Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Built in 1921, Mississippi State University's Steam Plant continues to warm students, faculty and staff through the winter using modern, high-efficiency boilers. The plant heats approximately 40 buildings in the center of the Starkville campus. PHOTO: Megan Bean | Public Affairs

MSU Riley Center announces series lineup
Music lovers will not be disappointed by the MSU Riley Center's Spring/Summer Series, which is filled with hitmakers from a variety of genres and decades, and guaranteed to deliver fantastic entertainment in a beautiful setting. The series kicks off March 22 when singing/songwriting veteran and veritable music royalty Roseanne Cash comes to town -- fresh off the debut of her latest album, "The River & the Thread."

PCSM seeks nominations for diversity awards
The President's Commission on the Status of Minorities is accepting nominations for the 2014 MSU Diversity Awards. The annual awards program is designed to recognize individuals and teams of individuals who have demonstrated a significant commitment to enhancing diversity at Mississippi State University. Nomination packets are due Feb. 21.

Nominations sought for outstanding women awards
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2014 Outstanding Women Awards Program, sponsored by the President's Commission on the Status of Women. These awards recognize women who are advocates for the well being, development and advancement of all women on Mississippi State University campuses and the surrounding communities. MSU faculty, staff and students are invited to nominate campus and community women for the awards.

Spirit of State nominations, applications wanted
Applications and nominations are now being accepted for the ninth-annual Spirit of State awards. With these awards, Mississippi State will recognize outstanding contributions made by our students toward improving student life. These awards are open to all MSU students from all campuses and recognize excellence in campus involvement; service to the university community; actions that promote the Spirit of State; and overall impact on peers and the broader campus community.

Sign up now for Bulldog mentor training
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community in its current newsletter, including Bulldog mentor training, Habitat for Humanity, Humane Society volunteer training, and more.

January employee assistance newsletter online
Mississippi State University's employee assistance program includes a free monthly newsletter for faculty and staff, and the latest edition is now available. This month's feature is about involving your family in financial wellness: deciding whether to give your children or teens an allowance, talking to your children and teenagers about money and credit, and developing a budget and finding ways to spend less money.

Policy reminders from University Health Services
University Health Services at Mississippi State reminds the campus community of several important policies for its patients to keep in mind when seeking treatment, parking, refilling a prescription online, and privacy.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 01/27/14
Men's Basketball hosts Florida at 6 p.m. on Thursday (ESPN2), and then travels to Nashville for a 4 p.m. tipoff against Vanderbilt on Saturday (FSN-TV)... Women's Basketball visits Baton Rouge to face LSU at 7 p.m. on Thursday, and then hosts Georgia in Humphrey Coliseum on Sunday at 2 p.m. (CSS-TV)... Men's Tennis plays Texas Tech on Friday and Rice on Saturday in Lubbock.

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Dodds named Extension Cotton Specialist of Year
Mississippi State University Extension cotton specialist Darrin Dodds was recently named the 2014 Extension Cotton Specialist of the Year, an award based on leadership and industry service. Joe Street, MSU Extension Service associate director, said Dodds’s dedication to the industry helps Mississippi remain a leader in agriculture production. “I believe Mississippi has the best Extension agronomic crops team in the country, and Darrin is an integral part of that team,” Street said.

Lemus receives award for forage contributions
A Mississippi State University forage expert received an award for outstanding contributions to the field from the American Forage and Grassland Council during its recent national meeting. Rocky Lemus was recognized with the merit award for superior contributions to forage and grassland agriculture at the 2014 annual conference in Memphis. He has a joint appointment with the MSU Extension Service and MAFES.

Mingione inducted into speaker hall of fame
Joining the likes of Ted Williams, Ron Polk, Leo Mazzone and current Bulldog head coach John Cohen, Mississippi State assistant coach Nick Mingione has been inducted into the “Be The Best You Are” Baseball Clinic Speaker Hall of Fame. Mingione received the honor earlier this month after speaking for a third year at the 41st-annual clinic in Cherry Hill, N.J.

Forestry journal features Extension Service series
The cover of the most recent issue of the Journal of Forestry highlights a Mississippi State University Extension Service publication series available to anyone interested in the forestry industry. The journal’s cover story examines the Extension publication series titled "The Economic Contribution of Forestry and Forest Products," written by assistant Extension forestry professor James Henderson and forestry professor Ian Munn.