The University of Evansville will hold a 48th Anniversary Commemoration of the 1977 Plane Crash on Friday, December 12 at 12:00 p.m.—a day early this year, as the 13th falls on a Saturday. The ceremony will be held at Memorial Plaza on the UE campus. The order of service will include remarks from University of Evansville President Christopher Pietruszkiewicz.

On December 13, 1977, Air Indiana Flight 216 crashed shortly after takeoff from the Evansville airport. All on board died in the crash or from crash-related injuries, including the University of Evansville basketball team and coaches, two fans, five members of the UE staff, and the flight crew.

During Friday’s commemoration, the UE Interfaith Peace Bell will be rung 29 times—once for each of those who perished—followed by a moment of silence and peace in remembrance.

Purple Patrol is returning for Spring 2026!

Sign up as coworkers, a department/office, or a team and get ready to pass out fun goodies to our Aces displaying purple pride!

Please sign up for one slot only so everyone has a chance to participate.

Sign up for Spring 2026 Purple Patrol!

For questions or more information, please contact Abigail Perry at ap445@evansville.edu.

Join an innovative, hands-on course that blends sustainability, health, and community impact.
Students will help launch UE’s new vertical aeroponic container farm—addressing food insecurity, promoting nutrition education, and advancing sustainable food systems.

🤝 Work alongside faculty mentors, community partners, and Chartwells Dining.
💡 Develop skills in urban agriculture, social enterprise, and changemaking leadership.
💰 Federal Work-Study eligible | 📚 0–3 credit hours

Be part of the team transforming how we grow, learn, and live.

Learn more (rs262@evansville.edu) or register today.

Join us for Thursday Night Throw Down, a fun and relaxed four-week pottery workshop designed for adults of all skill levels. Whether you are brand new to clay or looking to build on your existing experience, this hands-on class offers the perfect creative outlet.

Under the instruction of Drs. Kristina and Cris Hochwender, you’ll learn essential techniques in:

• Hand building
• Wheel throwing
• Glazing and surface design

Students will complete several projects during the workshop and leave with finished pieces they have created themselves. Experienced potters are welcome to work at their own pace with guidance and support from the instructors.

Space is limited to 12 participants to ensure personalized attention.

Date: Thursdays, February 19, February 26, March 5, and March 19 
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. 
Location: Art Annex on Lincoln and Weinbach Avenues

Registration https://www.evansville.edu/centerforlearning/professional-development.cfm

Come celebrate the season and enjoy the festive decorations across campus!
Everyone is welcome to attend and vote for your favorite display.

Dates & Times:
December 9, 10, and 11
1:30 PM – 4:00 PM
(Student Affairs Suite will close at 3:30 PM on December 11)

Open House Schedule

December 9

• Marketing Department – 2nd Floor SOBA
• School of Education – 3rd Floor Graves
• School of Health Sciences – 2nd Floor Graves
• Engineering and Computer Science – 2nd Floor Koch
• Biology – 2nd Floor Koch

December 10

• Olmsted Hall
• President’s Office – 2nd Floor
• Fiscal Affairs – 2nd Floor
• Student Financial Services – 1st Floor
• HR/Title IX – 1st Floor
• Catie Taylor’s Office – Admissions Office, 1st Floor

December 11

• Ridgway University Center Student Affairs Suite
• Dean of Students
• Center for Student Engagement / International Student Services
• Counseling and Disability Services
• Residence Life
• Career Services

Don’t forget to vote!
Scan the QR code at each location to cast your vote for the best holiday display.

ECTE, in collaboration with the AI Committee (Education Subcommittee), the Assessment Committee, and Academic Affairs, will host the 2nd Annual Spring Faculty Conference on Thursday, January 8, 2026 in SOBA 162. This year’s conference will feature two interactive, hands-on workshops designed to support and enrich our teaching and assessment practices.

RSVP is required no later than Friday, December 12, at 5 PM: https://forms.office.com/r/AdL3KgMrZv. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to registrants.

Conference Schedule:

I. AI Workshop – Led by Dr. Hector Will Pinto (Dept. of Electrical Engineering)

• When: 8:30–11:30 AM
• Where: SOBA 162 (Harkness Hall)
• Title: Ctrl+Alt+Teach: Rebooting Pedagogy for the AI Age
• Description: This seminar/workshop moves beyond the hype to address the real challenges and opportunities AI presents for faculty. We'll directly tackle the growing sense of “AI fatigue,” openly discuss nuanced uses and abuses by both students and instructors, and explore how AI aligns with our core teaching philosophies. From there, the session shifts from theory to practice, offering prompting strategies that help participants harness AI as both a thought partner and a productivity engine.
• Itinerary:
  • 8:30–9:20 AM – The AI Landscape: A Field Guide to Uses & Abuses
  • 9:30–10:15 AM – Panel: AI or Teaching Philosophy?
  • 10:15–10:30 AM – Break
  • 10:30–11:30 AM – Workshop: Beyond the Chat — Delegating to Your AI Agents

Lunch: 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM

II. Assessment Workshop – Led by Dr. Shari Millikan (Faculty Director of Assessment | School of Education) and the Assessment Committee

• When: 12:15–2:00 PM
• Where: Start in SOBA 162; breakout sessions in SOBA 172 & 173
• Title: Beyond HLC: Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement
• Description: Our HLC visit may be behind us, but our assessment journey continues! This interactive workshop will focus on sustaining a culture of ongoing improvement. We’ll walk through the Academic Assessment & Continuous Improvement Cycle and review key elements of the Annual Update Form, Assessment Plan, and Assessment Report. Attendees will then break into small groups based on where their programs currently are in the assessment cycle to share insights, ask questions, and collaborate on next steps.

Everyone is invited to the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice Graduation Ceremony on Saturday December 13, 2025 to honor 16 students in the class of 2025. The ceremony will begin at 11a.m. in Shanklin Theatre. No tickets are required. For those who cannot attend in-person, the ceremony will also be live streamed at www.evansville.edu/live.</span></p>

The UE Holiday Ceramics Sale returns to the Melvin Peterson Gallery, with new items each day.

Tuesday, DEC. 9, 12-4

Friday, DEC. 12, 12-6

Saturday, DEC. 13, 12-4

All items are hand crafted on campus and are priced for holiday gift giving.

As we finish the semester and head into the holidays, Facilities is pleased to share our final newsletter of the year: Link Here: https://www.evansville.edu/offices/facilities/foundations-2025-12.cfm Inside, you’ll find:

• A Letter from the Assistant Director with a brief recap of the year and winter priorities.

• Our New Custodial Partner, FMS, and what their transition means for campus.

• Holiday Help Desk reminders for submitting work orders before break.

• New Faces joining the Facilities team.

• Utility Conservation Tips to help save energy during the break.

• A Maintenance Update on current operations and upcoming improvements.

Thank you for your support throughout the year. We wish everyone a safe and restful holiday season!

— Facilities Management Team

This year, the division of student affairs is hosting a Toy Drive for the YWCA.    YWCA Evansville works to transform the lives of the women and children by providing safe housing, case management, mentoring and support as they work to reach their full potential. The organization supports children through multiple programs, including Domestic violence shelter and outreach services, Emergency shelter, YES! (YWCA Embracing Sobriety) residential recovery program, and Live Y'ers after-school and mentoring program for vulnerable youth. Join us in making a difference in the lives of the children of the YWCA this year through spreading holiday cheer!   Please bring gently used or new toys for all ages to the entrance of the Student Affairs Suite  (Ridgway 2nd floor) beginning Thursday, December 4^th through Friday, December 12^th .    Please contact Shelby Bartholome (sg293@evansville.edu) if you have any questions. Thanks!

Join us on Saturday, January 17 for MLK Day of Service. Honor the legacy of Dr. King by giving back to the Evansville community. You can sign up as a group or as an individual, and after you register our team will assign you to a site. Volunteers will receive a free t-shirt. The day begins at 7:30 AM in Eykamp. See you there!

MLK Day of Service Participant Registration 2026 – Fill out form

Beginning Friday, December 5, all official transcript requests will be held until final grades for the fall term have been verified. Unofficial transcripts will still be available through Self-Service.

December graduates should select “Hold for Degree" when ordering a transcript. Once final grades are verified and degrees are conferred, official transcript orders will be processed.

🚗 Be a Road Trip Host! 🤠

Hey Aces! Road Trip Rodeo is coming up, and we’re hyped to welcome admitted students to campus — but we need YOUR help to make it awesome.

Sign up to host a Road Tripper (or two) for the weekend! Don’t live in the dorms? No worries — commuters and fraternity members can move onto campus for the weekend.

As a host, you’ll get:
✨ A free Road Trip Rodeo T-shirt
🍽️ Friday night dinner
🎉 Access to all Road Trip events
🙌 The chance to show off how great UE life really is

Grab your roommates and sign up today — it’s gonna be a blast!
Questions? Hit us up at RoadTripHosting@evansville.edu

Please take this survey for my senior research methods class if you are a sports fan.

https://forms.gle/vvNWNSPmY28pQDwg6

Join us on this exciting 2026 summer Harlaxton travel opportunity. Please consider if this will be a great fit for you to join this short-term custom Harlaxton trip sponsored by the Schroeder School of Business.    Here is what you need to know about the trip:

• This BUS 365 (3-credit course) provides a fantastic chance to learn and travel to Harlaxton for a short term on May 15- 25, 2026. 
• The 3-credit course is open to all UE students to apply towards their degree plan.
• Students must complete BUS-100 or ECON-102 with a minimum grade of C- before taking this course.
• A $2000 scholarship is only available to the first 12 business students who apply. The deadline for business students to apply is December 8 by email. 
• Flyer attached - please promote this to your fellow students and friends. 

For more information:

Yolanda Obaze, PhD
Associate Dean, Schroeder School of Business
yo21@evansville.edu
Room 140
Schroeder School of Business Building

Harlaxton College is pleased to be accepting applications to teach at the Manor in Summer 2027, Fall 2027, and Spring 2028.   These applications are online and can be found by clicking https://pursueharlaxton.evansville.edu/register/teach-with-harlaxton.

Applications are due for Summer 2027 on December 15^th, 2025.
Applications for Fall 2027 and Spring 2028 are due on April 1, 2026.

Summer Applicants:

There are two summer semesters at Harlaxton. A two-and-a-half-week session that focuses on STEM and a four-and-a-half-week session that focuses on arts and humanities. Faculty can apply to teach one course either of these terms. You can see the summer 2026 schedule as an example here- Summer Sessions at Harlaxton | Harlaxton.

Once courses are approved, we will recruit for these courses and then decide which course will finally run based on enrollment of students. These decisions are made in late January of the year of the program.    If your course does run in the summer session at Harlaxton, salary will be paid $500 per student enrolled in your class.   In the summer, there are no funds for airfare, and family members pay for their own accommodation and meals. Fees for room and board for a spouse may be waived if there are 10 or more students enrolled in your class. Faculty and families will also be invoiced for health and transportation fees at the Manor for each member of the family and the faculty member. These fees are approximately $300 per person.

Semester Applicants:
Semester benefits include room and board for family members at Harlaxton.   Faculty members who wish to bring children and enroll them in the local schools will be assisted in the visa process but will be required to pay any fees for the visa.  These fees are currently approx. $1500 per person, and visas are required for every person in the family.   Faculty and families will also be invoiced for health and transportation fees at the Manor for each member of the family and the faculty member.  These fees are approximately $400 per person.

Teaching at Harlaxton is a wonderful experience, and we welcome faculty members for a phenomenal summer or semester abroad.  If you have questions about teaching at Harlaxton and the experience overall, please feel free to email me at hc110@evansville.edu.

ST. LOUIS – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team battled hard, but came up short on Sunday at Saint Louis, dropping a 72-55 decision to the Billikens.

Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind./Hamilton Heights) led the Aces in scoring for the sixth time this season, scoring 12 points. Logan Luebbers Palmer (Union, Ky./Randall K. Cooper) added 11 points for the Aces for her seventh double-digit scoring effort of the season, while nine different Aces found the scoring column. Elle Snyder (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) grabbed nine rebounds, adding to her team-leading rebounding total of 61 boards for the year.

Saint Louis started the game hot, opening up a 13-5 lead in the first five minutes of play. Evansville battled back in the second half of the opening period, cutting the deficit to five at the end of the quarter.

The Purple Aces continued their positive momentum in the opening minutes of the second quarter, as a three-pointer from Luebbers Plamer, a layup by Mireia Mustaros (Barcelona, Spain/Ins Argentona), and another layup by Runner gave the Aces a 7-0 run, tying the game at 22. However, Evansville would go ice cold from the floor for the remainder of the quarter, scoring just three points as SLU took a 34-25 edge into halftime.

In the third quarter, Sydney Huber (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Mount Vernon) and Mustaros knocked down three-pointers in the first four minutes of the period to try to break the Aces out of their offensive funk. Despite a three from Snyder and four points by Runner following the Huber and Mustaros triples, Evansville was held to 2 points in the final three minutes of the quarter as the Billikens controlled a 55-38 lead heading into the fourth.

Daniela Llavero (Malaga, Spain/Ies Mediterraneo) put together a strong finish in the fourth quarter, knocking down a three and a layup with dishing out a long-distance assist in transition to highlight a strong four minutes of play. However, Saint Louis controlled the game to the buzzer, taking a 72-55 win.

The Aces return home to Meeks Family Fieldhouse next Sunday to take on Austin Peay. Tip-off is set for 3 PM.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Freshman Leif Moeller scored a career-high 21 points on Saturday as the University of Evansville men’s basketball team staged a furious rally before falling one point short in an 80-79 loss to Western Kentucky on Saturday afternoon inside E.A. Diddle Arena.

Moeller drained his first five 3-point attempts in the second half and finished with five boards and four assists. Connor Turnbull came within striking distance of a triple double. He scored 17 points while posting a career-high nine blocked shots and eight caroms. Alex Hemenway recorded 14 points, three assists, and three boards. AJ Casey had another solid effort posting nine points and six caroms.

“I thought we really did a good job in the first half but let them get some momentum heading into halftime,” UE head coach David Ragland exclaimed. “They were able to build a double-digit lead in the second half but I am proud of how we never gave up and fought back. This is a tough place to play and I told our group that every possession matters especially on the road. There are several positives to take away from today.”

Keishon Porter opened the game with a basket while Leif Moeller connected from downtown to give UE a 5-0 lead. Both teams struggled from the field in the opening minutes with WKU starting 1-of-7 while UE was 2-for-8. Connor Turnbull got the Aces back on track with a 3-pointer before Porter and Alex Hemenway hit from outside to cap an 18-8 lead just over seven minutes in.

Over the next two minutes, the Hilltoppers scored eight in a row to get back within a pair, but a Trent Hundley triple and two baskets by Turnbull reestablished a 8-point lead at 27-19 inside of the 6-minute mark. With just over four minutes left in the half, Western Kentucky made it a 3-point game with Hemenway having the response. His second triple of the day made it a 30-24 score.

Eleven in a row by the Hilltoppers saw them take their first lead of the game at 36-30 before a pair of late free throws made it a 36-32 game at halftime. Ryan Myers had a game-high 19 points in the half while Turnbull had 12 points, four boards, and five blocked shots.

WKU grabbed a 42-34 edge in the opening moments of the second stanza with Leif Moeller converting a triple to cut into the deficit. The Hilltoppers started to take control as they opened a 58-34 lead with 13:17 on the clock. Moeller single handedly kept the Aces in the game connecting on his first five 3-point attempts of the half. His fifth made it a 10-point game (70-60) with 7:50 remaining.

Evansville added four more during the run to get within six. During the 7-0 run, the Aces held Western Kentucky to four consecutive missed shots. A triple by the Hilltoppers ended the stretch as they would score the next five to go back up by 11 inside the 6-minute mark. UE continued to battle back, scoring the next nine points.

Following a pair of Moeller buckets, AJ Casey connected from outside while Porter hit a layup to make it a 75-73 game at the 3:35 mark. WKU retook a 5-point lead with 2:28 on the clock while Porter hit a pair of free throws with 41 ticks left to make it an 80-77 lead in favor of WKU. The defense got a stop on the other end to give the Aces one final chance. A triple fell short while UE added a field goal at the buzzer to make it a final of 80-79.

Myers paced WKU with a game-high 27 points while Teagan Moore scored 15. UE had a slight shooting advantage finishing at 44.1% while WKU shot 43.5%. The Hilltoppers completed the day with a 41-35 rebounding lead.

UE returns to action next Saturday at Notre Dame.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – For the first time since 2009, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team travels to Bowling Green, Ky. to take on Western Kentucky on Saturday at 3 p.m. ESPN+ and the Purple Aces Radio Network will have the broadcast.

Last Time Out

- Evansville earned a scrappy 64-52 win over Ball State on Wednesday at the Ford Center

- Connor Turnbull led the way with 21 points and 10 boards while AJ Casey and Trent Hundley scored nine points apiece

- Casey added a career-high 11 caroms

- UE held Ball State to 52 points on 32.1% shooting

Season Highs

- In the win over Ball State, Connor Turnbull set season highs in points (21), rebounds (10), and blocks (5)

- The effort marked the second double-double of Turnbull’s career

- His five blocks against the Cardinals put him on top of the MVC with an average of 2.13 per game after leading the league a season ago

- Turnbull has at least one block in seven of his eight games this season and has eight blocks in the last two games

- In the game versus UT Arlington, Turnbull had 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting

- He added 18 points along with a season-high 8 boards versus Charleston

- His field goal percentage of 53.8% is 9th in the MVC while his 12.88 PPG is 15th

First in Double Digits

- AJ Casey grabbed double digit rebounds for the first time in his career against Ball State finishing the contest with 11

- He added nine points as he was one shy his first collegiate double-double

- His effort against the Cardinals saw him move into a tie for 8th in the league with 6.00 rebounds per game while his average of 2.44 offensive boards is tied for 5th

- Casey has enjoyed a nice start to his UE career as he has reached double figures in five out of nine games including a career-best 14 points at #1 Purdue

Scouting the Opponent

- Western Kentucky comes into Saturday’s game with a 5-2 record following a 75-70 win over Wichita State last Friday

- The only defeats for the Hilltoppers came to Vanderbilt and South Florida in the Battle 4 Atlantis

- Teagan Moore enters the contest averaging 20.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game

- Armelo Boone is averaging 12.9 PPG while Grant Newell has chipped in 11.7 PPG

- Former UE player Cam Haffner has seen action in all seven games while making three starts for WKU; he is averaging 6.9 PPG and scored 18 against Vanderbilt

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – On Sunday, the University of Evansville women's basketball team renews an old MCC rivalry when they travel to St. Louis to take on former MCC rival SLU for the first time since 2013. Tip-off is set for 5 PM.
  Evansville at Saint Louis | Wednesday, December 7 | 5 PM Site | Location  Chaifetz Arena | St. Louis, Mo. Links 5 PM CT:  Live Stats | TV:  ESPN+ Follow the Aces Women's Basketball Site  |  Twitter  |  Instagram | Game Notes  
Series History   
-  Sunday marks the 25th meeting between Evansville and Saint Louis
- Evansville leads the series 16-8
- Sunday is the first meeting between the Aces and Billikens since 2013
- Evansville is searching for their first win in the series since 2009 and their first win in Saint Louis since January 20, 1992

Running the Show
- Camryn Runner has continued to establish herself as one of the top players in the MVC this season, ranking sixth in the conference in scoring at 16.3 ppg
- Runner has scored in double figures in 37 of 40 career games, including seven times in eight games this season
- On Wednesday, Runner led the Aces with 17 points against Purdue on 5-for-7 shooting
- After finishing last season in the top-10 nationally in free throw attempts and free throws made per game, Runner again ranks among national leaders in both categories this season. Through eight games, Runner ranks 14th in free throw attempts (7.3) and 23rd in free throws made (5.1) per game
 
Making Up for Lost Time
- After emerging as a key piece for the Aces early in the season last year as a freshman, Kylee Norkus suffered an injury in her fourth collegiate game that caused her to miss the rest of the season
- Norkus made her long-awaited return to the court in the Aces' win over IU Indy on November 20, playing 10 minutes and making a 3-pointer for her first basket of the season
- Norkus has seen the floor in each of the last three games as well, playing a season-high 17 minutes at Purdue on Wednesday
 
Scouting the Opponent
- Saint Louis brings a 3-6 record into the weekend and is coming off a 76-70 win over Saint Bonaventure on Wednesday in their A-10 opener
- Last season, the Billikens went 15-19 with a 7-11 mark in A-10 play
- Alexia Nelson leads SLU with 15.0 ppg, followed by Zya Nugent at 14.0 ppg

Follow Along
Sunday's game will be streamed live on ESPN+. Live stats are available at GoPurpleAces.com.

The University of Evansville (UE) is pleased to announce that it has received a $35,000 grant from the William E. Schmidt Foundation, continuing a longstanding partnership that has strengthened the University's music and opera programs for more than two decades.

The William E. Schmidt Foundation has supported UE and its music programs since 1998 and has provided dedicated support for the University's opera program since 2006. This latest grant will fund UE opera productions, community outreach efforts centered on music and opera, and scholarships within the UE Music Conservatory.

"The Schmidt Foundation has played a transformational role in advancing vocal performance and opera at the University of Evansville," said Dr. Alanna Keenan, Associate Professor of Music at UE. "Their generosity helps our students develop as artists while bringing high-quality performance experiences to the broader community."

Under the artistic direction of Dr. Keenan, with additional guidance from Dr. Dennis Malfatti and Dr. Gregory Rike, UE Opera has flourished as a dynamic force in the field of opera, enriching the lives of students and fostering a deep appreciation for the arts within the community. The Schmidt Foundation's grant will empower the program to continue its legacy of excellence and expand its community reach.

UE's opera program offers performance opportunities, professional-level training, and community engagement experiences that help students develop their artistic craft. The continued support of the Schmidt Foundation ensures that UE can remain a regional leader in developing the next generation of vocal artists.

The William E. Schmidt Foundation provided grant funding to UE Opera in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

For more information about the UE Opera and upcoming performances or to contact the Music Conservatory, please click here.