The EVSC officially unveiled its very own Governor’s Work Ethic Certificate, a college and career readiness opportunity for seniors to identify, develop and demonstrate the skills necessary to be successful in college and career. The EVSC’s Work Ethic Certificate is a customized version of the Indiana Governor’s Work Ethic Certificate.

“We are excited to offer the Governor’s Work Ethic Certificate to our students,” said EVSC Superintendent David Smith. “By earning this certificate, we can ensure our students have the skills necessary to be successful in whatever path they choose – whether it be college, career or military.”

The EVSC’s Work Ethic Certificate is a product of EVSC’s OptIN, a program that helps students and parents identify all of the opportunities available to them upon high school graduation. OptIN officials began meeting with community employers late last winter to begin identifying the universal skills necessary for students to be successful in higher education and in the workforce.

“We have spent the last several months collaborating with community leaders and some of our area’s top employers to build our version of the Governor’s Work Ethic Certificate,”  said B. J. Watts, executive director of OptIN. “During these discussions, we collectively identified the top six transferable employability skills necessary for our students to experience sustained success regardless of their plan after graduation.”

According to Watts, the OptIN Advisory committee selected six skills that eventually became the P.R.I.D.E.S. The EVSC’s Work Ethic Certificate requires student mastery of the P.R.I.D.E.S., plus four academic components that are set by the state of Indiana. The P.R.I.D.E.S include:

Persistence: Students will be resilient, persevere through challenges and problem solve.

• Responsibility: Students will accept and demonstrate service to others, possess a positive attitude and communicate effectively and appropriately

• Initiative: Students will demonstrate ability to self-start and think creatively and critically. Students will be involved and take ownership of their work.

• Dependability: Students will show reliability and accountability, demonstrating responsibility and consistent punctuality.

• Ethics: Students will be trustworthy and demonstrate humility, integrity, and independence in their actions.

• Self-Management: Students will be flexible, work collaboratively with others, and manage emotions.

The four academic components as set by the state of Indiana, include:

1. 98% or higher attendance rate for the student’s senior year

2. Six hours of community service during the student’s senior year

3. Maximum of one office referral in the student’s senior year

4. Minimum of a 2.0 Cumulative GPA

“The EVSC’s Work Ethic Certificate helps employers identify potential employees that have already demonstrated persistence, responsibility, initiative and dependability in their school environment, and those skills directly translate to the workplace,” said Makenzie Coulter, Corporate Engineering Manager & Public Relations at FLANDERS. “Collaboration between the EVSC and area employers is a critical component to building a sustainable workforce and community. We are all stronger as one.”

As recognition for completing the certificate, the area’s largest employers are offering guaranteed job interviews. In addition, many are offering increased base pay, bonus vacation days, sign-on bonuses, gym memberships and more. For students continuing their education, some institutions are waiving college orientation classes and Old National Bank is offering a scholarship opportunity exclusively for students who complete the certificate.

“We are excited to see this come to fruition and thankful for the industry collaboration in developing this certificate,” said Watts. “Creating opportunities of this magnitude requires the work and effort of so many in our community and I’m proud of this community’s continued commitment to enhancing the lives and opportunities of our students.”

The EVSC will begin to enroll all seniors in the EVSC Governor’s Work Ethic Certificate at the beginning of the school year. The deadline to sign up is August 31, 2018.  Students interested in signing up can visit https://goo.gl/3Dpx7u.

Wednesday, August 8 – Friday, August 10

2018 Mid-America Institute on Aging and Wellness keynotes open to public

The University of Southern Indiana and SWIRCA and More, the local agency on aging, will present the 11th annual Mid-America Institute on Aging and Wellness (MAIA) on the USI campus on August 9 and 10, with a pre-conference workshop on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care scheduled for August 8. The conference this year will feature four public keynote speakers: Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA; Ashton Applewhite; Jeff Speck, AICP, CNU-A, LEED-AP; and Bill Thomas, MD. The public is invited to the keynote speakers at no charge, but registration is requested to ensure space is available for all. More information about registering is online at USI.edu/maia or by calling 812-464-1989. Read More

11 a.m. Friday, August 10

USI’s TCA final pitch event set for August 10

Teams of students participating in the University of Southern Indiana’s Technology Commercialization Academy (TCA) will present their final product pitches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, August 10 in the USI Griffin Center. The final pitch event is open to the public as TCA students will present to USI faculty and staff, local business leaders and regional entrepreneurs. Each team’s pitch is a result of the 12-week program that focuses on a process known as design thinking. Students developed their ventures or product ideas throughout three work phases: skill development, entrepreneurs’ mindset and practical application/client work. Read More

Open through Monday, September 10

USI to exhibit works by Stephen Pace to celebrate Art Center anniversary

Stephen Pace: An Artist’s Process, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the University of Southern Indiana McCutchan Art Center/Pace Galleries, will be on display through Monday, September 10 at the Art Center.  Stephen Pace (1918 – 2010) was an internationally recognized abstract expressionist and figurative painter.  Pace, along with his wife Palmina, was instrumental in the completion of the Art Center galleries, which opened to the public on September 7, 2008. This exhibition displays the series of related drawings, prints, paintings, and/or woodcut plates together to give the viewer deeper insight into Pace’s artistic process. The exhibition also provides a timeline reflecting the influences that determined the trajectory of Pace’s career and the development of his distinctive artistic style. Read More

Open through Monday, September 17

New Harmony Gallery to host exhibition by Denise Stewart-Sanabria

The New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art’s latest exhibition, Another Virtual Reality by Denise Stewart-Sanabria, will be on display July 21 through September 17. The exhibition is free and open to the public. Read More

Thursday, August 16

Thirteenth annual Day on the Bus to explore high growth in high tech

The 13th annual Day on the Bus is scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, August 16. Sponsored by Old National Bank, participants will meet in the atrium of the Old National Bank building in downtown Evansville for coffee, donuts and a welcome message from University of Southern Indiana President Dr. Ronald Rochon. Once the bus leaves, participants will travel to Sabic, AstraZeneca and CountryMark to learn about their expanding opportunities and workforce trends for students. Day on the Bus is a workforce development event for faculty and staff from USI, University of Evansville and Ivy Tech Community College to spend a day on a coach bus and visit selected organizations in the southwest Indiana region. Read More

Thursday, August 16 – Wednesday, August 22

Welcome Week and start of fall 2018 semester

The 2018 USI Welcome Week will kick off on Thursday, August 16 with new student move-in beginning at 9 a.m. at the Physical Activities Center (PAC). Information for new and returning students can be found on the USI website at USI.edu/welcomeweek. The first day of class for the fall 2018 semester is Monday, August 20.

Saturday, September 29

2018 USI Doggie Dash Dog Walk and Run

Registration is now open for the 2018 University of Southern Indiana Doggie Dash to be held on Saturday, September 29. This event allows whole families (including the four-legged children) an opportunity to walk and run on the beautiful University of Southern Indiana campus. Registration for the 3K and 5K runs is $25 for individuals or $20 for members of a team, and free for youth ages 10 and under. A portion of the proceeds from the Doggie Dash will be used to offer programming and provide professional development opportunities for student clubs within USI’s Pott College. Another portion of the proceeds will be given to It Takes A Village Pet Rescue. Read More

Saturday, November

Registration now open for the 17th annual Norwegian Foot March

Registration is now open for the 17th annual University of Southern Indiana Norwegian Foot March on Saturday, November 3. The march, an intense mental and physical challenge, will take participants 18.6 miles through the rolling hills of Evansville’s west side. Carrying a 25-pound rucksack, participants will begin and end on the USI campus, working to make it back to the finish line in under four and a half hours. ROTC cadets, soldiers and veterans, as well as civilians, may register individually or as part of a four-member team. Registration can be completed online or by calling USI Outreach and Engagement at 812-464-1989. Early registration is recommended, as the event sells out quickly. ROTC cadets from any school can register for $25 and all other participants can register for $45. Registration will close on October 15 or when the event is full at 500 participants. The Norwegian Foot March is sponsored by USI’s Student Veteran Association. Proceeds from the foot march enhance the training of the students in the USI ROTC Program. Funds are used to cover costs associated with training, travel, team development and additional equipment. Read More