The Centenary gymnastics team will open the 2011 season at home this Saturday when it hosts Texas Woman's University at 7 pm in the Gold Dome.

The meet will serve as "Think Pink" night. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness. Donations will be encouraged and fans can enter a drawing to win a Strawn's pie at the conclusion of the meet.

Also, Centenary will honor any club gym members in the community. By showing you participate in gymnastics or cheer classes, a fan can enter for only 10 cents and can be entered in a drawing to win a Happy Belly's gift card and Centenary gymnastics apparel.

The Ladies are looking for their first win under second-year head coach Gretchen Goerlitz as they bring back 13 letterwinners from a year ago and welcome four newcomers to this year's squad.

Lowery

Freshman Logan Lowery led Centenary with 12 points and sophomore Travis Sims recorded a career-best 10 points, but a strong second half wasn't enough in an 86-62 loss at South Dakota State on Thursday evening in Summit League play.

The Gents (0-16, 0-5 Summit) shot 52 percent from the floor in the second half, but a strong offensive effort from the Jackrabbits (11-4, 3-1 Summit) all game gave way to Centenary's fifth league loss.

Lowery poured in 12 points on two treys and a 5-of-8 performance from the floor. Sims, off the bench scored 10, surpassing his previous high of eight, which came at Western Illinois earlier this season. The forward hit 5-of-6 from the free throw line.

Sanders

The Centenary women's basketball team will return to Summit League play on Saturday at North Dakota State in a 5 pm CT contest, followed by a Monday evening game at South Dakota State at 7 pm.

Sophomore Jalena Sanders scored a career-best 16 points, but the inside dominance of McNeese was too much for the Centenary women's basketball team in a 88-52 non-conference loss on Monday evening in Lake Charles, La. The Ladies (0-11) were never able to build on its late first-half momentum, as McNeese (8-5) fired off 52 points in the paint.

The Diversity Committee at Centenary College will celebrate the legacy and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during a week-long tribute of events taking place on the College campus January 17-21.

The week kicks off when Centenary students, staff, faculty, alumni and community members will have the opportunity to take part in the school's 3rd Annual MLK Service Day. The service project will consist of participants working at Creswell and E.B.W. Stoner Hill Elementary schools, and the Querbes Community Center to spruce up the locations through painting, cleaning, and other minor improvements.

Registration is free with breakfast, lunch, and transportation provided. The day will begin at 7:15am with participants check in at Kilpatrick Auditorium. Volunteers will depart by 8:30am and will be transported to the work sites, and return to the Centenary campus at 11:45am

The United Way is offering online registration for the service-day project.

For more information, contact Chris Lavan, Director of Community and Intercultural Engagement at 318.869.5542.

Victor Labat

Founder and president of Labat-Anderson Inc., Victor Labat, will be the featured Dream Week 2011 Convocation speaker Tuesday, Jan. 18. The event is scheduled to take place in the Whited Room of Bynum Commons beginning at 11am

A retired business executive, Labat has more than forty years of experience in both the private industry and the Federal Government. His experience included senior Federal management positions, and management and technical consulting to foundations, institutions of higher learning, and private industry, both within the United States and internationally.

Labat has actively supported the development of major Federal minority development programs. He has been a participant in and a supporter of the Small Business Administration's 8(a) program, and participant in the National Association for Equal Opportunity organization for the promotion and development of Majority Black Colleges and Universities.

In the late 1960s he served as the Associate Director for the Educational Resource Center on School Desegregation at Tulane University. He was later requested to join a group of desegregation experts to assist the U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, and the Assistant Attorney General of Justice, Civil Rights of Division to design and implement a strategy to desegregate schools throughout the southern United States.

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Several events that will honor the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. have been schedules to take place on campus and in Shreveport as part of Dream Week 2011. The events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

Get the complete list of events »

Highlights include:

American Violet

A screening of American Violet will take place at the Robinson Film Center, Tuesday, Jan. 18 beginning at 7pm A short discussion will follow the movie. Based on true events during the 2000 election, American Violet tells the astonishing story of a 24 year-old African American single mother struggling to clear her name after being wrongly accused and arrested for dealing drugs in an impoverished town in Texas.

American Violet stars newcomer Nicole Beharie, Academy Award® nominee Alfre Woodard, Emmy Award® winner Charles S. Dutton, Tim Blake Nelson, Will Patton and Xzibit.

The Robinson Film Center is located at 617 Texas Street.

Discussion of Civil Disobedience

The Philosophy Discussion Group tackles the topic of Civil Disobedience in the 21st Century, Wednesday, Jan. 19 beginning at 7pm in James Hall. When is civil disobedience justified? What will civil disobedience look like in the 21st century? Be part of the discussion and discover when civil disobedience can serve justice. Visit the PGD website to find out more or RSVP to email to reserve a seat.

The Hallelujah Train

The Hallelujah Train takes off from the Marjorie Lyons Playhouse, Thursday, Jan. 20 at 7pm Gospel singer Pastor Brady Blade Sr. and his sons, Brady Blade, Jr. and Brian Blade, headline The Hallelujah Train. The performance not only features the trio, but also musicians Chris Thomas, Mark Griffin, and Al Perkins, along with the choir from the Zion Baptist Church in Shreveport. The concert combines gospel with rock and roll, folk music, country, indie rock and jazz.

Pastor Blade has led Zion Baptist Church in Shreveport, La. for nearly 50 years. His son, renowned jazz drummer Brian Blade, is known for his work with the Wayne Shorter Quartet as well as Joni Mitchell, Daniel Lanois, and Emmylou Harris.

Tickets will go on sale January 10 at the Marjorie Lyons Playhouse for $5. For more information, call the Box Office at 318.869.5242.

Congratulations! A total of 253 students at Centenary College have been named to the Fall Semester 2010 Dean's List, according to Dr. Michael Hemphill, Provost and Dean of the College. The honor list names all students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or higher in 12 or more semester hours taken for a letter grade during the fall semester.

Students on the Centenary Fall 2010 Dean's List are listed online by their home countries/states and cities.

Dr. Karen Soul

The College recently announced that education professor Dr. Karen Soul is taking on the role of Associate Provost of the College. Karen brings a strong background in program accreditation and educational assessment to the position. She will be serving as Centenary's institutional liaison to SACS.

According to Provost Mike Hemphill, "She does have the formidable task of following Dr. Hoaas in that role, but I have no doubt she will more than meet that challenge... We are fortunate to have her leadership in this critical area."

Dr. Julia Thorn, associate professor of music and director of Camerata, received the Outstanding Teacher of the Year award 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.