155 Miami St. ▪ Tiffin, OH 44883 Phone: 1-800-YOU-OHIO ▪ www.tiffin.edu
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 9, 2007
Contact: Telephone: Email: Lisa W. Williams, Executive Director, Media Relations and Publications 419.448.3444 lwilliam@tiffin.edu
TU’s ‘Olympic Academic Experience’ Will Give Students An Up-Close Opportunity to Study 2008 Beijing Olympics
12-Day Study Trip to Include 17 Students from 10 Universities
TIFFIN UNIVERSITY, TIFFIN, OH— The world’s most elite athletes will be in Beijing, China in August of 2008, striving to win a coveted Olympic medal and the opportunity to stand proudly while their national anthem is played. A delegation from Tiffin University will also be in Beijing for what Dr. Bonnie Tiell describes as “an upclose, experience of a lifetime.” TU students Leigh Zajac, Devin Rudolf, and Beth Clark will join 14 other students from universities across the country on the journey. In total, 10 universities will be represented as part of the “Tiffin University Olympic Academic Experience.” The dates for the trip are August 4-16, 2008, according to Tiell, Chair of the Marketing and Sports Management Department at Tiffin University. The TU professor is teaming with Dr. Marcia Mackey to guide the students on the 12-day study of the organization, supervision, and management of international sport venues and elite competition. Mackey, an Associate Professor of Sports Management at Central Michigan University, has extensive travel experience in Asia and will share her background in International World Class Sports Facilities Operations. “Our networking efforts will provide the necessary expertise in teaching the scope of coordinating governing entities at the local and international level to produce the world’s largest sporting event,” Tiell remarks. Tiell's daughter, Kimmy Tiell, an upcoming freshman at Tiffin Calvert Catholic High School, will also be on hand to experience her second Olympics.
“While we’re there, the sports management majors from our contingency of 10 large, midsize, and small universities in the United States will be studying Chinese Culture and Olympic Games Organization,” Tiell says. Dr Zhaolu Lu, Professor of Philosophy at Tiffin University and Director of Partnership Programs between TU and Beijing Normal University, has been assisting the group with necessary logistical services for accommodations, ground transportation, and an interpreter. This is the second time that Tiell has coordinated the cross-cultural Olympic Academic program. In 2004, she joined Dr. Janet Hanna, former TU Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, as they guided 17 students to Greece to tour the remaining relics of the ancient site of the Games in Olympia and the modern sports venues for the 2004 Olympic Games in the capital of Athens. During that program, the U.S. Embassy provided an academic focus on security issues at the Olympics for the team. Fifteen of the students received accreditation as official Olympic Volunteers and served in a variety of capacities as guest services and transportation administrators. “While in Greece, the Tiffin University delegation was fortunate to meet numerous Olympians, including Jenny Finch, Lisa Fernandez, and Andy Roddick,” Tiell says. More information about the 2008 Tiffin University Olympic Academic Experience, including the tentative itinerary, can be viewed by clicking on the Beijing Olympic logo at http://bruno.tiffin.edu/btiell on the TU website. Dr. Bonnie Tiell can be reached at 419/ 448-3261, or via email at btiell@tiffin.edu. Members of the Tiffin University Olympic Delegation are listed below, with their class standing as of fall 2008: 1) Katherine Bonvechio - Xavier University, Senior 2) Whitney Nicole Clark - University of Nebraska at Kearney, Senior 3) Beth Clark - Tiffin University, Junior 4) Lana Marie Cook - Seton Hall University, Junior 5) Matthew D. Enselmen - University of Nebraska at Kearney, Senior 6) Patrick William Johnsen - High Point University, Junior 7) Chanel Leisa Lattimer - University of Tennessee, Graduate Student 8) Derek Robert Marr - Canisius College, Graduate Student
9) Devin Charles Rudolph - Tiffin University, Junior 10) Allison Marie Schinstock - University of Nebraska at Kearney, Senior 11) Elizabeth Rachel Sibilsky - University of Michigan, Graduate Student 12) Kisha Karyn Tapanagan - Johnson & Whales, Sophomore 13) Randy Tate, Jr. - University of Tennessee, Graduate Student 14) Kimberly E. Tiell - Calvert Catholic High School, Freshman 15) Emilie Welch - Cazenovia College, Junior 16) Harry Floyd D. Wilkes II - High Point University, Graduate Student 17) Leigh J. Zajac - Tiffin University, Graduate Student -- 30 -TIFFIN UNIVERSITY – Founded in 1888, Tiffin University enrolls approximately 2,350 students in the undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered at the Tiffin campus in Tiffin, Ohio, as well as Online, at the University of Bucharest in Romania, and at several locations in Ohio, including Archbold, Columbus, Cleveland, Shelby, Toledo, Fremont, and Cincinnati. The Bachelor of Arts degree is offered in Arts Administration, Communication, English, Government and National Security, History, Law and Society, Psychology and a teacher education program is offered through a partnership with Lourdes College. The Bachelor of Business Administration degree is offered in Accounting, Finance, Computer and Information Technology, Management, Marketing, Organizational Management and Sports and Recreation Management, as well as the Associate of Business Administration degree in Accounting, Business, and Information Technology. The Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree is offered in Law Enforcement, Corrections, Forensic Science, Forensic Psychology, Homeland Security/Terrorism, and an accelerated degree completion program in Justice Administration, as well as the Associate of Criminal Justice degree in Law Enforcement. Graduate programs include the Master of Business Administration degree with concentrations in General Management, Leadership, Safety, Sports Management and Security Management, and the Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree with concentrations in Justice Administration, Forensic Psychology, Crime Analysis, Criminal Behavior, and Homeland Security Administration. For admission information call 1.800.968.6446. Website: www.Tiffin.edu