Students, Faculty Sought for Inventiveness
The 1998 BF Goodrich Collegiate Inventors Program (BFG-CIP) is currently seeking entries for this year�s challenge. The BFG-CIP recognizes and rewards full-time college students (undergraduate, graduate, and postdocs) and faculty whose innovations, discoveries and research are deemed the year�s most outstanding. Up to six student/advisor teams are awarded cash prizes totaling up to $42,000.
Students may enter as individuals or teams. The invention, idea or process submitted must be an original idea and the work of a student or team with his or her advisor. Judging is based on originality, usefulness, and significance of the invention/discovery. An issued patent is not required to participate and this is not considered a public disclosure. However, participants are strongly encouraged to begin the process of protecting their discovery.
There is a June 2 deadline for applications. These can be made by calling (330) 849-6887], e-mailing [email protected], or by visiting BF Goodrich�s website: http://www.invent.org/bfg/bfghome.html.
Victoria�s World
The English Department will present the annual Thorns Lecture at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, in Humanities 354. It will be followed by a reception. This year�s lecture, endowed by Richard Thorns �60, will be given by Margaret Homans, professor of English and chair of women�s studies at Yale University.
Homans, an authority on Queen Victoria and Victorian culture, will present an illustrated lecture entitled "Queen Victoria: The Woman, the Writer, the Empress." She will use Victorian literature, photography, and the queen�s own published writings to explore some of the strategies and compromises of Victoria�s immensely successful and popular reign.
Dissertation Award to First Ph.D.
Louise Charbonneau, the first student to obtain the new Ph.D. in French Studies, is the recipient of a 1998 Presidential Distinguished Doctoral Dissertation Award. Charbonneau specializes in linguistics.
Sidman Scholarships Honor Two
The winner of this year�s Ralph Sidman Memorial Scholarship is senior Stacy Plaske. Jacqueline Sanchez, junior, is the first runner up. The awards recognize dedication and commitment to volunteer work and community service.
Plaske has worked at the New York State Attorney General�s Office as a mediator. In addition to working on various cases, she worked on a special project with her supervisor investigating HMOs. Currently she is doing an internship at the Capital Center for Eating Disorders, in which she assists with patient treatment and counseling. She has volunteered in various local health fairs, including National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (Feb. 23 -28).
Sanchez has done fund-raising for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and volunteered for the Red Cross through blood drives. Also she has provided mentoring and programming services at the Liberty Partnership Program and the Albany Girls Club. She presently serves a national philanthropy at Galludet University for the hearing and speech impaired.
Interviews for Research VP Begin
The search committee for the Vice President for Research has been working since the Fall Semester, and the first of its candidates to be interviewed at the University was Barry Gold of the University of Nebraska Medical Center on April 6 and 7.
The second interview, on Monday and Tuesday, April 27 and 28, will be with Charles Ide of Tulane University. There will be an open forum for faculty to speak with Ide from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on April 28 in the Campus Center Assembly Hall.
Senate Fellowships for Students
The New York State Senate is once again offering graduate and post-graduate fellowship for the coming academic year, designed to provide talented individuals with an intimate knowledge of New York State government and to attract these individuals to public service careers.
Application deadline is May 1 for the 1998-99 program, which begins on Sept. 17 and runs through June 21, 1999. Applicants must be U.S. citizens currently enrolled full-time in am accredited graduate degree program, will have completed a minim of two consecutive full-time semesters in such a program by the fall, while not graduating more than30 days prior to May 1.
Each fellow receives a stipend of $25,000 and eligibility for certain benefits. In addition to Legislative Fellows the Senate sponsors the Richard J. Roth Journalism Fellowship for those pursuing journalism/public relations careers; and the Richard A. Wiebe Public Service Fellowship for individuals exceptionally suited for placement in a high level leadership office.
For application forms and additional information, contact the campus liaison officer, Joseph F. Zimmerman, Graduate School of Public Affairs, 288 Richardson Hall, 135 Western Ave., Albany, NY 12222. He can be telephoned at 442-5378 or 439, 9440, or e-mailed at [email protected].
Students That are "Who"
The 1998 edition of Who�s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges includes the names of 63 University at Albany students. The individuals were selected by campus nominating committees and the book�s editors for their academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities, and potential for continued individual achievement.
Russian Program Hosts State Competition
The annual new York State Olympiada of Spoken Russian, sponsored by the American Council of Teachers of Russian (ACTR) was hosted by the Russian Program of the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures on April 2. Some 120 participants from high schools around the state competed, divided into four proficiency levels and special groups for students with some native-language background. A panel of judges made up of Russian Program faculty, students and staff evaluated the participants� fluency in spoken Russian in a variety of areas.
The top winners, who will represent New York in the international competition this summer, were Yvette Khachadourain from Shaken High in Colonie and Veronica Magnussen from Staten Island. Sara Detmer of Arlington High was named alternate.
Dean of Undergraduate Studies John Pipkin welcomed the group and spoke about the significance of foreign languages in today�s global culture. Book prizes for the winners in each level were provided by the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and by the University in the High School Program.