Ireland Comes to Hickory As Lenoir-Rhyne University Visiting Writer Series Continues

Tue Sep 7 2010

The LRU Visiting Writer Series continues on Thursday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. with An Evening of Poetry and Irish Music. This event will take place in P.E. Monroe Auditorium. The event is free and tickets are not required. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The readings will be followed by a public reception with Irish music and book signing in the auditorium lobby.

The evening will include three poets that will read from and discuss their works. They are Cathy Smith Bowers, 2010 Poet Laureate of North Carolina; Joan McBreen of Sligo, Ireland; and Rhett Iseman Trull, the LRU Visiting Poet-in-Residence in the spring of 2011.

Cathy Smith Bowers was selected as the Poet Laureate of North Carolina in 2010. She is a native of South Carolina and a winner of the 1990 General Electric Award for Younger Writers and a South Carolina Poetry Fellowship. Her poems have appeared widely in publications such as The Atlantic Monthly, The Georgia Review, Poetry, Shenandoah, The Southern Poetry Review, The Southern Review, Kenyon Review, and many others. Bowers’ first book, The Love That Ended Yesterday in Texas, was published in 1992 as the first winner of the Texas Tech University Press First-book Competition in their Poetry Award Series. Bowers teaches in the MFA program in Creative Writing at Queens University of Charlotte.

Joan McBreen is from Sligo, Ireland. Her poetry collections include: The Wind Beyond the Wall (Story Line Press, 1990), and Heather Island (Salmon Poetry, 2009). Her anthology The White Page/An Bhileog Bhán: Twentieth-Century Irish Women Poets was published by Salmon in 1999 and is in its third reprint. Her CD, The Long Light on the Land: Selected Poems read to a background of traditional Irish airs and classical music, was produced by Ernest Lyons Productions, Castlebar, County Mayo in 2004. Joan McBreen’s 2009 publications include her fourth poetry collection, Heather Island and this anthology. Together with her ongoing involvement with Irish literary festivals such as the Yeats Summer School, Clifden Arts Week, Listowel Writers’ Week, and The Cúirt International Festival of Literature, since 2007 she has been Literary Advisor and coordinator of the Oliver St. John Gogarty Literary Festival at Renvyle House Hotel, Connemara, Co. Galway.

Rhett Iseman Trull is the Lenoir-Rhyne University Visiting Poet-in-Residence in the spring of 2011. Her first book of poetry, The Real Warnings (Anhinga Press, 2009), received the 2008 Anhinga Prize for Poetry. Her poems have appeared or are forthcoming in The American Poetry Review, Best New Poets 2008, Prairie Schooner, The Southern Review, and other publications. Her awards include prizes from the Academy of American Poets and the Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Foundation. She received her B.A. from Duke University and her M.F.A. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she was a Randall Jarrell Fellow. She and her husband publish the poetry journal Cave Wall in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Other upcoming programs in the Visiting Writer Series are: Sept. 30, An Evening with A.J. Jacobs; Oct. 7, An Evening with Luis Alberto Urrea; and Oct. 28, An Evening with John Granger as part of the LRU Harry Potterfest (Oct. 25-30).

The Lenoir-Rhyne University Visiting Writers Series is free to the public thanks to the support of sponsors. This year’s sponsors include Our State, Catawba Valley Community Foundation, Hickory Public Library, United Arts Council of Catawba County, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Crowne Plaza hotel of Hickory, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Home, and WFAE 90.7 FM, Your NPR News Source.

For more information about the Visiting Writers Series at Lenoir-Rhyne University, go to http://visitingwriters.lr.edu or call 828-328-7077.

Lenoir-Rhyne University to Co-Host Creativity Forum

Thu Sep 2 2010

Lenoir-Rhyne University through the Alex Lee Leadership Series will be one of the hosts of the “Creativity Forum” to be held on Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. at the SALT Block auditorium.

This program will help our community to understand the importance of creativity in our economics, to see ways to build on local assets in place to foster creativity and to provide clear steps to further enhance and harness creativity for economic development.

“Creative Communities that Work: Transforming Local and Regional Economies,” will feature Robert Bush, Senior Vice President of Cultural and Community Investment, Arts and Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Margaret Collins, Director of Creative Enterprises and the Arts, Piedmont Triad Partnership.

With almost 30 years of experience in local arts management, Robert Bush is a nationally known consultant in the areas of fundraising, arts education, grant making, organizational development and strategic planning for arts organizations. (more…)

Community Invited to Annual Family Weekend – The Best of LRU

Thu Sep 2 2010

Lenoir-Rhyne University invites alumni, friends, parents and the public to Family Weekend – The Best of LRU, a special campus event to be held Sept. 10-11.

This event will showcase Lenoir-Rhyne arts, expertise and athletics. All events except for the football game and food items are free of charge. The event will kick off with a visit by this year’s first author in the Visiting Writer Series, John Feinstein, a best-selling sportswriter whose latest book is “Moment of Glory: The Year Underdogs Ruled Golf.” Feinstein will speak at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 10 in the P.E. Monroe Auditorium.

Friday evening a dessert social and bingo will be held in the Cromer Center beginning at 9 p.m.

On Saturday, Sept. 11, the day will kick off with a parent’s session at 1:30 p.m. in Belk Centrum covering programs at LRU and how students can get involved. From 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. an Information Fair will be held in the Cromer Center lobby. University departments such as counseling, financial aid, campus ministry, health services and international programming will be available for all attendees to learn more about services on campus. (more…)

Snipes School of Business to Present “Aspects of Leadership” Series

Wed Sep 1 2010

The Charles M. Snipes School of Business at Lenoir-Rhyne University will present “Aspects of Leadership,” a series of talks by three accomplished leaders in different fields.

The series is sponsored by Alex Lee Inc. and will be moderated by Michael K. Dugan, Alex Lee Professor of Business at LRU and former CEO of Henredon Furniture. All of the seminars will take place at 7-8 p.m. in the Belk Centrum at LRU. There will be no admission charge, but seating is limited. For reservations contact Leeanne Kale at 828-328-7321.

The first session, sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank, will be Sept. 14 and will feature Mark Vitner of Wells Fargo as the keynote speaker. Panelists will include George Ackerman, Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams, Tom Minami, also with Wells Fargo Bank and Dennis Hurst.

This session will address issues facing the American economy today and what we might expect in the future. “It is our hope that this session will raise citizens awareness of economic issues,” said Dugan. “Also, to increase the understanding of the challenges we face.” An audience question and answer session will follow.

Session two will be held on Oct. 12, and discussion will revolve around “Healthcare Challenges.” This session is sponsored by Frye Regional Medical Center.

The final session, “Globalization Challenges,” will be on Nov. 16 and is sponsored by Corning Cable Systems.

Freshmen lend a hand in their new community

Mon Aug 30 2010

Over 300 new members of the Lenoir-Rhyne University community recently descended on areas throughout Catawba County as they participated in community service projects.

As part of the freshman orientation program, titled “The Rising”, the LRU class of 2014 will have opportunities to give back to the community that will be their home for at least the next four years.

The community service component of freshman orientation, “Hands on Hickory, “ will have students helping at places such as Hickory Soup Kitchen, Exodus Homes, Children’s Advocacy Center of Catawba County, local elementary schools and Rising Hope Farms just to name a few.

“We are excited to welcome this new class to L-R,” said Dr. Katie Fisher, Dean of Students. “Freshman orientation gives these students an opportunity to rise to a challenge and learn to think broadly, critically and creatively.”

Students attending Lenoir-Rhyne are challenged to “rise up” and make a difference – in their vocations, community and in service to the world beyond. The Rising orientation program is their first step in this journey.

LRU kicks off new academic year with record enrollment

Mon Aug 30 2010

Southern hospitality is in full swing as Lenoir-Rhyne University welcomes students back to campus for the 2010-11 academic year.

LRU will set an enrollment record for the second year in a row with over 1,850 students; a nearly 175-student increase from last academic year. LRU welcomes a freshman class of 430 with students coming from 28 states and 6 countries. One hundred-fifty transfer students will now call LRU home compared to 107 last year. Lenoir-Rhyne also saw a 15% increase in applications submitted. The growth in student numbers is across the board, occurring both in traditional undergraduate programs and in graduate offerings.

“The continued growth of our enrollment is a testament to our mission to be a premier educational institution in the South,” said University President Wayne Powell. “Even in this challenging economic environment, we worked diligently with prospective students and parents to pair our resources with their needs.”

Rachel Nichols, vice president of enrollment management, says that the record enrollment can be attributed to several factors – increased recruiting efforts for both undergraduate and graduate students, enhanced programs on campus to increase student retention as well as a strong transfer student initiative. (more…)

Sports author first in Lenoir-Rhyne University Visiting Writer Series

Mon Aug 30 2010

John Feinstein, one of the nation’s most successful and prolific sports writers, will be the first author in this year’s Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Visiting Writer Series.

Feinstein will speak at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10 in L-R’s P.E. Monroe Auditorium, located at 775 Sixth St. SE, Hickory. The event is free and tickets are not required. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Feinstein has written twenty-four books to date. His most recent work, Are You Kidding Me?, written with Rocco Mediate, was released on May 18, 2009. In addition, he is an award-winning columnist and regular contributor in both radio and television.

His works include the two top best-selling non-fiction sports books in history. In 1995, he published the all-time best seller A Good Walk Spoiled, a year inside life on the PGA Tour as told through seventeen players on the PGA Tour. Just behind that in sales is A Season on the Brink, which chronicled a year in the life of the Indiana basketball team and its enigmatic coach, Bob Knight. The book’s chart-topping success was also adapted to film with an ESPN production of a made-for TV movie of the same title. (more…)

Lenoir-Rhyne University and Southern Seminary exploring partnerships

Sat Aug 28 2010

The boards of Lenoir-Rhyne University and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (LTSS), along with the ELCA, will be conducting a feasibility study to determine possible partnerships between the two Carolina institutions that will enable each to draw upon the academic and theological strengths of the other and will serve a broader audience.

Preliminary discussions recently began when it became clear that the two institutions had similar goals. The possible partnership would allow each school to capitalize on its unique strengths to provide the best theological education in the South. For example, LRU offers numerous professional programs and several master’s degree programs. LTSS offers theological studies and a variety of contextual learning experiences.  By bringing these skills together students would have many more opportunities for advanced study.  “We are fortunate that both of these institutions are excelling in their respective areas,” stated Wayne Powell, LRU president. “And because of this we are excited about exploring cooperative agreements to provide the best theological education in the south.”

(more…)

LRU Equestrian Team wins award

Thu Jul 22 2010

The Lenoir-Rhyne University Equestrian Team completed its first year of competition in the Intercollegiate Dressage Association this spring. During the National Championships for the Intercollegiate Dressage Association, the Lenoir-Rhyne club team was a co-recipient of the IDA National Sportsmanship Award. From left to right are Dr. Katherine Pasour, L-R club team advisor; Alisse Waters; Carrie Mahoney; Sarah Brown, 2009-10 president; Kassie Endicott, 2010-2011 president; Leah Sigmon, president-elect; and Dana Dewey, L-R team coach.

LRU may add Actuarial Science Program

Wed Jul 21 2010

Lenoir-Rhyne University is conducting a feasibility study regarding a possible post-graduate program that would prepare students to be actuaries. This study is part of general expansion plans at LR, which are producing two or more new programs each year, focusing on economic needs of this region.

The actuarial science occupation pays high salaries and has a virtually zero unemployment rate, but few people are familiar with it. It has been consistently ranked as one of the top three professions over the last 20 years. Actuaries are professionals who use statistics to manage risk.

David Walker, director of strategic program development at Lenoir-Rhyne, is a former actuary and retired owner of a consulting firm. He is leading the feasibility study for adding an Applied Actuarial Science Program at the university. The study will review local needs for the program with regard to its potential impact on economic development.

If LRU determines that the region is in need of this kind of advanced degree program, then a curriculum will be sent to the faculty for review with the possibility that it could begin as early as the fall of 2011. This program would most likely be a post-graduate certificate that would articulate with the existing MBA program. According to the Web site www.beanactuary.org, actuaries can help evaluate the likelihood of future events, design creative ways to reduce the likelihood of undesirable events, and decrease the impact of undesirable events. (more…)