Undergraduate Admissions E-Newsletter - Spring 2005 |
| |
| Welcome to the Aquinas College E-Newsletter - your source for the latest news and events happening at AQ! Read on to find out what amazing things AQ faculty, staff, students and alumni are up to as well as what exciting projects are going on at Aquinas. |
| |
|
| |
| Sustainable Business Program Receives $1 Million Donation from Steelcase Foundation |
| By Emily Johnson, Contributing Writer |
 |
 |
| Jarecki Center utilizes photovoltaic cells on its roof as a source of energy. Jarecki is Aquinas' most green building. |
Matthew Tueth, Assistant Professor of Geography and Coordinator of Sustainable Business Program.
|
|
| |
| The Sustainable Business program recently received a $1 million gift from the Steelcase Foundation to continue the development of its one-of-a-kind program. As the only school in America to offer an undergraduate degree program in sustainable business, Aquinas is already recognized as a leader in the field of teaching environmental responsibility while promoting economic growth through sustainable business strategies. |
| |
| The program is only a year and
a half old. "When we were researching our strengths, we
found a strong environmental program, but lacked the business
skills to go with it," Provost and Dean of Faculty, Edward
Balog said. Balog has been working closely with President Harry
Knopke in creating the new Department of Sustainable Business
in the School of Management . The ultimate goal is to become
a self-sustaining program complete with its own facility. "It's
an excellent program with huge potential for community outreach,"
said Knopke. |
| |
| The Steelcase Foundation has
planted a seed for that. The money will come in $200,000 increments
over the next five years. Knopke envisions the program developing
into a center for sustainable business, a clearing house of
sorts. "There will be resources like environmental journals
and books. We'll also hold seminars and conferences addressing
the issues," said Knopke. This gift will also enable the
department to hire an additional faculty member. Plans to relocate
from an office in the Jarecki Center to the Academic Building
, where the library is currently housed, will be presented to
the Board in March. If approved, an official announcement
will be made to the public about the monetary gift and the program's
plans for the future. |
| |
| In an effort to ensure that these goals are met, Knopke appointed Dr. Matthew Tueth, currently the Assistant Professor of Geography and Coordinator of Sustainable Business Program, to be the Steelcase Foundation Professor of Sustainable Business. This will allow Tueth to focus solely on the program. |
| |
| Tueth is honored and pleased
to be able to be able to grow the program into it's potential.
"This grant gives us the capital to develop the program
in a way that would have taken years to do on our own,"
said Tueth. The timing is appropriate as the program is expanding
faster than Tueth ever imagined. Currently there are 27 students
enrolled in the program and Tueth either meets or consults by
phone almost weekly with interested students in high school,
from other colleges, and even from different sates and countries.
How does Tueth know if he's on the right track? The Advisory
committee which is made up of representatives from 11 West Michigan
businesses as well as a University of Michigan faculty member
meets with him to give guidance as the program develops. "Essentially,
the people on this committee are helping us to produce graduates
that they want to hire," said Tueth. |
| |
| Students of the Sustainable Business
program will graduate with a unique expertise. They'll know
about business practices, environmental issues, and physical
sciences, a cutting edge combination which will be sought after
fiercely as sustainable business practices become the norm.
"Students are learning things now that will be very important
to know five to seven years down the road," said Tueth.
|
| |
| "The sustainable business
movement is different from any other environmental movement,"
said Tueth. Environmentalists and businesses have normally tried
to uproot each other, butting heads on issues and practices.
What this program does, according to Tueth, is bring these entities
together to achieve profit, environmental stewardship and a
strong community. Instead of hiring out work to other countries,
green businesses seek members of the local community to work
for them. Business leaders have taken initiative to be better.
"This works for everyone on many different levels,"
said Tueth. "Right now, businesses are experimenting by
piecemeal, like installing efficient lighting, but eventually
they'll be completely green and our very own graduates will
be a part of that," said Tueth. |
| |
| Jessica Eimer, a senior in the
Sustainable Business Program, is excited about the Steelcase
Foundation gift. "This money can hire students to work
on sustainable business initiatives, actually putting our education
to use," said Eimer. |
| |
| Eimer and her classmates are
also excited about what's to come with the expansion of the
program, like structural updates on campus buildings to make
them more green. A new faculty member will be helpful too, Eimer
admitted. "With all the ways that the program will be expanding,
we will have the opportunity to acquire the tools we need and
use them to obtain jobs out in the real world," said Eimer.
|
| |
| Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) Receives Accreditation |
| By Paula Meehan and Deb Springer, Contributing Writers |
 |
| Among allied health careers, this is one of the most dynamic fields, so get ready to make a difference |
| |
| Certified Athletic Trainers can look forward to a bright future for employment and Aquinas College's recently accredited Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP) will be a part of it. Our students are finding their way into high school, collegiate, and professional athletics. In addition, many graduates will find themselves in growing opportunities that exist at corporate and retail fitness centers, hospitals and rehabilitation clinics.
|
| |
| Aquinas' program features four Certified Athletic Trainers who will bring you hands on clinical experience with our athletic teams. (Clinical assignments begin once First Aid and Medical Aspects of Health, Physical Education and Recreation are completed). Aquinas' program is unique in the willingness to allow participation on a inter-collegiate athletic team while working on your degree. |
| |
| You'll find more information on this exciting program by downloading and viewing our Athletic Training Brochure. |
| |
| Being a winner in a lost cause - Schuba knows his role against the Globetrotters |
 |
|
Sunday, January 30, 2005
By Howie Beardsley, The Grand Rapids Press |
| |
| Chuck Schuba is a professional loser. |
| |
| Getting paid for not winning basketball games is kind of a tough transition. Victory always was the goal when Schuba played at Kalkaska High School and Aquinas College. |
| |
| But now the 6-foot-2 Schuba is one of the newest members of the New York Nationals, whose job it is to play straight men to the clown princes of basketball, the Harlem Globetrotters, night after night. |
| |
| And always to lose. |
| |
| "When I tell people I'm with the New York Nationals, they always ask if we're the ones who have to get beat by the Globetrotters," said Schuba. "I say, 'Yep, we're the ones.' Then everyone asks why we just don't go out and win one night against the Globetrotters. "I tell them I wouldn't mind doing that, but I also don't feel like being fired. "The Globetrotters and Nationals will make their annual local appearance 2 p.m. today at Van Andel Arena. |
| |
| "Despite all the great experiences I've had while touring with the Globetrotters and my National teammates, I do miss the competitive part of the game," Schuba said last week before the Globetrotters and Nationals entertained fans in Fort Wayne, Ind. "I've had losing seasons before, but never this many games in a row. I think I'm about 0-for-80 right now." |
| |
| Schuba graduated from Aquinas in 2003 with a degree in education. He averaged 9.6 points a game and was a good shooter, hitting 45 percent of his shots. Before seriously pursuing a teaching job, he traveled to a two-day professional camp in Florida, hoping to attract interest from European league scouts. |
| |
| "There were scouts for the Nationals in attendance, and they told me they were interested in me," Schuba said. "I was looking to possibly go overseas. Playing for the New York Nationals every night against the Harlem Globetrotters wasn't even in my thought process." |
| |
| That was until Schuba sent tapes from his college playing days to the National scouts, who eventually asked him to become one of their eight team members. He committed to the Nationals on Aug. 6, and left Oct. 13 for the Globetrotters' 2004-05 world tour. Among the stops were cities in Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and U.S. Naval bases in Portugal, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Spain. |
| |
| "We were in Europe for three weeks, I came home for a week and then we went on our U.S. Naval base tour for another three weeks," Schuba said. "I came back home on Dec. 17, then left Christmas morning for our four-month U.S. tour, which ends the middle of April." |
| |
| To add it up, Schuba is in the midst of facing the Globetrotters in 135 games over a 138-day period. "Like I said, it's been a great experience," Schuba said. "I would never be able to see the world doing anything else. Plus, I get paid to do what I love the most, which is playing basketball. "It does get frustrating being in a different city every night, but it's the life of the road. And I've either been to, or will be playing in, pretty much every big-time city and major NBA and college arena in America." |
| |
| Schuba said he earns about $3,000 a month while having his meals and hotel expenses paid for. By comparison, Schuba said the Globetrotter players make around $50,000 plus expenses as rookies, and $150,000 and higher as veterans, depending on experience and entertainment value. |
| |
| "It's a great group of guys on the National team that I play with, and the Globetrotters are just awesome people," Schuba said. "We get along great, and we're always laughing and joking with each other. "The Globetrotters respect us as much as we respect them, and that's a special bond, despite the fact that it's their show each night, and we're in the background while helping them entertain the crowds." |
| |
| Although second-year Aquinas men's basketball coach Dave Hammer did not coach Schuba, he did help him compile his tape for National officials. Hammer also spoke with people affiliated with the Nationals to try to get Schuba on the team. |
| |
| "I didn't know Chuck until I got the Aquinas job, but I now know how much he loves the game of basketball, so I tried to assist him as much as I could," Hammer said. "I told someone with the Nationals that they couldn't go wrong with Chuck's character. And, now, he's living an absolute dream as a basketball junkie." |
| |
| Schuba's mother, Frances Schuba, said she isn't at all surprised to see her son chose a job that makes him fall prey to the Globetrotters on a daily basis. "Basketball has been his life, and it's always been Chuck's dream to play professionally in some form," she said. "For him to have this opportunity, and to be doing something he loves so much .... It's hard for us, as his family, to imagine him doing this. Just seeing him play college basketball was just so awesome." |
| |
| Since last Tuesday, the Globetrotters and Nationals performed in Saginaw, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, East Lansing and Auburn Hills while winding their way to today's appearance. Frances Schuba said the family caught up with Chuck in Traverse City, Auburn Hills and Grand Rapids, and will stay with their son tonight before the Globetrotters and Nationals leave Monday for Chicago. |
| |
| The group will begin yet another tour at the end of April, with a two-month swing through Europe. Schuba expects to be a part of it. "I'm still interested in playing pro ball overseas, or here in the states in the (Continental Basketball Association) or the (International Basketball Association). I'm also still looking forward to teaching," Schuba said. "But if there are no opportunities in those fields, then I'll stay with this. "People always ask what I do. When I say I play basketball, they always ask with who. When I say I play against the Harlem Globetrotters, a lot of them are shocked, or don't believe me. I like that reaction." |
| |
| One Fine Day... Arts, That Is! (Leadership, Math & Science Days are Coming too) |
| By Damon Bouwkamp '00, Admissions Representative |
 |
 |
| Associate Professor of Art Kurt Kaiser works with several student prospects. |
Dr. Paul Brewer orchestrates a group of musicians |
|
| |
| Experiencing the arts has become one of the most important parts of an education for a number of high school students. Holding to that theme, the Admissions Office will be holding its second annual Fine Arts Day on Friday, March 18, 2005. In 2004, over 180 prospects, high school freshmen through seniors, attended what many described as the most unique visit at Aquinas College. "This is a really interesting program and really put together well," said one student. "I loved the teachers and I met some awesome people." |
| |
| High school students from around the Midwest began the day with department overviews from professors and toured the Aquinas campus. After lunch, the students experienced everything from theatre workshops and jazz improvisation sessions to printmaking exercises and poetry writing seminars. Following the breakout sessions, the students shared their work in the Performing Arts Center. |
| |
| "I am impressed with everything I saw today and I would recommend this day to anyone who is interested in fine arts," said another student. |
| |
| Plans are underway for all of the Admission Office's special event days. This spring's agenda includes visit days for students interested in leadership, math and science. Below is the schedule for the remainder of the 2005 academic year. All high school students are encouraged to attend! |
|
