SVSU TODAY

Week of March 20th 2023

SVSU graphic design major from Sterling, MI, Austin Hlinka, can add another accomplishment to his resume: beer label designer. Hlinka was named winner of a contest to design labels for three beers specially created for the Theodore Roethke Poetry & Arts Festival. In recognition of his achievement, he has earned a $300 scholarship.  

More than 20 students in SVSU Professor of Art J. Blake Johnson’s Art 260 class participated in the competition. Scholarships were awarded for the top three designs. In addition to Hlinka, DeQuandre Johnson, a graphic design major from Auburn Hills, won a $200 scholarship and Karsyn Kasper, a graphic design major from Freeland, was awarded a $100 scholarship.      

Saginaw’s Oracle Brewing Company crafted the three one-time, limited-edition brews, which were inspired by Roethke poems. The beers were introduced at the “Ted (Roethke) Talk and Brew” event at Oracle Brewing Company on Sunday, March 19 from 6-8 p.m. The limited edition brews included:  

The annual convention of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, & Letters met last Friday, March 17 at Andrews University in Berrien Springs. A variety of SVSU faculty and students from various departments attended to give talks and poster presentations.

The SVSU Dance Team was named Division II champions in the jazz category at the Dance Team Union (DTU) 2023 College Classic virtual competition. The team also claimed 2nd place in hip hop and 4th in the team performance. Next up, the team will send dancers to the DTU College Classic Competition in Orlando, April 6-8, to compete in jazz, hip hop and team events. 

The Marshall Fredericks Sculpture Museum will be hosting a Movie Night with the Curator on Saturday, March 25 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Enjoy an intimate gallery talk with “Off Kilter, On Point” curator Lynn Boland followed by a special screening of film on exhibiting artist Ray Johnson called “How to Draw a Bunny” directed by Detroit native John W. Walter. The film explores the life of Johnson, a Detroit-born pop, collage, and performance artist. This event is free and open to the public.  

Our international students will hold their annual Intercultural Night this Friday, March 24 at 7 p.m. in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall. The event will feature students from Bangladesh, India, Korea, the Philippines, Tanzania and more.  

Music major, Rayn Clark, and music education major, Megan Donnelly will be performing their senior joint recital on Sunday, March 26 at 2:00 p.m. in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall 

Adjunct flute professor, Dr. Townes Osborn Miller, will be performing her flute recital in Founders Hall on Tuesday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. 

Shelby Mott, a saxophone student and music education major, will be performing her senior recital on Wednesday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall. 

Two SVSU students have qualified to compete at the National Forensic Association National Championship in April.  

Evangeline Cruz, a communication major from Detroit, and Nimnan Wuyep, an international studies and communication major from Nigeria, have each qualified to compete in three events. Cruz will present in Poetry, Prose and Persuasive Speaking; Wuyep’s events are Poetry, Dramatic Interpretation and Persuasive Speaking.  

To qualify for the national competition, students in competitive speech must place in the top 6 of their chosen events at any competition throughout the academic year.

The National Championship will be held at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, April 13-17. 

A talk about the women of the Fluxus movement will be held at the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum on Thursday, March 23rd from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. After the talk there will be a hands-on art making experience where you’ll become a Fluxus artist by creating your own Fluxus artworks and create your own Fluxkit, a type of attaché or box to keep your collected Fluxus artwork in. This event is free and art supplies and refreshments will be provided.  

The Department of Music will host their last Rhea Concert Series this Saturday, March 25 featuring flutist, Viviana Guzman. A master class will be held at 1 p.m. and the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m.  This event is free and open to the public.

Our men’s baseball team takes on Purdue Northwest at home this Friday, March 24 at 1 p.m. and will return on Sunday, March 26 at 1 p.m. to compete against Grand Valley State. 

The women’s softball will compete against Ferris State at home on Saturday, March 25 at 1 p.m. 

If you have suggestions, comments, or something to share with us, please e-mail us at svsutoday@svsu.edu

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