A look back at USI in 2014

2014 was a great year for USI; filled with exciting changes, athletic victories, renovation and growth, and successful events. As we anticipate the celebration of the University's 50th anniversary next year, let's take a moment to proudly reflect on everything that has been accomplished this year.

A New Look and School Spirit

Last April, in eager anticipation of USI's 50th anniversary, the USI academic and athletic brand received a makeover. During the logo reveal, administrators, faculty, staff and students wowed the crowd as they strutted the catwalk, decked out in new designs on t-shirts, athletic wear, ties and more. We even got to see Cindy Brinker, vice president for Government and University Relations, sport USI pajamas, complete with Archie the Eagle slippers.

The beloved University mascot, Archibald (Archie) Eagle, shed his cartoonish style for a more fierce and competitive look, which better reflects the strength of our athletic teams. An Archie's Jr. Varsity Club also was launched for children in grade 8 or younger.

To embody the united spirit of pride we feel for the University, a new hashtag, #ScrEaglePride, was developed and is used by the USI community when posting on social media.

Students sporting new logo gear	Cindy Brinker rocking the runway

Support for the University and its Capital Campaign

Robert E. Griffin, a longtime supporter of USI, contributed a leadership gift of $5 million to Campaign USI: Elevating Excellence, allowing the University to break ground for the construction of a 2,400 square-foot conference center overlooking Reflection Lake. The completion of the Griffin Center is expected in late 2015.

USI professor emeritus of art, Lenny Dowhie and his wife, Anne Dowhie, gave a $1 million donation to support ceramics education as a part of Campaign USI: Elevating Excellence. The USI Ceramics Center was officially renamed "The Lenny and Anne Dowhie Ceramics Studio" in the Dowhies' honor.

These and all of the generous gifts to the USI Foundation brought the campaign total to more than $46.6 million invested by years end.

President Bennett and Robert E. Griffin	Anne Dowhie and Lenny Dowhie

Athletics Win Big

2014 was a year of champions for USI Athletics. In March, USI Men's Basketball came away with a conference championship hosted at the Ford Center, in downtown Evansville. This is the second GLVC Conference Championship under coach, Rodney Watson.

USI Baseball shocked the nation after being knocked out of the GLVC conference tournament, by coming back with a regional win at home and then going on to Cary, North Carolina, to win a national championship. There have only been two baseball national championships in the state of Indiana, at all division levels, and USI holds both-t he first in 2010.

Johnnie Guy won a national championship in the 10,000-meter at the Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Michigan. Guy competes year-round in Cross Country, Indoor Track & Field and Outdoor Track & Field.

The Men's and Women's Cross Country teams both came away with GLVC Conference Championships. This is the 10th-straight title for the men and fourth-straight title for the women.

Following two championships for our Cross Country teams, was a national championship appearance in Louisville, Kentucky. Julia Kohnen raced to an 11th-place finish and an All-American honor for the Women. The men, as a team, had a seventh place finish, as it was lifted by All-Americans, Tyler Pence, Johnnie Guy and Tyler Schickel, who finished at seventh, eighth and 40th, respectively.

Overall, our elite athletes had a successful year and we are excited to see what the coming year brings!

2014 USI baseball champs	Johnnie Guy, Tyler Pence, Tyler Schnickel

A Celebration in New Harmony

USI's Historic New Harmony helped the town of New Harmony celebrate its bicentennial with 10 days of exhibits, guest speakers, musical performances and a parade. An open house was held for the newly constructed Bicentennial House, inspired by the architectural design of the original single-family homes built by the Harmonie Society, New Harmony's founders.

The "long-lost dorm" was unearthed by USI's Archaeological Field School lead by Dr. Michael Strezewski, assistant professor of anthropology. The dormitory had served as a theatre, a boarding house and David Dale Owen's first geology lab.

During the fall semester, Historic New Harmony had over 90 students attend USI-lead retreats in New Harmony. In addition to their leadership development activities, they also took historic tours, enjoyed scavenger hunts and geocaching, and engaged with the town through community service. This semester's retreats included the Spiritual Diversity Project's Interfaith Retreat, International Programs and Services' Women's Global Leadership Retreat, The Shield newspaper, the Student Alumni Association, the Public Historian Class lead by Stella Ress, and USI Honors.

Marcus Wicker, assistant professor of English, served as director for the first annual New Harmony Writers Workshop, which hosted a plethora of well-known and respected writers. The workshop allowed experienced writers to share their work, receive feedback and hone their craft.

Archaeological dig in New Harmony	New Harmony Writers Workshop

New Partnership for USI

USI formed a partnership with the prestigious Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Two students or alumni will be nominated to attend IU McKinney on a half-tuition scholarship. Students will choose their academic path with the guidance of faculty and will have the opportunity to work as a paid research assistant after concluding 30 hours of law school.

Changes in Leadership

In an effort to better recruit and retain students, USI created the position of vice president for enrollment management. Andrew Wright, who served as assistant vice president of Enrollment Services and director of Admissions at Missouri State University, will begin his new role in January 2015.

Jim Wolfe Jr. joined the USI family as director of Facilities Operations and Planning. Wolfe, an Evansville native, formerly served as the director of the Physical Plant at Indiana University-Southeast in New Albany. Wolfe replaced Steve Helfrich who retired in July after 36 years of service.

In February, USI will say goodbye to Mark Rozewski, vice president for Business Affairs. He has accepted an executive vice president appointment at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven.

Andrew Wright	Jim Wolfe Jr.	Mark Rozewski

A Year of Events

While there are far too many to list, here are a few highlights from the past year.

Alisa "Al" Holen, associate professor of ceramics, rallied her ceramic students, USI faculty and staff and community volunteers to once again craft bowls for this year's Empty Bowls. A record total of $10,300 was raised to for charity.

The Multicultural Center welcomed guest speaker, Jasmine Guy, for the 2014 Martin Luther King Jr. Luncheon. Guy is well known for her role as "Whitley" on the Cosby Show and its spinoff A Different World. She also is an author and the recipient of six NAACP Awards.

Diana Nyad, a 64-year-old endurance swimmer who swam 110-miles from Cuba to Florida in 53 hours, shared her story at USI's Mid-American Institute on Aging.

A mood was set in the McCutchan Art Center/Pace Galleries for the "Andy Warhol: Photographs and Prints from the University Collection" exhibit. Visitors were greeted by stacks of Campbell's tomato soup to pay homage to an iconic Warhol painting. Silver-colored pillow-shaped balloons floated through the air and guests tried on Warhol wigs and posed for their own Polaroid snapshots to add to the exhibit.

The University received first place in the Alcoa Warrick Operations' RecycleMania contest, ranking among the top schools in the nation for total pounds recycled. USI received check for $1,500 and a trophy crafted from recycled aluminum cans by local artist, Bob Zasadny.

Al Holen (seated) doing a demo	President Bennett with Jasmine Guy

Teaching Theatre Nears Completion

Finishing touches are being put on the highly anticipated Teaching Theatre. The $17.25 million, one-of-a- kind facility will hold up to 350 guests. The new theatre is expected to attract more students to the Theatre Arts Program with its vibrant sound and light technology and extraordinary acoustics. The state-of-the-art theatre is being constructed with locally-sourced recycled materials and was designed by Holzman Moss Bottino Architecture of New York.

Seating for up to 350 guests	Theatre lobby

Alumni Family Continues to Grow

More than 1,500 new alumni received degrees during the Fall and Spring Commencements in 2014; bringing the total alumni ranks to more than 36,000. 31 students graduated summa cum laude; 163 magna cum laude; 190 cum laude and 63 University Honors Scholars.

Spring 2014 Commencement	Fall 2014 Commencement

Help us Make 2015 Event Better!

In 2015, USI will celebrate its 50th anniversary and host a year of 50th anniversary events. Visit the timeline to look back on the changes and growth our University has undergone. You also can submit your own photographs and memories to help the University mark this momentous occasion.

Please enjoy the 2014 photo slideshow.

We, in University Communications look forward to celebrating and sharing your stories in 2015.