Linkages Online Newsletter Fall 2014

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REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE NEW TOPS ON THE BLOCK Homecoming Brunch

     WKU Family and Consumer Sciences and Phi Upsilon Omicron Alumni are invited to the Homecoming Brunch on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 10:00 a.m. at the Eloise B. Houchens Center, 1115 Adams Street, Bowling Green, KY.  Brunch activities include: Silent auction for scholarship funds, Presentation of the Romanza O. Johnson Outstanding Citizenship Award, and Presentation of the Phi Upsilon Omicron Award for Outstanding Alumni.  Alumni member are requested to bring items of memorabilia. 

     The cost for the brunch is $15.00 per person. Please RSVP by Friday, October 31 to: Lauri Warden, Office Coordinator, FACS Department, 1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green, KY  42101, phone: 270-745-4352 or e-mail: lauri.warden@wku.edu 

     Annual membership dues may be submitted with your RSVP:  $10.00 for Family & Consumer Sciences Alumni and $15.00 for Phi Upsilon Omicron Alumni.

New Leadership for the FACS Department

     Mr. Travis Wilson, Associate Professor of Interior Design at WKU, has been named as Interim Department Head of

the FACS Department.  Mr. Wilson joined the FACS Department in 2005, but is no stranger to WKU.  He earned his

baccalaureate degree at WKU before he went on to pursue his architectural degree at the University of

Oklahoma and taught in the AMS Department at WKU before joining the FACS Department.    He and his wife,

Christy, have two children.

     Dr. Doris Sikora, Associate Professor of Family and Consumer Sciences, has transitioned from administration to

full-time teaching as of October 1, 2014. Her passion is teaching and interacting with students and she will now have the time to pursue her professional goals, as well.

FACS Alum Named Executive Director of Phi Upsilon Omicron

     Melissa Essenpreis Martin, alum of the FACS Department,  was named National Executive Director of Phi Upsilon Omicron (Phi U) at the 2014 Conclave held in Boise, ID. She will assume her duties on November 1, 2014.  Melissa replaces Susan Rickards who has served Phi U in this capacity for the past 38 years.  Melissa is a 2006 graduate of the Textile and Apparel Merchandising program at WKU, she graduated Suma Cum Laude with a 4.0 and was named Scholar of the College of Health and Human Services. She attend the Phi U Conclave as the collegiate delegate in 2006.  As an undergraduate, she was a very active member,  was named most active initiate in 2004, as she served as the 1^st Vice-President in charge of directing the professional project.  She also received the Service Award and the Leadership Award for the chapter.  Under Melissa’s leadership, the Beta Delta Chapter won the National Professional Project Award for two consecutive years.

     Melissa stated, “Through Phi U membership, I have learned lifelong lessons, gained invaluable friendships and mentors, and acquired a heart for service. Now, as an alumni and professional, I am eager for the opportunity to play a bigger role in helping others realize their potential by serving and supporting the honor society.“

 

 FACS Student Named Scholar of the College

     Mallory T. Scanlon, a Interior Design graduate, was named a Scholar of the College for the College of Health and Human Services at the May, 2014, WKU graduation.  Students from the FACS department have consistently earned this honor, which is a tribute to the hard work they put into their coursework and the leadership show by the FACS faculty.  This makes the 16th time in the last 12 years that a FACS student has earned this honor.

Congratulations to Beta Delta Chapter of Phi Upsilon Omicron

     Beta Delta Chapter of Phi Upsilon Omicron has been notified that they placed third         

nationally for their Professional Project: "Continuing a Literacy Legacy, as well as Caring,

Service, and Support Legacies."  The chapter has received awards from the national organization

for professional projects in 15 of the last 17 years--five of those being first place awards.

Fashion Merchandising Students Participate in "International Collage"

     Dr. Miwon Choe, Associate Professor of Art and Coordinator of the Art Education Program at WKU, collaborated with Ms. Gloria Carrico, Fashion Merchandising Part-Time Instructor, to include the FACS Basic Apparel Merchandising students' work in Dr. Choe's travels to Cuba, where she has developed a relationship with the coordinator of the Crearte project in Pinar del Rio, Cuba.  In March 2014, Dr. Choe visited classrooms and conducted workshops for Cuban educators, where she distributed the colorful pillowcases produced by the FACS students.

 

Fundraiser to Benefit Scholarship Funds

     The Phi Upsilon Omicron Alumni are selling reversible infinity scarves of red/white chevron design knit fabric with WKU on one side and your initials on the reverse side.  The cost for a scarf is $25 with all proceeds going to fund scholarships. 

     Send a check made to Phi Upsilon Omicron Alumni to Pat Russell, 1401 N. Broad St., Beaver Dam, KY  42320.  Include the initials (first, last, middle or maiden names) you would like to have on the scarf and your phone number/e-mail address for further contact.   Scarves can be picked up at Homecoming.

     Another fundraiser to benefit scholarships for FACS students will be held on Saturday, November 22 at Riverview at Hobson Grove in Bowling Green.  You are invited to dress in period costume and hear special guest, Dr. Ann Beth Presley, Auburn University Associate Professor, speak on "The Times & Dress of the Women of Downtown Abbey."  There will be two seatings that day: 10:00 a.m. - Noon OR 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.  Limited Seating will be available.  Ticket prices are $25 in advance, $30 at the door.  For ticket information contact: Martha Jenkins (270-842-0686) or Romanza Johnson (270-842-3416)  This event is sponsored by Family and Consumer Sciences Alumni group and Riverview at Hobston Grove.

Jenkins Awarded National Award

     Dr. Martha Jenkins, FACS Alumnae and Faculty Emeritus, was awarded 2014 Bachtel-Holbrook National Collegiate Advisor Award at the Phi Upsilon Omicron National Biennial Meeting in Boise, ID, on September 25-27, 2014.   Dr. Jenkins was a charter member of the Beta Delta chapter when it was established at WKU in May, 1966, and has continued to be a strong advocate for the honor society and a mentor to students ever since that time.  Shown at right are: Melissa Martin, Cindy Jones, Caitlynn Oberhausen, Aaron Armstrong, Dr. Martha Jenkins and  Dr. Ann Beth Presley.  

Interior Design Alumni Launch Design Collaboration

     Interior Design alum, Dani Harris and Kristin Wallace, are excited to announce the launch of Knot and Company, an interior design collaborative.  Knot and Company is located in Louisville, Ky. and provides Residential, Commercial, and Consulting services.  For more information, please see their website: http://www.knotandcompany.com/services  You can also find them on Pinterest at: pinterest.com/knotandcompany.

 Obituaries 

     Cynthia Lea Grise Camplin, a Nutrition and Dietetic alum, died on August 4, 2014.

     Dr. Mary Crenshaw, a Home Economics Education alum, died on October 3, 2014. Dr. Crenshaw taught at Murray State University and Indiana University.  She was the Assistant Dean while at Indiana University and retired as Dean  of the School of Home Economics at the University of Alabama.