The University of Southern Indiana’s Outreach and Engagement will host a “Celebration of Engagement” beginning at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 2, in Carter Hall in the University Center West. The free and open to the public event is part of the University’s year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary.

The program, which highlights the University’s rich history of community engagement,  will include talks by USI President Linda L. M. Bennett and Mark Bernhard, associate provost for Outreach and Engagement; a keynote address by Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann; and a history of Outreach and Engagement presented by Ed Jones, vice provost emeritus of Outreach and Engagement.

The event also will include an Engagement Fair with more than 21 booths representing each of the four colleges at USI as well as a variety of departments and community partners. A series of tours highlighting key areas of the University will be provided from 4 to 5 p.m., including each of the four colleges as well as the Rice Library and University Archives, and the Applied Engineering Center. A reception will follow at 5:30 p.m. with opportunities for networking.

Bernhard said the “Celebration of Engagement” is an opportunity to showcase a new model for Outreach and Engagement—the result of a multi-year restructuring of the department which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. “We’ve identified our core purpose as ‘Unleashing Potential and Expanding Knowledge,’” said Bernhard.  “When looking at the different units within Outreach and Engagement, it made sense to look at how we could be structured in such a way that would focus on several overarching areas. Those areas include Community Engagement, Opportunity Development, Lifelong Learning and Distance Learning.” Some of the many programs offered in the four key areas of Outreach and Engagement include:

Community Engagement

• Historic Southern Indiana
• Service Learning
• Historic New Harmony
• Connect with Southern Indiana

Opportunity Development

• Resource Development
• Crane Partnership
• Innovation Pointe
• I-69 Innovation Corridor
• Applied Research
• Technology Commercialization

Lifelong Learning

• Southern Indiana Japanese School
• Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
• Veteran, Military and Family Resource Center (VMFR)
• Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS)
• Dual Credit
• Corporate Training Partnerships
• Continuing and Professional Education (CPE)

Distance Learning 

• Online Training Consultation
• eLearning Module Development
• Online Webinar, Presentation and Live Meet
• Professional Development and Online Programs

Those interested in the free event can register at USI.edu/cared. For more information about the event, contact Outreach and Engagement at 812-228-5098.

Shelby Tarantino will graduate this spring with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science degree from the University of Southern Indiana, which she completed in three years, while maintaining a 4.0 GPA and competing on the USI Women’s Soccer team. During the Commencement ceremony for the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education and Outreach and Engagement at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 2, Tarantino will receive the President’s Medal, the highest honor presented to a graduate in the Class of 2015.

Described as having “quiet awesomeness” by one of her professors, Tarantino “is a quiet young woman, doing great things for others while admiring their courage.” Her goal to become an occupational therapist is representative of her desire to show compassion and integrity to all people.

In her three years at USI, Tarantino was a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, The National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the National Honor Society. She was a member of the USI Women’s Soccer team, a peer coach and biology tutor in Academic Skills, and served as an intramural referee.

She completed her 300-hour practicum at Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center and a summer internship with Special Net Resources. The internship introduced Tarantino to a young woman named Holly, age 25, who has Asperger’s Syndrome. Tarantino worked with Holly on job interview skills, dressing for success, and transportation responsibilities, which has led her to receive a part-time job. She also planned group activities that included Holly’s circle of friends, all of whom have very diverse special needs.

She demonstrated she has the “compassion and integrity to have others be treated in a way she would want to be treated,” which lent her the opportunity to serve as a travel companion for Holly and her 22-year-old blind friend on a Disney cruise to the Bahamas.

Serving as their travel companion, Tarantino did a lot behind the scenes in order to arrive at locations within the airport and on the boat, updating the young women’s parents daily, and keeping watch for unsafe situations. She also worked with the women in social situations, personal hygiene, taking medications appropriately and overall motivation to try new things.

She also volunteers time with It Takes a Village Canine Rescue, Hearts on Fire Running Series, Varsity Club Fall Festival Booth, USI Women’s Soccer Youth Camps, USI Sodexo Food Services, Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center Swimming Lessons, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Canned Food Drives and SAAC Make A Wish bake sales.

Tarantino is the daughter of Michael and Kelli Tarantino of Loveland, Ohio. She has two siblings, Kylee and Clayton. After graduation, she plans to continue her education at the University of Southern Indiana in the Masters of Occupational Therapy Program while playing her fourth year of USI Women’s Soccer.

Other finalists for the President’s Medal from the Class of 2015 include Alexandrea Wells, Brenden Davidson and Brooke Neuhoff. The Student Affairs Committee of the Faculty Senate selects the President’s Medal recipient.

Dr. Thomas Kazee, president of the University of Evansville, issued a statement today regarding Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The statement reads:

“I have been asked in recent days by many of those in the University of Evansville family about my position on the recently passed Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).  So let me take this opportunity to explain how I see the issue in terms of the University, the state of Indiana, and the public welfare.  University presidents should not, in my judgment, express personal opinions on matters of public significance without careful consideration of the relevance of the issue for their institutions.  Some issues, however, are especially salient not only for the society at large but have the potential to significantly impact the University, and RFRA is one such example.

A core commitment of the University of Evansville is to nurture a climate of respect, understanding, and appreciation of difference.  Moreover, as an institution we oppose practices and policies that can lead to discrimination against any person on the basis of race, color, creed or religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability.  It is from this foundational premise that I join those voices around the state, including Evansville’s Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, major Indiana corporations such as the Eli Lilly and Cummins, and the presidents of a growing number of Indiana universities who are deeply concerned about this legislation.

I respect Governor Pence’s argument that RFRA is designed to promote religious freedom and prevent government overreach, but this legislation cannot be divorced from the broader context of the national discussion about laws which arguably permit discrimination.  I think we can all agree that we want Indiana to be a welcoming and inclusive state.  Unfortunately, RFRA fuels the perception that we are intolerant and thus is damaging to the public welfare and to the University of Evansville.  I urge the Governor and the state legislature to reconsider this action or, failing that, pass legislation, as has been done in other states, to ensure that the law is not used as a tool for discrimination.”