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Winners announced for first portfolio contest

Jan. 26, 2007

KALAMAZOO--Four Western Michigan University students have been named winners of the University's first electronic portfolio contest.

The four winners are: Jennifer Pickney of Sterling Heights, Mich., a senior majoring in elementary education; Melody Pillow of Coloma, Mich., a senior majoring in family life studies; Natalie Rowe of Portage, Mich., a junior majoring in general business and real estate; and Meredith Spicer of Milford, Mich., a senior majoring in education.

The contest was sponsored by the WMU Center for Electronic Portfolios and Assessment with support from the University's Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Nuventive, a company that is providing software for WMU's electronic portfolio initiative. Examples of student-created portfolios were solicited during fall semester, and a team of reviewers from WMU and Nuventive judged the entries. Portfolios were judged according to the students' use of iWebfolio software to present personal, professional and academic accomplishments electronically.

Electronic portfolios can include such information as resumes, samples of class assignments and photos of students at work on a project. Students can make them available to prospective employers, friends, family or whomever they want, anywhere in the world. They may create them for a class, to meet requirements of an overall department program or just for fun.

The new high-tech initiative at WMU is designed to make student electronic portfolios virtually universal and help University academic departments assess the results of their programs.

The four winners of the competition will each receive a cash award.

Media contact: Mark Schwerin, (269) 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu

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