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April 15, 2004

Bayou Bulletin

*Northeast Louisiana Arts Council Present Awards
*Rebecca Dodson-Webster Named Artist of the Year
*Upcoming Career Services Events Calendar
*ULM Professor Honored by Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities
*Professor Discusses Research on International Television

Northeast Louisiana Arts Council Present Awards

Each year the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council provides an opportunity for cultural organizations in its 11-parish region to acknowledge the contributions made by artists, businesses, and volunteers. Area arts organizations nominate individuals and businesses in five awards categories: Ouachita Parish Volunteer of the Year, Regional Volunteer of the Year, Outstanding Artist, Ouachita Parish Business Arts (BART), and Regional Business Arts (Regional BART). The selection committee selects recipients in various categories that it feels has made the most significant contribution to the improvement of the quality of life in its community. This committee is composed of individuals who have extensive backgrounds in arts management, volunteerism, and the various arts disciplines. As a past recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award, I can tell you that to be nominated by an organization is indeed an honor.

The 19th Annual Arts Awards were presented on February 19th at a reception at the home of Stephen and Janet Haedicke at a gathering of arts patrons, artists and the representatives of corporations and arts organizations from around the region. This year's awards recipients were: Charlotte Crawford, Ouachita Parish Volunteer of the Year; Margaret Dosher, Regional Volunteer of the Year; Iberia Bank, BART; Something Special Antiques (Columbia), Regional BART; Rebecca Dodson-Webster (ULM faculty member), Outstanding Artist of the Year. Additionally two special recognition awards were presented to the Arts Council's nominees for Governor's Arts Awards: CenturyTel for Outstanding Business and the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Foundation for Outstanding Arts Patron. A 3rd award was presented that evening, the Mary Lee Milam Award.

The Mary Lee Milam Award is the only award that is not selected by this committee. The 2004 Mary Lee Milam Award was presented to KEDM FM90.3 for its Outstanding promotion of the arts in northeast Louisiana. By providing a forum for area arts organizations to reach a wider audience that is specifically interested in quality of life and culture, KEDM has heightened the awareness of the importance of a viable cultural community to the well being of the community at large.

The Mary Lee Milan Award is selected by the Board of Directors of the Arts Council. The present Northeast Louisiana Arts Council was started by the Junior League in 1979, there was a group of art patrons that saw the need for such an organization. The Northeast Louisiana Council of the Arts was formed in 1971 and functioned under the capable leadership of Mary Lee Milam. The Board of NLAC wanted to honor these efforts by naming an award after this energetic lady of many accomplishments. Established in 1992, the Mary Lee Milam Award is the only award whose recipient is chosen exclusively by the Arts Council's Board and is not necessarily awarded annually. Recipients of the award must have actively displayed enthusiasm, leadership, initiative, and dedication from which the arts organizations and cultural community in our area have obviously benefitted. The Mary Lee Milam Award is very special in that it is given only when an individual or organization has performed service of such value that it has had a dynamic impact on the cultural face of our regional community. Presented only seven times since 1992, past recipients include Frances Guthrie, Frances Adcock, Chris Ringham, Sarah Johnson, June Strausser, Bill Street, Naomi Cordill, and the only organization to have received it, the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Rebecca Dodson-Webster Named Outstanding Artist of the Year

Dr. Rebecca Dodson-Webster, associate professor of music at ULM, was awarded the Artworks 2004 Outstanding Artist of the Year award by the Northeast Louisiana Arts Council. Nominated by the Monroe Symphony Orchestra, she was recognized for outstanding artistry, achievement, service to the community, the university, and the orchestra. Dodson-Webster will be featured in a regional artists recital at the International Horn Society's southeast workshop at Florida State University. She will perform selections from her recent solo CD, Music for Horn and Piano. At the workshop, Dodson-Webster will present a seminar on "Tai Chi for Horn Players" The three-day session is part of the article series "Fit to Play" Dodson-Webster wrote, which was recently accepted to The Horn Call, The IHS's official journal.

Upcoming Career Services Events

Career Services is offering a series of seminars and events for students throughout the month of April.

*April 21st Company representatives in the education field will be at the university library, 7th floor, from 10 a.m. 4 p.m., to discuss career opportunities and to receive resumes. Dress appropriately for an interview. A credentials folder is not required to attend.

*April 22nd & 23rd There will be an information session on the 22nd, concerning Youth Villages. On the 23rd, Company representatives will interview candidates that have signed up. This is primarily for students in psychology, marriage and family therapy, and criminal justice. Sign up in Career Services, SUB 210.

*April 27th Company representatives from the U.S. Army Health Care Team will interview candidates that have signed up, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is primarily for nursing students. Sign up in Career Services, SUB 210.

For further information about any of the events, call Career Services at (318) 342-5338.

ULM Professor Honored by Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities

Dr. M. Scott Legan, professor and chair of the history department at ULM, will receive a Special Humanities Award from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. Legan is receiving the recognition for having contributed to LEH reading programs for more than 20 years.

The annual Humanities awards ceremony and reception honors Louisianians who have made outstanding contributions to the study and understanding of the humanities. The ceremony is scheduled for 6-8 p.m., April 27, at the Governor's mansion. Tickets are $40 and must be purchased in advance from the LEH at (504) 523-4352, ext. 129.

Professor Discusses Research on International Television

Girish Shah, a professor at ULM, recently appeared on a Swiss television program discussing his research concerning cancer medication. Shah, who teaches basic pharmacological sciences, had been involved in research on salmon calcitonin, a drug commonly used in the treatment of prostate cancer. "We discovered that calcitonin actually increases the growth of cancer cells and makes them more resistant to treatment, significantly worsening the patient's condition," Shah said. Shah said that the producers of the program had become familiar with his research through his publications.

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