Thursday, October 31, 2013

UIS women's basketball hopes depth sparks success

Senior guards Megan Bergerud and Alyssa Palmer have a clear vision of what the upcoming University of Illinois Springfield women’s basketball season should look like.

“We want a winning season,” Palmer said.

Added Bergerud, “And make the conference tournament. It would be the first in school history. It would be cool to be a part of that.”

The Prairie Stars finished the 2012-13 season with a 6-20 overall record and a 3-15 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. They placed eighth and last in the GLVC West Division.

UIS kicks off the new year with an exhibition at NCAA Division I Bradley at 7 p.m. Friday. Then it’s another two weeks of practice before the season opener Nov. 15 against host Missouri Western.

The team was featured by The State Journal-Register on October 31, 2013.

Read the article online

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

UIS Peoria Center to offer graduate level courses

Community leaders' efforts to establish a four-year public university in Downtown Peoria are beginning to bear fruit. At least the seeds are beginning to sprout.

The University of Illinois at Springfield expects to launch graduate classes in health-care administration this summer at the school's Peoria Center, based at Illinois Central College's Perley Building in the Downtown.

UIS is also exploring offering undergraduate classes in computer science and an MBA program for teachers at the Downtown campus. Last week, UIS Peoria Center expanded its offices to take up the entire second floor of the Perley Building and added more classroom space on the third floor.

"We're expanding our programs and expanding our space," said Joyce Shotick, the new director of UIS Peoria Center.

UIS currently offers an accelerated MBA program at the Peoria Center along with graduate certificate programs in human resource management, information technology project management, entrepreneurship, business intelligence and business process management.

Informational sessions on the MBA program will be at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 14 and Nov. 19 at the Perley Building, 115 SW Adams.

Shotick said UIS Peoria Center could begin offering undergraduate classes in computer science by the summer of 2014. "We're trying to see what kind of demand there is," she said.

The story was featured by the Peoria Journal Star on October 30, 2013.

Read the story online

UIS men's basketball team tries to bounce back from 8-19 season

The University of Illinois Springfield men’s basketball team should have the luxury of interchangeable parts this season, and it could be a key to the Prairie Stars’ success.

“There’s a lot of different pieces,” UIS coach Ben Wierzba said of his roster. “They’re doing everything we’ve asked. They’ve come in early getting extra workouts. They’re coming in shooting extra and doing extra conditioning before and after practice. So it has been a good chemistry. It’s not just one guy coming in, but three or four guys coming in together.”

Last season was a roller-coaster ride for the Stars.

UIS failed to win back-to-back games on its way to an 8-19 overall record and a 6-12 Great Lakes Valley Conference mark. The highlight was a 73-71 upset of No. 10 Southern Indiana in January.

“I’d like to see us win a lot more,” UIS senior guard Brandon Snowden said. “We can win this year, be a contender in our side of the conference and get into the conference tournament."

The team was featured by The State Journal-Register on October 30, 2013.

Read the story online

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Blue Madness basketball Nov. 7 at UIS

The University of Illinois Springfield will kick off basketball season with Blue Madness on Nov. 7 at The Recreation and Athletic Center at 9:30 p.m.

The event is free and includes introductions of the men’s and women’s teams, intra-squad scrimmages, a 3-point contest and interactive games with spectators.

Doors open at 9 p.m. The first 400 fans receive a free t-shirt. Prizes are also available.

The story was featured by The State Journal-Register on October 29, 2013.

Read the story online

Efforts still under way to reschedule Willie Nelson

Sangamon Auditorium is still working to reschedule last month’s postponed Willie Nelson Concert.

Jen Tibbs, marketing director for Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, said a date for the concert has not been set.

“We’re still working on it. We’re optimistic it’s going to happen,” Tibbs said.

Nelson was scheduled to play at Sangamon Auditorium Sept. 27, but the show was postponed after doctors told Nelson he should rest his shoulder for week. Shows in Indiana and Michigan were also cancelled.

Nelson has since returned to the stage.

The story was featured by The State Journal-Register on October 29, 2013.

Read the story online

Friday, October 25, 2013

UIS men's basketball team picked 6th in GLVC East

The University of Illinois Springfield men’s basketball team was voted in a preseason coaches poll to finish sixth out of eight teams in the East Division of the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

The Prairie Stars had an 8-19 overall record, posted a 6-12 conference mark and finished sixth in the East Division last season.

Bellarmine, an NCAA Division II Elite Eight qualifier, was voted to win the division with nine first-place votes. Nos. 2-4, Southern Indiana, Indianapolis and Lewis, also received first-place votes. Wisconsin-Parkside was voted fifth followed by UIS, Saint Joseph’s and McKendree.

Defending national champion Drury is at the top of the West Division poll with 10 first-place votes. Maryville was voted second in the West and received six first-place votes. Next were Missouri-St. Louis, Quincy, Truman State, William Jewell, Missouri S&T and Rockhurst.

The story was featured by The State Journal-Register on October 25, 2013.

Read the story online

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Goecks, Wherley lead UIS to men's golf title

University of Illinois Springfield freshman Nathan Goecks shot the low round for the UIS Island Getaway and tied teammate Jacob Wherley for first place Tuesday.

Goecks fired a 73 after an 81 Monday at the River Course. Goecks and teammate Jacob Wherley tied for first place at 154. Wherley shot back-to-back 77s.

The Prairie Stars won the team title. UIS posted a 621 and finished six strokes ahead of runner-up Jackson State.

UIS senior Zach Szuminski tied for seventh at 158 after rounds of 77 and 81. Freshman teammate Talon Supak shot an 82 and 87 to tie for 11th with a 160. UIS sophomore Nick Tannahill also tied for 11th with an 81 and 79 for 160.

The win was featured by The State Journal-Register on October 23, 2013.

Read the article online

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Carl Sandburg College signs partnership with UIS

Carl Sandburg College students pursuing a career in accounting and business administration now have an opportunity to transfer seamlessly to the University of Illinois Springfield-Peoria Center after graduating with an associate degree.

The partnership was made official Monday as CSC president Lori Sundberg and UIS Dean of the College of Business and Management Ronald McNeil signed the agreement simultaneously.

Under the agreement, students who graduate CSC with an associate degree are eligible to utilize the partnership and complete their bachelor’s degree in accounting or business administration in just two more years.

“Education is essential today,” McNeil said. “It’s the only way any student, or anybody, can survive, and what you do is great ... because you have support mechanisms that are great for students.”

The story was reported by the Galesburg Register-Mail on October 22, 2013.

Read the article online

UIS golfer Cox leads in Puerto Rico

University of Illinois Springfield freshman Marc Cox is atop the leaderboard after shooting a 2-over-par 74 Monday, and the second-place Prairie Stars are four strokes back after the first round of the UIS Island Getaway tournament at River Course.

Cox is two strokes ahead of teammate Kent Gregory, who shot a 76 and is in a three-way tie for second. Jake Wherley, Zachary Szuminski and Trevor Flota each shot 5-over 77s as UIS finished with a team score of 312. Jackson State leads the tournament with a 308 heading into today’s final round.

The team was featured by The State Journal-Register on October 22, 2013.

Read the article online

Monday, October 21, 2013

1,550 run in inaugural Springfield Marathon races

The marathon course had runners exiting the north side of the University of Illinois Springfield campus and heading out of the city limits into parts of Rochester and Cotton Hill townships before eventually finishing back on campus.

Jacksonville native Mark Saunders, who now lives in Fort Collins, Colo., finished first overall in the 26.2 mile race with a time of 2:51:12. Another central Illinois native, Kathy Hoving, 37, who now lives in Indonesia, finished in first place in the women’s division with a time of 3:14:25.

It was nearly 13 years ago, when Hoving was 24, that she finished her very first marathon in Chicago with a time of 3:36. But on Sunday, she was happy to achieve a new personal best.

“I was very pleasantly surprised,” Hoving said, adding that she was proud to have participated in a marathon so close to her hometown of Tremont.

The marathon was featured by The State Journal-Register on October 21, 2013.

Read the story online

Men's soccer: Stars win behind del Moral

Senior Nicolas Alonso del Moral scored twice in the second half to push the University of Illinois Springfield past Maryville 3-1 in a Great Lakes Valley Conference match on Sunday.

Junior Nikita Fadeev opened the scoring with a goal in the 18th minute for a 1-0 lead, with del Moral getting the assist.

The 1-12 Saints’ Kevin Ptacek scored to tie the score 1-1 late in the first half. But del Moral scored on a long shot to regain the lead for UIS about 4 minutes into the second half.

In the 88th minute, del Moral added an insurance goal as the Prairie Stars improved to 6-9 overall and 5-7 in the GLVC. UIS goalkeeper Jack Turanchik made four saves and got his fifth win.

The win was featured by The State Journal-Register on October 20, 2013.

Read the article online


Thursday, October 17, 2013

UIS women's soccer ends 11-game losing streak

Junior Kim Tokarski scored twice in the second half against North Central College and helped the University of Illinois Springfield to a 3-2 win that snapped a string of 11 straight losses.

North Central (2-9-1) took a 1-0 lead midway through the first half of the non-conference match at Kiwanis Stadium. UIS junior Ashley Surface tied the match at 1-all 17 minutes before halftime. Tokarski put the Prairie Stars ahead less than five minutes into the second half. She then stretched the lead to 3-1. Tokarski and Surface attempted six shots apiece.

Goalkeeper Robin Damron logged four saves for UIS (2-11).

The win was featured by The State Journal-Register on October 17, 2013.

Read the article online

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

How to tell if an online program is accredited

Back when Lauren Marrett wanted to be an art major, she didn't care much about whether her school was accredited or by whom.

It was the quality of her art portfolio that mattered, she thought, not the reputation of her college.

She enrolled in a for-profit online college lacking regional accreditation. But six months into her schooling, she started to get nervous about how employers would view her school.

"I started to think, 'Art is a competitive field and I need a backup plan,'" says the 23-year-old, who eventually transferred to the University of Illinois Springfield, a college with solid academic credentials. "I wanted to go online and have it be a legitimate school."

With a little bit of Google research, Marrett got to the bottom of a problem that plagues many online students: how to determine whether a school has recognized accreditation – verification by an outside, legitimate authority that a college or university provides an education that meets certain standards.

Marrett was featured by U.S. News & World Report on October, 16, 2013.

Read the article online

Monday, October 14, 2013

Susan Koch: Theatre, an important university experience at UIS

The following is a portion of a guest column written by UIS Chancellor Susan J. Koch. It was published in the October 13, 2013 edition of The State Journal-Register.

"The university experience comes with a great many important decisions: what major to choose, what courses to take, what activities to pursue, how to manage the financial burden of school, to name a few.

Like most, I made those choices, too. But perhaps the best decision I made as an undergraduate had nothing whatever to do with my major. I decided to try out for a play and became, at least for a few months, Bella Manningham, whose diabolical husband was trying to drive her insane in the classic Victorian thriller, “Angel Street.”

The performance won me the best actress award for that year; but being involved with theatre proved far more valuable than the little plastic trophy that still sits on my bookshelf.

I was reminded of that valuable experience and how lucky I had been to attend a university with a strong theatre program when I had a conversation recently with University of Illinois Springfield Theatre professors Eric and Missy Thibodeaux-Thompson. They, along with their colleague, Dathan Powell, are building an intellectually vibrant and engaging theatre program at the University of Illinois’ Springfield campus."

Read the full column online

New partnership for Black Hawk College

A local college is teaming up with the University of Illinois Springfield to make transfers easier.

The new partnership with Black Hawk College in Moline will allow students to move all of their credits to the school seamlessly. And even though it's only for select majors, school officials say it will save students time and money.

But they also say students must do one thing before taking advantage of the program.

"The best thing that any student can do is check with out advisors and schedule and appointment," said Dr. Bettie Truitt of Black Hawk College. "The advisors here will make sure they're enrolled in the particular curriculum that's appropriate for them and get them on the right educational pathway from day one."

Another partnership perk, students will also be invited to participate in UIS campus life and activities while still at Black Hawk.

The partnership was reported by WHBF-TV on October 11, 2013.

Read the story online

Thursday, October 10, 2013

PBS' Mr. Steve to perform at UIS

Children’s artist Steve Roslonek of SteveSongs will perform at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday at the University of Illinois Springfield’s Sangamon Auditorium Studio Theatre in Springfield.

Roslonek, considered a rising star on the national children’s music scene, creates music featuring smart lyrics, catchy melodies and messages that appeal to both children and adults. He has five full-length CDs, a DVD and two volumes of children’s music from his role as Mr. Steve on the PBS Kids morning block, which features a schedule of cartoon favorites geared toward children.

As part of Friday’s pre-show activities, the PNC Grow Up Great Mobile Learning Adventure will be on site for children ages 2 to 5 to explore interactive learning kiosks, have their photo taken at the “When I Grow Up” station and receive take-home activity books.

The story was featured by the Jacksonville Journal Courier on October 10, 2013.

Read the article online

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Ramirez, UIS capture golf titles

Becca Ramirez took medalist honors Sunday and led the University of Illinois Springfield to the title of the Dan Salisbury Memorial Collegiate Invitational at The Rail Golf Course.

UIS finished 30 strokes ahead of the next closest team, Ashford, which finished with a 36-hole team score of 675.

Ramirez, a Springfield High School graduate, shot a final-round 75 to finish at 12-over-par 156. Freshman Jocelyn Matsen of Rochester was one stroke behind Ramirez with a 157. Graduate student Casara Marsaglia of Thayer rounded out the top five finishers, placing fourth with a 79-86—165 total.

UIS senior Caitlin Osborn tied for 11th with 85-85—170, including 18 pars. Freshman Jessica Lieber tied for 13th with a total of 85-86—171.

The tournament was featured by The State Journal-Register on October 8, 2013.

Read the article online



Wally Henderson named 2013 SJ-R First Citizen

Wally Henderson, a longtime architect, preservationist and community activist who helped raise Springfield’s profile nationally, was given the 2013 State Journal-Register First Citizen Award during a breakfast ceremony Friday at the Old State Capitol.

Formerly a principal partner at Ferry & Henderson Architects and now retired, Henderson designed the renovation of the Old State Capitol in the 1960s, when the landmark was restored to its appearance during Lincoln’s era.

Henderson’s projects also included the Willard Ice Building, the Public Affairs Building at the University of Illinois Springfield and the SJ-R building.

Henderson has taken part in many local organizations, including Downtown Springfield Inc., the Sangamon County Historical Society and the Springfield Area Arts Council. He was an early supporter of higher education in Springfield and was involved with the UIS Foundation.

The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on October 4, 2013.

Read the article online

Three second-half goals lift UIS men's soccer team

University of Illinois Springfield junior Nikita Fadeev broke open a scoreless game with a second-half goal, then senior teammate Mark Czarny scored about two minutes later and the Prairie Stars beat Saint Joseph’s 3-1 Friday in a Great Lakes Valley Conference match.

Fadeev scored six minutes after halftime. A goal by sophomore Bryan Lucas goal put the Stars up 3-0. UIS is 5-5 overall, 4-3 in the GLVC. The Pumas fell to 2-6-1, 1-6.

The team was featured by The State Journal-Register on October 6, 2013.

Read the article online