The Centenary men's basketball team will open its Summit League portion of the 2010-11 schedule this week as it travels to IUPUI for a Thursday, 6 pm CT tip-off, followed by a 7 pm CT start time at Western Illinois on Saturday.

The Centenary women’s basketball team prepares for its final season of Summit League play as the 2010-11 conference schedule begins this weekend. The Ladies are set for a game start of 4:30 pm at Western Illinois on Saturday, followed by a 7 pm CT tip-off on Monday.

Junior Maxx Nakwaasah recorded his second career double-double, but it wasn't enough as the Centenary men's basketball team saw its early lead slip away, falling 82-55 to Northwestern State on Tuesday evening in Natchitoches, La.

Nakwaasah

The Gents (0-7) were forced into 21 turnovers and the Demons used that to produce 26 points. Despite a 27-point deficit, Centenary maintained an early lead for much of the first half.

Nakwaasah would pace the Gents offensively with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Jeron Trotman also finished in double-figures with 11 points and nearly missed a double-double, pulling down eight boards.

The Centenary women's basketball team faced a sharp-shooting Northwestern State team, sending the Ladies home with a 98-56 loss on Tuesday evening in non-conference action.

Daniel

The Ladies (0-4) saw its early lead disappear and was challenged by a 57 percent shooting performance from the floor by the Lady Demons (3-4).

Four Centenary scorers reached double-figures, led by junior Megan Daniel with 12 points, tying her career-best on a 4-of-9 effort from behind the three-point arc.

Behind Daniel in scoring were senior Ashley Jackson and freshman Kat Vidovic with 11 points and senior Anne Farrell with 10.

The Centenary College community will gather tonight in Brown Chapel for the traditional Christmas Candlelight Service. The program begins at 6pm in Brown Chapel as the community celebrates the holiday season with readings, prayer, music and song. The service will end with the traditional singing of Silent Night and candle lighting.

Music will be provided by the Centenary Camerata and Chorale singers, conducted by Dr. Julia B. Thorn; the Centenary College Choir, directed by Dr. David Hobson; the Centenary Brass Quintet; and Dr. Hollice Watson, organist.

After the service, the community is invited to attend a Holiday reception and visit with Santa in Kilpatrick Auditorium, located in the R.E. Smith Building.

The preliminary and semifinal rounds of the 60th Annual Wideman Piano Competition takes place Friday, Dec. 3 through Sunday, Dec. 5 in the Anderson Auditorium of the Hurley School of Music, located on the Centenary College campus.

Sponsored by the Shreveport Symphony Guild and hosted by the Hurley School of Music, this year's competition will include 43 contestants representing schools from all over the United States, as well as 13 other countries. The competition will be judged by nationally and internationally known pianists and conductors.

Schools being represented include Eastman School of Music, the Julliard School, Lee University, Franz Liszt Academy of Music, Lynn University, Manhattan School of Music, McGill University, New England Conservatory and Gnessin State Musical College in Moscow. The competition will be dedicated to the memory of Marcille Young, a long-time chairman of the board of the competition.

The final round will be held January 8, 2011 at First Baptist Church in Shreveport.

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We are in the final week of collecting toys for this year's Operation Santa Claus. Donations have been trickling in but we need your support to help make Christmas special for those children who might not otherwise receive a gift this year.

Town Square Media, the Shreveport Fire and Police Departments, and the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office are sponsoring "Operation Santa Claus" and collecting toys for disadvantaged children in our area who have been nominated by members of the Fire and Police Departments. They are collecting NEW, unwrapped toys for them to deliver right before Christmas. Items always requested included watches for older boys and girls, MP3 players, headsets, minority dolls and Barbie's, footballs, batteries and of course, games, puzzles and remote-controlled cars.

We would like to try to "Fill the Office" for this cause and asking those who can to drop off a new, unwrapped toy for a boy or girl ages 6 months to 15 years old, to the External Relations office, located in Hamilton Hall, room 124. We are collecting toys until Wednesday, Dec. 15 and on Friday, Dec. 17 we will don our Santa caps and deliver them to Town Square Media in Shreveport.

Last year through the generosity of the Centenary community, we collected more than 200 toys! Drop off your gifts Monday through Friday between 8am and 4:30 pm. For more information on how you can help, call 318.869.5073. Please help put a smile on a child's face this Christmas.

Scott Rawles joined the Centenary Community December 1 to serve as Vice President for Institutional Advancement.

Prior to accepting his position at Centenary, Rawles held the position of vice president of strategic planning and advancement at Holy Spirit College and Preparatory School in Atlanta, Ga. He had previously served as vice president for institutional advancement at Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Miss.

Rawles has more than 20 years experience in higher-education fundraising and external relations, having served as vice president of institutional advancement at Converse College, and director of development and chief advancement officer at Piedmont College. He also served as director of planned giving and corporate and foundation relations at Millsaps College.

Rawles said he is ready to begin his new position at the College, and eager for the challenges and opportunities he sees at Centenary.

"I am pleased to have the opportunity to become the newest member of the Centenary College community and to join the dedicated team in the advancement division," he said. "I also look forward to meeting and working with the Centenary friends and alumni in expanding the impact the College is having on its students and higher education."

Rawles is a graduate of Mercer University and has extensive continuing education in management, development and public affairs. He has two adult children, son Andrew and daughter Anna Kate, who is her first year of the Master of Divinity program at Emory University's Candler School of Theology.

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Three Centenary music students were named winners of the College’s Concerto/Aria Competition held November 29, in a contest held at the Hurley School of Music. Senior flutist Jennifer DeLancy, junior tenor Seth Taylor, and sophomore soprano Sara Patronella all won the opportunity to solo with the Hurley Orchestra in an upcoming concert February 28, 2011.

DeLancy

DeLancy performed "Poem" by American composer Charles Griffes; Taylor performed the recitative and aria "Comfort Ye . . . Every Valley" from Messiah; and Patronella performed "Adele’s Laughing Song" from Die Fledermaus.

Judges for the competition were Dr. Todd Gabriel, Hurley Orchestra conductor; Dr. Julia Thorn, Director of Camerata and supervisor of vocal music education at Centenary; and Dr. Thomas Stone, Director of Winds and supervisor of instrumental music education.

Congratulations!

With costumes, fanfare, and music, the spirit and splendor of the Renaissance came alive when the Centenary Camerata presented Welcome Yule: A Madrigal Dinner Friday, Nov. 19. at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Relive some of the magical moments in this short video!

The Centenary Camerata, the premier choral ensemble of Centenary College in conjunction with the Asbury United Methodist Church Chancel Choir, will present George Frideric Handel’s Messiah Sunday, Dec. 5 beginning at 7pm at the Bossier City church.

Under the direction of Dr. Julia Thorn, professor of music at the College, the Chancel Choir and Camerata will combine to perform a 100-voice choir, and will join a full orchestra of local symphony players with four professional soloists for this performance.

Featured soloists will be soprano Melanie Russell of New York, alto Missy Wise of Shreveport, tenor Chris Hutchinson of Baton Rouge and bass Matthew J. Daniels of Baton Rouge.

The performance will take place at Asbury United Methodist Church located at 3200 Airline Dr., Bossier City. Asbury plans to make Christmas in North Bossier an annual tradition.

Admission for the performance is free, however a ticket is required for entry. Tickets are available at Good Eats Market and Café, and Chick-Fil-A (Airline Dr. locations). Call 318.746.5349 for more information.

President Rowe awards Dr. David Otto TOTY in 2009

Each year students and faculty members select a single professor who epitomizes the best of the best who is recognized with the Outstanding Teacher Award. Students, faculty, and staff can submit their nominations for the Outstanding Teacher Award online. Nominations must be received before Friday, Jan. 14, 2011.

A committee of student members will select the deserving recipient, with the award announced during Founder's Day activities on February 3, 2011.