Racer Report: May 1-5

MURRAY, Ky. – The latest Murray State University Racer Report includes student, faculty, staff and alumni accomplishments, announcements, upcoming campus events and more for the week of May 1-5. 

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Forty Murray State University students from the Construction Management and Architecture program in the School of Engineering participated in a Mock Bid Day competition on April 18 hosted by the AGC of Western Kentucky, a chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America.

The simulation activity provides a real-world example of the pressures of bid day in the construction industry, giving students an opportunity to put into practice the skills learned in their program to effectively and accurately review subcontractor and supplier bids. Tasks for the student teams included compiling subcontractor bids, performing “takeoff” (quantifying components of work on the project) and completing other calculations needed to produce a complete and accurate bid for a commercial construction project.

“We appreciate the AGC of Western Kentucky who plan and prepare this event with us every year. It challenges our students to utilize the skills they have acquired throughout our program and provides an experience similar to what they will find in industry. In addition to that, students enjoy the experience and networking with AGC members. It is great to see the camaraderie among students, faculty, and AGC members,” stated Kevin Perry, program coordinator for the Construction Management and Architecture program.

Chandler Acquaviva, a senior in the construction management program, said "this year's Mock Bid Day was an exceptional event per usual. As a senior in the Construction Management program, this was my second time attending the event. Mock Bid Day is an excellent opportunity for students to get a tangible experience of what an actual bid day would be like. The seemingly short three-hour time frame we have to submit our mock bid within is a rollercoaster of excitement and stress, just as it would be in the industry. I feel that Mock Bid Day is yet another iteration of the excellence that Murray State's Engineering program provides for its students."

This year’s winners of the AGC Mock Bid Day Competition were: 

First Place: Jordan Bartok (Harrisburg, Illinois), Ethan Shepard (Murray, Kentucky), Colin Price (Mayfield, Kentucky), Erick Martinez (Dyersburg, Tennessee)

Second Place: Travis Rotolo (Mayfield, Kentucky), Dalton Farmer (Hayti, Missouri), Abby Niehaus (Bruceville, Indiana), Lillian Huchro (Moriah, New York)

Third Place: Hailey Arnold (Paducah, Kentucky), Elizabeth Crutchfield (Elizabethtown, Kentucky), Bryce English (Murray, Kentucky), Cody Browning (Paducah, Kentucky)

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The 17th annual Academic Excellence and Leadership Awards program (formerly named the Diversity Achievement Awards) at Murray State University was held on April 29 at the Curris Center to recognize undergraduate and graduate students for academic excellence and leadership. Over 300 students, faculty, staff and community members attended this year’s event. Student organizations were also recognized for their campus impact. 

Murray State alumnus and city of Murray retired Police Chief Jeffrey Liles was awarded the African American Heritage Lifetime Achievement Award for his service and commitment to the city of Murray and dedication to Murray State. Dr. Robert “Bob” Pervine, associate provost and professor of Mathematics and Statistics, and retired Murray State Police Chief Jeff Gentry received the Arpana and Archana Gambiraopet Campus and Community Impact Award. Chris Cunningham, former Murray State assistant football coach, received the Johnnie Green Alumni Leadership and Mentoring Award for his support of student athletes on and off the field. Dr. Steve H. Jones, a former distinguished professor of gerontology and chair of social work, criminal justice, and gerontology, received the posthumous award for Faculty Excellence, and his family accepted the award on his behalf. Dr. Tim Todd, provost and vice president for academic affairs, presented the inaugural Dr. Steve Jones Faculty Excellence Award to Dr. Donald Adongo, associate professor of Mathematics, and Dr. Alicia Carthell, assistant professor of English for their service and excellence in supporting students inside and outside the classroom. 

The annual Academic Excellence and Leadership Awards program was created by Dr. SG Carthell in 2006 to recognize student academic success and leadership, student organizations, and distinguished members of the campus and community.

During the program, Dr. SG Carthell received the inaugural Student Affairs Lifetime Achievement Award for over 30 years of service in higher education (close to 19 years at Murray State), and his service to the city of Murray. The award was presented by Dr. Don Robertson, vice president of student affairs and enrollment management, to honor Carthell for his exemplary leadership, service, dedication to retention, student success, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Carthell is the Executive Director of the Office of Multicultural Initiatives, Student Leadership, and Inclusive Excellence. In addition to his campus leadership, he serves as Chair of the Human Rights Commission for the city of Murray and recently served as President for the United Way. Carthell is also a veteran of the United States Air Force.

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The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) announced that 65 faculty and staff representing 18 colleges and universities are participating in Bluegrass Tomorrow’s Academic Leadership Academy (ALA).

ALA fellows receive professional development training and mentoring by institutional leadership from throughout the state to prepare them for career paths in higher education. Campuses nominated participants based on their talents and demonstrated leadership abilities.

Murray State University faculty who are part of the 2023 ALA are Dr. Donald Adongo (Mathematics and Statistics), Dr. Samir Patel (Educational Studies, Leadership and Counseling), Dr. Summer Cross (Nursing) and Dr. Kristin Reid (Nursing). 

ALA is a project of CPE and the Bluegrass Higher Education Consortium, a partnership of 12 colleges and universities in the central Kentucky region managed by Bluegrass Tomorrow. The academy was expanded statewide in 2019 to provide an affordable career development opportunity focused on the state’s education challenges and successes.

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Murray State University’s Economics program has recently been designated as a STEM discipline. The program focuses on analytical and applied aspects of economics and equips students with requisite knowledge in economic modeling, econometric methods and computational skills to create, analyze and interpret large data. 

Economics students have a wide choice of curricula with a mixture of business and non-business courses focusing on how individuals, businesses and government make decisions, how markets work, and how economic forces affect market outcomes and social systems. The breadth and flexibility of the major allows students to tailor the program to their career goals in business, finance, healthcare administration, law, politics, foreign affairs, government and more. The STEM classification offers international students an opportunity to apply for an extension of their Optional Practical Training (OPT) up to three years after graduation. The economics major provides a strong foundation for further graduate study. The program is especially attractive for those who are considering an MBA or law school. It is among the top 15 majors with highest paying jobs with a bachelor's degree and highest lifetime earnings, according to Payscale and The Hamilton Project. 

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Murray State University’s Department of Accounting recently recognized Mike Pierce as the department’s 2023 Outstanding Alumnus. Pierce is concluding a nearly 50 year career in the accounting profession. After graduating from Murray State, he received his CPA certificate in 1978.

Pierce held several accounting roles, including comptroller, at various companies before starting his own practice, Shirley, Pierce & Wright CPA's, in 1980.

He owned his accounting firm with various partners who were all Murray State graduates, including Tom Shirley, Scott Wright, Gail Treas Parker and Julie Hoffman Keller, for over 40 years and had 1,600 business and individual clientele when he sold the business to Hoffman Keller in 2019. During his most recent years in practice, Pierce began expansion into financial planning after earning his CFP (Certified Financial Planning) certificate in 2010.

During his years in public accounting, Pierce worked with numerous Murray State graduates as interns, employees and partners. He credits his success to always being available to his clients and took great pride in serving them over the years.

Pierce was born in Mayfield, Kentucky and has called Murray home since 1978. He has served on numerous boards including the Chamber of Commerce, Murray First United Methodist Church and Murray Country Club. In addition to his accounting practice, Pierce’s entrepreneurial activities included Cambridge Rentals, LLC, an apartment development and management company and Mid America Rehabilitation Service Inc, employing 65+ physical therapists across five states.

In his transition to retirement, Pierce has spent his time traveling and playing a lot of golf. Along with his wife, Kathie, they enjoy visiting their two sons, Taylor and Logan, who both live in New York City.

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Dana Thompson, interim assistant dean of Libraries and research and instruction librarian & associate professor at Murray State University, received the 2023 Worldwide Books Award for Electronic Resources for her website titled Visual Literacy Today by the Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS/NA).

Founded in 1972, the ARLIS/NA is a dynamic, international organization of close to 1,000 individuals devoted to fostering excellence in art and design librarianship and image management in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The membership includes architecture and art librarians, visual resource professionals, artists, curators, educators, publishers, students and others interested in visual arts information.

The purpose of the Award for Electronic Resources is to recognize outstanding electronic publications by ARLIS/NA individual members in librarianship or visual resources curatorship and the arts. By recognizing special achievements in these areas, this award acknowledges and encourages the development of electronic resources by the ARLIS/NA membership.

Thompson’s website Visual Literacy Today can be viewed at visualliteracytoday.org.

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Students in the PHE205 “Lifetime Activities” class volunteered to plant a vegetable and flower garden for the residents of the Murray-Calloway County Senior Citizens Center on April 12 to culminate the discussion on gardening as a lifetime activity. The project was led by Dr. Kelly Rogers, program coordinator for the Health and Physical Education program in the Department of Adolescent, Career and Special Education.

When asked about the idea behind the project, Rogers explained, “this is a lifetime activities course, so I wanted to give my students a variety of experiences. Many times, people only think of exercise as going to the gym, running or playing a sport. Physical activity is a part of many more activities that one can enjoy as they age. Gardening is a very rewarding, lifelong activity, and I wanted my students to consider the benefits associated with gardening. The gardening project is special because it is intergenerational, which is rewarding - it brings young students and older adults together for a shared experience.”

Sharon Paschall, services director at Murray-Calloway County Senior Citizens Center, said several seniors have talked to her about their excitement for the garden and constantly remind her to make sure it stays watered. They love that the students came to plant this garden for them and are excited to watch the vegetables and flowers grow.

Rogers expressed his gratitude in that this entire opportunity was made possible by community donations from Lowes, Walmart and Murray Home & Auto. His students enjoyed getting their hands dirty, meeting seniors and creating something meaningful for everyone to enjoy. One student has even started volunteering at the center as a result.

For more information on the Health and Physical Education program at Murray State University please visit murraystate.edu/hpe.