First Annual Keys to L.E.A.D. Award Presented to Professor Olon F. Dotson

By Holly Rittenhouse

“We have come a great distance, but we have a distance to go.” – Dr. Linda D. Keys

Olon Dotson

On behalf of members of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS), College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) Professor Olon F. Dotson received the first annual Keys to L.E.A.D. Award for his leadership in the areas of social change, environmental awareness, and design.

The Keys to L.E.A.D. award is named after the late Dr. Linda D. Keys who served as an advocate for social and environmental awareness. Keys’ legacy extends throughout the College of Architecture and Planning, Ball State University, Muncie, and beyond. On Thursday, April 9th, friends, family, colleagues, and students of Keys spoke about her lasting impact.

John Bailey

John Bailey, Dr. Keys’ brother, spoke during the presentation. He said, “She considered Muncie to be a treasure. I could live one hundred years, and I never could have done as much for Muncie as she did.”

Sarah Mitchell, a 2006 CAP graduate and city planner for Richmond, Indiana was “very grateful and honored” to speak on Dr. Keys’ behalf. She said, “I wasn’t a perfect student, but I did learn so much from her. She showed tough love. She definitely encouraged me.”

Those who spoke about Keys portrayed her as dedicated, passionate, intellectual, and loving. Bailey said, “I want you to remember her for her love.” According to Bailey, Keys held the philosophy that “You can do more for people when you love them.”

“So share the love,” Bailey said, “and when you think of Linda, think of love.”

Sarah Mitchell

Like Dr. Keys, Dotson’s impact expands throughout Muncie and around the world as he pushes for design accountability and social justice. His work lays a firm foundation for generations to follow.

Dotson’s work has inspired countless CAP graduates of all races and ethnicities to initiate change in their own communities. “He opened my eyes to the design inequalities” that exist today, one of Dotson’s students said.

Presenters said that Dotson “has displayed an unwavering commitment” to the students in the College of Architecture and Planning.

Dotson believes in the “pay it forward” philosophy in which the beneficiary of a good deed repays it to other people instead of to the original benefactor. One student felt that speaking on Dotson’s behalf was his “opportunity to pay it forward” after Dotson had done so much for him.

Dotson closed the presentation with a call to do more. He said we should “celebrate” the progress we have made thus far in the areas of social change, environmental awareness, and design, “but not be satisfied.”

Olon Dotson receiving the first annual 

Keys to L.E.A.D. award from 

John Bailey, Dr. Linda D. Keys’ brother.

The 2015 Student Symposium at Ball State University

The 20th Annual Student Symposium at Ball State University took place on Tuesday, March 31, 2015. The event was held on the second floor of the L.A. Pittenger Student Center and included a poster display session, moderated paper presentations and an award ceremony.

Setup for the Student Symposium began on Monday when students participating in the poster session had an opportunity to set up their displays that afternoon. Poster set up continued early Tuesday morning at 6 a.m. As setup came to a close the 15 faculty members who served as this year’s judges gathered in the Pineshelf room. They received binders containing scoring sheets for each project they were responsible for evaluating. Each judge was given approximately 30 projects to score and each project was scored by three individual judges. The judges evaluated each project display based on numerous criteria, including the clarity of the project’s objectives, methodology, conclusions (or, in the case of projects still in process, potential impact), originality, intellectual merit, organization, visual appeal of the display and clarity in writing. The judges’ scores were then tallied by Student Symposium staff. At 1 p.m. the ballroom was opened for public viewing of the posters displays. By the end of the day more than 400 people (including Symposium participants, students, faculty/staff, and members of the public) had visited the ballroom to view the poster displays.

For the second-year, the Student Symposium included moderated paper presentations, which took place in various locations on the second floor. The number of paper presentations rose from nine entries the previous year to 19 paper presentations registered for the 2015 Student Symposium. The six paper sessions were Studies in Speech and Language, Physical and Health Sciences, Spaces and Environment, Issues in Higher Education, Issues in Business, and Peace Ethics and Social Issues. Ball State faculty members and doctoral students moderated the sessions.

At the conclusion of the poster and paper sessions Student Symposium participants and guests made their way to Cardinal Hall for the presentation of the Keys/Litten/Smith awards. Dr. Robert Morris, Associate Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, gave remarks thanking everyone who had participated for making the 2015 Student Symposium at Ball State University a success. Dr. Morris then presented the Keys/Litten/Smith Awards. These awards honor Linda Keys, Jeffrey Litten and Sandra Smith. These three Ball State University staff members served in the Sponsored Projects Administration (formerly the Office of Academic Research and Sponsored Projects) for a combined total of thirty years. They were instrumental in developing the Symposium as the premier event for students to highlight their work and were avid supporters of student research and creative endeavors. The awards recognize students for their outstanding research or creative endeavors presented at the Student Symposium. Listed below are the 2015 award winners.

Display Award Winners: 

Natalie Abell (Biology)
The Influence of Saltwater Intrusion on Georgia Tidal Freshwater Forests 
Faculty Mentor: Melody Bernot (Biology)

Nick Harmes & Joey Klahn (Biology)
RiverPACE: Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) in The White River Compared to National Data 
Faculty Mentor: Jesse Becker (Biology)

Jack Omstead, Erin Moreno, Alyssa Reese & Tyreese Love (English)
Representing Religion in Comics 
Faculty Mentor: Jeffrey Brackett (Philosophy and Religious Studies)

Content Award Winners: 

Koby Bluitt (Theatre and Dance)
Peace for the Youth Through the Works of Theater 
Faculty Mentor: Gerald Waite (Center for Peace and Conflict Studies)

Riley Carswell (Biology)
Mating Defense in the Long-Clawed Hermit Crab (Pagurus longicarpus) 
Faculty Mentor: Tim Carter (Biology)

Kimi Dahl (Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science)
Load Distribution and Postural Changes When a Traditional Backpack Versus the BackTpack 
Faculty Mentor: Clark Dickin (Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science)

Jason Doll (Biology)
Estimating Capture Probabilities of Common Stream Fish in the Eastern Corn Belt Plain Faculty Mentor: Thomas Lauer (Biology)

Lilly Gu (Biology)
Light and Temperature Interact to Regulate the Response of Algae and Heterotropic Bacteria to Elevated Nutrient Levels in a Boreal Peatland 
Faculty Mentor: Kevin Wyatt (Biology)

For the official 2015 20th Annual Student Symposium at Ball State University Program (PDF) CLICK HERE.

Photos from the 2015 Student Symposium will be posted shortly to the website, blog, and Facebook.
If you are interested in registering for next year’s Student Symposium, in January 2016 make sure to check out the Student Symposium homepage, the Research Blog, or the Sponsored Projects Administration Facebook page. There you can find out more information about the annual Student Symposium, as well as helpful grant-funding information, research, and educational events.

2013-14 Researcher of the Year and Creative Endeavor Awardee Lectures

Researcher of the Year and Creative Endeavor Awardee Lecture

Monday, April 14, 2014

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Art & Journalism Building, Room 225

The Sponsored Programs Office is pleased to invite you to attend the annual Researcher of the Year and Creative Endeavor Awardee Lecture! Each year following the announcement of the Outstanding Researcher of the Year and Outstanding Creative Endeavor of the Year,  the Sponsored Programs Office (SPO) hosts a presentation event for each recipient to lecture and discuss their work for the campus community. This year's event will by held on Monday, April 14th at the Arts & Journalism Building (Room 225) from 2 pm to 3:30 pm. 

For additional information regarding previous Researchers of the Year and Creative Endeavor Awardees, please visit the SPO website at www.bsu.edu/spo. 

Tom Holtgraves

Department of Psychological Science

2013-14 Researcher of the Year

Researching Language to Span Academic Boundaries

Matt Mullins

Department of English

2013-14 Creative Endeavor Awardee

Interactive Literature and Digital Media

The 2014 Student Symposium at Ball State University

The 19th Annual Student Symposium at Ball State University was held Tuesday, April 1, 2014. The event was held on the second floor of the L.A. Pittenget Student Center. Poster and multi-media displays were set up in the ballroom and moderated paper presentations, a new addition this year, took place in various locations on the second floor.

 The Keys/Litten/Smith awards were presented at the completion of the Symposium in Cardinal hall. These awards were established on behalf of Linda Keys, Jeffrey Litten, and Sandra Smith, who served in the Sponsored Programs Office for a combined total of thirty years. The awards recognize students for their outstanding research or creative endeavors presented at the Student Symposium. Six awards are given every year; two for outstanding displays and four for excellence in project content. Listed below are the 2014 award winners.

Display Award Winners:

Heather Daly 
Psychological Science
Psychophysiological Responses to Isolated Musical Chord Progressions 
Faculty Mentor: Don Ester
Music Education

Yi-Hsin Liu 
Natural Resources and Environmental Management
Nitroglycerin Decomposition in Soil as Affected by Presence of Co-Contaminants 
Faculty Mentor: John Pichtel
Natural Resources and Environmental Management

Content Award Winners:

Kayla Kmiecik 
Physical Education, Sport,and Exercise Science
Biomechanical Analysis of a Backward Somersault Landing and Drop Landing in Female Gymnasts Faculty Mentor: Henry Wang
Physical Education, Sport,and Exercise Science

Nolan Pachciarz 
Biology
The Effects of Dilantin on Male Fertility and Sperm Indices in Mice 
Faculty Mentor: Clare Chatot
Biology

Emily Johann 
Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise
Science Influence of Drop Height and Fatigue on Landing Mechanics in Recreationally Active Females 
Faculty Mentor: Clark Dickin
 Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

Jamie Lau 
Biology
Comparing Five Macroinvertebrate Indices of Integrity: Are We Meeting National Water Quality Monitoring Intent?
Faculty Mentor: Thomas Lauer
Biology

Third Annual Grantsmanship Information Session

Each year, the Sponsored Programs Office offers a number of Grantsmanship Information Sessions (GIS) for Ball State affiliates and this year, the third annual (GIS) will be held on Monday, February 3rd, 2014. The event will take place on the second floor of the Student Center from 1:30 - 4:00 pm.

Dr. David Stone, Associate Vice President for Research at Northern Illinois University will present a keynote address titled Research at Ball State Redefined: Empowering Faculty. A Knowledge Unit Meet & Greet that fosters interdisciplinary research and explores potential opportunities for collaboration is scheduled to follow the keynote address.

Campus Knowledge and Support Units in attendance will include:

• Applied Anthropology Laboratories
• Center for Energy Research/Education/Service
• Center for International Development
• Center for Middletown Studies
• Center for Peace and Conflict Studies  
• Social Science Research Center 

A number of Concurrent Information Sessions are scheduled to take place at various locations throughout the Student Center:

Positioning New Faculty for Success in Research 

Dr. David Stone will present several research practices to help build a solid foundation for new faculty members to successfully begin their research agenda.  

Fulbright Scholar Information Session

Mr. Justin Miller, Director of Sponsored Programs will introduce the Fulbright Scholar Program which sends both faculty and professionals abroad each year as they conduct research in various academic and professional fields.

Professionalize Your Approach to Grantsmanship

SPO Program Manager, Dr. Stanley Geidel will discuss a professional approach to seeking external funding by examining three important roles that faculty occupy in the Academy: the roles of professor, principal investigator, and grantseeker. 

New Ways to Approach Private and Foundation Funding
This presentation will explore the current state of private funding while examining the trends that colleges and universities should consider when applying for grants offered by corporations and foundations. 

To RSVP for this event click here. For questions, please contact the Sponsored Programs Office at SPO@BSU.edu or call 5-1600. You can also join the event Facebook page!

2014 Student Symposium is Here!

It's that time of year again, registration for the 2014 Student Symposium is now open!

The Student Symposium at Ball State University offers students an opportunity to present their research and creative endeavors to the campus community. Presentations may be in the form of a poster, a creative work or a digital display. A new feature this year is the addition of moderated paper presentations.

All Ball State University students are eligible including those from Burris Laboratory and the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities. Students from all disciplines are welcomed and encouraged to participate. Participating students must have engaged in academic activities either inside or outside the classroom and must have been advised by a Ball State faculty mentor.

The Student Symposium is a great way to gain practical and professional experience as well as learn about the broad range of opportunities available on campus. As with previous years, CASH PRIZES will also be awarded for the most outstanding poster presentations so don't miss out on your opportunity to be apart of the 2014 Student Symposium here at Ball State University.

Registration Details: 
* Deadline is Friday, February 3rd at 5 pm
* Registration is available online at www.bsu.edu/spo
Event Date: Tuesday, April 1st (1:30 pm - 5:00 pm)
Event Location: L.A. Pittenger Student Center Ballroom, 2nd Floor
Contact Information: Ms. Jessie Roark at SPO.BSU@gmail.com or (765) 285-5003

The Student Symposium at Ball State University social media outlets:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studentsymposiumatbsu
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BSU_SPO ‐‐ Hashtag #ssbsu14

Ball State University Hosts Midwest Writers Workshop

This year Ball State University hosted the Midwest Writers Workshop conference which is a yearly gathering of agents, editors, and publishing professionals with a mission of helping individuals become published authors.

After applying for a grant through the Discovery Group, Ball State University Associate Professor of English, Cathy Day was able to bring the two day event to Ball State's campus. Many Ball State English students were capable of attending the two days of panels, presentations and forums by industry professionals as either a paid intern or scholarship winner.

During the conference, students were educated on how to create and format an e-book as well as build an author website. Conference attendees had an opportunity to schedule a free, 50-minute social media consulting session with the goal of recommending ways to improve online literary citizens. They were also able to spend an hour and a half talking to literary agent Brooks Sherman.

Please visit Cathy Day's Website to learn about all the exciting work that took place during the conference.

Grants Information Session (G.I.S.) Call for Poster Presentations – Deadline January 23

The 2nd Annual Grants Information Session (G.I.S.) will be held on Monday February 25, 2013 in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center from 1:30-3:00. New to the event is a Research Symposium that will recognize the achievements of faculty and professional personnel who have received funding for their research or creative projects.

The Sponsored Programs Office invites all faculty and professional personnel who have received funding (internal or external) for their research or creative projects to present their findings. This is an opportunity to share your work with the campus community, learn about others’ scholarship, and explore potential collaborations.

Eligible Participants: Faculty and professional personnel who have received funding for their research or creative projects (due to space constraints, posters will be limited to the first 150 registrants.)

Poster Guidelines: Abstract and poster guidelines can be found here

Application Deadline: To register, submit completed application form by January 23, 2013

For additional information, please contact the Sponsored Programs Office at 285-1600 or email us.