• College classes coming to Ben Davis
• New VU Fair Pavilion is dedicated
• Time to Register For Your Emergency-Text Alert Subscription
• Walnut Grove historical park dedication is August 21
• David Ragland exiting from Trailblazers for ISU assistant coaching position
• VU Health Watch Wednesday Continues

College classes coming to Ben Davis

July 22, 2010


VINCENNES, IND. – The public is invited to enroll in college classes that will begin Aug. 30 at Ben Davis University High School in Indianapolis.

In collaboration with Ben Davis, Vincennes University is providing a new program called “Education 4 Every Generation.”  Whether age 18 or 80, this program is designed to provide a starting place for those interested in getting a college degree.

VU will offer introductory classes in English, math, computers, philosophy and speech.  Classes will be scheduled from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. one evening each week at Ben Davis University High School, 1155 S. High School Road, Indianapolis.

To register for classes or to receive more information about the Education 4 Every Generation program, interested persons may call 812-888-5284 or email education4everygeneration@vinu.edu.

VINCENNES UNIVERSITY - Indiana’s First College

VU is state-supported with campuses in Vincennes and Jasper and additional sites such as the Indianapolis International Airport.  VU also offers instruction at military sites throughout the nation.

In addition to offering 200 associate degree and certificate programs, VU also offers bachelor’s degree programs in technology, homeland security, nursing, secondary education programs in mathematics and, science, and special education/elementary education.

VU enrolls students from throughout Indiana, 24 other states, and 26 countries.  Tuition and fees are the lowest among Indiana campuses with residence halls.  VU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Founded in 1801, VU is Indiana’s first college and is the only college in the nation founded by an individual who would later become President of the United States.  William Henry Harrison, the ninth U.S. President, founded VU while serving as governor of the Indiana Territory.  More information is available at www.vinu.edu.

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New VU Fair Pavilion is dedicated

July 20, 2010


VINCENNES, IND. – Citing its newest facility as an example of a community coming together to make progress, Terry Hoke, president of the Knox County Fair Board, welcomed the addition of the Vincennes University Fair Pavilion to the fairgrounds on July 19.

“This building is a testament to what leadership, vision, and community support can achieve,” Hoke told a large audience during the Pavilion’s dedication ceremony. “On behalf of the Knox County Fair Board and Purdue Extension Office, we thank Vincennes University for your vision and support.”

Soon after the dedication, the new 3,520 square-foot pavilion was home to the Knox County Fair Queen Pageant and an evening concert, the first of a variety of events planned for the VU Fair Pavilion during the Knox County Fair. The Pavilion was a collaborative project between VU and the Knox County Fair Board.

In addition to Hoke, VU President Dick Helton spoke at the dedication. Miss VU Katie Donnar opened the ceremony by singing the National Anthem.

“We extend long usage of this facility to the citizens of Knox County and the Fair,” Helton said. “It will provide excellent opportunities for young people and adults alike.”

Citing the partnership between “Indiana’s first college and Indiana’s first county fair,” Helton said that VU is pleased to be part of Knox County and “wishes you much success in this facility.”

Looking to the future, Hoke said the VU Fair Pavilion means that more events are likely to come to the fairgrounds. “It allows us to bring local entertainment in and it also allows us to bring large groups in if we can find local supporters. It allows us to have community events here. It is just a big benefit in more ways than one to have this facility here,” Hoke said.

Both Hoke and Helton thanked local sponsors who supported the Pavilion’s construction. “Vincennes University and its employees and staff have been priceless in helping us build this facility,” Hoke said.

In addition to VU and the Knox County Fair Board, sponsors who contributed to the project include Jones & Son, Inc., Lemon Concrete, Nature by Design, Old National Bank, Homes Plumbing/O’Donnell Supply, Wabash Utilities, Ford Sawmills, Commercial Construction Enterprises, Valley Electric, Jones Builders, Mangin Engineering, and Keith Bosecker Masonry.

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Time to Register For Your Emergency-Text Alert Subscription

Beginning Wednesday, July 28, 2010, new subscriptions and renewals will be accepted for the Emergency-Text Alert System. There is no charge to subscribe to the service and subscriptions are good  for one academic year. (Texting fees may apply based on your carrier plan).  Subscriptions may be cancelled at anytime.

If you were previously enrolled in the E-Text Program, you will need to sign up again.

• To enroll, visit your MyVU account and follow the E-Text enrollment instructions.  
• Only one cell phone per account may be registered.

About E-Text
The VU Emergency-Text Alert System system is one part of a multifaceted communication plan to keep the VU community safe and informed in the event of an emergency. The E-Text alert system is available to students, employees, and members of the VU community who have a MyVU computer web account.  Text messages will include occasional test messages, emergency notifications including weather related information, and class cancellations or delays.

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Walnut Grove historical park dedication is August 21

VINCENNES, Ind. – A bicentennial commemoration of the fateful 1810-11 meetings between Tecumseh and William Henry Harrison in Vincennes will be held on August 21 at Grouseland, Harrison’s presidential home and territorial governor’s mansion.

The Vincennes events will include the dedication of Grouseland’s new commemorative historical park, “Walnut Grove,” at 1:00 p.m. (EDT) and the accompanying “1810 Camp Fire Council at the Grove,” a family-oriented living history experience that will run from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.  Both events are free and open to the public.

Grouseland is located at the corner of First and Scott streets, adjacent to the Wabash River, VU campus, and the Vincennes State Historic Sites.

Walnut Grove is a small park area that was given to Grouseland through the generosity of VU to commemorate the bicentennial of the meetings between Shawnee leader Tecumseh, and then-territorial governor William Henry Harrison, beginning in August 1810.  The two leaders met again a year later, which ultimately led to the Battle of Tippecanoe, an important precursor to the War of 1812 and a defining moment in the westward expansion of the United States.

The park area is being landscaped with walnut trees and native plant and grass species from Landscapes by Dallas Foster.  In addition to adding much needed green space, Walnut Grove also provides Grouseland with a focal point from which to tell the story of Indiana’s development from a Native American perspective.

The dedication ceremony and “Council at the Grove” educational event will include an encampment of Native American, pioneer, and soldier re-enactors, period music, storytelling, and cultural demonstrations of life in the Indiana Territory.

“We have invited Native American groups, dignitaries, and other historical re-enactors who will be participating in our dedication festivities.  Our mission is to objectively preserve and teach all facets of our history, maintaining mutual respect for the diversity of cultures.  It is our sincere hope that we can promote greater awareness and study of our common history so that we can continue to grow as a community of peace and learn from the lessons that history teaches us.” said Daniel Sarell, executive director of the Grouseland Foundation.

Sarell said the dedication ceremony will include a dramatic reenactment and recitation of Harrison’s and Tecumseh’s famous speeches as well as a fife and drum corps from Illinois.  The evening camp fire event will feature music and stories from that time period, as well as an opportunity to visit with the re-enactors.  The cultural demonstrations will include a Native American trading tent and family household.

“A lot of people in Indiana and Illinois outside of the immediate Vincennes area don’t even know about Grouseland, which is one of only three presidential sites in Indiana.  Grouseland is a beautiful and unique brick home dating to 1804.  And it is a National Historic Landmark, where so much of our early Midwestern history took place.  We hope that Walnut Grove will encourage people to discover for the first time, or rediscover Grouseland and all of historic Vincennes,” Sarell said.

As the home of the territorial governor, Grouseland played a significant role in the governance of the vast Indiana Territory that once included all of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and parts of Minnesota.

“The scheduling of the events over the course of a whole day is designed to encourage families and visitors to really explore the many treasures in Vincennes, including Grouseland, the territorial capitol, George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, Red Skelton Performing Arts Center, Old Cathedral, Indiana Military Museum, our wonderful Main Street architectural tour, and so much more,” Sarell said.

The events are co-sponsored by VU and the Vincennes State Historic Sites and are part of the Vincennes War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission.  The commission’s theme is “Harrison and Tecumseh: Final Decision in the Old Northwest.”

###

All inquiries, including requests for interviews, should be directed to:

Daniel Sarell, Executive Director
Grouseland Foundation
Grouseland@sbcglobal.net
812-882-2096

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David Ragland exiting from Trailblazers for ISU assistant coaching position

Vincennes Trailblazers Coach David Ragland has been chosen to complete newly-hired Indiana State Coach Greg Lansing’s basketball staff.
 
Ragland submitted his official notice of resignation to VU on Tuesday. Assistant Provost for Student Affairs Lynn White said the university will advertise nationally for candidates to fill the coaching slot.
 
Ragland will wrap up his duties with the Trailblazers, effective Friday. He joins an ISU coaching staff that includes Associate Head Coach Lou Gudino and Assistant Coach Deryl Cunningham.
 
“I’m obviously really looking forward to it,” Ragland said. “It’s a true opportunity to learn and even be humbled as a coach. You feel a lot of times like you’re ready for the next stage in life and your career but you never fully know until you take that step.
 
“Here at VU we try to run things with as much class as possible – as much like a Division I program as it can be, actually – but I realize there will be a learning curve for me,” he added. “I’m really excited, though. It’s a good time to be joining the staff at ISU because they’re headed in the right direction…People are really excited about Greg Lansing as the coach, and they won 17 ballgames last year, with a lot of injuries that left them with key parts of their team out at points throughout the year.”
 
VU Athletic Director Harry Meeks praised and thanked Ragland for putting his stamp on the Trailblazers program, but said the VU family will enjoy watching Ragland’s contributions to the Sycamore program.
 
“David has done a tremendous job with the VU men’s basketball program, both in keeping the brand of basketball at a highly competitive level and in being a fine example to the young men who have played for him,” Meeks said. “We’re extremely appreciative of the dedication and work he has put into basketball and we will certainly miss having him here at VU, but we’re also proud and excited for him to have the opportunity at Indiana State.”
 
White added, “We certainly appreciate the foundation that David has established for the program, but also the way he has stressed the importance of academics to student-athletes. On behalf of the institution, we wish him and his family the very best.” 
 
VU was 44-19 in Ragland’s two seasons at the Trailblazers’ helm. The 2009-10 team (22-10) reached the NJCAA district tournament finals. The loss in the district championship game left VU a win short of its 28th appearance in the NJCAA National Championship Tournament in Hutchinson, KS. Still, the 22 wins garnered the program’s 29th consecutive 20-victory season.
 
Three 2009-10 sophomores – Ryan Allen (Milwaukee-Wisconsin), Fred Ford (Youngstown State) and Donald Stewart (Northwest Missouri State) – will move on to four-year programs. Another 2008-09 recruit, J.P. Olukemi, played his freshman season for VU, then red-shirted for the fall of last season before transferring to Oklahoma State. He will begin playing for the Cowboys this season.
 
Following Ragland’s first head coaching campaign, Trailblazers John Freeman (Southern Illinois) and Devon Archie (Iowa) joined Division I programs.
 
ISU capped off the 2009-10 season by accepting an invitation to the College Basketball Invitational, which was the Sycamores’ first post-season appearance since the 2001 NCAA Tournament. The Sycamores secured the No. 6 seed at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament after finishing in a tie for fifth place in the league. Many of Ragland’s responsibilities on the ISU staff will be recruiting-related, he said. Lansing has told Ragland that his relationship-building attributes will not only be utilized on the recruiting trail, but also internally with the players already on the Sycamore roster – especially the crop of veteran backcourt players.
 
Ragland will also contribute to ISU’s academic compliance efforts, a role he focused heavily on during his VU assistant coaching tenure.
 
Prior to being named the Trailblazers’ head coach, Ragland was an assistant to former VU Coach Everick Sullivan for three seasons and helped the program compile a 79-20 record during that span. Before arriving at VU, Ragland spent one season at Frank Phillips College in Borger, TX, and that program put together a school record 25-5 season.
 
Ragland and his wife, Annie, have two children, Ava and Joshua.

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VU Health Watch Wednesday Continues

 VU Health Watch Wednesday began with two e-text messages that provided H1N1 wellness tips and reminded subscribers to visit the VU Health Office web page. 

Vincennes University students and employees seeking an H1N1 vaccination should go to the Knox County Immunization Clinic at 701 Dubois Street in Vincennes.   Visit their website for more information.

Updates will be posted each Wednesday (or sooner if the situation warrants).  The webpage includes links to the Center for Disease Control flu pages, preventative tips, and campus information. 

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