Friday, March 02, 2007
Trustees approve academic degrees and honorary degrees
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At the board meeting held March 1, 2007 in New Harmony, Indiana, the University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees approved awarding degrees to 1,291 candidates during Commencement Exercises on May 5, 2007. The number of spring graduates added to the number of graduates who received degrees during the fall commencement gives the 2006-07 class the distinction of being the largest class to graduate from USI. Jean LemMon, nationally known journalist and retired editor of Country Home magazine, will deliver the Commencement address. Trustees approved awarding her an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. They also approved awarding honorary degrees to three Evansville residents. Ms. Bettie G. Engelbrecht, corporate secretary of South Central Communications and retired public service director of WIKY Radio, will receive a Doctor of Laws honorary degree. Engelbrecht is a pioneer in Indiana radio broadcasting. She was instrumental in South Central Communications donating the AM820 frequency to USI 25 years ago. That gift has made it possible for USI to operate WSWI, a student-run radio station. Engelbrecht is a longtime member of the USI Foundation Board of Directors, and she was made a Life Director in recognition of her distinguished service. She has been a generous underwriter of the New Harmony Theatre and assisted USI in many special USI Foundation projects. Business and civic leaders Patrick and Rosemary O’Daniel will both receive Doctor of Laws degrees for their service to the Evansville community and the University. They are business leaders in the automotive industry and serve on many community boards. Patrick is a member of the USI Foundation Board of Directors, and he is presently a member of the USIF Advisory Council, which provides guidance to the Board of Directors. The O’Daniels continue a family legacy of involvement in the University and its development, begun by Patrick’s father Joe, one of the founding members of the USI Board of Trustees. In other business, the trustees approved a request from the Vanderburgh County commissioners for a perpetual easement and right-of-way to construct a bicycle path linking the University of Southern Indiana with Burdette Park. The bicycle path will be a 12-foot wide, hard surface, 2.5- mile path funded by the county. The route of the path, in planning for many years, has been considered in the master planning process for the University. Mark Rozewski, vice president for Business Affairs, said, “We are pleased to be able to support, through the granting of this easement, what we believe will be a major regional recreational amenity, and one that will be of major interest to our 10,000 students.” The trustees approved a resolution to authorize the board’s Construction Committee to review architectural proposals for the expansion and renovation of the former David L. Rice Library and recommend an architectural firm to the full board. The library space was vacated when the new David L. Rice Library opened in July 2006. The Indiana General Assembly has approved $9.75 million in bonding authorization in 2003 and $4 million in 2005 for the conversion of the space. |
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