1 l BYU- IDAHO NEWS & NOTES JANUARY 2015 l 1

EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2015

Three new interdisciplinary degrees in the Department of Mechanical Engineering will be added to the Fall Semester 2015 course catalog.

Spearheaded by Justin Miller, faculty member of the Mechanical Engineering Department, and Greg Roach, chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department, the new degrees will allow students to develop a variety of skill sets and prepare them better for the workforce.

The first degree added, Automotive Engineering Technology, will combine automotive courses with engineering courses. The second, Automotive Technology Management, will combine automotive and business courses, and the third, Manufacturing Supply Chain Management, will combine manufacturing courses and supply

chain management courses offered from the Department of Business Management.

This unique ability to combine two different courses into one allows for students to gain specific skills that will help them in a future career.

“We saw some immediate opportunities there because we’ve always felt strongly about combining skill sets,” Miller said.

“That’s what employers want. They’re after someone who has a good process that they use to solve problems. That’s what the world values,” he added.

The interdisciplinary approach will allow the department to offer

these new degrees without having to add any additional classes or construct any new buildings, making this a viable option for the department to add degrees.

We saw some immediate opportunities there because we’ve always felt strongly about combining skill sets.JUSTIN MILLER DEPT. OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Department of Mechanical Engineering adding new interdisciplinary degreesBy Brock Allen

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During a recent sabbatical, Derek Jensen of the Department of Humanities and Philosophy travelled to Russia in order to conduct further research that would enable him to compose a new textbook. Accompanying Derek on his excursion to St. Petersburg was his wife, Sara, an adjunct faculty member from the Department of Languages and International Studies, and their five children.

The worldwide trip that came to fruition through Derek’s sabbatical led the Jensen family across the U.S. and through much of eastern Europe.

The Jensen family’s time in St. Petersburg stemmed from Sara’s love of Russian culture. Sara had been led to Russia several years prior to their trip.

“I served my mission there and had taught English there as well, so I felt like St. Petersburg was a second home to me,” Sara said.

The cultural capital of Russia served as the perfect location for Derek to engage in his work composing a new textbook that will be used in his humanities class, Science and the Humanities. Derek’s primary objective during his sabbatical was to research and consolidate material that he would be able to integrate into his class.

“I was able to do research in St. Petersburg beyond just reading and writing. I had the opportunity to visit museums, theatres and places of significant historic and cultural value,” said Derek.

Both Derek and Sara were able to benefit from funding from the Thomas E. Ricks Grant, as well as the College of Language and Letters.

“The dean of the College of Language and Letters was very kind and helped us a lot. He was an advocate for our family and was incredibly supportive,” Sara said. “The university helped us as much as they could, and we were so convinced that going to

Russia was the right thing for us to do, that we were happy to invest ourselves in this wonderful opportunity,” said Sara.

The decision to move to Russia for the purpose of research was one that Derek and Sara thought would be valuable for both their academic endeavors as well as their family relationships.

“We encountered a lot of setbacks, but as soon as we encountered something difficult, Heavenly Father would give us a little glimmer of hope that told us we were suppose to go on this trip,” Sara said.

While the majority of Derek’s sabbatical took place in Russia, the Jensen family was able to visit a total of 16 states in the U.S. as well as seven countries including Italy, Germany, and Latvia.

“Derek and I have both been able to travel in our lives and we’ve seen how experiencing other cultures enriches your life and gives you compassion for the rest of the world. It brings depth to your character,” said Sara.

While Derek conducted research for his book, Sara was able to meet with missionaries serving in Russia and helped them with their language skills. The Jensen family also had investigators come to their home for family home evenings and other activities.

“This sabbatical wasn’t for me, but I’m so thankful that Derek was willing to allow us to go to Russia because I knew that I could bring back experiences that would benefit my students,” said Sara.

From Rexburg to St. Petersburg: Faculty members take sabbatical in Russia» By Paul Morgan

The Jensen family outside the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.

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BYU-Idaho students will have the opportunity to showcase their classroom knowledge and construction skills while networking with professionals at annual construction competitions this January and February in Nevada.

The National Association

of Home Builders (NAHB) is holding its yearly Residential Construction Management Competition during the annual NAHB International Builder’s Show in Las Vegas.

The Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) is also holding its Regions 6 and 7 2015 Student Competition in Sparks this February.

BYU-Idaho is fielding two teams and 11 students to compete in

the NAHB event. They will take on 54 teams from 46 universities and 5 secondary schools. All teams have had several months to prepare for the competition.

Preparation included researching local building codes and marketing analysis, creating design plans, and submitting their final solutions to a problem given by NAHB. They attend the competition to present to judges and defend their solution.

Ron Kinville, the faculty advisor, said it is a fantastic opportunity for the students. “They get to take all of the information they have been learning in the classroom and are able to apply it to real life situations,” he said.

There are 43 students in

six teams attending the ASC competition. They will be competing against 41 universities in the dual-region event.

Unlike the NAHB competition, the students do not receive their problem until they arrive in Sparks and are given less than a day to come up with a solution.

The competitions prepare students for their future occupations, and the job fairs following both events get several students hired. There are over 100 construction companies represented at the combined job fairs in Las Vegas and Sparks.

“It’s a great opportunity to get a foot in the door,” said Kinville.

“They get to network and meet people and gain real life exposure to what their careers can be like.”

The Center Stage Performing Arts Series’ lineup of events for Winter Semester 2015 is underway. A concert by the Calefax Reed Quintet from The Netherlands will be held Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Barrus Concert Hall. Rhythmic Circus will perform Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Hart Auditorium. The group includes high energy tap dancers and a swingin’ big brass band.

The annual Barbershop Music Festival will be held Feb. 21 with shows at 6 and 8:30 p.m. in the Barrus Concert Hall. The show will feature the award-winning Main Street Quartet from Orlando, Fla. The popular Real Group from Sweden will perform a vocal concert Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Kirkham Auditorium.

Three Broadway baritones will present a show called “Baritones Unbound: Celebrating the UnCommon Voice of the Common Man” March 5 in the Barrus Concert Hall. Grammy-winning saxophonist Joe Lovano will headline this year’s Winter Jazz Festival March 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Hart Auditorium.

A free brochure listing all performing arts events at

BYU-Idaho is available at the Kimball Ticket Office and the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce, or by calling 496-2000. Detailed information can also be found on the Center Stage website at www.byui.edu/centerstage. Season tickets also may be ordered through the ticket office by calling 496-3170. Here is more detailed information about upcoming events:

Calefax Reed QuintetWednesday, January 287:30 p.m., Barrus Concert Hall

Meet Calefax. Five passionate wind players from the Netherlands. Virtuoso musicians and brilliant arrangers. The creators of a completely new genre: the reed quintet. They are a source of inspiration to a fresh generation of reed players who follow in their footsteps. The ensemble features oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bass clarinet and bassoon. The Times (United Kingdom) has called them “five extremely gifted Dutch gents who almost made the reed quintet seem the best musical format on the planet.”

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Center Stage’s winter performing arts series underway» By Don Sparhawk

Construction management students participating in national competitions » By Clint Urick

News & NotesA monthly publication of University Relations

A D V I S O R Marc Stevens

W R I T E R S Brock Allen, Paul Morgan, Clint Urick

PHOTOGRAPHERS Michael Lewis, Ryan Chase, Leanna Davidson, Tyler Rickenbach

If you have any ideas for future issues, please e-mail newsdesk@byui.edu.

Rhythmic CircusFriday, February 13 | 7:30 p.m., Hart Auditorium6 p.m., Preshow dinner in Manwaring Center Special Events Room

A group of dynamic dancers from Minneapolis has hit the road with a trunk full of tap shoes, funky costumes and a big brass band. Heatbox, the human beatbox, joins the swingin’

seven-piece band to accompany each tap, shuffle and stomp with a clang, riff and refrain. The show’s brilliance has been marked by rave reviews, sold-out engagements and numerous awards, including two SAGE Awards for Outstanding Ensemble and Performance and the Spirit of the Fringe Award (Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s top theatrical award).

Tickets now on sale. $12 for general public. Preshow dinner is $15 extra. No children under four. Classroom dress.

Barbershop Music FestivalFeaturing Main Street QuartetSaturday, February 21 | 6 & 8:30 p.m., Barrus Concert Hall

The award-winning Main Street Quartet from Orlando, Florida, will headline this year’s Barbershop Music Festival at BYU-Idaho. You will also hear the BYU-Idaho Men’s Choir, Women’s Choir, student quartets and the Carousel Chorus.

Tickets go on sale January 26. $12 for general public. No children under four. Classroom dress.

The Real GroupTuesday, February 24 | 7:30 p.m., Kirkham Auditorium

This Swedish vocal super-group is undoubtedly one of the leading forces in the world of vocal music today. Formed at Stockholm’s Royal Academy of Music, The Real Group has enjoyed an international touring career for nearly 30 years. Highlights have included such prestigious events as the Queen of Sweden’s birthday (when they performed the Abba classic

“Dancing Queen” together with the former Abba member Anni-Frid Lyngstad) and the opening of the FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan.

Tickets go on sale February 2. $16 for general public. No children under six. Classroom dress.

Baritones UnboundThursday, March 5 | 7:30 p.m., Barrus Concert Hall

In this brand new musical event conceived by leading man Marc Kudisch, three dynamite Broadway baritones take the stage to give us a captivating musical tour of the baritone voice throughout history. Baritones UnBound: Celebrating the UnCommon Voice of the Common Man is a celebration of the baritone voice and its emergence as the revolutionary sound of the common man in one enchanted evening ringing with music, laughter and showmanship.

Tickets go on sale February 9. $16 for general public. No children under six. Event dress.

Winter Jazz Fest featuring Grammy winner Joe LovanoSaturday, March 14 | 7:30 p.m., Hart Auditorium

Grammy Award winner Joe Lovano will headline this year’s Winter Jazz Fest featuring the BYU-Idaho Sound Alliance jazz band. More information about the Winter Jazz Fest, clinics, workshops and performances will be made available as the event draws near.

Tickets go on sale February 17. $12 for general public. No children under four. Classroom dress.

Thank You I am humbled at the flowers, visits, messages and abundantkind words from the BYU-Idaho community in response my father’s recent passing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you, Steve Holley

For SaleMarlin 336 Stainless 30-30 with case; 30-30 ammo; HenryFrontiersman .22 w/ octogon barrel; Scotty Cameron putter. Call 356-0219 for prices.

Center Stage winter series: continued from page 3