Hall of Fame Sports Journalist Billy Reed Named 2nd Georgetown College Executive Scholar-in-Residence
Georgetown College has added celebrated sports journalist William F. “Billy” Reed to its team.
The national award-winning newspaper and magazine journalist, radio talk show host and author becomes the College’s second Executive Scholar-in-Residence. Former Gov. Martha Layne Collins (D-KY) was Georgetown’s first in 1998 and continues to serve the College in many advisory and friend-raising capacities.
Reed’s biggest boost to Georgetown College, perhaps, will be giving enhanced exposure to its new “Champions of Athletic Character” program. This is an initiative to create a learning environment that is suitable for character growth and leadership for all student-athletes, maintaining a realistic goal of scholarly athletic success. (For more, visit www.georgetowncollege.edu/champions )
“Throughout my career as a columnist and commentator, I’ve always tried to stand up for those individuals and institutions who play by the rules and conduct their business with honor and integrity, so I see my work at Georgetown College as a continuation of that lifelong mission,” said Reed, who may best known in Kentucky for his years as a sportswriter, then sports editor at the Louisville Courier-Journal, and later as sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader.
“President (Bill) Crouch shares my concern about the moral and ethical crisis that seems to be growing in both the sports and media worlds, and I’m hoping we can address those issues in a significant, but not self-righteous, way,” added Reed, who also spent a distinguished 30 years as a writer with Sports Illustrated.
President Crouch is also expecting Reed to be a valuable resource in assisting the College with special fund-raising efforts and events, acting as a liaison to the state’s legislature, and speaking at events and to classes.
During Reed’s first three official days on the Georgetown-beat he conducted a successful Sports Journalism Workshop for aspiring high school writers. He hopes this “trial run” day-camp held during the NFL Cincinnati Bengals Summer Training Camp here becomes an annual opportunity.
Meanwhile, Dean of Students Todd Gambill is particularly excited that Reed’s coming on board should impact the whole student body as well as all varsity athletes who wear the Orange and Black of Georgetown. Gambill is also the College’s Vice President of Student Life and has oversight of the Athletics Department.
“Few institutions can boast a relationship with a journalist of Billy Reed’s pedigree. His relationship with Georgetown College will offer our students and the College a wealth of expertise, experience and networking opportunities,” Dr. Gambill said.
Jim Host, former chairman and CEO of Host Communications (now IMG) and founding chairman of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, knows Georgetown College has scored a major coup. “Georgetown is fortunate to have one of the truly great writers in the history of College Sports,” said Host, current chairman of the Louisville Arena Authority, Inc., which is overseeing the new KFC Yum! Center. “As a member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Hall of Fame, he will go down as a real legend in the annals of sports writing.”
As a matter of fact, Billy Reed – a native of Mount Sterling and 1966 graduate of Transylvania University (B.A., English) – is a legend in the Commonwealth. He is in both the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. And, in a state that loves its horses, Reed has won three Eclipse Awards for outstanding thoroughbred racing coverage and eight Red Smith Awards for Kentucky Derby Coverage.
Reed is also the author of 18 books. His latest – Louisville’s KFC Yum! Center – will be in bookstores soon after the Oct. 14 grand opening of the new Louisville arena. Last year, he came out with a wonderful tribute to Louisville’s famous venue – Celebrating 54 Years at Freedom Hall: Great Events and Memorable Moments at One of America’s Premier Arenas.
Besides his work with Georgetown College, Reed will continue writing a monthly column for Basketball Times and consulting for a new website, Catholicsportsnet.com.
Seeing McGee’s ‘Digging for Diamonds’ Comedy/Thriller at KY Festival of New Plays in November is an All-Brainer!
George McGee wrote “Digging for Diamonds: A Phrenological Thriller” for himself. But, when it was selected last week as one of eight 10-minute plays for the 2nd annual Kentucky Festival of New Plays in November, the Georgetown College theatre professor was asked to direct his comedy/thriller as well.
Now that “Digging” was an open book, McGee decided to share the experience with three of his former student Maskrafters. Alums Adam Luckey ’99, James Hamblin ’99 and Ed Smith ‘88, now – Chairman of the College’s still relatively new Theatre & Performance Studies department, readily agreed to be his cast. This set up the first time these four giants of Georgetown’s theatre tradition have worked together on a play.
“This will really be fun working with them again…and, there’s enough respect for everyone’s opinion that being friends won’t be a problem,” McGee said before the first read-through this week. “I’m really looking forward to this because, unlike with students, I don’t have to teach these guys how to act. This is just fine-tuning and helping each other reach the next level.”
McGee also appreciates the opportunity to showcase the progeny of GC Maskrafters for Louisville-area alumni and prospective students and their parents. Mark Nov. 18-20 on your calendars!
Special: The Venue
Our Georgetown collaborators will share a special, new stage at The Bard’s Town, a just weeks-old restaurant, theatre and lounge at 1801 Bardstown Road in Louisville. The second floor cabaret-style theatre will allow 70 patrons to enjoy the festival and a meal if they choose.
The fare is fun with names like the Bard Burger, a Steakspeare Sandwich and Taming of the Stew. Proprietor Doug Schutte said early favorites include a hummus trio and an Italian sausage made-from-scratch from an old Sicilian family recipe. See www.thebardstown.com for more.
Schutte, a former executive director of the Kentucky Theatre Association and co-producer of The Bard’s Town Theatre operation, said “the festival of new plays really fits because back in his day Shakespeare was creating new stuff. Sponsors are the Kentucky Playwrights Workshop, Inc and The Bard Town Theatre.
He guaranteed plenty of parking at The Bard’s Town, which is only three minutes from the Waterson Expressway and in the heart of the Highlands area, corner of Bardstown Road and Speed Avenue.
Special: The Format
Executive producer Bill McCann, Jr., who is bringing the festival to The Bard’s Town after an inaugural attempt at Midway College, said,” I think it will be wildly popular here. And, if you don’t like one, there’s another 10-minute play coming right up.”
The eight plays will be performed back-to-back with short breaks in between, Thursday-Saturday evenings, Nov. 18-20, plus a Saturday matinee. A fifth showing is possible on that Sunday if the festival sells out.
Five of the plays are by Kentuckians; three come from elsewhere. Thirty states were represented in the 182 submissions. Four came from Canadian provinces, three from Australia and one from Slovenia.
“What I am pleased with is the tremendous diversity,” said McCann, whose own play, “There is No Wrigley Field,” was selected. One selection focuses on a fight over whether a mouse should be killed or not; one is set in Iraq; another is set in Africa where a woman is facing stoning for her alleged adultry; another is about judging quilts. For more, check McCann’s blog at http://517playwrights.blogspot.com/
McCann, who is still somewhat dazed from reading 70 play entries, could only remember that George McGee’s play commanded a lot of attention for two reasons: 1. “It’s a comedy,” and 2. “he has a serious point to make.”
Special: George’s Play
Writer/director McGee loves the 10-minute play concept “because it forces you to identify the issue or conflict and get at it.”
“(‘Digging’) is a comedy… friendship is tested…individuals are tested…faith is tested…do we believe in redemption? Do we believe in fate? Do we believe in ‘it is what it is’?…timing is everything.”
BAM!
“‘Digging for Diamonds’ deals with mental, physical and emotional issues – relationships and friendships – and for 10 minutes this occupies every part of the brain,” McGee said.
BAM!
The story: Two friends are trying to find a diamond in the Arkansas State Park Diamond Fields. Mal (James Hamblin) is getting married and his fiancé will not have a blood diamond for her wedding ring. Mal thinks the only way to be sure it’s pure is to dig it by his own hands. They have been there seven days with no luck…his best man and best bud, Pud (Adam Luckey), has just about had enough…besides, Mal’s fiancé, Wanda, hates Pud. Slim (Ed Smith), who works in the diamond field’s gift shop, brings a new problem to the mud pit. Things reach a boiling point between the two friends…when something happens to change everything!
BAM!
McGee acknowledged the idea actually started four years ago with Hamblin, who was in New York, “telling everybody he had an idea for a screenplay. Eventually, I asked if I could take a whack at it.”
Then, he discovered the Kentucky Festival of New Plays online. “I liked the idea they were encouraging Kentucky writers and I figured the (second) festival wouldn’t be bombarded like the Humana Festival at (Louisville’s) Actor’s Theatre,” he said.
McGee was told his first submission (“At It Again”) was too short in length.”Digging for Diamonds” was his second entry, but he really thought that play had too many technical challenges to be picked. Wonderfully that turned out not to be the case.
Meanwhile, festival coordinator Bill McCann, Jr., asked McGee if he would be a “reader” of play submissions from outside Kentucky. The three entries eventually chosen would not be in conflict with the five selected by in-state playwrights.
Special: Friendships
Anyone who has been supporter of or acted in any College Maskrafters production during McGee’s 28 years here should try to see this coming-together of four special Georgetonians.
“When you get my age, the relationships become more meaningful,” McGee said. “Yes, it will be a treat to work with these guys again.”
Most likely there will be at least one open rehearsal of “Digging for Diamonds” in the Pearce Lab Theatre on campus around Nov. 14 or 15, McGee said. Stay tuned and maybe treat yourself.
GC Graduate Education Adds 3 New Programs
The biggest news at Georgetown College currently might be on the Graduate Education front with the introduction this summer of a Teacher Leader Master of Arts Program, A Rank I with Moderate to Severe Disabilities Program, and an Autism Spectrum Disorder Certificate Program.
The department is expecting considerable interest in these new offerings – much like it did in 2003 when the Learning Behavior Disabilities Program and Alternative Certification Program were added and enrollment for that fall semester jumped by 200 students. Overall Graduate Education enrollment has steadily increased each year – with more than 750 students expected for Fall 2010. To handle this growth, the department now boasts 20 full or part-time professors.
Dr. Kim Walters-Parker, program director of the Teacher Leader MA Program, agreed there would be huge interest in her new program and here’s why: “A key goal of the new Teacher Leader Master of Arts program is to ensure that all classroom teachers have the skills and dispositions to address students’ learning needs in their classrooms, their schools, and their communities. All TLMA students complete a core of leadership courses and choose support courses based on their professional growth needs. TLMA students may also pursue an endorsement in English as a Second Language, Reading and Writing, Gifted and Talented, or Instructional Technology.”
An assistant professor of Graduate Education, Walters-Parker said TLMA would especially appeal to two audiences – “one, students who were getting a Masters already but chose ours because of the way it was tailored or delivered – for example, much of the coursework may be completed online – and, two, teachers who already have a Masters degree, but want to pursue a second Masters to qualify for Rank 1 status.”
The Education Department has official partnership agreements with the school systems in Fayette and Scott counties, specifically to assist with our new MA-Teacher Leader program.
Dean of Education Eve Proffitt, who oversees the other two new programs, cited projections that in the next 10 years 1 in 100 children will be labeled with Autism Spectrum Disorder. “The Autism Spectrum Disorder will appeal to teachers as more and more teachers are experiencing students in their classrooms with ASD, including Aspergers Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder,” she said. “Therefore, these classes will provide much needed information on how to prepare and work with these students and their families.”
“Rank I with Moderate to Severe Disabilities is a field that requires knowledge in how to provide core curriculum to students who have moderate to severe disabilities. These children are in the mainstream regular classroom, so it will assist teachers in knowing how to provide for them,” Dr. Proffitt said.
Proffitt added that teachers with LBD background will find this certificate program will qualify them for all areas of disabilities and serving all disability areas.
New Foundations & Core Program, New Majors Have Future in Mind
This fall, Georgetown College is offering a new program, two new majors and a popular, new minor – all with an eye toward preparing students for future careers and the global community.
This fall we are introducing the Foundations and Core Program, our new approach to general education requirements. The new program introduces two common Foundations courses designed to integrate development of academic skills with the building of a campus culture of intellectual inquiry. Overall, the program unites a multi-level focus on academic skill development (Foundations) with a broad-based approach to investigating areas of inquiry in traditional liberal arts disciplines (Core).
The college is also introducing two new majors: Computational Sciences, an interdisciplinary major combining mathematics, computer science, and natural sciences; and German Studies.
In addition, the Sociology department is now offering a minor in Sustainable Community Development, which can also be pursued as an area of emphasis inside the Sociology major.
Here’s more from Georgetown College Provost Rosemary Allen on the key first course, Foundations 111:
“This course lives up to its name: it is designed to provide a firm foundation for student success throughout their college career. We are focusing intensely on key academic skill development—specifically reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking. At the same time, these skills are not divorced from content; we are also providing a condensed “great books” survey of the major eras in western civilization, with the intent of giving students a road map that will help them organize and understand their journey through all the liberal arts disciplines.”
“We believe that students taking this class will have an opportunity to explore a broad range of areas of interest—from philosophy and literature to science and economics to art and music, all in the context of how our culture has developed since the classical era. When students are intrigued by issues that arise, we can guide them into both additional Foundations and Core classes and into areas that they may wish to consider as their academic major.”
“With this foundation, we are laying the groundwork for the future of our students. Foundations 111 is just the first part of a larger program, Foundations and Core, that is designed to take students through progressively more challenging skill development tasks that will make it possible for them to become the innovative, flexible, critical thinkers that today’s employers are demanding.”
On the program as a whole:
“The Foundations and Core program will lead our students through the many levels of development that college students must experience. We will not only teach key skills, but make sure that those skills are reinforced over the course of the students’ college careers. We will ensure that they develop the flexibility of mind that comes from exploring a variety of subject areas (what we call “areas of inquiry”), and we ask them to be prepared to engage with our increasingly global community. At the same time, we will continue true to our Christian mission by making sure that our students include religious perspectives in their intellectual development.”
Chad Ocho Cinco Soldiers for Giving
CINCINNATI, August 10, 2010
Photo by Benjamin S. Rossi
Ocho Cinco Soldiers for Giving of Cincinnati and Dayton are hosting their first Give Back event on Thursday, August 12th at Bengals training camp at Georgetown College. Ocho Cinco Soldiers will collect canned goods, gift cards and cash donations to benefit the A.M.E.N. House of Georgetown, Kentucky.
The A.M.E.N. House is a Scott County Kentucky charitable organization that serves over 400 families a month. This year with the poor economy they have a greater need but fewer donations. All donations collected at Bengals training camp gates on Thursday will go directly to A.M.E.N. House.
The Ocho Cinco Soldiers for Giving group is dedicated to the mission of giving back in the communities where they live, work and play. The Ocho Cinco Soldiers performed acts of charity earlier this year when they accompanied Chad on the Tour for Giving that kicked off in Cincinnati, Ohio at the Free Store Food Bank, then stopped at the Children’s Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and included a flag football game at the Orlando, Florida Rescue Mission.
For further information please contact:
Nancy Pessler
PCG/Pessler Consulting Group
Marketing/Research/Project Management
513.410.0094
npessler@cinci.rr.com
