collegeNews Arts & Sciences Giray performs at Carnegie Hall
Bank reps tout analytics
For musicians, a performance at New York’s historic Carnegie Hall is a milestone. Dr. Selim Giray, associate professor of violin and viola at PSU, achieved that in January. Girary and Dr. Gulimina Mahamuti, assistant professor of music at Ohio Wesleyan University, performed in Carnegie Hall’s elegant Weill Recital Hall on Jan. 8. Although performing at Carnegie Hall is a special event, Giray has a long list of prestigious performances to his credit. Giray, who is music director and conductor of the Southeast Kansas Symphony Orchestra and the PSU Chamber Orchestra has performed extensively on four Giray continents and has appeared frequently on radio and television. In addition to his duties at Pittsburg State University, Giray also serves as the concertmaster and assistant conductor of the Ohio Light Opera. In 2010, he was appointed field editor for the Mellen Press.
Students interested in math have career options they may not have dreamed of, according to representatives of the banking industry. Two officials from Commerce Bank told high school students at PSU’s annual Math Honor Day that the world of business offers many opportunities. A good option is analytics, the bank representatives said. These specialists use computers, research and data to help guide the choices companies make. “At Commerce Bank, we use math and statistics to help make better decisions,” said Tim Fitch, technology analytics manager. “Good use of data helps us to play outside our weight class.” Commerce Bank confirmed the value of these specialized employees by working with PSU in recent years to create a new degree option, the bachelor of integrated studies degree with an emphasis in analytics. “That program combines math, business and communication to produce a well-rounded person,” Fitch said.
Cadets help dedicate new rappel tower Two ROTC cadets pushed off and skillfully rappelled down the side of a new rappel tower, officially dedicating the new structure this past fall. The 40-foot tower was built just outside the Student Recreation Center/National Guard Armory and serves as an important training tool for cadets in the ROTC program. The tower was a gift to the university by a group of donors including the Ivan Crossland, Sr. family and has been named the Ivan Crossland, Sr., Rappel Tower. President Steve Scott told the crowd at the dedication that the relationship between Army ROTC and the campus is strong. “It’s a relationship that is built on the common goal of providing our students with the education, the training and the leadership skills that will allow them to achieve their full potential,” Scott said.
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McDaniel editor of English journal The College English Association recently named Dr. Jamie McDaniel, assistant professor of English and assistant director of technical/ professional writing at PSU, editor of the CEA Forum. The Forum is the organization’s online peer-reviewed journal for the scholarship of teaching and learning in English studies. At PSU, McDaniel teaches courses in technical communication, document design, writing for the web, contemporary British literature, and literary and cinematic horror. McDaniel has received the PSU Summer Teaching Enhancement Grant and the College English Association’s Robert Hacke Scholar-Teacher Award for his work concerning the incorporation of new media and civic engagement into the professional communication classroom.