Utah State GREATS www.usu.edu/greats 2008 research hands-on learning outreach alumni location

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The Measure and Means for All that is Great

The year 2008 has been another great year for Utah State University. We have good reason to celebrate the many accomplishments of our students and faculty. We are proud of the continued excellence and contributions this great university makes to the state and the world. It is a tribute to the spirit and pride that identifies and distinguishes us as Aggies. It is a reflection of world-class research and teaching that provides our students exceptional value through high-quality, hands-on experiences. It is a promise of a higher education in the truest sense of that word.

Compiled in this booklet, you will find examples of great heights achieved by our students and faculty that are well worth noting. Accomplishments such as:

• A grand prize rocket launch win from NASA. Our engineering students took home five of seven awards at the national competition. • The recognition of more than 500 USU students who, since 1975, have conducted research supported by the Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunities grant program. From metal sculpture to chokecherry seed propagation and whirling disease in trout, real-life problems are explored and solved by our undergraduates. • USU alum Brandon Schrand received the Barnes & Noble ‘Discover Great New Writers’ Award for his memoir, The Enders Hotel. • Top prize earned by undergraduate Katie Fotheringham for an impressive kitchen design in the student category of the Sub-Zero and Wolf Appliance, Inc. Kitchen Design Competition. • USU-licensed technology that now allows road crews to replace entire bridges in a single weekend. The reduced road closures and detours of a bridge installed at I-215 in Salt Lake City saved $4 million in road construction costs and cut construction time down from six months to a single weekend. • USU’s world-acclaimed Fry Street Quartet performed Utah’s first complete Beethoven String Quartet Cycle. It was a musical marathon this fall that would normally occur over the course of a year but was accomplished in just two weeks. • Deserved recognition for a student-run organization, Aggie Blue Bikes, that benefits the environment and promotes good health. The idea started in 2005 to attack air quality problems in Cache Valley. The program that checks bikes out to students free of charge, has grown from nine to approximately 120 bicycles in just three years.

These highlights showcase the varied and diverse abilities of the students, faculty and staff at our great institution. In an effort to increase USU’s success, I was pleased to announce a comprehensive fundraising campaign with a goal of $200 million in March 2007. We successfully reached and surpassed that four- year goal in the first year of the campaign. As a result of the early success, the university has extended the length and increased the dollar amount of the campaign’s goals to $400 million.

I deeply appreciate the generous gifts and donations, large and small, that have come to USU over the past 12 months. At any time, particularly during these challenging economic times, we know that giving is not done without careful thought. The decision to invest in higher education is truly a reflection of foresight and vision — for it is a gift to the future that benefits students for generations to come.

My special thanks to our students, faculty, staff, alumni and all our generous supporters of the past year. It is you who provided the measure and means for all we know that is great about Utah State.

Stan L. Albrecht President, Utah State University

Table of Contents

5 USU-Logan Recognized for Academics, Safety, Affordability 7 Three Great Gifts for Utah State University 9 Sculpture Completes Award-Winning Building 11 Sharing the Roaded Landscape 13 A Fighting Chance 15 Minding the (Sediment) Budget: Watershed Sciences Student Honored for Snake River Study 17 Discovering Wetlands: New Building at Utah Botanical Center will Engage Children in Learning and Environmental Stewardship 19 English Department Alum Receives Barnes & Noble ‘Discover Great New Writers’ Award 21 USU Paramount in Life of 100-Year-Old Graduate 23 USU-Licensed Technology Saves Utah Drivers Time and Money 25 Utah State University’s Interior Design Program is Cookin’ 27 A Great, Pretty Place: Logan Makes Several “Best Places” Lists 29 What Diet? Dietetic Students Teach Community How to Eat Healthier without Dieting 31 A New Name, A New Era of Leadership: USU Renames its Highly Ranked College: Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services 33 Wiki Textbook Teaches Students More than Physiology 35 ‘Green’ Plastic: Engineering Student Recycles Dairy Waste to Create Biodegradable Plastic 37 A Multicultural Messiah: Well-Known Production Takes on New Dimensions for USU Students, Community 39 Seeking Weapons of Mass Reduction 41 All Paths Lead to Art 43 Mr. September: USU Engineering Student Takes Home Best of Show 45 USU Engineering Student Gets Smart with Prestigious $75,000 Scholarship 47 The Landscape of Success — Legendary Teaching 49 A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words 51 USU Students Lift Off with Grand Prize Rocket Launch Win from NASA 53 Teaching from Experience 55 USU Home to ‘Golden Scholars’ 57 Taking Music to the Community 59 Head in the Clouds, Feet on the Ground 61 Undergraduate Research Reigns at USU 63 A Lifelong Gift 65 Art Alum Sculpts Memories into Memorial Tribute 67 Challenging Science, Challenging Students 69 Regional Campus Opens Path to Med School 71 The Price is Right 73 Taking Aggie Athletics to New Heights 75 Ignoring Limits 77 Aggie Blue Bikes: Student-Run Organization Benefits the Environment and Promotes Good Health 79 Blue Goes Green 81 Students Participate in International Service Project While Preserving USU History 83 Ag Gymnast Founds Nonprofit to Fight Poverty in Africa 85 USU Students Head to Mexico and Make a Difference 87 WRDC at USU Improving Rural America 89 Changing the World One Drop at a Time

Editor’s Note: Utah State Greats 2008 is a compilation of news and feature stories from December 2007 through November 2008. Dates referenced in these stories reflect the time in which they were written.

7 USU-LOGAN RECOGNIZED FOR ACADEMICS, SAFETY, AFFORDABILITY

with prime location – scenic and safe,” Coward said. “We know our safe and beautiful mountain valley setting is a sure draw for both our faculty arents of prospective students, take note: and students. How fortunate we are to be able to P combine these distinctions with our impressive list Utah State University and Logan City are sure, affordable and safe bets. of academic achievements, including this year’s (2007) Carnegie Professor of the Year.” The Logan region topped the rankings, once again, as the safest U.S. metropolitan area for 2007, according to City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America. In addition, Logan is also ranked among the Top 10 of the nation’s “most secure places to live,” according to rankings compiled by the Farmers Insurance Group.

USU was also ranked in the Top 10 “most affordable” college markets in the nation, according to a new report.

Best yet, students can combine a safe environment with an outstanding learning environment in light of other notable national academic recognitions during the past year, including U.S. News and World Report magazine once again naming USU’s College of Education and Human Services among the top tier of colleges of education in the nation, said Raymond T. Coward, USU executive vice president and provost.

“We enjoy an enviable pairing of world- The Logan region topped the rankings, once again, as the safest U.S. metropolitan area for 2007, according to City Crime Rankings: Crime class research and hands-on learning in Metropolitan America.

7 in the nation as the safest U.S. metropolitan area st(City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America, 14th edition, November, 2007) among all universities in the nation in money spent on aerospace research and development (National Science Foundation’s report based on fiscal year 2004 research expenditures) among all national public universities for graduates with least debt (U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges, 2008 edition)

Report: America’s Best Graduate Schools, 2007 Rankings of Note: 2008 edition) • Top 10 most affordable college markets for 1• 1st in the nation as the safest U.S. home prices in 2007 (Third Annual Coldwell metropolitan area (City Crime Rankings: Banker College Home Price Comparison Crime in Metropolitan America, 14th edition, Index, Nov. 6, 2007) November, 2007) • Top 35 overall score among public national • 5th in the nation as the most secure among universities based on social mobility, small towns (Farmers Insurance Group, research and service (The Washington December, 2007) Monthly, September 2007)

• 1st among all universities in the nation in • Top 20 among land-grant universities in money spent on aerospace research and the nation and in the top 10 non-medical development (National Science Foundation’s land-grant universities for federal research report based on fiscal year 2004 research revenue generated (National Science expenditures) Foundation’s report based on fiscal year 2004 research expenditures) • 1st among all national public universities for graduates with least debt (U.S. News • Top 100 among all public institutions in the & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges, nation for total research revenue generated 2008 edition) (National Science Foundation’s report based on fiscal year 2004 research expenditures) • 2nd in the nation in total research dollars received by a college: USU’s College of • Best Value College (The Princeton Review, Education and Human Services (U.S. News 2008 edition) and World Report: America’s Best Graduate Schools, 2008 edition) Writer: John DeVilbiss, 435-797-1358, [email protected] • 26th in the nation overall against all graduate December 2007 colleges of education (U.S. News and World

8 9 THREE GREAT GIFTS FOR UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

Utah State University had a record year in fundraising thanks to many generous donations from givers at all levels. USU President Stan L. Albrecht announced in March 2007 that the university would launch a comprehensive campaign with a goal of raising $200 million to fund people, programs and places at the university. Now, nine months into the campaign (December Jon and Karen Huntsman announce $26 million gift in December 2007. 2007), the outpouring of support has exceeded all expectations. Research Center. The building will become a state-of-the-art, The campaign reached momentum in October high-tech educational facility to train students 2007 with a $15 million gift from Marc and Debbie in business, entrepreneurship, accounting, Bingham for the Uintah Basin Campus, followed by engineering, water management, natural resources, a nearly $26 million gift from Jon M. Huntsman in environmental policy and other programs. early December 2007 to start the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at USU. The year has topped off “Mr. Bingham’s contribution will have lasting effects with a $25 million gift from The Emma Eccles Jones on the educational culture and environment in the Foundation that is going to support USU’s College Uintah Basin,” said USU President Stan L. Albrecht. of Education and Human Services. “It will raise the level of education and the quality of life in the Basin. But, most important for the USU Receives $15 Million Gift for community, it will support Utah State University’s Uintah Basin Campus Center broader effort to help the Basin recruit its own, educate its own and return them to the local (October 2007) community as educated citizens, business people and leaders.” Utah entrepreneur and businessman Marc Bingham

and his wife, Debbie, donated $15 million to Utah The design and programming phase of the State University’s Uintah Basin campus to fund Entrepreneurship and Energy Research Center construction of an Entrepreneurship and Energy begins in fall 2007 with construction starting in early 2008 and occupancy expected in 2009.

The building will create a dynamic new research component for the Uintah Basin, Albrecht said.

Huntsmans Give Nearly $26 Million to Utah State University (December 2007)

An architectural drawing of the Entrepreneurship and Jon M. Huntsman announced that he and his wife, Energy Research Center in Vernal. Karen H. Huntsman, are giving nearly $26 million to 8 9 Utah State University. USU President Stan L. Albrecht said $25 million will go to the School of Business, and approximately $1 million will be used as scholarship support for USU students from Armenia.

In recognition of the gift, the College of Business has changed its name to the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business.

Albrecht called Huntsman one of the nation’s outstanding leaders and philanthropists. Emma Eccles Jones reading to children.

“We are deeply appreciative of the Huntsman family and their dedication to higher “The College of Education and Human Services is education in Utah,” Albrecht said. “The impact of already renowned nationally, and this gift culminates this generous gift will be felt not only by the College a long-term relationship between the College, the of Business but by the entire university. The Jon Foundation, and its founder, Emma Eccles Jones,” M. Huntsman School of Business will help our said USU President Stan L. Albrecht. students prepare to become tomorrow’s leaders — locally, regionally, nationally and globally.” “Jones’s legacy is one of dedication to the education of teachers and children,” said Albrecht. Jon Huntsman praised the university and its “This gift is a fitting tribute to her.” College of Business. “This College is among the elites in the country in “Utah State University is a beautiful and most- both academics and in the impact of its programs unique academy for higher education in America,” on people in our state and across the nation,” said Huntsman said. “Our family is deeply honored to be Albrecht. “This gift will allow the College to continue intricately bonded with its school of business. We to excel — and continue the work that Emma loved.” shall provide every possible means to continue its growth toward a world-class institution.” Carol Strong, dean of the College, said this significant gift reflects the strengths of the programs The Emma Eccles Jones and the commitment of faculty in the College to making a difference in peoples’ lives. Foundation Gives $25 Million Gift to USU’s College of Education Strong said the support of The Emma Eccles Jones and Human Services Foundation has been a key factor in the national (December 2007) accolades the college has received. For the past nine years, the college has been ranked in the top Utah State University announced that The Emma two percent of graduate programs nationally by Eccles Jones Foundation is making a $25 million U.S. News and World Report. This past year, it gift to USU’s College of Education and Human ranked 26th in a field of more than 1,200 colleges of Services. The gift will be used for construction of an education, and was second in the nation in research additional education and research building and to funding generated by its faculty. fund a number of endowed professorships in early Writer: Maren Cartwright, 435-797-1355, childhood education. [email protected] December 2007

10 11 SCULPTURE COMPLETES AWARD-WINNING BUILDING

and the arts at Utah State. As individuals and as founding members of the Marie Eccles Caine Foundation, they have contributed to he Manon Caine Russell Kathryn Caine the education of hundreds, if not thousands, WanlassT Performance Hall at Utah State of the university’s students while providing the University has been called the jewel of the foundation of the region’s cultural offerings. university’s arts facilities. Now, the completion of They were instrumental, through the Marie the sculptural installation “Passacaglia” puts an Eccles Caine Foundation, in the establishment exclamation point on a project that came straight of the Caine School of the Arts in the College of from the heart. Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at USU. But their gift of the Performance Hall to the university Perhaps that should be hearts — plural — was a private one, one they believed in from the because many were involved. But it was the love, project’s inception. At the time, it was the largest dedication and vision of two women that inspired individual gift in the university’s history. many, guaranteeing a beautiful addition to the campus environment. While “Passacaglia” completes the Performance Hall, the structure has already earned accolades Kathryn Caine Wanlass and Manon Caine for its design. The building opened Thursday, Russell, sisters, have long supported education Jan. 12, 2006, and is the first on campus designed specifically for chamber music. It seats 431 audience members and a maximum of 22 musicians on its stage. And, its technical elements are astounding. There are 18-inch thick concrete walls that fully insulate the interior of the hall. There are adjustable curtains and canopies that contribute to the acoustic excellence. Small vents under every seat ensure silent air flow. The details of the building’s planning and construction go on and on.

Lead architect for the Performance Hall was Vinicius Gorgati of Sasaki Associates, Inc. He said he designed the building as if it were a public work Guests view the completed sculpture in the lobby of the Performance Hall. of art. In a tribute to the (Photo provided by USU’s Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art) 10 11 distinctive scenery of Cache Valley, the front The museum, under Rowe’s leadership, has façade is wrapped in a wrinkled zinc skin that curatorial oversight of the sculpture. mimics the folds of the Bear River Mountains. The sculpture’s name — “Passacaglia” — derives “We wanted the hall to look like it grew out of from a musical form related to dance. The the landscape,” said Gorgati’s colleague, master sculpture is composed of geometric forms — a planner Ricardo Dumont. dance of triangles transform into larger geometric units that then expand into a counter rhythm of “The Performance Hall has a vulnerability, an contoured panels, Rowe said. openness, a delicacy to it,” “Passacaglia” creator and Bay Area artist Ann Preston said. “It doesn’t “The steel elements sparkle, reflecting light and sit there like a bank or a city hall with four feet provide a contrast of texture with the velvety warm planted on the ground. It allows you to think your grey patina of the tetrahedral forms,” she said. own thoughts and feel your own feelings.” “Standing before it, the viewer is simultaneously With its detailed planning and painstaking awed by its scale and captivated by its presence. installation, “Passacaglia” was completed in Yet, somehow it intrigues more than overpowers, September 2007. Elements of the sculpture entreating its audience to return and look again.” extend from the wall into the floor of the lobby and continue beyond the interior of the building “The benefits of this gift will be experienced in and its glass walls into the plaza. perpetuity,” USU President Stan L. Albrecht said at the Performance Hall dedication. “We want The piece is constructed of geometric forms that to thank Kathryn Caine Wanlass and Manon evolve in a mathematical and organic sequence. Caine Russell for the generous gift that makes this world-class performance hall possible. This “The sculpture takes on a presence of premier venue will make an enormous difference mechanical accuracy balanced against organic, in the academic, professional and personal lives nature-like forms rendered in burnished and of our students and faculty.” molded steel and mottled suede-like grey panels,” said Victoria Rowe, director of USU’s Writer: Patrick Williams, 435-797-1354, Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art. [email protected] January 2008

Critical acclaim and honors for the Manon Caine Russell Kathryn Caine Wanlass Performance Hall:

• “Achieving the Art of Acoustics – The grand opening of Utah State University’s new performance hall was just that — grand — because the building fits that description in every way.” Intermountain Contractor (March 1, 2006)

• Merit Award from the American Institute of Architects, California Council. (Oct. 2007)

• Outstanding Campus Architecture, Chronicle of Higher Education. (Feb. 23, 2007) (photo by Robert Preston) • “Great architecture is not born solely from a drafting table and blueprints. More often it originates from • American Institutes of Architects, Utah Chapter, list a delicate mix of visionary benefactors, a dedicated of Utah’s Best Buildings (along with Old Main, a purpose, a supportive community, and, of course, campus landmark). (April 2007) talented design professionals. All these elements contributed to the construction of the Manon Caine • Best Architecture Project, Intermountain Contractor. Russell Kathryn Caine Wanlass Performance Hall.” Jeremy Pugh, Utah Style and Design Magazine • Best Mechanical/Electrical Project, Intermountain (Winter 2007) Contractor.

• Honor Award, Utah Chapter of the American • “Coolest Cache Structures,” (number six), The Institutes of Architects. (Oct. 2006) Herald Journal.

12 13 SHARING THE ROADED LANDSCAPE

Most motorists can offer a deer-in-the- headlights story, in which they’ve been forced to hit the brakes, swerve or survey the damage of a sudden, white- knuckle encounter with wildlife in the roadway.

Utah State University researchers are exploring solutions to make the nation’s four million miles of roaded USU wildlife ecologist Patricia Cramer pauses at a wildlife crossing installed under Highway landscape safer for all 89-91 in Utah’s Wellsville Canyon. creatures – human and beast. influence the demographics and evolution of

Wildlife-vehicle collisions account for an animals and plants.” average of 200 human deaths in the United States each year, says Patricia Cramer, a Cramer and colleague John Bissonette, professor research ecologist with USU’s Department of in the Department of Wildland Resources and Wildland Resources. Nonhuman vertebrates unit leader with the U.S. Geological Survey Utah fare much worse. According to research Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, published by Wildland Resources professor recently completed a three-year study to evaluate Michael Conover, more than a million die on the use and effectiveness of wildlife crossings American roads each day. in the United States and Canada. The project, which includes the efforts of student researchers

Beyond mortality, each mile of pavement signals and team members from governmental agencies destruction and fragmentation of wildlife habitat, and other universities, was funded by the Cramer says. For most animals, roads mean National Cooperative Highway Research Program reduced access to water, food, mates and of the National Academies of Science and protective habitat. Engineering’s Transportation Research Board.

“This is a much more complex problem than As part of the project, the researchers conducted some roadkill here and there,” she says. “Roads an exhaustive survey of efforts by transportation wildlife officials in the United States and can impact critical ecological processes and and

12 13 Canada to determine what measures state and Bissonette says conventional solutions have provincial agencies are conducting to mitigate favored a “funnel” approach; that is, forcing wildlife-vehicle collisions. wildlife into progressively narrower options for safe passage. “What we need to be doing is “What we’ve discovered is some states and thinking of a ‘sieve’ approach,” he says. provinces are using innovative measures, such as construction of wildlife passages, and others Solutions that accommodate a broad spectrum aren’t taking much action,” Cramer says. of species are needed, Cramer says. That bug on the windshield may seem an insignificant Conventional tools, such as yellow warning annoyance, but the decline of American bee signs, that warn motorists of areas prone to populations and the corresponding impact on wildlife crossing, have minimal impact, says agriculture is not. So much so that the state of Bissonette, principal investigator on the project. Washington posts reduced speed limits in alfalfa “Motorists simply aren’t slowing down enough to production areas during periods of pollination. prevent collisions.” What the researchers have also gleaned from the New pavement-level animal crossings, such as study is that wildlife collision mitigation needs to those near Park City, Utah, are also ineffective, begin at the start of the road-planning process. Bissonette says. “They simply do not work. The Cramer advises students preparing for careers traffic volume is too great and the speeds are in wildland management that they must be too high.” prepared to get involved in long-range roadway planning and offer environmentally friendly What is working, the researchers say, are solutions. And she warns that the process could animal overpasses and underpasses that keep span their entire careers. “A single highway wildlife out of harm’s way. Such solutions project may require 20 to 30 years of planning,” may seem costly, but Bissonette argues she says. they’re worth it. “Construction of a specially designed overpass or underpass is a sizable “Transportation projects are not ‘done deals,’” investment,” he says. “But if you amortize the Cramer says. “Recent plans for highway cost of the investment against the cost of not construction in Wyoming and Ohio, for example, doing it – and factor in human mortalities – I were altered to better accommodate wildlife.” think that puts it into perspective.” When scientifically sound, fiscally feasible Bissonette and Cramer also note that the issue alternatives are offered, she says, highway is much broader than concern for large mammals officials are ready to listen. that cause highly destructive accidents. Contacts: John Bissonette, 435-797-2511, john. Obviously, a collision with an elk will put a bigger [email protected]; Patricia Cramer, 435-797- damper on your day than a bug splattering your 1289; [email protected] windshield, they say, but all creatures great and small are impacted by impenetrable terrain. Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, 435-797-3517, [email protected] “When approaching this problem and January 2008 considering solutions you need to think about the permeability of the landscape,” Bissonette says. “We need to consider accessibility not only for deer and elk, but for smaller mammals, fish, birds, reptiles – even insects.”

14 15 A FIGHTING CHANCE

as a conservation practice, she says, animal relocation doesn’t come cheap – either in terms of the cost of physically moving the animals or Wading through Antelope Island’s the impact on the animals’ health. chest-high stalks of yellow-blossomed mullein and gazing out across the shifting, sun-washed “Moving a bighorn is like an organ transplant,” says colors of the Great Salt Lake, you can almost Murray, a Quinney Fellow in the College of Natural trick yourself into believing you’ve stumbled Resources’ Wildland Resources Department. “The into an impossibly remote, exotic land. But the procedure is necessary to maintain the health clockwork roar of jet engines departing nearby and survival of the species, but the stress on the Salt Lake International repeatedly intrudes upon animals is high. The risks are tremendous and you your thoughts – a rude reminder of your proximity want to ensure the best possible outcome.” to Utah’s bustling Wasatch Front. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources In this high desert refuge, Utah State University introduced California mountain sheep, drawn doctoral student Amanda Murray keeps a solitary vigil. Perched on Antelope’s craggy, western ridges from dawn to dusk, the wildlife biologist meticulously records the activities of some of the island’s most elusive inhabitants – bighorn sheep.

Murray’s research aims to bolster conservation of the imperiled ovines and contribute to worldwide efforts to successfully relocate other fragile, large mammals. Wildlife biologist Amanda Murray is studying bighorn sheep on Utah’s Antelope Island. Though necessary

14 15 from herds in British Columbia and Nevada, to Antelope Island about ten years ago. An ideal oasis, it seems, to protect the animals from human-introduced threats and create a thriving nursery herd to replenish areas throughout the American West.

Though the island’s bighorns are not endangered, the species has a precarious history in the Rocky Mountain West.

“The sheep nearly disappeared from Utah by the 1960s,” Murray says. Bighorn sheep, captured in this photo through Murray’s spotting scope, encounter unfamiliar predators when relocated from their safe haven on Antelope Island. Overhunting, disease and research, funded by the Utah chapter of the fragmentation of the animals’ habitat by Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, urbanization and highways led to their decline, focuses on identifying the class of animals she says. within a source population that is most successful in a relocation operation. Antelope Island’s sheep have flourished but the secluded nursery presents a distinct challenge Ultimately, Murray says, the bighorns’ survival for the animals once they venture into the depends on their behavior. outside world. The island has no cougars.

“Our goal is to learn more about these animals True, mountain lions are natural predators of and to find the recipe for successful relocation the sheep and a certain number of bighorns are that will allow the animals to thrive in a rapidly expected to provide sustenance for the hungry changing environment,” she says. “We want to cats. “But if the sheep have no innate fear or give the sheep a fighting chance.” knowledge of predators, the relocated animals can become an instant feast,” Murray says. Contacts: Amanda Murray, 435-760-6971, [email protected]; Johan du Toit, Murray’s work paves the way for continuing 435-797-0242; [email protected]. study that could one day allow biologists to identify sheep lacking anti-predator behavior Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, 435-797-3517, and develop anti-predator cues to teach the [email protected] animals to fear beasts of prey. For now, her January 2008

16 17 MINDING THE (Sediment) BUDGET Watershed Sciences Student Honored for Snake River Study

unning a solvent business or primarily by water release schedules of the householdR requires keeping an eye on what Jackson Lake Dam. comes in and what goes out. Maintaining a healthy river involves a similar line of thinking, “The dam disrupts not just the flow of water but says Utah State University doctoral student and the movement of sediment,” she says. “This im- Water Fellow Susannah Erwin. pacts the river’s physical template, which is the foundation for everything that lives in it.” “It’s sort of like balancing a checkbook,” says Erwin, who recently returned to Logan following Built in stages starting in 1910, Jackson Lake a third field research season on the Snake River Dam rises to a crest elevation of 6,777 feet. The in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. dam enables storage of water in Jackson Lake beyond the glacial lake’s natural elevation. The An S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney Foundation additional water stored by the concrete and Ph.D. Fellowship recipient in USU’s earthen structure irrigates farms throughout Department of Watershed Sciences, Erwin Idaho’s Snake River basin. studies channel change in the river caused Erwin was honored for her research in fall 2007 by the National Park Service’s Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. She was selected for the inaugural Student Award, established this year, which recognizes outstanding accomplishments made by students involved in RM-CESU projects.

Her work is part of series of ongoing projects led by faculty mentor Jack Schmidt, From left, Watershed Sciences students Susannah Erwin, Matthew Shannon and a geomorphologist and Jason Alexander collect sediment samples on the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park. professor in Watershed

16 17 What Erwin’s research reveals is that, given the current dam release schedule, the Snake River may not be capable of moving sediment supplied by tributaries downstream.

“This may mean that gravel is accumulating near some tributary mouths or other areas and could interfere with river navigation,” she says. “It also impacts vegetation, fish and other aquatic life.”

Damming a river doesn’t always result in sediment accumulation, she says. Glen Canyon Dam and the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, for example, have caused the opposite effect – A Quinney Fellow in USU’s College of Natural sediment deficit. Resources, Erwin was selected for the National Park Service’s Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit’s inaugural Student Award. The main reason for this difference, Erwin says, is that Jackson Lake is a natural lake, whereas those Colorado River dams formed manmade Sciences. The research is funded by a variety of reservoirs, namely Lake Powell and Lake Mead. sources, including the NPS and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Northern Rockies Science Center. Between field seasons, Erwin returns to USU to analyze collected samples and create computer “I’ve been thoroughly impressed by Susannah’s models of the river to determine the predicted organizational and field skills that resulted in impact of varied dam release schedules. collection of unique data concerning gravel transport by the Snake River and its tributaries,” “With our data, we’ve created a sediment budget Schmidt says. “These data allow us to make that can be tied to dam release schedules,” recommendations to the National Park Service she says. “This helps the National Park Service and the Bureau of Reclamation regarding how determine what flows are necessary to move releases from Jackson Lake Dam can better sediment and maintain equilibrium.” maintain the health of the riverine ecosystem throughout Grand Teton National Park.” During October 2007, Erwin presented her research at the annual RM-CESU Managers’ Monitoring a river’s channel change is critical, Meeting in Salt Lake City and afterward, traveled Erwin says, because the balance of water to Denver to present a poster at the annual and sediment determines the river’s form and meeting of the Geological Society of America. characteristics of animal and plant habitats.

“Our lab group is involved in several projects in She and her team wield a 200-pound Toutle River support of the National Park Service’s efforts sampler, deployed from a raft attached to a large to manage complex, large river ecosystems,” steel cable strung across the river from bank says Schmidt, director of the USU-based to bank, to measure gravel transport rates and Intermountain Center for River Rehabilitation and collect samples at various points in the river. Restoration and the USU Water Initiative. “It’s a heavy piece of equipment and the “We are privileged to work in some of the most cable sometimes stretches as far as 300 feet,” beautiful, natural landscapes that our nation pro- Erwin says. “It’s physically challenging to take tects, and I am proud of the recognition gained measurements and collect samples during high by Susannah, her technicians and her supportive flow conditions.” fellow grad students,” he says.

The bedload sampling technique is unique. “Only Contacts: Susannah Erwin, s.erwin@aggiemail. one other group in the nation uses the Toutle usu.edu; Jack Schmidt, [email protected], River sampler and they’re a California consulting 435-797-1791 firm that taught us how to use it,” she says. Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, 435-797-3517, [email protected] February 2008 18 19 DISCOVERING WETLANDS New Building at Utah Botanical Center will Engage Children in Learning and Environmental Stewardship

Utah State University is moving forward with construction of Wetland Discovery Point, a year-round, indoor and outdoor classroom at the Utah Botanical Center (UBC) in Kaysville.

The Utah Legislature provided $950,000 in 2007 to advance the creation of this facility. The 2007 legislative appropriation, partnership with Kaysville City and Wetland Discovery Point will be the centerpiece of the Utah Botanical Center’s edu- significant support cation program. from private donors Center’s education program to expand its and the Utah Division reach well beyond the nearly 4,000 students of Water Quality are combining to make and teachers who currently visit the center on Wetland Discovery Point a reality. Construction field trips each year. With the addition of this begins spring 2008. Completion is scheduled unique facility, 8,000-10,000 students will be for fall 2008. accommodated, and the building will be available Why Build It? for other public events. Utah’s growing population, future economic development and quality of life Education UBC field trips are tied to the state’s depend on wise use of natural science core curriculum and activities resources. The Utah Botanical are centered on learning goals for each Center plays an important role in grade level. Teachers are provided demonstrating and teaching the with curriculum and activities to use in kind of sustainable environmental their classrooms to encourage more stewardship that is crucial to investigation and learning before and Utah’s future. Wetland Discovery after UBC field trips. Point will allow the Utah Botanical 18 19 The building will be the centerpiece of the UBC’s education program and a highly visible example of sustainable design and construction to Center visitors and the tens of thousands of people who pass the UBC each day on I-15 in Kaysville.

Designed by Mark Larese-Casanova teaches children at the Utah Botanical Center. Salt Lake City- based AJC Architects, and to be built by Students explore a range of topics, including: Big-D Construction. Wetland Discovery • Wetland ecology Point will demonstrate sustainable building • Energy conservation principles, including: • Wise water use • Fish and wildlife • Collecting and storing rainwater for • Insects landscape irrigation and toilet flushing • Air quality • On-site bio-filtration for sewage treatment • Stormwater management • Use of natural light and passive solar • Horticulture methods to reduce energy needs • Solar panels to generate electricity The Building • Ground-source heating and cooling Wetland Discovery Point will feature a flexible • Radiant floor transfer of heating and cooling classroom space for up to 60 students, a • Utah native plant landscaping gathering area with a wide view of the UBC ponds and the Wasatch Mountains, and a deck Wetland Discovery Point will be key to advancing and boardwalks that will serve as outdoor the mission of the Utah Botanical Center which is learning areas. to guide the conservation and wise use of plant, water and energy resources through research- The 3,200 sq. ft. building will qualify for based educational experiences, demonstrations Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and technologies. (LEED) Platinum certification, the highest certification attainable from the U.S. Green Writer: Tim Vitale, 435-797-1356, Building Council. There are currently fewer than [email protected] 75 LEED Platinum-certified buildings in the February 2008 United States and none are in Utah.

20 21 English Department Alum Receives Barnes And Noble ‘DISCOVER GREAT NEW WRITERS’ AWARD

randon Schrand hasn’tB been out of graduate school long, but he is quickly building a reputation in the literary field — just ask booksellers Barnes and Noble.

Schrand’s forthcoming memoir, The Enders Hotel, has been picked as a Barnes and Noble “Discover Great New Writers” selection for summer 2008.

The author earned a master’s degree at USU in 2003 in American Studies, where he focused on western American literature.

According to the Barnes and Noble Web site, The Discover Great New Writers Program helps publishers introduce dynamic new literary writers to the reading public and highlights the most impressive new works published each season. Schrand’s memoir was one of 150 books submitted and among the 18 selected for summer 2008. USU alum Brandon Schrand received the Barnes and Noble ‘Discover Great New Writers’ Award for his memoir The Enders Hotel. Schrand began work on The Enders Hotel, published by the University of “If it had not been for my graduate work at USU, Nebraska Press (planned release in May 2008), as I don’t think I would have been able to write the an assignment for a class at the University of Idaho, kind of book I did,” Schrand said. “Beneath its where he earned a master’s of fine arts and where narrative and all the sentences and the structure, he now coordinates the same MFA program he there lies my training. The average reader won’t completed. The assignment just grew, he said, as he see my master’s degree in American Studies followed the story. behind the curtain, so to speak, but it’s there. I know it’s there.”

20 21 Schrand attended Utah State its history, based on rich University from 2001-03, and interdisciplinary research, the road that led him to the becomes a focal point for Logan campus was one of a wide-ranging study of chance, he said. Schrand’s the tenacity and dreams of bachelor’s degree is in small western towns and English literature from their inhabitants.” Southern Utah University (’98). Evelyn Funda, an “My wife and I moved to associate professor in the Logan because it was close Department of English, also to both our families,” Schrand worked with Schrand. said. “I took some time out of school and worked, “Brandon never forgets bought a house, had a son that he started as a small- and decided I should go to town Idaho boy, which graduate school. USU was means he both honors that right up the hill so I applied background and remains there. So while it was chance refreshingly humble and and chance alone that led me untainted by inflated ego,” to USU, it turned out to be The Enders Hotel is an award-winning Funda said. “But make no memoir by USU American Studies alum mistake — just because one of the most extraordinary Brandon Schrand. chances in my life because he’s from Soda Springs USU prepared me in no small way to become the doesn’t mean his work is some sentimental writer I am today.” picture of a bygone western era. The Enders Hotel is based on his rigorous interdisciplinary After walking up the hill, Schrand enrolled in Utah research, and the result is a sharp appraisal of State’s American Studies program, a diverse how we envision a region and are shaped by program that allows students the opportunity family history.” to explore American life and cultures from interdisciplinary perspectives. Schrand’s book will be promoted and featured by Barnes and Noble for 12 weeks, May-July, “The American Studies degree is an immersion in in 2008. The work has won a number of earlier literature, art, folklore, history, anything you want awards, including the 2007 River Teeth Prize to study on the way to a broad-based, creative, for best book of literary nonfiction, and “The gratifying career,” said Star Coulbrooke, a Enders Hotel,” the title piece from the book, program alum (’99) and now faculty member in was selected as a Notable Essay in the Best the Department of English. “If you want to work American Essays 2007. at what you enjoy, create your own career, make your own way in the world, American Studies is “For me, the most rewarding aspect of my the degree for you.” education at USU was both the focus on interdisciplinary studies and having access to Faculty who worked with Schrand during his time the dynamic faculty who made interdisciplinary on campus speak highly of his skill and potential. engagement possible,” Schrand said. “My thesis committee — Melody Graulich, Jennifer “In the tradition of Mary Clearman Blew and Sinor and Chris Cokinos — really pushed me Bill Kittredge, Brandon Schrand has written a intellectually in ways I never thought imaginable. memoir based on growing up in a determined, So I am grateful for their work. Others, too, perhaps stubborn western family and in a influenced me in important ways. Evelyn Funda, deteriorating construction of the Old West, the Paul Crumbley, Bob Pyle (a visiting writer), Daniel Enders Hotel,” said Melody Graulich, editor of McInerney and the late Lynn Meeks— each was Western American Literature and professor of invaluable in providing me and my peers a first- English and American Studies at USU. “Now a class education.” historic landmark in Soda Springs, Idaho, the hotel is an emblem of the town’s fantasies of Writer: Patrick Williams, 435-797-1354, becoming a tourist boomtown in the late 19th [email protected] century. Brandon’s exploration of the hotel and March 2008 22 23 USU PARAMOUNT IN LIFE OF 100-YEAR-OLD GRADUATE

hortly after Utah State University something, you’ve got to do S th celebrated its 120 birthday in March, one everything you can to get it of its early graduates will celebrate her own done. But the determination birthday—100 years, on April 14. Ruth Davis has to come first.” Manning said her greatest accomplishment is graduating from USU with a bachelor’s degree in Mrs. Manning’s enthusiasm foods and nutrition and child development. for education and desire to

share that love with others Mrs. Manning’s Mrs. Manning graduated in 1930 (42 years after the is apparent in her children. graduation photo university was founded) from the School of Home from the 1930 Her son, Fred, graduated USU yearbook, Economics. Her graduating class had 150 people, from USU with a degree in “The Buzzer.” 53 of whom were women, and total enrollment at elementary education, and USU was 1,247, compared to more than 23,000 he taught at North Park Elementary in Tremonton today. She said there was never a question about for 28 of his 32-year teaching career. whether she would graduate from college. “All the children loved ‘Mr. Manning,’” said his “I was determined to graduate from Utah State,” sister, Diane Green, who works for USU’s Center she said. “And if you’re determined to do for Persons with Disabilities. “He felt one of his most important responsibilities to the children was to help them develop a love for school, and he did just that.”

While Ruth Manning was attending USU in the early 1900s, scientists were just beginning to understand vitamins and minerals. She said she remembers doing research with rats, in which the students took away certain vitamins from the rats, one at Ruth Davis Manning graduated from USU in 1930 and says graduating with a bachelor’s degree was her greatest accomplishment. She turns 100 on April a time, and noted the 14, 2008. effects it had on the rats.

22 23 “The rats would be running up and down their Because of the research done on the farm, Mr. cages, and when we removed vitamin A from Manning was asked to speak at many meetings their diets, the rats went downhill in just a few regarding farms and wheat. days,” she said. “Once we gave the rats vitamin A again, they got their eyesight back and started “He was nervous about speaking, so mom enrolled running around again.” the whole family in a Dale Carnegie course to better each one of us in public speaking,” Green said. Mrs. Manning used the knowledge she gained from her education to stay healthy throughout her life. During the late 1930s, women’s liberation had Today, she doesn’t take a single prescription drug, become a large part of Mrs. Manning’s life. She but adheres to a comprehensive vitamin regimen said she remembered when a group of women she put together herself. She has also managed from New York City came to Salt Lake City to to live almost twice as long as was expected for a distribute materials about women’s rights. Mrs. woman born in 1908. Manning helped distribute the literature farther west to women in Washington state. Health, vitamins and food were always an interest to Mrs. Manning and she had the opportunity to “In those days women couldn’t teach after they got study herbs from Dr. John R. Christopher, a pioneer married so a friend of mine went to Las Vegas to herbalist who started a company that continues to get married and then came back to Utah to teach,” sell herbal supplements today. Mrs. Manning said. “No one checked for a marriage license, but people began to wonder who that guy “He taught me that taking cayenne pepper is good was coming out of her house each morning.” for the heart,” she said. “Dr. Christopher would take a teaspoon of pepper and just swallow it. I have to During her lifetime, Mrs. Manning has witnessed take capsules, but it really helps calm you down if many changes in America. When the first airplane you are feeling stressed.” flew over Brigham City, she said word got out in the local newspaper, and everyone was so excited After she graduated, Mrs. Manning taught home to witness it, they started gathering outside an economics, English, speech and foods at high hour before it was supposed to fly overhead. Mrs. schools throughout the West for about eight years. Manning also recalled the introduction of Jell-O. “I loved teaching and working with older children,” “That was the most wonderful food that ever she said. She recalled an incident when all the came out.” ovens were removed from the high school where she taught. The girls were so upset because they Mrs. Manning’s daughter agrees that after 100 years said cooking was the only fun class they had. of varied and exciting experiences, her mother’s greatest accomplishment was graduating from USU. After Mrs. Manning married, her dedication to research at USU continued. Her husband, Hugh “My mom instilled the desire for education and Manning, and a few other farmers put their money continual learning throughout life as a way to better together and bought a piece of ground in Blue oneself and those around us,” she said. “I do Creek. They deeded the land to the Utah State believe that is why her greatest accomplishment University Utah Agricultural Experiment Station. was graduating from USU. It sparked her desire to One of the varieties of wheat developed on this land always be learning and achieving a better you.” was named “Manning Wheat” after Hugh Manning. Writer: Annalisa Fox, 435-797-1429, “It was a high-yield wheat that proved to be very [email protected] good in mechanical mixing and baking high quality March 2008 breads,” Green said. 24 25 USU-LICENSED TECHNOLOGY SAVES UTAH DRIVERS TIME AND MONEY

The technique used to replace the bridge, called accelerated bridge construction (ABC), cut road closures and detours in the area from six months Road construction causes delays, to a single weekend and saved $4 million in road detours and confusion, but there is a light at construction costs. the end of the tunnel thanks to researchers at Utah State University. A camera called Texel, “This innovation let us accomplish the work that created by USU engineers, is helping to reduce needed to be done and not impact the driving construction time and cut down traffic jams while public,” said Shana Lindsey, UDOT’s director of saving the state millions of dollars. research and bridge operations.

In October 2007, a bridge at I-215 East and The camera takes a normal digital photo of 4500 South in Salt Lake City was replaced in the scene in front of it, while the lidar and GPS a single weekend, thanks, in part, to USU’s are used at the same time to collect additional Texel camera. Using complex 3-D images that information. Once the 3-D photographic image combine lidar (similar to radar, but using light in is captured, it shows up on the screen like a place of radio waves), digital photography and a normal digital photo. Unlike traditional digital global positioning system, the Utah Department photography, however, the scene is automatically of Transportation was able to construct a embedded with distance, area and volume prefabricated bridge built off site to fit the information. When multiple Texel photos are existing bridge’s exact specifications.

In October 2007, a bridge at I-215 East and 4500 South in Salt Lake City was replaced in a single weekend, thanks, in part, to USU’s Texel camera. Photo courtesy of UDOT.

24 25 combined, a complete “Our goal on all future 3-D scene is formed UDOT ABC projects is with views from every to implement the use desirable position. of the Texel camera through planning, “This is what lidar field survey, design, technology has modeling, animation going for it,” said and conflict resolution Bob Pack, USU civil before and during the and environmental actual move.” engineering professor and inventor of the The October bridge licensed technology. replacement was so Bob Pack, USU civil and environmental engineering professor and “The ability to know inventor of the licensed technology. successful UDOT plans every detail of an area to replace 13 more before you start building saves both time and bridges in 2008 using the ABC method. money, as there are fewer surprises.” “The bridge replacement went exactly according Pack started working on the Texel camera at to plan,” said Lindsey. “Utah’s economy is tied the USU Center for Advanced Imaging Ladar, a directly to traffic flow. We’re using taxpayer former Utah Center of Excellence and current dollars, and everyone benefits when we Utah Science Technology and Research (USTAR) use innovation to prevent lane closures and Initiative project. The funding and notoriety accomplish the work faster. It was a good thing gained from being a USTAR project allowed USU to bring this technology to Utah.” to license Pack’s camera to a Salt Lake City- based company, InteliSum. For more information on USU’s Center for Advanced Imaging Ladar and the Texel camera, InteliSum worked closely with UDOT throughout visit http://cse.usu.edu/cail/index.html. the bridge replacement process. Writer: Maren Cartwright, 435-797-1355, “Prefabricated bridges offer significant [email protected] advantages over onsite cast-in-place March 2008 construction,” said Bob Vashisth of InteliSum.

26 27 Utah State University’s INTERIOR DESIGN PROGRAM IS COOKIN’

she completed it. Fotheringham, a junior in Utah State’s Interior Design Program, received the assignment from her professor, Darrin Brooks, here is an old political adage that says if during her junior design studio. youT can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Good advice for a politician, but a number of “We were in class on a Monday when professor Utah State University students are just fine Brooks gave us the assignment,” Fotheringham taking the heat in the kitchen. said. “The designs were due Friday – that Friday.”

That is, taking the heat in national kitchen design “I basically cut sleep from my life,” she said. “I competitions, especially Katie Fotheringham who was on campus from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. I spent a learned in January 2008 that she had taken the lot of time in the design studio.” top prize in the Sub-Zero and Wolf Appliance, Inc. Student Kitchen Design 2007 Competition. Fortheringham’s sleep-depravation paid off with the competition win. She was awarded $2,500 and “Since the inaugural competition in 1993, our received a trip to an exclusive resort in Arizona. Kitchen Design Contest has become the highest- Utah State University was rewarded as well for her regarded award in the industry,” said Paul winning effort. The Interior Design program will Leuthe, corporate marketing manager of Sub- receive $10,000 from Sub-Zero - Wolf. Zero and Wolf Appliance. “With each contest we gain insight into kitchen design trends and learn While others might be surprised that a student how designers incorporate our appliances into could pull off a win in a national competition in their projects.” only four days, Fotheringham’s professor said he is not surprised. The fact that Fotheringham won the student competition is not surprising when you see her “That strength and the diversity that our students design. What is surprising is the speed in which have in their education make this possible,” Brooks said. “All our students have a strong foundation and skills and learn early on about attention to detail. Work by Utah State students garners a lot of attention.”

Providing practical experience comes from having a diverse faculty, Brooks said. Many come to the program with solid experience in the business world. The students also gain a strong background Katie Fotheringham’s impressive kitchen design took the top prize in the student in architecture. USU’s category of the 2007 Sub-Zero and Wolf Appliance, Inc. Kitchen Design Competition.

26 27 ADDITIONAL INTERIOR DESIGN KITCHEN DESIGN WINS …

Megan Ridge 2007 GE Monogram - Dream Kitchen Design Contest Best Student Concept 1st Place ($5,000 scholarship)

Audrey Cummings 2007 GE Monogram - Dream Kitchen Design Contest Best Student Concept 3rd Place ($1,000 scholarship)

Katie Fotheringham was a junior in USU’s Interior Design Program when she won the national competition. program is also extremely graphic, using the Fotheringham was involved in interior design as most up-to-date graphic programs. a high school student at Taylorsville High School. She also participated in concurrent enrollment “Our students are able to design, market and present courses offered through Weber State. It was after a their ideas in a strong fashion,” Brooks said. tour to Utah State and its Interior Design program that she made the decision to study at USU. Looking at Fotheringham’s design confirms that. The sleek, modern design is as breathtaking as was the “That tour made my decision easy,” she said. budget for creating the space. There were a number “The USU students worked at a completely of rules and requirements for the Sub-Zero - Wolf different level than the other schools and competition, but the budget to produce the award- programs I’d visited.” winning kitchen was an eye-popping $200,000. Fotheringham credits the USU program and her There were other rules and guidelines, like using professors with her success. National Kitchen Bath Association standards. Fotheringham had to know the standard height of “The classes have definitely prepared me,” she countertops and many other industry and code said. “The professors do push us, but they truly standards. Of course, the use of Sub-Zero and prepare us for ‘real-life’ experience.” Wolf products was a given. Fotheringham hopes to work at a large The result is a dream kitchen that anyone — commercial design firm once she graduates. She young or old — would like to have. said she likes commercial designs, so bring on more kitchens. Fotheringham can stand the heat. An emphasis by Fotheringham in her design was to combine the many elements with a nod to Students in Utah State’s Interior Design program sustainability. All her product choices and finishes excel in many competitions. Students have are eco-friendly, from concrete counter tops received international honors two years in a row stained with soycrete, to the bamboo cabinets at the Tasmeen Doha, winning week-long trips to and the energy efficient appliances. The brick Qatar. A complete listing of design competition walls showcase the use of an existing material. winners is found on the Interior Design Web site (http://interiordesign.usu.edu/comp.htm). Fotheringham is modest about her win, but firm in her career choice. Writer: Patrick Williams, 435-797-1354, [email protected] “Design something you love, something you are March 2008 passionate about,” she said. “You can then sell it to others.”

28 29 A GREAT, PRETTY PLACE Logan Makes Several “Best Places” Lists

Utah State University is a special place — of Salt Lake City and is within a day’s driving a major research university where a human touch distance of six national parks. The surrounding still prevails. You’ve arrived at a setting described area, including ski resorts, lakes, rivers and by the legendary mountain man Jim Bridger as “the mountains, makes Utah State one of the finest most beautiful valley in the Rocky Mountains.” recreational environments in the nation.

The university’s stellar faculty, staff and “Logan is a vibrant college town and a students continually strive to make new great place to live for multiple reasons,” discoveries and opportunities for themselves, said Jay Nielson, Logan City’s community and USU’s reputation as a national center development director. “We have a great for academic excellence has continued with combination of waterways, traditional streets, increasing momentum. urban forests, good buildings and nice neighborhoods — and we are surrounded by Located in the city of Logan in northern Utah’s breathtaking mountains.” Cache Valley, Utah State is 80 miles northeast

Located in the city of Logan in northern Utah’s Cache Valley, Utah State is 80 miles northeast of Salt Lake City and is within a day’s driving distance of six national parks.

28 29 The Cache Valley area has recently appeared on Hollist said that in just five minutes one can several “best places” lists: be fishing, hiking, biking, canoeing or rock climbing in the surrounding mountains. She • No. 1 safest U.S. Metropolitan Area for 2007, also mentioned several sporting events held in according to City Crime Rankings: Crime in the Logan area each year that attract national Metropolitan America. attention including LOTOJA Bike Race, Wasatch Back Relay Race and Top of Utah Marathon. • One of Top 10 of the nation’s “Most Secure places to Live” by Farmers Insurance Nielson believes many people live in the Group, 2007. Logan area because of its beautiful, natural setting. Logan canyon is a spectacular natural • One of the Top 50 “Cities for Overall resource, just minutes from campus, and is Economic Vitality” by the Wall Street a backyard playground for all. It is a place of Journal, 2007. legend, history, recreation and more, and it is the subject of a new book published in 2007 • No. 3 on Money Magazine’s “Best Places to by Utah State University faculty member and Retire Young,” 2007. Journalism and Communication Department Head Michael S. Sweeney. • No. 12 on Forbes Magazine’s “Best Small Places for Business and Careers,” 2007. “Last Unspoiled Place — Utah’s Logan Canyon” is Sweeney’s tribute to the geologic wonder he • No. 3 in an MSN real estate article listing was drawn to from his first visit to Logan. The “Low-Cost Locales Where Jobs are book was published by National Geographic. Plenty,” 2007.

Sweeney thinks Logan Canyon is truly a • One of 15 “Great Cities for Job unique place. Seekers” by CareerBuilder.com. Taking the No. 2 spot, Logan has an “I have lived in many states and have seen unemployment rate of 2 percent. places that are beautiful and wild,” he said. “But if you think of those places — Yellowstone, for • No. 5 in the Top 5 Real Estate Markets for instance — they are commercialized or crowded. College Towns from a 2008 report by College There are traffic jams and difficulties getting a Real Estate LLC, a Texas-based company room or campsite reservation.” established in 2004.

Logan Canyon’s beauty rivals that of • If Norman Rockwell and Daniel Boone built a town together, it would be Logan. Yellowstone, Sweeney said, but it doesn’t The May/June 2008 issue of Where To have the commercial development and the Retire magazine features Logan as an crowds. The highway makes the canyon easily “undiscovered haven.” accessible, and soon a visitor can become lost in the canyon’s wonders. Julie Hollist, director of the Cache Valley Visitors Bureau, said Logan provides a well-rounded, “You can drive a few minutes into the canyon, integrated experience that is multi-faceted. She then park the car and get into a quiet area of said the area has multiple offerings, especially in almost pure wilderness,” Sweeney said. “It’s the areas of the arts and outdoors. a unique place, unspoiled, and it’s a place to restore the soul.” “Logan is an incredible resource for those who enjoy the arts,” Hollist said. “We have an Not a bad thing to have in your backyard. internationally renowned opera, several local and visiting performing artists throughout the Writer: Maren Cartwright, 435-797-1355, year, an incredible chamber music group and [email protected] several art galleries.” April 2008

30 31 WHAT DIET? Dietetic Students Teach Community How to Eat Healthier without Dieting

More times than not, poor eating habits bring low self-esteem, high blood pressure, weight gain and the resulting never-ending question about whether to start a diet this Monday or the next.

USU Dietetics students say skip the diet question completely — start eating healthy not only this coming Monday, but today and Jessie Oliver (left) and Tamara Vitale at the USU Health and Nutrition Expo. every day!

Students in the Nutrition and Food Sciences Vitale approximated there were 1,700 people Department at USU plan, promote and present who attended the 2008 expo. The attendees an annual Health and Nutrition Expo for USU could learn from a variety of booths sponsored students, faculty and community. In spring 2008, by USU Dietetics students, USU clubs, students chose to concentrate on teaching community vendors and health professionals. people that there are no magic diets, no magic foods and no magic supplements to learning how Junior Dietetics students participated in the to eat healthy. expo through food demonstrations. Every 10 minutes samples of delicious snacks were The expo is part of the Advanced Dietetics offered to whet the appetites of the participants Practicum class. Senior dietetics students are and to encourage the idea that healthy eating is taught in-depth ways to plan and carry out easy, fun and appetizing. events, while learning principles for research Patrick Shepherd, senior Dietetics student, could be and teaching. Senior students also mentor junior seen at his booth concentrating on cancer-causing Dietetics students as they help with booths and vegetables. He wore a breastplate made from carrots present food demonstrations. and mushrooms, shields of squash and a headdress made of a variety of vegetables. His diet “secret” Tamara Vitale, USU Dietetics clinical associate was that the vegetables people don’t eat are the professor, said the expo not only gives students only cancer-causing ones. Students like Shepherd the opportunity to show off their research learned fun and exciting ways to present their findings, but it also gives them the hands-on research and also answer questions. experience they will need in the real world for event planning and teaching methods.

30 31 “People have questions we have to know how to answer,” said Nicole Beuhler, a senior Dietetics student. “We need to research topics aside from our primary presentation. We want to help people learn all aspects of our topic.”

Beuhler said she never thought she would need to learn advertising and communication skills to work as a dietitian. She now feels that planning for the expo taught her a variety of skills she will use in her future career.

According to Vitale, the Service Learning Program at USU encourages hands-on learning by giving credit and recognition to students participating in applied learning courses and projects throughout campus. The expo gives Patrick Shepherd, senior dietetics student, presents his research on cancer-causing vegetables at the Health the Service Learning Program a perfect example and Nutrition Expo. of how students should be getting involved in hands-on learning. get people thinking about organic foods and the impacts they can have, good or bad, on health, “The Health and Nutrition Expo is an excellent the environment and a college student’s budget. way for students to gain confidence in their knowledge about nutrition,” said Vitale. “It “I had no idea how hard it was to plan an event,” also gives them experience in qualities that said Draper. “When I helped plan the expo, I employers value — communication skills, realized how every little detail mattered. A topic teamwork skills, flexibility and adaptability, such as mine can cause some controversy, and analytical skills, motivation and many more.” you have to be prepared with answers.”

Vitale said the qualities students learn while Vitale explained that students take it upon planning the expo are not typically included on themselves to promote the event the best way exams, but they are qualities asked about in they can. Students write press releases and job interviews and reference checks. It is easier design posters, among other promotional tools to recommend a student for a job if she sees they use. They are encouraged to work with them in action. Through this practice, students broadcast groups and newspapers throughout are able to gain confidence and competence in the community to promote the event. other aspects of their field of study. The work isn’t all finished when the final “The expo provides practice in many skills,” said presentation is given at the end of the expo. Vitale. “The students develop nutrition-related Students are required to write a one-page materials and activities. They plan, market, reflection paper describing what they felt the organize, form sub-committees and maintain pros were, what they could have done better a budget. They also obtain a temporary food and what new roles they took on. The papers are handler’s permit from the Health Department and used to help future students planning the event. make sure all regulations are followed.” “This year’s expo was a great success,” said Jessica Draper, a senior in Dietetics, Vitale. “All the students work hard and see it pay concentrated on contacting booth vendors. She off in the end. I never cease to be amazed as it also helped design a time-management tool all comes together.” used to keep every aspect of the expo on track, as well as researching her own topic on organic Writer: Ben Hibshman, foods. The main goal of her presentation was to [email protected] April 2008 32 33 A NEW NAME, A NEW ERA OF LEADERSHIP USU Renames its Highly Ranked College: Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services

The Very Reverend Frederick Q. Lawson, (from left to right), Clark Giles and Spencer F. Eccles.

tah State University celebrated two regionally and nationally but internationally,” U she said. significant gifts April 23, 2008 and announced at

the same time that it will rename it prestigious The new building will house all of the college’s college of education the Emma Eccles Jones important programs and research in early College of Education and Human Services. childhood education, including the Emma Eccles The $25 million gift from the Emma Eccles Jones Jones Center for Early Childhood Education Foundation, announced in December 2007, and its endowed chair, Ray Reutzel. It will also will support design and construction of a new be home to the Sound Beginnings Preschool, a building and five endowed faculty chairs in early one-of-a-kind program in the Intermountain West childhood education. An additional $1 million gift where children with cochlear implants or digital announced Wednesday from the George S. and hearing aids can learn spoken language.

Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation will support a Also under the same roof, the Dolores Doré Eccles new Center for Early Care and Education named Center for Early Care and Education will provide for Dolores Doré Eccles. much-needed child-care facilities for infants and Carol Strong, dean of the Emma Eccles Jones young children whose parents are USU students, College of Education and Human Services, said staff or faculty. In addition, the facility will offer the gifts will allow the already highly ranked early childhood education, student and parent college to affirm even further its status as one training, a model research environment and endless the nation’s leaders in early childhood education, opportunities for USU undergraduate and graduate research and service. students to observe, tutor and experience hands- on learning internships. “The synergy created by these generous gifts will serve as a powerful catalyst, helping to “These will be the critical training grounds for students transform early childhood education not only who will become our nation’s best teachers, deaf

32 33 educators, speech-language pathologists and audiologists,” Strong said. “These gifts have far-reaching potential — they aim to create a bright future for our children and grandchildren, and theirs as well.”

Spencer F. Eccles, chairman of the board and CEO for the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, said the celebration was a reminder Spencer F. Eccles stands with a plaque that will hang in the atrium of the Emma of commitment to education Eccles Jones Education Building. by Emma Eccles Jones and Dolores Doré Eccles, who were sisters-in-law. “We are pleased to provide this gift to further enhance the early childhood education program “This is a great day to celebrate and honor the at USU, and we are honored they are naming the contributions of two incredible women,” Eccles college after Emma,” Giles said. “Aunt Em focused said. “Both were strong and spirited women who her career on providing training and education for shared a firm belief in the value of education. teachers of early childhood education, and the They would be pleased to know what they have new center at USU will be a great benefit to the contributed to, and I believe that here at USU in the university, the state and the nation.” College of Education, the best is yet to come.” The Very Reverend Frederick Q. Lawson, trustee of Clark Giles, chair of the Emma Eccles Jones the Emma Eccles Jones Foundation, told a packed Foundation, echoed those thoughts. Sunburst Lounge in USU’s Taggart Student Center that Emma Eccles Jones, Logan’s first kindergarten teacher, was a model teacher with a progressive spirit that is reflected today in USU’s College of Education and Human Services.

“She was a dedicated teacher and a loyal friend to the teaching profession,” Lawson said. “She serves as a model for this wonderful school of education, and we are privileged to know that every teacher who graduates from this program Students from Edith Bowen Laboratory School sang will carry on that great tradition.” during the ceremony. USU President Stan L. Albrecht said Emma Eccles Jones touched the lives of many children when she was a teacher herself, and the college, named after her, will extend that touch to countless generations of young children.

“These gifts are a reflection of the great confidence these foundations have in us,” Albrecht said. “We are humbled by that confidence, but we enthusiastically embrace this great challenge.”

Writer: Tim Vitale, 435-797-1356, [email protected] The Very Reverend Frederick Q. Lawson presented Dean Carol Strong with books from Emma Eccles April 2008 Jones’ personal collection.

34 35 WIKI TEXTBOOK TEACHES STUDENTS MORE THAN PHYSIOLOGY

ll students understand the pain of The students needed to take several basic courses A from an accredited institution before continuing with paying hundreds of dollars for textbooks each semester, but few likely realize the effort their the program, and USU stepped up to fulfill that role. instructors put into choosing a quality book. “It was an interesting experience having students When Kevin Young, lecturer at Utah State who were there to learn, taking the role of University’s Brigham City campus, couldn’t find a textbook writers,” Young said. “But the students book he liked for the physiology class he taught learned physiology through this collaborative during summer 2006, he decided to work with his project, and they all progressed into the nursing students to create their own wiki textbook using program and passed their nursing exams.” Wikibooks, a companion site to Wikipedia that allows users to create a free library of textbooks Young created the basic outline for the textbook by anyone can edit. establishing 18 chapter headings. Then he divided the class into 18 teams and assigned each to research Young’s idea to incorporate wikis into the and write one chapter. By involving the students in classroom was fueled by Brigham City Executive their education through creating their own textbook, Director Andy Shinkle’s enthusiasm for innovation they learned more than just physiology. and new technology.

“I believe technology has the capability to improve the quality of education, especially for our nontraditional students because it offers flexibility with both time and location that isn’t available traditionally,” Shinkle said. “Kevin has been very enthusiastic and innovative with his teaching. He has been successful with taking a difficult subject matter and ensuring that students excel, and he’s used technology to make it fun and exciting at the same time.”

The class was taught remotely through IP broadcast technology

to students enrolled in Provo Kevin Young, biology lecturer at USU’s Brigham City campus, helped his College’s pre-nursing program. physiology class create a wiki textbook.

34 35 “It taught me to not only research, but to verify the or other organizations to which he belongs. Not only information I use for my classes,” said Stephanie did the project get the students more involved in Greenwood, a student from Young’s spring 2007 their coursework, it also gave Young the opportunity class and certified nursing assistant at Utah Valley to get to know his students better. Regional Medical Center. “I learned to find multiple sources for any subject I research.” When teaching from a distance, it can be difficult to personalize each student’s experience, he said. But Greenwood said she devoted a lot of time to through wikis, he can learn about and interact with researching and checking the information for each student through their profiles and contributions. the book, so by the time she was finished, she truly understood the material. “It wasn’t just a He was concerned about vandalism to the wiki. memorize-and-regurgitate-for-the-test type of But he remembered Penchina saying most cases class,” she said. “The things I learned from that of vandalism at Wikipedia are corrected within class stuck with me.” four minutes. This seemed unbelievable, but then he experienced it firsthand. Today, the textbook, Human Physiology, receives 2,000-3,000 visits per day and holds the prestigious One day during class, students started reporting title of “Featured Book” on Wikibooks. Young has that their pages had been deleted or filled with used the book a few times for his own classes, but profanity. He started to compose an e-mail to a he hopes students in other universities will also use wiki-enthusiast who had been helping, but before and improve upon the book. he had even sent the e-mail, everything had been fixed. He looked at his watch and it had been less As a testament to Shinkle’s commitment to than four minutes. developing the most technologically advanced campus at USU, he gave the faculty members at Young’s fascination with wikis extends beyond Brigham City video iPods and told them to use the classroom. In November 2007, he won a the iPods for something educational. weeklong trip to Australia with his wife through a contest promoting the new Australia Travel wiki Young started listening to a podcast sponsored by on Wetpaint.com. Stanford University called “Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders Seminar.” One morning, the guest speaker Meanwhile, he has transitioned his class to using on the podcast was Gil Penchina, former vice Wetpaint’s wiki site because it is easier to insert president of eBay, speaking about his recent decision images and videos, which students enjoy. He to leave eBay to become CEO of a company called created the “physiwiki” site for students to write Wikia, a commercial company started by the founders class notes and practice questions for each other. of Wikipedia that provides a place for people to create wikis about anything. “I once heard someone say, ‘If you never fail, you’re not trying enough new things,’” Young This sparked Young’s said. “That’s what I try to instill in my students interest in wikis, and as I aim to prepare them for an uncertain future. I he said he’ll never want them to learn how to take risks and how to stop using them, discover in new ways.” whether it’s for classes, To view and contribute to Human Physiology, visit hobbies http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Human_Physiology.

Writer: Annalisa Fox, 435-797-1429, [email protected] April 2008

36 37 ‘GREEN’ PLASTIC Engineering Student Recycles Dairy Waste to Create Biodegradable Plastic

Take a look around and you might be surprised by how many things are made of plastic. Paints, adhesives, prostheses, brushes and furniture name just a few. Since plastic was created about 150 years ago, it has become one of the most commonly manufactured materials in society. About 200 billion pounds of Libbie Linton, biological and irrigation engineering student, has been studying ways plastics are produced to make bioplastic production more cost effective. annually worldwide. biodegradable and aren’t derived from oil, Libbie Linton, a Utah State University senior making them a much more sustainable product. majoring in biological and irrigation engineering, has been researching bioplastics as an “When I began working with Libbie the alternative to conventional plastics since 2004. summer before she started college, she really dug into the details of the organisms, Finding alternatives to petroleum-based processes and previous research by others products such as plastic will help to increase concerning bioplastics,” said Ronald sustainability. In the United States alone, some Sims, head of the Biological and Irrigation 60 billion pounds of plastics are discarded Engineering Department. “By the time she annually, and more than 90 percent of the waste started college, she was well into research is not yet recycled. and discovery in the laboratory.”

Bioplastics could easily be substituted for Bioplastics are made from a compound called regular plastics because they can be molded polyhydroxyalkanoate, or PHA, she said. and the strength can be adjusted just like Bacteria accumulate PHA in the presence of regular plastics, Linton said. Bioplastics are excess carbon source, similar to how humans

36 37 accumulate fat deposits on their bodies after Linton has developed and validated a consuming excess food. method for quantifying PHAs in a sample and has successfully detected PHA-producing The major problem with producing bacteria in the waste. bioplastics on a large scale is the cost associated with producing them. Presently, Now, we have to look for ways to optimize this bioplastics are around 2.5 times more partnership between biodiesel and bioplastic expensive than plastics produced from oil, production to get a lot of PHA for a good Linton said. But as the cost of oil increases, price, she said. that gap gets smaller and smaller. “If there’s anything I’ve learned while working The sources for the production cost include the on this project, it’s that everyone has to work carbon used to help bacteria produce PHAs, the together,” Linton said. “No one can know purifying process and operation costs, such as everything, so you have to team up with experts tanks to house PHA-producing bacteria. from various disciplines to get the best results.”

Linton’s project focuses on ways to eliminate or During the 2008 USU Undergraduate Research reduce one or more of these costs. To make this Week poster display, Linton claimed the award green idea even greener, she aims to optimize for “Best Poster” in the engineering category. naturally-occurring environments and use She has also presented her research at national byproducts from other production processes. conferences, including the Inland Northwest Research Alliance Conference in Big Sky, Mont., During her junior year, a research group Linton in 2005, the Institute of Biological Engineering in was affiliated with was awarded a grant from Tucson, Ariz., in 2006, the Institute of Biological the Utah Science, Technology and Research Engineering in St. Louis, Mo., in 2007, and the (USTAR) initiative for the study of biodiesel Institute of Biological Engineering in Chapel Hill, produced from algae. N.C., in 2008.

Anaerobically-digested dairy waste is used to Linton plans to stay at USU to get her master’s grow the algae used for biodiesel production. degree while continuing this research with Sims. Bioplastic production can be integrated into this process by using the carbon- and nutrient-rich “I’d like to shift to a systems integration dairy waste to harvest PHA-producing organisms emphasis for my master’s degree,” Linton that occur naturally in the dairy waste. said. “I want to design a system for bioplastic production that can be incorporated into the “Using wastes to make bioplastics solves two commercial agricultural waste treatment process problems at the same time,” Sims said. “It without compromising biodiesel production.” provides sustainable waste treatment and avoids polluting the environment. Second, by adding Writer: Annalisa Fox, 435-797-1429, a high-value product like bioplastic to the [email protected] biodiesel production process, the cost of both April 2008 products can simultaneously be lowered.”

38 39 A MULTICULTURAL MESSIAH Well-Known Production Takes on New Dimensions for USU Students, Community

Utah State University’s Department of blend of English, Spanish and American Sign Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Language, making it a multicultural event for the has partnered with Cache Community more than 100 singers, 50 instrumentalists and Connections for seven years to sponsor a 21 theatrical interpreters for the Deaf who were production of George F. Handel’s famous featured in the production. Messiah. This production, however, is a unique

USU student Jaime Tongish interprets USU’s Multicultural Messiah in American Sign Language.

38 39 The director of audiology in USU’s Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education, professor John Ribera, is the architect behind this grand production.

“The message, the music and the man who composed it have always intrigued me,” said Ribera. “It was the darkest time in Handel’s life, when everything seemed against him, that he came up with a masterpiece now played all over the world. It is very inspiring and I never tire of it. “

This year’s production added an educational family matinee to the Dr. John Ribera, director of audiology, leads the Messiah. schedule. It provided fascinating Scott volunteered to coach the other Deaf insight into the life and times of interpreters, and, despite the challenges of Handel. Concert etiquette, Baroque music, Deaf learning her part and coaching, she found the culture and other such topics were also included experience quite rewarding. in the matinee.

“We don’t follow the lyrics,” said Scott. “We “Seeing a community of many people from many tell many stories of Christ and we become different ways of life blend together in harmony the characters. We become the sinners, the is amazing,” said orchestra member Robert angels, the believers. We also become Christ Robinson. “Friendships were built, trust was as we express the thoughts and feelings that he established and love was shared with everyone.” must’ve felt.”

The exposure of American Sign Language to the Proceeds from the concert series support community has been one of the greatest benefits the annual international humanitarian hearing of this Messiah performance. Deaf people healthcare mission. The mission provides traveled from Salt Lake City and Provo to see services to underprivileged men, women and the performance in Logan. Several Deaf people children from faculty and doctoral students in came with balloons to feel the vibrations of the audiology. The proceeds from the 2007 Messiah orchestra in their hands. production allowed the mission to see more than 300 patients and fit more than 40 hearing The head of USU’s Deaf Education Program, aids in Mexico. This year the humanitarian Freeman King, asked Deaf education senior team will travel to the Dominican Republic Lacey Scott to become involved with the where they will provide services for children in production three years ago. “I joined without schools for the Deaf. knowing what I was getting into,” said Scott. “But it has become one of the greatest things I’ll Writer: Ryan Hall remember about USU.” April 2008

40 41 SEEKING WEAPONS OF MASS REDUCTION

Each new year brings renewed rounds of resolutions, among which losing weight and developing healthier habits consistently rank in the top five. Just as predictable are a bevy of newly released ads touting the latest in weight loss diets and tools for wishful fitness enthusiasts.

Grapefruit, cabbage and reverse diets … Israeli Army, Atkins, Eat-Right- for-Your-Type diets … and 2008’s offering: the GenoType Diet.

“The ability to determine a proper diet based on your genotype is premature,” says Utah State University researcher Michael Lefevre. “We know that both genetic and non-genetic factors play a role in how an individual responds USU USTAR professor Michael Lefevre explores the role of diet in the development of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes. to different diets, but we don’t yet know why.” “We know that lowering saturated fat and Lefevre, who was recruited to USU through increasing plant sterols and fiber in one’s diet the Utah Science Technology and Research – can lower cholesterol levels,” says Lefevre, USTAR – initiative, has long studied the role who joined USU’s Center for Advanced of diet in the development of cardiovascular Nutrition in September 2007. “But everyone disease and Type 2 diabetes.

40 41 responds differently to diet changes and we could be doing more good for you than simply need tools to help us identify the best diet pleasing your senses. match for each person.” “Plant pigments may provide protection against Lefevre believes that a metabalomics approach – metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance – a rather than a genomics approach – may provide precursor to Type 2 diabetes,” he says. those tools. Metabalomics is the systematic study of the unique chemical ‘fingerprints’ that Finding the right tools, including improved specific cellular processes leave behind. nutrition, to combat modern-day plagues is critical, he says. To test his approach, he plans to set up a metabalomics research kitchen with the ability to “Today’s obesity epidemic is unprecedented,” feed up to 25 human subjects at a time. Lefevre says. “We have access to a large supply of relatively inexpensive food – much of which is “We will provide all meals for the people in each high in fat and salt.” study, the length of which could last from three to four weeks or up to six months,” he says. “The He also notes that today’s lifestyles findings should help us begin to identify specific encourage inactivity. genetic and non-genetic markers and tailor the appropriate diet to each individual.” “Consider this: we actually press a button to remotely start our cars and open their doors,” Food is not always the enemy, says Lefevre, Lefevre says. “The simplest tasks have been who studies so-called functional foods; that reduced to one finger. We have escalators is, nutritional compounds in foods that inhibit instead of stairs and we sit at computers all disease. Examples include antioxidants that day. These little things add up in our lives. It’s are often lauded for their health benefits. The amazing how few calories we actually need compounds, praised for their cancer prevention when we’re inactive.” and anti-aging properties, are so ubiquitous in food, he notes, that whether or not they deserve Personal choice is a factor in good health such credit is open to debate. but public policy encouraging healthy habits, including pedestrian and bike-friendly His current research focuses on bioactive communities, could discourage overly sedentary compounds, including flavonoids found in many lifestyles, he says. fruits and vegetables. Early studies indicate that such compounds may offer protection against “Reversing current trends requires action from cardiovascular disease and cancer. all of us on personal and communal levels,” Lefevre says. Lefevre continues his work with Louisiana State University’s Pennington Biomedical Research Contact: Michael Lefevre, 435-797-3821 Center, his former employer, on a National [email protected] Institutes of Health-funded botanical research project that is examining how bioactives in fruits’ Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, 435-797-3517, plant pigments affect health. The rich blue and [email protected] red hues of your favorite berries and grapes May 2008

42 43 ALL PATHS LEAD TO ART

In many cases, Utah State University’s Educator of the Year 2007-08 and 2008-09 by Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art is the the Utah Art Education Association at its annual first exposure to art students living in northern conference. Utah may have. Making art accessible and offering personal experiences with modern “Many public school teachers are frightened and and contemporary art objects is central to the intimidated or even ill-prepared to incorporate museum’s mission. Examining contemporary the arts into the curriculum,” Haffar said. issues and art-making specific to the American “Through my work at the museum, I feel it is my scene in the western United States give a role to help with the process.” certain flavor to the experience. Contemporary At Utah State, Haffar works at all levels in the art, although exciting, can be challenging to educational world and with a variety of groups that understand, so to help its audience find meaning, visit the museum, ranging from children to adults. and to serve as a resource for teachers and students of all kinds, the museum has developed “The curator of education is responsible for extensive education programs. developing and supervising the docent program, planning educational events and public activities Early exposure to art and outreach to for the museum,” said Victoria Rowe, the underserved populations make the museum’s museum’s director and chief curator. K-12 education programs fundamental to building art appreciators for the future and to the museum’s youth programs. The museum’s education personnel are committed to developing resource information for classroom teachers, and one was recognized for her dedicated efforts.

Nadra Haffar, education curator at the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, has been named the state’s Art Educator of the Year. Make that years.

Haffar was named Nadra Haffar was named Utah’s Art Educator of the Year for 2007-08 and 2008- Outstanding Museum 09. She is the education curator at USU’s Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art.

42 43 During the Sciences, USU ArtsBridge provides service-based academic instructional scholarships to qualified university year 2006- students and hands-on, long-term arts residencies 07, more in classrooms for K-12 students. than 7,000 students With its proximity to campus, the museum has a came to the close relationship with Edith Bowen Laboratory museum. School, as well as associations with the Logan Of those, City and Cache County school districts. It also 950 were works with nontraditional groups, including public school disabled adults, at risk youth and residential students in treatment facilities. 35 different “These hands-on experiences really impact the groups. students,” Christian said. “Nadra is very involved Nadra Haffar, USU’s Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art education Among those with what the children are doing. She is very curator, uses the Performance Hall’s groups was professional and is clearly excited about what sculpture “Passacaglia” in an outreach she does.” session with elementary students. a second- grade class At USU’s museum, tours arranged and scripted from Edith Bowen Laboratory School and its by Haffar include hands-on activities that teacher Marianne Christian. An educator with connect the experience to the theme or the more than 13 years experience, Christian said she artist the group is studying. However, it is most takes full advantage of the resources offered at important that the students experience this in the USU. She brings her students to campus four to atmosphere of the museum — not the classroom five times a year for a multitude of experiences. at their individual schools. Her class visited the new Performance Hall during a session on zone tools. The students used the Haffar notes that the pendulum of including Performance Hall’s sculpture “Passacaglia” to the arts in the curriculum — no matter how you study repeating patterns. define the arts — will continue to swing.

“The idea is to give the students a broader “But I think it is coming back,” she said. “Math experience,” Christian said. “The classroom is and science are included in the arts, we just have small, and I like getting the students out. It’s just like to show how they are included in a creative way. adults who travel. The more you travel, the more As an art educator, I need to find the keys to open you are to new ideas and new experiences. let students discover how other disciplines are Our field trips provide these experiences.” involved or related. I always enjoy hearing young students on tours say, ‘I’m so glad I got to come Building educational partnerships is important at today. I’m missing math,’ and I get to say, ‘Oh no the museum. you’re not, you are doing math right now,’ and “We want to help make the connection between explain or show how.” what they are studying and art,” Haffar said. “I appreciate Nadra’s engagement with our “We get to build strong relationships with the young guests,” Rowe said. “She is dedicated teachers at all levels.” to reaching these moldable, young minds — Christian feels especially connected to Haffar trying to inspire them about the world around and the museum via the new ArtsBridge program them and the fuzziness of the divisions between and its USU director, Laurie Baefsky. art, science and all learning. Her philosophy is dynamic. Many things lead to paths of learning In fall 2007, Utah State became the 23rd university — but all paths lead to art.” in the United States to host an ArtsBridge America program. Through the Caine School of the Arts Writer: Patrick Williams, 435-797-1354, and the College of Humanities, Arts and Social [email protected] May 2008 44 45 MR. SEPTEMBER USU Engineering Student Takes Home Best of Show

customers world-wide. The Siemens Calendar competition started in 1997 and has become When Utah State University an annual tradition with entrants from leading mechanical and aerospace engineering student global companies, including Adams Golf, FMC Dennis Olsen sat down in the Engineering Technologies and Hill-Rom. Every year, a panel Graphics class in fall 2007, he had no idea that of industry professionals from around the world he was about to create a piece of art that would selects the images that appear in the printed be distributed around the world. calendar. People from more than 20 countries entered the 2008 competition. Olsen’s graphic rendering of USU’s Space Dynamics Laboratory’s AIM-SOFIE (Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere — Solar Occultation for Ice Experiment) satellite, earned him Best of Show in the 2008 Seimens PLM Software Calendar competition. The winning artwork is featured on the September page of the Americas edition of the calendar.

“I was so surprised when my professor told me I had won Best Dennis Olsen’s graphic rendering of USU’s Space Dynamics Laboratory’s AIM-SOFIE of Show in the satellite, earned him Best of Show in the 2008 Seimens PLM Software Calendar competition. competition — I didn’t even know that my artwork was one of the John DeVitry, a mechanical and aerospace entries that USU submitted,” said Olsen. “Being engineering professor and SDL researcher, featured in the calendar is an honor and it will assigned his class with the task of creating an look great on my resume.” artistic rendering of the AIM-SOFIE satellite using Siemen’s Solid Edge software. He told Siemens is a leading global provider of product the students that the best renderings would be lifecycle management software with 51,000 submitted to the contest. 44 45 image, image innovation, image clarity and resolution and how much the image represents maximum usage of Siemens PLM Software products. Dennis did a wonderful job in all of these areas.”

Having a good knowledge of 3D modeling software is an important skill for engineers today.

“Companies are creating 3D models of everything so that the client can visualize the end product and if you have the skills to create the 3D models, you are more marketable,” said Olsen. Dennis’s winning artwork is featured on the September 2008 page of the Americas edition of the Siemens calendar. And while the Solid Edge software was new to Olsen,

“Dennis has a keen eye for being able to see he took advantage of the opportunity to learn a exactly what needs to be done and doing it,” new program. said DeVitry. “His ability to visualize and present a complicated 3D CAD model in the simplest “USU is a great school,” Olsen said. “It has a and most effective manner made him stand great engineering program and I have enjoyed out as a student. I am proud of Dennis, he was the classes and professors.” competing against professional engineers from around the world, quite an accomplishment for a Olsen said the engineering program at USU is USU student.” a lot of hard work, but has already realized the pay-off with the honor and notoriety of having

When Olsen sat down to design the rendering, his rendering featured in the Siemens calendar. he imagined the satellite and what it would look Taking home a new digital camera and secure like in its natural atmosphere. He noticed that the digital card weren’t too bad either, he said. 2007 calendar featured artwork with attention to detail, including emphasis on lighting and To view Olsen’s prize-winning image titled Space reflection. Olsen focused his efforts on these Dynamics Lab, USA, AIM — SOFIE Aeronomy details, and thinks it helped to earn him a place of Ice in the Mesosphere — Solar Occultation in the calendar. for Ice Experiment, visit www.siemens.com/plm/ calendar2008.

“Dennis joins a select group of people from around the world recognized for delivering To learn more about the USU College of absolute excellence in their work,” said Betty Engineering and the program’s it offers, visit Hill, manager of the 2008 Siemens PLM Calendar engineering.usu.edu. Program. “The selection process is difficult to pick the best of the best based on overall Writer: Maren Cartwright, 435-797-1355, dramatic impact and aesthetics, complexity of the [email protected] May 2008

46 47 USU Engineering Student GETS SMART WITH PRESTIGIOUS $75,000 SCHOLARSHIP

Hanks is finishing his junior year at USU and has focused his studies in the area of aerospace tah State University mechanical and engineering. The scholarship will allow him to U complete his undergraduate work and then finish aerospace engineering student Luke Hanks received a prestigious scholarship from the his graduate work at USU. He said he believes Science, Mathematics and Research for he received the scholarship because of two main Transformation Program. The scholarship things — hard work and networking. will total slightly more than $75,000 and be distributed over a three-year period. “No doubt my application, resume and transcript played a key role in securing the scholarship,” Hanks will receive an annual stipend of $25,000 per year, full tuition and related educational fees, a book allowance of up to $1,000 per year, health insurance and a paid internship and post- graduation employment with Ogden Air Logistics, located on Hill Air Force Base.

The SMART Program is managed by the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School on behalf of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The American Society for Engineering Education works with the school to administer the program.

“This award will provide me with sufficient funds to concentrate entirely on my studies in aerospace engineering,” Hanks said. “This program will pay for my schooling until I complete my master’s degree, while simultaneously jump-starting my career. I have secured my future in the career of USU mechanical and aerospace engineering student Luke Hanks my dreams.” received a scholarship from the Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation Program.

46 47 said Hanks. “Perhaps even more important is internship, he will be able to explore his options networking. I would advise all students to take and then structure his coursework accordingly. advantage of the mentoring offered by their professors. In my experience, they have always “The reputation of USU’s engineering program been willing to answer any of my questions, is a huge advantage to students when it comes whether academic or concerning careers. The time to apply for scholarships, fellowships and letters of recommendation that my professors wrote post-graduation employment,” Hanks said. “The for me were no doubt crucial to my being chosen.” research opportunities are like nowhere else in the state, especially in aerospace.” Hanks is actively involved in the student chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers “The USU Undergraduate Research Program and has coordinated several activities for the provides many opportunities for students in any group. He personally invited employers to give field of study,” said Joyce Kinkead, associated presentations on campus, whether to recruit vice president for research. “The strength of or just publicize their programs. One of the our program rests, in part, on the excellent employers he invited was the civilian engineer faculty that enjoys working with and mentoring group Ogden Air Logistics at Hill Air Force Base. undergraduates. Our students are engaged in important, cutting-edge research that can make After Hanks applied for a summer internship a difference in people’s lives.” with the company, it was so impressed with his resume, it recommended he apply for the SMART Hanks said the USU faculty is fantastic and that scholarship. From a competitive field of more he particularly enjoys the honors program. than 2,000 applicants, Hanks received one of only 200 awards. “We are very proud of Luke, who is an exemplary student with laudable goals,” said Christie Fox, During his time at USU, Hanks has been involved USU Honors Program director. “The SMART award in undergraduate research with mechanical and demonstrates the kind of scholarships we hope all aerospace engineering professor David Geller. Honors students aspire to and which, as Luke has Other engineering professors he credits for his shown, are attainable. This award is a testament to success include mentors Barton Smith, Thomas Luke’s hard work and the academic mentorship he Fronk and Chris Hailey. He also said USU Career has received at Utah State University.” Services, especially Melissa Scheaffer, has been invaluable in helping him choose a career path. “USU is a great place to be,” Hanks said. “The atmosphere is ideal for education. The campus “Luke’s analytical skills are outstanding,” Geller is beautiful, the culture is tranquil but fun and said. “He uses these skills to develop a deeper there’s even plenty of art and culture. In my understanding of the problems he works on, opinion, it’s a great university where a student and he often goes beyond what is required in can gain a well-rounded education.” his coursework. He has a desire to learn and this is reflected in his academic achievements. For more information about USU’s College of His maturity is also evident in how he prepares Engineering and its many study options, visit for his classes, in his work ethic and how he www.engineering.usu.edu/. For more information conducts himself in all aspects of campus life.” about the SMART Program, visit www.asee.org/smart.

Ogden Air Logistics specializes in aircraft integrity Writer: Maren Cartwright, 435-797.1355, — meaning it designs, redesigns and refurbishes [email protected] aircrafts. Hanks’s placement with the company May 2008 depends primarily on his interests. During his

48 49 The Landscape of Success— LEGENDARY TEACHING

The fund will provide resources to extend the learning experience for USU’s landscape architecture students. The endowed fund will bring experts to campus for lectures and workshops in tah State University has a tradition of the areas of professor Johnson’s expertise. caring,U sharing faculty. Across campus the personal touch influences the lives of students every day. Johnson joined USU’s Landscape Architecture Over the years, a few — let’s call them legendary and Environmental Planning faculty in 1966, teachers — rise to the top. They inspire students fresh out of graduate school where he’d just from the past, present and well into the future. earned a master’s of landscape architecture at the University of Illinois. Earlier he’d earned So strong is the feeling about landscape his bachelor’s in landscape architecture from architecture and environmental planning Michigan State University. His journey into the professor Craig Johnson that when he realm of landscape architecture and design was announced his retirement, plans were laid to serendipitous, he said. continue his educational influence for students to come. As a department promotional piece “I grew up in a small town in Minnesota that had said, “the department wants to keep Craig going what was called a lyceum series — noted speakers … and going … and going.” on a variety of subjects would come to town and present lectures,” Johnson said. “My mother, With that intent, the Craig Johnson Fund for always interested in education and learning about Excellence was established. as many subjects as possible, attended a lecture by the director of the Minnesota Arboretum. He used “Even if we can’t have his smiling presence, the term ‘landscape architecture,’ and mother came insights and string of one-liners with us, we want home and repeated it. I had never heard it before, Craig’s contributions to LAEP to live in perpetuity,” but I was intrigued. I started to explore. Before you a brochure announcing Johnson’s retirement said. knew it, I was on the campus at Michigan State and “The Craig Johnson Fund for Excellence was into the landscape architecture program there.” established to make sure that happens.” Johnson said the discipline combines many of his interests — art, wildlife, the landscape and conservation.

“The profession said something to me,” he said.

Did it ever. Over the years Johnson shared his passion, experience and expertise with countless students. An estimate provided by USU’s LAEP department said he has touched the lives of nearly 1,400 program graduates. His work in habitat restoration and sustainable landscape design had a profound impact in communities, After a 40-plus year career at USU, LAEP faculty member Craig Johnson is but also through the retiring. His educational impact continues thanks to the Craig Johnson Fund students who have for Excellence. 48 49 And what have the students said about Johnson and his teaching?

• “Craig showed me that landscape architecture was a field of study, a profession, a way of life where culture, society and the reality and romance of nature do converge.” Charles S. Carter

• “I salute Craig for his steadfast commitment to informing design with conservation and passing it on to the next generation. Applying conservation principles to the human environment is one of the most important things we can do as landscape architects, and thanks to Craig, this has been part of the LAEP curriculum for … well, decades.” Susan Marsh

• “Craig’s gift to his students went well beyond his course curriculum. Craig taught us by example how to be patient, caring and understanding. His passion for his work, his commitment to his students and his strong environmental ethics inspired us all to be better people. I consider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to study under such a great teacher and, more importantly, such a great person.” Todd Sherman

And, as one anonymous student wrote in a recent evaluation, “Download Craig’s entire brain into a database so we can have his insight and expertise after he’s gone.” spread his valuable teaching throughout the “We were on the ground floor with the planning country and around the world. process,” Johnson said. “You can go there today and see what the students proposed and suggested Never one to stop learning, Johnson returned to in the design, layout and use. I’m really proud of the graduate school, and in 1984 he earned a students’ work. Today, the Jordan River Parkway is master’s of science in fisheries and wildlife a reality. We restored habitat for wildlife and created biology from South Dakota State University. a memorable place for people.”

“It was something I always wanted to know more Other project highlights for Johnson include an about,” Johnson said. “Adding a background open space plan for the City of Bluffdale and a in fisheries and wildlife biology opened habitat conservation study at the southern end of opportunities to collaborate with other resource Cache County. professionals on campus, opportunities to work on a variety of resource related projects.” The key to Johnson’s teaching success?

He combined his several loves and traditional “It’s best to teach by example,” he said. “Stay foundation in planning and design into what he current, get out in the field and work in the called a “hybrid” career. profession. Bring ideas back to the classroom. Successful teaching is a combination of applied “Our discipline is practical and applied,” he said. research, staying current using solid ‘people’ “We put things into practice. We need a lot of skills” and being passionate about your subject.” information — the best and most useful, often generated by other disciplines — then combine Oh, and it has to be fun. “Enjoy what you are everything into real-world applications.” doing. That is key.”

USU’s LAEP program began in 1939 with a So, it’s goodbye and congratulations to Craig defection. A department history reports that at Johnson, but his influence will continue through the end of spring term 1939, four students and the Craig Johnson Fund for Excellence. an assistant professor of landscape architecture packed their bags and equipment and moved “I’ve been able to see former students doing the only program in landscape architecture in amazing things, making a difference in the world, the Intermountain West from BYU to Utah State creating better, more sustainable environments,” Agricultural College. The relocated department Johnson said. “After all, we’ve got to be opened its doors for business in Logan fall term responsible citizens and stewards of the amazing 1939 and fielded its first graduating class — 50 landscape gift we’ve been given.” percent male and 50 percent female (there were two graduates) — in June 1940. That’s teaching by example.

That’s the early history. Today, the program is For information on the Craig Johnson Fund for vigorous, and alumni work around the world in Excellence, contact USU’s Department of public, private and academic practice. Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, (435) 797-0501, or write: USU/LAEP, Johnson, as noted, has worked with thousands 4005 Old Main Hill, Utah State University, Logan, of students. With a 40-plus year career and with UT 84322-4005. that many students, project upon project stack Writer: Patrick Williams, 435-797-1354, up. Among his favorites? The early work on the [email protected] Jordan River Parkway in Salt Lake County. May 2008 50 51 A PICTURE’S WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

Once upon a time there was a man “When Scott told me he needed help creating a named Scott who loved to paint pictures. He loved story based on the woodchuck tongue twister, it so much that he decided to paint for a living. I was ecstatic,” McDermott said. “I had always watched Scott work from the sidelines because Well, something like that. I have no art talent in me. When I got involved in the project with him, it was like I had been a Scott Wakefield is a master’s student studying bench warmer who was suddenly promoted to the art at Utah State University. While going to quarterback position with my best friend as the school and working as the director of the receiver. The best part about the process was the Alliance for the Varied Arts in Cache Valley, he is synergy we created as the rhyme came together.” also preparing to self-publish a children’s book

he illustrated called Woodchuck Chuck. McDermott’s story has the same rhyme and rhythm as the original tongue twister. Their story The concept for the book came from the well-known tongue twister “How Much Wood Would a Woodchuck Chuck if a Woodchuck Could Chuck Wood?”

“My dad used to say that rhyme really fast when I was a kid,” Wakefield said. “I thought it would be fun to take that concept and turn it into a storybook.”

While attending the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., where he received his bachelor’s degree in illustration, Wakefield’s idea started to become a reality.

He had the unique opportunity to meet with Arthur Levine, the editor at Scholastic Corp. who edited the Harry Potter series. Wakefield told him about the idea, and Levine named the woodchuck “Chuck.”

This meeting gave Wakefield the confidence to pursue his venture. He teamed up with his friend Richard McDermott who had a talent for writing rhymes and was a dental student at the The artwork from Wakefield’s thesis will be on display at the Alliance for the Varied Arts gallery in Logan, spring 2009. His book University of Southern California at the time. is scheduled for release summer 2009.

50 51 is about a little administers all monetary transactions. It also woodchuck who helps self-publishers find printers and distributors starts chucking for their books. all of his friends In January 2008, David Herrmann, lecturer in the because the Management and Human Resources Department woodchuck at USU, encouraged Wakefield to enter his rulebook deems Web-based company into a competition called him too young “Opportunity Quest” sponsored by the Jon M. to chuck wood Huntsman School of Business. with the grown

woodchucks. The contestants wrote business plans, and a panel of judges from community leadership “I always loved positions judged them. Wakefield’s team won Woodchuck Chuck chucks his children’s mole friend up to the sky. first place among contestants from USU and was books,” given $3,000 to put toward the business. He went Wakefield said. “My mom teases me that I on to compete with contestants throughout Utah stopped reading when the pictures disappeared.” and was one of 27 semifinalists out of 180 teams. Creating a book is a more laborious process With the prize money, he was able to get the site than people might think. The book has gone designed and hosted. through more than four revisions since its start in 2003. Wakefield has also worked on several Wakefield plans to teach art at the college level once illustrations for the book, starting with black-and- he has finished his master’s degree and continue to white sketches and progressing to 12 inch by 16 freelance as an illustrator for children’s books. As inch full-color paintings. a master’s student, Wakefield had the opportunity to teach Illustration Studio and work as a teaching Despite all the work that has already gone into assistant for other classes in the Art Department. the book, there is still more to be done.

“Because of Scott’s unique teaching methods, With the help of Robert Winward, USU art I now take into consideration why I create professor and his faculty advisor, Wakefield and don’t simply focus on what I create,” said has decided to focus his master’s thesis on Michelle Zundel, a senior studying graphic design exploring and developing style. and student in Wakefield’s spring 2008 Illustration It is important to develop a distinct style in order Studio class. “While taking his class, he briefly to be competitive as a children’s book illustrator, discussed the creative process of Woodchuck Wakefield said. Chuck and even used one of his scenes as a technical demonstration on how to more “I’m going to take eight scenes from the book effectively use and manipulate acrylic paint.” and redo each one using a completely different style and different mediums,” he said. “For While she only got a glimpse of his project during example, I’ll do one in a Dr. Seuss style with oil class, Zundel has become one of his biggest fans. paint and another in a Bill Watterson style using “When the book is completed, I’ll be the first linoleum cut and Photoshop.” to reserve a copy,” Zundel said. “Not only is Once he has completed all eight styles, he will the artwork stunning, but the story is fresh and choose his favorite and illustrate the entire book original. I am definitely excited about this book.” using that style. Thanks to the support from his fans, the artist Through his experience working to self-publish lived happily ever after. a children’s book, Wakefield has developed an The End. online company called Illustratemybook.com. The site serves to connect writers with illustrators Writer: Annalisa Fox, 435-797-1429, and helps both parties set up a contract and [email protected] June 2008 52 53 USU Students Lift Off WITH GRAND PRIZE ROCKET LAUNCH WIN FROM NASA

“The competition was a great experience because we got to interact with other universities tah State University engineering and see what ideas they had for their rockets,” U said John Parrish, a USU rocket team member. students received lift-off from NASA after taking home the grand prize at the annual University Student Launch Initiative in Alabama April 19. The drag device the USU team designed drew a lot of attention from NASA and the other teams The team took home five awards out of seven at involved in the competition. the competition, including “Grand Prize,” “Best Manufacturing and Quality Control,” “Most “Our drag device was the only payload at the Innovative Payload Design,” “Best Design competition that would actually ensure that the Documentation and Presentation” and “Best rocket would reach a mile above ground level,” Team Spirit.” As winners, the team received Parrish said. “NASA paid us a high complement $5,000 from Alliant Techsystems Launch with our reports, saying they were far above what Systems to attend a space shuttle launch at the they expected at a university level.” Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The USU team had until May 12 to submit a final report that included conclusions from its science experiment and the overall flight performance. The preliminary design review, critical design review and flight readiness review were conducted by a panel of scientists and engineers from NASA and from NASA USU Engineering students take home grand prize at the NASA rocket competition. Winners contactors and are, front (l to r): Bowen Masco, Jeff St. Clair and Jacob Haderlie. Middle (l to r): Michael Phillips, Jed Peters, Shannon Eilers and Dennis Lazaga. Back (l to r): John Parrish, Spencer external partners. Chandler, David Winget, Dustin Braithwaite, Nathan Lodder, Tyler Despain, Professor Stephen (Tony) Whitmore, Matthew Fifield, Michael Lewis and Shane Robinson.

52 53 The competition challenged students to design, Dennis Lazaga, Mike Lewis, Nathan Lodder, build and fly a reusable rocket with a scientific Bowen Masco, John Parrish, Jed Peters, payload to exactly one mile in altitude. The USU Michael Phillips, Jeff St. Clair, David Winget and team submitted a proposal in fall 2007 to the Shane Robinson. NASA contest judges, and after being selected to participate in the challenge, began designing the “I’d like to congratulate all the teams that rocket and payload under the direction of USU participated in this year’s rocketry challenge,” mechanical and aerospace engineering professor said Mike Rudolphi, vice president of ATK Stephen (Tony) Whitmore. Launch Systems Site Operations and Integration in Huntsville. “These students are without a “These students are seeing practical applications doubt America’s next generation of rocket for the whole spectrum of their math, science scientists. I applaud each team for its efforts.” and technical classroom work,” said Tammy Rowan, manager of NASA’s Marshall Space Other teams competing in the 2008 event were Center Academic Affairs Office. “They’re Auburn University in Auburn, Ala.; Alabama A&M managing complex science and technology University in Huntsville, Ala.; the University of research and conducting aerospace and Alabama in Huntsville, Ala.; Harding University in engineering projects from drawing board Searcy, Ark; Missouri University of Science and to launch pad. They get to be mechanical Technology in Rolla, Mo.; the University of North engineers, rocket scientists and theoretical Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D.; Fisk University researchers all at the same time.” in Nashville, Tenn.; Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.; and the College of Menominee USU’s group decided to incorporate a unique Nation in Green Bay, Wis. air brake system on its rocket. As the required payload, the air brake system allowed the For more information about USU’s mechanical rocket to reach the required one-mile altitude by and aerospace engineering program, visit www. deploying a drag device that slowed the ascent mae.usu.edu. For more information about NASA of the rocket until it reached the desired position. education programs, go to education.nasa.gov. The USU team was the only school who used this unique approach. Writer: Maren Cartwright, 435-797-1355, [email protected] USU rocket team members include Dustin June 2008 Braithwaite, Tyler DeSpain, Shannon Eilers, Matthew Fifield, Jacob Haderlie, James Kelsey,

54 55 TEACHING FROM EXPERIENCE

span the breadth of his career as a composer. A typical quartet might perform the series over the course of a year, but USU’s Fry Street Quartet he string faculty at Utah State University will perform them all in just two weeks, from T Oct. 2-11, 2008, in the Manon Caine Russell takes on more than usual in 2008. Besides working as teachers, the members are also a professional Kathryn Caine Wanlass Performance Hall. string quartet and are preparing to present Utah’s first complete Beethoven String Quartet Cycle. “We’re taking on this challenge because that’s how we would want to experience it,” said A Beethoven Cycle is a performance of all 17 of Rebecca McFaul, FSQ second violinist. “When Beethoven’s quartets, which are representative it’s done in such a short time, the listener can of his most innovative and creative works and experience a different kind of connection with

William Fedkenheuer, first violin Anne Francis, cello

Rebecca McFaul, second violin Russell Fallstad, viola 54 55 Beethoven and with his music and can sense the figure out how to teach a 3-year-old something scope of his extremes.” you’ve taken for granted for so many years.”

Doing it this way also allowed the Department of This program is unique in the state of Utah Music to invite Beethoven expert and renowned and gives the young people of Cache Valley an scholar/pianist/media author Robert Winter to be opportunity that isn’t readily available to them a guest lecturer before each performance. due to the lack of full-time, certified music specialists working in the school districts. In addition to Winters’ pre-concert lectures, the FSQ secured a grant from the Marie Eccles Caine “Because the USU String Academy is linked Foundation that will fund a companion USU Honors with the USU Music Department, it gives the course, “The Arts in Cultural Context: Beethoven children access to theory classes,” said Nina and Cultural Heritage.” The fall 2008 class will Jorgensen, parent of two String Academy explore the music, life and legacy of Beethoven students. “It also offers group lessons, which in a broad cultural context. It will initially focus on gives them opportunities to see other children, the string quartets and then consider Beethoven’s to play together, review pieces and it just makes influence by studying trends in various disciplines, it more fun. I really value the Fry Street Quartet’s including music, history and politics, philosophy, involvement in the community and the chance literature, art and film. they give us to inspire our kids.”

“Not only will the audience be able to hear all 17 The FSQ was born in 1997 in Chicago when quartets in less than two weeks, it will also be able McFaul and violist Russell Fallstad decided to to gain knowledge to understand and appreciate pursue a professional quartet career. After finding the works of a man who has been a pivotal figure two more members, they traveled to Israel as in music and who is still influencing us today — one of two groups from the United States to more than 200 years later,” McFaul said. “All these participate in Isaac Stern’s Encounters Chamber added dimensions to the cycle have really shaped Music Seminar. There, they studied with Stern as it into an event with a festival atmosphere.” well as with luminaries such as Leon Fleischer and members of the Emerson and Juilliard The FSQ came to USU in 2002 and has had an quartets. As a result of that experience, the impressive impact on the string program and the group was invited to give its Carnegie Hall debut Cache Valley community. and participate in the Carnegie Fellows program.

Shortly after its arrival, the members saw the While it is unusual for a community the size of need for a pedagogy, or teaching, program Logan to have a string quartet residency, Logan that would benefit USU students and younger is unique in its great support for the arts. When musicians in the community. They have been the university was first established, many local instrumental in setting up USU’s String Academy, newspapers referred to the area as the “Athens a program that allows students to teach younger of the West.” children how to play string instruments. Today there are approximately 80 String Academy “The kind of impact you can have on a students from 3 to 18 years old. community this size versus a place like Chicago is amazing,” Fedkenheuer said. “The Cache “While some students will go on to pursue higher Valley audience is sophisticated, made up of education in musical performance or become astute listeners who are really ready to go to the members of a professional quartet, many will likely next level — to experience a Beethoven Cycle.” become private teachers and will need to know how to teach,” said William Fedkenheuer, FSQ first Writer: Annalisa Fox, 435-797-1429, violinist. “When we graduated, none of us had any [email protected] teaching experience, and it can be a challenge to June 2008

56 57 USU HOME TO ‘GOLDEN SCHOLARS’

USU’s 2008 Goldwater Honorees. (left to right) Jodie Barker-Tvedtnes (scholarship recipient), Sydney Chamberlin (honorable mention), Cody Tramp (honorable mention) and Tamara Jeppson (scholarship recipient).

Utah State University students In addition to this year’s award recipients, Utah Tamara Jeppson and Jodie Barker-Tvedtnes State boasts nine Goldwater Scholars and two were named 2008 Goldwater Scholars honorable mention recipients from previous by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship years. The award includes a two-year scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. of up to $7,500 per year. Aggies Sydney Chamberlin and Cody Tramp were awarded honorable mentions in the “This is a testament to the fantastic research prestigious competition. mentorship provided to these students by faculty at USU,” says Mary S. Hubbard, dean of USU’s “For the first time in the university’s history, all College of Science. “These awards confirm that of the candidates we submitted were accepted our students are prepared to compete with the for awards,” says Joyce Kinkead, USU associate best nationwide. I applaud the accomplishments vice president for research. “We’re very proud of of these young scholars.” these outstanding students.”

56 57 PREVIOUS AGGIE GOLDWATER HONOREES...

2004 2007 Stephanie J. Chambers, biology Jennifer Albretsen, physics David Hatch, physics Arthur Mahoney, computer science Jodie Barker-Tvedtnes 2002 (Honorable Mention), physics Jamie B. Jorgensen, physics

2006 2001 Logan McKenna, electrical engineering Lara B. Anderson, physics Heidi Wheelwright, physics Keith Warnick (Honorable Mention), physics 1998 Jeff Jacobs, mechanical engineering

Jeppson, a graduate of Bear River High School the rank of cadet colonel in the Civil Air Patrol. in Garland, Utah, is majoring in geology and She received the patrol’s highest honor, the physics. With faculty mentor Jim Evans, she is General Carl A. Spaatz Award, in 2007. studying how earthquake energy is partitioned along the San Andreas Fault. While at USU, Chamberlin earned a scholarship for summer study at Germany’s Friedrich Schiller Jeppson completed a summer internship in University. She plans to pursue a doctorate in applied geophysics at the Pacific Northwest mathematical physics and an academic career. National Laboratory in 2007. Following graduation from USU, she plans to pursue a Lander, Wyo., native Cody Tramp is a sophomore doctorate in geophysics, conduct research and majoring in molecular biology and biochemistry. teach at the university level. The USU Undergraduate Research Fellow is pursuing four ongoing research projects. He was Salt Lake City native Barker-Tvedtnes was named a 2008 Governor’s Scholar by Gov. Jon named a Goldwater Honorable Mention recipient Huntsman, Jr. in 2007. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in physics with a minor in classics. Tramp’s goals include earning a doctorate in both molecular and cellular biology. He plans to In summer 2007, Barker-Tvedtnes attended the conduct research in stem cell biology and work in Polar Aeronomy Radio Science Summer School a national research laboratory. in Alaska, where she conducted research on noctilucent clouds with faculty mentor Mike USU’s 2008 honorees are among 321 award Taylor. She received a 2008 Outstanding Student recipients selected from a field of 1,035 math, Award for Undergraduate Research from the science and engineering students nominated by National Society of Physics Students and travels colleges and universities nationwide. to the International Conference of Physics Students in Cracow, Poland in August 2008 to The Goldwater Scholar program was established present her research. by U.S. Congress in 1986 to foster academic excellence in science, engineering and Barker-Tvedtnes plans to continue her studies mathematics in the nation’s universities. at the graduate level and conduct research in upper atmospheric physics at a government or Contact: Christie Fox (435) 797-3940, academic institution. [email protected]

Chamberlin, a physics, mathematics and political Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, 435-797-3517, science major from South Jordan, Utah, achieved [email protected] June 2008 58 59 TAKING MUSIC TO THE COMMUNITY

and education programs in the region with its nationally known director Mike Christiansen.

n keeping with Utah State University’s And while it is the mission of the Music I Department to train and graduate the best land-grant mission of service to all people, the Department of Music sponsors several students possible, it does not forget its roots as a community music programs. These programs land-grant institution and its ties to the community. provide a wealth of learning and performing opportunities for young and old alike. Here’s a roundup of the programs available to the community: Talented student musicians fill the halls of Utah State University’s Chase Fine Arts Center and Youth Conservatory – The Key appear on concert stages on campus year- to a Musical Future round. These students study with some of the best faculty members in the region. Promising The conservatory’s tag line is “The key to a string musicians can study with professionals musical future,” and that’s certainly true for — the members of the Fry Street Quartet. Gary aspiring young pianists. For three decades, Amano’s piano students are always at the top the Youth Conservatory has assisted parents of their game and operate in the rarified realm in providing the best for their children by of international competition. Guitarists are able fostering the standards of musical excellence to study in one of the few guitar performance in a learning environment filled with enthusiasm and enjoyment. Founded in 1978 by internationally recognized pianist and pedagogue Gary Amano, the YC occupies a central role among Cache Valley’s cultural programs for young people. Each week, more than 300 pianists, ages 4-18, come to The Fry Street Quartet, including Russell Fallstad (center), participates in outreach efforts for the Department of Music throughout the year. the Chase Fine

58 59 Arts Center for piano lessons and musicianship receive teacher training courses provided classes. Activities, recitals and fun-filled learning by master teachers, several who have been take place throughout the academic year. Multiple nationally recognized Suzuki pedagogues, then young pianists got their start to the concert stage take these techniques directly to the young string through USU’s Youth Conservatory. musicians in the community. Private instruction, from beginning to artist level, in violin, viola and Cache Chamber Orchestra cello, is offered. In addition, there are group classes, chamber music, instruction in music If you haven’t picked up that fiddle since theory and plenty of performance opportunities. graduating from high school or college, don’t worry. The Cache Chamber Orchestra is perfect American Festival Chorus for you. This all-volunteer, college-community ensemble gathers musicians from all walks of The Music Department doesn’t forget the adult life to perform in the chamber music tradition. singers in the community, and the American The orchestra gets together once a week to Festival Chorus fills the bill. The choir replaces rehearse, then presents three concerts during the Northern Utah Choral Society, a group the academic year. Several summer concert with a long and distinguished history in the appearances have just been added. The community and the Music Department. The new orchestra is under the direction of composer choir is open to community residents and USU and retired educator Robert Frost. The Music students alike. It is an auditioned group that Department’s outreach efforts make this Cache meets once a week and plans to present choral Valley’s only community-based orchestra. masterworks twice a year. Music Department Head Craig Jessop, former music director and Cache Children’s Choir conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, leads the American Festival Chorus, teaming with The fine tradition of children’s choirs is a part of the group’s General Manager Jay Richards, a Cache Valley’s musical heritage thanks to the efforts professional composer, musician and member of of those who established the Cache Children’s the Cache Valley community. Choir, an organization whose members have performed internationally. A goal of the choir is to Alumni Band prepare children for a lifetime of singing through quality musical training. Children, ages 3-15, can While membership is only open to those who join one of four choirs and a preschool class. From performed with the department’s concert bands the beginning level Caprice Choir, to the advanced, over the years, this flagship organization shares auditioned Cantate Choir, young singers develop its musical talents with the community every talent and self-esteem through guided musical summer. Established in 1963 by long-time music experiences thanks to the choir’s trained and educator and former Department Head Max professional staff. The Cache Children’s Choir was Dalby — a legend in the state’s band history — founded by Bonnie Slade in 1988. the band and its members share the music-in- the-park tradition five times during the summer. String Academy Concerts are a popular treat for everyone.

Young string players are not forgotten thanks to More information about the Department of Music the USU String Academy, an organization that is available at its Web site (music.usu.edu). serves a dual purpose — providing instruction on string instruments to young musicians while Writer: Patrick Williams, 435-797-1354, providing a laboratory teaching program for [email protected] USU’s string music majors. The USU students June 2008

60 61 HEAD IN THE CLOUDS, FEET ON THE GROUND

In addition to her previous academic accolades, Barker-Tvedtnes’ was honored with a 2008 irrus clouds, stratus clouds, cumulus Outstanding Student Award for Undergraduate C Research from the Society for Physics clouds – since ancient times, people have gazed skyward and pondered fluffy wisps of white and Students. One of just three undergrads in the angry, gray thunderheads. nation honored with the award, she receives an all-expenses-paid trip to the International Utah State University Goldwater Scholar Jodie Conference of Physics Students in Cracow, Barker-Tvedtnes looks beyond the Earth’s visual Poland, in August 2008. atmosphere to the mesosphere, where the highest clouds, polar mesospheric clouds or “I’m very excited about this honor and the PMCs, form at the edge of space. opportunity to meet with physics students from around the world,” says Barker-Tvedtnes, who “PMCs are ice clouds that form in the summer has been invited to present her research on months near the extremely cold mesopause noctilucent clouds in Poland and at the national region – some 50 miles above the earth,” says SPS meeting in spring 2009. Barker-Tvedtnes, physics major and Willard L. Eccles Undergraduate Research Fellow. “From She spent five weeks in Alaska in summer 2007 the ground, these noctilucent or ‘night-shining’ studying the elusive formations with faculty clouds are only visible during twilight hours at mentor Mike Taylor and fellow students. Taylor high latitudes.” is a member of NASA’s science team for the Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere or “AIM” mission.

NASA launched the AIM satellite into orbit April 25, 2007, to collect information on how and why PMCs form. During their summer trip, Taylor and his student team captured data from two field sites, located about 30 miles apart USU Goldwater Scholar Jodie Barker-Tvedtnes and daughter Kalila marvel at the wonders on the tundra of of the night sky. While juggling studies and family responsibilities, Barker-Tvedtnes revived Utah State’s Society of Physics Students chapter. eastern Alaska and

60 61 AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS:

Goldwater Scholar, 2008 Outstanding Student Award for Undergraduate Research from the Society of Physics Students, 2008 Goldwater Honorable Mention, 2007 Willard L. Eccles Undergraduate Research Fellowship, 2007-08 USU Presidential Transfer Scholarship, 2005

Presented research at: Regional physics conferences, 2006, 2007 USU’s Undergraduate Research Showcase, 2008

Barker-Tvedtnes, one of just three undergraduates in the nation to receive the Society of Physics Students’ 2008 Outstanding Student Award for Undergraduate Research, studies the mesosphere’s mysterious noctilucent clouds. western Canada, to compare with data received “The chapter was essentially dormant when from the AIM satellite. I arrived on campus,” says Barker-Tvedtnes, who began her undergrad career at Salt Lake “We became nocturnal,” Barker-Tvedtnes says, Community College and entered Utah State after although, because of the latitude of the areas in receiving a Presidential Transfer Scholarship. which the team was working, it never became “But when I learned about the opportunities completely dark. SPS offered – national scholarships, projects, activities – I worked with faculty and fellow “Starting at midnight each day, we’d have about students to get it going again.” five hours of twilight,” she says. “We’d spend those hours tracking PMCs across the horizon Barker-Tvedtnes’ dedication is all the more and photographing the formations with digital remarkable considering she’s a single mom, and video cameras.” juggling work, research and study with the care of her 7-year-old daughter, Kalila. Back in Logan, Barker-Tvedtnes is comparing the ground-based data with information captured by Balancing responsibilities is a challenge, the the satellite. She has presented her research in Salt Lake City native admits, but receiving the a number of forums, including regional physics Willard L. Eccles fellowship has afforded her the conferences and USU’s 2008 Undergraduate opportunity to spend time in the lab and have Research Showcase. Following graduation in greater control of her schedule. spring 2009, she plans to continue her studies at the graduate level and conduct research in “My work allows me the flexibility to conduct upper atmospheric physics at a government or research while my daughter is in school and academic institution. keep my evenings free for her,” Barker-Tvedtnes says. “I’ve also appreciated the support from my “Jodie is a ‘power house’ of activity and professors. They really make an effort to involve capability,” Taylor says. “She’s an excellent students in undergraduate research.” leader, displays exceptional poise and has a strong experimental aptitude.” Contacts: Jodie Barker-Tvedtnes, jodie13@ comcast.net; Mike Taylor, 435-797-3919, He notes that, while tackling a significant [email protected] academic load and research efforts, Barker- Tvedtnes revived Utah State’s Society of Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, 435-797-3517, Physics Students chapter. In addition to offering [email protected] gatherings and field trips for students, the July 2008 chapter conducts community outreach projects, including the chapter’s popular stargazing parties on the USU quad. 62 63 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH REIGNS AT USU

financial support to undergraduates for research or creative projects that are not routine Since its inception in 1975, more requirements for a course or degree program, than 500 students have conducted research URCO grants encourage students to engage in supported by the Undergraduate Research and independent projects. Creative Opportunities (URCO) Grant program. From metal sculpture to chokecherry seed “I soon discovered that my undergraduate propagation and whirling disease in trout, real- research experience paid dividends I was not life problems have been explored and solved by expecting,” said Kyle Tubbs, a former URCO USU undergraduates. grant recipient. “My URCO grant helped me springboard into an exciting part of my life. I Today, the results of these URCO projects believe the research background I gained at USU are generating national recognition for USU’s was the key factor in my acceptance to medical student researchers. school at the University of Washington.”

Experience Speaks Students applying for URCO grants are required to complete a formal research “URCO grants are designed to give students a proposal, which teaches them the process chance to do independent research on a project of seeking funding, a vital part of graduate of their own design,” said Joyce Kinkead, USU’s research. Many URCO alumni credit their associate vice president for research. “Research undergraduate research experience for helping is broadly defined; it encompasses creating a sculpture, composing a piece of music, doing archival scholarly work and working at the laboratory bench.”

The grants, given by the Vice President for Research Office, award up to $500 per student and their academic department matches the award. Emily Stoker (left) and Forrest Purser present their research about the effects of carbon By providing nanotubes on the human lung at Research on Capitol Hill in Salt Lake City.

62 63 them get further funding for their projects, as Tubbs said. “I saw firsthand how literature well as prestigious scholarships. review, hypothesis testing and data analysis all work together to advance knowledge.” “The URCO grant program taught me how to apply for funding and convey technical material “The URCO grant made it possible for me to to a varied audience,” said Stephanie Chambers, conduct my senior honors thesis,” said Robert a former URCO grant recipient. “Because of the Wright, former grant recipient. “In large part, due USU faculty providing fantastic research and to my senior paper, I was accepted into Portland training opportunities, I received the Barry M. State University’s Applied Social Psychology Goldwater scholarship, which also led to my doctoral program.” acceptance at the University of Utah School of Medicine.” Chambers also recently received a Wright also presented his senior thesis at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) medical student Rocky Mountain Psychological Conference, fellowship to study the genetic causes of infertility. where he was informed that his paper was accepted for publication by the editor of the Psi Past Tells Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research.

USU was ahead of its time in implementing Faculty also benefit from mentoring URCO grants in 1975, when few institutions had undergraduates in the research process. organized student-faculty cooperative research activities. That spring, USU launched an URCO “Few undergraduate researchers realize the experiment with 60 student participants through stimulating effect they have on the faculty they the College of Agriculture and the College of work with,” said Bruce Bugbee, professor of crop Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. The physiology. “Science relies on fresh approaches experiment elicited such positive responses and new ways of seeing the world. I have that a plan was made to launch URCO on a always preferred the errors of enthusiasm to the universitywide basis. indifference of wisdom.

By fall 1975, the USU Office of the Vice President “For 26 years, my URCO student researchers for Research had allocated a small sum of money have kept me at the lab into the evening hours,” to support student projects, and URCO was Bugbee said. “I am gratified to know that officially made available to all undergraduate they will carry on an inquisitive, impassioned students at USU. approach long after I am retired.”

Impact Confirms “As a land-grant and research university, USU takes pride in the fact that students learn science Each URCO experience helps students learn how by doing science, learn art by producing art and to learn, develop critical skills, create important learn scholarship by writing history,” Kinkead one-on-one connections with professors and said. “Hands-on inquiry and study builds on get an academic step ahead of the competition. classroom knowledge and goes beyond what Additionally, projects often result in a professional can be accomplished through lecture. The conference presentation, a scholarly journal application of knowledge is a hallmark of a land- publication or an award. grant university. URCO is a critical component of that mission.” “Not only did I learn a tremendous amount of chemistry during those years, I also gained a Writer: Mary Sundblom, [email protected] profound appreciation for the scientific method,” July 2008

64 65 A LIFELONG GIFT

The vice president for university advancement, Ross Peterson, agrees.

hen Marie Veibell graduated from “The heart of donating at Utah State is the W consistent annual gifts from alumni and Utah State University in 1947, the campus had 29 buildings and 4,068 students, up from 920 friends that add up to make a big difference in 1944 during World War II. During the last 61 for individual departments and for students,” years, USU has seen tremendous growth in these Peterson said. “We appreciate their willingness areas. Today there are nearly 200 buildings and to give back to help the university become a more than 23,000 students, and Ms. Veibell has place where students can earn scholarships, enjoyed playing a small part in this growth. work with renowned professors and learn in state-of-the-art facilities.” “People need a little help sometimes, and if you can help one person, then they can help Ms. Veibell graduated with a degree in chemistry somebody else, and it’s a great cycle,” she and worked for 41 years as the laboratory manager said. “I started giving just a little bit to Utah at Logan Regional Hospital until she retired in 1990. State a few years after I graduated, once I’d had time to get established, and I’ve given every year since.”

She enjoys reading about USU in the newspapers and seeing how it has grown and all the research its students and faculty are doing.

“It is interesting to see the campus grow and see all the new buildings popping up because that’s the reason I give— to help the university build itself up and offer more to its students and to the world. It can’t grow without money, and it takes donations Marie Veibell graduated from Utah State University in 1947 and enjoys playing a from a lot of people to small part in the university’s growth through the modest annual donations she has make a difference.” made over the past 50 years. 64 65 The Herald Journal For her 80th birthday in 2005, her family gave her lauded her hard work a framed picture of the Hall of Fame basketball in its 1986 article players from 1950-2005 that she proudly displays “‘Invisible’ Laboratory in her home. Technologists Honored.” When she first started, She remembers watching the Homecoming she was the only one in football game against Idaho State during Merlin the lab, it said. Thirty- Olsen’s senior year in 1961 when the Aggies seven years later, she won 69-0. Marie Veibell’s graduation photo was responsible for a from the 1947 USU 33-member staff that The next day’s Herald Journal article makes it yearbook, The Buzzer. performed an average easy to see why this game stands out in the mind of 60,000 tests each of an 83-year-old fan. month, and Veibell began using an increasingly technological approach to the painstaking work “The game featured a little bit of everything, she once did by hand. from a slush-and-snow covered field to three senior linemen playing in the backfield,” Before using her degree to manage the lab at the it said. “The Aggies pushed for their first hospital, Ms. Veibell got her working experience touchdown just five minutes into the game … at the Aggie Dairy. Aggie defensive tactics were so effective that during the first quarter the snow was not even She was an odds-n-ends girl at the dairy. She disturbed on the north end of the field … Tommy helped make cheese, cut butter into squares and Larscheid’s performance made him the most then wrap it and, of course, made and served productive ball carrier in history, as he eclipsed ice cream. the record set by Jack Hill.”

“We had this coffee ice cream in the store and This Cornish native has spent her life in nobody would buy it,” she said. “So one day, Cache Valley and wants USU students to we decided to change the name to ‘Hawaiian know how lucky they are to have a good Delight’ and we sold out in about 20 minutes. place to go to school. The chief wasn’t too happy though and told me if I ever tried that again, I was outta there.” “You can get the same quality education, if not better, at Utah State as you can anywhere Ms. Veibell paid heed to his warning so she else,” Ms. Veibell said. “It’s also got a great wouldn’t lose her high-paying job — 75 cents an location — it’s clean, close to the mountains, hour, up from 50 cents an hour the year before. and if you look around, there’s always something going on somewhere.” Even after she graduated, Ms. Veibell stayed loyal to her alma mater. She would continue to Writer: Annalisa Fox, 435-797-1429, attend plays at the outdoor amphitheatre, see [email protected] productions at the Caine Lyric Theatre, and her July 2008 favorite — watch USU sports.

66 67 ART ALUM SCULPTS MEMORIES INTO MEMORIAL TRIBUTE

To create the panels, DeGraffenried set up a temporary studio on the USU campus in the Chase Fine Arts Center/Fine Arts Visual sculpture culptor Mark DeGraffenried developed area. It’s there, working on the panels, that S DeGraffenried’s passion shines brightly. Whether a passion for art at an early age. Today, that passion is easily seen and is translated directly working alone or sharing the experience with the into a recent project — a memorial sculpture that accident victims’ families, he brings an intimate, honors eight Utah State University agriculture human touch to the work. students and their professor who died in a tragic “These panels not only represent the students van accident in 2005. and their teacher, they also represent the people DeGraffenried, a 1993 USU art graduate, is whose lives were changed so drastically,” he working in a collaborative effort with Monument said. “I want the panels to be visually stimulating, Arts of Sandy, Utah, to create the commissioned but they are also tributes to the accident victims tribute to the accident victims. and a tribute to agriculture.”

The memorial is composed of black granite, DeGraffenried has a private studio in Clarkston, bronze and steel. DeGraffenried is first sculpting Utah, and works fulltime as an artist. clay panels that will be cast in bronze. These “As a resident of Cache Valley and a USU graduate, nine panels, 3 feet by 3 feet, represent an it is a great honor to sculpt this monument,” he agricultural interest of each of the nine men. said. “I hope those affected by the loss will receive Two half-circles, above and below the panels, comfort and inspiration from this memorial.” include the men’s names. At the lower left of the installation is a bronze rubbing element that The artist brings a human touch and connection allows visitors to make a paper rubbing as a to his work in several ways. He wanted his studio personal memento of the memorial. space open to all — he encouraged visitors to

About the USU Memorial:

• Artist Dan Cummings, owner of Spectrum Studio, Salt Lake City, will create the granite elements. • Chief designer for Monument Arts Perry Van Schelt designed the memorial. • Mark DeGraffenried sculpted the bonze elements. • The memorial project received financial support from alumni and friends, the Utah Farm Bureau, USU student government, USU Student Services, departments in the College of Agriculture, the Agriculture Experiment Station and others. Mark DeGraffenried, a USU alum, works on a clay panel prior to casting in bronze for the memorial.

66 67 “His favotie saying was, ‘plow to the end of the furrow,’ Gunnell told Mikita. “He loved what he did … I feel it such an honor to be his mom.”

A plowed furrow was incorporated into the panel memorializing Justin, and that’s a personal touch the artist appreciates. Artist Mark DeGraffenried has worked on a number of impressive projects. Among his favorites are: “I want the families to be

• 2008 “Marriner S. Eccles” commissioned by Utah State Capitol happy,” DeGraffenried Preservation Board and Mariner S. Eccles Commission to sculpt an 8’ said. “That is why I can bronze statue for the Utah State Capitol and a 6’ statue for the Federal re-work and adjust, even Reserve Building in Washington, D.C. let them add a personal • 1994 “Sea Farer” life-size bronze memorial to those who lost lives at sea, touch. This is a memorial Homer, Ala. to their loved ones.” • 2001 “The Crossing” commission awarded by Seatrek Foundation. Four, life-size emigrant families (each family includes a mother, father and two When complete, the children), cast in bronze to commemorate Utah’s pioneer heritage from memorial will find a Europe. Permanent locations at Mersey Side Dock Maritime Museum, temporary home in the Liverpool, England; Broad Street, Portsmouth, England; and Albert Dock, Taggart Student Center, Hull, England. One life-size bronze on loan at Utah Cultural Celebration where it will be unveiled Center; Salt Lake City, Utah. The artist sculpted each piece and assisted in fall 2008. When the with the bronze casting and installation of the finished sculptures. planned College of Agriculture research stop at the lab and participate in the creative and teaching building is process to offer feedback about the sculpture completed on the USU campus, the memorial will and the students and professor it honors. be permanently located in the building’s foyer.

“I spent a great deal of time as a student in this “We are pleased to recognize these students and very lab,” DeGraffenried said. “Because USU their professor who were such vital parts of our students provided the initial request for the college,” said Noelle E. Cockett, vice president memorial, I welcome having an open studio that and dean for USU Extension and Agriculture. is accessible to them.” “In the end, this monument will be an incredibly fitting part of our new agriculture building.” DeGraffenried also opened his studio and his heart to the families of those being memorialized. The memorial commemorates the lives of He felt it important to not only listen to feedback Steven D. Bair, 22, Moses Lake, Wash.; Dusty from family members, but to allow them to Dean Fuhriman, 22, Tremonton, Utah; Justin W. contribute — actually touch and carve areas in Gunnell, 24, Wellsville, Utah; Justin Huggins, the clay panels before they were cast. 22, Bear River City, Utah; Jonathan Dennis Jorgensen, 22, Peoa, Utah; Curt A. Madsen, 23, In a story for KSL television in Salt Lake City, arts Payson, Utah; Ryan Wayne McEntire, 22, West reporter Carol Mikita met with the sculptor and Point, Utah; Bradley G. Wilcox, 26, Salt Lake family members of the victims. City, Utah; and instructor Evan Parel Parker, 45, Hooper, Utah. All of the students were studying “Each tear and each stroke of the sculptor’s tool in the College of Agriculture. helps Merlynn Gunnell remember her son Justin,” Mikita reported. Writer: Patrick Williams 435-797-1354, [email protected] July 2008 68 69 CHALLENGING SCIENCE, CHALLENGING STUDENTS

Boldyrev, Zubarev and colleagues Boris Averkiev and Alina Sergeeva, both doctoral students in USU’s Department of Chemistry team of Utah State University and Biochemistry, are investigating chemical A bonding properties of metallic systems. The team chemists, led by Professor Alex Boldyrev, is at the forefront of a discussion that’s causing the asserts that characteristics believed to apply scientific community to rethink long-held ideas only to organic compounds can be extended to about the nature of inorganic compounds. In some metallic compounds. It’s an idea that, until the process, Boldyrev is priming his student recently, was thought to be impossible. team members for challenging and successful research careers. “Our studies make people argue with us constantly as we defend our point of view,” “Dr. Boldyrev is absolutely passionate about Zubarev says. “What we’re discovering about science and training his students,” says Dmitry certain metals is unexpected.” Zubarev, who recently earned his doctorate in chemistry from USU and is headed to a With colleagues at Washington State University coveted postdoctoral position at the University and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, of California-Berkeley. “For him, instilling the USU researchers have published their independent thinking and scientific expertise in his findings in a number of academic journals students is as important as the research itself.” including Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, the Journal of Chemical Physics and the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Team members have also presented their findings at national and Chemistry professor Alex Boldyrev, second from right, and his doctoral students, from left, Dmitry Zubarev, Boris Averkiev and Alina Sergeeva, are challenging long-held ideas about the international chemical bonding properties of metallic systems. conferences. 68 69 “The atmosphere you work in is one of the most important keys for success,” Sergeeva says. “Dr. Boldyrev inspires us to work hard every day. He’s a shining example of the professor I am eager to become one day.”

Averkiev says Boldyrev’s support and encouragement helped him publish more than nine papers in three years and afforded him the opportunity to present his research and make career-building contacts in academic forums “Dr. Boldyrev inspires us to work hard every day,” throughout the country. Alina Sergeeva says. “He’s a shining example of the professor I am eager to become one day.” And his support goes beyond the lab, says To understand the Aggie team’s research requires Averkiev, a native of Moscow, Russia. a brief history lesson. Since the 19th century, chemists have used the term “aromaticity” to “Dr. Boldyrev met me at the Salt Lake airport describe the chemical bonding properties of when I first arrived in Utah and helped me get organic compounds. The term is a bit misleading to settled in my new home.” the lay person, as the concept has little to do with the “aroma” associated with varied compounds. “What I admire most about Dr. Boldyrev is that he treats our research team as if we were his own In a nutshell, aromaticity refers to a chemical family,” Sergeeva says. “He’s concerned about property in which atoms bond in rings to form us. He feels responsible for us. He stays in touch stable organic compounds. By developing with former team members who have graduated chemical-bonding models capable of explaining to offer his support.” and predicting the structures of metallic clusters, the USU researchers are revealing that metals, Zubarev credits his professor with guiding and too, exhibit aromaticity. motivating him toward significant academic and research achievements during his years at Utah “It’s a big step,” Boldyrev says. “What we’re State. Zubarev was named USU’s 2008 Graduate discovering is that metal systems have properties Student Researcher of the Year; he says the that allow them to bond in ways that mimic award is recognition of Boldyrev’s mentoring organic materials.” talent and dedication.

Ascertaining the existence of this type of bonding “Dr. Boldyrev invested a lot of time in me,” he is important, Boldyrev says, as it could improve says. “If I ever happen to associate myself with a scientists’ understanding of the nature of catalytic school of scientific thought, it will be the ‘School activity and lead to the design of new catalysts. of Professor Boldyrev.’”

“The development of chemical bonding models Contact: Alexander Boldyrev, 435-797-1630 that display this process could have a significant [email protected] impact on rational design of nanocatalysts, nanomaterials with tailored properties, nano- Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto 435-797-3517, scale electronic devices and more,” he says. [email protected] “That’s our goal.” August 2008

Beyond his scientific aims, Boldyrev is mentoring a new generation of scientists confidently poised to tackle new levels of thought. 70 71 REGIONAL CAMPUS OPENS PATH TO MED SCHOOL

Clint McKee’s unconventional path to medical school included several unplanned detours, a flat tire or two and more than a few potholes. Before earning his undergraduate biology degree in 2005 at Utah State University’s Uintah Basin Campus, he nearly shelved his dream of becoming a physician. But encouragement from his professors, coupled with McKee’s gritty tenacity and a few bane-turned-blessing Study at USU Uintah Basin propelled farmer Clint McKee toward his dream of moments, fueled his entering medical school.

passion toward what he expect when I entered med school but I feel I considers his true calling. was exceptionally well prepared and I’ve done very well in my classes.” “I decided at age 14 that I wanted to become a

doctor,” says McKee, one of 12 children raised His undergraduate career began less favorably. on a family dairy farm in eastern Utah. “But I’d Just a year or so into his studies at an urban never met anyone who went to med school and campus in Utah, McKee, newly married and had no idea what it took to get there.” eager to start a family, struggled to balance the demands of work, school and home. Something Now in his second year of medical school at the had to give, and that something was school. University of Utah, the 30-year-old husband and

father of five revels in opportunities to immerse “Most of the classes I needed were offered during himself in the study of the intricacies and the daytime and it was hard to find a job with the nuances of the human body. flexibility to accommodate school,” he says.

“Despite the academic demands, it feels like During a visit home to his parents’ farm, McKee a luxury,” McKee says. “I wasn’t sure what to spied a class schedule his sister was reading

70 71 about USU’s Uintah Basin Campus. “I noticed when he and his wife, Kathryn, learned that that a number of courses in biology, chemistry their unborn child had serious heart problems. and calculus were offered in the evenings.” Delivered by emergency caesarean section, baby Sarah was rushed to Salt Lake’s Primary The timing was auspicious. McKee’s father, Children’s Medical Center for treatment. Mike, was elected to serve on the Uintah County Commission and needed help with the family The outcome was joyous, and McKee marveled farm. Managing the farm by day and studying by at the physicians’ skills. “It dawned on me that, night seemed like a good fit for McKee. if not for doctors, my daughter, my wife, and my twin sons – who also faced a medical crisis at “The advisors at USU were great,” he says. birth – would not be here,” he says. “It was an “They looked at my fractured transcripts and epiphany and reinforced my determination to helped me get back on an academic track.” become a doctor.”

The scheduling worked but the workload McKee embarked on the detailed medical school wasn’t easy. application process, including studying for the medical school entrance exam or ‘MCAT.’ “I had “I remember Clint occasionally being late because about a year’s worth of preparation to complete a tractor got stuck or he had to handle some other and realized that I needed more research incident on the farm,” says Lianna Etchberger, experience,” he says. assistant professor of biology at USU Uintah Basin. “Yet he was a bright and dedicated student Etchberger urged him to contact biologist – eager to learn and full of perceptive questions.” Paul Cliften at USU’s Logan campus, who was seeking a research technician. “I’d show up for class straight off the farm – filthy, tired,” McKee says. “But the professors “Clint had only a fraction of the experience of were phenomenal. I loved the small classes, one- the other applicants,” Cliften says. “But I was on-one instruction and flexibility.” impressed with his curiosity and knowledge and hired him. I figured I would likely never have another Upon graduation, McKee still wanted to pursue opportunity to help train someone of his caliber.” medicine but wondered if a less arduous academic path might be better suited to his Months later, glowing recommendations from Cliften growing family. His planning was interrupted and Etchberger were included in McKee’s successful medical school application.

“I feel like I received a great education from USU,” McKee says. “And the support I received from my professors helped me achieve my dream.”

Contact: Clint McKee, [email protected]

Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, 435-797-3517, maryann. [email protected] August 2008 McKee with his family, from left, wife Kathryn holding baby Miriam, sons David, Joseph and Joshua and daughter Sarah.

72 73 THE PRICE IS RIGHT

mandatory retirement age of 62 in 1988. If the firm thought Price was ready to kick back and relax at 62, it was wrong. Price said other ccounting professor Jay Price has partners he knew went off to Florida to retire and A play golf, but Price didn’t play golf. left an impressionable mark on Utah State University’s Jon M. Huntsman School of Business. Students call him a “great teacher,” “All my life I’ve always been a person who likes “mentor” and an “example.” What began as a to keep busy,” he said. “I’ve never been very part-time retirement pastime has turned into a good at recreational activities.” full-time commitment for Price, who joined the USU faculty 20 years ago. Before Price retired, Utah Power/PacificCorp had Price worked in the been one of his clients. Orrin Colby, who was, at Chicago office of the time, the controller for Utah Power, suggested Arthur Andersen for he consider teaching at USU. That appealed to 39 years and was Price because he had once thought about going a partner when into teaching. He paid a visit to the USU campus he reached and met with Larzette Hale, head of the School of Accountancy, Dean David Stephens and several other faculty members. He was very impressed with the quality of the faculty and the program and decided to teach for a couple of years.

Twenty years later, Price is still teaching USU accounting students as a volunteer. He hasn’t received a paycheck since beginning at the university and volunteers his time because he enjoys teaching.

The University of Wisconsin, his alma mater, asked him to teach there as well, and from 1990 to 2000 he taught in Wisconsin in the fall and at USU in the spring. In 2000, he decided to “semi-retire,” but he continues to teach at USU in the spring.

USU accounting professor Jay Price hasn’t picked up a paycheck since he started teaching at USU 20 years ago. The University of Wisconsin alum has been volunteering at the university since he retired from the Chicago office of Arthur Andersen in 1988. 72 73 Price seems a little puzzled when pushed to member to make up that exam. He wanted to do explain why he has volunteered his time for 20 it himself.” years. Price has contributed more than his time. He “I enjoy it,” he said. “I seem to be doing an helped establish the Arthur Andersen Alumni adequate job.” Professorship in accounting and funded the largest scholarship endowment in the School of An “adequate job” is an understatement, Accountancy, the Jay H. Price Scholarship. He according to his students and those he has has also funded scholarships at the University worked with. of Wisconsin. Students receiving scholarships are required to commit to giving back to their He was named accounting teacher of the university after graduation. year three times. He received the School of Accountancy Outstanding Service Award in 2001 The importance of volunteering your time and and was honored with the USU Founders Day contributing to a worthy cause is something Distinguished Service Award that same year. Price said he teaches his students. He was named the Distinguished Accounting Alumnus at the University of Wisconsin in 1998. “The chances are that you are going to be asked He got an honorary doctorate from USU in 1993. to serve on not-for-profit boards,” he tells them. “Many employers encourage that, and it’s a fine Richard Jenson, head of the School of thing to do anyway.” Accountancy, said it would be difficult to measure the many benefits that have come from He said once drafted to serve on such boards, having Price as a faculty member. the first thing that will happen to an accountant is that he or she will be asked to be the treasurer. “What an amazing gift Jay has been to our Price has been a volunteer overseer of finances students,” he said. “When you take the at St. Peter’s church in Chicago since 1959 and experience and expertise Jay has and combine now serves on the Board of Trustees of a small that with the way he cares about our students, college in Chicago. we all benefit immensely from his contributions.” Price thinks accountants should be willing Jenson said that Price was once in the hospital to share their understanding of important for a few days and that he went to visit him. Price financial issues that are often in the news but was being given a unit of blood. misunderstood.

“I noticed that spread out on the bedside table Price said he doesn’t have any plans to retire was one of the exams for the intermediate from the School of Accountancy unless he accounting class,” Jenson said. “It impressed eventually has to do so for health reasons. me that he did not want to let his students down. On the schedule it showed that there was an Writer: Steve Eaton, 435-797-8640 exam, and he wanted to make sure it took place. [email protected] He didn’t want to impose on another faculty September 2008

74 75 TAKING AGGIE ATHLETICS TO NEW HEIGHTS

The completion of the new Jim and Carol Laub Athletics-Academics Complex, at the south end of Romney Stadium, gives USU student athletes and coaches access to top-notch training equipment, locker rooms, digital technology and academic resources.

“It’s such a great teaching tool in all facets because we have the ability to teach football in our classrooms,” said head football coach Brent hile often looked at as one of the Guy. “Every room is enhanced by a computer W and has digital capabilities, allowing the players little guys in a conference, Utah State University can boast one area in which it can compete with to break down film just like coaches break it the “big boys” of college athletics. down – by down and distance, by personnel, by the type of blitz or anything they want to do. The completion of the new Jim and Carol Laub Even our snappers and kickers have a room they Athletics-Academics Complex, at the south end can go in and watch plays every day, which is of Romney Stadium, gives USU student athletes something we’ve never had the ability to do.” and coaches access to top-notch training equipment, locker rooms, digital technology and The three-story complex has a number of academic resources. features that benefit USU student athletes of all sports. The first floor is home to locker rooms for Although the facility has been in full use for less the football, women’s track and field, softball and than a month, its effects have already been felt. women’s soccer teams. It also hosts the Steve Mothersell Hall of Fame, named after the former 74 75 For athletes such as senior offensive lineman Derek Hoke, who experienced the outdated facilities at the school for most of his career, the new building has been a night-and-day difference.

“It’s extremely nice, even just for morale,” Hoke said. “It helps you to feel a little more important, that things are going the right way and that things are improving. It’s been a great help, and The Jim and Carol Laub Athletics-Academics Complex features the 11,000-square-foot Dale Mildenberger Sports Medicine Complex. it’s made football a lot easier and a lot more fun at times.” Aggie tight end who made a sizeable donation to the project. On top of helping athletes reach their full potential on the field and in the classroom, the Spacious offices and conference rooms are facility is also a way to attract and recruit top located on the second floor, which Guy said have student athletes to the school. Guy said with helped prepare his team this season. the new facility in place, he’s excited to walk students through and show them what the school “Being right above the locker room is has to offer. convenient,” he said. “It gives me the ability to have a team meeting every day where I can talk “It’s a great recruiting tool,” he said. “We’ll walk and show film and then meet individually with parents and recruits through and set them in the them in different rooms.” classroom they’re going to be in, set them in the meeting rooms, the coaching offices and show The third floor contains the academic center, them the academic center. It’s going to be an which is equipped with classrooms, computer added bonus this year.” labs and tutoring areas that help student athletes perform well in the classroom. Completion of the facility was boosted by donations from more than 400 Aggie alumni “The added bonus is having the academic center and friends of the program, including 120 on the third level so athletes can go up and study former student athletes. These donors reflect and get their work done during the day,” Guy a commitment to USU athletics that manifests said. “In the past, we didn’t have a study hall itself today in a structure that will benefit athletes area. We now have it all during the day, which is for seasons to come. It’s a place where Aggie more convenient for not just football, but for all student athletes will be able to take advantage of our athletes.” of the state-of-the-art facilities and take Aggie athletics to new heights. The facility also hosts the 11,000-square-foot Dale Mildenberger Sports Medicine Complex, Writer: Dave Archer, 435-797-3714, the Dr. John Worley Sports Medicine Research [email protected] Center and a 7,000-square-foot equipment room. October 2008

76 77 IGNORING LIMITS

“I’d be a disaster at the lab bench,” says Hintze, revealing his characteristically subtle sense of humor.

Born with mild cerebral palsy, Hintze’s physical tah State University undergraduate U disabilities initially seemed minor. But at puberty, biochemist Bradley Hintze is not only excelling he developed cervical dystonia that became in his studies, he’s a 2007 finisher of the nation’s progressively worse. The neurological movement longest one-day bicycle race sanctioned by the disorder of the neck, for which there is no known United States Cycling Federation. cure, causes Hintze’s head to involuntarily twist and turn to one side.

“Brad has a great enthusiasm for science and I love having him in our lab,” says Sean Johnson, Hintze’s faculty mentor and R. Gaurth Hansen Assistant Professor of Biochemistry. “I am constantly amazed at his abilities and drive. I have never heard a word of complaint or frustration regarding his physical challenges. He doesn’t seem to let anything prevent him from succeeding in whatever it is he wants to do.”

In spring 2008, USU honored the Aggie senior with the university’s Legacy of Utah State Award. The honor was created in memory of the agricultural students and instructor involved in the 2005 USU van accident. It is given annually to a student who embodies the true spirit, heart and soul of Utah State and demonstrates love and support

Undergrad Brad Hintze (left) and USU mathematics lecturer, Bryan for the university family, while leading Bornholdt, competed in the 206-mile, 2007 LOTOJA bike race. with a vision of hope for the future.

“Brad’s dedication to science is clear,” says Impressive, yes. But even more remarkable is Johnson. “He is one of the most inquisitive Hintze’s perseverance in the face of significant students I have ever met, and his influence is physical obstacles. He has difficulty holding his felt throughout our department. One of the top head upright and walks with a limp. Lack of fine performing students in our departmental courses, motor skills makes writing difficult and precision Brad is constantly sought out by other students lab techniques impossible. who are struggling to understand the coursework.”

76 77 “Our goal is to get a picture of the protein based on x-ray diffraction,” he says.

During USU’s 2008 Research Week, Hintze presented his lab’s efforts in determining the crystal structure of a protein complex called TRAMP, found in brewer’s yeast.

“TRAMP is a protein complex that’s involved in RNA degradation in the nucleus,” he says. “It identifies RNA substrates that need to be degraded and labels them – much like a lumberjack identifies and tags trees in a forest that need to be cut down.” Biochemistry student Brad Hintze, right, and faculty mentor Sean Johnson are deciphering the structure and mechanism of proteins. The project gives scientists a structural view of cell components that play a central role in Hintze, a Willard L. Eccles Undergraduate nuclear RNA surveillance, Hintze says. “RNA Research Fellow, has carved his niche in surveillance is a widespread cellular process that computer-based biochemistry research in is critical for cell function and viability.” Johnson’s x-ray crystallography lab. Along the way he’s proven to himself and others that, with A 2001 graduate of Utah’s Alta High School, determination and persistence, individual strengths Hintze was initially timid about pursuing and talents can emerge in spite of physical limits. university studies. “I thought college wasn’t an option for me; that it would be way too difficult.” Despite a busy academic schedule Hintze found time to squeeze in nearly 4,000 training miles With encouragement from a Salt Lake vocational with USU mathematics lecturer and tandem bike rehabilitation center, he entered USU in fall 2003. partner Bryan Bornholdt in preparation for the Testing the waters with 10 credits, he earned a 4.0 grueling LOTOJA. The 206-mile bike race starts GPA during his first semester. A general biology in Logan, Utah and finishes in Jackson Hole, course his second year, taught by professors Keith Wyoming. Participants climb and descend three Mott and Greg Podgorski, captured his interest mountain passes in the race’s first 110 miles in but, at first, shook his confidence. unpredictable September weather that can range “I was nervous but my advisor, Cathy Myers-Roche, from scorching heat to sudden snow squalls. encouraged me to keep trying,” Hintze says. “Our Logan to Jackson ride was remarkable,” After his first big test, he emerged with a nearly Bornholdt says. “Yes, we prepared for it but it still perfect score. “That, right there, gave me more demanded a great deal of heart and determination. confidence in my collegiate career than anything Bradley has these traits in spades.” else,” he says. Bornholdt recounts that, at the LOTOJA awards The course, along with subsequent science ceremony, a race participant walked up to Hintze courses, steered him to biochemistry. and thanked the Aggie student for his inspiration.

“I thought, ‘this is so cool’ and I wanted to do “The man told Bradley that, when we passed research,” Hintze says. “The research we’re doing him, he was about ready to give up,” Bornholdt now, determining the structure of TRAMP, has says. “But he decided if Bradley was still riding, never been done before. We’re getting information he would keep riding. He moved in behind us and that’s never been known. That fascinates me.” rode with our group the last 11 miles. He was in tears as he spoke to Bradley.” Contact: Bradley Hintze, bradley.h@aggiemail. usu.edu In Johnson’s lab, Hintze uses x-ray crystallography techniques in combination with biochemical Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, 435-797-3517, analysis to understand the structure and [email protected] mechanism of proteins. October 2008 78 79 AGGIE BLUE BIKES Student-Run Organization Benefits the Environment and Promotes Good Health

health, sustainable communities, reduce vehicle congestion and to better the air quality in Cache Valley,” said Adam Christiansen, Aggie ir pollution is caused by many Blue Bikes program coordinator and senior in A mechanical engineering. factors, but with approximately two million miles driven in Cache County every day, some of the pollution is inevitably linked to greenhouse gas In spring 2007, they realized they would not emissions from cars. be able to serve the amount of students they desired because the demand for Blue Bikes In 2005, a group of students and faculty far exceeded the supply. So they adopted this members at Utah State University in the USU mission and have been developing ways to make Community Bike Coalition started brainstorming this happen ever since. ways to attack the air quality problem in Cache Valley. The winning idea was a community bike In an effort to get people on bikes more often, program that evolved into Aggie Blue Bikes, whether on a Blue Bike or not, Aggie Blue Bikes which officially began serving students in has expanded the educational side of its services September 2005. to include one-on-one tutorials, community weekly classes, League of American Bicyclists Aggie Blue Bikes is a student-managed and classes and the student-run program that checks bikes out to student tool students free of charge for up to a board. semester at a time. It also offers free, one-on-one maintenance counseling and provides bike tools to help students take care of their own bikes. When Aggie Blue Bikes was established in fall The program started 2005, it had nine bikes. Through generous with nine bikes and one donations from employee and has grown in students and community members, just three years to include the number of bikes more than 100 bikes and 10 has grown to approximately 120 in employees annually. just three years.

“Our mission is to get more people on more bikes more often to promote

78 79 The Blue Bikes come from students and community members who donate their old bikes to the program. Aggie Blue Bikes employees restore the bikes or use them for parts and paint the frames aggie blue. Christiansen has also been able to coordinate with the USU police to recycle abandoned bikes around campus. After an abandoned bike is taken by the police, it’s held for three months to give the owner ample time to claim it. After the three months, Aggie Blue Bikes adds it to its fleet.

“This program is completely original,” Christiansen said. “We studied different models used at other schools and in other communities, but no other program runs at virtually no cost to the students.”

Aggie Blue Bikes has been able to function Aggie Blue Bikes employee Dave Griffin fixes the brakes due to generous donations and grants from on a bike to get it ready to become an official Blue Bike. AmeriCorps, the Utah Conservation Core, The tool board is a full set of bicycle tools and Provost Raymond Coward, Vice President of stands that students can use any time. If the Student Services Gary Chambers and Dean of student doesn’t know how to use the tools, a the College of Natural Resources and Director of Blue Bikes employee will teach the student how the Sustainability Council Nat Frazer. to use the tools and maintain a bike, but will not “Aggie Blue Bikes is a fantastic program for fix the problem. sustainability at USU — not only does it help “By doing this, we take concepts and turn them lower carbon emissions in Cache Valley, but into hands-on skills that students will have the students who use the bikes are sustaining throughout their lives,” Christiansen said. “This their own bodies by getting exercise as they teaches students how to take care of themselves ride them,” Frazer said. “I can think of no rather than relying on someone else and gives other student-managed initiative that has such them the ability to pass their knowledge on to tremendous benefits. I am delighted that the others. The success of the student tool board Sustainability Council has been able to support has been phenomenal.” its efforts.”

The lucky students who get to borrow a bike enjoy Beginning in 2007, Blue Bikes started a Friends the benefits of this sustainable form of transportation. of Santa program in which its employees collect donated children’s bikes and refurbish them to give “I was so excited when I got my Aggie Blue Bike to needy children in the community. Aggie Blue last summer — I showed it to everyone at work Bikes also plans and hosts the Cache Valley bike as soon as I got it,” said Loni Pilcher, senior graphic design student. “I lived really close to festival each spring in an effort to give community campus and work so it didn’t make sense to members a chance to learn about bikes, biking drive my car. I got great exercise riding up the etiquette and local bike businesses, etc. hill to work a few times a week, and I loved being “We’re so grateful for everyone who has helped us able to ride to my friends’ houses instead of and everything that’s been given to us,” Christiansen spending money on gas.” said. “We are glad we’ve found a way to give back to the community to show our gratitude.” By fall 2006, just one year after Aggie Blue Bikes was established, the bike supply had doubled from nine Writer: Annalisa Fox, 435-797-1429, to 18 bikes. A year later it had more than tripled to [email protected] 65, and a year later it had about 120 bikes. October 2008 80 81 BLUE GOES GREEN

oogle produces more than 33 million results for the word “sustainability”— a word that seemsG to be popping up everywhere these days.

So what’s all the hype about?

Sustainability means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. At a time when the world consumes more quickly than the earth can replenish, it is important to do everything possible to become more efficient.

Utah State University formed its Sustainability Council in spring 2007 after President Stan Albrecht was the first in Utah to sign the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, a document that holds the university responsible for developing a plan to work toward climate neutrality.

While this document emphasizes the university’s move toward sustainability, Utah State has been instituting green practices around campus for more than 15 years and continues to implement new practices and utilize new technology to further this cause.

Facilities “Sustainability is ingrained in our organization, it’s something we continually do,” said Ben Since its beginning, the Facilities division at USU Berrett, director of facilities operations. “Aside has had at least one engineer dedicated to issues from the social responsibility aspect, saving impacting energy consumption. Today there is a energy saves money, and we strive to give sustainability coordinator who is supported by a taxpayers the highest value for their dollar.” staff of engineers working on projects to make USU more sustainable. Major projects include the chilled The chilled water plant, also known as the water plant, the co-generation/central heating unit central cooling plant, was installed in 2003. and the transition to more efficient lighting. For this project, facilities staff removed 25 old chillers from individual buildings around campus and replaced them with the most efficient electric chillers available. All the chillers were relocated to a central building where they are under 24-hour efficiency surveillance. The

Ninety percent of USU’s Aggie Shuttles run on natural gas, and the fleet is the only alternative- fuel bus system in higher education in Utah.

80 81 cool air generated from the coolers is pumped Landscaping to buildings around campus through existing underground tunnels. In 1993 the landscaping crew at USU began working on ways to use water more efficiently The co-generation/central heating unit is a gas around campus. Pressure regulators were turbine generator that burns natural gas and turns installed on irrigation valves to reduce the droplet an electric generator that can generate about half of size of the water coming out of sprinklers. This the electricity used on campus. allowed more water The waste heat from this process to hit the goes through a heat exchanger ground to make steam used to heat the instead buildings around campus. of getting carried While the facilities staff has been off by the changing light bulbs all over campus wind. to replace existing ones with more efficient T8 bulbs, it has also been More updating some rooms on campus sprinkler with occupancy sensors that The area in front of the Merrill-Cazier Library features water at automatically shut off the lights native grasses. USU is lost when there’s no one in the room. to wind The same concept saves on heating and cooling than to evaporation, according to Jim Huppi, bills by using electronic sensors to automatically USU landscape architect/manager. shut off some systems during the night. Five years later, a computerized central control Aggie Shuttle system for irrigation was installed that allows the landscape crew to shut down the entire In 1999 USU got its first set of Aggie Shuttles system in just five minutes to save water during that run on natural gas. Natural gas is an a rain storm as well as save power for pumps excellent alternative because it only costs 65 to and shorten watering windows. Huppi said 70 cents per gallon and hardly emits any carbon that before this upgrade took place, it would dioxide, said Alden Erickson, shuttle supervisor. take about a day and a half to shut off the It can be difficult to maintain a fleet of natural approximately 140 clocks around campus and gas vehicles because it requires increased the same amount of time to turn them back on. mechanical maintenance and better-trained technicians. It can also be difficult to find a The landscaping staff has also worked to natural gas fueling station. organize plants around campus by their water requirements so the central control system USU overcame both setbacks with its stellar can be programmed to water only what needs maintenance crew and a grant that made to be watered. The staff also began planting possible the installation of two natural gas native plants and dedicated some spots around fueling stations on campus. Because of this, 90 campus as demonstration gardens that have percent of the Aggie Shuttles now run on natural been planned and built by horticulture students. gas and have become the only alternative-fuel bus system in higher education in Utah. “Since these changes were made, USU uses half as much water as it did in 1993, even though the Besides using eco-friendly fuel, Aggie Shuttles landscape area has increased,” Huppi said. transport up to 6,500 people per day during the school year, totaling 850,000-950,000 people per For more information, visit www.sustainability. year. It does all this with just $11 per semester usu.edu in student fees, which are offset with a charter service and revenue from ad space it provides Writer: Annalisa Fox, 435-797-1429, to local vendors that generate approximately [email protected] $25,000 each year. October 2008 82 83 STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL SERVICE PROJECT WHILE PRESERVING USU HISTORY

It is a Utah State University landmark that is often overlooked. The amphitheater on Old Main Hill has become dilapidated and underutilized. Students from a Management and Human Resources class hope to change this.

The amphitheater was reconstructed by the MHR 3110 class in October 2008 so it could be used for a benefit concert where all proceeds went to aid people in Peru, said Nicole Brown, a junior majoring in public relations and a member of the class.

The proceeds went to the Huntsman School of Business-sponsored Micro/Small Business-Loan account program. The micro-loan program provides small loans of $50 to $100 to individuals and small businesses in Peru while educating them on how to run a business, said David Herrmann, senior lecturer in the Management and Human Resources Department.

“The recipients of the loans are able to start small businesses to increase their income levels,” he added. “We believe this project will make a lasting difference in the lives of those who need it most.”

The Renovation: The MHR class took it from there. The Unfortunately, the amphitheater has become students revitalized the historic site for worn down over its 70-year lifespan and was the concert, which featured guitarist recently deemed unsafe said Stanley Kane, Katie Lewis, Grafted and other artists. director of campus maintenance operations and USU architect. He said it would cost at least a The class spent two hours sanding half a million to get it into tip-top shape. benches, sweeping walkways and painting benches to Because of the lack of funding to renovate the prepare the amphitheater for amphitheater, Facilities made a few repairs to get its debut. the amphitheater up to code. The concrete wall was removed and replaced with a guard railing to make it safer.

Students in a management and human resources class revitalized USU’s historic amphitheater for a benefit concert where proceeds went to the Huntsman School of Business Micro Loan program to finance new businesses in Peru.

82 83 The amphitheater’s long-lasting history stems back to 1924. According to USU Facilities’ documents, many class gifts were taken to pay for the materials and construction of the amphitheater. The construction was done by students employed through the Federal Emergency Relief Administration.

After its completion, the amphitheater was put to good use, Brown said.

“Our project not only benefits USU, “It has been used over the years for commencement exercises, summer classes, but Peru benefits at the same time. I music festivals and a major summer theater hope it will make a big impact on many program,” she said. people here in Logan and in Peru.” The MHR 3110 class has been able to preserve a piece of USU history while “We wanted the amphitheater to look good helping people across the globe. for the concert,” Brown said. “It’s a beautiful spot, and we wanted people to be aware of “Our project not only benefits USU, but Peru its existence.” benefits at the same time,” she said. “I hope it will make a big impact on many people here in Brown is not the only one to deem the Logan and in Peru.” amphitheater a beautiful spot on campus. USU Facilities documented the amphitheater as being Writer: Chelsie Hansen, chelsie.hansen@ perceived as “one of the most attractive sites in aggiemail.usu.edu America with its overlook of Cache Valley” when October 2008 it was first built.

84 85 AG GYMNAST FOUNDS NONPROFIT TO FIGHT POVERTY IN AFRICA

“Dollars for Change” raises money by asking each person to give just $1 to fight poverty in Africa.

atie Rutherford, a former Utah State “I am not asking you to sign up for anything and K I am not asking for all of your money,” Rutherford University gymnast (2001-05), is reaching for new heights and pushing above and beyond her explains on her “Dollars for Change” Web site. typical routines. “I’m asking that you do without that can of soda just once. I’m asking that you find a small piece A year after graduating from USU in of your life where you can save just one dollar anthropology, Rutherford established “Dollars for and put it to better use. Prove to your kids, your Change,” a nonprofit organization with a goal of siblings, anyone you have ever told, that one reaching out to millions. person really can make a difference. You don’t have to be a millionaire to change the world as long as we all work together.”

Through her involvement with the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, a community-based service club for athletes at USU, Rutherford helped the USU gymnastics team start fundraising for children’s education in Africa.

“When I realized what a difference our proceeds

“It’s hard to imagine what one dollar can actually do, but it’s more powerful than people made in a child’s realize,” Rutherford said. 84 85 life, it made “It’s hard to imagine me want to do what one dollar can something more,” actually do, but it’s Rutherford said. more powerful than people realize,” She quit her job Rutherford said. “So in government far, I have raised banking and enough to build one began to focus school through Dollars on developing for Change.” her own nonprofit organization. Today, Rutherford flies across the nation “I really didn’t sharing her stories have much,” to inspire students, said Rutherford. communities and “It took a while families to join to become tax- the cause. exempt and go through all of the “All donations go requirements, but directly toward it has proven to be Katie Rutherford, former USU gymnast, established “Dollars the cause,” said well worth it.” for Change,” a nonprofit organization that helps develop Rutherford. “The schools in Africa. money isn’t used for After spending three months fundraising, Rutherford anything other than the schools.” took her first trip to begin her routine in Africa. After spending more than five months building schools Rutherford’s efforts have made an impression on and helping with irrigation and education, she members of USU’s current gymnastics team. realized her potential to make a difference. “I look up to Katie,” said Lindsey Boone, “When I saw what a difference my efforts made, sophomore on the gymnastics team majoring I began to research what more I could do,” in business, “I hope more athletes and people Rutherford said. “I came across a life-changing come together to donate.” statistic. America’s population in the year 2007 reached more than 300 million. If I could get at “Join the challenge to prove that together, we least $1 from every American family or student, can make a difference,” said Rutherford. funding for schools and projects in Africa would be possible.” Writer: Celia Child, [email protected] November 2008 This is how the philosophy for Rutherford’s organization, “Dollars for Change”, was created.

86 87 USU STUDENTS HEAD TO MEXICO AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE

children, and the orphanage itself got a new septic system.

rphaned children with disabilities in The Mexico trip has become an annual tradition O over the past four years for students in the Manaedero, Mexico, got a new chance to play and learn, and Utah State University students Department of Communicative Disorders and who went to the orphanage in May 2008 to help Deaf Education, and Department Head Beth got a new perspective. Foley has seen the same story repeat itself. When students arrive, they are “shell shocked” to The staff at the Gabriel House orphanage see the needs at the orphanage and the severity received training to help them work with the of the children’s disabilities; but when it’s time to head back to the U.S., the students don’t want to go.

In 2008, more than 90 students from three different USU departments contributed work to the orphanage. About 20 of them made the trip to Manaedero with several faculty members. Gabriel House is an orphanage for children who have disabilities or who are HIV positive. The orphanage houses about 40 children.

Sonia Manuel-Dupont, a professor in English, communicative disorders and civil engineering, has worked with Gabriel House for two years. She has involved students from all three of her disciplines in projects for the orphanage.

Her English students created teaching units with books in Spanish. Students in the Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Department made toys and communication systems

USU students traveled to Manaedero, Mexico, to help make as part of an assistive technology improvements to an orphanage for children with disabilities. course. They added tactile symbols 86 87 independent study project, and it was among the most ambitious works that made the trip to Manaedero.

“I’m pretty pleased with the way it turned out,” he said. Like many other student contributions, the jungle gym was assembled in the lab, which specializes in adapting, repairing and building assistive technology for people with disabilities.

Jordan Meek, a junior from Sandy majoring in Communicative Foley, one of the professors who teaches Disorders and Deaf Education, built an indoor jungle gym for the assistive technology class, began going the orphanage. to the orphanage five years ago. The next year and each year after, she began bringing to books in Spanish for children with visual students with her. impairments and adapted books to stimulate language development. In addition to bringing assistive technology and toys with them, the students and faculty Representatives from the USU chapter of members help train the Gabriel House staff on Engineers Without Borders also designed a new ways to work with children who have conditions septic system for the orphanage since the old including autism, muscular dystrophy, cerebral one was overwhelmed by its massive laundry palsy and Down syndrome. Many of the children demands. They installed the system in May are unable to communicate using speech. during their joint visit with other USU students.

The students stay a week, but more than Jordan Meek, a junior from Sandy majoring in once Foley has watched as the children at the Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education, orphanage stand in front of the gate, trying to built an indoor jungle gym that included a keep their visitors from leaving. By then, the detachable swing. Swinging is good for a students don’t want to leave either. child’s development, said Stan Clelland, the Assistive Technology Lab coordinator at the Writer: JoLynne Lyon, [email protected] USU Center for Persons with Disabilities. November 2008 Meek’s play equipment was built as an

88 89 WRDC AT USU IMPROVING RURAL AMERICA

The Western Rural Development Center’s latest publications — a series of population briefs — are one more effort by the center to deliver resources to improve the quality of life in the rural West.

Located at Utah State University, the WRDC is one of four regional centers nationwide designed to strengthen Don Albrecht is the director of the Western Rural Development Center, which aims to the capacity of local deliver resources to improve the quality of life in the rural West. citizens to guide the also supports the creation of businesses and future of their rural communities. Each of the four the development of desirable assets using a centers links the research and Extension capacity sustainable approach, supporting local cultures of regional land-grant universities with local and creating the ability to seize emerging decision makers to address a wide range of rural opportunities and solve problems. development issues.

That means communities can come to the WRDC “We try to provide whatever is necessary to improve for the latest information about issues such as the lives of people in rural America,” said Don economic development, energy development, Albrecht, director of the Western Center. “Better public policy, rural health, sustainable information will lead to better decision making, development, natural resources and more. so it is our job to be the source of complete and accurate information about their communities.” The “population briefs” summarize population trends and how those trends might affect health, Albrecht said the center has a multi-dimensional employment, poverty, minorities, education and focus. It initiates projects by bringing resources land use. and people together to jump-start innovative concepts. It also brings eclectic groups of people The series was developed in response to together to explore issues, learn about one requests from researchers and nonprofits another’s values and goals and think creatively throughout the 13 Western states that were in about how to shape the rural West. The center

88 89 need of demographic Population Changes from 1980-2000 for the Western Region data pertaining to Hispanic the rapidly changing 9,080,131; 50.0% populations in the region. The series Asian includes regional 3,015,343; 16.6% overviews about Black “The Changing 686,368; 3.8% West,” “Employment, Native American Income and Poverty,” 374,040; 2.1% “Education,” “Health White and Longevity,” 5,008,524; 27.6% and “Land Use and A sample of the information found in the population briefs. Resources” and one brief for each of the 13 the residents of Western states are much more Western states. likely to be without health insurance than the average American. Only in Hawaii (9.6 percent) “The size and composition of the population in do a smaller percentage of people lack health the Western states is rapidly changing,” Albrecht insurance than the national average. Four said. “Accurate and timely information is Western states (New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona essential to our stakeholders. These population and Montana) and several Southern states briefs provide this information in a readily (Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, accessible and easy-to-read format.” Oklahoma and Texas), are among the 10 states with the highest rates of uninsured individuals in Albrecht served as the researcher and author for the nation. the briefs. His goal is to make this information available to researchers, community leaders and The Western Rural Development Center links the nonprofits that otherwise may not have access to research and extension capacity of land-grant this important demographic data. universities in 13 Western states and four U.S. territories. The WRDC is funded by the U.S. “Rural community developers throughout the Department of Agriculture’s Cooperative State West face many challenges, and before they Research, Education and Extension Services. It begin to shape their communities for future also receives substantial support from several success, they must have an understanding of USU units, including Cooperative Extension, the their current populations and conditions,” he Agricultural Experiment Station and the College said. “These population briefs provide them with of Natural Resources. that baseline information.”

Writer: Tim Vitale, 435-797-1356, Statistics pertaining to health insurance coverage [email protected] among residents of the Western states are of November 2008 particular concern at the moment, he said. The Health and Longevity brief, for example, said

90 91 CHANGING THE WORLD ONE DROP AT A TIME

tah State University’s Utah Water ResearchU Laboratory has projects and training efforts in all of Utah’s 29 counties and has conducted water resources projects and training programs in nearly 70 countries throughout the world.

Before the building was even dedicated in 1965, faculty at the Water Lab were already working on international projects.

“These international projects have helped establish a close relationship between the UWRL and water agencies and universities in many parts of the world,” said Mac McKee, director of the Water Lab. “Through these relationships, USU has recruited students from around the world, many of whom now work as the world’s water leaders. Today, international students make up approximately 75 percent of the graduate students working at the Water Lab.”

In the 1990s the UWRL began working with An Associate professor in Environmental Engineering Laurie Najah National University in Nablus, West Bank, McNeill spent a year at An Najah National University in Palestine. Because few doctoral degrees are offered Nablus, West Bank, Palestine, where she taught and researched water problems the area currently faces. in Palestine, many ANNU students come to USU to obtain a doctoral degree, and they frequently return Due to the shortage, the city can only provide to work as professors and experts in their fields. drinking water every few days, and residents have to stock up on water by storing it in large tanks In summer 2007, associate professor in on their roofs to use during the in-between days. Environmental Engineering Laurie McNeill began While she was there, the time between water days her sabbatical at ANNU, where she taught and increased from three to five to 10 days by the time researched water problems the area currently faces. she left in July 2008.

The city of Nablus has a population of nearly This system, in which water runs through pipes 200,000 people, and during much of the year only once every few days, is called “intermittent there isn’t enough drinking water available to the pumping,” and many developing countries use this Palestinian people. system instead of continuous pumping, which is used in America. Intermittent pumping can cause a

90 91 variety of water problems that do not occur with continuous pumping.

McNeill and her students at ANNU worked to develop a model for intermittent pumping so they can understand how it influences water quality and predict future problems. They are also working to develop a model to analyze water quality in the storage tanks.

Not only does intermittent pumping Due to the water shortage in Nablus, the city can only provide drinking water every few days. Residents have to stock up on water by storing it pose potential hazards to the in large tanks on their roofs to use during the in-between days. water quality, but the area is also susceptible to water contamination Nabeel Hamdan worked most closely with McNeill and potential cancer-causing agents. on this project. He is working toward a master’s degree and currently works as head of the Just as many water treatment plants in the United engineering department in Beita, a town of about States add a small amount of chlorine to water to 10,000 people located south of Nablus. kill pathogens, chlorine is also added to the drinking water in Nablus. However, in less-than-ideal “I’ve always been interested in everything related to hygienic circumstances, this chlorine can pose a water quality, and presently there is no information potential hazard. to help identify or quantify the location and extent of DBPs in the Nablus system,” he said. “I hope this When chlorine reacts with organic matter (such as research will help decision makers improve water raw sewage), it forms a disinfection by-product, or quality here and benefit people around the world.” DBP, which can cause cancer. This is a real concern because some clean-water pipes in Nablus are The final projects McNeill worked on during her submerged in flows of raw sewage. sabbatical dealt with wastewater treatment. One project tested a pilot-scale wastewater treatment McNeill and her students are trying to model this process for removing contaminants. scenario as well so they can track how the chlorine changes in this system. Then they can determine The second project looked into how to run a when and how much chlorine to add. sewage collection system where none existed previously, the logistics of installing a full-scale “It’s a balancing act,” she said. “You need to add treatment plant and what opportunities were chlorine to keep the water clean and safe, but available for reusing the treated wastewater for you don’t want to add too much in case organic irrigation. This is important because it is not matter comes into contact with the water and forms uncommon for Palestinians to have cesspits, cancer-causing disinfection by-products.” allowing sewage to seep into the ground and contaminate the Utah Water Research Laboratory ground water. • The Logan River can be diverted directly through the Utah Water Research Laboratory’s hydraulics lab. “This is just one example of what • The lab works on more than 300 water-related projects each year, and our faculty does daily,” said its annual research expenditures equal $9 million. McKee. “Our mission involves • In 2005, National Geographic visited the UWRL to film its faculty and helping solve water-related lab resources for a documentary it produced about flooding. problems at the state, national and • The UWRL is home to one of the nation’s few large-rainfall simulators. global levels, and our dedicated With approximately 66,000 droppers, this machine can recreate the faculty make this goal a reality.” rainfall conditions of a specific storm. Writer: Annalisa Fox, 435-797-1429 • A new hydraulics modeling laboratory is under construction at the [email protected] UWRL that will have approximately 10,000-square-feet of floor space. It will be completed January 2009 and will allow researchers at the UWRL November 2008 to more effectively compete for large physical modeling projects.

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