The Center for the Visual Arts building has received a $15,000 overhaul of its lighting system, illuminating not only the facility but also meeting goals of energy efficiency at The University of Toledo.

“The Center for the Visual Arts is burning brighter thanks to the comprehensive fluorescent light retrofit project. Not only do we see better, but we appreciate the energy savings with the more efficient use of electricity,” said Chris Burnett, associate professor and chair of art.

The center expects savings of 30 percent as a result of this project, which was completed in March. On top of these savings, the project will bring in a $11,000 rebate for the energy upgrade, and all refuse from this project was recycled, according to the project leader Sandrine Mubenga, UT manager of electrical engineering.

Funding for this project would not have been possible without the help of Jim Graff, director of facilities operations, who volunteered $12,000 from his budget. The remaining $3,000 was supplied by SEED (Sustainability, Energy Efficiency and Design), UT’s sustainability initiative.

The majority of the work was completed in-house by Facilities. However, some areas of the center are structured with high ceilings and called for independent contractors. Mubenga kept the University’s mission in mind and partnered with a minority business enterprise, Bryson/Tucker Electric LLC.

“Overall, this project modeled goal orientation and the breaking down of silos between different areas and trades within the University,” said Brooke Mason, UT interim sustainability specialist. “It’s more efficient and better for everyone if the university operates in this manner.”

The Mid-American Conference recognized 23 University of Toledo student-athletes as President’s Award winners.

The MAC President’s Award is given annually to seniors who graduate with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

“We want to extend our congratulations to our student-athletes who received Mid-American Conference President’s Awards,” said UT Vice President and Athletic Director Mike O’Brien. “Considering the obligations required of a student-athlete, it is a tremendous accomplishment to graduate with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. These young men and women represent the finest examples of what it means to be a true student-athlete.”

Listed by sport, UT student-athletes who received the Mid-American Conference President’s Award are:

Baseball
• Ben Hammer

Women’s Basketball
• Naama Shafir

Women’s Cross Country
• Kaylin Belair
• Richelle Gray
• Kristal Studer

Football
• Dan Molls
• Ben Pike
• Jared Strait

Women’s Golf
• Allison Schultz

Women’s Soccer
• Megan Blake
• Natalia Gaitan
• Rachel Kravitz
• Kristen Mattei
• Jaimie Morsillo
• Blair Sorg

Softball
• Rebecca Heimbigner
• Lindsey Tobias

Women’s Swimming
• LesLee Winfield

Men’s Tennis
• Bryant Dudzik
• Terrance Weigand

Women’s Track & Field
• Ksenia Kriatchkova
• Emily Potter

Women’s Volleyball
• Bethany Irwin

A University of Toledo Occupational Therapy Program graduate student recently spent a month helping to improve the life of a 16-year-old burn survivor from a gypsy family in Bucharest, Romania.

Fahrer

“Despite feeling overwhelmed in a new and different culture, I met some incredible people that showed me generous hospitality the whole time I was in Romania,” said Fahrer, who is pursuing a doctorate in occupational therapy. “I learned so many valuable things about occupational therapy.”

In addition to the language barrier, which required an interpreter, the experience was intense because she had just two weeks to complete her objectives and make a difference in the teen’s life, whereas most students work directly with clients for approximately two months.

“At first it was hard to establish a trusting relationship with my participant while there was someone relaying messages between us,” Fahrer said. “After assessing his needs, we decided that the highest priority was to address his inability to read or write and then focus on his self-esteem issues because of the burn scars. We came up with some new strategies to help him learn.”

Fahrer said that before she worked with teenager, he could not retain basic information such as the Romanian alphabet. Fahrer learned much of the Romanian alphabet from YouTube and with help from her translator, she was able to teach the 16-year-old how to recognize and pronounce more than half of the letters.

She is using the experience as a case study as a part of her capstone project, which is one of the requirements of occupational therapy students to receive their doctoral degrees at UT.

Students can choose from several different types of disseminations for their capstone projects, such as a case study, program development, program modification, advocacy or course development, which all require a combination of 640 hours of practicum, mentored studies, writing about the experience, and presenting the final project to the community during a 15-minute presentation.

Fahrer’s case study is the first international capstone project in the program.

The University of Toledo Department of Music is offering several workshops this summer, many suitable for a variety of age groups and skill levels.

More information and links to online registration are available here.

Below is a listing with brief information on each of the workshops.

• Flute Workshop with Joel Tse, June 10-15
Faculty: Joel Tse, principal flute with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and UT flute instructor; class pianist, Dr. Michael Boyd, UT professor of music; rhythm, Olman Piedra, UT director of percussion studies; music theory, Norm Damschroder, UT senior lecturer of music
Ages: 12 and older
Tracks: Performance, Teacher Audit
Description: Master flutist Tse will head this intense workshop in flute. Students are trained in breathing, technique, rhythm and music theory, as well as provided master class coaching. A concert performed by the students will conclude the workshop on Saturday. Flexible attendance; attend as few or as many days of the workshop as you like.
Cost: Weekly rate $300; daily rate $65 per day
Click here to register and for more information.

• Exploring Orff-Schulwerk, June 12-14
Faculty: Dr. Pamela Stover, UT assistant professor of music
Ages: College level and up
Tracks: College credit only — available at the undergraduate (MUS 4980-002) and graduate level (MUS 6980-002)
Description: An introduction to the highly creative and integrative Orff-Schulwerk process of music and movement education for elementary education teachers and students. Designed for beginners to Orff-Schulwerk, experienced teachers who hold Orff levels and want a different perspective also are welcome.
To register: Enroll and register as you would for any other class, or if you are not a UT student, you can register as a guest student to take this workshop. Contact the UT Office of Undergraduate Admission or the College of Graduate Studies for more information.

• Summer Jazz Institute, June 16-22
Faculty: Gunnar Mossblad, UT director of jazz studies and saxophonist; Vic Juris, guitarist; Tad Weed, UT assistant professor of music and jazz pianist; Norm Damschroder, UT senior lecturer of music and bass player; Olman Piedra, UT director of percussion studies and percussionist
Ages: 12 and older
Tracks: Vocal, Instrumental, Teacher-Training, Jazz Appreciation
Description: The UT Summer Jazz Institute is the place where all levels of jazz students can discover and achieve their potential through the study of jazz in one of four programs: instrumental jazz, vocal jazz, teacher training and jazz appreciation.
To register and for more information: SummerJazz.utoledo.edu
Cost: $500 total ($450 tuition plus $50 application fee). If taken for college credit, the workshop tuition will be waived and UT tuition and fees will apply.

• Art Song Festival and Workshops, June 26-30
Faculty: Dr. Denise Ritter Bernardini, UT assistant professor of music and soprano; voice — Nancy Crego, Alexander technique; Timothy Cheek, diction; Karen Lykes, mezzo-soprano; Dr. Sam Savage, tenor; Andrew Walker Schultze, bass-baritone; Michael Sylvester, tenor; piano — Dr. Michael Boyd, UT professor of music; Clara Cheng, Nigel Foster
Ages: High school and older
Tracks: Artist, High School Student
Description: The Art Song Festival and Workshop is dedicated to promoting recital performances as well as to training singers and collaborative pianists in the fine art of recital planning and performance. This festival is packed with master classes, voice lessons, coaching sessions and recital performances, as well as classes geared for the student and emerging professional singer and pianist.
To register and for more information: ArtSongFestival.com
Cost: Adult participant: $680 total ($600 tuition plus $80 application fee, high school participant: $230 ($150 tuition plus $80 application fee)

• Opera Role Study: Così Fan Tutte, July 8-26
Faculty: Dr. Denise Ritter Bernardini, UT assistant professor of music and soprano; Don Bernardini, tenor, stage direction; Robert Mirakian, conductor; Nathanael Leonard, accompanist
Ages: Adult and college
Tracks: Performance
Description: This intensive, nearly monthlong daily workshop will culminate in the performance of Mozart’s beloved comic opera, “Così Fan Tutte.” Due to the performance nature of this workshop, openings are limited. Early registration is suggested.
To register and for more information: Click here.
Cost: UT student: $300 ($250 tuition plus $50 application fee),
non-student: $350 ($300 tuition plus $50 application fee)

• Books to Sing, Dance, Act and Play, Aug. 5-7
Faculty: Dr. Pamela Stover, UT assistant professor of music
Ages: College level and up
Tracks: College credit only — available at the undergraduate and graduate level
Description: A hands-on workshop for librarians and educators on ways to integrate music, literature, drama and art in activities appropriate for preschool through middle school.
To register: Enroll and register as you would for any other class, or if you are not a UT student, you can register as a guest student to take just this workshop. Contact the UT Office of Undergraduate Admission or the College of Graduate Studies for more information.

FORMS: Permission for minors to participate/consent for medical treatment — this form is required for anyone younger than 18. Download, print and have your parent or legal guardian sign it. It can be mailed in advance or brought with you on the first day of the workshop.

The Gardner-McMaster Parkinson Center will hold an open house Friday, May 24, to give members of the Toledo community the opportunity to learn more about the clinic.

The open house will be from 3 to 6 p.m. in the new Medical Pavilion on the UT Health Science Campus and will include light refreshments and music. Residents of northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan are invited to attend.

The nearly 6,000-square-foot facility is set to be one of the leading Parkinson centers in the nation due to its team-care approach working with physical and occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, pharmacists, neuropsychologists, and other health-care professionals who also are experts in Parkinson’s care

The Gardner-McMaster Parkinson Center is named in recognition of the generous donations from the family of Findlay businessman Philip Gardner, as well as the Harold and Helen McMaster Foundation. The Parkinson’s Foundation of Northwest Ohio also raised more than $160,000 to help offset the approximately $1.35 million in renovation costs.

Douglas

Douglas of Saginaw, Mich., qualified for the regionals with a personal best leap of 6.09 meters at the Toledo Invitational Track Meet May 3. This will be her first appearance at an NCAA regional event.

Douglas, who ranks 37th in the East region, recently finished in sixth place in the long jump at the 2013 Outdoor Mid-American Conference Championships with a jump of 5.69 meters. At the 2012 Outdoor MAC Championships, she landed in second place with a mark of 5.98 meters.

If Douglas finishes in the top 12 at regionals, she will qualify for the NCAA Championship Meet, which will take place Wednesday through Saturday, June 5-8, in Eugene, Ore.

Seven people lost their lives June 5, 2010, as a result of a tornado that ravaged the northwest Ohio region. The third annual Walter’s Family 5K race will be held to remember and honor those individuals.

The race, which is organized by the Walters family and Calvary Lutheran Church in Northwood, is named for Ryan, Mary and Hayden Walters, all members of the same family who were lost in the tornado.

The race will take place Saturday, June 8, at 8 a.m. at the Millbury Fire Station, 1911 Ayers Road in Millbury. Registration will start at 6:45 a.m.

“It’s a great way to show support and remember those who lost their lives,” said Mark Beck, quality management analyst at The University of Toledo Medical Center and director of this year’s race. “It’s a way for the family to also say thank you to the constant support from the community.”

Proceeds from the race will benefit the Ryan, Mary and Hayden Walters Scholarship at Owens Community College that was set up by members of the Walters family in 2011.

Race applications are available at Second Sole store at Levis Commons in Perrysburg and Calvary Lutheran Church, 1930 Bradner Road, Northwood.

The registration fees are:

• $15 — pre-registration without shirt;

• $20 — pre-registration with shirt (S, M, L);

• $23 — pre-registration with shirt (XXL, XXXL); and

• $20 — race day registration without shirt.

Door prizes also will be awarded at the race. Winners must be present and pre-registered to win.

For more information about the race, email markpbeck@yahoo.com.

The University of Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association (UTPPA) and The University of Toledo last week ratified a new three-year contract that will run through Dec. 31, 2015.

The UTPPA ratified the agreement May 12 by a 28-1 vote, and UT’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the deal at its May 13 meeting.

Included in the contract are:

• Wage increases of 1.5 percent, 0.5 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively, over the duration of the contract;

• No health-care plan design changes and premium cost sharing equal to other staff bargaining units; and

• Increased work rule flexibility to meet the various and changing needs of the University and police officers.

Chuck Lehnert, vice president for administration, said the agreement was the most recent example of the UTPPA’s commitment to the University community.

“The University of Toledo is incredibly fortunate to have these men and women providing protection, education and security to members of the UT community,” Lehnert said. “It was clear even while UTPPA negotiated on behalf of its membership that it had students, faculty, staff and the public safety in mind.”

“This agreement is a public example of the special and collaborative relationship between UT and the UTPPA, and I think it demonstrates that by working together we can overcome any challenge in a manner that is satisfactory to us both,” said Officer Bryon Hansel, UTPPA president. “UTTPA would like to thank The University of Toledo Board of Trustees for working with us in reaching an agreement during these trying economic times.”

“We have seen all too often in recent years the critical role campus police forces across the nation have played in responding to emergencies and keeping students and universities safe,” said Jeff Newton, UT police chief and director of public safety.

“Our campus community looks to and trusts these officers they interact with on a day-to-day basis, and I think we were able to reach a successful outcome for the UTPPA and the University because of the trust and respect cultivated over time away from the bargaining table.”

All 37 UT police officers are sworn state of Ohio peace officers commissioned by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy.

Football Coach Matt Campbell and the Rockets

There will be a cash bar, and fans and supporters of the Rockets can sample craft beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres.

A live auction will feature several items, including a trip for two to games at Florida and Missouri, and field passes for games vs. Navy and Bowling Green.

Proceeds will benefit The University of Toledo Rocket Fuel Program.

Donation levels are $1,000 for a table (seating for 10 and event recognition)
, $150 for a couple
 and $100 for an individual. Donations are tax-deductible, except for $30 per person to cover costs.

Register online here.

For more information or to register by phone, call the UT Football Office at 419.530.3500.

Selfridge

The tournament was played at Ohio State’s par 71, 7,286-yard Scarlet Course.

Selfridge posted a three-over par 74 Saturday to finish at nine-over par 222 (77-71-74) in the 54-hole event. He notched two birdies and two bogeys on his first nine holes and was at one-over before double-bogeying his last hole of the day.

Hewas one of 75 players, including 13 teams and 10 individuals, taking part in the event. New Mexico, Auburn, South Carolina, UNLV and Texas Tech, as well as Virginia’s Denny McCarthy, advanced from the regional to the NCAA Championships in Atlanta.

Selfridge registered one of the best individual seasons in school history for the Rockets, earning first-team All-Mid-American Conference honors and leading the MAC with a 72.1 stroke average.