Racer Report: Dec. 11-15

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 Dec. 11-15.

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The College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) announced the winners of its second annual Holiday Door Decorating Contest established by the Kentucky Academy of Technology Education (KATE) Office. There were 12 doors entered in the contest.

The “Grand Champion” and “Digital Darling” winners were the Center for Communication Disorders and the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, who collaborated on two “Elf” movie-themed doors. The COEHS Dean's Office won “Most Creative” for their door design of the Miser Brothers. “Grand Champion” and “Most Creative” were determined by faculty, staff and students, while “Digital Darling” was determined via popular vote on the college’s Facebook page: facebook.com/murraystcoehs/

The door decorating window was from Nov. 15-21. Online voting opened on Nov. 21 and ran through Dec. 1.  College voting for “Grand Champion” and “Most Creative” ran from Nov. 30-Dec. 1.

Winners each received a certificate, and the “Grand Champion” winners also received a trophy; this is a traveling trophy that is picked up every November and goes to the next winner. Eventually, the college plans to have smaller trophies for the other two awards, as well.

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Dr. Abdulrahman Yarali, professor of Cybersecurity and Network Management (CNM), has received a global rights license for translation into Vietnamese by Science and Technics Publishing House Vietnam for his 2021 book, Intelligent Connectivity: AI, IoT and 5G, which was published by John Wiley.

The translation will be available June 5, 2025, with a first print of 1,000 copies.

Yarali has published 10 books on different subjects such as wireless, artificial intelligence, big data and cybersecurity during his tenure at Murray State.

His research and collaboration with students and colleagues at the University and other institutes have represented Murray State nationally and internationally. Intelligent Connectivity received great attention because of its in-depth discussion of AI, IoT, 5G and cybersecurity.

"My dedication and love of wisdom is to share my knowledge and experiences with our students, helping them to pave their roads for success and become independent thinkers contributing to science and technology and building leadership skills,” said Yarali. “During the last 20 years of my teaching at Murray State, many of our students at the CNM program who are now leaders in IT and cybersecurity have shown support for what we are doing to prepare our students for taking on roles in the industry. These alumni are our pride, and seeing them as leaders in our industry is a great feeling."

In 1997, Kentucky House Bill 1 created Programs of Distinction through the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education at public postsecondary institutions, including Murray State University’s cybersecurity program. Additional information on the University’s Cybersecurity and Network Management program is available at murraystate.edu/cyber.

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Waterfield Library is closed this week for renovations to its electrical and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. The library will have limited hours over the winter break:

• Dec. 16-Jan. 1: closed

• Jan. 2-5: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

• Jan. 6-7: closed

• Jan. 8-12: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

• Jan. 13-15: closed

Regular hours resume Jan. 16.

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Professor of Psychology Dr. Dan Wann was featured in a Dec. 4 article, “The NBA In-Season Tournament’s Real Test Begins Now,” by The Ringer’s Howard Beck. The article examines the extent to which National Basketball Association fans support the league’s new in-season tournament.

Wann was tapped for the article for his expertise in the psychology of sports fandom, which he has been studying for more than 30 years.

Read the full article at bit.ly/NBA_tournament.