1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

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Charles L. Shearer, president emeritus of Transylvania University, receives honorary degree from University of Kentucky at December commencement; alumnus David Lollis also honored

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Charles L. Shearer, right, receives his honorary degree from UK President Eli Capilouto. Photo by Matt Goins. LEXINGTON, Ky.—Charles L. Shearer, president emeritus of Transylvania University, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree at the December commencement ceremonies at the University of Kentucky for his lifetime service to higher education. Shearer was selected as president of Transylvania in 1983, beginning a distinguished 27-year tenure that is the longest in the university’s history. A native of Louisville, Shearer earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting and a master’s in diplomacy and international commerce, both from the University of Kentucky. He then earned a master’s and a Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University. Shearer was named to the presidency of Transylvania at the age of 40, after serving four years as the university’s vice president for finance. One of his first priorities was to increase enrollment, which stood at 655. By the next fall, the entering class had climbed 46 percent over the previous year, to 312, and overall enrollment climbed 19 percent to 785. By 2008, 1,153 students were enrolled, a 76 percent increase. Academic quality of the faculty and student body was another priority. The number of students receiving prestigious William T. Young Scholarships, which cover full tuition and fees for four years, grew from 10 to 25, and the innovative Bingham Program for Excellence in Teaching provided financial rewards to high achieving professors. Further bolstering the

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The Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship works to improve diplomacy; center moving to Transylvania University

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Portrait of Henry Clay by Matthew Harris Jouett LEXINGTON, Ky.—Many would agree that if the country ever needed a good compromiser, now is the time. The Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship hopes to improve the climate for political negotiation in the future through its prestigious summer Student Congress, which promotes the ideals of enlightened compromise and civil discourse that Clay championed throughout his distinguished political career in the 19th century. Historically, the center has brought top college students from across the nation to Lexington for its one-week academic immersion into Clay’s principles of debate, diplomacy, communication and beneficial compromise. Beginning in 2014, the program will instead bring outstanding high school students from all around Kentucky to participate in the event. By educating these potential leaders, the center aims to have a positive impact on the nation’s public conversation. The center’s core mission is to promote the ideals of statesmanship that Henry Clay exhibited in his public life from 1806 until his death in 1852. Clay was Secretary of State under President John Quincy Adams, a senator and representative (Speaker of the House for six congresses) from Kentucky and a three-time presidential candidate. His skill at diplomacy earned him the title of the Great Compromiser. A recently signed agreement between the center, Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky makes Transylvania the primary location for the center and the Student Congress. “We are thrilled to be working in association with the

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Transylvania senior selected as USA Today correspondent

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University senior Jake Hawkins has spent the last four years working on The Rambler student newspaper and honing his reporting skills. Now a major newspaper has taken notice. Hawkins has been selected as one of 19 USA Today Collegiate Correspondents for the spring 2013 semester. He will write stories for www.usatodaycollege.com with the chance to be published in the print edition of USA Today. The Princeton, Ky., native is just the second student from Kentucky to be named a collegiate correspondent for the news outlet. Alumni from the program have been from top journalism schools including Syracuse University, Michigan State University, New York University and Northwestern University. A writing, rhetoric and communication major, Hawkins has been working with the Transylvania faculty to cater his curriculum to journalism. He also serves as the editor-in-chief of The Rambler. “I really feel like I’ve gotten a personalized education at Transylvania,” Hawkins said. “Even though we don’t have a formal journalism program, my WRC professors and Rambler advisors have gone out of their way to tailor WRC to journalism for me.” Hawkins found the USA Today application while researching his senior seminar project in which he’s compiling a portfolio of freelance journalism stories. The deadline for the application was just two hours away, so he quickly filled it out and submitted clips. He then wrote an article on the fiscal cliff and how it relates to college students, earning him selection to

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Transylvania is using man’s best friend and special events to counteract stress of a student’s worst enemy—finals

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania is expanding its annual Stress Fest from one day to a full week of events designed to help students reduce the pressure of their finals and end-of-term projects. Offerings include a Relaxation Station—with free 10-minute massages from Lexington’s Solar Massage—and a dog petting room, which was suggested by Student Government Association President Charli Fant. “We wanted to give students multiple opportunities, so, if at any point during the high-stress time at the end of the term, they wanted to go out and relieve some of that, they had the chance,” said Amy Jo Gabel, director of student involvement and leadership. Other events include basketball games, a Gift of Holiday concert, an improv comedy show and morning yoga classes. “If students need to blow off some steam, listen to music or just have someone rub your shoulders, we’ve got it,” Gabel said. The full list of Stress Fest events is as follows: Friday, Dec. 7 A Gift of Holiday music concert 7:30 p.m., Haggin Auditorium, Mitchell Fine Arts Center Saturday, Dec. 8 Women’s basketball game 1 p.m., Clive M. Beck Center Men’s basketball game 3 p.m., Clive M. Beck Center ImprompTU improv show 9 p.m., William T. Young Campus Center Sunday, Dec. 9 Relaxation Station with massages 2-6 p.m., William T. Young Campus Center Monday, Dec. 10 Free yoga class 8:15 a.m., Clive M. Beck Center Tumbling gym with trampolines, foam pits, and more (Legacy Gymnastics) Shuttle leaves from

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Transylvania University inducts 14 into Lampas Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Thirteen Transylvania University students and university president R. Owen Williams were recently inducted into the Lampas Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa. Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society, was founded in 1914 at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va., by fifteen students and faculty members. In the tradition of the idealism and leadership of George Washington and Robert E. Lee, the founders of ODK formulated the idea that leadership of exceptional quality and versatility in college should be recognized. Students apply for ODK membership in their junior or senior year. Selection is based on academic ranking, extracurricular activities and leadership roles. New members are selected by current ODK members and must pass with a 75 percent approval rating. The new members are: President R. Owen Williams Junior Cody Steven Barnett of Viper, Ky. Senior Cassie Caudill of Henderson, Ky. Junior Abigail Elliston of Lexington, Ky. Junior Brianna Hill of Lexington, Ky. Junior Kristina B. Houchins of Winchester, Ky. Junior Brian Hudson of Shepherdsville, Ky. Junior Kelsey Michelle Meece of Somerset, Ky. Junior Melissa R. Moberg of Waxahachie, Texas Junior Emily Novak of Naperville, Ill. Junior Karl Alexander Schmitt of Fort Mitchell, Ky. Junior Maria Angela Starck of Louisville, Ky. Senior Caroline Tapscott of Franklin, Tenn. Junior Raisa Olivia Tikhtman of Lexington, Ky. 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

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