NASCAR insiders visit "Burst the Bubble" course

An Elon sophomore organized an informal Winter Term class to teach about the sport she loves & invited industry figures to speak.

NASCAR driver Casey Mears speaks with students who took part in sophomore Alivia Mattioli's (left) Winter Term "Burst the Bubble" course on NASCAR.

*****

NASCAR driver Casey Mears made a stop Tuesday at Elon University with his pit crew chief and a longtime auto racing executive, the three of whom spoke with students in a Winter Term "Burst the Bubble" class led by a current student.

Organized by sophomore Alivia Mattioli, a sport and event management major with career aspirations in auto racing, "No Speed Limit: The In’s & Out’s of NASCAR!" educates students about the sport's history, its governance, and the founders who pioneered and shaped it to be the industry it is today.

"My vision in starting the class was to leave my mark at Elon in a unique way by teaching students that NASCAR isn’t just all left turns and that there is such a vast industry behind the sport." Mattioli said. "For anyone who thinks that on race day a track operator opens the gate and says 'have at it, you're sadly mistaken.

Cal Wells P'14, former owner of PPI Motorsports.

"If I was able to teach one student something throughout this process then it was worth it because at the same time I learned more about my passions and goal setting then I thought I would."

Driver of the #13 GEICO Ford car for Germain Racing, Mears was accompanied by "Bootie" Barker, his crew chief, and by Cal Wells P'14, the former team owner of PPI Motorsports and a longtime figure in auto racing. Mattioli connected several times with Wells, the parent of an Elon junior, after he visited a class last year, and when Mattioli invited him to take part in the "Burst the Bubble" course, he readily accepted.

Wells has been family friends with Mears for decades, which led to the driver and pit chief's involvement in the program. "I believe the future is very bright for (auto racing)," Wells told students in the class. "There's not an area captured within NASCAR that doesn't touch on everybody's lives."

"Bootie" Barker, the pit crew chief for Casey Mears and the #13 GEICO Ford car.

Started in 2007, "Burst the Bubble" programs are student-taught workshops that focus on subjects found outside of most classrooms. The program encourages students who have a talent, interest or skill to teach free workshops with no homework assignments or final exams.

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by Eric Townsend, Staff Last Updated - 1/17/2013

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International Fellows tour the South in Study USA course

Nine students from around the world traveled to cities across the South in a class on regional culture, history, politics and more.

Assistant Professor Jason Husser (left) taught "Discovering Dixie" this month.

*****

It's easy to pick up a book or watch a documentary if you want to learn about 20th century naval history. If you want to know how it felt for thousands of sailors stationed aboard ships, many of whom hailed form the South, that might require something different -  like touring the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier.

Same goes for learning about the Civil War, Southern cuisine and culture, or the rise of industry in cities like Atlanta and New Orleans. Lectures help, but as International Fellows in a Winter Term came to appreciate firsthand, nothing tops the "feel" of visiting a place you may read about in books.

Students toured sites in Charleston, S.C., as part of "Discovering Dixie."

That General Studies course, “Discovering Dixie,” was led this month by Jason Husser in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration and was among six programs organized by the university's new Study USA office.

Husser, an assistant professor and assistant director of the Elon University Poll, is himself a Southerner from southeastern Louisiana.

"To really get to know America, you really have to know the details, and that's something you can't get unless you're actually seeing it in person," Husser said. "My goal is to tell people the South is not just the story of slavery, it's not just the story of civil rights, it's also a really special place."

Overlooking the mouth of the Cooper River in Charleston.

A recent three-day visit to Charleston, S.C., included site visits to city museums and to the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier at Patriots Point across the Cooper River from the historic French Quarter. Students toured local museums and parks while sampling Southern cuisine from some of the city’s well-known restaurants

Fellows also visited Atlanta, New Orleans and Asheville, N.C. Husser said he wanted students to develop a deeper cross-cultural competency while learning the importance of various locations and events that have shaped the course of United States history.

Politics, culture and economics are all important components to the region's ongoing growth and development.

Onboard the flight deck of the USS Yorktown (CV-10) at Patriots Point in South Carolina.

"It gives me a broader perspective, the identity of people who live in the south," said sophomore Ana Preciado of Panama City, Panama. "How do they feel about it? How did the United States grow to be what it is right now?"

Students raved about their visit to South Carolina's coastal port city, which preceded the week-long road trip through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. "I love Charleston," said sophomore Andreea Podgoreanu of Bucharest, Romania. "I love the city. It's beautiful. I like that the people are really friendly, and I like the food!"

During a fall semester course, sophomore Keegan Desilva, of Trinidad and Tobago, said he and his classmates "got to know about the Civil War and stuff like that." However, he said, it's important for them to see the locations of events for themselves.

Charleston, S.C., at dusk on Friday, Jan. 11, 2013.

Started in 2012, Study USA is an Elon University office that coordinates a wealth of educational resources located inside the nation's borders. Study USA offers opportunities for students to travel and study at Elon-operated centers or through short-term, Elon faculty-led courses in a variety of locations across the United States.

Phil Smith is currently serving as interim director of the office, which is housed in the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center. Six academic programs this month fall under the Study USA banner, including those that have visited New York City, Kentucky, Arizona, Hawaii and Utah.

For more information on domestic study opportunities, including the upcoming "Elon in Los Angeles." and "Elon in New York City" summer programs, visit the Study USA website.

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by Eric Townsend, Staff Last Updated - 1/20/2013

View the original article here

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NASCAR insiders visit "Burst the Bubble" course

An Elon sophomore organized an informal Winter Term class to teach about the sport she loves & invited industry figures to speak.

NASCAR driver Casey Mears speaks with students who took part in sophomore Alivia Mattioli's (left) Winter Term "Burst the Bubble" course on NASCAR.

*****

NASCAR driver Casey Mears made a stop Tuesday at Elon University with his pit crew chief and a longtime auto racing executive, the three of whom spoke with students in a Winter Term "Burst the Bubble" class led by a current student.

Organized by sophomore Alivia Mattioli, a sport and event management major with career aspirations in auto racing, "No Speed Limit: The In’s & Out’s of NASCAR!" educates students about the sport's history, its governance, and the founders who pioneered and shaped it to be the industry it is today.

"My vision in starting the class was to leave my mark at Elon in a unique way by teaching students that NASCAR isn’t just all left turns and that there is such a vast industry behind the sport." Mattioli said. "For anyone who thinks that on race day a track operator opens the gate and says 'have at it, you're sadly mistaken.

Cal Wells P'14, former owner of PPI Motorsports.

"If I was able to teach one student something throughout this process then it was worth it because at the same time I learned more about my passions and goal setting then I thought I would."

Driver of the #13 GEICO Ford car for Germain Racing, Mears was accompanied by "Bootie" Barker, his crew chief, and by Cal Wells P'14, the former team owner of PPI Motorsports and a longtime figure in auto racing. Mattioli connected several times with Wells, the parent of an Elon junior, after he visited a class last year, and when Mattioli invited him to take part in the "Burst the Bubble" course, he readily accepted.

Wells has been family friends with Mears for decades, which led to the driver and pit chief's involvement in the program. "I believe the future is very bright for (auto racing)," Wells told students in the class. "There's not an area captured within NASCAR that doesn't touch on everybody's lives."

"Bootie" Barker, the pit crew chief for Casey Mears and the #13 GEICO Ford car.

Started in 2007, "Burst the Bubble" programs are student-taught workshops that focus on subjects found outside of most classrooms. The program encourages students who have a talent, interest or skill to teach free workshops with no homework assignments or final exams.

Email Author Your Email *
Message *
by Eric Townsend, Staff Last Updated - 1/17/2013

View the original article here

Read More

International Fellows tour the South in Study USA course

Nine students from around the world traveled to cities across the South in a class on regional culture, history, politics and more.

Assistant Professor Jason Husser (left) taught "Discovering Dixie" this month.

*****

It's easy to pick up a book or watch a documentary if you want to learn about 20th century naval history. If you want to know how it felt for thousands of sailors stationed aboard ships, many of whom hailed form the South, that might require something different -  like touring the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier.

Same goes for learning about the Civil War, Southern cuisine and culture, or the rise of industry in cities like Atlanta and New Orleans. Lectures help, but as International Fellows in a Winter Term came to appreciate firsthand, nothing tops the "feel" of visiting a place you may read about in books.

Students toured sites in Charleston, S.C., as part of "Discovering Dixie."

That General Studies course, “Discovering Dixie,” was led this month by Jason Husser in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration and was among six programs organized by the university's new Study USA office.

Husser, an assistant professor and assistant director of the Elon University Poll, is himself a Southerner from southeastern Louisiana.

"To really get to know America, you really have to know the details, and that's something you can't get unless you're actually seeing it in person," Husser said. "My goal is to tell people the South is not just the story of slavery, it's not just the story of civil rights, it's also a really special place."

Overlooking the mouth of the Cooper River in Charleston.

A recent three-day visit to Charleston, S.C., included site visits to city museums and to the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier at Patriots Point across the Cooper River from the historic French Quarter. Students toured local museums and parks while sampling Southern cuisine from some of the city’s well-known restaurants

Fellows also visited Atlanta, New Orleans and Asheville, N.C. Husser said he wanted students to develop a deeper cross-cultural competency while learning the importance of various locations and events that have shaped the course of United States history.

Politics, culture and economics are all important components to the region's ongoing growth and development.

Onboard the flight deck of the USS Yorktown (CV-10) at Patriots Point in South Carolina.

"It gives me a broader perspective, the identity of people who live in the south," said sophomore Ana Preciado of Panama City, Panama. "How do they feel about it? How did the United States grow to be what it is right now?"

Students raved about their visit to South Carolina's coastal port city, which preceded the week-long road trip through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. "I love Charleston," said sophomore Andreea Podgoreanu of Bucharest, Romania. "I love the city. It's beautiful. I like that the people are really friendly, and I like the food!"

During a fall semester course, sophomore Keegan Desilva, of Trinidad and Tobago, said he and his classmates "got to know about the Civil War and stuff like that." However, he said, it's important for them to see the locations of events for themselves.

Charleston, S.C., at dusk on Friday, Jan. 11, 2013.

Started in 2012, Study USA is an Elon University office that coordinates a wealth of educational resources located inside the nation's borders. Study USA offers opportunities for students to travel and study at Elon-operated centers or through short-term, Elon faculty-led courses in a variety of locations across the United States.

Phil Smith is currently serving as interim director of the office, which is housed in the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center. Six academic programs this month fall under the Study USA banner, including those that have visited New York City, Kentucky, Arizona, Hawaii and Utah.

For more information on domestic study opportunities, including the upcoming "Elon in Los Angeles." and "Elon in New York City" summer programs, visit the Study USA website.

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by Eric Townsend, Staff Last Updated - 1/20/2013

View the original article here

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The Fall Course Schedule is Here

August 1, 2011 - Sign up for fall classes today. The new list of fall courses is up and ready for viewing to help you plan your semester with Belhaven.

Are you seeking a degree, or trying to develop your career with a few extra classes, or do you want to learn about other subjects out of interest?

Whatever it is, you can choose from hundreds of classes at one of Belhaven’s campuses or online. Compare courses and find the right class schedule that fits into your life and helps you plan your year in education.

Belhaven’s helpful admissions staff will help you enroll and get started.

Belhaven proudly stands among the select Christian colleges and universities that offer a unique general core curriculum encouraging the development of a personal worldview. The university believes a Christian worldview is a key to preparing men and women academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.

Founded in 1883, Belhaven University now serves over 3,000 students from campuses in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, Atlanta and online, offering traditional undergraduate degrees, graduate and adult degree programs, and online degree programs.

For more breaking news, announcements, and upcoming events, visit the Belhaven University News and Information web site

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