Featured Student Assistant for March 2013
Elizabeth is a junior majoring in Secondary Education/Social Studies, with a minor in Chemistry. She has worked at the library for two years, and has a great rapport with both staff and patrons. Elizabeth stays busy on campus with Sigma Sigma Sigma, Campus Outreach, and Phi Eta Sigma. She also holds leadership positions for the College Panhellenic Council, SGA, and Summer Orientation. Originally from Greensboro, Elizabeth enjoys watching movies and hanging out with her friends. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in teaching for Department of Defense schools.
Featured Student Assistant for February 2013
- Major: English
- Minor: History and English
- Class: 2014
- Hometown: Indian Trail, NC
- Campus Activities: English Advisory Board, Prism
- Interests: Books, Movies, Travel
- Favorite Book: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Kirstie is a junior majoring in English, with a double minor in History and Sociology. She has been a library assistant at the Ethel K. Smith Library for all almost three years, and became a Saturday Supervisor last year. She is originally from Indian Trail, NC.
After graduation she plans to pursue a Master’s Degree in Publishing or British Literature. Kirstie stays busy with the English Advisory Board, her work in Conferencing and Facilities Services, and her teacher assistantship. Kirstie is such a positive and valuable part of our EKS Team!
Student Assistant of the Month for January 2013
- Major: English
- Class: 2013
- Hometown: Vernon, NJ
- Groups: Girl Scouts
- Favorite Color: Red
- Favorite Book: “Anything Edgar Allan Poe”
- Pictured With: Edgar Allan Poe, Complete Tales and Poems, introduction by Dawn B Sova; Falls River Press 2012.
Jennifer is a senior majoring in English, with a minor in Technical Writing. She has been a library assistant at EKS for all four years, and also became a Saturday Supervisor her junior year. She has proven to be a responsible and valuable part of the Library team. She is originally from New Jersey, but upon graduation she plans to stay in this area and pursue a graduate degree.
Jennifer volunteers with numerous organizations, including Habitat for Humanity. On campus she is a member of UCAN and participates in the Alternative Spring Break options. Her interests include reading, writing soccer, travel, and DIY projects. Congratulations Jennifer A. La Vine, our featured Ethel K. Smith Student Assistant.
Paintings by Suzanna Lewis
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Faces of Family Collection of Paintings By Suzanna Lewis Friday April 22nd, 2005 6:00 pm C. Douglas Helms Gallery George Batte Fine Arts Center |
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Leadership Fellows travel to Washington DC
In February, the senior representatives of Leadership Fellows had the opportunity to travel to Washington DC with Mrs. Amy Odom, Mrs. Susan Sganga, and Dr. Pam Thomas. Along with some sight seeing, students had the privilege of meeting with some important leaders and discussing what aspects of leadership are important to them.
Senator Elizabeth Dole was able to take time from her busy schedule for a quick introduction. Although she was only able to talk with us briefly, everyone was impressed by her poise and sincerity. The group was also able to meet Congressman Robin Hayes. In response to our many questions, Congressman Hayes remarked that loyalty and consistency are two of the most important characteristics of a strong leader.
During the trip, the Leadership Fellows were also able to attend a lecture by Wilma Mankiller, who is an author as well as the first woman elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. Her lecture focused on the role of women, especially Native Americans in today’s society.
Some of the many sites the group was able to visit included the Capitol Building, the Pentagon, the National Cathedral, the Presidential and War Memorials, the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court. Along with these historical places the group also participated in a filming of CNN’s show Crossfire. We also found the time to have some interactive fun at the new Spy Museum. The four-day trip concluded with a stop at Arlington Cemetery. Overall, it was an enlightening as well as a very enjoyable trip.
Submitted by Jessica Lane
Student Assistants Spotlight
Cara Balcerak and Joe Kanekar are two of our library assistants at the EKS Library. Joe Kanakar is a Junior, Finance major. His home is in “downtown” India (Bombay). He is on the Wingate Tennis team. Joe works during the evening hours and is of great assistance in helping patrons at the Circulation Desk. Joe enjoys working with the “nice staff” at the library.
Cara Balcerak is a Freshman, Elementary Education Major. She is a commuter from Marshville, NC. She enjoys reading “the Classics” and spends her study time in the Library’s Curriculum Materials Center (CMC) and the Children’s Room. Cara currently assists with Ms. Brown and Mr. Pipes in Technical Services.
Student Assistants in the Spotlight! Seth Allen and Jessica Lane
Two of our Library student assistants participated in the University Summer Research projects this past summer.
Seth Allen studied with Dr. Nancy Randall and conducted interviews with Mexican Nationals in Union County. These interviews were to determine their opportunities for upward social mobility. As part of his project he was able to make the use of his growing fluency in Spanish, as well as learning more about the growing Latino communities in Union County.
Jessica Lane and Dr. Allison Dixon studied the Bruce Effect in mice. Exposing pregnant pure breed and hybrid females to foreign males has been found to block pregnancy in mice. It was through dissection that they were able to determine the effect of the males’ pheromones on fetal development.
They will be presenting their projects during the Fall semester.
We are so proud of them!
Our Wonderful Library Assistants
Ethel K. Smith Library Assistants are a vital part of the processes for the Circulation and Periodical Desks. In addition to daily duties at each of these desks, and assisting patrons with all sorts of questions, our Library Assistants work daily to keep our collections orderly and accurate. This past year we began using a hand held palm pilot to scan and track items in the collection. Assistants are regularly given a “shelf reading” assignment or section to review for shelving errors and misplaced items. After a section is read, another assistant will scan that section to verify with the computer that all the items are accounted for. This system has proved to be very beneficial in that it helps the assistants to have a better appreciation for the efforts necessary to maintain order in the collections, and gives them much more experience in locating items for patrons. This check and balance system has also created a friendly competition among some of the assistants. By using a stop watch, they time each other for speed and accuracy in their assignments. The EKS Library Staff is grateful for the efforts of our helpful, willing and bright assistants. Hats off to our students!
Library Assistants Graduating
The EKS Library has eight Library Assistants graduating this May. Most of these assistants have worked with us all four years of their college careers and we will miss them very much. Some are going on to graduate school and others to join the work force. We wish them much joy and success! Congratulations to: Abby Coleman, Jessica Hylton, Kate Lokash, Jesse Reid, Jennifer Scarpim, Nathan Seibel, Josh Suggs, and Rusty White.
