Eagle Connection - Nov. 12-18, 2008
- Fourth Locally Grown Scholarship Breakfast held at UW-L
- UW-L again cited for academic quality, affordability
- Grant addresses nutritional, physical activity needs among kids with disabilities
- Author to speak at UW-L
- Information Systems Association to meet Nov. 12
- Vote for dog of UW-L alumni to be Milk-Bone® spokesdog
- Academic Advising Center fall newsletter now online
- UW-L's American Marketing Association now has Web site
- 2009-10 ARG, ARG-WiTAG grant programs announced
- Campus Climate: Awareness through Performance troupe seeks students, faculty, staff
- Irish hiking tour set for spring
- Campus Kudos
- Murphy Library Notes: Murphy Library plans book sale
- Oral defense: Sharon D. Olson, Carol Reider
- Classified ads
- Getting information into the Eagle Connection
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Fourth Locally Grown Scholarship Breakfast held at UW-LUW-L Self-Sufficiency Program (SSP) graduate and Viterbo student Jennifer Scaccio spoke at the fourth annual Locally Grown Scholarship Breakfast Nov. 6 about overcoming challenges to getting an education and how SSP helped her accomplish her goals. The Locally Grown Scholarship Fund was established in 2003 to support SSP graduates who are beginning their college careers. A $500 award is available by application to SSP graduates during the first four semesters of their college coursework. The SSP was established in 1988 and has helped more than 350 adults prepare for college. To learn more about SSP, visit www.uwlax.edu/ssp/ or contact SSP Director Amy Sullivan at 785.8733 or sullivan.amy@uwlax.edu. |
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UW-L again cited for academic quality, affordability
University improves on Kiplinger’s list of best value public colleges
Kiplinger’s magazine has once again recognized UW-L for “top-flight academics and affordable costs.”
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance updated its listing of the nation’s 100 best value public colleges and universities this month, ranking UW-L No. 38 for in-state students and No. 30 for out-state students. Both are an improvement of the magazine’s 2008 rankings, which listed UW-L No. 39 for in-state and No. 38 for out-state.
Schools that make Kiplinger’s Top 100 list are noteworthy for outstanding academic quality plus an affordable price tag, magazine editors note. Rankings are among more than 500 public, four-year colleges and universities nationwide.
Among the criteria against which the schools were judged were quality of students as measured by the academic performance of the incoming freshman class, admission rates, freshman retention rates, student-faculty ratios and graduation rates. They were also graded by how much they cost and how much financial aid the school offers to students.
Earlier this fall, U.S.News & World Report ranked UW-La Crosse No. 2 among Midwest public colleges offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees. And, the Chronicle of Higher Education released a report in October noting that UW-L had the lowest debt of graduates in 2007, with an average debt of $12,145.
The only other Wisconsin schools to make the 2009 Kiplinger’s Top 100 are UW-Madison, which ranks No. 14 for in-state students, and UW-Eau Claire, which is No. 65.Complete rankings are available at www.kiplinger.com/tools/colleges/.
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Grant addresses nutritional, physical activity needs among kids with disabilities
A grant will help a UW-L program provide nutritional and physical activity services to children with disabilities.
The Center on Disability Health and Adapted Physical Activity in the university’s exercise and sport science department has received a $10,000 grant from the General Mills Foundation to help expand the scope of the UW-L Physical Activity Mentoring Program for Children with Disabilities. The year-long Champions for Healthy Kids grant incorporates nutrition education into the existing program through a collaborative initiative with dieticians from Gundersen Lutheran.
“This is another example of how the center links with community agencies to meet the health and physical activity needs of persons with disabilities in the 7 Rivers Region,” says Center Director Assistant Professor Manny Felix. “UW-L students gain valuable experiences as they prepare for professional roles in health, physical activity and disability-related fields.”
Project Director Professor Garth Tymeson says the grant will impact at least 50 children with disabilities ages 5-18, their families and numerous UW-L students who serve as physical activity mentors. “This new funding allows us to infuse another piece of the healthy living puzzle, and assist children, parents and UW-L students,” Tymeson explains.
UW-L faculty and students have worked with the Gundersen staff to design Winning Weighs for Kids with Disabilities that serves as the basis for nutrition content. Along with individualized physical activity programs, the program will now provide nutrition workshops for children, parents and UW-L student mentors. For the past three years the physical activity mentoring program has received support from a grant from the UW School of Medicine and Public Health – Wisconsin Partnership Program.
Each year since its inception in 2002, the General Mills Foundation has awarded 50 Champions for Healthy Kids grants to community-based groups that develop creative ways to help youth adopt a balanced diet and physically active lifestyle. More information about the grant program is available at www.GeneralMills.com/foundation.
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| Author Firoozeh Dumas speaks on campus Nov. 18. |
Author to speak at UW-L
An award-winning author who travels the country reminding readers that “our commonalities outweigh our differences” by using humor will speak at UW-L.
Firoozeh Dumas lectures at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, in Valhalla, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition.
Dumas was born in Abadan, Iran, and moved to Whittier, Calif., at the age of seven. After a two-year stay in California, the family moved back to Iran. Two years later, they returned to California where she grew up and attended the University of California Berkeley.
Dumas grew up listening to her father, a former Fulbright Scholar, tell the colorful stories of his life. In 2001, with no prior writing experience, she decided to write stories as a gift to her children. Random house published her stories in 2003 as “Funny in Farsi.” The book landed on the San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times bestseller lists. It was also a finalist for the PEN/USA award in 2004 and a finalist in 2005 for an Audie Award for best audio book.
Dumas was also a finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor. She was the first Middle Eastern woman to receive the honor. Dumas’ second book, “Laughing Without an Accent,” a series of autobiographical essays, was published by Random House in May 2008.
The program, part of UW-L Campus Activities Board series, concludes the university’s Common Reading Program, which encourages faculty, staff and students to read the same book before hearing from its author. Tickets are $2 for UW-L students, $5 for UW-L employees, and $8 for others. For tickets or more information, contact the Cartwright Center Information Counter at 785.8898 or visit www.uwlax.edu/cab.
If you go— |
Information Systems Association to meet Nov. 12
The newly-formed Information Systems Association (ISA) will have its first meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, in 108 Wing Technology Center. Heath Ahnen, Technical Support Service; and members of the General Computing Access team will give tours of the server and networking facilities in Wing Technology Center, followed by a short informational meeting about ISA. Anyone interest in joining or wanting to learn more should attend. If you're unable to attend, but are interested in the association, contact Jenna Johnson at johnson.jen4@students.uwlax.edu.
For more information about ISA, visit www.is.uwlax.edu/isa/.
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| Winston, a two-year-old Great Dane owned by Matt and Melisa Ruppert, both graduates of UW-La Crosse, has been chosen as one of the top 100 finalists out of thousands of dogs entered in the competition. |
Vote for dog of UW-L alumni to be Milk-Bone® spokesdog
Winston, a two-year-old Great Dane owned by UW-L alumni Matt and Melisa Ruppert, has been chosen as one of the top 100 finalists competing to be the first-ever spokesdog for Milk-Bone®.
Milk-Bone® is holding the contest to celebrate its 100-year anniversary. Dog owners across the country uploaded a photo or video, combined with a short story about how they and their dog shared a Milk-Bone Moment™. The dogs were judged and narrowed down to the top 100 finalists in October.
In order to be chosen as the Milk-Bone® Spokesdog of 2009, Winston needs to receive the most votes online at http://milkbone.icmodus.com/. If you are at least 18 years old, you can vote once daily through Tuesday, Nov. 18.
Academic Advising Center fall newsletter now online
PeerSpectives, the Academic Advising Center fall newsletter, is now online at www.uwlax.edu/advising/PeerSpectives%20Fall%202008.pdf.
UW-L's American Marketing Association now has Web site
Interested in joining the American Marketing Association? Already a member? Sign up at http://uwlmyorgs.collegiatelink.net/Community?action=getOrgHome&orgID=13103. Keep up with what's happening at the AMA's recently-launched Web site. Visit www.uwlax.edu/ama.
2009-10 ARG, ARG-WiTAG grant programs announced
Applied Research Grants and Applied Research Grants-WiSys Technology Advancement Grants proposal information is now available for the 2009-10 fiscal year. Pre-proposals, which are optional, are due Friday, Nov. 14. If you submit a pre-proposal, forward a copy to VJ Agarwal in 145 Graff Main Hall. Full proposals are due to the Grants Office in 145 Graff Main Hall by Thursday, Jan. 8, so they can be reviewed in time to meet WiSys’ Thursday, Jan. 15, deadline. For additional information and application materials, visit the WiSys Web site at http://wisys.org/forresearchers/index.jsp?catid=76&subcatid=70.
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Awareness through Performance troupe seeks students, faculty, staff
The Campus Climate Office is getting ready for the spring 2009 Awareness through Performance (ATP) production. Want to be part of the ATP troupe? Submit an application by no later than 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16. Go to https://secure.uwlax.edu/surveys/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=p2KK7753. Paper applications are also available in 227 Graff Main Hall. To learn more about Awareness through Performance, visit www.uwlax.edu/campusclimate/atp.
Irish hiking tour set for spring
UW-L Professor Emeritus Jim Gallagher to lead annual trip in June
Presentations set in La CrosseJim Gallagher will give two free public programs on “Hiking in Ireland.” The UW-L Continuing Education and Extension Office is the sponsor of both the tour and upcoming talks. |
The history, archaeology and nature of Ireland are among the highlights of an eight-day walking tour this spring. UW-L Professor Emeritus Jim Gallagher leads a hiking tour in the south coast of Ireland from June 10-18, 2009.
The tour will feature hikes along coastal cliffs, offshore islands and to shorebird nesting sanctuaries. Highlights of the tour include the Clare Island, the rugged Sheep’s Head Peninsula and the mountains of Gougane Bara. The area where the group will be heading is scenic, rugged and great for hiking and bird watching, says Gallagher who has led tours to Ireland since 1996.
The trip will include Irish walking guide Maeve Kelly and other local experts on Irish culture and natural history. Gallagher says one of the appeals of the tour is the small group size, which is limited to 12 travelers. “Most of the people on these tours love walking and nature,” explains Gallagher. “They are interested in things like history, archaeology, birds and being out doors in stunning scenery away from the usual tourist places.”
For a detailed tour itinerary and registration information visit: www.uwlax.edu/conted/tours/, or call the Continuing Education and Extension at 785.6506.
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Microbiology students, staff present at microbiology meeting
UW-L graduate and undergraduate students, along with UW-L faculty, academic staff and a research intern, presented at the 68th Annual Meeting of the North Central Branch of the American Society for Microbiology at St. Cloud, Minn., Oct. 17-18. Marisa Barbknecht won the overall student oral presentation competition.
The presentations by UW-L staff and students included:
- "Effects of rcs, pta and ackA mutations on fimA in Escherichia coli," by research intern Kathleen Engelbrechtand Bill Schwan, microbiology.
- "Evaluation of novel gram-positive specific antimicrobials derived from (E)-3-hydroxy-5-methoxystilbene," by student Rebecca Polanowski and Engelbrecht, Schwan, and Marc Rott, all microbiology.
- "In vivo regulation of fim gene transcription in uropathogenic Escherichia coli," student Hua Ding and Schwan.
- "A clone library of the Arion fasciatius gut," by Bonnie Bratina, microbiology; and student Lauren Zangl.
- "Characterization of a potentially unclassified virus and assessment of its presence in Wisconsin bluegill populations," by Barbknecht and Mike Hoffman, microbiology.
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Murphy Library plans book sale
If you go— |
Area readers can start collecting books to read for the upcoming winter.
The UW-L Murphy Library holds its annual fall book sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 18 and 19, in room 121 of the library.
The sale features lots of books at great prices: 50 cents for paperbacks; $1 for hardcovers; and a collector’s corner of specially priced books. The last two hours of the sale Wednesday feature a special sale: $4 for a bagful of books.
Proceeds from the sale benefit the library.
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Sharon D. Olson, master of science in education-reading candidate, "Strategies for At-Risk Readers in an Alternative High School Program," 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, 215 Morris Hall. Adviser: Delores Heiden, reading.
Carol Reider, master of science in education-reading candidate, "Current Brain Research and Its Implications for Reading Instruction,” 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, 215 Morris Hall. Adviser: Delores Heiden, reading.
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Wanted
GCA lead consultant. The General Computing Access Office is hiring a lead consultant to manage the GCA labs. Flexible schedule. You must be available year round. Interested individuals who can make at least a one-year commitment and work during J-Term and the summer, should e-mail resume and cover letter to weissenb.nath@uwlax.edu by Friday, Nov. 21. Include your major and expected graduation date.
For sale
Three-drawer file cabinet, standard depth, stands on 12" base. Great condition. $50 OBO. Jensen docking speaker station for iPod. New. $50 OBO. Mary at 785.6922.
Dark blue sofa and love seat, good condition, $150. Laminated top dining table with leaf and four light oak chairs, good condition, $75. 783.5380 evenings.
Excellent Mamiya 645 med format camera with AE prism finder, 55mm lens, 80mm lens and 150mm lens; 2-220 and 2-120 roll film inserts; Metz Mecablitz 60CT nicad battery and 60CT flash; accessories and metal camera case and nylon camera bag. hanson.lor2@uwlax.edu.
Give away
Yamaha church organ. Mike at 785.5322.
Free to good home, eight-week-old kittens. 608.634.4704.
Getting information into the Eagle Connection
The Eagle Connection is published Wednesdays when classes are in session. To submit information for inclusion in the Eagle Connection, e-mail it to connectx@uwlax.edu. The deadline for the Eagle Connection is noon Mondays preceding the Wednesday edition. If you are interested in writing or shooting photos for the Connection, e-mail Editor Sue Lee at lee.sue@uwlax.edu or 785.8497.
To view the Eagle Connection online, see: www.uwlax.edu/universityrelations/eagleconnection/
Or go to the Eagle Connection from UW-L's home page. Click on "More News" at the bottom of the page, then click on the Eagle Connection link on the Campus News Resources page.
To view the Eagle Connection calendar online, go to www.uwlax.edu/universityrelations/eagleconnection/calendar.html
Or go to the Eagle Connection calendar from UW-L's home page. Click on "More Events" at the bottom of the page, then click on the Eagle Connection calendar link on the Campus Event Resources page.