The Student Voice Since 1903 University of Central Oklahoma
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Myers wins Miss Asian UCO 22 high schools
by Vista photographer Travis Marak
Yumiko Akiba, left, crowns Jennifer Myers as the 2006-07 Miss Asian UCO Nov. 18 in Constitution Hall. by Abha Eli Phoboo Staff Writer
The Sixth Annual Miss Asian University of Central Oklahoma Scholarship Pageant, Nov.
18 was held in Constitution Hall, Nigh University Center. Jennifer Myers from Korea won the main title of Miss Asian UCO 2006-07, and Yoriko Kuwahara of Japan
was declared first runner-up. Ten UCO Asian students participated in the contest, representing India, Nepal, South Korea, Japan, China and Vietnam. Titled “Memoirs from Asia,” the event also featured outgoing Miss Asian UCO 2006, Yumiko Akiba. The contest opened with the American national anthem, followed by a group dance with a modern-Oriental theme. The first round of the event was the participants’ introduction. Miss Asian UCO 2006 Akiba performed gymnastics on stage for the last time as the reigning queen. She performed the act in the talent round of 2006. The second round was an array of traditional dresses ranging from India’s sari to Japan’s kimono. Contestants also performed their traditional bow. The talent contest, which was the third round, showed a different side to all participants. The variety of talents included singing, dancing, martial arts and playing of the piano and viola. Yoriko Kuwahara won the Talent Award, which entails a $100 scholarship with an official plaque. She performed “A Whole New World,” the song from Disney’s “Aladdin” complete with a carpet on stage, Aladdin and elaborate costumes. She also won the
People’s Choice Award and the Miss Congeniality title. The Photogenic Award went to Stephanie D’Alessandro of South Korea and the Director’s Award to Christina Truong of China. Keiko Tanaka of Japan won the Future Business Woman award for Ad Sales, which entitles her to a $200 scholarship and an official plaque. The evening wear competition included an on-stage question round. Myers’ platform was “Promoting Community Service,” and the question directed to her was: ‘Why is cultural awareness significant to our society today?’ “The importance of cultural significance is to make people aware of the kind of impact culture brings to our society. There are 75 different countries at UCO. We need to make students aware so they don’t discriminate, stereotype or are prejudiced,” said Myers. She could not believe it when she won and said, “I’m speechless, this was totally unexpected. I want to use my status as the reigning queen to represent the Asian community and promote cultural awareness.”
Abha Eli Phoboo can be reached at aphoboo@thevistaonline.com.
Emerging artists paint with Dr. Palmer
compete in arts
by Vista photographer Travis Marak
From left: Timothy Mansour, Josh Campbell and Tara Drwenski of team #1 participate in the 3rd annual state Fine Arts and Literature Academic Meet Nov. 18 in the Education Building. by Ivo Lupov Staff Writer The academic version of the television show “Jeopardy” was Nov. 18, in the UCO Education Building. The third state annual Fine Art and Literature Academic Meet gathered 22 Oklahoma high schools to compete on artrelated questions. The academic teams which were divided in large and small schools, based on student population, measured knowledge on topics such as paintings, painters, literature, authors, architecture and music. Partnering with UCO and Oklahoma Arts Council, the Edmond Fine Arts Institute’s goal of the event was to promote art and educate students on various art topics, said Mark Becannen, academic team coach of Santa Fe High School and event coordinator. Divided in four rounds, the teams had the opportunity to answer 15 toss-up questions, said Lisa Nelson, community coordinator at the Fine Arts Institute. Prior to the competition the Institute put a summary of possible art questions on their website, giving the academic
teams a chance to prepare. “We go online and we search everything we can and quiz for a week prior to the meet,” said Doris Bracket, a math teacher and academic coach for small school first place winner Byng High School. She also said this is Byng’s third year to compete. The winner in the large school group was Edmond Santa Fe High School. First and second place winners received trophies and certificates for participation. Ashley Wall and Anna Stovall from Putnam City West High School said they have been studying, but not enough. Their team lost in the first round of the competition in the big high school group. “We try to get as many community partnerships as we can and this has been a very collaborative one,” said Dr. Katy Brown, associate professor in UCO Professional Teacher Education. She said many UCO students and members of Kappa Delta Pi, honor society of education, volunteered in organizing the event. Ivo Lupov can be reached at ilupov@thevistaonline.com.
Surveys no longer conducted online by Andrew Knittle Staff Writer
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Katie Blackledge, Cleveland Elementary School, helps touch up San Miguel Plaza Flea Market building mural. by Desiree Treeby Staff Writer In need of a “facelift,” 174 preschool to high school students from across the state painted a two-block long centennial mural that now covers the San Miguel Plaza Flea Market building [previously known as
AMC] in downtown Oklahoma City. The painting lasted for five hours Friday at which more than 800 people attended. “It’s a big band of color,” Dr. Bob Palmer, UCO art professor said, describing the mural. He said the purpose was to give children the opportunity to do their own work, because
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most murals are by grown ups.” Palmer was in charge of organizing the actual painting of the wall and helping the students transfer their ideas onto 4 ft. by 5 ft. spaces. “It was a trick trying to get them painted,” Palmer said, “because they’re used to painting smaller spaces and that’s where I come in.” The images represent the students' eyes and ideas of Oklahoma from the past, present and future. Some portray teepees to astronauts to space ships. “The building is getting a second wind,” which was previously a flea market, Palmer said. He commented on the increase of traffic in the area and that Saturday cars “were lined up.” For selection, students had to
submit pieces, which will also be on exhibit at the City Art Center near the Fairgrounds. “That’ll make them feel like they’re grown up,” Palmer said. Part of the Oklahoma A+ Schools program almost 50 schools participated, sending up to seven students. Not only were there hundreds of student painters, schools also participated by bringing entire classes for “field trips.” “It was fun to see them show their parents that they were proud of their work,” Palmer said. The mural is at the corner of 10th and Pennsylvania. FMI contact the art department at 974 – 5201. Desiree Treeby can be reached at dtreeby@thevistaonline.com.
Andrew Knittle can be reached at aknittle@thevistaonline.com.
'Scarecrow' review
36th UCO Pow Wow
After web-based professor evaluation surveys yielded a low response rate, UCO’s various departments are going back to the traditional method of collecting data from students – pen and paper. For the first time since the Spring 2004 semester, the Student Perception of Instructional Effectiveness (SPIE) survey will be given out by instructors at the end each semester. Dr. Dan Donaldson, assistant vice president for Distance and Executive Education, is in charge of administering the SPIE surveys and using the results to benefit the university’s staff and students. Donaldson said the reason for issuing SPIE surveys is simple. “Faculty uses the surveys to improve themselves, that’s the main reason,” Donaldson said. Online SPIE surveys are designed to cut costs of collecting data, speed up the time it takes to report results and reduce the amount of
classroom time spent taking the pen and paper surveys. This theory only works if students take the time to actually fill the surveys out, Donaldson said. “We just couldn’t get the response rate high enough to continue on with the online evaluations,” Donaldson said. UCO senior accounting major Scott Kellerman said he isn’t surprised by the change from online to pen and paper evaluation. “I always took the time to fill out the [online] surveys, even though I don’t know anyone else who did,” Kellerman said. “In-class surveys seem like a smarter way to get that kind of information.” Donaldson concurred with Kellerman, saying the point of SPIE surveys is to make the learning experience better at UCO. “If we can’t get results from the evaluations, it doesn’t benefit the students or the faculty,” Donaldson said.
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