Avila Goes Hollywood

It’s not everyday you get to sit at a table with LL Cool J, Chris O’Donnell, and other high profiled actors.  It’s not everyday you get to sing happy birthday to Mr. Cool J himself, and it’s not everyday you get to play apart in one of CBS’s best TV shows since 2009.  Not very many people can say they have done or get to do any of those three, but for Theophilus Clark, 2004 Avila University graduate, he’s considered the few.

            A communications major with a focus in advertising, Theophilus (Theo) had high outlooks on life after college, joining the NBA, being a millionaire, and acting.  When the NBA fell short after hurting himself his sophomore season with the Avila men’s team, he started to have a different outlook on life, “After I got hurt, I started to look at other opportunities outside of basketball to new endeavors,” he said.  That’s when acting set in.  After working a few jobs out of college and unsuccessfully finding his niche, Theo asked himself a simple question, “What do I want to do that I’m going to be happy with,” and in May 2011 he packed up and headed west where dreams come true.  Hollywood.

            Harvey MacKay said it, “Find something you love to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life,” and for Theo that was acting.  Starring in a few commercials in Los Angeles, he was most noted for his rolls in Kansas City’s Blue Cross & Blue Shields commercials, but his big time break was and will be his first speaking role as Los Angeles Police Officer Leonard on CBS’S NCIS: LA. 

            It’s only right to have nerves walking into a table read with famous actors, but for Theo it was all business. “Everyone was very welcoming, and you could feel it was a pleasant environment,” he said about the table read, “but when it comes down to filming it’s no different then writing for a newspaper, you have deadlines so there’s no margin for error.”

            When you make it big you always have to look back and think about the people that got you to where you are, and when asked what professor he learned the most from, three stood out to him.  “I definitely took different lessons from different professors at Avila, however a few that impacted me on a personal level were Stan Banks (English department), Dottie Hamilton (Communications) and Linda Strelluf (Communications).”

            Being from New York to moving to Los Angeles, Theophilus has seen his fair share of trial and tribulations, but with his faith in God and the outlook to go out and have fun with what you love and believe in, life will lead you down the right path.  For Theophilus he’s right where he wants to be.

           

*Theo’s episode “Fish Out of Water” will air February 25^th at 8 pm/c on CBS

It's Time to Dance

It’s Time to Dance

Selection Sunday

            Selection Sunday is here and gone, and now it’s time for the best part of the year to get underway.  Filling out our brackets, betting money, and picking that one upset that will shock the world.  But all that wouldn’t be possible without Selection Sunday.  This is the day that makes or breaks teams hoping to keep their season alive.  For some teams there is no need to worry but for others getting into this tournament is a huge opportunity.

            This day for many fans is the beginning of the most exciting 30 days they will experience the whole year, many like Zac Weese consider this day a national holiday, “I almost consider Selection Sunday as a holiday, and so I was super pumped.  I think there will be some really good matchups this year, and there also could be a ton of upsets because there aren’t any great teams.”  This day to fans and teams is the day when your season finally begins or suddenly ends.  Teams figure out who their matchups are and when or where they are headed, either down the road to the Sprint Center, or 2400 miles across the nation.

            After the picks last Sunday many people were questioning if the committee made the right decisions.  Some teams were picked fairly but others were questioned, for example, placing Miami, the winner of the ACC tournament as a number two seed under Indiana you lost against Wisconsin in the semifinals of the Big 10 tournament.  Also, placing Duke under Louisville in the Midwest bracket.  Justin Reed had the same feelings, “I thought the committee could have added a couple more teams that deserved to be in the tournament like Kentucky for example, but overall I think all the teams that are in the tournament deserved the seeds they got.”   

Photo curtsy of USA Today.
Missouri Valley team Creighton watches for their
seeding Sunday night.

            This year’s championship is definitely up for grabs for any team competing.  There is no one team singled out to win the tournament, so that means every team in the bracket has a shot for glory.  There’s possibilities for upsets and there’s a possibility for two number one seeds in the final game, no one knows, and that’s the great part about March Madness and Selection Sunday, it keeps you on your toes and wanting more.

Modern Streets of an Ancient Empire Come to Avila

By Colbi Howser

            After spending seven years working on her photography in China, Angie Jennings finally presents her work of photos taken as a result of her travels through China in 2003 and 2010. 

Silver printing pictures hanging in Thornhill Gallery
Photo taken by Colbi Howser

After walking through the gallery I noticed some of the pictures were not regular every day prints like you and I would use.  Jennings decided to use traditional silver printing and photogravure along with modern technology.  For all of you who don’t know what silver printing is, it is commonly known as a black and white photographic print, which is created from a film’s negative.  The film suspends light-sensitive silver halides in a gelatin, which is rinsed away during processing.  The silver that remains on the film emulsion reveals the latent image on the film’s base leaving behind a photographic image.  Also, she used photogravure which is an image produced from a photographic negative and transferred to a metal plate and etched in. 

Photos of Angie Jennings travels through China
in 2003 and 2010

Jennings decided to utilize the skills she learned during this time to tell the stories of life in single images and a series of images captured in one frame.  Angie has shown her work all over the U.S. and also across the globe including Kansas, Colorado, Oregon, Oklahoma and Beijing

Along with 250 or so visitors on opening night, Jennings and gallery director Marci Aylward would say that this showcase of how modernity is growing within this most ancient country (China) was a huge success.  Jennings photography will be on display through February 15^th.  Thornhill Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., and Friday 10 a.m.- 3p.m.

Turning Nothing into Something

We all hear about those amazing life stories where the person comes from a poor, underprivileged family to making something of themselves, well this story is that and more.

            Robin Nigro, Head Golf Coach here at Avila and also owner of the Robin Nigro Golf Academy hasn’t always had the life she has now.  Growing up Robin didn’t live in the most stable household like a normal child.  When she was younger her parents ran away with her and her siblings, but not for long, soon after her Grandparents found them and raised her and her siblings as their own.

Robin and her husband Mark with the Men's team after
their second place finish at the Ottawa University
Invitational Tournament.
Photo Taken by Ashley Ratliff

            It hasn’t been the easiest road for Robin, but she has made it the best she can.  Born and raised in Kansas City, Robin has been known as one of golfs long lasting finest female athletes.  Qualifying for the Women’s U.S. Open in 1993, while qualifying twice for the finals of the LPGA School and finished fifth out of 200 contestants in 1996.  The most surprising fact about Robin, she didn’t take up golf till she was 23.

            After tour school, Robin made her way back to Kansas City to start the Robin Nigro Golf Academy and help local golfers perfect their golf game one swing at a time.

            Robin’s academy has been one of Kansas Cities finest golf schools for the last 10 years.  Helping players young and old with any problem they may have, for instance: putting, chipping, irons, or driving.  Robin and her team of top rated instructors by golf magazines can fix your swing in seconds to make it look like a pros. 

Robin with the Women's team after their third place finish
at the CMU Invitational.
Photo Taken by Colbi Howser

            Last semester was Robins first year as the Men’s and Women’s Head Golf coach here at Avila, and so far she has been doing an exceptional job.  Waking up early for tournaments, letting her players practice for free at her range, and recruiting new players are all new to Robin, and she has found them to be harder then expected, but she’s work on it.  All Robin wants is to be the best Coach to her players.

            Owning your own company, and being a full time Coach for both men and women can really take a toll on a person, but with the support of her loving husband Mark and all her employees at the Academy, Robin has made an impacted on every single golfer here at Avila, the team appreciates all the time and effort she has put into helping them become better more skilled athletes. 

The Start of a New Tradition (Athletic Band)

When you think of a football or basketball games you think of the players, the fans, and most importantly the game, but what some people don’t think of is the music.  The band is a big part of the game. Playing during time outs, half time, and before the game to keep the crowd interesting in what’s happening. Without a band the fans miss out on the whole experience of the game.  That’s why about 2 years ago Avila decided to start the Athletic Bands program designed to let students who have at least a middle school or beyond ability to join.   

            Second year Athletic Band Director Patrick McCarty would love a big pep band at Avila, but for now he’s being patient.  “It’s a new program, and we’re trying to get the word out to new students and upper classmen who haven’t heard about the program.” McCarty said.  Being a new program at a small school can be a tough.  With a small population of students it’s hard to find players who actually have the requirements to be apart of the group.

All members of Avila's Athletic Band program.
Photo taken by Patrick McCarty

            Like sports, many would think being in a program that plays at most of the home games for football and basketball, plus practice would take up a lot of time and be hard for the students to keep up with their schooling.  Not for McCarty’s kids. “This program, being new, doesn’t really take up that much time.” McCarty said. “I’m still working on my masters and I know how difficult it is when managing school and extracurricular activities, so I respect their time.” 

            Starting a new program can be hard, especially when you’re at a small school, but getting the word out and finding members who actually enjoy what they’re putting their time into can be very rewarding.  “I enjoy my time with the kids, and I’m pretty sure they feel the same,” said McCarty. 

Edge of Your Seat Drama

Scene from The Diviners.
Photo taken by Barbara Mammele 

           On the eve of February 23^rd, the late-night rehearsals and extreme dedication finally paid off for all of the students and faculty involved with the production of “The Diviners”. 

            Set during the Depression, a young Kentucky preacher named C.C. Showers finds his way to the small, fictional town of Zion, Indiana, where he stumbles across a young teenage boy, Buddy, who has a miraculous gift of finding underground water.  Buddy, surprisingly, has been afraid of water ever since the age of four when he and his mother fell into the river; his mother actually drowned while trying to save her son.  As time goes on the two become very close, and C.C. begins to feel like Buddy’s mentor.  While working on the farm as help for Buddy’s father, Ferris, the town learns that C.C. is a former preacher. The townspeople believe that C.C. can help the boy, who hasn’t touched water since the accident.  With the town pressuring C.C. to help, C.C. loses track of what’s right for Buddy and soon loses Buddy all together when he drowns in the river.

            Through the eyes of some of the actors this might not have been their favorite play but getting to perform in a show of this nature was a definite experience. “The fact that not a lot of people know about the show made us work harder to put on a fantastic performance that intrigued people to want to see it.” Max Mammele said.

Scene from the Diviners.  C.C. Showers and Buddy Laymen
pretending to be birds.  Photo taken by Barbara Mammele.

            Coming from the audience’s point of view many students thought the roll of Buddy Laymen was played very well. “I thought that Wil Andrews-Weiss did a very fitting job at portraying Buddy in the show,” attendee Jackie Wacha said. 

            All of the actors and behind the scenes workers have been working since January to make this show one to remember.  Night after night of perfecting each scene finally came through to produce a wonderful, on the edge of your seat show.