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(10/06/06 3:40am)
Women still are the minority in the business world, but for one night, at least, they were a majority.\nA panel made up of seven of IU's most successful female graduates spoke to about 70 people -- only four of whom were men -- at the Virgil T. DeVault Alumni Center Wednesday.\nThe panel, consisting of several high-ranking women from a broad background of business careers, conveyed the general message that women can be successful in the business world despite being a minority in the field. \nPanel member Claudia Chavis, CEO of CareGivers Home Health Services, said she had no doubt she was cut out to be a businesswoman.\n"I am entrepreneur by birth," Chavis said.\nThe panelists then fielded questions from audience and committee members. One attendee asked how women should prepare for the work force.\nJanet Smith, who owns her own firm, said it is important to gain experience because women are automatically expected to outperform men. \n"You need to have as much of a background as possible and test your waters to for leadership skills," Smith said. "Also you are expected to know more than men."\nChavis however said there is nothing more important than having determination.\n"You absolutely have to have guts," she said.\nTo close the discussion, panelists were asked to give their final words of wisdom.\nCathi Crabtree, logistics division manager at NAVSEA Crane Division, said women need to approach the interview process from a correct standpoint.\n"When coming out of your interview, make sure to write down a series of questions for yourself," Crabtree said. \nAfterwards the women spent an hour talking to the students personally during a free reception. \nJunior Molly Wright, who attended the event, said she was not disappointed with what the panelists had to say.\n"I'm impressed by there experience and inspired by there passion," Wright said. "(They have taught me) you can do anything you want with your life."\nSenior Lauren Culp, who also attended the event, said she left the discussion with some newfound wisdom.\n"I was pleasantly surprised with how much knowledge they had, and they have taught me it is never too late to start over if you are unhappy," Culp said.
(10/05/06 2:39am)
Bragging doesn't always have to be a bad thing. \nThat was the topic of a talk given Tuesday night at Whittenberger Auditorium by author and communications specialist Peggy Klaus.\nSpeaking interactively in front of a crowd of about 250 people at a program titled "Bragging Rights," she talked about how to speak with enthusiasm, without alienating people or making them think you are bragging.\nEmma Cullen, the Union Board's public relations director, said the board was overjoyed to bring in such a high-profile name as the first speaker in the newly renovated Whittenberger Auditorium.\nKlaus started the event by having everyone in attendance break into pairs and describe themselves to each other in about one minute. Klaus said she was less than impressed with the results of the exercise and said most people had a communication meltdown, which is common when they get out of their comfort zone.\nAfter the activity, she explained the differences between good and bad bragging.\n"(Good bragging) is a way to talk about your accomplishments in a conversational and story-like manner," Klaus said. "You must also speak with enthusiasm and delight in a memorable manner that is woven together well."\nShe said as a little girl, her father told her never to toot her own horn; if you do a good job, people will notice you. As an adult, however, she said she has grown to realize that people have to brag if they want to get anywhere in life. This is the subject of her new book, "Brag! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It." \nShe concluded the talk by having people write what she called a "bragologue" to detail their experiences. She then had people get back into groups and again attempt to introduce themselves to each other.\nThis time she was more impressed with the results.\n"The difference was incredible," Klaus said. "People actually wanted to be here, and it was like Weight Watchers before and after." \nAfter the talk, students were very impressed with her lecture.\nFreshman Emilia Blaser said she was grateful Klaus made her experience something new. \n"She was very informative," Blaser said. "Her exercises were crazy and got me out of my comfort zone." \nJunior Kristen Elzey said she was also moved by the lecture.\n"She was excellent, and it was different from what I expected," Elzey said, "but Peggy Klaus really gets in your head"
(10/04/06 4:31pm)
Bragging does not have always have to be a bad thing. \nThat was the topic of a talk given Tuesday Night by author and communications specialist Peggy Klaus at Whittenberger Auditorium.\nSpeaking interactively in front of a crowd of about 250 people at a program titled, Bragging Rights, she talked about how to speak with enthusiasm and not alienate people into thinking you are bragging badly.\nEmma Cullen, the Union Board's public relations director, said the board was overjoyed to bring in such a high profile name to be the first speaker in the newly renovated Whittenberger Auditorium.\n"(Union Board) is grateful to have her," Cullen said. "We think she is a great speaker and are so excited that she is presenting the first event in the renovated auditorium."\nKlaus started the event by having everyone break up into pairs and describe themselves to each other in about one minute. Klaus said she was less then impressed with the results of the exercise and said most people had a communication meltdown which is common when they get out of their comfort zone.\nAfter the activity she moved on to explaining the differences between good and bad bragging. \n"(Good Bragging) is a way to talk about your accomplishments in a conversational and story-like manner," Klaus said. "You must also speak with enthusiasm and delight in a memorable manner that is woven together well."\nShe said as a little girl her father told her never to toot her own horn and if you do a good job people will notice you. As an adult however, she said she has grown to realize that people have to brag if they want to get anywhere in life. This is the subject of her new book, "Brag! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn without Blowing It." \nShe concluded the talk by having people write what she called a "Bragologue." She then had people get back into groups and again attempt to introduce themselves to each other. \nThis time she said she was more impressed with the results.\n"The difference was incredible," Klaus said. "People actually wanted to be here and it was like Weight Watchers before and after." \nAfter the talk students were very impressed with her lecture.\nFreshman Emilia Blaser said she was grateful Klaus made her experience something new. \n"She was very informative," Blaser said. "Her exercises were crazy and got me out of my comfort zone. \nJunior Kristen Elzey said she was also moved by the lecture.\n"She was excellent and it was different from what I expected, but Peggy Klaus really gets in your head," Elzey said.
(10/03/06 6:39pm)
After a lackluster day Saturday, the Hoosiers proved they were anything but.\nCompeting in the Wolverine Invitational in Ann Arbor, Mich., against a field IU coach Clint Wallman called "the toughest they have played in so far," the Hoosiers proved up to the challenge, finishing tied for fourth in the 10-team field with a score of 919\n"I am pleased (with the way we played)," Wallman said. "We did some really good things throughout this tournament and played very solid."\nLeading the way for the cream and crimson was freshman Laura Notchta who tied for seventh place. \nWallman complimented Nochta's play afterward. \n"(Laura) was very solid throughout the tournament and really carried this team," he said. \nRounding out the field for the Hoosiers were junior Elaine Harris, freshmen Kellye Belcher and Anita Gahir, and sophomore Tara Boone who placed tied for 15th, 20th, 30th and 50th, respectively.\nWinning the tournament was host Michigan with a team total of 906. Ohio State followed in second, Northwestern finished third and Michigan State took fifth. Finishing sixth through 10th were Southern Methodist University, Eastern Michigan University, Baylor University, the University of Oklahoma and the University of Toledo.\nIU returns to action Oct. 16 when it competes in the Price's New Mexico State University Collegiate Invitational in La Cruces, N.M.\nWallman said there is always room for improvement no matter who the Hoosiers play or how well they do.\n"We have played with NCAA finalists who are better than us," Wallman said. "However, we need to get better around the greens and shoot our 100-yard shots better"
(10/03/06 6:39pm)
Unlike most other IU sports, women's golf does not have a true Big Ten season. \nHowever, that does not mean the Hoosiers do not look forward to the tournaments with conference teams hosted at Big Ten schools. \nIU women's golf coach Clint Wallman said he recognizes the importance of winning Big Ten games.\n"Any tournament featuring a Big Ten (team) is more important because it affects how you are seeded in the postseason," Wallman said.\nIU opened its Big Ten season on a successful note, defeating the field in the Lady Badger tournament in Madison, Wis. The Hoosiers also played in the Lady Northern Tournament at Michigan State. The team will play in the Wolverine Invitational at Michigan on Sept. 30 and host the Indiana Invitational in April. IU will then close out the season playing at Ohio State in the Lady Buckeye Tournament.\nJunior Gennifer Marrs said she is excited about meeting traditional Big Ten rivals.\n"It is good to play Big Ten teams," Marrs said. "I am definitely very excited about the (Big Ten) tournaments more so than the other ones."\nStill, Wallman said that while conference wins are important, he takes every game seriously.\n"I take every game with a one-tournament-at-a-time approach and think each one is as important as the other," he said.\nIU placed fourth, sixth and 12th in last year's Big Ten tournaments. However, this is Wallman's first recruiting class since becoming IU's coach, and he has much higher hopes for this year.\nMarrs said the fact that the Big Ten tournaments are closer to home makes no difference to her.\n"Distance doesn't matter," she said. "Since we drive to the Big Ten tournaments and fly to the further ones, it ends up being the same distance anyway. Preparations for all tournaments are also similar, so it is not a big impact either way." \nWallman said his team has the potential to win a lot of tournaments this season.\n"I think we have a great team this year that combines youth and experience, and I think we are destined for big things," he said.
(09/29/06 4:13am)
From personal success to team success, the Hoosiers have enjoyed a great campaign so far this season.\nThis weekend the IU women's golf team puts it all on the line when it competes in what IU coach Clint Wallman calls "the toughest challenge" of the season in the Wolverine Invitational. The tournament gets underway at 9 a.m. Saturday with two rounds of golf followed by a single round at 9 a.m. Sunday. Live stats will be available all weekend through golfstat.com for those wishing to keep up with the Hoosiers. \nDespite the challenges his team faces in this weekend's tournament, IU Coach Clint Wallman is confident the Hoosiers will meet them.\n"We always have a good shot at winning, but (there are) some very good teams that are competing in this tournament, and it is by far the toughest challenge we have faced thus far," Wallman said. "However, if we play well we will be in the mix and have a good shot to win."\nThe "very good teams" joining the Hoosiers in the tournament are Big Ten powers Michigan State, Ohio State and host Michigan, as well as Baylor University, Eastern Michigan University, the University of Oklahoma, Southern Methodist University and the University of Toledo.\nIU has competed in two tournaments so far. It opened the season at the Badger Invitational in Madison, Wisc., and posted the Hoosiers' first win in four years at the event. The cream and crimson followed that up with a seventh-place finish at the Lady Northern Invitational in East Lansing, Mich. This tournament also saw the coming out party of IU freshman Kellye Belcher, who placed a career-high second.\nCompeting in this week's tournament for IU will be Belcher, fellow freshmen Anita Gahir and Laura Nochta, sophomore Tara Boone and junior Elaine Harris.\nWhile the other four players have competed in IU's first two tournaments, Boone will be making her season debut this weekend after competing in five tournaments last year.\n"I am very excited about this weekend," Boone said. "I am not in the least bit nervous and am thrilled to finally represent Indiana in a tournament this year."\nAfter placing 10th and 28th in the first two tournaments this year, Nochta is very confident this course will suit her abilities perfectly.\n"This course fits well for my game, and I have practiced hard and am ready to go," she said.\nWallman looks to take the mistakes IU learned from two weekends ago and apply them to this weekend. \n"I think our previous tournaments can be used as a guide for this one," he said. "If we putt better than (we did) at Michigan State we will be in great shape and ready to go"
(09/25/06 9:26pm)
Three freshmen from different backgrounds but with a common talent have helped lead the women's golf team this year.\nIU coach Clint Wallman said he feels he has performed a major coup by recruiting the three. \n"We have arguably the most talented freshman class in the country," Wallman said.\nFreshmen Kellye Belcher, Anita Gahir and Laura Nochta had a successful start to their careers at IU. At the Lady Badger Tournament on Sept. 10 and 11 in Madison, Wis., -- in their first tournament -- all three placed in the top 12, helping IU to its first tournament win in four years.\nAll three have been playing golf since a young age and say they have enjoyed their time at IU so far.\nBelcher has been playing golf since she was 8 years old and hails from Memphis, Tenn. \nShe said that while she misses living in a big city, she's enjoying life in Bloomington. \n"IU is exactly the kind of school that I wanted," Belcher said. "It is a small school, and the college is the town, which is a great change from home". \nBelcher credits her coach as the deciding factor in her choice to come to IU. \n"I really like coach Wallman, and he is the reason I am here now," she said.\nGahir, from Toronto, had not lived in the United States before coming to IU. However, because she has been playing in golf tournaments since she was 6 years old, she has been over the border many times.\nGahir said IU was the best fit for her and she has enjoyed her time here so far.\n"I love it here," she said. "It has been a great couple of weeks so far, and coach Wallman is great."\nNochta, the third of IU's freshman trio, is a Midwest native from Courtland, Ohio.\n"I am from a small town, and I grew up playing sports most of my life," Nochta said.\nNochta said the change of going to college has been very minimal for her as her hometown is very similar to Indiana.\n"IU reminds me of home," she said. "I have had a great time here, and the learning experience has been great"
(09/18/06 3:39am)
IU's youngsters continue to impress and exceed expectations in their inaugural season.\nAll three of the IU women's golf team's freshmen once again proved their worth by taking three out of IU's top four spots at this weekend's Lady Northern Tournament in East Lansing, Mich. \nLeading the talented young pack was freshman Kellye Belcher who finished in second place with a score of 219.\n"I played really well this weekend," Belcher said. "My short game really saved me, and as a result I did well in the tournament."\nIU coach Clint Wallman said he was also extremely happy with Belcher's game.\n"Kellye's play was really good," he said. "She had an excellent putter and proved she could play at a Big Ten level." \nWallman was pleased with the effort of his team despite the drop off from last week. \n"Overall, I felt pretty good," Wallman said. "We had some really great things happen, and overall I was pleased with most of what we did."\nIU placed seventh as a team with a score of 920, while host Michigan State won, scoring 889 points. Rounding out the top five were Northwestern, Ohio State, Michigan and Kent Sate University. \nJunior Elaine Harris, who finished in a career-best third place in IU's win last week, finished tied for 28th with fellow team member freshman Laura Nochta.\n"Our team played well," Harris said. "We left some shots short, but we played alright overall."\nAlso competing in the tournament were freshman Anita Gahir, sophomore Amber Lindgren and junior Kendal Hake, placing tied for 37th, 70th and 74th respectively. \nIU is off until Sept. 30 when it plays in the Wolverine Invitational in Ann Arbor, Mich.\nWallman said he will use the off week to improve this weekend's play.\n"Michigan's golf course is very similar to this one, so we will be able to take the next two weeks to build off the positives and learn from the negatives," he said.
(09/12/06 3:52am)
Behind a balanced attack that saw the cream and crimson at the top of the charts, IU won its first tournament since the 2002 Wolverine Invitational.\nThe Hoosiers scored a 922 over three days at the Badger Invitational, beating out host Wisconsin, which scored 10 shots worse at 932. Rounding out the top five were the University of Nebraska and the University of Oklahoma, which finished tied for third, and the University of Louisville in fifth.\nIU's players were ready for the big stage as junior Elaine Harris finished third among the tournament's 66 active players with a three-day score of 226.\n"I am very excited," Harris said. "We are a good team, and I have more confidence in my fellow players now."\nAside from Harris, the Hoosiers placed three other players in the top 12. Freshmen Kellye Belcher, Laura Nochta and Anita Gahir finished tied for sixth, 10th and 12th respectively. Also competing was sophomore Amber Lindgren, who finished 61st.\nGahir said she was overjoyed to be part of this victory.\n"I feel really, really good right now," she said. "I am so excited to just be a part of this." \nIU coach Clint Wallman predicted a tournament win sometime this year but said he was glad it came sooner rather than later.\n"You never expect to win a tournament," Wallman said. "I felt, however, if we played well, it gave us a good opportunity to be in the hunt."\nThe Hoosiers will only get a short time to celebrate the victory as they head to Michigan State for the Lady Northern Invitational on Saturday and Sunday.\nWallman said IU's showing in Madison gives the team an opportunity to build for next weekend's tournament.\n"(This win) gives us momentum for Michigan State, and we now feel good about ourselves for next week, as well as the rest of the season," he said.
(09/08/06 4:22am)
The approaching of autumn and cooler temperatures means one thing for a particular group of athletes: the IU women's golf season is about to begin.\nSunday, the Hoosiers open their season at the Badger Invitational at University Ridge Golf Course in Madison, Wis.\nIU coach Clint Wallman is anxious to get the season started and thinks the team's play is coming together well.\n"I am very excited for this weekend's tournament," Wallman said. "We had a great practice this week, our team chemistry is great and I am so excited to finally play our first tournament this weekend."\nWallman also thinks IU may be the class of the field this weekend.\n"If we play well and hit our specific targets we will be in the hunt (to win the tournament)," he said.\nIU sophomore Amber Lindgren concurred with Wallman that the Hoosiers have as good of a chance as any team to outlast everyone this weekend.\n"Anyone can win on any day, and if we do our best we definitely have a chance," said Lindgren.\nThe event this weekend consists of two 18-hole rounds Sunday and one 18-hole round Monday. The tournament Sunday starts at 9 a.m., and Monday's start time is 9:30 a.m.\nThe teams competing in this weekend's tournament against IU are the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Illinois State University, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, the University of Louisville, the University of Memphis, the University of Minnesota, the University of Nebraska, the University of Oklahoma and the University of Wisconsin. \nDespite golf being the main focus this weekend, IU junior Elaine Harris is excited about other things as well.\n"Our parents will be there to cheer us on, and we also have a huge banquet dinner I am looking forward to," she said.\nFor those wishing to follow the Hoosiers in this weekend's tournament, live scoring is available through golfstat.com.\nAlthough winning this weekend's tournament is the ultimate goal, Wallman thinks the Hoosiers can learn a lot from this weekend.\n"This tournament will be a real barometer for what we need to work on to be successful," he said, "and will show how our players approach game action"
(09/05/06 4:42am)
Being positive and excited about an upcoming season never hurts, especially if you genuinely believe it.\nThat is how IU coach Clint Wallman feels about the upcoming women's golf season. \n"I am very excited and so optimistic about the upcoming campaign," Wallman said. "Our team has a great blend of youth and experience and a group of players who could compete in anything."\nIU will compete in 10 regular season tournaments between Saturday and April 22, taking only a three-month break in the winter when the weather is too cold and golf courses are frozen. \nWallman said that while all of the matches are important, the upcoming season opener is the most crucial.\n"The first (tournament) is the (most important)," he said. "You can't look past anything, and we need to focus on this weekend first and foremost."\nWhile golf is important, some players like freshman Anita Gahir know that other things require just as much attention.\n"(One of my main goals) is to keep my grade point average up and still do well in the tournaments," Gahir said.\nFellow freshman Kellye Belcher echoed that statement.\n"Keeping my grades up is one of my main goals," said Belcher.\nEven though the team members are focused on academics, that does not mean golf is not on their minds.\n"I want to qualify for every tournament," said freshmen Laura Nochta, referring to the fact that only five out of IU's nine players participate in the matches.\nAlthough playing on a home golf course gives the team an advantage, IU will play no tournaments at home, Wallman said. However, the prospect of playing on the road does not faze junior Elaine Harris, who said road games are a good way to get to know people.\n"It is a lucky thing we play on the road all the time because we get to bond and know our teammates better," she said.\nDespite the closeness of the team, Harris recognizes that golf is an individual sport, and it is still every person for herself. But the players also want to see their teammates perform well.\n"I want to do well myself and succeed most of all, even though we still cheer each other on," Harris said. \nSenior Jenny Kim said she wants to see the team succeed in her last year after achieving only mediocre results in her first three.\n"We want to improve on last season and qualify for postseason play, finally," Kim said.\nIU kicks off its season this weekend in Madison, Wis., where it will compete in the Lady Badger Tournament Sunday and Monday.\nWallman said practice is very important, and he will have his team ready for each and every tournament.\n"We structure and prepare specifically for the course we will play on. We feel are ready to go this season," he said.
(09/01/06 2:57pm)
More than 400 people showed up to Arts of the Table, a two-day event to raise money for Jill's House. Jill's House, much like Ronald McDonald's house, is a place for adults to stay while their children receive care at the IU Cyclotron Facility, where patients seek radiotherapy treatment for cancer. The house is named after the late Jill Behrman, an IU student who was killed after disappearing May 31, 2000, while riding her bike. \nThe event was sponsored by Psi Iota Xi sorority, an organization of adult women that raises money for good causes, and featured 28 different groups who paid $100 to decorate tables. Monday night's attendees voted on which tables were the best decorated and the awards were given at the luncheon Tuesday.\nMonday night's festivities included a $30-per-ticket hors d'oeuvres party, featuring live music by the Stardusters, as well as appearances by former County Treasurer Pat Jeffries and the parents of Jill Behrman. Eric Behrman, Jill's father, thanked everyone for their support and said Jill's House is a way of thanking the Bloomington community for their support. "Jill's House is our way of giving back to the community," Behrman said. "We are very honored to have (the facility) named after Jill. Since people helped us when we needed it, this is our way of helping other people." \nEvent chair Christine Carlin thought the event went off according to plan.\n"I am very happy with how this event went and I want to thank everyone here for there help and support," she said. \nThe next day, people returned to eagerly await the awards ceremony, during which eight awards were given to different organizations for their table designs. The tables were all different colors and had different themes. \nBest use of non-flannel design went to Bloomin' Scrapbooks, while the Monroe County YMCA won best theme. Best flowers went to O'Malia's supermarket, and most whimsical went to Home Sweet Home. Meadowood Retirement Center also picked up its award winning most ornamental.\nEvent-goer Mary Anne Jones said it was one of the best events she has ever been to.\n"It was elegant, lovely and creative all at the same time," Jones said.
(09/01/06 2:55pm)
The Indiana men's track and field team earned its best finish in 13 years in 15th place at the 2006 NCAA Track and Field Championships.\nThe Hoosiers garnered 15 points overall while Florida State won the championship with 67 points. \nLeading the Hoosiers was All-American junior David Neville whose third-place time of 44.94 seconds in the 400-meter run was a career best.\nSophomore Kyle Jenkins posted a career high fourth finish in the triple jump with a jump of 16.19 meters, which earned him his first All-American honor of his career. \nPlacing in the top five with a time of 3:04.81 was the Hoosiers 4x400 relay team comprised of Neville, sophomores Doug Dayhoff and Ryan Smith and junior Treymane Warfield. \nThe other Hoosier competing in the championships was red shirt senior Will Fleming, who placed 11th in the hammer throw with a throw of 62.94 meters. \nSeniors Ryan Ketchum and Stephen Haas placed in the preliminaries but were unsuccessful in making the finals. Ketchum placed 20th in the shot-put and Haas produced a 15th-place finish in the 1,500 in 14:28.18.\nAll-American senior John Jefferson placed in the semifinals with a 14th in the 1,500. Leading the Lady Hoosiers was senior Kelly Siefker, whose 9th-place finish in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 10 minutes, 11.73 seconds, earned her an All-American honor.\n"It was absolutely amazing" Siefker said. "I never felt so honored to be a Hoosier."\nRed shirt junior Jessica Gall placed 11th in the 10,000 in 34:21.87, and senior Larra Overton placed a personal best 15th in the 1,500 of the semifinals in 4:22.03.\n"I was definitely pleased with my results," Overton said. "I ran the best 1,500 meters of my career."\nRunning in the preliminaries but not making the finals was senior Ara Towns, who placed 27th in the 100-meter dash. \nOverall, the IU women did not place in the meet. Auburn won the women's event with 57 points.
(09/01/06 2:54pm)
Paying for college just got a little easier for several incoming IU students.\nSixty students recently received IU's 2006 Hoosier Presidential Scholarship and will have anywhere between $6,000 and $12,000 of their college costs covered annually. These students will also receive a free laptop computer and an additional $1,000 to go toward studying abroad beginning their junior year.\n"These exceptional Hoosier Presidential Scholars are Indiana's future business and civic leaders," IU President Adam Herbert, who started the scholarship program, said in a statement.\nThe scholarship, which is funded through a $10 million grant from the Lilly Foundation, aims to keep people in Indiana longer.\nOf the 60 winners, 45 will attend IU-Bloomington, while nine will enroll at IU-Purdue University Indianapolis and two will go to IU South Bend. There will also be one recipient selected to four of IU's other regional campuses. Freshman and Presidential Scholarship winner Andrea Coulis, who will attend IUB, said receiving this honor makes her feel overjoyed. She said she hopes she can use it to form connections with people like herself.\n"Becoming a Presidential Scholar has been tremendously exciting," Coulis said. "With this scholarship not only do I have the honor of recognition by the president of the University, but I also have the opportunity to meet several new friends and classmates with so much in common with me."\nScholarship winner Rainelle Bumbaugh, who will also attend IUB, said she is happy to be recognized for her hard work.\n"It feels very gratifying to be a Presidential Scholar," said Bumbaugh. "I worked so hard in high school, and managed to catch the eye of some influential people, and luckily one of them decided that I merited this scholarship and nominated me as a candidate."\nUnlike many of IU's other scholarships, a student must be from Indiana to be selected for the award. It is also preferred that the scholars be National Merit Scholarship qualifiers. \nHigh school students who are interested in and eligible for next year's award should submit their enrollment application to IU by this fall. Winners will be announced by January. \nFreshman Nicholas Cline said he was caught off guard when he was told he won the scholarship because he did not expect to be selected when he applied during his senior year of high school.\n"I never presumed to think I deserved something as prestigious as the Presidential Scholars program seems to be," he said, "but I was admitted and awarded nonetheless.
(08/06/06 11:54pm)
Driving around Bloomington you will see flags and banners on cars signaling a devotion to NASCAR. Like fans of other sports, NASCAR fans tend to be very committed and pledge allegiance to their driver. \nMatt Kovacinski, a recent IU grad, summed up the devotion of NASCAR fans like himself.\n"(NASCAR) is lots of fun and watching the cars going around full speed creates drama unfelt otherwise," Kovacinski said. \nJay Santa, another NASCAR fan who spent his evening at Macri's Deli watching NASCAR's Busch Race, had a similar view on the excitement that comes with NASCAR.\n"The driving and the need for speed create a reason to watch it," Santa said.\nIn terms of the devotion of NASCAR fans, Santa and Kovacinski had different views on what makes the sport popular. \nKovacinski felt it was a connection fans feel to the drivers.\n"Fans get behind the drivers and feel a connection to them," he said.\nSanta, however, felt it was NASCAR's "if you build it they will come" method that makes the sport so popular.\n"(The main reason) fans are so fired up about NASCAR is because the sport markets itself so well," he said.\nNASCAR was founded by William France Sr. and ran as a small, family-owned sport for many years. \nHowever, since Brian France took over as the new CEO of NASCAR in 2003, the sport has expanded greatly in its development as a corporate business.\nSome fans like Kovacinski feel this is a good thing. \n"Everyone makes a lot of money so it is good for the evolution of the sport," he said.\nSanta disagrees. He said the business side of NASCAR is tainting what some refer to as the most popular form of motorsports in the United States.\n"I hate the business approach NASCAR has taken and feel it is ruining the sport," he said.\nNo matter how people may feel about NASCAR, fans still flock to the races in bunches as is evident by the quarter of a million devout fans that attended the Brickyard 400 Sunday.
(07/17/06 3:03am)
IU women's basketball player Leah Enterline will put everything on the line and enter the 2006 Big Ten Women's Basketball Foreign Tour squad this summer. The tour, which starts today and runs through July 28, consists of four games in 11 days in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. \nEnterline, who will be entering her senior year at IU, said she is excited about the upcoming experience. \n"This (tournament) is an awesome opportunity, and I just hope to have a good time," she said. \nEnterline, a co-captain on next year's team, also hopes these games could help her become a team member other players look up to.\n"The opportunity (to play on the Foreign Tour squad) and get more experience will hopefully help me (become a team leader)," she said. \nEnterline played a role in IU's success last year as she finished fifth on the team in assists and was a major factor in IU's win over Michigan in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, collecting a career-high of three steals.\nJoining Enterline on the Foreign Tour squad will be Purdue's Katie Gearlds, Illinois' Lori Bjork and Erin McCarthy, Iowa's Megan Skouby, Michigan's Stephany Skrba, Michigan State's Rene Haynes, Minnesota's Leslie Knight, Northwestern's A.J. Glasauer, Ohio State's Tamarah Riley, Penn State's Brianne O'Rourke and Wisconsin's Danielle Ward. \nNew IU basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack said she could not be more proud of Enterline for making the team.\n"This is a great experience for Leah," Legette-Jack said. "It will be a good opportunity for her to get better, and it is always great for someone to be able to represent our country and the Big Ten like this." \nEnterline said the best part of the tournament for her will be doing what she loves most in an international environment.\n"I have never been overseas before and I am just looking forward to being able to go to another country and play basketball," she said.
(07/03/06 1:33am)
After coming to IU with many accolades, IU swimmer Leila Vaziri is now achieving greatness and competing at a level beyond her wildest dreams. \nVaziri has had a couple of earth shaking moments in a busy couple of months. First came the Eric Namesnik Grand Prix in Ann Arbor, Mich., where she stunned the world by beating Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Natalie Coughlin in the 100 LCM backstroke title. Just three weeks later she defended her title against famous Olympian swimmer Katie Hoff. \nVaziri has been swimming since a young age but this was by far the best moment in her career.\n"(These last two) races have given me a shot at glory and changed my life," Vaziri said.\nVaziri's swimming career started on a high note. In high school she won three state championships and made four national cuts. Vaziri then came to IU and as a freshman placed as high as third in the 100-meter backstroke. Other highlights her freshman year included competing at the Olympic trials and winning All-American honors in four different relays. \nHer sophomore year was highlighted by winning the CollegeSwimming.com National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week award on January 24. She also received Big Ten Swimmer of the Week for February 1 and won the 100-meter backstroke title at the Big Ten Championships, as well as five All-American Awards at the NCAAs. \nShe continued to improve her junior year as she won Big Ten Swimmer of the Week once more. She also scored IU's season best times in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke and won 22 event titles before achieving her previously mentioned victories over Olympic competitors.\nIU Swimming Coach Ray Looze credits Vaziri's unheralded success to several different factors.\n"(Her success) has been a collaborative effort," said Looze. "She has worked well with our coaching staff and (assistant) Coach (Mike) Westphal has really helped her achieve success." \nVaziri's recent performance has also inspired her to try out for the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.\n"As a result of (these recent races) I will try to qualify for the Olympics," Vaziri said. "It is hard to qualify for the Olympic team but I will certainly try my hardest."\nVaziri, though, was quick to point out she will not be down if she misses out on the Olympics.\n"Swimming is about the journey, and I will not stress out if I don't do well," she said. \nSwimming captain and fellow teammate Susanna Ernst said she couldn't be happier for Vaziri and noted it has inspired her to try to swim better herself.\n"I am so excited for her and (the swimming team) has always known she had it in her to do well," said Ernst. "She also inspires me to do well since we are training partners."\nVaziri said she thinks her success is just beginning and the next couple years will bring great things for her.\n"You can never tell (how well you are going to do) but I feel in great shape and am mentally focused and can't wait to see what happens next," she said.
(06/21/06 10:55pm)
The IU women's soccer team hosted its second session of summer camp for girls ages 8-18 to help develop their skills. The camp took place at Armstrong Stadium, and the girls at the camp got the full camping experience as they stayed in Briscoe Quad away from home. \nIU women's soccer head coach Mick Lyon, who is entering his fourth season as IU's head coach, said the camp is a great opportunity for young soccer enthusiasts to enjoy the game.\n"This camp is a multifaceted opportunity for girls to play soccer," Lyon said. "It exposes them to good coaching and shows them what it takes to be a good soccer player."\nThe philosophy of the camp is to develop young girls as total soccer players and make sure no part of the game is skipped, according to the camp brochure on iuhoosiers.com. Present at the camp were current players on the IU soccer team, recruiting scouts and the entire IU coaching staff.\nLyon also said the camp is not just for fun as he may have his eyes on recruiting some of the girls at the camp for the future.\n"We are tracking some of the high school kids here to see if we want them to play soccer here at IU," he said. "We have some of the most talented girls from all over the country here at this camp." \nHolli Finneren, who plays college soccer at Georgia Southern University, is helping with the camp and said she was glad to see the girls get this opportunity.\n"It is a fun time for young girls to play soccer," Finneren said. "Being at this camp gives me a different outlook on soccer in general."\nEach day, the girls started their full schedule with a big breakfast to supply them with energy for the day's grueling activities. \nAfter breakfast, they had morning practice before re-energizing themselves with lunch. Then came an intense session in the afternoon in which all the girls practiced drills and played each other in a heated game that featured running up and down the full length field (74-by-117 yards) at Armstrong Stadium. Afterwards the girls cooled off with dinner and free time before going to bed.\nTwelve-year-old Hannah Toutkoushian, who is attending the camp from Bloomington, said she really enjoys soccer and wants to do more of it in the future.\n"I love soccer very much," Toutkoushian said. "I have played on the state's Olympic Development Team and want to do a lot more soccer in the future." \nLyon also said that after the camp he is looking forward to this upcoming soccer season when his current counselors become his players once again.\n"I am very excited and think we will have a fantastic season as this is the first year all of the recruits are from this coaching staff," he said.
(06/15/06 12:06am)
The Children's Organ Transplant Center got a major boost financially as the 7th annual George Taliaferro Open was held Monday at Eagle Pointe Country Club.\nTaliaferro, who is a former legendary IU football and professor, will receive the rarely awarded Distinguished Alumni Award this Saturday. \nIn terms of the tournament itself, Taliaferro said he was humbled by the tournament being named after him but said he was not the reason it took place.\n"It is an incredible idea to have this open," Taliaferro said. "However (this tournament) was not my idea so I don't deserve the credit." \nThe Open was organized by COTA President Rick Lofgren, who said it was a wonderful experience to be part of such a charitable cause.\n"It is a great event," Lofgren said. "We should have about 120 golfers and raise 70,000 dollars for kids who need organ transplants."\nThe main event was golf on the Eagle Pointe course, and participants donned shirts specially provided for the event. The event also included a raffle and a boxed lunch for the golfers who were guests of the sponsors. \nThe primary sponsor of the event was Comprehensive Financial Consultants Institutional. CFCI President David Hays was one of the golfers at the event.\n"It's an honor to be part of this event because COTA's mission allows children to receive organs regardless of their financial situation," Hays said. "Any day playing golf is good, but I am not an avid golfer so this is great to play today." \nIn terms of being a sponsor, Hays said he did not want people making a big deal of it.\n"It is a humbling experience," he said. "People make a big deal (out of me being a sponsor), but it is a minor thing really."\nOther secondary sponsors for the event were David and Bonnie Hilliard, Cook Group Incorporated, Hirons and Company and Chrysler Town and Country Dealers. \nThe event has raised $420,000 in its seven years of existence and will continue again next year.\nTaliaferro also said despite not having a major role in the event he still felt connected to the cause.\n"The whole idea of giving back to the community is why it is so great to be associated with this event; even though my family has fortunately never needed a transplant," he said.
(06/08/06 12:09am)
After months of waiting, LongHorn Steakhouse has opened its doors to customers at the College Mall on what was formally a parking lot near Dick's Sporting Goods. \nLongHorn, which has 240 franchises in 21 states plus Puerto Rico, opened its newest location on College Mall Road in Bloomington on Tuesday after years of searching for a prime location in the area. \nThe restaurant is open every day for lunch and dinner, and Manager Susan Previs, an IU grad, is very happy to be joining up with the restauarant chain.\n"I have waited 14 years for there to be a LongHorn in Bloomington," Previs said. "As an IU grad I am very glad to be part of the (LongHorn) company." \nThe restaurant specializes in steaks but has other entrees including fish, chicken and ribs. Previs was especially proud of the meat served there as well as the service.\n"We have legendary steaks," she said. "I am also very proud of our staff, though, as we have carefully selected 70 of the best individuals from a job fair of 600."\nMall Manager Dena Marietta concurred with Previs and thinks LongHorn will add a wonderful dimension to the facility.\n"This is a great addition to the mall," Marietta said. "(LongHorn) will give people more reason to come to the mall, especially on Friday and Saturday nights."\nPatrick Walker, a mall patron who will be starting at IU this fall, said it would make his shopping experience more enjoyable.\n"It will definitely improve the variety at the mall, and I plan on eating there frequently," Walker said in an April 13 IDS article. \nPrices of the steaks range from $10.99 for a Chop Steak to $19.49 for a Texas T-Bone. Most steaks are in the $15 range while other entrees average around $10-15. \nWith so many other restaurants in the area Previs has a plan to bring people to LongHorn.\n"We do great community involvement and when people enjoy the restaurant they will tell their friends through word of mouth," she said.