Amazing Women

Call Gabriel at SWEET 90.5. Because commercial radio won't.

Never finished, always learning.....

(With her permission), I want to share with you a comment about Stephens from one of our alumna, Lee Lewis:  

"We used to say, "Stephens is a 'finishing school'.  I went there and I am finished!" 

What I didn't know then was that Stephens actually prepared me to never be 'finished'.  I am still continuing my education for my edification and enjoyment.   I love my life-- and my memories of Stephens are a big part of who I am."

Now that's the kind of comment that makes me happier than ever to be a Stephens woman.  You, too?

 
 

Stephens takes top honors in dressage

This just in from Equestrian Professor Dianna Rankin:

"Our Stephens dressage riders did themselves and their college proud at the Columbia Dressage & Combined Training Association Fall Show this weekend:

Senior Lauren Blondell, riding Sonny's Hot Bunny, won a 4th and a 6th in her dressage classes;

Sophomore Emily Brammeier, riding Lazer, won a 2nd and a 4th in her dressage classes;

Sophomore Erin Hartman, riding Zinnia, won a 1st and a 2nd in her dressage classes;

Freshmen Vanessa Tuepker, riding Catch Key, won two 2nd places in her dressage classes.

All four riders and their horses were beautifully turned out and a real credit to our Equestrian program.  I am, as their teacher and colleague, very proud of each and everyone of them."

Congratulations Lauren, Emily, Erin and Vanessa!  We're proud of you, too!

The Martin Luther King Student Union invites you to attend its meeting on Monday (tomorrow!), Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. in the Roblee Basement Room #2. The group will meet every other Monday. The agenda includes: Leadership. If you want to run for club office, you can declare by contacting Charell Strong, charell.strong@sc.stephens.edu. There are openings for fundraising chair; secretary and treasurer. If you can't find time for that kind of commitment, you can join one of the committees (Public Relations, Community Service, Fundraising, Events). Dues are $15 and will be collected at the meeting.

Tiffany does the runway (the BRIDAL runway, that is....)

I call her Wonder Woman (OK, so not to her face, but now she knows....)

Those of you who have ever been lucky enough to find yourself in the President's Office at Stephens College have also had the good fortune of meeting Tiffany Spradling, my right-hand woman and the person who keeps me organized, focused, and (to the extent humanly possible) on schedule every day.

I have come to the conclusion that there isn't anything Tiffany can't do.

And -- as it turns out -- that includes modeling.  Wedding dresses, no less.

In her own inimitable style, Tiffany just HAPPENED to mention to me that she spent the weekend as a model in the Fall Wedding Gala on Sept. 13, walking the runway in wedding gowns and bridesmaid's dresses.

I demanded (in the nicest possible way) photos.

And here they are (DA DAAAAAAAA!):

Tiffany Spradling does the wedding walk:

I can't even imagine how she spent this weekend.....

Historically fabulous: IFA celebrates the original My Fair Lady

Stephens Leaders, 2009:

Please join me in congratulating and thanking the student leaders who have volunteered their time, talents and energy to help make 2009-2010 the best year at Stephens College in its history!

 

SGA Executive Board

President: Rosario Chico (elected Spring 2009)
Vice President: Samantha Cook (elected Spring 2009)
Secretary: Nikki Martin (elected Spring 2009)
Treasurer: Randi Cahill (newly elected)
Academic Affairs Chair: Lainey Hughes (elected Spring 2009)
Student Advocate: Rachel Gaynes (newly elected)

Senior Class Officers (elected Spring 2009)
President:  Sara Peterson
Vice President/Treasurer:  Alex Abrams
Secretary: Kameka Rees
Events Chair:  Christa Talmage
Fundraising Chair:  Kahlia Kanas

Junior Class Officers (all newly elected)
President: Brittany Morgan
Vice President/Treasurer: Sam Schwartzman
Secretary: not yet finalized
Events Chair: Cara Leis
Fundraising Chair: not yet finalized

Sophomore Class Officers (all newly elected)
President: Chanecka Williams
Vice President/Treasurer: Paris Potter
Secretary: Ashley Bryant
Fundraising Chair: Annie Pfeiffer
Events Chair: not yet determined

Freshman Class Officers (all newly elected)
President: Ally Poole
Vice President/Treasurer: Julia Golder
Secretary: Megan Herrera
Fundraising Chair: Elizabeth Anderson
Events Chair: Jacqueline Madey

 
 

Down the Rabbit Hole!

Alice in Wonderland -- starring a cast of Stephens stars -- opened  at 7 p.m. Friday at Off Center Theatre in Crown Center (Kansas City). Additional performances: 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 7 and 10 p.m. Sept. 25 and 2 and 4 p.m. Sept. 26-27. Tickets are $8. Call 816-842-9999 or go to https://tickets.ahtkc .com. For more information on the show, visit www.bellenwhissle productions.com.

For more details, see the story in the Kansas City Star.

It's show time (academically speaking....)!

As I just said (see below), it's almost inauguration time -- the two-day celebration in late October that marks a new chapter in the college's history and progress.

And we're planning a (red) sock hop, a parade, and -- perhaps most important -- a celebration of your academic and creative accomplishments.   The Academic Symposium is an opportunity to showcase your achievements, join in the celebration, and build your resume (before an attentive audience of people who just might want to be helpful to you in your career!).

Can you think of a better way to spend two hours on an October afternoon?  (Me, either.)

Ann Taliaferro sent you all an email last week, describing the poster sessions.  Here's what it said:

Poster topics can include internships, research projects, or other types of scholarly or capstone projects completed by students.

Posters will be presented from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. October 30 on the LRW Mezzanine. This is a great way for you to shine a light on your expertise, share your work in a professional setting, and build your resumé.

Poster Session Information
Guidelines are provided for poster preparation based on the type of project to be presented (see website). A first place, second place, and third place poster will be selected on the basis of the quality of the poster content and the student presentation of the poster.  Cash awards will be presented.  Students will need to be present from 1:00 to 3:30 pm on October 30 to discuss their poster with attendees.

First Place:

·         $100
·         Poster displayed in LRW after symposium
·         Recognition with photograph in College publications such as The Ideal Connection, Stephens’ alumnae tabloid, and Inside Stephens weekly campus e-newsletter
·         Second Place:
·         $50
·         Poster displayed in LRW after symposium
·         Recognition with photograph in College publications such as The Ideal Connection, Stephens’ alumnae tabloid, and Inside Stephens weekly campus e-newsletter
·         Third Place:
·         $25
·         Poster displayed in LRW after symposium
·         Recognition with photograph in College publications such as The Ideal Connection, Stephens’ alumnae tabloid, and Inside Stephens weekly campus e-newsletter
How to enter a poster: Talk to your department chair or a faculty mentor about the poster you want to present.  Download the entry form.   Submit entry to your department or program chair for approval.

Entry deadline: Entry form with abstract should be submitted to your department or program chair by Monday, September 28.  The department will forward the chosen entries to Ann Taliaferro in the Vice President for Academic Affairs office by Wednesday, September 30.

Once your entry is accepted,   additional instructions for preparing the poster and a workshop will be provided.  You will be asked to sign up for this workshop in order to prepare a professional poster.

Deadline for final poster:  Final poster files (.pdf) must be sent to Ann Taliaferro at AnnTal@stephens.edu by Monday, October 19.

Join the Parade! (Please?)

Parade?  Did somebody say parade?!?

When they asked me what kind of inauguration event I wanted us to have here at Stephens, I said I wanted it to be about US.  About our community.  About our students.  About all of the people and events and traditions and big dreams that make Stephens the extraordinary place that it is.

I also said I wanted a parade -- mostly so the horses could join the party, but also so students who weren't involved in the academic symposium would have an opportunity to be a real part of the inauguration itself.

So that's the plan:  We're having a parade.

And all of the members of the Stephens College community -- faculty, staff, students, alumnae, parents -- are invited to join us.

Participants in the Parade of Stars will create banners representing their particular group -- whether it's the volleyball team, Pet Floors, or the Security staff.  The best banner wins $100!

All you have to do is register by Wednesday, Sept. 16.

Get all the details here.

So please: Sign up to join us.  It'll be the parade of....well, of the stars.  Our stars. 

Like you!

Leadership: It's a responsibility, and an honor....

The International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) is the premier professional accreditor for business programs in student-centered colleges and universities throughout the world.  Its mission is to promote, develop, and recognize excellence in business education.

Those are lofty goals, and their accomplishment requires real leadership.  Good news is, the IACBE is a global organization whose membership includes some of the best and brightest business educators in the world.

Including Stephens' own Professor Pam Shackelford.

Professor Shackelford's active engagement in IACBE resulted last week in her election to a two-year term as President of the organization's North Central Region, which includes Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.  In that role, she will represent the IACBE-accredited business programs in those states at the organization's national conferences and as a member of its executive boards.

In other words, Stephens faculty really does sit at the table with the nation's leaders in business education.

Congratulations to Professor Shackelford and to her department: Our students benefit from your leadership, inside and outside the classroom.

Qristyl makes Essence!

Our amazing and talented alumna, Qristyl Frazier, made a splash in Essence magazine this week in a full spread about her talents, design career, and time on Project Runway. 

Although she was "out" (don't you just hate the way Heidi Klum says that word?  I DO) last night, Qristyl was a model of grace, calm, and cool under pressure -- a true Stephens woman.

We are so proud to know she is one of the family.  OUR family.

 

Follow the yellow brick road....follow, follow, follow, follow, follow the Yellow Brick Road...

OK, so it's not all about the shoes.

But it's at least sort of about the shoes....

....those glittery, red ruby slippers that remind us of those moments in our childhoods when all we had to fear was an old lady on a broom....

....when we knew that, no matter what the challenge or how screechy the flying monkeys, our friends would charge through the witch's castle and rescue us at the last minute.

....when we discovered, once and for all, that what really matters is family -- and that there really is no place like home.

Kind of makes you feel like a family hug, doesn't it?  (Yes, it does)....and good news is, now's the time:

Family Weekend 2009 is Sept. 25-27, and whether you're a freshman or a senior, that yellow brick road leads from home right to Stephens.  Here are the details!

We've planned a full schedule of special events (including lots of shopping and eating-out time). 

And I can't wait to meet them -- every single one of them.

I'll be the prez in the....you guessed it:

Red shoes.

Doesn't sound like work to me....

This just in from Deb Duren:

If you are interested in working at the 7pm volleyball game on Monday, September 14th or Wednesday, September, 16th, please email Deb Duren at debd@stephens.edu. 

Students with work-study will be considered first for these positions.

So the guy seems to be having fun....but maybe you want to know more than that?

No matter what your politics, you have to admit that the guy looks like he's enjoying the job....

Want to know more than that about the democratic process (or, more specifically, the Democratic process?)?

This just in from the Stephens College Democrats (and just to be absolutely clear, this is a totally nonpartisan blog; if the College Republicans are meeting on campus, I'd be delighted to announce their meetings, too!):

Do you have a cause you want to get involved with? Are you confused about what is going on in Washington? Are you a Democrat?

Come to the STEPHENS COLLEGE DEMOCRATS meeting on Sunday, Sept. 13th at 6PM in the pit to discuss all of those above and whatever other questions you might have about our organization. We will also be discussing possible events and fundraisers to pursue this year, both on campus and around the community.

Questions? Contact Katie: katie.nicholson@sc.stephens.edu 

One woman's trash is another woman's TREASURE....

It's that time of year again.

Yes, you're all back on campus (hurrah!). 

Yes, when I head over to Stamper for lunch, I get to say hi to at least a dozen of you on my way over the bridge (hurrah again!)

And yes, you're all wondering when (oh when) is it time for the annual Stephens College Garage Sale.  (Well, aren't you?  I am, and I just got here....people say it's great.....good stuff. cheap.)

The answer?

Tomorrow.

Yup, that's right.  Friday.  Tomorrow. September 11.

From 11 a.m. to noon, and from 4 to 5 p.m. in the basement of Tower Hall.

Bargain hunters, unite!  And see you there....

In memory of a life......

It is at the most difficult times in our lives that community means most.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life In Memory of Rebecca Notti

Friday, Sept. 11, 2009
12:00pm (noon)
Firestone-Baars Chapel

Everyone from the Stephens College Community welcome.

In the "So what are you waiting for....?" department: Important leadership. You. Stephens. (Declare!)

Did you know that you can't be a leader if you don't step up when the community needs to be led?

Did you know that leaders aren't chosen, they're created -- by the leaders themselves?

Did you know that students who participate in college government are actually far more likely to succeed than students who don't? (OK, so I just made that one up, but it seems like it's probably true, doesn't it?  It does....)

And did you know that Stephens will never be as strong, dynamic, valuable and excellent WITHOUT you as it would be WITH you (you did know that, right?).

So here's the word,  just in from the SGA:

You have until 11:59 p.m. tonight to file your declarations for the following positions in the Student Government Association:

·         Executive Board (Must be of Sophomore standing and a returning Stephens College student to be considered.)
o   Treasurer
o   Student Advocate
·         Freshman Class
o   Vice President/Treasurer
o   Secretary
·         Sophomore Class
o   Vice President/ Treasurer
o   Secretary
o   Event Chair
·         Junior Class
o   President
o   Secretary
o   Event Chair
o   Fundraising Chair

It is time to elect your 2009-2010 Treasurer and Student Advocate to serve on the Executive Board for Student Government Association.

 

In addition, we are holding elections for Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior Class Officers which consists of President, Vice President/Treasurer, Secretary, Event Chair, & Fundraising Chair.

Please review the SGA Position Descriptions document attached to this email and the SGA Constitution for more information about the positions, responsibilities, and elections.

Please fill out a declaration form attached to this email. All declarations must be turned in by Tuesday, September 8th to Amanda Purchase Roberts via email aroberts@stephens.edu . Once your declaration is turned in, you can begin campaigning. Please attach a photo with your declaration.

Elections will take place Monday, September 14-Wednesday, September 16th.
Results will be announced on Friday, September 18th.

 
 
 

If you have any questions about the elections, please respond to this email.

Thank you,

Amanda Purchase Roberts M.Ed.
Stephens College
Student Services Coordinator
573-876-7253 ext. 4253
aroberts@stephens.edu
Stamper Commons 200

Home, sweet home.....

Two weeks ago, more than 300 new students arrived on the Stephens campus to begin the biggest adventure of their lives: COLLEGE!

Madelyn Hereford was one of those students.

Madelyn was born a Stephens woman:  Her grandmother went to Stephens.  Her mom went to Stephens. Her two aunts went to Stephens.  And her grandmother's cousin went to Stephens.

We're so proud to be a family affair.

And in keeping with that pride -- and that family affair -- Madelyn's mom sent us some photos of the big move-in day.  (Your mom probably has some, too....). 

And -- with Madelyn's permission -- I thought I'd share them with you: proof positive that this new adventure called College Life is even better than you expected!

Madelyn has four brothers.  Turns out brothers are a good thing on move-in day.

Brittney and Madelyn:  Lesson #1: Your RA is your new best friend (one of them, anyway!)

Jessica, Alex and Madelyn:  Lesson #2: Hallmates are your (other) new best friends.....

Katie and Madelyn:  Lesson #3: And suite-mates are your really-truly new best friends....

The "before" photo:  Really? This is it?   (OK, so it's all potential at this point.....)

And lots of brotherly assistance later:  Home, sweet home!

Welcome to Stephens, Madelyn....we're so happy to have you (and the other hundreds of Stephens students new to campus this fall) with us.

In the "It's the great work that you do...." category:

It started with a summer internship through the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in Hollywood, which sent Stephens' senior Nicole Martin to work at  TNT/TBS in Burbank, CA.

Three months and a whole lot of extraordinary work later, that internship has turned into a job offer on the set of TNT's drama show, HawthoRNe, starring Jada Pinkett Smith.

Nicole will finish the fall semester here on campus, take a leave of absence in the spring to head for LA, and return next fall to finish her degree.

"Everything is happening so fast, and I cannot believe it is happening to me, but when life calls, you have to answer... and you have to represent Stephens all the way. Which is what I plan on doing," she says.

Now that really *is* what I call a Stephens woman!