Visiting Santa The daughters of Lita Pistono (Graduate & Continuing Studies), Claire and Paige, visit with Santa (a.k.a. Doug Lange, Vice President for Business Affairs) at the All-Campus Holiday Party on Friday, Dec. 4. A note from Ann Taliaferro, SAC Chair: Thanks to all who helped make the Staff Advisory Council’s Holiday Party such a success. And thanks to those who attended! We had a great time—the food was good, the Children’s School singing was special, and the bonfire, hay ride and visit to the stables were wonderful. Other holiday happenings around campus: • The Bookshelf’s Holiday Appreciation Day is on Wednesday, Dec. 9 with prize drawings, refreshments and 25% off clothing and gifts! • The School of Design and Fashion's Holiday Party & Open House will be from 5-7 p.m. in the Catherine Webb and Fleming Studios on Friday, Dec. 11. • The Christmas Village, a fabulous miniature village created and handcrafted by Stephens' own Patti Doyle. The village is on display in Lower Level PE until Winter Break.

Campus Announcements
Late Nights at the Library!
In response to demand, the library will be staying open late a few nights before and during finals week. We will be open until 1a.m. on Dec. 9, 10, 13, and 14. We will also have free refreshments on Dec. 9 and 13 at 7 p.m. Students good luck with finals!

—The Library


December Commencement
The Stephens College December 2009 Commencement ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12 in the Kimball Ballroom of Lela Raney Wood Hall. A total of 40 graduates are expected to participate. A reception with cake and punch/coffee will be held in Macey Lounge immediately following the ceremony.

Class speakers will be Paulina Ramirez, who will represent the undergraduate program; and Melynda Schlude, who will represent the graduate programs. Ramirez of McAllen, Texas, will graduate with a B.S. in Marketing, Public Relations & Advertising. Schlude of Columbia, Mo., will receive an M.Ed. in Counseling with an emphasis in School Counseling and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

Congratulation to all our graduates!


Interior Design Capstone Projects
This December two more Interior Design majors will be graduating, Nicole Wobbe and Chantal Ambrose. Their capstone projects can be viewed in Columbia Foyer. Nicole created a resort located in Las Vegas, Nevada called Pair-A-Dice and Chantal created a retail store selling accessories and furniture located in Naperville, Illinois named Beyond Colour. They are reviewing various avenues for employment in the interior design field.

Please congratulate these two when you see them for their outstanding work and achievements.

—Lee Ann Fields, Interior Design Coordinator


Legal Studies Senior Essay Oral Defenses
Students, staff, and faculty are invited to attend the oral defense of Legal Studies senior essays, all of which will take place in Dudley 225. The seniors participating are:

• Lisa Kelly-Bender, who will defend her senior essay titled “Cyberbullying: Finding an Effective Legal Remedy” on Monday, Dec. 14 at 1 p.m.

• Mary-Ama Mends, who will defend her senior essay titled “The Greedy Truth: Upcoding Fraud and the Skyrocketing Cost of American Health Care” on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 1 p.m.

• Katie Nicholson, who will defend her senior essay titled “Religion's Inappropriate Interference in America's Public Schools” on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 1 p.m.

• Sara Peterson, who will defend her senior essay titled “The Death Penalty on Trial: Is the Practice Still Relevant Today?” on Thursday, Dec. 17 at 10:30 a.m.


Royal Ribbons Captured
Stephens senior Samantha Potter won the United Professional Horsemen’s Association’s Exceptional Challenge Cup Championship on Nov. 19 at the American Royal in Kansas City, Mo. The walk and trot riding competition is open to riders with mental or physical handicaps. Potter, who is legally blind, has been riding since age 6.

During the premier show, Stephens students competed against top professionals in the American Saddlebred and Hackney industries, earning a total of 15 awards in various classes. The students who competed were seniors Kahla Buthlay and Nicole Lawrence; juniors Kaelyn Donnelly and Jamie McDaniel; sophomores Erin Hartman, Kristin Panos and Lauren Sopel; and freshman Hannah Sette.

Click for the competition results.


Success at Dressage Convention
At the Annual United States Dressage Federation Convention, Stephens student Teri King, riding “Rejoice,” won the high score 2009 award at Training Level for American Saddlebred horses doing dressage. “Rejoice” is owned by Paula Briney, a Stephens alumna. Also, at the same convention, “Cassini,” a Danish Warmblood horse, broken to saddle and trained to international levels of dressage by Dianna Rankin, won the high score 2009 award for the Fourth Level Musical Freestyle with his new owner/rider who bought “Cassini” from Rankin.

Rankin was honored to be chosen by the Columbia Dressage and Combined Training Association to represent the club as a voting delegate at the United States Dressage Federation Convention held this year in Austin, Texas.

Bulletin Board
Accepting Donations
As you may know, Jonna Wiseman experienced a house fire this weekend. We know everyone would like to help, so the Film and Media Department is sponsoring a “gently used” household replacement drive. Items may be taken to Studio A in Helis Communication Center from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday of this week. The KWWC Radio Station Holiday Party is Friday from 4 – 6 p.m., so we would like items by that time. Thanks so much for this kindness in Jonna’s time of need. In order to avoid duplications, please email Ann Taliaferro so she can monitor the list of donations.

—Kerri Yost, Chair, Media & Film