TROY News Center

TROY – Five Trojans are among those vying for the title of Miss Alabama 2013, currently under way near Birmingham.

An entering freshman, an alumna and three current students – including two Miss Troy Universitys -- all hail from Troy University in the pageant.

Competing are:

• Jamie Brooks, a Master of Public Administration graduate student from Altoona, who is competing as Miss Shelby County;
• Kandice Cleckler, an entering freshman from Clanton who plans to study physical therapy, who is competing as Miss Chilton County;
• Caitlin Crowe, a senior broadcast journalism major from Tuscaloosa, who is competing as Miss Troy University;
• KeLeigh Edwards, a senior elementary education major from Smiths Station and Miss Troy University 2012, who is competing as Miss West Central Alabama; and
• Amanda Ford, a broadcast journalism graduate from Helena, who is competing as Miss Cahaba Valley.

Miss Alabama 2013 will be crowned on Saturday.

TROY – A Troy University design professor has been awarded the FATE Distinguished Service Award.

The national arts organization Foundations in Art: Theory and Education presented its award to Jerry Johnson for his strong commitment and increasing contribution to the organization, dedication to foundation teaching and administration, his capacity for innovating and a willingness to share knowledge with colleagues.

Termed an “impassioned teacher and leader in the arts,” Johnson has been the voice of FATE as its three-term Vice President for Communications.

“For seven years, Jerry has worked closely with FATE leaders and members to create consistent, relevant communications, delivery methods for which have evolved to keep pace with technology and the needs of FATE members,” said Greg Skaggs, also a TROY art professor and its new communications vice president. “His redesign of FATE communications, including the organization’s website and newsletter, has ensured leaders, members and the general public access to available research and opportunities.”

Johnson introduced the media-rich “FATE Updater” email, which currently has a circulation of 4,200, and brought social media into play for the organization, extending FATE’s community outreach.

Since his third term as a vice president, which began in 2011, Johnson has collaborated with FATE leaders and board members to transition to a new web-content management system called “MemberClicks.” The shift streamlined how educators access information, become FATE members, register for events and receive official communications.

In addition to his role at FATE, he also directs the International Center for Collaboration and Creativity, iC3, headquartered at TROY. He is also an associate with the Center for Design, Technology and Innovation and is currently developing an online graduate program in Arts and Design Management.

TROY – Troy University’s Summer Seminar Series is designed to help people advance or start their careers through higher education.

In all, nine seminars are scheduled in Alabama, Georgia and Florida, focusing on careers in global business, healthcare and hospitality, sport and tourism management. All are free to attend, and include networking opportunities, a panel of industry experts and a “career chat” with faculty, advisors and financial aid specialists.

“Careers in Global Business” seminars are scheduled in Montgomery on June 11, Atlanta on June 18 and Prattville on June 20.

The global business sessions are scheduled for:

June 11: Gold Room Whitley Hall (2^nd Floor) on the Montgomery Campus at 5:30 p.m.

June 18: 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite N101 at 6 p.m.

June 20: Hampton Inn at 2590 Cobbs Ford Road, Prattville at 5:30 p.m.

“Careers in Hospitality, Sport and Tourism Management” seminars are scheduled for Brunswick, Ga. on June 25, Orlando, Fla. on June 26, and Fort Walton Beach and Columbus, Ga. on June 27.

These seminars are scheduled for:

June 25: King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort, 201 Arnold St., St. Simons Island, at 5:30 p.m.

June 26: DoubleTree by Hilton at 10100 International Drive in Orlando, at 5 p.m.

June 27: TROY’s Ft. Walton Beach site at 81 Beal Parkway SE, at 5:30 p.m.

June 27: Columbus Marriott Empire Mills Room at 800 Front Ave., at 5:30 p.m.

“Careers in Healthcare” seminars are scheduled for June 13 at the Dothan Campus’ Malone Hall in the Harrison Room and, on June 18, in the 7^th floor conference room of the Doctors Building at Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan. Both seminars begin at 5:30 p.m.

To learn more, or to register, visit http://www.troy.edu/outreach/summer-seminar-series.html.

The Troy University Small Business Development Center will offer two sessions of the Alabama Department of Revenue’s Tax Workshop for new business owners in the Dothan area on June 6.

The free workshops, which are scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., will be held in the Continuing Education Center, Adams Hall room 206 on TROY’s Dothan Campus.

Presented by the Office of Taxpayer Advocacy, the workshops will present information on a variety of state tax and business topics, including employer withholding taxes, state and local sales taxes, property taxes, business licensing requirements and Alabama’s child labor law. In addition, an overview of Alabama’s business tax electronic filing programs will be presented.

The Office of Taxpayer Advocacy has been established to provide an avenue of relief, to identify systemic problems, and to offer suggestions for improvement in procedures, according to the organization’s website. It is a way to reinforce the Alabama Department of Revenue’s commitment to equitable and fair treatment.

For more information concerning the workshop, visit the department’s website at www.revenue.alabama.gov or call 334-793-5803.

Troy University student and TrojanVision anchor Danielle Percival of Wetumpka will intern this summer with the Florida Collegiate Summer League.

The Florida League is one of 10 leagues affiliated with the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball (NACSB) – an alliance of college summer wood bat leagues which operates under National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) legislation.

Percival will be serving as a broadcast intern with the College Park Freedom in Orlando and will be the play-by-play announcer for all Freedom home games. She will also be responsible for a weekly video interview with players and coaches. Percival will do 22 regular season games and will also have the opportunity to cover Freedom playoff games, including the play-by-play for the championship game which will be on Aug. 4 at the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field.

Percival is a native of Wetumpka and a rising senior at TROY. In addition to serving as an anchor and reporter at Troy TrojanVision, she is co-host, along with Jonathan Sellers, of Trojan SportsNOW!, TrojanVision’s weekly sports program. She did play-by-play announcing for TrojanVision’s telecasts of Troy University baseball games in 2012, and has done regional and statewide play-by-play announcing of high school football and baseball.

Percival