Published: December 01, 2008 06:48 pm         

Newsmakers: Dec. 2, 2008

• Ten Indiana employers have been recognized by the Indiana State University Career Center for their efforts to keep graduates in the state of Indiana while providing them with hands-on, practical learning opportunities.

“These employers are our shining stars,” said Kent Waggoner, director of the Career Center.

Clabber Girl, Terre Haute; Clarian Health, Indianapolis; Sony DADC, Terre Haute; Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane; Union Hospital, Terre Haute; Signature Construction, Carmel; and Gibault School for Boys, Terre Haute were honored for the number of ISU students they used throughout the years as part of the Focus Indiana internship program.

Between 2004 and 2008, ISU students served 280 internships in conjunction with the program, a collaboration among ISU, private industry and community leadership and funded by a grant by Lilly Endowment.

While the seven employers don’t account for a high number of internships, they are consistent and the depth of their participation is significant, said Elonda Ervin, associate director for experiential learning.

“We’re recognizing their long-term commitment,” she said.

Indianapolis-based Clarian Health placed 25 ISU students in internships during the time period. That relationship, according to Waggoner, has grown to a point where ISU is a prime recruiting stop.

“Clarian comes to Indiana State because our students have the skills they are looking for,” he said. “It also helps that our staff makes their time on campus productive.”

Clarian allows the Career Center to conduct preliminary screening of internship applicants and to provide the recruiter a list of candidates to interview during a daylong campus visit.

“Clarian has been an amazing program for us and has provided wonderful opportunities for our students,” Waggoner said.

What makes the Focus Indiana program so successful is the relationships the Career Center has with employers locally and around the state of Indiana.

“It’s all about relationships,” Waggoner said. “The employers know our staff and are in contact with them whether it’s for campus recruiting, interviews and career fairs.”

While the first four years of the Focus Indiana program were successful, Ervin thinks the best is yet to come.

“2004-08 was just the tip of the iceberg,” she said. “I don’t think we’ve seen the best collaborative efforts with Focus Indiana.

“The program will expand and grow in the future.”

Three other employers, Frito-Lay, Federated Insurance and Cummins, were also recognized for their collaboration with the Career Center.

Employers looking for more information on the ISU Career Center or interested in recruiting at the Career Fair on Feb. 11, 2009, can call (812) 237-3806 or e-mail freed1@indstate.edu.

• Ewing H. Miller II, formerly of Terre Haute, has won the President’s Award at the 2008 American Institute of Architects Indiana Design Awards in Indianapolis.

Miller was honored for the contribution and impact he and his family have had on the quality of architecture in Indiana, which spans nearly 100 years. Miller’s family includes four generations of architects – Matthew Miller, Warren D. Miller and Ewing H. Miller.

Terre Haute City Hall, the federal building, Union Hospital and many buildings on the Indiana State University campus were designed by one or more members of the Miller family.

Matthew Miller is best known for designing many of the fine homes on what was known as the Fifth and Sixth street corridor and the Elks building on Seventh Street in the early 1900s, before the firm was created.

• For the second consecutive year, The Longaberger Co. of Newark, Ohio, has recognized independent Longaberger branch leader Evelyn Hays of Paris, Ill., with its Top National Sponsor Award.

Hays brought 32 new qualified home consultants into her Longaberger team during the company’s most recent sales year (July 2007-June 2008). Hays is also a member of the 100 Recruits Club.

To recognize her sponsoring achievement, Hays received Longaberger’s exclusive National Award Baskets, customized jewelry, a savings bond and a family vacation package with her choice of destination, among other gifts.

Hays received her award on stage at The Bee, Longaberger’s annual sales convention.

• MillerWhite LLC has been recognized by the Association of Marketing & Communication Professionals for eight marketing solutions created for five of its clients. The winning projects were:

Platinum Awards: an annual report for the Indiana Primary Health Care Association; a Web ad for Union Hospital’s Sports Performance Plus; and MillerWhite’s own Holiday card.

Gold Awards: the annual report for Northern Indiana Community Foundation; and collateral materials for Union Hospital’s Center for Fitness & Performance.

Honorable Mention Awards: the annual report for the Wabash Valley Community Foundation; a billboard for the Acorn Fund, Wabash Valley Community Foundation; and a radio campaign for Union Hospital’s Sycamore Sports Medicine.

The MarCom Creative Awards is an international competition with more than 5,000 entries in 2008. MarCom’s Platinum Award is presented to those entries judged to be among the most outstanding in the competition. The Gold Award goes to entries judged to exceed the high standards of the industry norm.

MillerWhite provides integrated marketing/research, public relations, advertising and interactive media services to its clients from offices in Indianapolis and Terre Haute.