Spain wins world cup

Coker College Men's Soccer Coach, Paul Leese, told me at the beginning of the World Cup that Spain was probably his 2010 favorite as he grew up for many years in Spain. It was a bit difficult for him to take that stand since he was born in England and also grew up there. But, it is safe to say he is happy with the Espana victory.

World Cup fever hit some former Coker students, one of whom was also a communication major in addition to being a member of the Coker College soccer team. You will enjoy this story about the four alums who made it to South Africa to enjoy the world's single biggest sporting event. Coker Alums Experience World Cup First Hand

Former Coker Student-Athletes Travel to South Africa for 2010 World Cup
7/12/2010

Read this article on the web at http://cokercobras.com/article.asp?articleID=2125.

HARTSVILLE, S.C. - Every four years the world turns its attention to soccer for the entire month of June as countries from across the globe meet in the FIFA World Cup. In 2010, the World Cup was held in South Afr ica and four Coker College Alumni got the experience of a lifetime, by being there in person.

Henna Koponen, Rachel Lemar and Prashant Bhenswala all from the class of 2010, along with Derek Whitmire, class of 2004, traveled to South Africa to see one of the biggest sporting events in the world live and in person.

Melinda Deyasi makes a difference for Coker Students

Melinda Deyasi is a Research Librarian at Coker. That is an important job all by itself on the campus of a small, private liberals arts college and Melinda will be missed by both students and faculty when it comes to her primary job as a Librarian. She is a creative research librarian, she was instrumental in a variety of changes at the Coker Library and Information Center during her time with Coker.

And, in her eight years at Coker College, Melinda has been involved in a number of student-related activities that have really broadened the definition of librarian. One area I know students will miss her is in the graduate school application process. Melinda had a way of helping students get involved with their grad school applications that helped several of them achieve schools they never expected to enter. She was able to introduce these students to the process of graduation school applications and once she introduced them, she stayed with them and on them to get all the pieces completed and sent off. Melinda has a no excuses policy and those with serious grad school intentions learned quickly that asking Melinda for assistance meant they would have a task master who would ensure they completed their end of the process. There are many students with Masters and about-to-be masters who benefited from Melinda's ideas, and disciplined-process approach.

A few years ago, when Dean Doubles fully retired, she also took on the job of helping students with the dream of becoming Fulbright scholars upon their graduation from Coker. Now, there are not many small liberal arts colleges with lots of Fulbright Scholars but Coker has had four Fulbright Schools since 2001. And, Melinda has proven over the last few years to be a strong champion for the Fulbright and for those students with the Fulbright dream. This year Anna Lippard is the Coker Fulbright Fellow. Last Spring, two students made it past the Fulbright committee with Anna also getting approved by the Country committee. Melinda's process of working with students, demonstrating a strategy that helps them accomplish all of the work involved in the application process and her continued cajoling, editing, commending and pushing have helped Coker students compete very favorably in this difficult, competitive academic fellowship competition.

This week I stopped over to see how Melinda's plans are coming for a major move in her life. Her husband Marco has been hired as a Humanities professor at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. She is moving to join him in that bustling college town. Coker is going to miss her contributions at all levels and students particularly will miss the on-target graduate school and Fulbright guidance that she has been giving. In fact, on this July afternoon she was still in the middle of the Fulbright process. She was getting out emails to students helping them keep their focus on the things that need doing in the Fulbright process now, because once school begins, it gets really difficult. (You will hear a little about this process in the video clip.)

In Hartsville, Melinda has been one of those people whose life is entwined with her work. Coker has been a better college because she has shared these last eight years with us on campus.

Field Research Photos show engaged students

Dr. Jen Borgo had some field research going on this summer and just posted a couple of photos on FACEBOOK. I particularly liked the little snake, which looked more like a big worm, but even though this is someone else's Coker College Experience, I thought some people would like to see this. It looks like some fun going along with the learning.

ALPHA is new name for Coker Evening Program

Just happened to see this as my Google alert led me to the Coker College story. This is an interesting idea. Using a power name like ALPHA for the evening program makes it less of a mouthful and it does portray the values inherent in earning a college degree. (The photo is of some students who were getting ready for finals during the summer term of this ALPHA program.)

Coker College Evening Program renamed ALPHA
From local reports
Published: July 7, 2010
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HARTSVILLE — Coker College’s Evening and Extended Studies Program has been renamed ALPHA, Adult Learners Program for High Achievement.

With almost 40 years of experience and locations in Hartsville, Cheraw, Lake City, and Mullins, ALPHA gives adults the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree at night.

“We wanted a name that is more representative of the students and outcomes of Coker’s evening program,” Dr. Barbara Jackowski, Coker College associate dean, said in a press release. “Our students are adult learners who work hard and aim high. They are earning a college degree to get more out of life, personally and professionally.”

Coker College ALPHA offers bachelor’s degree in business administration, criminology, early childhood education, elementary education, psychology, social work and sociology. The program is open to adults age 23 and older. Classes are offered two nights a week and on Saturday in some locations. Terms are eight weeks long and full-time ALPHA students can earn a degree in four years.

More than 450 adults in the Pee Dee are enrolled in ALPHA. The program has bridge agreements with Florence-Darlington Technical College and Northeastern Technical College, which eases the process of transferring to Coker.

Dan Edelman’s 10 Principles for Success

Dan Edelman’s 10 Principles for Success

One of the courses I really enjoy teaching is Public Relations and we have a couple of ways we teach that. One of the significant portions of the Marketing Communication course that I teach includes public relations. And, occasionally I get to teach the Principles of Public Relations Course and regularly we teach Public Relations Writing.

Dan Edelman is one of the PR professionals I looked up to in my formative public relations years. His agency was once one of the most resptected independent Public Relations firms in the business. I believe we should learn from some of these guiding lights and the 10 success principles that were released as part of the celebration of his 90th birthday are, I believe, valuable ideas for thinking about key behaviors in business and life. Were I teaching the class now, I would be sharing this article with students. Since we are on the summer break it is nice to be able to share via the blog.

Night Term Finals have the study guides out

Bicycled down to the office on Thursday night and there was a crowd of students sitting outside the door, all of them engaged in some last-minute studying for a final exam that began in about ten minutes. Professor David Dawson also came out to join the group as they were trying to deposit last-second facts into the memory bank. It was an interesting scene for the end of the Coker College Summer Night Term. The Night Terms are part of the College's program for non-traditional age college students who are striving to get their college degree. Occasionally, some day students will take a night class or two.

Pianist to Presidents Presents Performance

Coker College was host to an encore performance of David Osbourne and the David Osbourne Trio on June 30. The show was about three hours and was a totally delightful night of piano. His permanent job is at the Bellagio in Las Vegas but he is on a mini tour in the South and the previous night he played in Banner Elk, NC. The Coker audience gave the trio a well-deserved standing ovation.