2008 Red Skelton Gala and Festival

Grammy award winning recording artist Crystal Gayle will be the headliner for the Red Skelton Gala set for June 14 in Vincennes. The concert will be the highlight of the day-long Paint the Town Red Festival, featuring the Parade of a Thousand Clowns, tours, and other entertainment.
The parade will wind through downtown Vincennes beginning at 11:00 a.m. (ET). Immediately following the parade will be free stage entertainment, special attractions for children, and food and craft booths.

Concluding the Festival will be the performance by Crystal Gayle at 7:00 p.m. at Vincennes University’s Red Skelton Performing Arts Center, located at 20 Portland Avenue. Gayle released a 25-track greatest-hits collection last August, covering her 30-year career. It includes “Don’t it Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” one of the 10 most often performed country songs of the 20th century, as well as selections from her 21 other Top 10 singles and 16 No. 1 hits.Last year, the 2nd Annual American Entertainment Magazine Reader’s Choice Awards named Crystal Gayle “Best Female Entertainer” as she continues to tour the globe. Her status will be acknowledged later this year when her star is placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, alongside such legendary stars as Vincennes’ own Red Skelton.Three dozen hit records and 19 number ones mark her continued success as she prepares to embark on yet another worldwide tour. Popular hits decorating her show include “Don’t it Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” “Talking in Your Sleep” and “Half the Way.” With a track record as long as her trademark floor-length hair, the recognition from the American Entertainment Magazine is well-deserved.Tickets are available by calling the Center’s Box Office, 812-888-4039, or online at www.vinu.edu/redskelton.

Clown School for Kids is June 9-13

“The Art of Clowning for Kids” workshop will be offered at Vincennes University’s Shircliff Theatre June 9-13. A morning session will meet each day from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon (EDT) and is designed for youngsters aged 8 to 12 years. An afternoon session for ages 13-15 will meet from 1:00-4:00 p.m. daily.A graduation performance will follow the completion of the workshop sessions at the end of the week. Graduates are invited to join the June 14 “Parade of a Thousand Clowns” in downtown Vincennes that is part of the Red Skelton Festival.Skills that will be developed in the workshop include developing a clown name and personality, costuming, clown makeup, “paradeability,” and balloon artistry. The workshop will also discuss the ethics of clowning and community service. A new clown alley has been chartered in Vincennes for on-going clown activities for kids and kids-at-heart.The workshop fee is $20 and scholarships are available to ensure that no child will be turned away. To register or for more information, call 812-882-4360.

Mural to Greet Visitors to Red Skelton Performing Arts Center

Visitors to Vincennes University’s Red Skelton Performing Arts Center will now be welcomed by enchanting characters from the era when Skelton was entertaining millions via radio, television, and the movies.A large mural, recently painted by Vincennes artist and Lincoln High School teacher Sara Frenz, has been added to the entranceway. It covers the glass windows and doors that separate the Skelton Center from the entrance to the Red Skelton Museum and Education Center that is now under development.“The figures are looking into the museum as if they had come back in time from the era that Red worked in show business--the 1930s through the 1960s. The clothing of the characters reflects the different eras,” Frenz said. “The idea behind the mural was to create a scene that would welcome people and spark their interest in the development of the museum.”Frenz credits Marilyn McCormick, one of the leaders promoting the museum, with the inspiration behind the mural. “Marilyn called me with the idea of having Norman Rockwell-era figures peering into the museum. I then scanned images from the Saturday Evening Post that I thought would be appropriate. I had to change them for the mural to have them looking into the museum and select a variety of figures, some children and some adults,” Frenz said.One child in the mural plays a special role in the street scene. “The red-headed child resembles Red. He is holding his hat in his hands just as Red used to do at the end of his shows when he would say ‘Good Night and May God Bless.’ The child is looking up at a soldier on his way home from World War II. The soldier has stopped to look up at a copy of Red’s Pledge of Allegiance and an American flag.”Frenz said the mural will remain in place until the museum opens and then it may have another use. In development for a couple of months, the mural complements the entrance to the Skelton Center that also includes large photos of Red Skelton’s comedy characters and a display of some of his show business artifacts.The addition of the mural is just in time for the annual Red Skelton Festival and Gala on June 14. The Festival features the Parade of Thousand Clowns at 11:00 a.m. (EDT) in downtown Vincennes followed by the Paint the Town Red Festival from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. featuring free stage entertainment, kids’ attractions, food and craft booths, and tours.The evening highlight on June 14 will be the Red Skelton Gala at 7:00 p.m. that features recording artist Crystal Gayle at the Red Skelton Performing Arts Center. The Gala is a fundraiser for the Red Skelton Museum and Education Center.

Red Skelton 2007 Gala Reception & Performance!

An Evening with Debbie Reynolds, with special guest Tom Mullica, will be featured in a June 9, 8:00 p.m. (CT), performance at Vincennes University's Red Skelton Performing Arts Center. A legendary star of film, stage, and television, Reynolds will present a Las Vegas style performance.

Mullica will open the show with his "Red Skelton: a Performance Tribute." The show is part of the 2007 Gala Reception and Performance: Continuing Red's Dream - Building a Home for Freddie and Friends.

Prior to the evening performance, a "Parade of 1,000 Clowns" will make its way through downtown Vincennes at 10:00 a.m. The parade is part of the Red Skelton Festival Weekend. Following the parade there will be a Main Street Festival with art, music, food, and tours.

Tickets for the June 9 Red Skelton Gala are $150 and may be purchased beginning May 9 by calling the Skelton Center box office, 812-888-4039, or through the Center's web site, www.vinu.edu/redskelton. In addition to the performances by Reynolds and Mullica, the evening will include a 5:30 p.m. reception.

Proceeds will help fund the Red Skelton Museum and Exhibit Gallery which will house and preserve the extensive Skelton collection that has been donated to VU by Mrs. Lothian Skelton. The proceeds from last year's inaugural Skelton Gala contributed toward the facility's groundbreaking held in October 2006.

VU Accuplacer

In response to a comment that was made on this blog, I want to explain a little bit about the Vincennes University Accuplacer test.

This test is taken by all prospective students before they meet with their academic advisor to register for classes. All students applying into a health occupation have to take the test prior to being reviewed for admission. So for those few selective majors (i.e. Nursing), shortly after you apply for admission, you need to make arrangements to take the Accuplacer. For all other majors, you can take the test at anytime, prior to meeting with your academic advisor. You do need to have an application on file with the Admissions Office before you take the test regardless of your major. Taking the Accuplacer is a part of the Start-VU Registration Day schedule. Students do not have to make special arrangements to take the placement test prior to registration day.

I hope this helps to clear up any confusion. The Assessment Center has a list of sites across the state that offers the Accuplacer. You can also view that list on the VU website. If you have any further questions, feel free to call our office at 1-800-742-9198

Enjoy Christmas break!

New PreVU Visitation Dates!

The fall 2006 PreVU dates have been announced!

You can visit our website, www.vinu.edu, and click on the link "PreVU Days" to reserve your spot for the program. You can also find a list of all PreVU dates, an example schedule of the day, and printable directions to campus on the PreVU webpage. The following open house (PreVU) days have been announced for the fall:

Friday, October 20th

Saturday, October 21st

Friday, November 17th

Saturday, November 18th

You only need to reserve for one of the available dates. If none of these dates work for your schedule, please call the admissions office at 1-800-742-9198 or 812-888-4313 to reserve your individual visit to campus. We accept appointment Monday through Friday and can tailor a visitation day to meet your needs.

We look forward to arranging your personal visit to campus!

THE TRICK TO PICKING A MAJOR

I talk to students all the time that have no clue what they want to major in. It's not as hard as it might seem. I think the worse thing you can do is limit yourself due to your previous experiences or by picking a very limited major. A great example is someone who wants to be a PE teacher. No problem. Being a PE teacher is very rewarding and a great job if you love working with children and being active. On the other hand, if you are limiting yourself to living in a specific location, it can be very difficult to find a job. Most schools only have one or a few PE teachers for each building. Some schools will share one PE teacher between multiple buildings. You have to be flexible in where you live for this occupation.

If you have no idea what you want to major in try surfing Monster. This is a job search engine. If you have an idea of where you would like to live you can specify a geographic region and find jobs that are available in that region. This is a good place to see what is out there. Searching job listings will help you be aware of what the job opportunities look like in that field, what they are requiring, and sometimes they will even post benefits and salary. I also recommend your local newspaper's classified ads. If you are interested in relocating, most newspapers allow you to view their classified ads online.

Each occupation has its own details and tricks to be aware of. Once you have a career or major in mind, I recommend meeting with a career counselor or even someone working in that field. You can learn a lot from job shadowing or just talking with someone familiar with that field. Ask what they like best and least about their job. Take time to really think about some questions beforehand. Also, make sure to write these questions down and take them with you just in case you freeze up.

If you can't make a decision when you go to register for college classes, start out in General Studies as your major. This means you will work on classes that are required and apply towards any major. This will give you the opportunity to get familiar with the college experience, talk to students in different majors, receive some career counseling from your advisor and the career center, and just buy you some time to think about your options.

This is an exciting time, take advantage of the endless resources available to you, and ask lots of questions!

Attention Class of 2007

Want to make the most of your summer vacation?

The summer before your senior year of high school can be important in searching for a college that best meets your needs. Not sure what you want to major in? Not sure the difference between private or public schools? No worries! This is what summer is for. Take advantage of this time to browse websites, request information from schools, maybe even schedule a campus visit. Classes may be out for the summer, but colleges are still open for campus visits!

Here are some tips to get the most out of your summer:

1. Find out what your strengths are. Visit the Indiana Learn More Resource Center and take advantage of their career exploration option. This is a great tool to see what your options are for a career and major.

2. Visit the Indiana Commission for Higher Education website and take advantage of their college mapping. Just click on a county and find a listing of both private and public colleges in that area. Each school name is then linked to their website.(http://www.che.state.in.us/schools/interactivemap.shtml)

3. Request and compare information from various colleges. Find out about admissions requirements, cost, accreditation, job placement, average class size for a FRESHMAN, student activities, housing and meal options, and anything else that is important to you. College will be the place you live 24-7, the place you meet lifelong friends, and possibly your mate. Don't allow others or any preconceived notions make the decision for you! Keep your options open!

4. Go for a road trip! Make arrangements to visit your top choices. This is a great way to find out how the real thing compares to the website and brochures. Also remain flexible. After visiting a college you may decide that it isn't for you. Be willing to go back to your original list and reorder the colleges you are considering. Some schools may require a second visit if you weren't able to get everything accomplished while you were there.

5. Start the scholarship search. Get familiar with the scholarships that are available and when they will start taking application. Check to see if they require anything that you could finish this summer like volunteer hours, specific work experience, or even essay questions. Give yourself plenty of time to prepare- your time could be work thousands of dollars! Most schools also have their own scholarship application, so be sure to check for deadlines. Your local library is also an excellent resource along with countless websites. Never pay someone to give you the "hook-up" with scholarships or financial aid. A great on-line source is fastweb. Happy hunting!

Sign-up for Registration Today!

You can now sign-up for the Vincennes University registration program, Start-VU! This program is a one day event where students can take the placement test, meet with an advisor to design their Fall schedule, get their university identification card, and get all of their questions answered before school starts.

Reserve your spot today for the registration program by visiting the

VU website at www.vinu.edu.

Once on the website, click on the link for Start-VU and follow the directions to confirm your date.

We look forward to seeing you in June!