WebBSIT ranks among top 20 ‘Best Buys’ in online education
SPSU’s online Bachelor of Information Technology (WebBSIT) program has been ranked as one of the top 20 “best buys” in the country by the education website GetEducated.com, a consumer group that rates, ranks and verifies the cost and credibility of online college and university programs.

WebBSIT is offered through the School of Computing and Software Engineering. SPSU is already known for its quality, affordability and commitment to student service with this program, designed specifically to meet the needs of busy professionals who see the benefits of continuing their education but would find it tough to juggle career, family responsibilities and a standard class schedule.

To learn more about the WebBSIT program, please visit this page.

Runnin’ Hornets make it to second round of NAIA tournament
The fifth-seeded SPSU Runnin’ Hornets stung their unranked opponent in the first round of the 2012 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship in Kansas City, Mo., on March 15, but then lost their second-round game.

The Hornets beat the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) Patriots 67-60 in the first round, but No. 12 Louisiana State University Shreveport got the best of SPSU on Fri., March 16, chalking up a final score of 84-71. It was the Hornets’ 14th appearance in the NAIA Championships.

SPSU Speech Team earns statewide honors
SPSU hosted the Georgia Intercollegiate Forensic Association’s annual State Championship Tournament on Feb. 25. Eight SPSU students from multiple majors competed, and Speech Team members earned top honors in two events.

Competing in the Readers’ Theater for the first time, the SPSU team won first place with its entry, “The Job.” Senior technical communication major Toby Pope also earned first place in program oral interpretation and second place in impromptu speaking.

Other Speech Team members who placed in the top three in their events included:

• Tyler Maran, a sophomore in mechanical engineering technology, finished third in poetry interpretation and extemporaneous speaking.
• Ayana Reyes Howell, a sophomore in architecture, placed third in program oral interpretation.
• Anthony Stallworth, a junior in industrial engineering technology, won second place in informative speaking.
• Kyle Wood, a freshman in mechatronics engineering, took third place in after-dinner speaking.

SPSU also placed third in the Team Sweeps event.

Speech Team Coordinator Misty York, a lecturer in communication, said this was SPSU’s best showing at the state tournament. “Our students have put in a tremendous amount of time and effort to reach this level of competition,” she said. “As a coach, it’s my privilege to work with a program so full of potential.”

SPSU placed third overall at the tournament, only two points behind the second place winner, Gainesville State College. Berry College took home the team championship for the sixth consecutive year.

The competition ended with the presentation of the first-ever Jack Haley Memorial Award to a student from Berry College as the best overall performer at the tournament. Haley was a speech professor at SPSU who died last summer.

In addition to York, Dr. Mark Stevens, professor of English, and Kelsey Harr-Lagin, communication instructor, also assist in coaching the SPSU team.

Nuclear Engineering Program receives $50,000 software donation
Dr. Thomas Currin, dean of the School of Engineering, recently announced the gift of nuclear reactor simulation software valued at $50,000 to SPSU’s Nuclear Engineering Program.

The Micro-Simulation Technology (MST) Corporation donated a desktop simulator software package known as PCTRAN for the Westinghouse-designed AP1000 Nuclear Power Plant Reactor. The software package also includes an AP1000 reactor simulator and RadPuff, which is used for emergency preparedness and response.

“This donation will enable students in our Nuclear Engineering Program to confirm and test their theoretical understanding of nuclear operations and controls,” Dr. Currin said.

Dr. Mahmoud Ghavi, director of the university’s Center for Nuclear Studies, was instrumental in securing MST’s gift, according to the dean.

Faculty activities
• Dr. Han Reichgelt, dean of the School of Computing and Software Engineering, has been invited to become a member of the advisory board for the Georgia Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (GA-HITREC) at Morehouse School of Medicine. GA-HITREC is a federally funded program that assists Georgia health care providers in selecting, successfully implementing and getting meaningful use out of certified electronic health record systems in order to improve clinical outcomes and the quality of care provided to patients. The advisory board, composed primarily of physicians, helps provide the center’s director with strategic direction.

• Dr. C.C. Hung, professor of computer science and software engineering, gave a keynote address at the 2011 (international Conference on Applied and Computational Mathematics late last year at the Gokaraju Rangaraju Institute of Engineering and Technology in Hydrabad, India. Dr. Hung’s address was on “Computational Intelligence in Remote Sensing Image Analysis: Silicon-Based vs. Nature-Inspired Algorithms.”

Mentoring event open to all SPSU women
The Alumni Relations Office will debut a new Women’s Mentoring Program at an evening event on Tues., March 27, that is open to all SPSU female faculty and staff members, students and alumnae.

During the event, scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. in Ballroom A, SPSU President Lisa A. Rossbacher and SPSU Foundation Board member and alumna Catherine Land Waters, 1983, president of Southeastern Gas Engineering, will talk about their experiences as women in the predominantly male fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and the importance of mentoring relationships for women.

There will be networking opportunities, hors d’oeuvres and the introduction of a new mentoring program for all SPSU women.

Space is limited – to reserve a seat, contact events@spsu.edu. For questions about the event and the mentoring program, call Pierrette Maillet in alumni relations at ext. 7702.

‘Teach-in’ to focus on environmental issues surrounding water
SPSU students and faculty and staff members are invited to participate in a water-themed “teach-in” early next week offering two days of sessions with a water themein the Student Center Ballroom.

The title of the teach-in is “Water, Water (Every)Where?” and speakers will address the familiar wet stuff from a number of different perspectives, such as art, culture, history, technology and science, according to organizer Dr. Julie Newell, chair of the Social and International Studies Department.

Most of the sessions will be interactive webinars featuring a variety of experts hosted by the Smithsonian Institution. However, there will be one live event – Kathy Nguyen, senior project manager for the Cobb County Water System, will lead a discussion on Georgia water issues on the second day.

The schedule is as follows:

Mon., March 26
• 11 a.m. – The Dead Zone: Hypoxia in Marine Systems: Are dead zones really dead?

• 12 p.m. – Desert to Rainforest: Biodiversity, Cultural Diversity, and the Role of Fresh Water: Are the rules of nature the same in an Arizona desert and in a Panamanian rainforest?

• 1 p.m. – Science and Symbol: How Water Has Shaped America: How can art help us understand science and history?

• 2 p.m. – Innovations in Clean Water: How are inventors and innovators working to improve access to clean water around the world?

Tues., March 27
• 11 a.m. – Too Much, Too Little: How Does the Amount of Water Affect Plants and Their Environment? What is the relationship between amounts of water and a plant's ability to flourish?

• 12 p.m. – Is the Forest a Sponge? Lessons from the Panama Canal Watershed: What can it tell us about ecosystems on a larger scale?

• 1 p.m. – Live discussion on Georgia water issues led by Kathy Nguyen, senior project manager for the Cobb County Water System

• 2 p.m. – Civic Responsibility: An Ongoing Tradition in American Indian Communities: Do people care about the environment for different reasons?

CET alumnus new secretary of Florida DOT
Greg Evans, a 1991 civil engineering technology graduate, has been appointed secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), District 2.

As secretary, Evans is responsible for day-to-day administrative, planning, production and operations activities for 18 counties in north central Florida.

Evans has managed projects all over the South and in Texas and is the former owner and president of Statewide Engineering Inc., a Georgia-based civil engineering firm.

His father, the late Carlton Evans, received a degree in surveying from what was then Southern Tech in 1965, and Greg Evans has several cousins who are also graduates.

Construction Management hosts AACEI meeting
The Construction Management (CM) Department recently hosted the Atlanta Area Chapter meeting of the American Association of Cost Engineering International (AACEI) on the SPSU campus. The attendees included numerous SPSU alumni, members of SPSU’s AACEI Student Chapter, officers of the AACEI Atlanta Chapter, and SPSU CM faculty members.

In his welcome address, CM Chair Dr. Khalid Siddiqi urged the organization to increase its involvement with SPSU CM students and suggested that members join the department’s Industry Advisory Board. He also encouraged AACEI members to offer more student internships.

AACEI awarded two scholarships to CM students in Fall 2011, and recipients Christopher Jernigan and Christopher Costley were recognized during the meeting. Dr. Siddiqi also praised Associate Professor of CM Zuhair Itr for providing leadership to the AACEI Student Chapter.

Albert Kwong, president of the AACEI Atlanta Chapter, said, “We enjoy our partnership with SPSU, and we will continue to provide our technical support and training, guest speakers, education, certification, mentoring, scholarship and internships.”

Mark Cundiff, chapter scholarship director, talked about the scholarships available via the AACEI website and encouraged students to apply. Walter Jones, chapter certification director, said he will conduct workshops at SPSU to prepare student members and AACEI members for certification exams.

Camps planned for spring, summer
Parents seeking enrichment activities for their children during school breaks may be interested in this year’s spring and summer camps at SPSU.

As of this date, registrations are being accepted for the following SPSU camps:

• Women’s Basketball Skill and Development Camp, April 2-5, a day camp for fourth graders to high school seniors at all skill levels, focusing on ball handling, shooting, individual defense and team play, $110 ($55 for the children of SPSU faculty and staff members), contact Stephon Seraile (sseraile@spsu.edu, ext. 3995) for more information;
• Aerospace Engineering Summer Camps, May 28-June 1, June 25-29 and July 16-20 and Remote Control Pilot Camp July 30-Aug.1, for middle and high school students (12-18 years old) to learn the basics of flight, the many types of aircraft and basic computer-aided design, to watch remote-control flight demonstrations and to try out flight simulators, $175, contact Dr. Adeel Khalid (akhalid2@spsu.edu, ext. 7241) for more information;
• Civil Engineering Camp, June 4-8 and July 2-6, participants will compete to build the most durable balsa wood bridge, conduct lab experiments and watch demonstrations, $110, contact Dr. Wasim Barham (wbarham@spsu.edu, ext. 3946) for more information; and
• Soccer Camp for high school students. SPSU Head Soccer Coach Kom Momeni will announce dates and details at a later date.

Have news to share?
If your department has an upcoming event or other news to share with the campus community, please send an e-mail with all the pertinent information to Diane Payne (dpayne@spsu.edu). To be considered for use in a specific issue of the SPSU Hornet’s Nest, a news item must be submitted no less than four weeks before the date of the issue.

Volume 5, Issue 11
March 21, 2012