Applauded by RV manufacturers, dealers, and consumers in Indiana and around the country.

(Washington, DC) – Representative Larry Bucshon (R-IN) received the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) National Legislative Award last night. The award recognizes Rep. Bucshon for distinguishing himself in legislative matters pertaining to the RV industry.

“The recreational vehicle industry, through its manufacturers, dealers, and consumers, has a significant impact on our national and state economies,” said Bucshon. “With over 60 percent of recreation vehicles made in Indiana, I am proud to support this industry and the Hoosier jobs it sustains.”

Bucshon, a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, was a key participant in crafting the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) in 2012, the first long-term highway authorization enacted since 2005. Bucshon was a member of the conference committee on MAP-21 where he led an effort to provide relief to the motorhome industry facing increased regulatory burdens.

“As a result of Congressman Bucshon’s work, motorhome manufacturers can produce a different vehicle model and improve jobs in a recovering industry,” said Doug Gaeddert, General Manager of Forest River, Inc in Elkhart and Chairman of RVIA. “Consumers will also benefit through a lower cost vehicle,” he added.

RVIA is the national trade association representing approximately 400 recreation vehicle (RV) manufacturers and their component parts suppliers who together build more than 98 percent of all RVs produced in the U.S.

“The RV industry sincerely appreciates Congressman Bucshon’s work on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,” said Richard Coon, RVIA President. Coon added, “His legislative skill and responsiveness benefits the state of Indiana and the Nation as a whole.”

USI students from engineering and business disciplines have come together once again for this year’s summer Technology Commercialization Academy (TCA). This is the second year for the program, which piloted in 2012.

Academy participants work full time to develop ideas and business strategies around commercialization of several Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) patents. This year’s TCA has been expanded to include more students and additional time for independent work.

In this year’s Academy, students explored NSWC Crane military patents for radio intelligence, the intuitive interface initiative, and the fire control laser model. From radio intelligence technology, students have developed four tentative final products: a wristband that will track children, wait times for rides, and cash and ticketing information in amusement parks; an inventory tracker for retail establishments and warehouses; a device to track customers inside stores; and a device for institutions that will track people and help identify potential emergency or disaster situations using location patterns.

Students in the Academy, which kicked off on May 13, meet for two hours each day with faculty and spend another six hours each day working on their projects. Students utilize USI resources to develop a manufacturing plan and produce prototypes of selected technologies. They also complete preliminary market research and feasibility analyses. The Academy includes four teams of four students, each with two business and two engineering students.

The first segment of the TCA will conclude with final product pitches. Teams with high-potential technologies will have the opportunity to continue in the Academy for an additional five weeks, wrapping up in mid-July. With the additional time, teams are encouraged to license and further develop their technologies, form startups, and reach out to potential customers and investors.

Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville (GAGE) in collaboration with USI came up with the Academy idea in their Tech Transfer Committee. The academy was made possible through a Lilly Endowment Sustaining Grant secured by Dr. Mohammed Khayum, dean of the Romain College of Business, and Dr. Scott Gordon, dean of the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education.

“This is an extremely important project for us to gain insights into and increase the pace of technology transfer between Crane, USI, and others in southwestern Indiana,” said Dr. Khayum.

Debbie Dewey, president of GAGE, delivered the closing remarks at last year’s final presentations. “This project has been transformational for USI, Crane, GAGE, and our region,” she said.

If you go

Each team in the 2013 TCA will pitch its final idea and unveil a prototype at 10 a.m., Friday, June 14, in the atrium of the USI Business and Engineering Center on campus. Interested businesses, local media, and others from the community are invited to attend.

Four University of Evansville sports were honored by the NCAA for earning Public Recognition Awards based on their multi-year Academic Progress Rates (APR).

Among the sports included in the NCAA’s recognition were the Purple Aces women’s cross country team, the women’s golf squad, UE’s women’s tennis team and Evansville volleyball. All awards are for the 2011-12 season.

Both the women’s golf and cross country teams received recognition for the fourth year in a row. The UE women’s cross country team posted the second-highest team GPA last year as they checked in with a 3.605.

“Our girls know that they are supposed to be #1 and they have done a great job of keeping that up,” cross country coach Don Walters said. “Academics are tops at UE and when one of our girls is not on their game academically, someone else is always there to pick them up. I am proud of what our team does year in and year out.”

Head golf coach Jim Hamilton also helped lead his women’s team to recognition for the fourth time in as many years.

“It is a great honor to receive this recognition for the fourth year in a row,” Hamilton said. “Our team did an excellent job of performing on the course and in the classroom. I am very proud of our girls for this accomplishment.”

Evansville’s volleyball team recorded the top GPA out of all of the school’s athletic programs last year as they finished with a 3.618 to receive recognition for the second time with the other coming in 2008-09. The team received AVCA recognition as three players (Ashley Ring, Rachel TenHoor and Ellen Sawin) finished the year with GPA’s above 3.90. Finishing with a 3.476 was the women’s tennis team. It marked the third team honor and first since the 2005-06 school year.

Each year, the NCAA honors selected Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR). This announcement is part of the overall Division I academic reform effort and is intended to highlight teams that demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and retention of student-athletes by achieving the top APRs within their respective sports. Specifically, these teams posted multiyear APRs in the top 10 percent of all squads in each sport.