Participating in the Hansard Scholars Program in London this term, these students are taking a new approach to hands-on learning. Their Mondays are spent as students, taking classes at the London School of Economics. The rest of the week is spent as interns to a Member of Parliament (MP) – their hands on the pulse of British government. Both Goff and Anderson have been thrown amidst exciting action. “Being introduced to the British system and at such a high level has definitely been the most rewarding part of my experience,” Anderson says. “I’ve gotten to see debates in the House of Commons, accompany my MP to talks with constituents, and even help prepare questions for him to ask at meetings of the Justice Select Committee.” Goff, too, has encountered exciting opportunities, including a trip to 10 Downing Street with his MP’s team and a special tour. “Someone on [Prime Minister] Cameron’s staff gave me the tour, and she told me it was the same one they gave to President Obama on his first visit to No. 10,” Goff recalls. “I was honored to get an insider’s glimpse of the rich and storied institution.” Often, the most compelling discoveries occur beyond the study abroad programs. Goff and Anderson, have taken in such incredible sights as the Palace of

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