If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you would like to win but you think you can’t;
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost.
For out in the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow’s will;
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you’re outclassed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself,
Before you can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go to the
Stronger or the faster man.
But sooner or later, the man who wins;
Is the man who thinks he can!

~ Walter D. Wintle

I was very excited when Dr. Dunham gave me the details of the project. The Centre for Global Competency had acquired a booth for the annual Creative Oklahoma Conference. This year Dr. Dunham wanted to step it up a notch (which is usually the case) and create a walk through booth.  We settledon Pink Displays for the vendor and I began designing a huge 8′ x10′ display. In my years of graphic design experience I have designed vector based designs which have been larger than this, however this was a bitmap design requiring the use of photos. The difference is that vector based graphics can be blown up to any size without losing quality, whereas bitmap designs have a finite number of pixels and the larger you make them, the lower the quality of the final image.  In other words, I couldn’t just draw my way out this situation.

All in all, this ended up being yet another fun experience. We created a 10 foot back drop,  36 inch banner,  and matching 2-panel brochure to go along with the design. In a few weeks I’ll have pictures of the real. In the meantime, check out the mock ups.

10×8 backdrop

A few weeks later I received a call from Leon Fowler, the COO of Valiant Services, LLC. He was buzzing with enthusiasm about an idea he had on how to help the students of KIPP Reach. His idea, inspired by viewing a piece on the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant, was to provide backpacks to the students of KIPP reach. I immediately contacted Dr. Quintin Hughes of Ph.D. Enterprises (Ph.D. Entertainment) who poured over with enthusiasm about the idea. We eventually received approval from KIPP Reach and Tracy McDaniel even agreed to speak at our upcoming discussion forum Truth Be Told Live! which takes place on the last Thursday of every month from 7pm-9pm at Urban Roots in Oklahoma City, OK.

For those interested in making a donation and engaging in stimulating conversation, I invite you to join us on Thursday,  Jul 28, 2011 at Urban Roots. Below is a list of items which we are collecting for for KIPP Reach. For more information on KIPP, please visit kipp.org.

5^th Grade
Student Supply List
2011

Reminders-

• All supplies can be purchased at the Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Family Dollar, or Wal-mart.  All of these items will be on sale during the back to school sales that start at the end of July and early August.
• Every student is required to have two sharpened pencils, paper, and class binder for every class period of the day excluding Physical Education.
• ** these supplies will need to be replenished.
• * binder may need to be replaced second semester
• NO PENCIL SHARPENERS ALLOWED

6^th Grade

Student Supply List

2011

Reminders-

• All supplies can be purchased at the Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Family Dollar, or Wal-mart.  All of these items will be on sale during the back to school sales that start at the end of July and early August.
• Every student is required to have two sharpened pencils, paper, and class binder for every class period of the day excluding Physical Education.
• ** these supplies will need to be replenished.
• * binder may need to be replaced second semester
• NO PENCIL SHARPENERS ALLOWED

7^th Grade

Student Supply List

2011

Reminders-

• All supplies can be purchased at the Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Family Dollar, or Wal-mart.  All of these items will be on sale during the back to school sales that start at the end of July and early August.
• Every student is required to have two sharpened pencils, paper, and class binder for every class period of the day excluding Physical Education.
• ** these supplies will need to be replenished.
• * binder may need to be replaced second semester
• NO PENCIL SHARPENERS ALLOWED

8^th Grade
2011 Student Supply List

Reminders-

• All supplies can be purchased at the Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Family Dollar, or Wal-mart.  All of these items will be on sale during the back to school sales that start at the end of July and early August.
• Every student is required to have two sharpened pencils, paper, and class binder for every class period of the day excluding Physical Education.
  • ** these supplies will need to be replenished.
  • * binder may need to be replaced second semester
  • NO PENCIL SHAPENERS ALLOWED

We were all pleased with the Study Abroad poster designs and are now gearing up for phase two of the design process, which will include the designing of 25 brochures, one for each location the of Study Abroad program at UCO. This should be quite interesting (strokes beard).

1. Best way to learn a foreign language
2. Enhance the value of your degree
3. Best Opportunity for Travel  Instead of visiting for a few days, you’ll be able to live there for months
4. Cultural Emersion
5. Develop  skills beyond the classroom – new strengths and abilities, conquer new challenges, solve new problems
6. Make friends around the world
7. Learn about yourself
8. Expand your worldview
9. Enhance employment opportunities
10. Break your academic routine
11. Unforgettable Experience
12. Financial Aid can be applied to studying abroad

We wanted to engage the students visually, so rather than add too much text to the design, we decided to focus on only a few of these point

s to demonstrate the importance of the experience. Each marketing piece is specific to a country of interest, however the footer features a list of other countries that students may visit which include: France, Mexico, Taiwan, Spain and Switzerland. This allows us to highlight a particular study abroad experience while simultaneously creating awareness of the other

options available.

The advertisements met the message criteria for the 5 steps of decision making that prompt action according to marketing genius Dan Kennedy. Each ad

1. Creates awareness of need: Need to be culutured, enhance learning experience, etc…
2. Offers option to fulfill the need: Studying Abroad
3. Offers specific source for need fullfillment: UCO Study Abroad Program
4. Offers price/value argument: You can use financial aid and scholarships are available.
5. Asks for action now: Enroll Today!

For more information about studying abroad, please visit UCO’s Centre for Global Competency website.

When we were kids we had …each other a reason to say

Every moment was so precious
I’m still kid kid, I’m bad dream in a strawberry swing
The inside of world …
All the world is …
Just in case, in that ..cause falling on my mind
I should say and you should hear I’ve loved,
I’ve loved a good time’s year.
I’ve loved a good time’s year.

Say hello and say ..world to the places you know
We’re almost …we any moment is to go
Cry, cry, cry even though that won’t change a thing
But you should know, you should hear
That I’ have learned, I’ve learned a good time’s year,

And I will miss a good time’s year.

Spaceships lifting off, open dying world
Millions of left behind .. sky birds
Wasn’t..for you and I only you goodbye, goodbye
Now the sky could be blue
I don’t mind
Without you it’s a waste of time .
Could be blue
I dont mind
Without you it’s a waste of time .

Could be blue,

Could be grey

Without you m just miles away .

Could be blue
I don’t mind
Without you it’s a waste of time.

Best,

Millard B. Latimer II, M. Ed.

Dvorak was a Czech composer who lived from the 1841-1904. His father played the zither (a stringed instrument that literally looks like a block of wood with strings), and doubled as a butcher.  Anton’s father wanted him to be a butcher as well, but he declined and began his musical education at the age of six. He  then studied the organ in Prague and eventually became very skilled in his use of the viola and violin.

After school, Dvorak became a full time musician, which required he teach piano lessons to make ends meet. It was through this venture that he met his wife. Initially, he fell for his wife’s older sister Josefina, and composed Cypress Trees for her. This attempt was in vain, because Josefina did not feel the same way about Dvorak and he eventually had to settle for her younger sister, Anna. They had nine kids, six surviving infancy.

Dvorak eventually gained recognition from the legendary Johannes Brahms. Their interactions greatly influenced Dvorak’s work. Dvorak’s notoriety increased and he began conducting orchestras in Moscow and St. Petersburg. He even received an honorary degree from the University at Cambridge and later accepted a professorship at Prague Conservatory instructing composition and instrumentation.  His success increased further and he moved to New York City, New York where he served as the director of the National Conservatory of Music from 1892-1895. Afterwards, he returned home to spend time with his family and died in 1904 of heart failure. Hats off to you Antonin Dvorak and thank you for your wonderful works.

Below you can find links to my favorite piece of Dvorak’s work “Water Goblin”. Enjoy.

Best,
Millard B. Latimer II, M. Ed.