If your idea of a successful homecoming is a football victory, then you can thank Coach Bill Cronin’s men for pulling out a 51-45 thriller Saturday. GC let an 18-point lead slip away in the second half, but running back John Keene – who rushed for 93 yards and three touchdowns – ran one in from eight yards out for the capper.

Homecoming King and Queen

At halftime, a pair of seniors from Louisville were crowned King and Queen – Lambda Chi’s Michael Clemons, a President’s Ambassador, class president, Honors student and member of the track and cross country teams; and, Phi Mu’s Sarah Hopkins, a member of Campus Outreach and part of the Alpha & Omega Home mission team to Brazil.

But, you really had to BE here to fully “Dream Big” (the Homecoming 2008 theme). If nothing else, an elegant 10th anniversary celebration of the Anna Ashcraft Ensor Learning Resource Center on Thursday night in the Neal Fireside Room made for a bigger weekend.

And, those who stayed around for a rare Men’s basketball season-opener went home with dreams of another big season. Six players scored in double figures – led by Demetrius Guions’ 19 and Vincent Crutcher’s 18 – in the 133-32 route of Ohio State-Mansfield.

In between, emcees junior Blair Owens and Andrew Noe ’08 had just the perfect rapport and banter for Songfest. Here are the all-important awards:

Kappa Delta Songfest Group

• Most Unique: Sigma Kappa
• Best Theme Development: Kappa Delta
• Best Choreography: Phi Mu
• Most Comical: Anderson Hall
• Best Musical: Knight Hall
• Participant’s Choice (Male): Lambda Chi Alpha
• Participant’s Choice (Female): Independent Women

And, at evening’s end – Kelsey Barbato, a freshman Biology major/Theatre minor from Danville, was named Princess; she’s an Equine Scholar and member of the track team, btw. And, Thomas Owens, a freshman Chemistry major/Psychology minor from Nicholasville, was named Prince; he’s involved in Campus Ministries.

The brunches and the circle-ups were special as usual. Come back later for a full slide show of Homecoming festivities, but here’s a taste:

Matt Hubbard, right-foreground, a junior from Paducah, leads the Lambda Chi’s charge out into the quad.

Those who stopped by the Young Alumni Club tent in the quad were entertained by Lexington singer/songwriter Adrea Stephens LaRoche ’99, second from left, (she’s been working on a CD in Nashville that’s coming out in January; follow her at www.adrealaroche.com).

Other Homecoming awards went to:Overall Bench Award: Phi Mu
Overall Homecoming Week Award (Male): Phi Kappa Tau
Overall Homecoming Week Award (Female): Alpha Gamma Delta 

Georgetown’s three first place winners in the recent National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) State Competition: Chuck Harris, foreground, Elizabeth Levay, and Ryland Pope. Ryland also won Best Singer/Artist Overall.

Georgetown College has some of the best singers in the state you’ve probably never heard – yet.

The 11 Georgetown singing students who practically brought the house down at Murray State University last weekend in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) State Competition plan to entertain the community and campus a number of times over the course of the school year. First up: 9 p.m., Tuesday (Oct. 28) in the College’s John L. Hill Chapel with the inaugural SNATS Parody Concert. The admission of $2 will go towards music scholarships and future funding of travel to such competitions.

“We hope that the audience will come well-rested because we intend to wear them out with laughter!” said Heather Hunnicutt, their coach and Coordinator of Vocal Studies. “The entire goal of this hour-long concert is fun – for the audience and the performers. You’ll hear high-quality performances from any and all genres and styles…but they must have comedic flair! We’ll show we are serious about music but don’t always take music too seriously.”

Sophomore Chuck Harris, one of three to take first place in a state NATS category (Underclass Musical Theatre), will sing his prize-winning “I’m Not Smart.” “It’s a hilarious number that will have you laughing from the start,” said Harris, who’s smart enough to be tabbed as the concert emcee. “I’m proud to be attending the best music college in Kentucky,” said the ’06 Scott County graduate who had major roles in the high school’s productions of Guys and Dolls and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

The other NATS winners are Elizabeth Levay of Maysville, who will reprise her (Freshmen Classical) “My Dear Marquis,” a maid’s reaction to being caught playing above her rank; and Ryland Pope, a senior from Harlan who also took Best Singer/Artist Overall.  Coach Hunnicutt deemed his Senior Classical winning number too serious for this show, so Ryland will combine with Georgetown native Daniel Ng on “Agony” as the two Prince Charmings from Into the Woods.

These two talents hail from Stamping Ground in Scott County: Sarah Smith, the runner-up at NATS in Sophomore Classical, and Michael Cannon, a semifinalist in both Sophomore Classical and Underclass Musical Theatre.

The repertoire requirements for Ryland at the two-day state competition were no walk in the park, or woods – four pieces for upperclassmen with a mix of foreign language and English pieces, operatic arias and art songs or musical theatre numbers from different time periods.

At NATS, Ryland competed with pieces in English, Italian, Spanish and French. For the Finals, he sang “Se vuol ballare” from “Le nozze di Figaro” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – a piece that he first sang in the Georgetown College Opera and Musical Theatre Workshop in spring 2007. Growing up he sang in the renowned Harlan Boys Choir. Georgetown community patrons may have seen him in College Maskrafters productions of “She Loves Me” and “Pirates of Penzance.”

Other featured performances at Tuesday’s Parody Concert include Dr. Sonny Burnette and Dr. Mami Hayashida on a new composition by the department’s chairman (Burnette); a performance by Hunnicutt and Ng in Victor Borge comedic style; and NATS runner-up (Sophomore Classical) Sarah Smith of Stamping Ground doing “Getting Married Today” from Company.

You’ll hear the rest of the state NATS semifinalists perform as well: Cara Hazzard, a junior from Buckner (Oldham County), singing “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair” from South Pacific; Bowling Green junior Cate Kilgore singing “Diva’s Lament” from Spamalot; Rae Dunn, a freshman from LaGrange, KY, singing “Green Dog”; and Scott County native Michael Cannon singing “Dentist” from Little Shop of Horrors. Cannon, a sophomore from Stamping Ground, reached the NATS semis in both Underclass Musical Theatre and Sophomore Classical categories.

All of the aforementioned students can be heard again this spring at the GC Opera & Musical Theatre Workshop Performance on April 9. Ryland Pope, Michael Cannon, Chuck Harris, Cate Kilgore, Sarah Smith and Daniel Ng are all part of the College’s first-ever opera, “The Secret Marriage,” at 7 p.m., Dec. 4-5 in Hill Chapel.

Cassandra Sichel-Simmons, a freshman from Maple Heights, OH and the current Ensor Scholar, got to meet Jennie and Clyde Ensor Sr. during the reception for the Anna Ashcraft Ensor Learning Resource Center 10th Anniversary Celebration Dinner, kicking off Georgetown College Homecoming 2008. The state-of-the-art LRC is named for his late wife, Anna.

Larry Ensor ’70, second from left, and his party paused before the celebratory dinner in front of the building that bears his mother’s name. Escorting them were junior President’s Ambassadors Brittany Locklear of Delano, MN, left, and Allie Bertke of Edgewood, KY, right.

President Crouch shows the dinner guests the portrait of Clyde and Anna Ensor in the 10th anniversary book published for the occasion. The event took place in the Neal Fireside Room of the LRC.

(Photos by Paul Atkinson/Rockledge Photography.)

Karen Gill, who today was named the third Kentucky Teacher of the Year in five years with Georgetown College connections, completed the Rank I program at Georgetown in 1999. She teaches Physical Science, including some Advanced Placement courses, at Lexington’s Henry Clay High School. Becky Riley, chair of the school’s Science department, said: “She stands out because of the level of dedication to her job. She eats, breathes Physics…it’s her life’s work. And, Karen may be the most caring (teacher) I know.” Also, see the Lexington Herald-Leader’s early coverage on Kentucky.com

Gill succeeds 2008 Kentucky Teacher of the Year Chandra Holloway Emerson, a language arts teacher at Oldham County Middle School. Emerson earned her Masters in Education at Georgetown in ’97. Billie Travis, MA ’87, was a math teacher at Georgetown Middle School when she received the top award in 2005.

The College community can celebrate Willow Hambrick being named 2009 Middle School Teacher of the Year, too. She’s the Advanced 7th and 8th grade Language Arts teacher and writing coordinator at Scott County’s Royal Spring Middle School. She and Dr. Horace P. Hambrick are the parents of GC junior Gentry Hambrick…and Willow served on the College’s Parents Advisory Council for their daughter’s first two years. Willow is also the daughter-in-law of Professor Emeritus Horace Hambrick and former trustee Maribeth Hambrick (1992-99).

Karen Gill Named 2009 Kentucky Teacher of the Year

KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
NO. 08-091
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2008

(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – Karen Gill, a science teacher at Henry Clay High School in Fayette County, has been named 2009 Kentucky Teacher of the Year.

The announcement was made today at a ceremony held in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort by Ashland Inc. and the Kentucky Department of Education. Gov. Steve Beshear, Secretary of Education Helen Mountjoy, Commissioner of Education Jon E. Draud and Ashland Chairman and CEO Jim O’Brien were on hand to make the presentation.

Lisa Wathen, a teacher at Freedom Elementary School in the Bullitt County school district, was named 2009 Elementary School Teacher of the Year, and Willow Hambrick, a language arts teacher at Royal Spring Middle School in Scott County, was named 2009 Middle School Teacher of the Year.

The three joined 21 other teachers from across the state honored with 2009 Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Awards. Wathen and Hambrick received $3,000 each and a customized, art-glass vase from Ashland Inc., while Gill received $10,000 and a commemorative crystal-glass bowl. In addition, the Department of Education will provide a sabbatical or suitable alternative for Gill, who also will represent the state in the 2009 National Teacher of the Year competition. The remaining 21 winners each received $500 cash awards. All 24 teachers received framed certificates and all were further recognized at a luncheon following the ceremony.

Karen V. Gill

Karen Gill has taught for 18 years, 16 of those at Henry Clay High School, where she currently teaches physics and other science courses. Gill earned two bachelor’s degrees at Transylvania University, Lexington; a master’s degree at the University of Kentucky and Rank 1 certification at Georgetown College. Gill is a Physics Teacher Research Agent, National Board Certification candidate mentor, chairperson of the Henry Clay Pathways Committee and a presenter at Modeling Instruction Program workshops. She is the recipient of various honors, including an Engaging Kids to Learn grant, a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, an Ashland Teacher Achievement Award and two Fayette County Merit of Excellence awards. Her professional affiliations are the Modeling Instruction Group, North Central Kentucky Physics Alliance and the American Association of Physics Teachers.

Willow Hambrick

Willow Hambrick has taught for 11 years, teaching language arts and writing courses at Royal Spring Middle School for the last two years. Hambrick earned a bachelor’s degree at Hanover College in Indiana; a master’s degree at Spalding University, Louisville; and more than 15 graduate hours at the University of Louisville. She has led writing seminars and cluster leader portfolio training for her school and mentored new language arts teachers. Hambrick sponsors the school’s literary magazine and writer’s club, and she serves as a presenter, guest speaker and lecturer for a range of education forums. She ranked among “Teachers Who Make a Difference” by Lexington’s First Baptist Church Bracktown and among “Teachers Who Go the Extra Mile” by her school. Hambrick’s professional affiliations include the American Academy of Poets and the National Council of Teachers of English.

Lisa Michelle Wathen

Lisa Wathen is beginning her fifth year of teaching at Freedom Elementary, where she teaches 3rd- and 4th-grade students. Wathen earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky; a master’s degree at the University of Louisville; and Rank 1 certification at Indiana Wesleyan. She serves on the School-Based Decision Making Council and has represented her school on the Faculty Senate, County Wide Math Network, Curriculum & Instructional Practices, Comprehensive School Improvement Plan and District Curriculum Map Development committees. Wathen received University of Louisville Outstanding Teacher, two Freedom Elementary Teacher of the Year, Campbellsville University Excellence in Teaching and Bullitt County Elementary Teacher of the Year awards. Her professional affiliations include the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, National Science Teachers Association, Kentucky Association of School Councils and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

This is the eighth year Ashland Inc. and the Kentucky Department of Education have sponsored the Kentucky Teacher Achievement Awards. Applications for the program were distributed across the state, and the first tier of the selection process was completed in August, with 24 teachers selected as 2009 Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Award winners. Nine top scorers – three each from the elementary, middle and high school levels – were selected, and teams of educators visited their classrooms to view them at work and to conduct personal interviews. From those nine, three were selected as 2009 Kentucky Teachers of the Year. The overall Kentucky Teacher of the Year then was selected, based on a compilation of scores from all phases of the judging.

Ashland Inc. has recognized outstanding Kentucky teachers with its Teacher Achievement Awards since 1988. Nearly $577,000 has been awarded to nearly 375 teachers in grades K to 12.

Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), a diversified, global chemical company, provides quality products, services and solutions to customers in more than 100 countries. A FORTUNE 500* company, it operates through four divisions: Ashland Performance Materials, Ashland Distribution, Valvoline and Ashland Water Technologies. To learn more about Ashland, visit www.ashland.com.

*FORTUNE 500 is a registered trademark of Time Inc.

KDE CONTACT: Lisa Y. Gross
Office – (502) 564-2015
Cellular – (502) 330-5063
jevitak@ashland.com
lisa.gross@education.ky.gov

ASHLAND INC. CONTACT: Jim Vitak
Office – (614) 790-3715

Senior Emily Marshall, a Biology major and Secondary Education minor from Louisville

Eight future math and science teachers – including Georgetown College senior Emily Marshall of Louisville – recently learned that they would have an additional $5,000 this year to apply toward their independent college education. The students, representing eight different independent Kentucky colleges and universities, are the recipients of the first Gheens STEM Teacher Preparation Scholarships.

Improving STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education is a priority for Kentucky as it builds a globally competitive 21st century workforce.

“Producing highly skilled teachers in math and sciences is an area where independent colleges excel in meeting the needs of Kentucky’s K-12 schools,” said Gary S. Cox, president of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU).

“This is an important choice Emily (Marshall) has made – and kind of rare in our field – as schools have a really hard time finding good science teachers,” said Georgetown’s Mary Anne Carletta, an assistant professor of Biology and Environmental Sciences who wrote her letter of recommendation. “Most Bio-grads go into pre-med, pre-dentistry or pre-pharmacy.”

A Biology major and a 4.0 student in her minor (Secondary Education), Emily Marshall is a Dean’s List student. Following graduation and then her wedding in May, she plans to teach Science in a Jefferson County high school next fall while working on her Masters in School Administration. In her application, she wrote: “Personally, as a female in a male-dominated subject, I feel that I will be a role model for female students. I plan to put my heart and soul into teaching my students and to try my best to help them learn something every time they walk into my classroom, whether it be science-related or just real-life advice.”

Emily developed a real love for marine life during family vacations – especially when swimming or snorkeling with her father. And, now she envisions plenty of hikes and trips to aquariums and museums for “biological experiences” that she will share with her students. Not entirely ruling medicine out, she said “I may explore the areas of medical research during my summers off.”

As a four-year member of Georgetown’s soccer team, Emily has been the true practitioner of “mind and body.” An outside midfielder, she earned Mid-South Conference academic honors in ’06 and ’07, and was named an NAIA Academic All-American and an NAIA Champion of Character last year. “Soccer has taught me how to balance my time, and has also motivated me to excel in both the classroom and the field,” Emily said.

The daughter of James and Cindy Marshall of Jeffersontown, Emily is 2005 graduate of Louisville Male High School. She is a member of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville.

The Gheens Foundation granted AIKCU these eight scholarships of $5,000 each to distribute to aspiring teachers studying at independent colleges through a competitive process. The other seven scholars were named from the following AIKCU-member institituions – Bellarmine University, Campbellsville University, Lindsey Wilson College, Pikeville College, Spalding University, Transylvania University, and University of the Cumberlands.

“We approached the Gheens Foundation about funding these scholarships because of its shared commitment to education in Kentucky,” said Cox, AIKCU’s president. “By selecting the best candidate from eight separate schools we felt the competition would focus even more attention on teacher preparation around the state…ultimately benefiting K-12 students throughout Kentucky.”

The Gheens STEM Teacher Preparation Scholarships were open to students at any of Kentucky’s 20 independent colleges and universities studying to become K-12 teachers in a STEM. Priority was given to minority, female, low-income, and first generation applicants, as well as to those planning to teach in high need school districts. The competitive selection process was developed and overseen by an independent third party.

The Gheens Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in Kentucky. Trustees oversee the distribution of approximately four million dollars each year in support of education, economic development, medical, arts, social and health services, and other worthy causes. The Gheens Foundation’s support of Kentucky ’s independent colleges and universities dates back to the 1950s. Learn more at http://gheensfoundation.org.

The Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU) is a non-profit advocacy, fundraising, and member-services organization based in Frankfort. AIKCU was founded in 1952 to promote the interests of Kentucky’s non-profit, independent colleges and universities and the students they serve. AIKCU’s diverse members include Kentucky’s twenty nonprofit, non-tax supported, four year colleges and universities accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Learn more about AIKCU and its members at www.aikcu.org.