It could be argued that there has never been a time with more unrest.  I am an avid news reader, and watching world patterns over the past year has been enlightening and troubling, to say the least.  The conflict in our world saddens me, and to watch it progress every day can be worrisome.  From time to time, an article finds its way to fruition bearing a title in regards to Generation Y, the Millennial, or in more relative terms, me.  My peers, the kids that I grew up with, follow Generation X, and now we get to see what everyone has to say about us.  We are described as the up and coming, the unpredictable, the lazy, the undriven, the future.  Forbes says that by 2025, Generation Y will comprise 75% of the total workforce.  MSNBC says that we are perhaps the best-educated generation ever, but simply can’t find jobs.  As members of the Millennial generation, it is so vitally important that we inform ourselves.  Education and thirst for knowledge will re-define our future, as our past has been so defined.

There are monumental things that we Millennials have experienced in our lifetime.  We grew up to celebrate the year 2000, terrorists attacking our nation and breaking down the ones we loved, an enormous and staggering technological advance, an economic crisis second only to the great depression.  The accumulation of these things have profoundly shaped our generation.  We were, perhaps, the first generation to grow up with what some would call ‘modern technology’, i.e. the household video game system, the first standard big screen TVs, modern cell phones, and perhaps most significantly, we were the first generation that grew up with computers.  Our families had them, we played games on them, made websites, taught ourselves to design, and became accustomed early on to their seeming magical ways and creative powers.  Ever since I was little, I’ve been completely intrigued by, and good with, computers.  I’m fairly certain I  helped teach my parents how to use computers since I was in grade school!  Kiplinger has an article called ‘Technology is in their DNA,’ commenting on the way that Gen Y’s see technology as enhancing the quality of our lives, and how it is second nature to us.  The amount of knowledge and information we can access amazes me, and it has been amazing to watch the progression of technological advances that occurred since I’ve been around.  The comfort with which we rely on computers and technology and the fact that our generation is accustomed to these sciences on such a basis will lead to enormous advancement in the span of my generation.

While my talent and path may be in business, others have dreams to pursue politics, sciences, technology, education, and much more.  I am excited to see what my peers and I can accomplish once we have the chance to apply our knowledge to the world.  The advances in sciences and technology may prove to redefine our world during my time.  My future is large, and the future of our nation is enormous.  I hope my generation we will someday thrive once we take our place in the professional world.  I am looking forward to seeing the outcome of all of our hard work.

This tournament provided a final opportunity for all male Olympic hopefuls who had not previously qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Boxing. Final qualifiers will be featured at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Dr. Chaplin has presented scholarly work at domestic and international conferences on the application of economic principles to amateur boxing. His experience in Cincinnati will contribute to his academic research in this area.

Majors were informed that last year’s graduating seniors had cumulatively scored in the 95^th percentile on the nationally normed ETS exam, and that in the entire history of the Department, seniors had consistently scored in the 85^th to the 95^th percentile on the ETS.

Department Business Clubs were given the opportunity to introduce leadership, a summary of their programs, and meeting times.

• Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE), CIO Janette Bumgarner, meets Thursdays, 11:30, Harter room 203.
• Accounting Club, President Zach Perry, meets Tuesdays, 11:00 AM, Helstron room 201
• Student Managed Fund, President Josh Siverson, meets Thursdays at 11 AM in the NNU Trading Room (Helstrom room 207)
• American Marketing Association, President Lauren Hartford, meets Tuesdays, 11:30 AM, Harter room 203.

On September 20^th at 3:00p.m. in Helstrom 203, President Alexander will present NNU’s new charter to Faculty Advisor, Dr. David Chaplin. Josh Siverson, Senior in Business Administration and Economics, will be the first student inducted into ODE at NNU.

The Objectives and History of ODE are provided below:

Objectives:

The objectives of Omicron Delta Epsilon are recognition of scholast0ic attainment and the honoring of outstanding achievements in economics; the establishment of closer ties between students and faculty in economics within colleges and universities, and among colleges and universities; the publication of its official journal, The American Economist , and sponsoring of panels at professional meetings as well as the Irving Fisher and Frank W. Taussig competitions.

History:

Omicron Delta Epsilon, one of the world’s largest academic honor societies, was created in 1963 through the merger of two honor societies, Omicron Delta Gamma and Omicron Chi Epsilon. At the time of their merger both societies had 28 chapters. Omicron Delta Gamma’s chapters were primarily in the Midwestern and Pacific states while the chapters of Omicron Chi Epsilon were concentrated at Colleges and Universities along the Eastern Seaboard and in Texas.

Omicron Delta Gamma (The Order of Artus) was founded in 1915 by John R. Commons, University of Wisconsin and Frank Taussig, Harvard University through the union of the economics societies of their Universities. The intent of the society was the encouragement of a closer academic and social relationship between honor students and faculty on an informal basis, facilitating the exchange of information and views.

Omicron Chi Epsilon was the younger of the two organizations but of equal chapter strength at the time of the merger, having been founded in 1955 by Alan A. Brown while he was a student at City College of New York. From its inception, the Society sought to provide means not only to confer suitable honors on the more promising students but also to encourage scholarship by organized meetings at conferences and through the publication of its official journal.

See Campus Communicator March 21, 2011

Dear God,

I thank you today that you have brought us together here at Northwest Nazarene University for another semester of study about you and your world.

I thank you for each professor and each student who has accepted your call to come together in this place.  I thank you for the amazing talent represented by the people in this room.  I thank you for the work habits that have been honed by years of study that will allow us all to take advantage of the learning you have for us this semester.

Now we dedicate this semester to you.  I pray that all we do and say will be done for your glory and the advancement of your kingdom.

I give thanks and pray in the name of Jesus, the Christ, our Savior.

Amen

Last Fall, the AMA collegiate chapter participated in a national competition to increase awareness of the need for organ donation.  “NNU AMA set up a table in their student center to promote organ donation and register students as donors. They created a video for the event detailing the importance of organ donation. Additionally, NNU AMA creatively marketed the event by wearing and selling organ donation t-shirts. Results: Nearly 100 people registered as organ donors during this event.” (taken from AMAsaveslives.com)  Results of the competition may be seen on the national AMA website.  Congratulations to our students!

You can continue to support the AMA club’s efforts by registering and increasing awareness for organ donation at  http://www.amasaveslives.com/register.php

Dr. Bill Russell

Dr. David Alexander, president, announced recently that Professor Bill Russell, J.D., received the 2010 International Teaching Excellence Award given by the Accreditation Council of Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).  ACBSP is an international accrediting body that represents over 650 higher education business schools and programs in over 40 countries reaching from Argentina to Kazakhstan and Mongolia.  Each year, ACBSP undertakes a rigorous process to select one baccalaureate/graduate-level professor as the recipient of the award.

Dr. Bill Russell, professor of business law and ethics, received this prestigious award at the annual conference of the ACBSP in June.  Dr. Ronald Galloway, associate dean of the NNU School of Business, recommended Russell.  Following his selection as the Western U.S. Region finalist, he competed with finalists from the seven other regions around the world.  Other finalists included business faculty members from universities in India, Paraguay, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Indiana, Tennessee and Missouri.  The International Committee selected Dr. Russell unanimously as this year’s recipient.

Dr. Alexander said, “This award is exceedingly prestigious and is indicative of the level of faculty that we have teaching at NNU. We are proud to have this year’s recipient on our faculty.  Dr. Samuel Dunn, vice president for academic affairs, added, “Dr. Russell’s enthusiasm for teaching and other scholarly activities is contagious.  He is also making an outstanding contribution to the business community of the Treasure Valley as he represents the University while serving on a number of boards and in many venues.”

The Accreditation Council of Business Schools and Programs is the leading specialized accreditation association for business education supporting, celebrating and rewarding teaching excellence.  The association embraces the virtues of teaching excellence and emphasizes to students that it is essential to learn how to learn.  ACBSP acknowledges the importance of scholarly research and inquiry and believes that such activities facilitate improved teaching. Institutions are strongly encouraged to pursue a reasonable mutually beneficial balance between teaching and research.  Further, ACBSP encourages faculty involvement within the contemporary business world to enhance the quality of classroom instruction and to contribute to student learning.

Tentative itinerary plans include three days in Johannesburg with visits to the Chamber of Mines of South Africa and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.  Students will also go on safari while in the area.  A two day trip to Swaziland will include a visit to the U.S. Embassy and one of the largest hospitals in the region.  Three days in Cape Town will include visits to the Cape of Good Hope and the Simons Town penguins.

For more information, please contact Maureen Matlock at MMatlock@nnu.edu

Faculty advisor Mark Emerson with SIFE Award

The NNU SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) team received its ninth Regional Champion award and placed in the top 10 percent of competing teams at the national competition, earning the title of Second Place Runner-Up League Champions.  National competition was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May, 2010.

The presenting team consisted of Loren Pounds, MaryJo Usabel, Cortnee Crane, Blake Weber, Danielle Bickford, Jordan Brawner, Ashley Morman, and Mickie Castillo.  They represented the entire SIFE team that consists of 45 student members.  This year the team organized 12 projects in the local community, and contributed over 4,445 hours of service.

This year A School of Business graduate, Ashley Bruce, was presented with the 2010 Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) Alumna of the Year Award at the SIFE USA National Exposition in Minneapolis. Each year one outstanding SIFE alumnus who has used their SIFE experience to excel in their life and their career while making a difference in others’ lives is given the award.

SIFE CEO Ashley Morman presents NNU alumna Ashley Bruce with the SIFE Alumna of the Year Award

“The education I received that included personal investment by my professors was truly a unique experience. SIFE was by far the most important activity that I participated in during college. I learned real-life presentation, team work, project management and networking skills that have been invaluable to my success,” Bruce said.