SPRING 2011 ACHIEVEMENTS National Newsletter of ARCS® Foundation

Achievement Rewards for College Scientists In This Issue President’s • A Special Thanks ... Lifetime Achievers: Message Sandra Matteucci

• John Evey Shares his Vision for ARCS® “Great Achievements” Foundation Endowment Campaign • Project Mercury ARCS® Foundation Website ® Redesign Underway Dear ARCS Foundation Members: • Social Networking for A notice was sent in December to all ARCS ® ARCS Foundation Foundation members announcing a 3-year • ARCS® Foundation $1,000,000 funding campaign to build the National – Who are We? ARCS Foundation National Endowment • Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn, Nobel Laureate, Speaks Fund. at Northern California 40th Since then, we have been working to define the scope and milestones of Anniversary Celebration the campaign and identify bona fide prospective donors in the external corporate and foundations community. In the meantime, the amazing • Chicago Chapter Marks Sandra Matteucci – long-time Phoenix member – presented “Great 30 Years of Support to Achievements” with a gift of $10,000. Other members have also been very generous. We are already off to a good start before ever sending Scholars in the Sciences the first campaign letter!

• Tampa Bay Chapter’s Why are we launching a campaign of this magnitude? Since October Spring Fashion Show 2009 we have chartered new Chapters in Utah, Minneapolis and Tampa Bay (Florida). National spends approximately $30,000 to start and Raises Funds for Science support a new Chapter and in every case that investment is returned Scholars many times over with significant scholar awards to chapter scholars. We have targeted additional new Chapters in regions which would assist • The Days of Shoveling Washington University in St. Louis, Ohio State University, Case Western Out from Blizzards Are Reserve in Cleveland, Vanderbilt, The University of Texas at Austin, Numbered Tulane, and Louisiana State University. We will continue to add to this target list. • Attending a Dissertation Defense Brings Home ARCS In June 2010 the National Board retained a public relations firm to establish a national identity and brand for the ARCS Foundation national Foundation Mission organization and our Chapters -- an extremely critical effort as we • and much more … continue to grow and to increasingly rely on external resources for support. And third, ARCS Foundation has just kicked off the largest project ever

2 An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication in our history. We have selected A Special Thanks … The wonderful NAM meetings West Monroe Partners in Chicago Lifetime Achievers: were instrumental in my to design, develop and operate becoming active in National. I a vastly upgraded website and Sandra Matteucci started attending them from the database – providing much greater (This is the first of a new series very beginning. My first was in efficiencies to National and our to salute our beloved “Lifetime Chicago in 1993, followed by San Chapters, and serving to advance Achievers”. Look for the next Diego, Atlanta, San Francisco, ARCS Foundation within the article in our Fall edition.) Honolulu, Washington DC, general public. Phoenix, Los Angeles, Lubbock, Given this ambitious agenda, it is In 1991 Martha Knight invited Las Vegas, Denver, and Seattle. evident that we must increase the me as her guest to an ARCS® Dottie Simpson of the Seattle National Endowment Fund by at Foundation luncheon at the Chapter and Nadine Carson of the least $1,000,000 by 2014. What Crescent Hotel in Phoenix. She Los Angeles Chapter were a strong this simply means is that we must always looked lovely so I tried inspiration in my early days. and will diversify and EXPAND extra hard and must have done a When I served as 2003 NAM chair, our donor base. Some donors to good job as I was asked to become this campaign will be well-known Judith Miller was another valuable a member of the Phoenix Chapter. to ARCS Foundation, but we will influence. There are many other also tap new realistic sources of National Officers that I respect and funding and build bridges to a new The first ARCS Foundation event I acknowledge their contributions donor community for support of I attended was an overnight field to their Chapters and National. National initiatives benefiting all trip to Glen Canyon Dam. Martha Chapters. arrived at the bus with three pieces Serving on the National board of Louis Vuitton luggage and I had with such dynamic women always Join us at the NAM on June 1-4 my duffel bag. She developed a on Amelia Island for the official encouraged me to do more for announcement and launch of this migraine and I was on my own to this organization. Without the very exciting campaign. socialize, and socialize I did. Now, support of the Phoenix Chapter, 20 years later I have held most of my contributions to National Sincerely, the offices in the Phoenix Chapter. would have been less effective. Mary Snitch, It was an honor to have been Every time I have come up with ARCS Foundation, awarded the Phoenix ARCS Light a National idea, the chapter National President and to be the first time recipient of members have been supportive. the Phoenix ARCS Star. ARCS Foundation became my Ralph Matteucci, my husband, passion some 20 years ago and loved ARCS Foundation and continues with each passing encouraged me to further the year. When not ARCSing, I enjoy mission. I am happy to say we cruising the seven continents. now have the Ralph Matteucci Looking back on two decades, Endowment Scholar Award in one sees many changes. There the Phoenix Chapter. He never is always discussion on how to missed a NAM meeting. We both better our organization. There are became passionate about ARCS many lessons learned from the Foundation. past, lessons that will help steer us Sandra Matteucci, Cruising in towards ensuring lasting legacies Antarctica 2011 for generations yet to come…

An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication 3 John’s background is extensive. He previously served the Scripps Institution of Oceanography as Assistant Director of Scripps and Executive Director of Development for Marine Sciences at the University of California, San Diego. Before that, he was Vice President for Institutional Advancement at the University of the Pacific and spent more than a decade as Director of Development for Oregon State University where Sandra Matteucci, Cruising near Glen Canyon Dam 1991 he was responsible for the entire charitable gift development Remember “Ask not what National can do for you but what you can do program. His accomplishments for National.” are many and we were delighted ARCS® Foundation and Fundraising. Dr. Palmer is to have him share a positive an environmental and wildlife vision for the ARCS Foundation National Annual film producer from American goals in the years to come. John Meeting to be held University and author of the emphasized that we have the acclaimed book Shooting in the perfect organization to set up a June 1-4, 2011 at Wild: An Insider’s Account of campaign that will enhance our Amelia Island Making Movies in the Animal entire organization’s ability to fund Kingdom. raise. The ARCS® Foundation National Be sure not to miss this interesting John is a long time friend of the Annual Meeting: Atlantic meeting which also includes beach San Diego ARCS Foundation Adventure, “Science by the Sea” time, pool time and opportunities Chapter and has known many will be held on Amelia Island, FL, to spend time with a fabulous of their ARCS Scholars. We are June 1-4, 2011. Excitement is in group of wonderful ARCS honored to have John Evey as our the air as we showcase one of Foundation women. advocate and friend. We thank our newest Chapters, Tampa Bay, him for speaking at our National which is providing the panelists John Evey Shares Board Meeting. (an all woman group from the ® University of South Florida, two of his Vision for ARCS whom are ARCS Scholar alumnae) Foundation that will be discussing issues related to Marine Biology. The ARCS® Foundation National Board was pleased to have In addition, we are pleased to John Evey, Vice President for have Dr. Chris Palmer giving the Development at the J. Craig Venter keynote address on “Science Institute located in San Diego, CA, and Communications” as well as attend their meeting in Phoenix on leading workshops on Networking February 11, 2011. Mary Snitch and John Evey

4 An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication Project Mercury goals. “This project will not only The next six phases of the help us achieve many goals in project will take place over the ® ARCS Foundation our long term strategic plan, our next five to six months with a Website Redesign hope is that input from each of Fall, 2011 date for bringing the our 17 Chapters will ensure the new website and database live Underway end product helps our wonderful for users. Several phases will On March 1, 2011, the ARCS® chapter based volunteers in their require active participation by the Foundation “Project Mercury” administrative tasks” said Mary Chapters. These include chapter kicked off with the goal of Snitch, President of the National data migration into the new building a new ARCS Foundation Board of ARCS Foundation, Inc. database, testing for problems prior to the go live date of the public website and developing a With the generous financial new website and also training of database infrastructure to simplify support of Lockheed Martin ARCS Foundation Chapters on workflow for the ARCS Foundation Corporation and ARCS Foundation how to use the new website and Chapters and National office. This Members, ARCS Foundation operational tools. is the largest single project ever was able to enter into contract undertaken by ARCS Foundation negotiations with several select Many thanks to Mary Snitch, ARCS in its over 50 year history. vendors. In late February, ARCS Foundation National President, The project name “Mercury” Foundation signed a contract Lynda Birkelbach and Jennifer was selected because “Mercury” with West Monroe Partners/ Edstrom, Project Managers, was the name of the first human Promet Solutions, a vendor with Ellen Richardson, Chapter space flight program in the United multi-disciplinary experience as Relations, Sue Dindia, Chapter States that ran from 1959-1963 well as capabilities for helping Coordinator, Nancy Spetzler, in response to the Russians’ organizations transform the VP Communications, Jackie launch of “Sputnik”. Mercury way they communicate with Henson and Lynne Brickner who also symbolizes speed in Greek constituents and manage their conducted legal/contract review, mythology and is the innermost organizational assets. and all members of the ARCS Foundation Information Strategy planet of our solar system, moving During the first several weeks of Committee. Most of all, our faster than any other planet. Project Mercury, ARCS Foundation thanks go to representatives of The discussion of the need for Chapters and Board Members each ARCS Foundation Chapter as this project began two years have participated in the “Discovery they provide input and feedback to ago and hundreds of hours Phase”, where each Chapter had the Mercury team; this investment have been spent on determining the opportunity to describe their of time and talent will help us be the project requirements and workflow processes, identify sure that our goals are achieved! selecting the best vendor to join workflow pain points and provide with ARCS Foundation to meet valuable input for the design our organizational and project process.

ARCS® Foundation National Board Meeting, Phoenix, February 2011

An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication 5 Social Networking for and find past scholars. 140 characters per message so it is ideal for quick updates from ® www.LinkedIn.com ARCS Foundation organizations. In fact, the Red Let’s explore our Group: ARCS Cross uses twitter to communicate Foundation with volunteers and victims. Come try social networking with Facebook is our way to connect us… on events and activities with ARCS Foundation Members. It is ARCS® Foundation is now using like your personal address book social networking to help connect where friends can recommend with current, past, and future friends who share personal ARCS Foundation Members and interests. It also allows sites for Scholars. Using these new Multi- groups, events and businesses. Way communications capabilities In Facebook, you specify the www.Twitter.com for interaction, feedback, fast amount of privacy you want. We Let’s explore our site: @ responses, and sharing of recommend starting with the ARCSFoundation (NO spaces!!) information, ARCS Foundation strongest privacy settings. So, is creating its presence on the only share information with your When composing your tweets, major platforms. This will support friends (and not friends of friends use @Person or @Organization- ARCS Foundation Strategic/ or the public). You can change Name (no spaces) to address Marketing Goals of attracting these settings at any time. your tweet, use #Topic (“Hash capital, attracting new members, tags”) to identify your topic, and retaining existing members, and add links to the ARCS Foundation establishing its prestigious and Website to drive traffic towww. professional brand. ARCSFoundation.org.

We will be expanding our We would like to see all ARCS outreach on LinkedIn to encourage Foundation Members try social discussions among ARCS Scholars networking, starting with You! and Members. And, we will have The first step is to create your a subgroup just for members. personal page in each site and Connect and try this professional www.facebook.com then connect to ARCS Foundation on each site. You can be active in directory where the top 500 S&P Let’s explore our Group: ARCS Chapter “Talk” by connecting to companies business directors Foundation are listed. It is a great place to both National and Chapter Sites, Twitter is a fabulous way to establish professional connections inviting others to Chapter Sites, connect with people who are and posting events and activities interested in certain topics. For on the sites. instance, we may want to “Tweet” Please share your experiences with people who follow @NASA with us as you are learning, or @ScienceMagazine, etc. It is try new things and have fun!!! organized like the yellow pages, For more information, contact based on categories of topics. Linda Seefeldt, President, ARCS Messages are relayed in real- Foundation – Tampa Bay Chapter. time and there is a maximum of

6 An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication ARCS® Foundation members of the National Board new Chapters; offering models for must be members of a Chapter Governance (bylaws, endowment, National – and all remain very active in their etc); providing for our current Chapters. The importance of the and new website-in-construction; Who are We? fiduciary duties of care (to act providing Chapters with print in the best interest of National) and marketing materials; hosting and of loyalty (to put aside one’s and collating biennial surveys of ARCS® Foundation National personal views and any conflict our scholars, membership and is an” umbrella” organization of interest, including that of one’s universities; providing Chapter, – composed of members of Chapter, and to instead place University and Membership a National Board of Directors foremost the best interest of Handbooks; establishing external and established in 1959 to National) for the National Board relations to promote ARCS carry out the fund-raising goals directors and officers cannot Foundation as a national presence; initiated by founding Chapter, be emphasized enough as a hosting leadership and job specific Los Angeles, across the country principle of corporate law. In training for chapter members and to assure that uniform our organizational construct, the at the National Annual Meeting; standards of selecting outstanding Chapters have the responsibility providing individual chapter scholars and funding outstanding for the primary purpose of support as needed or requested; educational institutions continued ARCS Foundation - the support and more. National’s work has as new Chapters were organized. of our Scholars within defined been partially funded by modest National provided the use of a geographic areas. The Chapters dues per member (again, initiated uniform identity to the Chapters are not charged with “overseeing” by the Los Angeles Chapter) - of and over time oversaw the orderly or directing National’s policies which 70% is returned for chapter chartering and funding of new and activities - that is the purview support. The remainder of chapter Chapters and maintained the of the National Board, whose support funding – far exceeding standards of quality across all the members carefully consider the income from dues – and support Chapters. Indeed, the three main input from the Chapters (usually of National activities comes from functions of the National Board through their presidents), but self-funding, that is, National are: to support existing Chapters; whose members ultimately have Board fund development, gifts and to develop new Chapters; and to to make decisions founded on the National Endowment maintain uniform standards of their fiduciary duty to National. excellence among the Chapters So, who is National? We are Because of these fiduciary duties, YOU. The National Board exists The hallmark of National is the responsible conclusion for and is organized to serve you and the dedication of our tried and a National Board member is to support you, as a Chapter and an tested chapter leaders who now act and to uphold the continued individual member. All goals and serve on the National Board viability of National to engage in efforts lead to the same place, to and who believe in their heads its mission and goals as defined fulfill our collective mission to and hearts that the sum is and by the National Board, and not as support our best and brightest can be even greater than the “defined” by the Chapters. scholars to “Advance Science in parts. They understand that as To fulfill its mission and goals, America.” directors and officers serving on National provides items and the National Board, they have a Janie Wilson and Lynne Brickner services to the Chapters, to fiduciary duty to act in the best include: establishing a national interests of National, and not of brand; funding and supporting themselves or their Chapters. All

An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication 7 Building Capacity strategy for identifying, targeting questions on the institutional and developing relationships with profile, the scholar award profile, through Partnerships these like-minded organizations. processes and procedures, and There is no doubt about it – ARCS® Our goal is to strategically position organizational relations. ARCS Foundation nationally Foundation women work hard. ARCS Foundation prides itself on for greater impact on STEM- Our remarkable history tells supporting the best and brightest related policy, acquire insights us that we have accomplished American scholars in top-ranked to funding opportunities, and a great deal and we certainly university programs nationwide. enhance visibility with potential continue to do so. Our mission is The survey asked universities partners and collaborators. This vital. Our leaders are dedicated about the ranking of programs initiative emanates from our 2009- and visionary. Our members and scholars, how scholars 2014 Long Range Plan and was are committed. But there are are selected, whether awards endorsed in recommendations limits! We are volunteers. We are are used for recruitment or for by the Science and Engineering limited in number. We exist in 17 continuing students, and whether Advisory Council in their June wonderful, but nonetheless only the notification timing works for 2010 Report. This Task Force will 17, localities at the moment. Given the institution. Universities were present their recommendations for our finite resources, how do we asked whether they preferred a action at the NAM in June. expand our reach and impact? higher dollar amount for each One of the strategies that is Jeanne B. Berdik award even if that meant fewer currently being explored involves National President-Elect and Chair, awards, or a lesser dollar amount reaching out to others who share External Relations Task Force so more students could be our vision and whose work is chosen as ARCS Scholars. They similarly focused on supporting Evaluating the were asked to reflect on their STEM (science, technology, Effectiveness of relationship with the local Chapter and the annual awards event, as engineering and math) education. ® Key Congressional Committees, ARCS Foundation well as communication with the federal agencies such as the As part of the National ARCS® local Chapter and its leadership. National Science Foundation and Foundation’s Long Range Plan, The survey asked each university the National Institutes of Health, an Evaluations Committee was about its familiarity with our and national organizations such as established to implement a six mission and to comment on what The American Association for the year cycle of surveying ARCS ARCS Foundation means to them. Advancement of Science and the Scholars, members, and recipient Forty three surveys were Council on Competitiveness are all universities, in order to determine completed, three were duplicates, potential friends and colleagues our effectiveness and impact on and ten were anonymous. We in our effort to advance science these three groups. are just beginning to analyze the in America and to support the Last fall, a four part survey was responses to determine successes, innovation that is the cornerstone administered to all 52 universities trends, and areas where ARCS of our country’s competitiveness. where ARCS Scholars study. The Foundation can improve. Later The External Relations Task Force, survey asked one person at each in the spring my co-chair Sheila consisting of nine members university, (whose name was Larsen and I will have more of the National Board of ARCS provided by the corresponding specific details to share. Foundation, has been hard at chapter president and university Leslie Workman work since January designing a relations chair) to complete Co-Chair, Evaluations

8 An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication Dr. Elizabeth who made the successes not only Dr. Liz Blackburn who spent possible, but fun and memorable!! considerable one-on-one time with Blackburn, Nobel Special recognition that evening the attendees. went to the Founding Class, those Laureate, Speaks at The main program was ably ladies who had the vision to bring MC’ed by Sydnie Kohara (San Northern California the ARCS Foundation mission to Francisco CBS Channel 5 News th Northern California. In fact, one 40 Anniversary Anchor). After current Chapter of the original members, Bev President, Cynthia Haueter, Celebration Willis, flew in all the way from acknowledged the past Presidents, Connecticut for the event, earning On January 27, 2011, the Northern Judith Miller (past National ® special recognition and applause California Chapter (NCC) of ARCS President), and the many generous for her above-and-beyond Foundation, Inc., celebrated contributors to the event dedication to the Chapter. their 40th Anniversary. The (including major underwriting cornerstone of the evening The Golden Gate Club was an by the Gordon and Betty Moore was the keynote address by Dr. apt location for the celebration Foundation), Donna Miller Casey, Elizabeth Blackburn, the 2009 given it is an historic building read a wonderful and humorous Recipient of the Nobel Prize for which once housed the Enlisted letter from her mother, one of Medicine or Physiology for her Men’s Club when the Presidio was the Founders, then Ann Russell co-discovery of telomerase, an an active Army base. The floor Miller, now Sister Mary Joseph enzyme that plays a key role in to ceiling windows overlooking of the Trinity. This was followed normal cell function, as well as in the sun setting under the Golden by a surprise presentation by Dr. aging and most cancers Gate Bridge was the perfect place Dragutin Petkovic, a naturalized The 40th Anniversary event was to start the evening. Guests Serb who is currently Chairman of a celebration, not only of the who elected to purchase a Nobel the Computer Science Department successes and impact of the Prize Patron level ticket enjoyed at San Francisco State University. Northern California Chapter, but a private champagne reception Dr. Petkovic’s talk “The Story also of its members, those women with the engaging and personable behind Sputnik – the Real Story!”

Cynthia Haueter, NCC President, Bev Willis, Betty Alberts, Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn, Nobel laureate keynote Member of NCC Founding Class, and guest, speaker, Cynthia Haueter, NCC President Wanda Bubriski

An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication 9 was a fascinating look at how One of the goals of the 40th Chicago Chapter recently revealed facts and history Anniversary Celebration was as we knew it don’t always match to raise one Scholar Award (at Marks 30 Years of up!! $10K an award) for each of the Support to University Northern California Chapter’s 6 The highlight of the Program recipient schools. To accomplish of Chicago Scholars was a conversation between this, each school put together an Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn and Dr. in the Sciences auction package which showcased Michael Krasny, host of the award- An April 5 reception given by the something unique about their winning NPR talk show, “Forum”. University of Chicago marked particular institution. The auction The biggest complaint following the 30th year that the Chicago started with a $10K Presidents’ the event was that the 25 minute Chapter of ARCS® Foundation has Challenge to the audience conversation wasn’t long enough! supported graduate students at the (cobbled together by all Northern Apparently Dr. Krasny and Dr. University, including 7 scholars in California Chapter living past Blackburn felt the same, as the the 2010–11 academic year. Presidents and/or the families following Monday, Michael Krasny of those deceased) and finished “The University is grateful to hosted Dr. Blackburn on his radio with a Fund–A-Scholar which had the members of the Chicago program, “First Person”, which members actively raising their Chapter of ARCS Foundation for received national coverage! The paddles. The overall net for the their extraordinary dedication interview can be found at: First evening was an exciting $79,000 and generosity to our students Person: Nobel Prize-winner in support of the ARCS Foundation over the past three decades,” Elizabeth Blackburn, www.kqed. mission! said University Provost Thomas org. F. Rosenbaum. “It is truly exceptional for a donor to provide such sustained support, yet the well-defined aims of the foundation remain vitally important today. From energy to climate change to health care, society’s greatest challenges require scientific understanding and new discoveries. The University is honored to have ARCS Foundation as a partner in developing the scientific leaders of the twenty-first century.”

“The mission of ARCS Foundation is to advance science and technology in America,” said Sue Dindia, president of ARCS Foundation Chicago Chapter, “and by awarding University of Chicago Jill Kramer, past NCC President, Judith Miller, past ARCS® Foundation science scholars over $775,000 in National President, Linda Millard, past NCC President, Mary Beth Starzel, the past 30 years, we believe we past NCC President

10 An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication Holly J. Humphrey, Pritzker School of Medicine Dean for Medical Education and 1982 ARCS Scholar, Mary Snitch, ARCS Foundation National President, Sue Dindia, Chicago Chapter President, Emily Bethea, Pritzker School of Medicine student and ARCS Scholar, and University Of Chicago, Provost Thomas F. Rosenbaum are investing in America’s future. population of patients that may support, and the scholar award has We look forward to partnering with fear the optical or more invasive connected me to a great group of the University for many years to colonoscopy, but may agree to a women.” come.” virtual screening.” A first author Past University recipients of scholar on “Comparison of Polyp Size One example of the profound awards from the Chicago Chapter and Volume in CT Colonography: impact ARCS scholar awards of ARCS Foundation include Holly Implications for Follow Up CTC,” can have is the work of Pritzker J. Humphrey, MD’83, Pritzker’s published in the American Journal School of Medicine fourth-year dean for medical education, of Roentgenology in 2009, she Emily Bethea who wants to who received the award in 1982. has been able to continue her improve preventive care. She’s “Medical school has always been research throughout her medical focused on colon cancer. To an expensive endeavor,” Humphrey school career—in part because ensure that more patients are says. “The scholar award helped of a $10,000 scholar award she’s diagnosed before the disease me meet two goals simultaneously: received for the past two years has progressed to an incurable one was to reduce my medical from ARCS Foundation, Inc. stage, she does research that school bills and the second was to Bethea is extremely grateful for her charts the effectiveness of virtual dedicate time to pursue an area of ARCS Foundation award: “I wanted colonoscopies. “This non-invasive research in which I was interested.” to research a topic that readily outpatient procedure could be correlated to patient practice and another venue for screening,” said also focused on preventive care. Bethea, “possibly targeting the It’s really nice to have the financial

An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication 11 Tampa Bay Chapter’s & Well Dressed. The goal of the role in fostering future leaders in fashion show was to raise at least science, engineering, and medical Spring Fashion Show $30,000 for scholar awards for research. We’re excited to have so Raises Funds for students enrolled in the Cancer many passionate members of our Biology Ph.D. program at Moffitt community step up and support Science Scholars Cancer Center in the College of Arts young researchers at USF whose On March 18, 2011, ARCS® and Sciences and the College of work will help change our lives Foundation Tampa Bay Chapter Marine Sciences at the University for the better.” Denise Walthers held its 2nd Annual Fashion of South Florida. The highlight of serves on the steering committee and Fun - Down to a Science the show occurred when a guest for the Tampa Bay Chapter of ARCS Fashion Show at the Renaissance offered to be the first Named ARCS Foundation and is also the author International Plaza Hotel in Tampa. Foundation Scholar Award Donor of Ten Steps to Success. She is One hundred and seventy five for the Tampa Bay Chapter! currently writing her second book, Ten Steps to Style, and designed people attended the event which “Our nation’s competitiveness the newly launched Houdini was chaired by Denise Walthers, depends on our ability to Dress that many of the models president of the DW Group and produce greater numbers of are wearing in different wrapped executive vice president of Kara scientists and researchers,” said styles. Vita, and featured the 2011 Spring Walthers. “Organizations like Collection from Kit’s Well Heeled ARCS Foundation play a key

Joyce Cotton and Denise Walthers, Tampa Bay Chapter Founding Members

12 An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication The Days of Shoveling Snowplow Competition on January at work promoting collegiate 29 and 30, 2011 in conjunction with undergraduate and graduate Out from Blizzards Are The Saint Paul Winter Carnival science, engineering, and math Numbered which was celebrating its 125th development” says Dr. Suneel anniversary dubbed “The Coolest Sheikh, ION North Star Section Minnesota Chapter Volunteers Celebration on Earth”. On a snow Outreach Chair and an ARCS® at the Autonomous Snowplow course located in downtown St. Foundation Metro Washington Competition in St. Paul Paul, the students used GPS, Chapter Scholar Alumnus. “These As parts of the USA were paralyzed laser, sonar, and camera-based competitions are integral in the by record snowfall this season, navigation to guide snowplows growth of new scientific ideas and college student scientists were in this determination of which concepts which eventually affect at work creating a future where robotic concept would be the most the day to day lives of the public.” effective. back-breaking shoveling would The schools – University of be obsolete. Students from six Modeled after ION’s annual Minnesota, Dunwoody College Midwestern universities were competition which spurred the of Technology, University of frantically putting the final touches development of mass-market Michigan–Dearborn, Ohio on the future of snow management robotic lawnmowers, it is hoped University, Wright State University, – robotic snowplows. that the Autonomous Snowplow and Miami University of Ohio, The students’ hard work was Competition will be the trigger competed for awards, prize money put to the test at the Institute of to drive the development of and recognition in the scientific Navigation’s (ION) Autonomous robotic snowplows. “ION is hard navigation community. When the

Dr. Suneel Sheikh, ARCS Scholar Alumnus, Jan Hacker Minnesota Chapter Member, Chanel Wright, Jen Grey, Minnesota Chapter Member, Kristen Sheikh Minnesota Chapter Member, Jake Flanagin, and Amy Thul

An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication 13 competition was over the students St. Paul Winter Carnival. Because teams, our first two ARCS Scholars, from Ohio University won first ARCS Foundation is so new to the Coty Jen and Justin Levandoski, place and also took home the area many people had not heard both from the University of Golden Shovel award for best of us and were very interested in Minnesota, were able to participate Student Presentation. Miami learning more about the Chapter. and walk in the St. Paul Winter University of Ohio took second This was a great opportunity to get Carnival Grand Day Parade proudly place and Dunwoody College of out, volunteer, and promote ARCS wearing their ARCS Foundation Technology won third prize. Foundation. medals and carrying the ARCS Foundation banner. This was the inaugural event Jenny Edstrom, President of for the Autonomous Snowplow the Minnesota Chapter, was The Autonomous Snowplow Competition and the ARCS a judge at the opening night Competition and ARCS Foundation Foundation Minnesota Chapter student presentations portion of have already been asked back by was happy to participate. It was the competition. Jenny, along the St. Paul Winter Carnival for a great fit for our young Chapter, with eight other judges from the the 2012 celebration! Please visit combining science and technology fields of engineering, sat and www.autosnowplow.com for more with the cold snowy winters of listened to the in-depth technical information and to see all the Minnesota. ARCS Foundation presentations by the students. photos, videos, and press coverage members set up a promotion booth She also spoke to the audience from this fun event. at the event to display literature, about ARCS Foundation and its by Kristen Sheikh and meet and talk with the wide- involvement in the fields of science Minnesota Chapter ranging group of spectators and technology. VP Communications who came to the Autonomous Along with the Minnesota Chapter and Public Relations Snowplow Competition and the members and the competing

University of Michigan-Dearborn snowplow working the course while the spectators watch.

14 An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication Los Angeles Chapter of forward thinking aircraft. Today Seattle Chapter Visits they are manufacturing the drones Visits Lockheed that are flying over Iraq and Washington State Martin’s Skunk Works Afghanistan. They also conceived University Department and built the Stealth aircraft ® Fifty-six Los Angeles ARCS which are flying as undetected as of Plant Pathology Foundation members, their friends, possible over war zones. As this Recently, the ARCS® Foundation and spouses recently journeyed is still a top security base, behind Seattle Chapter University out to Palmdale to have a tour of all the locked doors we could only Relations Committee and other Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works. imagine the new devices and space ARCS Foundation members met Skunk Works was the super secret craft that many of us will never with department chairs and their facility during WWII where the even read about but are being built assistants at the University of P38’s and other fighter aircraft to keep us safe. It was quite a day. Washington (UW) and Washington including the first supersonic State University (WSU) to hear Fighters were built. They were April 4th will find the ARCS how the universities used their constructed under a circus tent Foundation Los Angeles ARCS scholar awards allotment right in the middle of a corn field Chapter in Pasadena visiting the during the 2010 recruiting season. in Burbank at what is now known earthquake lab of Lucy Jones, as the Bob Hope Airport. Knowing head seismologist of Cal Tech. Dr. In general, the top five percent of the security when we fly now, can Jones is the woman who has been PhD candidates in each academic you manage a world 60+ years on TV describing the dynamics of discipline receive offers from many ago where tight security was not earthquakes following the tragedy highly-ranked universities around needed for these super secret, in Japan. As our members in Los the country. ARCS Foundation cutting edge, war winning, aircraft? Angeles live on the Pacific “Ring of scholar awards are a crucial part of Lockheed Martin has left their Fire”, they know the next “Big One” the package of benefits that the UW circus tent in Burbank but they is coming. Hopefully they will gain and WSU must offer to compete have not abandoned the concept some greater insight as to what for these top students. Prospective they can do to protect themselves. students are eager to learn about ARCS Foundation through our website and are excited about the financial award and the prestige of being named an ARCS Scholar. It signals to them that they are valued by the department. Top students in turn bring many benefits to a department, such as securing national grants to fund their research.

In January, ARCS Foundation Seattle Chapter Board members carpooled to Mt. Vernon to visit the WSU Research and Extension Los Angeles Chapter members and friends visit Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works. Center and met with local Skagit Valley growers as well as faculty

An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication 15 and graduate students in the WSU Department of Plant Pathology.

WSU has research centers in Wenatchee, Prosser, Puyallup and Mt. Vernon, in addition to the main campus in Pullman. At Mt. Vernon, 18 graduate students focus their research on plant diseases, pests and weed science in fresh and processed fruits and vegetables. They provide an invaluable Tom Might, Daniel Farrell, ARCS Scholar, Diane resource to the local growers who Might, Phoenix Chapter Member harvest over 60 types of specialty crops in the valley and produce Attending a My husband and I had the honor 50% of the US supply and 20-50% of supporting Daniel Farrell, a of the world supply of seed for 35 Dissertation Defense biophysics PhD candidate from vegetables. Brings Home ARCS® . Please see his e-mail below that invited us ARCS Foundation visitors enjoyed Foundation Mission to attend his dissertation defense. a tour of the new center, heard By ARCS Foundation Phoenix It warms the soul to know that presentations by the Director of Chapter Member: Diane Might our donation helped him in his the Center and students, and had enormous undertaking. Daniel’s lunch with faculty, students and At the Phoenix Chapter ARCS® defense was flawless, and his local growers. Board members Foundation Awards Dinner findings have huge implications for were impressed by the excellence attendees receive a great overview protein research. His intelligence, of the Plant Pathology Department of how our scholars intend to push wit, passion and enthusiasm came and the graduate students who the frontiers of human knowledge. through clearly. There is no doubt presented their research. The However, if you have the honor of that Daniel will do great good as department has been invited attending a scholar’s dissertation he goes into the world of his post to apply to become the fourth defense, you get the opportunity doc and beyond. We are extremely department that ARCS Foundation to see what they have actually grateful that ARCS Foundation funds at WSU. accomplished, due in part to the provides a vehicle to support such ARCS Foundation Scholar Awards. deserving young men and women.

Daniel came up with a geometric targeting method to computerize the folding and unfolding of proteins faster and more efficiently than other methods. Proteins are the basis of life, and this ability to examine their atomic pathways via computerization will lead to breakthroughs in the understanding of diseases and Seattle Chapter visits WSU Department of Plant Pathology. cures.

16 An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication It was a delight to meet Daniel’s “Our family home was in Uruguay, wonderful parents, Jill and Daniel. San Diego but I was born in Greenwich, It was immediately clear how ® CT, while my mom pursued her Daniel was able to achieve so much ARCS Master’s degree in New York. after meeting them. Ironically, we After my brother was born, my lived very near the Farrell’s when parents decided to move back we were in the Washington D.C. Scholar home to Montevideo. I lived area 17 years ago, but it was ARCS in Uruguay until I finished high Foundation almost 3000 miles Alumna school, and then I chose to pursue away that brought us together. Aerospace Engineering. This Spotlight decision posed a problem, as there is no Aerospace Engineering Hi, Diane, in Uruguay. Although Uruguay This is Dan Farrell, the ASU on Cecilia was a good place to grow up, it student that you supported a few was time to move on to a place years back with an ARCS scholar Larossa that offered me new challenges. award. Although it has taken way ARCS® Foundation members, The United States offered me longer than I wanted, it is now myself included, are often curious those new challenges that I am finally time for me to graduate! I about where our Scholars go after now happy to be facing every day. will be turning in my dissertation they finish their degrees, and It offers me a place to work and in about a week and a half, and what direction their involvement to study in a field that fascinates then 2 weeks later I defend my with science and technology has me, the opportunity to continue dissertation. The project I’ve taken. It is especially interesting the sport I love (surfing), and been working on for so long to learn about the pathways of the ability to learn and interact finally worked out, and I have one our few ARCS Scholars getting with people from many different accepted publication, with another undergraduate degrees in countries. paper submitted and awaiting engineering since they often go While working 40-50 hours a review, and a third that is in on to further academic study. In week to support myself, I attended preparation. Also, I found a great the following article, one of our San Diego State University for postdoctoral research position successes tells her story. To be a my undergraduate degree in with Ken Dill at UC San Francisco, female Ph.D. student at Stanford Aerospace Engineering. In my a renowned expert in protein in Aerospace Engineering is a last year at SDSU, I was chosen research and other theoretical stunning achievement in itself, and for the ARCS Scholar Award, biophysics topics. The research I am sure she will go on to many which allowed me to stop working sounds very exciting and I can’t more great things. We can all be and focus on research and wait to move on to new things! proud to have helped her in the graduate school applications. I I would like to invite you and early stages of her career. Enjoy applied and was accepted into Tom to the public portion of my reading what Cecilia Larossa, ! I finished my dissertation defense, … Let me 2006-2007 San Diego ARCS Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace know if you think you might be Scholar, has to say about her life Engineering in May 2007 as an able to make it! and her work. ARCS Scholar. I then completed a Master of Science degree in Dan Candace Kohl, Ph.D. San Diego Chapter President the Aeronautics and Astronautics Department at Stanford University

An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication 17 in December 2008. During this maintenance. In other words, Astro Department, and I am time, I realized that there is still we are developing the tools for a currently a Zonta International much more to be learned. That smart structure; it will know when Amelia Earhart Fellow. is why I am currently working it has been damaged, how the As for long-term goals, I believe on my Ph.D. in Integrated Health damage will affect performance, that the Ph.D. program at Stanford Management for Composite and what to do about it. will be the final step toward my Structures at the Structures and Here at Stanford, I am involved pursuit of a career in academia. Composites Laboratory (SACL) at in the AIAA (American Institute Discovering new concepts and Stanford University. of Aeronautics and Astronautics) explanations is meaningless if My research is under Prof. Fu- student chapter and LEGOS the knowledge gained cannot Kuo Chang. My specific task is (Latin Engineering Graduate be shared with other people. to model and simulate damage Organization at Stanford) where I As a professor, I will have the propagation within composite organize and attend many social opportunity to conduct cutting- structures. The main idea is that, and networking events. In the edge research, to mentor and given a structure with embedded last few years, I have received a guide students and to promote sensors, we can quantify damage, few awards, such as the Stanford the importance of science and calculate the new strength of Aeronautics and Astronautics engineering to the community.” the structure, and simulate Graduate Fellowship, the Robert H. Cecilia Larrosa future loads to estimate when Cannon Junior Summer Doctoral San Diego ARCS Scholar Alumna the structure will fail or need Fellowship from Stanford’s Aero/

Cecilia Larossa San Diego ARCS Scholar Alumna

18 An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication Atlanta ARCS® Scholar Alumnus Spotlight on Franklin West If you have ever wondered whether our investments in young scientists were worthwhile, Dr. Franklin West’s presentation at the January Business meeting Dr. Robert M. Franklin, President Morehouse College, Dr. Franklin West, ARCS of the ARCS® Foundation Atlanta Scholar Alumnus, and Dr. Cheryl G. Franklin, Atlanta Chapter Member Chapter would have more than reassured you. How proud we applications include developing where over 90% of the cells were all were to hear from Dr. West disease models, toxicology germ cells. screening and cell therapy. During about his groundbreaking work There is a long and varied list of our meeting, we were treated to in the field of stem cell research! problems that can be impacted a primer in stem cell and germ Dr. West received his ARCS by this research. Germ cell cell research learning much about Scholar Award in 2002 while lines provide real promise for the future and the important work pursuing his undergraduate a high percentage of couples being done by Dr. West at UGA. studies at Morehouse College. experiencing infertility. Screening He completed his PhD in stem Currently, there is not a good toxins with stem cell derived cell biology at the University of model to study germ cells derived germ cells have been used to Georgia (UGA) in 2008. He is from stem cells. Tissues for study toxins like Agent Orange, now an Assistant Professor in the study are limited and there is the Vietnam era toxin that is Regenerative Bioscience Center no human model. This deficit still causing malformations in of the Rhodes Center for Animal presents a significant challenge Vietnamese children today. and Dairy Sciences at UGA where leading Dr. West and his team to Additionally, the Bill and Melinda he works alongside his mentor Dr. seek new means of developing Gates Foundation supports work Steve Stice. a homogeneous germ cell line. in Africa and Asia using domestic Presidents and the Pope have Recently Dr. West’s group was livestock stem cells to breed publicly commented on the able to maintain cells in continual animals who are more resistant to promise of stem cells. Yet in many culture through twenty splits over avian and swine flu. 180 days. This is the first time ways they remain a mystery. Named by Georgia Trend as one this has been accomplished! They Stem cells have the capacity of Georgia’s best and brightest were also able to create a culture to save and improve lives – 40 under 40, Franklin West has

An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication 19 attracted the attention of laymen be exciting to follow his progress. Next Issue and scientific leaders throughout Dr. West expressed his heartfelt the country. He certainly held gratitude for our support and The launch our rapt attention as he made his encouraged us to continue to research accessible to those of us inspire young investigators with of the “Great without scientific backgrounds. our philanthropy. Our investment in Dr. Franklin Achievements” by Kathryn Graves West has already reaped great Atlanta Chapter Member Endowment benefits for mankind and it will Campaign, progress on the Project Mercury Website Redesign, and details of NAM will be featured in the Fall ACHIEVEMENTS Newsletter. ARCS® Foundation National Board Meeting, Phoenix, February 2011

An ARCS® Foundation National News Publication

Mary Snitch, ARCS® Foundation, Inc. President, ARCS Foundation A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Nancy Spetzler, Tax ID 23-7373079 VP Communications, 4005 Wisconsin Avenue, NW ARCS Foundation P. O. Box 39105 R. J. Martin Washington, DC 20016-9998 Newsletter Editor Email: [email protected] Contributors: Website: www.arcsfoundation.org All ARCS Foundation Chapters ARCS is Registered in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

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