Georgetown, KY — Further consideration of possibly changing Georgetown College’s athletics affiliation from NAIA to NCAA Division III was eliminated Saturday by vote of the College’s board of trustees. The board did, however, call for continued study of whether or not a move to NCAA Division II would be in the school’s best interest, particularly as it relates to increased academic and recruiting standards for coaches and student-athletes.

Of concern to many since discussion about a possible move to NCAA Division III began, had been the loss of athletics scholarships at Georgetown since those would not have been possible under that affiliation. Both NAIA and NCAA Division II schools are allowed to award athletic scholarships.

“We appreciate the importance of giving athletic scholarships to student-athletes who desire to attend a highly selective national liberal arts college and also participate in athletics,” said William J. Houston, chairman of Georgetown’s board of trustees. “However, we as a board must be vigilant always and evaluate every aspect of the College including athletics to assure we are positioned in the best place for the future. We have determined that a move to Division III is not the best fit for Georgetown College.”

Saturday’s decision concludes a six-month exploratory process conducted by a task force of trustees, alumni, coaches, consultants and others with an interest in Georgetown’s athletic program. “I am grateful to our research task force for their excellent work and to the trustees for their commitment  to GC,” said Bill Crouch, president. “This decision is the right one for the future of this great school.”

The trustees’ vote “takes pressure off of our current students as to what the future holds for Georgetown athletics,” said Brian Evans, athletic director, “and sends a strong message to our coaches from the College leadership about the importance that athletics brings to the academic experience of our campus.”

Georgetown, KY —An inaugural January conference entitled “Christian Life & Witness: From the Academy to the Church,” hosted on campus by the Georgetown College Center for Christian Discernment & Academic Leadership, will bring together educators, ministers and students to focus on how Christian higher education influences church life. Participants will explore the breadth of the Christian tradition (Baptist, Lutheran, Mennonite and Reformed) in pursuit of academic resources for encouraging students in creative and faithful living.

Featured speakers during the two day conference, January 23-24, 2012, are Dr. Nicholas Wolterstorff, Noah Porter Professor of Philosophical Theology (Emeritus), Yale University, and Dr. Paul  Fiddes, a British Baptist theologian, now Professor of Systematic Theology in the University of Oxford. Dr Fiddes, also a Georgetown College trustee fellow, is formerly Principal of Regent’s Park College and Chairman of the Theology Faculty.

Panelists include Dr. Perry Glanzer, Baylor University; Dr. Carla Sanderson, Union University; Dr. Corwin Smidt, Calvin College; Dr. Christopher Hall, Eastern University; Dr. Steven Harmon, Gardner-Webb University and Dr. Philip Thompson, Sioux Falls Seminary.

For more information, contact Roger Ward, Professor and Chair, Department of Philosophy, 502-863-8080, or email Roger_Ward@georgetowncollege.edu. Register online at www.georgetowncollege.edu/cdal/conferences. Registration fees which include a banquet and a lunch are $75 for non-students and $25 for students.

The cast of “Crimes of the Heart,” the Georgetown College Maskrafters fall major production, “celebrated” on the set of the Ruth Pearce Wilson Lab Theatre recently while rehearsing for the two weekend run – Oct. 21-23 and Oct. 27-29.

George McGee is directing this tragic comedy that won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for playwright Beth Henley. The Hollywood movie version of “Crimes of the Heart” came out in 1986 with an all-star cast.

Curtain time for all six shows is 8 p.m. Tickets are $3 students, $5 adults and may be reserved through the College bookstore at (502) 863-8134.

Pictured in the first photograph, clockwise from the top are: Ethan Smith, a senior from Cynthiana; Stella Hundley, a freshman from Shelbyville; Meredith Cave, a junior from Nicholasville; Cheryl Brumley, a junior from Louisville; understudy Madison Lloyd-Webster, a freshman from Paducah; and Shay McCleavy, a sophomore from Brandenburg.

At left, Jessica Casebolt, a freshman from Pikeville, gets some coaching on the set from McGee, a professor in GC’s Theatre & Performance Studies Department.

Photos are by Paul Atkinson of Rockledge Photography.

Boone County High English teacher Kimberly Shearer, center, an ’01 Georgetown College summa cum laude graduate, was named 2012 Kentucky Teacher of the Year in Frankfort on Tuesday (Oct. 18). She is flanked by Elementary School Teacher of the Year Elizabeth Ann Fuller, left, a 3rd-grade reading and writing demonstration site teacher at J.B. Atkinson Academy in Jefferson County; and Middle School Teacher of the Year Jenni Lou Jackson, an 8th-grade language arts teacher at Corbin Middle School. (Photo by Amy Wallot, Kentucky Department of Education.)

Georgetown, KY – Kimberly Pangburn Shearer ‘01, an English teacher at Boone County High School, was named the 2012 Kentucky Teacher of the Year today and honored along with 23 other outstanding teachers in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort.

“Fantastic!” exulted Provost Rosemary Allen, who was Chair of Georgetown College’s English Department when Kimberly Pangburn was an English major. A President’s Ambassador and a member of Sigma Kappa sorority, Kimberly would graduate summa cum laude.

“Kimberly was fantastic from Day One…with sheer ability and great enthusiasm,” Dr. Allen easily recalled. “Back then she was one of those students you just pray goes into teaching.”

Allen added, “You can tell when you see her, (Kimberly) is in control, she knows what she’s doing and she enjoys it.”

Shearer is the fourth with Georgetown College connections to take this top award in the 11 years Ashland Inc. and the Kentucky Department of Education have co-sponsored the Kentucky Teacher Achievement Awards.

The others in descending order:

2009 – Karen Gill, who completed the Rank I program at Georgetown in 1999; then a science teacher at Lexington’s Henry Clay High School.

2008 – Chandra Emerson Holloway, MA ’97, then a language arts teacher at Oldham County Middle School

2005 – Billie Travis, MA ’87, then a Math teacher at Georgetown Middle School

Ashland Inc., which has been giving the award since 1988, named Elizabethtown’s Mary Keith Hall ’79 the 1995 Kentucky Teacher of the Year.

According to the KDE press release, Governor Steve Beshear; Secretary of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Joseph Meyer; Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday; and Ashland Chairman and CEO Jim O’Brien were on hand to make the presentation to Kimberly Shearer and the other winners this morning.

The release also said that Shearer, a seven-year teaching veteran at Boone County High, earned a master’s degree at Northern Kentucky University and a second master’s degree at Western Kentucky University.

She serves as her school’s writing coordinator and has supervised a pre-service teacher. Shearer has presented at an ACT Summit and a National Council of Teachers of English national conference. She has been published in the Community & Junior College Libraries Journal and is a recipient of the Pulling for Kids and People Who Make a Difference awards. Shearer also was a finalist for Hixson Teacher of the Year.

KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – NEWS RELEASE October 18, 2011

(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – Kimberly Shearer, an English teacher at Boone County High School, has been named Kentucky Teacher of the Year.

The announcement was made today at a ceremony held at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort by Ashland Inc. and the Kentucky Department of Education. Governor Steve Beshear; Secretary of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Joseph Meyer; Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday; and Ashland Chairman and CEO Jim O’Brien were on hand to make the presentation.

Elizabeth Ann Fuller, a 3rd-grade reading and writing demonstration site teacher at J.B. Atkinson Academy in Jefferson County, was named 2012 Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Jenni Lou Jackson, an 8th-grade language arts teacher at Corbin Middle School in the Corbin Independent school district, was named 2012 Middle School Teacher of the Year.

The three joined 21 other teachers from across the state honored with 2012 Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Awards. Fuller and Jackson received $3,000 each and a customized, art-glass vase from Ashland Inc., while Shearer received $10,000 and a commemorative crystal-glass bowl. In addition, the Department of Education will provide a sabbatical or suitable alternative for Shearer, who also will represent the state in the 2012 National Teacher of the Year competition. The remaining 21 winners each received $500 cash awards. All 24 teachers received framed certificates and were further recognized at a luncheon following the ceremony.

KIMBERLY SHEARER

Kimberly Shearer is a seven-year teaching veteran who teaches English at Boone County High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Georgetown College, a master’s degree at Northern Kentucky University and a second master’s degree at Western Kentucky University. She serves as her school’s writing coordinator and has supervised a pre-service teacher. Shearer has presented at an ACT Summit and a National Council of Teachers of English national conference. She has been published in the Community & Junior College Libraries Journal and is a recipient of the Pulling for Kids and People Who Make a Difference awards. Shearer also was a finalist for Hixson Teacher of the Year. Her professional affiliations include the National Council of Teachers of English, Kentucky Education Association, American Library Association, Boone County Education Association and the Teaching Tolerance Southern Poverty Law Center.

ELIZABETH ANN FULLER

Elizabeth Ann Fuller is an eight-year teaching veteran who has taught reading and writing at her current school for three years. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Bellarmine University and a master’s degree at Indiana University Southeast. Fuller achieved National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification and took Harvard Graduate School of Education Wide World Learning online courses. She serves as an instructional coach and has mentored students and student teachers. Fuller also has presented at Louisville Writing Project and Kentucky Reading Association conferences. She is a Louisville Foundation grant recipient and was nominated for 2011 Gheens Innovation and Outstanding Young Educator awards. Fuller’s professional affiliations include the National and Louisville Writing projects, Kentucky Reading Association, Kentucky Reading Project and the Kentucky and National Education associations.

JINNY LOU JACKSON

Virginia (Jinny Lou) Jackson, a 12-year teaching veteran, has taught language arts at her current school for the past three years. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Eastern Kentucky University and a master’s degree and teaching certification at Union College, and she’s a candidate for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification. Jackson was listed among the Tri-County’s Top 20 Citizens by her local newspaper, in which she also was featured for innovative teaching techniques. She is a recipient of her district’s Most Caring Teacher Award, and her professional affiliations include the Kentucky Association of Professional Educators, National Board for Professional Teachers, First Priority and the Christian Educator’s Association.

This is the 11th year Ashland Inc. and the Kentucky Department of Education have co-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 2012 Ashland Inc. Teacher Achievement Award winners. To read the bios of the 24 TAA winners, visit the education section of Ashland Inc.’s website.

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 2012 Kentucky Teachers of the Year. The selection of the overall Kentucky Teacher of the Year was based on a compilation of scores from all phases of judging.

Ashland has recognized outstanding Kentucky teachers with its Teacher Achievement Awards since 1988. Approximately $631,500 has been awarded to more than 425 teachers of grades K to 12.

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Ashland’s chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical, tissue and towel, and water treatment. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations they offer through four commercial units – Ashland Specialty Ingredients, Ashland Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials and Ashland Consumer Markets (Valvoline).

MEDIA CONTACT: Lisa Y. Gross

Office: (502) 564-2015     Cellular: (502) 330-5063   E-mail: lisa.gross@education.ky.gov