1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

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Transylvania hosting volunteer projects on campus for Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service; program honoring King planned for Jan. 19

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday, and in 1994, the holiday was designated by Congress as a national day of service, charging Americans to make the third Monday in January a “day on, not a day off.” On Monday, January 17, Transylvania students, faculty and staff will celebrate the 2011 Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service by joining members of the Lexington community to perform service projects. Six of Lexington’s service activities will take place at Transylvania and include donating blood, writing letters of thanks to troops for serving overseas and knitting squares to make blankets for the Build-A-Bed Project. Transylvania has traditionally been very involved in Lexington’s effort, providing 25-45 percent of the volunteers. Projects at Transylvania Donate Blood (with Kentucky Blood Center) William T. Young Campus Center Corner of Fourth Street and Broadway Noon-4:30 p.m.Bring photo ID Make seedling starter planters for community gardens Rosenthal Commons (Rosenthal Residence Hall) Fourth Street 1 p.m. Write letters of thanks to the troops William T. Young Campus Center, conference room A Corner of Broadway and Fourth Street 1 p.m. Make valentines for Adult Day Center William T. Young Campus Center, conference room A Corner of Broadway and Fourth Street 1 p.m. Make sandwiches for the Hope Center Forrer Hall, Presidents Room near dining hall Broadway, between Third and Fourth streets 1 p.m. Knit blanket squares for Build-A-Bed Rosenthal Commons Fourth Street,

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Transylvania publications receive awards at CASE-KY conference

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—The Transylvania University admissions viewbook received the Grand Champion award for printed publications in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education–Kentucky annual awards ceremony December 10 in Louisville. Transylvania also received the Award of Excellence for the admissions travel brochure and Transylvania magazine and the Special Merit award for the parents fund brochure. The viewbook provides a comprehensive introduction to Transylvania for prospective students, and the travel brochure, which admissions counselors distribute at college fairs and other events, summarizes important points about the university. Transylvania magazine is produced three times a year and goes primarily to alumni and parents. The parents fund brochure helped the university raise a record number of gifts to support its library. The winning works were all produced in-house by the university’s publications staff: Martha Baker, director; William Bowden, writer/editor; Barbara Grinnell, graphic designer; and Tyler Young, editorial assistant. The concept for the parents fund brochure was originated by Lori Burlingham, assistant director of development, and Susie Bullock, development writer. “It was a thrill for our publications team to be recognized once again for their outstanding work,” said Sarah Emmons, Transylvania’s associate vice president of communications and public relations. “Transylvania has a long history of producing award-winning publications and I’m delighted that the tradition continues.”   The award winners were selected from a pool of entries from public and private colleges throughout the state. Transylvania, founded in 1780, is the nation’s sixteenth oldest institution

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Anonymous donor pledges matching gift of up to $1 million

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—In honor of the April 29, 2011 inauguration of R. Owen Williams, Transylvania’s 25th president, an anonymous donor has pledged a matching gift of up to $1 million for Transylvania alumni and friends who make a gift of $10,000 or more by April 30. Contributions that bring a donor’s cumulative giving for the 2010-11 fiscal year to $10,000 or more also count toward the challenge. The donor’s gift and funds raised from the challenge will be used to help move Transylvania forward by immediately implementing parts of the 2009-12 Strategic Plan and other initiatives. Williams has stressed five points of concentration: diversity, globalization, sustainability, technology and community outreach. “Our anonymous donor is a dear friend of the university,” said Mark Blankenship, acting vice president for development. “His generosity of matching gifts of $10,000 or more gives people added incentive to help the university they love.” Blankenship said that donors may choose how their gifts are used, including support for any specific area including the annual fund, which helps the university meet its more urgent needs, or for named scholarships and the general scholarship fund, which allow prospective students with financial need the chance to experience a Transylvania education. To make your gift and help move Transylvania forward, or for any questions, please contact the development office at (800) 487-2679 or email:Mark Blankenship ’81, acting vice president for development and associate vice president for alumni affairsSusie H. Bullock, development writerLori

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Transylvania President Emeritus Charles L. Shearer receives Henry Clay Medallion

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President Emeritus Charles Shearer, center, with Governor Steve Beshear, right, and George McGee as Henry Clay. LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University President Emeritus Charles L. Shearer was awarded the 2010 Henry Clay Medallion for Distinguished Service from the Henry Clay Society during a December 2 black tie dinner at the Kentucky Governor’s Mansion. A committee of the Henry Clay Memorial Foundation selected Shearer for the honor in recognition of the achievements in his personal and public life that reflect Clay’s principals of statesmanship and compromise for the good of mankind. Shearer retired from the presidency of Transylvania in July 2010 after 27 years in that office, the longest such service in the 230-year history of Kentucky’s oldest college. His tenure saw substantial increases in the university’s enrollment and endowment, the addition of eight new buildings and two athletics fields and a rise in the rankings of national liberal arts colleges. “Whether it was his relationship with the chairman of the board and other trustees, or with faculty, staff and students, Charles’s use of diplomacy has always been most evident,” said Warren W. Rosenthal, a member of the Transylvania Board of Trustees, in introducing the honoree. “For 27 years President Shearer was highly respected, deeply appreciated and loved by all.” In accepting the award, Shearer noted the close relationship that Clay enjoyed with Transylvania in its formative years, serving as a professor in the university’s law school and remaining a trustee and friend

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Transylvania receives grant from Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to fund educational programs for improving stormwater quality

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Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry presents Transylvania sustainability coordinator Angela Dossett with Transylvania’s grant for water quality education. LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University was among the schools, businesses and neighborhood groups that received a grant to fund projects to improve stormwater quality in Lexington. Mayor Jim Newberry presented the grants at a news conference today. Transylvania received a $4,878.75 educational grant for a year-long campaign focused on informing the university community about water quality issues. The grant requires a 50 percent match from the university. The grant will be used for water quality monitoring and stream cleaning projects in the Town Branch watershed, interpretive signage at the university’s rain garden and other existing water quality facilities on campus, faculty/staff workshops and distribution of up to 25 rain barrels and 20 rain garden plant kits to faculty and staff who attend the workshops. “The stormwater incentive grant is an exciting opportunity to focus on our impact on local water quality, as a campus community and as individuals, helping to position Transy as a leader in watershed protection in the downtown community,” said Angela Dossett, sustainability coordinator. The Water Quality Fees Board selected 13 Class B grants, available to businesses and institutions, for funding this year through the water quality management fee. Seven grants involve installation of infrastructure to improve water quality and reduce stormwater runoff and six, including Transylvania’s, were for the provision of educational programs. Fourteen Class A grants were also awarded to

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