News Archive

(08/29/06)

Late Start Courses Offered

Miami University Middletown will be offering 9 late start courses beginning September 5.
Courses Offered:

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(08/29/06)

Levey Book Signing September 14

The biography of the late Senator Barry Levey is being released at a special signing event to be held at The Manchester Inn on Thursday, September 14, from 5:30-7:00 pm.

Barry J. Levey: Known With Respect and Love as "Bear," the book was authored by Irene Wright-Abraham based on research from Levey's personal archives and interviews with his close friends and associates. The book recounts both his professional and civic career, and reflections on his private life with his wife, Marilee.

"I wanted the book to keep alive Barry's purpose in life," Marilee Levey said. "He had so many goals, including service to the community and state, special emphasis on education, and skill needed to protect the quality of life for all."

All proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to Miami University Middletown to begin a scholarship endowment in Levey's memory. Copies of the book will be available at the signing, and afterward at Miami Middletown.

Levey, who passed away in 2004, was a successful attorney, hotelier, labor negotiator, community leader, and philanthropist. His long career included service as a trustee and board chairman for Miami University, as well as serving in both houses of the Ohio legislature.

While in Columbus, in both the House and Senate, Levey chaired the Judiciary Committee, and was a leading force in updating the Ohio Uniform Commercial Code. He was instrumental in securing the original state funding for the creation of Miami University Middletown, as well as funding for the science building on that campus named in his honor, which was dedicated in 1999.

Levey was known for his mild demeanor, matched with a great sense of determination to achieve what he believed was best for Middletown and the State of Ohio. "Just because we disagree," he was known to say on many occasions, "doesn't mean we have to be disagreeable."

Wright-Abraham, the author, is a former bureau chief for The Cincinnati Enquirer, and the author of two other books, including Edgar Streifthau: His Story about the founder of Lesourdesville Lake. Her career has included serving as president of the Ohio Newspaper Women's Association and Ohio Professional Writers, and she is an affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women.

Design for the book was done by native Middletonian and well-known artist Jack Howard. Howard earned his architecture degree from Miami University, and at his retirement in 1993 was serving as Middletown's chief designer. He currently serves on the boards of the Middletown Art Center and Friends of the Library.

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(08/29/06)

40th Anniversary Brings Piano Team Out of Retirement: Gala Concert Scheduled for September 9

Helping to launch the year-long celebration of Miami Middletown's 40th anniversary year, the four-piano team from the "With A Little Help From Our Friends" concerts is coming out of "retirement" for a special gala concert at the Dave Finkelman Auditorium at 8 pm on Saturday, September 9.

The team - Jimmy Rogers, Jeff Smith, Julius "Juice" Davis, and Rod Nimtz - presented a series of five concerts in the past, helping to raise over $20,000 toward scholarship endowments. The four pianists are all Miami alumni from the late '70s and early '80s, and will once again be joined by Bill Albin on percussion and Skip Edwards on bass.

Davis graduated from Miami with a degree in music performance, and Rogers and Nimtz work at Miami Middletown (though in non-musical capacities). Smith is a professional composer and arranger who owns Whirlwind Productions and creates music for theme parks, commercials, and industrial shows.

"Spontaneity is really the hallmark of these concerts," Nimtz said recently. "What is making this such a special evening, in addition to getting the group back together, is the opportunity to do some musical tributes to the '60s, and working in some visual effects as well."

Tickets for the event are $15 for adults, $10 for Miami faculty/staff and seniors, and $5 for students and children. Tickets are at the Cashier's Office in Johnston Hall, or through the Miami University Box Office. Tickets can be ordered by phone by calling the Miami Box Office at 727-3383 or 529-3200. Tickers are also available on line at www.tickets.muohio.edu.

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(08/29/06)

Clarence Page to Speak at Miami Middletown's Convocation

Pulitzer Prize winning columnist and Middletown High School Alumnus Clarence Page will be the keynote speaker at Miami University Middletown's annual fall Convocation, to be held at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 6. Free and open to the public, this event will be held in the quad area behind Johnston Hall or in Dave Finkelman Auditorium in case of bad weather.

Page, the 1989 Pulitzer Prize winner for commentary, has been a columnist and a member of the Chicago Tribune's editorial board since July 1984. His column is syndicated nationally by Tribune Media Services in close to 200 papers. He has been based in Washington, D.C. since May 1991.

Page is also a regular contributor of essays to The News Hour with Jim Lehrer and News and Notes with Ed Gordon on National Public Radio. He has hosted documentaries on the Public Broadcasting System and served as a regular panelist on national programs including ABC's This Week and BET's weekly Lead Story news panel program.

Page was a reporter and assistant city editor for the Chicago Tribune from 1969 to 1980. He joined WBBM-TV in August 1980 as Director of the Community Affairs Department and worked as a reporter and planning editor at the station from August 1982 to July 1984.

His book Showing My Color: Impolite Essays on Race and Identity (Harper Collins) was published in 1996. As a freelance writer, he has published articles in Chicago Magazine, the Chicago Reader, Washington Monthly, New Republic, Wall Street Journal, New York Newsday and Emerge.

A 1965 graduate of Middletown High School, Page began his journalism career as a freelance writer and photographer for the Middletown Journal and Cincinnati Enquirer at the age of 17. He received his bachelor of science in journalism from Ohio University in 1969, and delivered the commencement speech to the class of 1993.

This year's Convocation at Miami Middletown kicks off a year of special events and activities to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Miami University Middletown. The celebration continues from 5 - 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7 with a Community Picnic on the quad. A 40th Anniversary Gala Concert wraps up the anniversary kickoff events at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9 in Dave Finkelman Auditorium. Throughout the coming year Miami Middletown will have a series of lectures, performances, exhibitions, and other events to continue the celebration of its four decades of service.

For more information on any of these events, call (513) 727-3200, or visit the special 40th anniversary web site at www.mid.muohio.edu/40th.

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(08/18/06)

Miami Access Initiative announced

Miami University next year will take a significant step toward making Miami accessible to all academically qualified students regardless of income by providing tuition and fees to Ohio students with family incomes less than $35,000, Miami President David Hodge announced today (August 18).

Hodge announced the "Miami Access Initiative" at his first state of the university address, indicating that it will begin with new students entering the Oxford campus in fall 2007. Included would be any Ohio resident with a family income of less than $35,000 who enters the Oxford campus as a first-time, full-time freshman or who attends Miami's Hamilton and Middletown campuses and then relocates to Oxford.

The initiative will cover all tuition and fees for eligible students for up to four years, and Hodge says he hopes the new program initially will benefit between 125 and 150 new students every year "and more as the program becomes well known."

Miami was able to undertake initiative because of a bequest of more than $10 million from Lois K. Klawon, a 1939 alumna from Westlake who died in 2005, leaving half of her estate to Miami to support needy students.

"By combining our existing levels of support, the income from the Klawon gift, matching funds from other generous donors and the federal and state financial aid these students already receive, we are able to undertake this significant new initiative that we hope will encourage students from low-income families to see Miami as a real option for a high quality college experience, and that more of them will enroll at Miami," said Hodge.

To qualify, students must pursue their first bachelor's degree, remain enrolled full time and be eligible for federal student financial aid. While the funds are guaranteed for four years only, students would still be eligible for state and federal grants beyond four years.

The ceiling of $35,000 will follow the definition of household income as provided by the Census Bureau. Students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on time and submit financial documents to assure they qualify for the Miami Access Initiative. Funds for room and board are not provided, although many of these students will have loan or work-study eligibility that can cover costs for room, board and books, Miami officials say. He initiative will not apply to current and transfer students.

As part of this effort the university also is planning a special advising and mentoring program for those students who can benefit from such programs in their adjustment to college life, Hodge added.

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(08/18/06)

Miami University Middletown and TV Middletown offer TV Production Courses

Miami University Middletown and TV Middletown have partnered to offer a Basic TV Production Course on Wednesdays, September 6 - October 4, and an Intermediate TV Production Course on Monday/Wednesdays, October 9 - October 23. Both 20-hour programs are scheduled to run from 1:00-5:00 p.m. at TV Middletown's studios. The cost for each is $159.

The production courses will give you a behind-the-scenes experience with hands-on learning in the essential areas of camera operation, sound, on-screen graphics, lighting techniques, single vs multi-camera presentations and group projects involving scripting, logistical arrangements, music, graphics and editing.

Classes are limited to eight students. For more information on all of Miami Middletown's Continuing Education programs or to register log onto www.mid.muohio.edu/conted/ or call the Office of Continuing Education at 513-727-3300.

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(08/17/06)

Continuing Education Classes Begin in September

The Miami University Middletown Office of Continuing Education will offer classes in a wide variety of subjects this fall.

Beginning in September, classes include: Microsoft Access Level I, PowerPoint and Excel Level I; Tai Chi Beginner and Intermediate, Tae Kwon Do and Yoga; Home Inspection, Faux Finishing, Digital Photography, ACT Prep and the SHERM Learning System.

Most of the classes have early evening hours, with the exception of Faux Finishing, ACT Prep and one section of Tae Kwon Do, which will meet on Saturday mornings. The price range for most of the classes is $59-$89.

To register or for more information, please contact the Office of Continuing Education at 513.727.3300 or long onto http://www.mid.muohio.edu/conted/.

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(08/03/06)

September Events Begin Year-Long Celebration of 40th Anniversary

A year of special events and activities to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Miami University Middletown is planned for the coming academic year.

"Without the good citizens of this community, there would be no Miami Middletown," said MUM Interim Dean Kelly Cowan. "We hope that everyone will be able to attend at least one of these events to help us commemorate the last forty years and look forward to the next forty."

The Campus' annual fall convocation will be held at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 6, the anniversary of the first day of classes at Miami University Middletown. Pulitzer Prize winning columnist and Middletown native Clarence Page will be the keynote speaker. Free and open to the public, this event will be held in the quad area behind Johnston Hall.

The celebration continues from 5 - 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7 with a Community Picnic on the quad. The picnic will have a 60s theme, including a costume contest and live music. The public is invited to bring a covered dish while Miami Middletown will provide the hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers, and soft drinks.

A 40th Anniversary Gala Concert wraps up the anniversary kickoff events at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9 in Dave Finkelman Auditorium. From classical to Broadway, pop, blues, gospel and a special tribute to the '60s, this concert reunites the "four pianos" group that played a number of scholarship benefit concerts in recent years. Tickets may be ordered by calling (513) 727-3383, (513) 529-3200 or online at www.tickets.muohio.edu.

Throughout the coming year Miami Middletown will have a series of lectures, performances, exhibitions, and other events to continue the celebration of its four decades of service.

The anniversary celebrations will culminate with the dedication of the new Campus Community Center in April.

For more information on any of these events, call (513) 727-3200, or visit the special 40th anniversary web site at www.mid.muohio.edu/40th.

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