“The CK Newsome Center will reopen as a cooling center on Friday, August 25th, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. While we’ve implemented temporary repairs to the HVAC system, we’re seeking a long-term solution. Thank you for your understanding and patience.”
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Volunteer USI, the University of Southern Indiana’s volunteer organization, celebrated its 2023 award recipients and dedicated volunteer community during the annual Volunteer USI Recognition Dinner on Wednesday, August 23. During the 2022-23 fiscal year, volunteers devoted 52,262 hours to USI and the local community. Since 1996, Volunteer USI has recorded a total of 2,400,022 volunteer hours.
Each year, Volunteer USI recognizes three award recipients who have contributed outstanding service with a lasting impact to USI and/or the community. The award categories include Volunteer of the Year, Mentor of the Year and Student Volunteer of the Year.
Volunteer of the YearÂ
Dr. Terry Alvey ’84 has been named the 2023 Volunteer of the Year. A long-time member of the USI Alumni Association, Alvey served on the Alumni Council for four years and currently holds a pivotal role on the USI Foundation Board of Directors. Alongside his wife Jean, also a USI alumna, the Alveys have shared expertise as workshop presenters for the Pott College Alumni Medical Professionals Celebration, offering guidance to students pursuing medical careers.
Notably, his commitment to mentorship shines through his active involvement with USI pre-med students. He advocates for the USI Mentor Program, provides career counseling and encourages students to embrace all the USI community has to offer.
Alvey’s impact goes beyond campus as he generously supports various community initiatives. With his wife, he established the Terence A. ’84 and C. Jean ’85 Alvey Unrestricted Endowment, a testament to their dedication to education and community welfare. Now enjoying retirement after an influential career as a podiatrist, Alvey’s passion for enhancing educational experiences and fostering growth continues to shape both the USI and Evansville communities.
An anonymous nominator says, “Dr. Alvey volunteers out of the spotlight, making great use of his interpersonal skills and attention to detail.â€
He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from USI and a doctorate in podiatric medicine from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.
Student Volunteer of the YearÂ
Christina Butler ’24 has been selected as the 2023 Student Volunteer of the Year. She is pursuing a major in finance and minoring in public and nonprofit administration.
An active member of USI’s Tri Sigma sorority, Butler dedicates numerous hours weekly during both Fall and Spring Semesters to coordinate various events related to the sorority. In addition, she holds the position of Vice President for two student organizations: Be the Match, which strives to give students and the local community the opportunity to join the bone marrow registry, provide financial support and volunteer their time; and USI Eagles in Action, a student organization focused on developing and leading community service projects.
An anonymous student nominator says, “Christina Butler exemplifies strength, compassion and kindness in everything she does. She has proven to be a woman who exceeds expectations at all costs, without ever asking for anything in return. She takes challenges in stride and uses her keen organization skills to help others follow her example in excellence.â€
Mentor of the YearÂ
Dr. Urska Dobersek, Associate Professor of Psychology, has been named the 2023 Mentor of the Year. At USI, Dobersek leads a dynamic research lab where she guides undergraduate students on various research endeavors, including survey and experimental research, systematic and scoping reviews and meta-analyses.
Her research focuses on individuals’ identity, sexual and mate selection, objectification of women and diet and mental health. Dobersek has published over 90 peer-reviewed abstracts, publications and book chapters in her professional career.
Praised by an anonymous student nominator, Dobersek’s commitment to personal and professional growth is evident in her efforts to support and elevate students in the same regard. Her passion for psychology and research is readily apparent, inspiring those around her.
Dobersek earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in general/experimental psychology, both from McNeese State University. She earned a doctorate in sport and exercise psychology from Florida State University and is currently completing a master’s degree in clinical mental health psychology at the University of the Cumberlands.
Attorney General Todd Rokita issued the following statement supporting the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville, which is seeking affirmation from the U.S. Supreme Court that it may require students to use bathrooms corresponding to their biological sex:
“Nothing in the U.S. Constitution, Title IX or any other federal law requires schools to have coed bathrooms, locker rooms and showers, which pose a direct threat to the health, privacy, safety and security of our children. Accordingly, federal courts should never mandate that boys and girls must be able to use the same school bathrooms depending on gender identity.
“For these reasons and others, I applaud the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville’s decision to appeal the Seventh Circuit’s recent decision mandating coed bathrooms to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“I strongly encourage leaders in the Vigo County School Corp. to stand strong and do the same.
“Fortunately, at least one other U.S. Court of Appeals has reached a different conclusion and affirmed schools’ right to maintain separate boys’ and girls’ bathrooms, regardless of gender identity.
“Amid such inconsistency, the time is ripe for the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve the dispute over coed bathrooms once and for all—for the sake of children, parents, schools, and the rule of law.
“As legal actions proceed, my office and I will continue working boldly on the side of Hoosier families and school officials by advocating for the safe and sensible policy of protecting our children with single-sex bathrooms.â€
Evansville, In.:  The Evansville Thunderbolts and Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes are pleased to announce the signing of forward Noah Williams for the 2023-24 season.  The Thunderbolts’ 2023-24 season will get underway on Saturday, October 21st at Ford Center as they host the Huntsville Havoc.
Williams, a native of Potsdam, New York, played the past five seasons at Norwich University, tallying 16 goals and 51 points in 106 games, and was team captain in the 2021-22 season. Prior to his time at Norwich, Williams played one season of Canadian junior hockey with the AJHL’s Calgary Canucks and CCHL’s Cornwall Colts in 2017-18, tallying a combined 5 goals and 14 points in 46 games.  Reacting to joining the Thunderbolts, Williams remarked: “I’ve heard nothing but great things about the fans, the organization, and the city of Evansville, and I am extremely excited for October to arrive so I can get there and be a part of it.  I can’t wait to feel the energy inside Ford Center!â€
In reaction to signing Williams, Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Jeff Bes commented: “Noah comes from a very good college program.  He’s the type of player that does all the little details for a team to be successful.  All his teammates wanted to play with him because of this, which is the best compliment you can get as a player.â€
Romain Cross Pointe continues as the Presenting Sponsor for the third year. Other sponsors include Edward Jones Steve Harding, F.C. Tucker Emge Realtors, Gerling Law, and Rumble Boxing. The Gerling Law Sober Rides Program will be offered to guests. Gerling Law will reimburse guests up to $30 for rides. For program details, visit Downtown Evansville Indiana or Gerling Law on social media.
“The Wine Walk continues to be a popular attraction. Our attendee numbers have increased eightfold since we started in 2017. We encourage guests to buy their tickets now before we sell out. After you enjoy the wine, cool off inside at one of our 50+ Downtown restaurants,†said Josh Armstrong, president, EID.
Aces travel to Cape Girardeau, Mo.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Record-breaking team and individual accomplishments in the fall of 2022 have the University of Evansville volleyball team primed to make another run in 2023. The Purple Aces face a tough test out of the gate as the regular season opens this weekend with a trip to the SEMO Invitational. Friday’s opener pits UE against the Redhawks at 11 a.m. before Saturday’s match has Evansville taking on Central Michigan at 12 p.m.
Puerto Rico National Team
– UE head coach Fernando Morales continues his work as the head coach of the Puerto Rico National Team
– He will be splitting time between Evansville and Puerto Rico over the first month of the season
– In his absence, assistants Michelle Nogueras and Jonathan Vila will split head coaching roles
First to 500
– Giulia Cardona put forth one of the best seasons the Evansville program has ever seen last fall
– Completing the season with 574 kills and 1,581 attempts, Cardona set the UE single-season program record for both stats
– With an average of 4.35 kills per set, she ranked second in the league behind teammate Alondra Vazquez
– On a national scale, Cardona ranked third with 674.0 total points, fifth in attacks (1,581) and sixth in total kills (574)
– The MVC leader in service aces with 0.49 per set was 18th in the NCAA
– Cardona set her career mark with 25 kills on two occasions last season – at Southern Illinois and in the MVC Championship win over Bradley
– She was named to the All-MVC First Team and garnered league Player of the Week accolades on Sept. 26, 2022
A Season of Firsts
– As the UE program continues to establish itself in the top half of the MVC, 2022 saw the Aces take multiple steps towards that goal
– Evansville went 11-7 in conference action, marking the top win tally for the program since joining the Valley in 1994; before 2022, the 2000 squad was the only one to finish above .500 in MVC play, going 10-8
– Entering last season, UE was 0-29 in road matches at Illinois State but came through last October with a 3-0 sweep at Redbird Arena
– Between 2009 and 2018, Evansville failed to qualify for the MVC Championship; since that time, the program has made the tournament in three out of four seasons (the lone outlier was the spring of 2021)
– UE won just one MVC Tournament match between 1994 and 2021 before tripling its win total with victories over Bradley and SIU last season
MVC Preseason
– Receiving 99 votes, the Purple Aces were picked to finish 5th in the MVC Preseason Poll
– UNI, Drake, UIC and Southern Illinois were chosen in the top four positions
– Junior Giulia Cardona was voted to the Preseason All-Conference Team
Scouting the Opposition
– Preseason Ohio Valley Conference favorite SEMO is the first opponent of 2023
– The Redhawks went 17-16 last season while winning 10 OVC matches
– Tara Beilsmith and Zoey Beasley were voted on the Preseason All-Conference Team
– Saturday’s opponent will be Central Michigan, who is coming off a 20-12 campaign while going 12-6 in the Mid-American Conference
– The Chippewas played in the NIVC Tournament where they fell to Xavier in the opening round
She’s Back
– Limited to just 29 sets over eight matches in 2022 due to injury, Melanie Feliciano is back for her 5th season with the program
– A member of the All-MVC First Team in 2021, Feliciano averaged 2.86 kills and 2.41 digs in limited action last fall
– She recorded at least eight kills in each of her matches last season including her top tally of 14 versus Western Carolina
– Feliciano finished the fall of 2021 with 380 kills, an average of 3.28 per set, which ranked 6th in the Valley
– With 1,169 kills in her career, Feliciano is quickly approaching Evansville’s top ten career list with Brooke Maher holding the #10 spot with 1,254 kills
FOOTNOTE: Â EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
Knox County – Wednesday night, August 23, at approximately 9:00 p.m., Trooper Buchanan was patrolling in the 2500 block of North 2nd Street in Vincennes when he observed a male operating a Power Wheels Jeep in the roadway. Trooper Buchanan stated the vehicle had no lights or reflectors and was difficult to see. The Power Wheels Jeep was stopped on 2nd Street and the driver was identified as John McKee, 51, of Vincennes. McKee displayed signs of impairment and failed field sobriety tests. Further investigation at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes determined McKee was under the influence of methamphetamine and marijuana. He was arrested and taken to the Knox County Jail.
Arrested and Charge:
Arresting Officer: Trooper Buchanan, Indiana State Police
Assisting Officer: Trooper Hurley, Indiana State Police
