Governor Eric Holcomb Directs Flags To Be Flown at Half-Staff
Governor Eric J. Holcomb is directing flags statewide to be flown at half-staff to honor former Governor Joe Kernan.
Flags should be flown at half-staff from now until sunset on Wednesday, August 5.
Gov. Holcomb also asks businesses and residents across the state to lower their flags to half-staff to honor former Gov. Kernan and his service.
Former Indiana Governor Joe Kernan Dies
Former Governor Passed away today at the age of 74.
Joseph Eugene Kernan III was an American businessman and politician who served as the 48th Governor of Indiana from 2003 to 2005. A member of the Democratic Party, Kernan previously served as Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and then as the 47th Lieutenant Governor of Indiana from 1997 to 2003.
Holcomb Statement on former Gov. Joe Kernan
Governor Eric J. Holcomb offered the following after the passing of former Gov. Joe Kernan.
“Indiana mourns the loss of Joe Kernan, a bone fide American hero, decorated Navy officer, and truly selfless statesman who always placed the interests of his fellow Hoosiers first.
 Distinguished isn’t a strong enough word to describe him. Without regard for personal cost, Joe Kernan devoted every ounce of his life, time and again, to upholding the oath he took, and serving the country and state he loved.
 Undeterred after being shot down and tortured in Vietnam, he returned and led his beloved City of South Bend as mayor for three terms, and our state as our 47th lieutenant governor. When duty called him to step into a role he didn’t seek, he served as our 48th governor.
 Through his decades of servant leadership and sacrifice, Joe Kernan modeled all the best of what it means to be a Hoosier and his legacy will continue to live on in each of us whom he inspired.
 Janet and I ask Hoosiers across our state to join us in lifting up in prayer Mrs. Kernan, their incredible family, and all whose lives he touched.â€
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Ivy Tech Community College Celebrates National Intern Day
What impact can an internship have on someone’s future career? On National Intern Day, July 30, Ivy Tech Community College wants students and employers to know that individuals can gain valuable experience – taking what they have learned and giving them the opportunity to apply to real-world situations.
According to Carrie Feltis, director of career development & employer engagement, “Internships are the ideal way for students to build a bridge between classroom/lab learning and practical application in a professional career setting. Students gain valuable, meaningful experience, while employers benefit from increased productivity and the integration of fresh perspectives and talent.â€
Nationalinternday.com states, “Created by WayUp in 2017, National Intern Day is a holiday dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the future leaders of the world: interns!â€
Eresha Amarasekara, an Ivy Tech student from Evansville working toward her Associate of Applied Science in Accounting, said her current internship with Atlas World Group has given her the opportunity to do things like, prepare monthly financial reports and maintain detailed, accurate confidential records, do accounts payable inquiries, learn software related to the field and prepare bank reconciliation statements. “Internships give you the opportunity to learn practical skills and utilize what you learned from your college,†Amarasekara said. “You can get more experience, and they are willing to provide you a reference when you apply for another job, or if you are working well, they may hire you for a full-time position.â€
“My internship kept me on my toes and helped me to hone my technique when it comes to tackling projects,†said Gina Nalley, a 2019 graduate from Newburgh who is now completing a certificate in professional communication. “I have already been able to apply the skills I learned to real-life scenarios, which has made the experience truly rewarding.â€
Nalley’s tips for future interns: “Be prepared to be flexible with your time and to abandon your comfort zone. An internship is primarily about learning and gaining experience, but it also about engaging in activities that you may never have been brave enough to do on your own.â€
Mason Clark said, “I have learned that many projects don’t quite go as planned, so it is important to have backup ideas and to be as adaptable as possible.†Clark urged other students to consider an internship, “If it is right for you, do it! It is a great way to learn about the field you are working in and get experience and knowledge about higher education or other institutions,†he said. Clark is a 2019 graduate from Evansville who is now completing a certificate in professional communication.
Ivy Tech’s Career Development office offers students and alumni a myriad of services including, but not limited to, assistance with finding and applying for internships. To find out more of what is offered, visit https://www.ivytech.edu/career-development/.
Trump EPA Continues to Aggressively Address PFAS On The Federal, State, And Local Level
Trump EPA Continues to Aggressively Address PFAS On The Federal, State, And Local Level
Building on the assistance provided to more 30 states, Trump Administration continues its commitment to supporting state, tribal, and local communities in addressing PFAS
WASHINGTON (July 28, 2020) — Aggressively addressing per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continues to be an active and ongoing priority for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In July alone, EPA has made significant progress implementing the PFAS Action Plan —the most comprehensive cross-agency plan ever to address an emerging chemical of concern. Together, these efforts are helping EPA, states, tribes, and local communities across the country target PFAS reductions and protect public health.
“With federal technical assistance efforts underway across the country, the Trump Administration is bringing much-needed support to state, tribal, and local governments as part of the agency’s unprecedented efforts under the PFAS Action Plan,†said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “These partnerships allow for collaboration, encourage cutting edge research, and information sharing—ensuring that our joint efforts are effective and protective of public health.â€
EPA Moves Forward on New PFAS Policies
On July 27, EPA transmitted two new PFAS proposals to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for interagency review.
First, EPA submitted the Interim Guidance on the Destruction and Disposal of PFAS and Materials Containing PFAS. The guidance would provide information on technologies that may be feasible and appropriate for the destruction or disposal of PFAS and PFAS-containing materials. It would also identify ongoing research and development activities related to destruction and disposal technologies, which may inform future guidance. Yesterday’s action is the first step toward EPA fulfilling its FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) obligation to publish interim guidance on the destruction and disposal of PFAS within one year.
Second, EPA transmitted the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR 5) proposal to OMB for interagency review. Consistent with EPA’s commitment in the PFAS Action Plan and the requirements of the FY 2020 NDAA, EPA anticipates proposing nationwide drinking water monitoring for PFAS under UCMR 5 utilizing new methods that can detect PFAS that could not be detected before as the new methods detect more PFAS chemicals at lower concentrations than previously possible.
EPA Publishes Action that Strengthens PFAS Regulations
Yesterday, EPA’s final Significant New Use Rule for long-chain PFAS published in the Federal Register. This final rule strengthens the regulation of PFAS by requiring notice and EPA review before the use of long-chain PFAS that have been phased out in the United States could begin again. Additionally, products containing certain long-chain PFAS used in a surface coating and carpets containing perfluoroalkyl sulfonate chemical substances can no longer be imported into the United States without EPA review.
EPA Collaborates with Federal Partners on PFAS Research
Also yesterday, EPA, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a partnership with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to coordinate a workshop to review federal PFAS research efforts and help identify possible research gaps. This collaborative workshop will ensure PFAS research across the federal government is properly coordinated, complementary, and avoids unnecessary duplication. Click here to access EPA’s PFAS research page and here for the status of specific PFAS research projects.
EPA Provides Help Where It Is Needed
Just as important as the progress on PFAS at the federal level, EPA has formed partnerships with states, tribes, and local communities across the country. These joint projects allow EPA to take the knowledge of its world-class scientists and apply it in a collaborative fashion where it counts most.
In July, EPA Region 5 presented results from EPA’s analyses of PFAS relating to chrome electroplating operations to more than 500 participants on a public webinar hosted by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. The data reports EPA provided to Michigan to represent just 2 of 27 recent data reports EPA’s Office of Research & Development has delivered to states across the country, providing the results of analyses of PFAS in water, soil, sediment, air emissions, vegetation, and other media. In all, these 27 data reports provide results on just under 1,000 samples collected in conjunction with states and analyzed by EPA.
Other examples of that technical assistance to states and localities include:
· In conjunction with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), EPA provided analyses of PFAS in air emissions, char, and dispersants at an industrial site, along with analyses of PFAS in water (surface/ground) and soil collected in proximity to this site. NHDES used the results to inform air permitting requirements for the site.
· At the request of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), EPA scientists analyzed PFAS samples collected during air emission testing at an industrial facility near Parkersburg. The results helped demonstrate the effectiveness of emissions controls for GenX and other legacy PFCAs and allowed the WVDEP to make the appropriate regulatory decisions.
EPA Improves Available Tools for States, Tribes, and Communities to Address PFAS
On July 15, EPA added new treatment options for four new PFAS compounds and 20 new scientific references to the Drinking Water Treatability Database, increasing the agency’s depth of knowledge on these emerging chemicals of concern. The update serves as an important tool for states, tribes, and communities across the country who can now use these new technologies to better manage PFAS in drinking water and protect public health.
On July 21, EPA publicly released updates to the CompTox Chemical Dashboard, including new data and predictive models for PFAS that will help prioritize PFAS for further testing, help inform categorization efforts, and ultimately help the agency determine the true risk of potential exposure to these substances. The Dashboard is a one-stop-shop for information on not just PFAS chemicals, but also hundreds of thousands of other chemicals.
EPA Continues Innovative Approaches to Studying PFAS
On July 1, EPA’s PFAS Innovative Treatment Team completed a Memorandum of Understanding with a U.S.-based company specializing in the disposal of biosolids, green waste, and biomass and plans to conduct field research with them this summer. The PFAS Innovative Treatment Team continues to line up field and laboratory research projects for the remainder of the summer to study ways of destroying PFAS and has met with several groups to discuss conducting field sampling at aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) incineration facilities.
Background on the PFAS Action Plan
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals that have been in use since the 1940s. PFAS are found in a wide array of consumer and industrial products. PFAS manufacturing and processing facilities, facilities using PFAS in the production of other products, airports, and military installations are some of the contributors of PFAS releases into the air, soil, and water. Due to their widespread use and persistence in the environment, most people in the United States have been exposed to PFAS. There is evidence that continued exposure above specific levels to certain PFAS may lead to adverse health effects.
As part of EPA’s aggressive efforts to address these risks, the agency issued the PFAS Action Plan in February 2019. The Action Plan is the agency’s first multi-media, multi-program, national research, management, and risk communication plan to address a challenge like PFAS. The plan responds to the extensive public input the agency received during the PFAS National Leadership Summit, multiple community engagements, and through the public docket. The PFAS Action Plan outlines the processes and tools EPA is using to develop to assess the PFAS risk and assist states, tribes, and communities in addressing their unique situations.
HAPPENINGS AT THE VANDERBURGH COUNTY GOP
| GOP OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY HAPPENINGS |
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Mark your calendar and plan to join the VCRP at the Evansville Country Club on Thursday, August 20, 2020 for our annual Reagan Day celebration.
To purchase tickets, contact Mary Jo Kaiser 812-483-4675
Watch for invitation. Contact Mary Jo Kaiser for more information at 812-425-8207.
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November Election:Â
Filing Period to run for EVSC Board of Trustees began Wednesday, July 22, 2020
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 VCRP Central Committee Meeting – Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Time: 11:30 AM
Location: GOP Headquarters,815 John Street, Evansville
Meetings are open to all Vanderburgh County Precinct Committeemen.
Contact Mary Jo Kaiser at 812-425-8207Â if you have any questions.
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EVSC Board of School Trustees Meeting-
 For more information visit the Board of School Trustees web page.
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 City Council Meeting-
For more information visit the
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 County Council Meeting-
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 County Commission Meeting-
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Get the Latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information:
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Stay in touch with GOP members of Congress representing our area (click links below):
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 Mark Your calendar        CLICK on event for more information
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 Make sure you add vandygop@gmail.com to your address book so we’ll be sure to land in your inbox!
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If you have any questions, contact Mary Jo Kaiser, VCRP Political Director, at or (812) 425-8207.
Visit www.vanderburghgop.com
for more info. Thank you.
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USI Women’s Tennis Recognized With ITA Academic Awards
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) recognized the University of Southern Indiana Women’s Tennis with 2019-20 Academic Awards, both team and individual honors.
The Screaming Eagles, which finished 2019-20 with a team 3.76 team cumulative grade point average (GPA), were one of 129 NCAA Division II teams to earn All-Academic Team status. The ITA All-Academic Team award, the third for the team since 2016 (2016, 2018), is open to any ITA program that has a cumulative team GPA of 3.20 or above (on a 4.00 scale).
Individually, USI seniors Lauren Hambrock and Alex Jamison; sophomores Lindsey McCord and Kylie Skepnek; and freshmen Elizabeth Cluck, Chloe McIsaac, and Jasmine Shireman were named ITA Scholar Athletes. To be recognized as an ITA Scholar Athlete, a student athlete must be a varsity letter winner; have a grade point average of at least 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year; and have been enrolled at their present school for at least two semesters.
UE Athletics Announces Staff And Coach Hires
UE Athletics Announces Staff And Coach Hires
Aces Add To Multiple Departments
 EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville Athletics Department has announced its latest staff and coach hires that span over several of the Purple Aces sports programs and administrative departments.
Alison Adams – Athletic Training Intern
 Alison is an athletic training intern working primarily with women’s soccer and track and field. Prior to working at Evansville, she was a graduate assistant athletic trainer at Georgia Southern University, where she worked with GSU cheerleading and track and field.
She received a Master of Science in Kinesiology from Georgia Southern University in 2020 and a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Ohio State in 2018.
Tanaeya BoClair – Women’s Basketball Director of Basketball Operations
 Tanaeya BoClair enters her first season as Director of Basketball Operations for the Aces women’s basketball program following an impressive playing career.
BoClair comes to Evansville after spending the past two seasons on the bench for the University of Utah, her alma mater.
The San Antonio native spent last season as the Utes Director of Player Personnel after spending the 2018-19 season as a graduate assistant.
She graduated from Utah in the spring of 2018. BoClair was a mainstay for the Utes, playing in 125 career games with 98 starts. She became the 28th player in program history to reach 1,000-career points and ranks 25th all-time in program history with 1,030 points.
 Taylor Burton – Women’s Soccer Graduate Assistant
 Taylor Burton joins the UE women’s soccer staff as a graduate assistant following an impressive career at the University of Wyoming. As a senior in 2018, Burton was named the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year. She also earned 1st Team All-Mountain West accolades and 1st Team All-Pacific Region accolades in her final season with the Cowgirls.
The NCAA DI Scholar All-American Third Team honoree was a 4-year starter at Wyoming and served as the team captain in her final season. Burton was named the Cowgirls Defensive Player of the Year as both a junior and senior. She completed her college career ranking in the top 11 in school history in games played, games started, and game-winning goals.
A native of Centennial, Colorado, Burton was a stellar performer for her club team – the Colorado Rush ECNL. The team was the U15 National Champions in 2012.
Tyra Buss – Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach
After an illustrious playing career, Tri-State native Tyra Buss joins the Aces as an assistant coach for the 2019-20 season.
Buss returns to the tri-state after an honor-laden playing career at Indiana University, where the four-year starter became the Hoosiers’ all-time leading scorer with 2,364 career points and led the Hoosiers to a 2019 WNIT title, being named the Postseason WNIT Most Valuable Player in the process. The two-time WBCA honorable mention all-American finished in the top 25 in the nation in scoring average as a senior, amassing 20.6 points per contest.
A two-time Ms. Basketball honoree for the state of Illinois in high school, Buss starred for Mt. Carmel High School. Buss helped lead Mt. Carmel to a 112-16 (.875) record while being named Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year, a Parade High School All-American and the National High School Coaches Association Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year in 2014.
Ryan Combs – Men’s Basketball Graduate Assistant
 Ryan Combs will be joining head coach Todd Lickliter’s staff as the Graduate Assistant. The Vincennes, Indiana native graduated from UE in May 2020 with a degree in Statistics & Data Science.  He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Leadership.
Combs will be entering his fifth year with the team after serving as a student manager for the Aces from 2016 to 2018 and then as the Program Coordinator for the 2019-2020 season.
Brandon Crone – Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
 Brandon Crone joins the UE men’s basketball staff after spending the last six seasons working on the staff of his alma mater – Butler. In his work as the Coordinator of Basketball Operations, he handled a variety of organizational and administrative duties for the Bulldogs, including team travel and scheduling.
The Bulldogs made five consecutive postseason appearances to begin Crone’s tenure on the Butler staff and were on pace for a sixth in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the remainder of the season.  Four NCAA Tournament berths and a Sweet 16 appearance in 2017 highlighted his tenure.
Crone enjoyed a successful playing career at Butler, helping the Bulldogs to 78 victories and two postseason tournament berths over his four seasons. He was named Butler’s Most Valuable Player in 2006-07, after leading the Bulldogs to a 29-7 record and a berth in the NCAA Sweet 16.
After graduating from Butler, Crone went on to play professional basketball for three seasons in Europe. He returned to the U.S. in 2010 and accepted a position as assistant basketball coach at Park Tudor High School in Indianapolis, where he helped lead the Panthers to the 2011 Indiana Class 2A state championship. He went on to serve as an assistant coach for three seasons at Nova Southeastern, an NCAA Division II school in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
A 2007 Butler graduate with a marketing degree, Crone and his wife, Morgan, are the parents of two children: son, Kellar, and daughter, Arlowe.
 Danyyil Gayuk – Swimming and Diving Graduate Assistant
 Danyyil Gayuk joins the Purple Aces swimming and diving program as a graduate assistant. He comes to Evansville after graduating from Delta State University in the spring. Gayuk majored in Exercise Science while earning a minor in coaching.
As a swimmer at Delta State, Gayuk earned numerous accolades in his senior season. The 2-time New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference Scholar-Athlete was the conference champion in the 200 Medley Relay and 100 Breast races. Gayuk earned NCAA All-American honors in the 200 Medley Relay while garnering College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America recognition in the 100 Breast, 400 Free Relay, and 200 Medley Relay. He set the Delta State 200 Medley Relay record in back-to-back years and was the league champion in that event.
A native of Donetsk, Ukraine, Gayuk earned multiple national championships in his home country and was a European Championship qualifier. He qualified for a World Championship in 2014 in his age group.
Thomas Jackson – Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
 Thomas Jackson joins the UE men’s basketball program after serving as an assistant coach with the Northern Arizona Suns during the 2019-20 season, his first year with the team. It marked his third year as an assistant coach in the NBA G League, spending 2018-19 with the Maine Red Claws and 2017-18 with the Erie BayHawks.  In his year with Erie, he helped lead the BayHawks to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Jackson enjoyed a long playing career, including 12 years professionally in Europe. He is one of the best players in Butler University history (1998-2002), a school Hall of Fame inductee. Jackson holds school records for career assists (540), career steals (207, tied), and single-game assists (15). He is still the only player in school history to record 1,000 points and 500 assists.
As a senior at Butler during the 2001-02 campaign, Jackson and head coach Todd Lickliter (in his first season as head coach with the Bulldogs) led the program to a then-school record of 26 wins.
 Hannah Krukewitt – External Affairs Intern
 Joining the Aces External Affairs staff is intern Hannah Krukewitt. She studied at Greenville University in Southern Illinois, earning her degree in Marketing and Sport Management while on the women’s basketball team.
She brings experience in sports marketing, graphic design, fan engagement, game-day operations, ticketing and sales, and business/compliance from the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Western Illinois University, and Greenville University.
Hannah is originally from the small town of Ipava, IL.
Grace McConnell – Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach
 The University of Evansville has announced the hiring of Grace McConnell as Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach, following two seasons as the Purple Aces graduate-assistant.
McConnell played three seasons at Post University, capturing CACC All-Tournament Team honors and was a three-time CACCA All-Academic Team award winner.
“I had the privilege of working with Grace in the fall and really enjoyed how much she not only loved the game but how much she loved being around college players,†Evansville head women’s soccer coach Chris Pfau said.
McConnell graduated in the spring from Evansville with a master’s in public service administration, while serving as the Graduate Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach for two seasons.
 Joe Nash – Athletic Training Intern
Joe Nash is an Intern Assistant Athletic Trainer primarily working with baseball and cross country. Prior to his start here, he spent two years as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer at Youngstown State University, primarily working with the softball and football programs.
He earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Athletic Training from Liberty University in 2018. After his time at Liberty, he earned a Master’s of Health and Human Services from Youngstown State University in 2020 while serving as a graduate assistant. During his time at Liberty, he was a summer intern with the University of Alabama football program.
Nash is certified in CPR/First Aid, Personalized Blood Flow Restriction (PBFR), and AT’s Utilization & Clinical Establishment of IV Access & Fluid Administration. He is also a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) and the College Athletic Trainers’ Society. He is from New Kent, Virginia, and a graduate of New Kent High School and currently resides in Evansville.
  Ramon “Kiké†Negron – Athletic Equipment Manager
Ramon “Kiké†Negron brings over 8 years of experience in Olympic, professional and collegiate athletic events. His experience includes managing all aspects of the athletic equipment operations and event logistics for the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee, a group of about 400 athletes and staff of 30 federations.
He joined the PR Olympic Committee after managing for four years the Morale, Wellness and Recreation program for the United States Coast Guard in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Kiké was a Division I soccer student-athlete at Radford University in Radford, Virginia. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise, Sport and Health Education with a major in Coaching and Commercial Fitness. After graduating from Radford, he worked as an Assistant Director of Athletics Support Services and Volunteer Assistant Soccer Coach for the men’s soccer program. In 2009 he completed a Master’s degree in Sports Management from High Point University in High Point, North Carolina.
He was also a member of the Puerto Rico National Soccer team from U12 to the senior team representing the Island in various tournaments and CONCACAF qualifiers.
Jordan Seneca – Softball Graduate Assistant
Jordan Seneca joins the UE softball staff as a graduate assistant following two seasons as an assistant coach at LaSalle.
A four-year letter winner at Saint Francis, Seneca helped the Red Flash win back-to-back NEC Championships in 2017 and 2018. During that span, the team was a perfect 38-0 in conference play.
Over the course of her career, the former shortstop accumulated 48 home runs, which sits as the SFU and NEC record. Seneca also holds school records in runs (181), walks (154) and steals (56), while finishing second for RBIs (156).
No stranger to accolades, Seneca was a two-time NFCA All-Region Third Team selection, while also accumulating three All-NEC Team selections throughout her career.
She completed her bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology, with a concentration in fitness professionals before beginning work on her MBA at LaSalle.
FOOTNOTES:Â For all of the latest information on the University of Evansville athletics, log on to the sports page on GoPurpleAces.com or follow the program on Twitter via @UEAthletics.Â
DONATE: For information on giving to UE Athletics or its individual athletics programs, visit the DONATE tab on the top of GoPurpleAces.com.
TICKETS: To purchase tickets for University of Evansville athletics events, log on to GoPurpleAces.com and click on the TICKETS tab on top of the page