AUSTIN, Texas (AP) If colleges were automobiles, the University of Texas at Austin would be a Cadillac: a famous brand, a powerful engine of research and teaching, handsome in appearance. Even the price is comparable: Like one of the luxury car's models, in-state tuition for a four-year degree runs about $40,000.

But in an era of budget-cutting and soaring tuition, is there still a place for "Cadillacs" elite, public research institutions like Texas, Michigan, California-Berkeley and Virginia that try to compete with the world's best? Or should the focus be on more affordable and efficient options, like the old Chevrolet Bel Air?

It's the central question in a pointed clash of cultures in higher education. And when Gene Powell the former UT football player and San Antonio real estate developer who chairs the Texas board of regents raised it with precisely that automotive comparison, reaction was swift and angry.

Convinced the state board was hell-bent on turning their beloved "university of the first class" required by the Texas constitution into a downmarket trade school, faculty, students and alumni have rallied behind campus president Bill Powers in protest.

Powell insists he wants UT-Austin to be great but also accessible, and for students to have options. Republican Gov. Rick Perry and many of the reform-minded regents he's appointed have made clear they think UT's quest for global prestige has produced too much ivory-tower research, and too little focus on teaching and keeping college affordable for Texans.

In Perry's push for accountability and productivity, many here see something nefarious: a campaign, rooted in a longstanding anti-intellectual strain of Texas politics, to gut a university that shouldn't have to apologize for being "elite."

"I just don't understand why they want to dumb down a public institution of this magnitude," said Machree Gibson, chairman of the Texas Exes, UT's powerful and independent 99,000 member alumni society, which has pushed back.

With Perry due to appoint three new regents this month, the fight is set to flare up again. But the debate is bigger even than Texas.

Like-minded governors in Florida, Wisconsin and elsewhere are watching how Perry and his allies fare. Unusually, it's political conservatives who are the radical reformers, and their opponents the ones digging in to resist upending well-established institutions.

Along the way, career casualties are piling up. Over the last 18 months, presidents of 11 of the 35 leading public research universities have quit or been fired. That doesn't include the University of Virginia, where a reform-minded board fired President Teresa Sullivan, only to reinstate her two weeks later after a faculty revolt.

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Texas fight highlights higher ed culture clash

It was early 1964 when Lois Schoemehl enrolled at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. It was an unlikely landing spot for someone who'd just six months earlier passed up Washington University in favor of a smaller private college in Springfield.

The fledgling UMSL was just a few years removed from its life as the Bellerive Country Club golf course. The school touted a small selection of degrees, 26 faculty members, fewer than 700 students and a single building.

But Schoemehl, then 18, was a refugee of sorts. She'd started her college life at Drury College only to realize she wasn't ready to be so far from St. Louis.

It was in the fall that John Kennedy was assassinated, Schoemehl said. I just wanted to be home.

So she parked herself at UMSL, thinking she'd stay for a semester and then switch to Washington U. to start her sophomore year.

But she quickly became attached to the makeshift school.

The book, The Emerging University by former UMSL Chancellor Blanche Touhill describes the early years encountered by Schoemehl and her classmates.

Classrooms and office spaces were carved here and there out of the golf course's former club house. A ballroom dance floor was covered with carpet and converted to a library, featuring a meager offering of some 3,000 books. A cafeteria in the basement was lined with vending machines along the walls. Off to one side, a cold-storage room was converted to a conference room. Tennis courts and volleyball courts sat off in the distance.

The first-floor hallway was lined with hooks, for students to store their jackets and lunch bags. Faculty offices had steam pipes overhead. One still had the drain left from its days as a shower stall.

Schoemehl, who would later serve as the school's first alumni association director, remembers the quirkiness of those early days: One classroom had a fireplace and french doors.

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From country club to university, UMSL marks a milestone

The Jackson High School Alumni Association has announced four new members for the Wall of Fame, class of 2012. The official induction will take place at the Jackson vs. Akron Garfield basketball game Feb. 16.

In the early 1970s, inductees honored in the Jackson High School Hall of Fame were outstanding football players. The award ceremony was set up by then-head football coach Jim Laut. Poster-size photos of the members were displayed on a wall in the high school. When Laut left Jackson, then-athletic director Bill Dessecker organized a formal election committee. The committee set up guidelines and opened elections to all athletes, both male and female.

Inactive for several years, the Jackson High School Alumni Association, with the cooperation of JHS administration, assumed responsibilities in 2002 and renamed the honor The Wall of Fame. The original pictures have been replaced with individual plaques with the inductees photo and the alumni association logo and slogan, Once a Bear, always a Bear.

New guidelines and categories were established that, in addition to outstanding athleticism, now include Community Contribution, Education, Professional Accomplishments, Political Leadership and Humanitarian Contributions.

The class of 2012 Jackson Wall of Fame members are detailed below.

Glen (Butch) Lanzer- Athlete, Class of 1971

During his high school career, Glen Lanzer received nine varsity letters: three football, two basketball and four baseball. He was 1st Team Federal League in 1969 and 1970 in football. He was awarded 1st Team All-Stark County and 3rd Team All-District in 1969 in football and also was named to the All-Federal League Team in basketball and baseball during the 1970-71 seasons.

After high school, Lanzer entered the U.S. Naval Academy and the Naval Aviation training program. After graduating in 1976, he was designated a naval aviator and flew the A-4 Skylark and A-6 Intruder. He also was an instructor pilot for both aircrafts. Lanzer retired as a lieutenant commander in March 1987 and started a new career in 1987 as a pilot for Delta Airlines. He retired as a captain in 2005.

Lanzer resides in Texas with his wife, Tammy, and their three sons, Glen III, and Tanner,

Taylor, and grandson Tanner (Ayden). He enjoys spending time with his family.

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JHS Alumni Association inducts new Wall of Fame members

Gift establishes "The Perlman Prize" and operational support for the Wharton Business Plan Competition

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) January 31, 2013

The Wharton Business Plan Competition is an ongoing seven-month platform that helps student entrepreneurs to launch new business ideas. Created in 1998, the four phase process is open to all University of Pennsylvania students, who receive feedback and guidance on their entrepreneurial plans from Wharton faculty, Penn alumni, and industry professionals serving as judges, mentors, and workshop presenters. The Competition awards more than $100,000 in cash and prizes to participants, which helps them to jumpstart their ventures, and each year approximately 400 students and 250 judges become involved. The top eight teams compete in the Venture Finals, where they present their ideas live in front of a judging panel. The Perlman Prize will be awarded to the students whose business plan is judged at the Finals to have the greatest potential, and carries a total winnings purse of $45,000.

Wharton School Dean Thomas S. Robertson said, Wharton is honored to have the support of Ellen and Richard Perlman, whose transformative contribution will help to grow and secure the long-term vitality of the Wharton Business Plan Competition. This exciting program has proven itself to be an invaluable asset for Penns aspiring entrepreneurs, and by helping them to develop their ideas into successful endeavors, the Competition benefits the broader landscape of global business.

The Perlmans contribution represents the largest endowed gift to the Wharton Business Plan Competition and, as such, will provide continuing funding in perpetuity. Entrepreneurship is in the Perlman DNA, says Richard Perlman. From my father Abrahams main street Five and Dime to my son Andrews company, VRINGO, we have created and built businesses of which our family is proud. Ellen and I are extremely excited about the opportunity to support Whartons program to teach and encourage Americas future entrepreneurs.

Perlman received his undergraduate degree from the Wharton School in 1968, and also holds an MBA from the Columbia Graduate School of Business. He currently serves as Executive Chairman of the Board for ExamWorks Group, Inc., which he co-founded in 2008, the leading global provider of independent medical examinations, peer reviews, and bill reviews. Previously, since 1998, Perlman served as Executive Chairman of TurboChef Technologies, Inc., PracticeWorks, Inc., and VitalWorks, Inc., of which he acquired control or co-founded and subsequently sold. In addition, Perlman is Founder and President of Compass Partners, LLC, a financial advisory and merchant banking firm specializing in middle market companies, which he established in 1995.

Past Wharton Business Plan Competition Participants

Over the years, the Wharton Business Plan Competition has seen numerous student teams go on to build successful businesses. Last years grand prize winner, RightCare Solutions, closed a series A round in October. Winners from the 2010-2011Competition, Stylitics and baby.com.br, have closed various funding rounds and received extensive media coverage. A notable semi-finalist from the 2009 Competition is Warby Parker, which continues to diversify the eyeglass industry with their one-price, online only, fashionable eye glass brand with a social mission to give a pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair sold. PetPlan USA, BuySafe and Innova Dynamics have also gone on to great success by building upon their foundations through participation in the Wharton Business Plan Competition.

About the Wharton School

Founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. With a broad global community and one of the most published business school faculties, Wharton creates ongoing economic and social value around the world. The School has 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students; more than 9,000 annual participants in executive education programs; and a powerful alumni network of 91,000 graduates.

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The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Announces $1.65 Million Contribution from Ellen Hanson Perlman ...

OAKLAND -- Dr. Joyce Boykin was born in Oakland, raised in Berkeley and was the first African American student to attend the Anna Head School for Girls, now known as Head-Royce.

"My mother said she'd seen a notice about admission to Anna Head placed in the UC Berkeley alumni magazine," said Boykin, who attended the school from first through 12th grade and graduated in the class of 1968. "Although my parents were not educators, they saw the big picture and knew that a good education would be essential for one to succeed in life."

Boykin went on to earn a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California and a master's in public health from UCLA. After receiving her doctorate from Tufts Medical School in Boston, she returned to Southern California -- "which I love" -- and practiced as a general internist for 30 years until her retirement. She still lives there with her daughter, Lauren, and grandson, Dominik.

Boykin said her experience at Anna Head was generally good. As kids do, she remembers the small things, like the 10:30 a.m. snack period, which Boykin thinks was pretty innovative for the time.

"The bell would ring, and all the students from upper and lower classes would gather 'round the table for snack -- usually cookies and apple juice."

On the other hand, she recalled that some students were "racially intolerant."

"At times, it did not feel inclusive due to my race," Boykin said. "Occasionally, I would

However, she recalls, not all the families were intolerant and she was invited to other classmates' birthday parties and sleepovers.

"One of my classmates had an extra ticket to see the Beatles and invited me to go," Boykin said.

To be transitioning between white and African American cultures was a unique experience, Boykin recalled. During the week, she was attending an all-white girls' school, yet she would often visit her godmother in an all-black, working-class neighborhood in West Oakland, where she also attended church.

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Boykin was pioneer at Oakland's Anna Head

Whether it be improving the welfare of veterans and medical education in Vietnam, service to the judiciary, improvements to our approaches in medicine or accomplishments on the sporting field University of Sydney staff and alumni have a diverse impact on Australian society.

The University extends warm congratulations to those who have passed through its doors and those still with us, whose contribution to Australia has been recognised in this year's Australia Day Honours.

We offer particular congratulations to University alumnus, The Hon Tom Uren, who has been named Companion (AC) in the General Division of the Order of Australia, the highest honour bestowed. Uren was named: "For eminent service to the community, particularly through contributions to the welfare of veterans, improved medical education in Vietnam and the preservation of sites of heritage and environmental significance."

This year's honours include:

The Honourable Justice James Leslie Allsop a graduate of the University who, in addition to his extensive legal accomplishments, has been a part-time lecturer in the University's Faculty of Law since 1981.

"For distinguished service to the judiciary and the law, as a judge, through reforms to equity and access, and through contributions to the administration of maritime law and legal education."

Ms Lynelle Jann Briggs, a graduate and former CEO of Medicare Australia from 2009-2011.

"For distinguished service to public administration, particularly through leadership in the development of public service performance and professionalism."

Mr Paul William Dyer, an alumni affiliate who founded the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and served as its Artistic Director.

"For distinguished service to the performing arts, particularly orchestral music as a director, conductor and musician, through the promotion of educational programs and support for emerging artists."

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Australia Day Honours 2013

A proposal to end an alternative education program for 11th-graders in the Tamalpais Union High School District has caused an uproar among students, alumni, parents and teachers, who have organized online opposition that has drawn more than several thousand backers.

Created in the early 1990s, the Team Program serves 24 juniors each year in the Tamalpais Union High School District. It is based at Tamiscal High School, the alternative school in Larkspur, but the students spend much of their time on wilderness trips, internships and community service projects.

The program has become popular, drawing 80 to 100 applicants each year, according to the district.

With a longstanding teacher set to retire, district administrators will recommend that the school board close the program at its meeting on Feb 6. At issue is not the quality of the program, but the distribution of scarce resources to a small group of students, Superintendent Laurie Kimbrel said in an interview Tuesday.

"The question is not, is this a high quality program?" Kimbrel said. "It is. The question is, given that we're a public school (district), are we serving as many students as best that we can?"

Supporters say the program has been a godsend and, if anything, it should be expanded to serve more students. Within hours after news of the possible closure spread last Friday, they mobilized a campaign to save Team.

As of Tuesday, an online petition in support of the

"Because the model is successful, does that mean you should close it?" said Mary Newman of San Geronimo, whose daughter is in the program this year. "Why should you do away with something that is working?"

Newman said her daughter, Emma, has been transformed by the program, which has taken her on wilderness trips and placed her at the Bay Area Discovery Museum and the neurology clinic at the University of California at San Francisco Medical Center.

"She is taking it all on," Newman said. "It has changed her life. She is not the shy kid who entered as a junior or a freshman into the school scene."

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Proposed cancellation of Marin high school program causes uproar

Professor Emeritus John Mikuta, who taught gynecologic oncology in the Perelman School of Medicine, died last Friday of natural causes. He was 88.

Mikuta, a pioneer in the diagnosis and treatment of gynecological cancers, epitomized what it means to take advantage of every opportunity offered at the University.

He was a 1948 College and Medical School graduate as well as a practicing clinician and dedicated member of the alumni community.

After retiring, Mikuta was named the Franklin Payne emeritus professor of gynecologic oncology. He served as president of the emeritus faculty committee and was recognized by the Medical Schools Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology through the creation of the John J. Mikuta Award for Professionalism in Womens Health. His peers recognized him as the father of his field.

According to Stephen Rubin, who succeeded Mikuta as division chief of gynecologic oncology, Mikuta continued to treat patients for a decade after stepping down as chair in 1993.

Mikuta trained Rubin and nearly 20 other doctors as fellows.

He was a charismatic individual who was very inspiring to many of us, and who encouraged and supported a number of people over the years to go into obstetrics and gynecology, Rubin said.

Mikuta was also involved in many professional societies and was a founding member and eventually president of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, established in 1970. In addition, Mikuta was an ardent member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

As an alumnus, Mikuta supported the Medical Class of 1948 Scholarship Fund as well as the John J. Mikuta Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Mikuta, who also served on the Medical Alumni Advisory Council and his graduating classs 60th reunion committee, received the Penn Medicine Alumni Service Award in 1994.

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Med School prof John Mikuta, 88, dies

COVINGTON, KENTUCKY (FOX19) -

A group of alumni are returning to their roots to keep a struggling program alive at Holmes High School.

A committee at the Covington school was considering whether or not to continue their International Baccalaureate program. IB offers college credits for high school students.

Instead of voting to get rid of the program, the principal gave that group of alumni the chance to save it Tuesday.

School officials say they were seeing fewer and fewer students enroll in the program with more competing college credit opportunities like AP courses available to students.

"I always have to look at the greater good I have to think about what's best for our students and our school overall," principal Dennis Maines explained. "Over the past few years the IB program has had some declining numbers and that's brought some concern to us from a resource perspective, a human resources perspective."

In addition to alumni, parents of alumni spoke at the meeting and others wrote in letters from around the country.

"The most important thing about being in this country is you can come from nothing and when given the right opportunities you can make something of yourself," Kayla Kinker said, addressing the committee.

Kinker, a 2007 Holmes graduate says she was living in a homeless shelter her senior year of high school.

"One child in Covington with nothing else going for them can turn their entire life around," she said.

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Alumni speak to save college credit program at local high school