Archives: Uncategorized
Lynn Basketball Coach named Boca’s “Hottest Husband”
Scott McMillin, head men’s basketball coach at Lynn University, was recently given another accolade to add to his list – “Boca Raton’s Hottest Husband” as noted in this month’s issue of Boca Raton Observer. Although McMillian sports a pair of steely blue eyes, it’s not solely his looks that helped him make the list. His “strong character, kind nature and love of family” assisted in the nomination. Scott’s wife, Crystal, wrote “Scott is my biggest fan and supports me 100 percent in everything I do… I couldn’t ask for a better husband!”
Crystal is not the only one who raves about Scott’s character – on and off the court. Lynn’s “Keeping Score” blogger, Gene, coined McMillin as one of his role models in a blog post last December. “He wins, but most importantly he wins in the right way… by enforcing accountability, high expectations, work ethic and sacrifice,” said Gene. “I have seen him do the laundry and sweep the floor, something that would very rarely be seen at a lot of higher end programs.”
Look for Scott and the Fighting Knights on the courts this fall.
NIMBY Rears its Ugly Head
Lynn professor Jill Levenson is racking up the national media hits serving as expert on the sexual offender residency laws. Newsweek is her latest “hit,” where her expertise is on display in the print, online and video versions of the story. The article in Newsweek brings to light some of the fallout from the sexual offender laws by focusing on a group of homeless offenders taking up residency under the Julia Tuttle Causeway in Miami, having lost or been driven out of their homes. I admit that I haven’t been following this issue very closely – probably because it doesn’t directly affect me. But it reminds me of the “not in my backyard” syndrome, or as it is sometimes referred to – NIMBY.
I remember learning about and using this acronym many years ago while working at the West Boca Times, when the Solid Waste Authority (SWA) was lobbying to put a “landfill” – aka dump – in MY backyard. In addition to actually reporting on it, I was also directly and personally affected, having a home within such close proximity to the proposed site. You can be sure I followed that story closely.
The idea of having someone who was – or is – a sexual predator living in close proximity to schools or homes sends chills up and down the spine of many, causes others to look the other way, and still others – like Jill Levenson – to question the validity of such laws. It’s clearly an issue that won’t go away – whether it’s in my backyard or yours. But Jill, I’m sure, will continue to be a tireless champion of the cause.
A Run for Lynn 2020
There is Khalique Ahmed, the professor and 2010 Faculty Member of the Year co-winner. And then there is Khalique, the runner. He’s done many runs on behalf of Lynn – during Founder’s Day, Alumni Weekend, etc. But this time he’s honoring Lynn’s 2020 strategic plan, by running 2020 kilometers during 2009-10. That’s like running one full marathon a week; it’s like running from Boca to New York. That’s a lot of running. You can follow him on Twitter (at Lynn2020Run) or you can literally follow him and join him in his daily runs.
Another Knight going pro
Gabe MacDougall capped an outstanding Fighting Knights career with a NCAA championship and MLB draft pick
Just a little over a week after winning a NCAA Div. II championship, Gabe MacDougall is achieving another dream, as he was drafted by Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals. The Fighting Knights’ senior left fielder was selected with the 11th pick of the 27th round last week.
“I still haven’t come down from us winning a national championship and this just adds to all of the excitement,” Gabe told Lynn sports info director Chad Beattie. “Since I was a little kid I said I was going to be a pro baseball player and this brings me one step closer” to achieving that.”
Alexandre was selected 12th overall by MLS's Real Salt Lake
MacDougall is the second of two Fighting Knights to get drafted by U.S. professional teams this year. Jean Alexandre was selected 12th overall in the 2009 Major League Soccer SuperDraft by Real Salt Lake. He was the highest drafted athlete in Fighting Knights history while becoming the third player to be drafted into the MLS.
But there’s been more action still. Fighting Knight alums Nano Short and Tyrell Burgess also signed pro contracts this year, with Short joining the Rochester Rhinos of the United Soccer League and former men’s soccer player Tyrell Burgess signing a two-year deal with the USC’s Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Congrats guys! We’ll be watching, and rooting for you.
They must’ve heard that Lynn commencement runs on Dunkin’
In this week’s Lynn Minute employee news teaser, Debbie Stern reported that Lynn University’s 44th commencement was apparently run “on Dunkin’.” Actually, it wasn’t “apparently” so, it was. I would know. I have two extra pounds on my frame to show for it! (Waving, shaking hands and running cameras doesn’t burn as many calories as I thought.)
Well, Dunkin’ Donuts is doing its part to keep educators in Palm Beach County happy. According to the Palm Beach Post’s Twitter feed (@pbpostednews) local Dunkin’ Donuts are handing out free mugs and coupons for coffee and donuts to the first 100 teachers it sees next Wednesday, May 26. Get more details online.
What is Weisure?
Last year around this time I talked about a newly made up word called a “staycation.” It seems to have taken hold, as I have seen it used often when referring to a stay-at-home vacation that has become increasingly common due to this economy.
Now, lo and behold, driving into work this morning, I heard 2 morning DJs talking about yet another combo phrase: “weisure” time. Though you may not have heard of it, I’m guessing most of you are “guilty” of it. It refers to the combination of the words work and leisure. It seems a sociologist came up with this moniker for the state of being most working people find themselves in – where the lines are blurred between work and fun.
With all the electronic devices that keep us in constant touch with each other i.e. cell phones, Blackberrys, iPhones, laptops, etc., etc., we never can really just have pure relaxation time. We’re constantly checking work e-mails while sitting on the beach or texting someone at the office while having dinner out. So, it’s just another product of this world we live in. Here is the article.
And here’s my challenge (unless you’re an emergency doctor on call): Leave all your electronic devices home for one day, one evening, or even one hour and see how you fare. Can you do it?
Haven’t they heard the semester’s over?
In true Lynn Fighting Knights form, the men’s and women’s tennis teams didn’t get the memo about the semester being over. They’re still hard at work (as they often are this time of year) trying to, well, win some national championships!
The squads, both of whom have been fighting it out with rivals in the NCAA tournament for the last week, have both won their respective South Regionals. The undefeated women’s team has done this before. Like 13 STRAIGHT TIMES before. (You don’t get any more dominant than that, folks!)
The men, who won it all in 2007, return to action in the final round of 16 on Wednesday in Altamonte Springs, Fla. (outside Orlando) — the same site of the women’s championship.
Mapquest tells me this is a 3 hour, 15 minute drive for our Knights and their fans. See you up there?
Not to be outdone, the men’s baseball team is also extending its spring as it’s just been invited to the NCAA Tournament, our second trip in four years. (Read more.) The squad, who spent much of the early part of their season at #1 nationally, will be going a little farther than their mates on the tennis teams. The South Regional – and Knights action – kicks off Thursday in Magnolia, Arkansas. (This road trips not for the faint of heart… 17 hours, 25 minutes by car. May be time to befriend one of our aeronautics students for a lift!)
But wait, there’s more. The men’s golf squad is also still swinging. They’ve just advanced to the 47th Annual NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championship in Blaine, Wash from May 19-22. This marks the third time in program history the Fighting Knights have qualified for the NCAA national tournament.
I know a few of you well enough to know that you’re already mentally packing for a road trip… first stop, Orlando. Second stop, Magnolia, AR. Blaine’s your third destination. And don’t worry. You can be there in no time… or just 36 and a half hours after leaving Orlando (provided you stick to the speed limit). Not that you should rush. You can see OK City, Wichita, Denver and Salt Lake City on your way. Heck, after 3559.42 miles miles you can then turn around and come back. You’ll be here just in time for men’s and women’s soccer to start up in the fall. See you then!
Relay and “Lounging” with Laura
I’m not sure if “Lunch with Laura” is always going to work at lunchtime due to conflicting schedules… So, I’m altering it to Lunch (or) Lounging with Laura. I think it has a nice ring to it – and if you lounge with me. I’ll buy you coffee.
Yesterday, I “Lounged” in the Perper Plaza with Annie Weaver from student involvement. She and her team put on an AWESOME Relay for Life. Did I mention that it was a really great event? All in all – Lynn ended up raising $35,269. And the money’s still coming in! Yeah. Wow. I know! By the way – that’s more money than our neighbor FAU raised 
.
Lynn even got compliments from the American Cancer Society. Their community representative Jessica Moreno said, “We had a 17% growth over last year, and in a recession, I would consider that pretty extraordinary.”
I was at Relay on Friday (so was Annie) – all night and into the morning. But it was fun! I even played “Blingo” at 4 a.m. and won an iHome. Yay! I’ll Relay again. Next year.
ESPN ESPY’s and Summer X Games in future for Lynn student just back from J-term
Sports Management professor Chad Barr and his students have been back on campus for two weeks now after their January Term trip working the ESPN XGames in Colorado. That is – except for one of them. Word is that Bradon Briggs got left behind in Denver. On purpose!
X Games organizers were so impressed with Briggs’ work that they asked him to stay on longer to finish out the competition. His professors and dean back here in Boca promptly signed off on the assignment (which kept him out of the first few days of Spring classes). He’s catching up on his work now. And he’ll need to – cause he’s got more work with ESPN on the way. Rumor has it ESPN has asked him to join them for its annual awards show – the Espy’s – in a few months, and also to intern with them at this summer’s snow-less X Games. (This further proof that Lynn is THE place to go if you want a career on the business side of the sports industry!)
Speaking of the J-term trip, there’s a new video up on the Web with photos. Check it out:
J-termers huddle with president-elect
The J-term class “Witness to History” hit the ground running after landing in the nation’s capital over the weekend. These photo dispatches are courtesy of sophomore Mohamed Abdalla.
The barren tree limbs and heavy coats in these pics dulled, for a moment at least, my pain over not being able to join them. If you’re reading “Witness”es, it was 78 and sunny back here today. Don’t take it too hard. It’ll be here when you get back!
(The fearless leaders – Drs. Pickering and Kerker)
Speaking of “back here” – Dr. Harris-Lacewell’s innovation lecture today was something to see. Also worth seeing was the crowd. I’ve never seen that many people in the AG concert hall before. Incredible.