Each semester, our Vandal students distinguish themselves in the classroom and outside the classroom. We’re proud to facilitate those achievements, and I appreciate what our students contribute to U of I through their talent, passion and hard work. We can’t celebrate every accomplishment here, but let me give you a few examples of Vandal excellence this semester. The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship is a prestigious and highly competitive award. This year, not one, not two, but three Vandals won an award. U.S. Army veteran Clint Elg is studying antibiotic-resistant bacteria – so-called “superbugs” – in the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Lab. Neil Paprocki has his sights on the skies, studying raptor migration and the rough-legged hawk. And Hallie “Reena” Walker’s research takes her to Mozambique to focus on the behavioral ecology of large animals. Undergraduates also earned national recognition. This spring, Taylor Azizeh, a senior majoring in environmental science and wildlife resources, was selected for a Fulbright Study/Research Award; she’s taking courses in Denmark and conducting Arctic research and fieldwork at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources in Nuuk, Greenland. Samuel Myers, studying mathematics and physics, has been selected to receive the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship through the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program. Samuel, working with advisor Professor Jason Barnes, investigates exoplanets to understand how planets are formed and how their orbits have evolved. Vandal students learn through hands-on work. That has been on display during Innovation Month at U of I. At our annual Engineering Design EXPO last week, we saw more than 100 senior capstone projects displayed – engaged, active learning that solves real problems. More than 500 K-16 students visited the expo to gain an understanding of how to “Engineer like a Vandal.” Thank you to the sponsors, judges and involved alumni who help make the event a success. The Northwest’s oldest ongoing engineering expo continues to shine at U of I. I also visited the Undergraduate Research Symposium this week, learning from undergraduates who presented 183 posters – a new record total – on a range of topics examining natural history, social policy, biological science, health and disease, and more. Sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research, which we created in fall 2015, the symposium highlights our commitment to getting undergraduates involved in research, scholarship and creative activity. One student with work at the symposium, undergraduate Ren Dimico, is actually participating in another science outreach project, a “Posters on the Hill” session on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Council on Undergraduate Research. This competitive opportunity helps share the importance of undergraduate research with the highest levels of our government. Our Vandals exemplify a university-wide commitment to high-impact educational experiences that immerse students in learning, provide mentorship and open doors to new opportunities. It is exciting and affirming to see what our Vandals accomplish as they walk through those doors. | | Go Vandals! Chuck Staben President | | | Supporting a Virtuous Circle of Healthy Competition and Success With groundbreaking on the horizon, the ICCU Arena is on its way to becoming a landmark on U of I’s Moscow campus, providing a flexible event space for the entire Vandal Family and giving U of I Athletics a competitive edge. It’s that vision and purpose that garnered the support of Howard ’69, ’71 and Tere Foley. The Foleys were among the arena’s first donors because they saw its potential to enhance the entire university, starting with the “front porch” of its basketball programs. “It’s necessary for us to be competitive,” Howard said. “When Athletics is successful, people are more likely to support colleges and entities throughout the university.” The reverse is true, as well, with the arena garnering university-wide support. “We appreciate the student body’s initiative to step up twice now to help finance the project. It’s their facility, too.” For information about supporting the ICCU Arena, contact Michael Perry at michaelcperry@uidaho.edu or 208-885-1029. | | Vandals Earn Udall Scholarship Honorable Mentions Two U of I students, Kassandra Townsend and Madi Thurston, have earned Honorable Mentions in the Udall Scholarship 2019 competition. Udall Scholarships and Honorable Mentions are awarded to students based on their commitment to careers in the environment, Native health care or tribal public policy; leadership potential; record of public service; and academic achievement. Townsend, a junior from Nampa majoring in ecology and conservation biology, is a member of the Acoma Pueblo tribe, an All Nations Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Scholar, and a Doris Duke Conservation Scholar. Thurston, a sophomore from Kuna majoring in environmental science, is a Doris Duke Conservation Scholar and an active participant in the Alternative Service Break program, the Conservation and Environment Club, the Environmental Science Club, and the Women's Volleyball Club. Established by Congress in 1992, the Udall Foundation is an independent federal agency that provides scholarships, fellowships and internships for college students intending to pursue careers related to the environment and American Indian students pursuing tribal public policy or health care careers. | | Here We Have Idaho Magazine Now Available Online The spring 2019 issue of Here We Have Idaho is available. Explore the stories to learn more about the impact Vandal alumni are making in important ways across the state and beyond. Published twice a year and managed by University Communications and Marketing, Here We Have Idaho is the official magazine of the University of Idaho. It has a circulation of over 100,000 readers and is mailed free to all University of Idaho alumni and friends within the U.S. Update your mailing address at uidaho.edu/alumni/update. Alumni living abroad will receive an email message with links to articles as each issue is published. Prefer an emailed magazine rather than print? Sign up to receive the digital magazine. | | | | |