THE BEAT GOES ON!

The Missouri Western State University Foundation hosted 250 people in the Fulkerson Center for its third annual Foundation Appreciation Dinner on April 14. The theme of the evening was "The Beat Goes On," and Western's art, theater, video and music departments were showcased.

The dinner is held each year to express appreciation for those who support the University; members of the Western League for Excellence and the Clock Tower Society, Western's honorary giving societies, were guests of the Foundation. Dan Nicoson, executive director of the Foundation, emceed the event and gave audience members an update on Foundation revenue and expenses. Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Western's president, gave a keynote address highlighting Western's recent accomplishments. He noted that although the University is facing tough budget challenges, "the beat goes on," and Western has continued to move ahead with construction projects and many accomplishments during the past year. A chronological overview presented by Dr. Vartabedian included the following:

• In May 2009, Western awarded its first graduate degrees. Twelve students in the Master's of Applied Science program claimed that distinction.
  
  
• In June 2009, Western broke ground for the new indoor sports complex, which will become the summer home of the Kansas City Chiefs football team. The complex will be completed in July 2010, in time to welcome the Chiefs for the first time. This facility, combined with the new spring sports complex, should provide Western with athletic facilities that will be the envy of the region.
  
  
• In July 2009, for the second year in a row, synthetic biology research conducted by Western students and faculty received international attention after being published in the Journal of Biological Engineering.
  
  
• In October 2009, the Koenig-Simmons Trading Room of the Craig School of Business was opened and dedicated. The trading room includes 14 computers with financial trading software and a large television with a continuously running "ticker" of trading information.
  
  
• This January, Remington Hall, the new wing of the mathematics and science facility, was opened thanks to state funding and the generous support of many donors, including Wes and Patsy Remington. The new addition has added 60,000 square feet of state-of-the-art laboratory and instructional space. Agenstein Hall is currently being renovated and will be re-opened in December 2010.
  
  
• In February, Western announced its designation as an "All-Steinway School." Western is the third university in Missouri to receive this designation. All-Steinway School designation requires that 90 percent or more of Western's acoustic pianos, whether for practice, instruction or performance, be designed by Steinway & Sons.
  
  
• In March, the University was awarded a $600,000 National Science Foundation grant for the Midwest Apex Project. This scholarship grant will be used in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
  
  
• In April, Western announced its successful accreditation for the Craig School of Business from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)—an accreditation level earned by only 5 percent of business schools worldwide.

A highlight of the evening was an announcement that alumnus Brent Porlier '82 contributed funds to purchase a Steinway & Sons nine-foot concert grand piano to be placed in the theater in Potter Hall. When Western was designated an All-Steinway School in February of this year, the University was still in need of a showcase piano and Brent responded. "The gift is much appreciated," said Dr. Matthew Edwards, associate professor of music and director of keyboard studies. "The new piano will give us four nine-foot Steinways," said Dr. Edwards. "There can't be too many schools of our size who could boast that many." Brent is the owner and president of Porlier Outdoor Advertising, a St. Louis-based company he started in 1988 that maintains more than 440 billboard faces in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. He contributes billboard space to Western and was instrumental in the development of the new Faraon Street entrance sign.