TROY News Center

March 19, 2012

TROY earns Laureate honors for internet safety program

TROY – A Troy University initiative has gained national attention and recognition as a 2012 Honors Laureate Award recipient by Computerworld.

Through its Alabama Computer Forensics Institute and Laboratory, the University's Office of Information Technology received the award for its Cyberkids Initiative, which to date has presented an online safety program to more than 190,000 children statewide since its inception in 2006.

"It was certainly an unexpected surprise to be awarded the Laureate," said Greg Price, TROY's Chief Information Officer, who has more than 15 years of experience in internet security and cybercrime investigations. "The international award is considered one of the most prestigious awards among IT professionals and the recipients of years past include some of the most storied names in academia and humanitarian efforts."

Founded by the International Data Group (IDG) in 1988, the Computerworld Honors Program is governed by the not-for-profit Computerworld Information Technology Awards Foundation, and is the longest-running global program to honor individuals and organizations that use information technology to promote positive social, economic and educational change.

A panel of 22 judges, many of whom are Computerworld Premier 100 IT Leader honorees from diverse industries, evaluated the humanitarian benefits and measurable results of applied technology to meet a specific social need. More than 500 nominations were made for this year's program, with TROY being one of 200 Laureates selected from 25 countries.

Additional recognition is given to five Laureates in each award category who are named finalists for the 21st Century Achievement Awards. One finalist in each category is then named a 21st Century Achievement award winner. The Computerworld Honors Program awards will be presented at a Gala Evening and Awards Ceremony on June 4 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C.

The Cyberkids program aims to arm both children and adults with the tools necessary to protect children in Cyberspace, and offers a collection of checklists, best practices and tools to program participants. The program began as a joint effort with the University, the Alabama Attorney General's Office and the Alabama Department of Children's Affairs.

Price said his information technology team has taken an active role in both defining the program's content and taking the presentation on the road across the state of Alabama.

"This is a wonderful, independent validation of our hard work and efforts," said Price, a TROY alumnus and member of the University's staff since 1997. He has published numerous articles and papers in scholarly journals, presented at national and international technology conferences and has authored two books on cybercrime.

In addition to Cyberkids, the Alabama Computer Forensics Institute has trained some 100 law enforcement officers, processed nearly 500 pieces of electronic evidence, and acquired more than $1 million in grants to conduct research in the fields of internet security and cybercrime.

More information about Cyberkids, and the Alabama Computer Forensics Institute can be viewed online at whoswatchingalabama.org.

March 15, 2012

Classical, jazz guitarist Dr. Matthew Dunne to offer free concert at Troy University

TROY -- Troy University's John M. Long School of Music will present a free concert by classical and jazz guitarist Dr. Matthew Dunne at 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 20 in Sorrell Chapel on the Troy Campus.

The concert will feature several of Dr. Dunne's original compositions for solo classical guitar.

Dr. Dunne is coordinator of the Music Marketing Area and Guitar Studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He has performed and taught throughout the United States and Mexico in both the classical and jazz genres, including concerto performances, chamber music concerts, solo recitals, and featured jazz performances. He received the DMA degree in guitar performance, jazz emphasis, from The University of Texas at Austin, the first guitarist to receive this degree, and the MM degree in guitar performance from Florida State University. He has been on the faculty of the University of Texas at San Antonio since 1992, and has also taught at the North Carolina School of the Arts and Marshall University, where he directed the guitar program and taught Jazz Studies. He is a frequent collaborator with The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, having composed music for their last three Telarc CDs, including the Grammy winning "Guitar Heroes."

Dr. Dunne is earning an increasingly international reputation as a composer of guitar music. He recently won both the grant award for music composition and the Tobin Grand Prize for Artistic Excellence from the Artist Foundation of San Antonio. This award is given to the artist who's work is judged to be the highest quality from a pool of entrants in several artistic disciplines, including literature, visual arts, and music.

March 15, 2012

Troy University's Ms. Venus pageant set for March 21

TROY – Troy University will play host to the annual Ms. Venus pageant on March 21 in the Trojan Center Ballrooms on the Troy Campus.

Participation in the pageant, which will begin at 8 p.m., is open to all females who are attending a Troy University campus in Alabama.

The winner of the pageant will receive a $150 book scholarship, a crown and a sash and will represent the University at its Spring Alumni Reunion activities on March 31. The first alternate will receive a $100 book scholarship, while the second alternate will receive a $50 book scholarship. The Troy University Alumni Association sponsors the book scholarships.

The public is invited to attend the pageant. Admission is $3.

For additional information, contact Brenda Campbell at 334-3178.

     

March 15, 2012

Troy University to welcome prospective students March 31 for Spring Trojan Day

TROY – Prospective students will have the opportunity to learn more about academic opportunities and extra-curricular activities during Troy University Spring Trojan Day on March 31.

The event, which begins at 9 a.m. with a browse session on the Bibb Graves Quadrangle, will offer prospective students and their parents the opportunity to interact with representatives from the University's five colleges and various campus organizations, tour the campus, learn about the admissions process and hear comments from Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., TROY's Chancellor.

In addition, participants will be able to view the University's annual St. Patrick's Day-themed parade, which is scheduled to begin at noon on University Avenue, and the Trojans T-Day spring football game, which is set for 2 p.m. in Veterans Memorial Stadium.

A barbecue lunch will also be served to registered Trojan Day participants on Tailgate Terrace, beginning at 12:30 p.m.

"The Office of Admissions looks forward to Trojan Day each semester," said Tiffani Stephens, director of high school and community college relations. "This event is always a great opportunity for interested high school students to visit campus and to get a feel for what being a TROY Trojan is all about."

For additional information, contact the Office of Admissions at 334-670-3179 or go to the admissions link on the TROY web site, www.troy.edu.

    

March 14, 2012

Dr. John M. Long elected as Honorary Life Member of Bandmasters Association

TROY – Dr. John M. Long, director of bands emeritus at Troy University and namesake of the University's John M. Long School of Music, has been elected as an Honorary Life Member of the American Bandmasters Association.

Dr. Long's selection came during the association's annual meeting in Indianapolis, Ind., Feb. 29-March 4 and made him one of only two living members of the group to receive the award.

"I am humbled to receive this very high honor," Dr. Long said. "I am extremely honored to be selected as an Honorary Life member of such a prestigious organization as the American Bandmasters Association."

Dr. Long, who served as director of bands at TROY from 1965-1996, is a past president of the American Bandmasters Association and is a member of the National Band Association's Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors and the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame. In 2010, Dr. Long was named as honorary president of the National Band Association, and last July, was the subject of a feature piece for CBS Evening News on his continued involvement as conductor of the Southeast Alabama Community Band.

A native of Guntersville, Dr. Long is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa honor society, Phi Delta Kappa, Kappa Kappa Psi honorary band fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha, Delta Chi fraternity and Phi Eta Sigma. He is an active guest conductor, speaker, clinician and adjudicator through the United States, Europe, Canada and Mexico. In 2005, he was honored by the Alabama Music Educators Association with its Barbara Odom Award for lifetime achievements in music education, and holds the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the National Eagle Scout Association.

During his 31-year career at TROY, Dr. Long also served the University in various capacities, including chair of the music department, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and dean of the School of Fine Arts. Two buildings on the Troy Campus bear his name – John Maloy Long Hall and the Hawkins-Adams-Long Hall of Honor, which houses the NBA's Hall of Fame.

Under his direction, the University's "Sound of the South" marching band represented the state in four presidential inaugural parades and a served as the official band for two presidential visits to Alabama.
Before coming to Troy University, Dr. Long directed several high school bands in the state of Alabama, including a stint as band director at Marshall County High School before even receiving his high school diploma. Hundreds of his former students have followed him into the career of music education.