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Downtown Day on the Bus: Area university faculty learn from industry and civic leaders
 

Old National Bank sponsored the fourth annual Day on the Bus, a collaborative effort by the University of Southern Indiana, Ivy Tech Community College, the University of Evansville, and Vincennes University to orient new faculty to the downtown community, businesses, and industry. Over 40 faculty members from the four institutions  joined community business leaders at Old National Bank headquarters downtown on August 11, 2009 for a breakfast. Kathy Schoettolin, executive vice president and director of Marketing and Communications for Old National Bank, gave a presentation.

Following the breakfast session, the faculty boarded the bus to visit Berry Plastics, Innovation Pointe, and Deaconess Hospital, ending the day with a "State of the Downtown Address" by Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel, followed by tours of the downtown lofts. The attendees for the Day on the Bus were faculty new to the Evansville region who want to become familiar with the downtown area the businesses, restaurants, and the culturally stimulating areas that downtown Evansville has to offer.


During the tours of the various businesses, the faculty had an opportunity to hear first hand from employers how well their institutions are preparing students to enter the regional workforce and suggestions on improvements. Dr. Linda L. M. Bennett, president of the University of Southern Indiana, said, "This program is an important part of the learning exchange between our faculty and the community. We appreciate Old National Bank's sponsorship of this great opportunity to enrich the learning environment within our regional higher education institutions."

 

The USI faculty and staff that attended the Downtown Day on the Bus 2009 were: Elissa Bakke, Bobbie Brown, Julie Edmister, Brandon Eggleston, Sue Ellspermann, Joan Kempf DeJong, Jean Devine, Priya Hewavitharanage, Vanessa Hunn, Zane Mohr, Ken Purcell, Gene Recker, Natasha Smith, Stephen Spencer, Anne Statham, Daniela Vidal, and Michelle White.