Making a Real Difference
By Brittany Bates

While most students are worrying about final exams, job hunting or their next date, there are other people in the world making a real difference. A great example of someone making a positive change in the world is Juana Watson.

Juana Watson is a 1999 graduate of Tourism, Convention and Event Management (TCEM) and currently teaches a Business Spanish class at IUPUI. But she is more than “meets the eye”, especially when you reach into her heart. Juana was born in Canali, Mexico, a small village several hours from any large city. Juana moved to the United States at age twenty two to be a part of the “land of opportunity”. She had a great interest in helping others and became a volunteer to pursue her curiosity. One of her early volunteer experiences was as a mentor at Crispus Attucks High School located in downtown Indianapolis to help the students with their schoolwork. These early experiences contributed to many great things for Juana.

Juana is a community leader in Indianapolis and Columbus, Indiana. She began the Hispanic Education Center in Indianapolis as a place for Hispanics to interact and have a place of their own. The Hispanic community is one of the fastest growing populations in Indiana. Currently, Juana is on the Board of Directors for the Hispanic Education Center.

In March of 2002 Juana took the Mayor of Indianapolis, Chief of Police, Chief of Firefighters and other officials to Canali, Mexico to show them the great need for help in her home village. An agreement has been approved between the Mayor Bart Peterson and Deans of the IU Schools of Medicine, Dental and Nursing to bridge a gap for the people of Canali to receive the help they need. A trip has been planned for January of 2004 for the Mayor of Canali to visit Indianapolis. Juana’s main goal for the village is for, “all children in the village to sleep on a dry floor. When it rains the dirt floors becomes muddy.” Additionally, Juana aspires to build a clinic in the village, currently the nearest clinic to Canali is three hours away.

Juana enjoys taking groups of students, government officials and others wanting to empathize with the reality of the Canali people. Juana describes her work as “very exciting” and she should be praised immensely for all of her hard work.

Juana has received several awards, with the latest being the Indiana Governor’s Award for Excellence in Community Service and Volunteerism. This award recognized her ongoing efforts in diversity education and being a spokeswoman for Latino immigrants.

The two words Juana uses to describe herself are “driven and compassionate”. These words are powerful and do not give justice to all that Juana has accomplished and what she will do next. She is an amazing example of how volunteerism and drive makes the world a better place. Let us all strive to be like Juana in hopes to make life easier and better for everyone.

Dept. of Physical Education Enhances Its Internship Program
By Eileen Udrey

The Department of Physical Education has taken a good thing and hopes to make it even better! Specifically, in the past, the Department has required students in the Exercise Science and Fitness Students tracks to complete a 10 credit hour internship with an external agency or organization. Feedback from many students indicated that they felt they benefited enormously from their internships! Specifically, they liked getting the "hands on" experience in an area of specific interest. However, feedback from students and agencies also indicated that students didn't always feel as confident with certain hands-on skills when they went out to complete their internship.

In response to these comments the faculty in the department got to work. They designed a new "in house" 6-credit hour pre-internship for students in these tracks. By partnering with the National Institute for Fitness and Sports this new class will allow students to get numerous opportunities to work with different populations on exercise testing, exercise prescription and behavior change. Additionally, updated exercise and health testing equipment was secured for the class.

The goal is for students to have a core set of skills that they are both highly competent and confident in performing. Once students complete this experience they will have the option of returning to supervise the students completing the class, completing an internship with an external agency or completing more course work.

With regard to these changes, Dr. Betty Jones, Chair of the Department said, "We listened to what our student interns were saying about their internship experiences. As a department, we often get our best ideas when do this. We believe that the changes we have put in place will not only give students more choices but will enhance the quality of experience our interns have."

“Give a little, gain a lot… join a student organization”
By Stephanie Haston

Student organizations have long been the crossroads between academia and real-life experience. They provide an outlet to network and socialize with other students, faculty members, and administration. The School of Physical Education and Tourism, Convention and Event Management (PETM) offers such opportunities to students through the Physical Education Student Organization (PESO) and Tourism and Hospitality Society (THS).

PESO serves as a platform for all Physical Education majors to engage in mentor programs, networking opportunities for both social and future professional relationships, develop their leadership skills, represent the organization to the campus and student government and support the advancement of their department. The organization has been in active on the IUPUI campus since 1983.

According to Steve Fallowfield, Student President, PESO contributes to both campus and local communities through events such as “Meet The Faculty” luncheon, mentoring sessions, and charitable participation including walk-a-thons. Fallowfield also cites that PESO continuously looks for way to increase awareness of their organization, furthering support of physical education and wellness. PESO hopes to add to their portfolio of events a University Health and Fitness Fair and an annual Holiday Party for Physical Education Majors.

The Department of Tourism, Convention, and Event Management (TCEM) provides similar opportunities by sponsoring Tourism Hospitality Society (THS). THS offers students the opportunity to communicate and interact with those interested in tourism and hospitality as a future career.

According to Amanda Cecil, co-advisor of THS, the student group has been able to entice and retain membership, in part, due to the continuous efforts of the officers to provide quality speakers in their field. This semester featured speakers from the Hyatt Regency, Children’s Museum and Disney World.

Some students question: “How can I fit one more thing on my schedule” or “What’s in this for me?”

According to Steve Fallowfield, IUPUI students are non-traditional and may have difficulty actively participating in a student organization. Therefore, a recruitment plan outlining the organization’s mission and benefits is critical.

With an a increase popularity PESO and THS, hope to continue to grow and serve the school and students.

For more information about these organizations, please contact:

PESO – Steve Fallowfield - sfallowf@iupui.edu
Advisors: Dr. NiCole Keith and Sandy Barnett

THS – Andrea Watkins – akwatkins@iupui.edu
Advisors: Dr. Sotiris Avgoustis and Amanda Cecil