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The magazine of the University of Nevada, Reno • Winter 2011 Senior ScholarS NEVADA SILVER & BLUE take on the world What I’ve Done WIth my LIfe • Winter 2011 Mark knobel Wolf Pack football a season to remember From the President Diversity, student success a hallmark on Nevada campus Richard Tapia is a towering figure in higher education. As an internationally The magazine of the University of Nevada, Reno known researcher and leader in www.unr.edu/silverandblue education and outreach, Dr. Tapia Copyright ©2011, by the University of Nevada, Reno. All has impacted more rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without lives than most of us written permission is prohibited. Nevada Silver & Blue (USPS# could ever imagine. 024-722), Winter 2011, Volume 27, Number 2, is published quarterly (fall, winter, spring, summer) by the University of Born in Los Angeles Nevada, Reno, Development and Alumni Relations, Morrill to parents who Hall, 1664 N. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89503-2007. Periodicals separately emigrated postage paid at Reno, NV and at additional mailing offices. from Mexico as POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Nevada Silver & teenagers, Dr. Tapia Dow Jeff by Photo Blue, University of Nevada, Reno Foundation/MS 0162, Reno, was the first person NV 89557-0162. Contact us by telephone: editor (775) 682- President Milton Glick stands beside the University’s growing population 6022, address changes (775) 682-6541; fax: (775) 784-1394; in his family to ever of National Merit Scholars during the Fall 2010 semester. or email: [email protected]. attend college. Since then, as Contact us by mail, phone or fax: Morrill Hall/0007 a mathematician and professor at Rice University, Dr. Tapia has had a profound influence on not University of Nevada, Reno only how mathematics and engineering in this country are taught, but perhaps more importantly, Reno, Nevada 89557-0007 who teaches these key disciplines. As the first Hispanic elected to the National Academy of Engi- address changes: (775) 682-6541 neering, he has been a role model of the highest order. He has directed or co-directed more under- fax: (775) 784-1394 represented minority and women doctoral recipients than anyone in the United States. Dr. Tapia Class Notes submissions: [email protected] has said of his own heritage, which he has credited for much of his success, that, “It’s our culture Address changes: [email protected] that teaches us to reach, and to help, and to include.” Find us on Facebook: “Nevada Silver & Blue” On Saturday, Dec. 4, Dr. Tapia shared his story of inclusion, opportunity and personal integrity Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/silverandblue as the keynote speaker during the University of Nevada, Reno’s Winter Commencement. Dr. Tapia’s visit served as a reminder that diversity makes us all stronger. At the University, we have sought to emulate the example of pre-eminent individuals such as Dr. Tapia. We have actively Executive Editor John k. carothers sought the best and brightest high school students in the Silver State. We have recruited students Senior Editor Melanie robbins ’06M.a. whose compelling personal experiences have made them stronger people. We have encouraged Art Director Patrick Mcfarland ’97 students to come to Nevada to learn, to experience and to connect with others in ways that will stay with them forever. Associate Editors amy carothers ‘01M.a., Juliane Di Meo, lindsey niedzielski ‘10M.ed., The results of this effort have been exceedingly, extraordinarily positive. christy Jerz ’97, Zanny Marsh In just the past few months, our campus has achieved the following: ’09MJM, anne McMillin, rhonda In August, our campus welcomed its largest (more than 2,700 students) and most diverse first- lundin, Jim Sloan, Jane tors ’82, year class ever; keiko Weil ’87 The fall 2010 semester saw us reach a record number of National Merit Scholars on our campus. Staff Photographer theresa Danna-Douglas We now have 38 National Merit Scholars in our midst after adding 10 in the fall semester; Photographers John byrne, David calvert, Jean Over the past 10 years, the University has increased the number of bachelor degrees awarded Dixon ’08M.a., Jeff Dow,t anya from 1,350 to more than 2,300 awarded in spring 2010—a 66 percent increase. Gayer, lisa J. tolda, Mike Dr. Tapia once told a reporter that if there has been any theme to his life and career, it would be Wolterbeek ’02 that, “while I was here, I made a difference.” Website Patrick Mcfarland ’97 It is our commitment to our students that once they graduate from our institution, they will be fully prepared to be “difference-makers” in the lives of those around them, and in the fabric of the communities they serve. Sincerely, Milton D. Glick • President Milton D. Glick Marc Johnson • Provost President John k. carothers • VP, Development and Alumni Relations www.unr.edu/president bruce Mack • Assoc. VP, Development and Alumni Relations Table of Contents Winter 2011. Vol. 27. No. 2 Features 2 14 34 Senior Scholars take on the world What I’ve Learned: Mark Knobel ’77 Wolf Pack football turns in a season to remember Departments 10 Feature – Fall 2010 Senior Scholars About the cover Senior Scholar Samantha Baldock The magazine of the University of Nevada, Reno • Winter 2011 Gatherings – Winter Commencement, Herz Gold Medalist 11 ’10 (international business) and her Good Medicine – Test scores not the only mentor, Yvonne Stedham, catch up 12 in the new E.L. Cord Student Success measure of medical student success Center in the College of Business on the fourth floor of the Ansari 16 Gatherings – Foundation Banquet, Davidson and Reno Business Building. Sami graduated Philharmonic, Nevada Writers Hall of Fame last May and took an internship with Senior ScholarS Matchworld, a South African company NEVADA SILVER & BLUE take on the world What I’ve Done WIth my LIfe 18 University for You – Summer youth camps coming soon that specializes in sponsorship • Winter 2011 Mark knobel Wolf Pack football consulting, brand activation and a season to remember 22 University for You – Boys State and Girls State have a home at Nevada public relations, for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. “I took the leap of faith and figured, ‘It’s the World Cup; this is a once- 24 University News – Great Nevada ShakeOut in-a-lifetime opportunity … I just have to go for it,” she says, adding that “the earthquake drill draws more than 115,000 combination of learning about a new culture and business environment, travelling the country and, of course, attending the World Cup,” made the experience truly 32 On Philanthropy – Frances C. and William P. Smallwood memorable. Photography by Jeff Dow. Art direction by Patrick McFarland ’97. Foundation supports study abroad and multimedia education 37 Pack Tracks – Nevada prepares to ‘Move to the Mountain’ Only Online MHOME EANS NEvADA Visit our website for photo galleries, full versions of the printed stories, 39 plus video and audio clips. You can also access Nevada Silver & Blue archives. 40 – Nevada Alumni Council Visit www.unr.edu/silverandblue. In this issue: 41 – Class Chat Senior Scholars take on the world – For an extended version of the feature story. 42 – Writings on the Wall Gatherings – For more photos from all of our events. 47 – Kickin’ it with K-von | e-dating in the 21st century N DA E University for You – 2011 summer youth camps links. v 50 – Chapter Updates A remembering friends – For the full obituaries. 54 – Gatherings: 2010 Homecoming Weekend S I L v 56 – Gatherings: Homecoming Gala, Alumni Scholarship Reception, E R Pregame Parties, Old Guy’s Night & B 58 – Family Tree Challenge l ook online: When you see this LOOk ONLiNE notice in the print LU E • 60 – Remembering Friends magazine, it means there’s related bonus material at the website, so check it Winter 2011 out: www.unr.edu/silverandblue 62 What I’ve Done With My Life – Stanley W. Paher ’69M.A. 1 Senior Scholars take on the world Senior Scholars forge successful careers following academic achievement guided by mentors By Melanie Robbins ’06M.A. Photos by Jeff Dow. enior Scholars, among the best and Molly Duckett ’02, ’05M.S. her uncle “spent countless hours together, brightest students on campus, drew Speech Pathologist retraining his swallowing mechanism and Sthe attention of their college’s Dean’s Division of Health Sciences perfecting his speech clarity,” she remembers. Office, which bestowed the Nevada Alumni Mentor: ann tyler “Today, he can eat whatever he wants, have Association’s top honor on them. It turns out an intelligible conversation, and loves talking that these high-achieving students have a In November 2009, Molly Duckett found about his ‘own habit of getting noticed and doing remarkable that her professional training in speech personal speech things after they graduate, too. We asked past pathology and audiology was invaluable in therapist!’ The Senior Scholars to tell us a little about what her personal life when her uncle suffered from experience left they are doing now, and the responses were multiple strokes that left him with severe me with extreme truly gratifying: these students had taken their dysphagia (difficulty swallowing safely) and gratitude to possess Winter 2011 dysarthria (slurred speech). • education and launched satisfying careers and/ such an invaluable E “He was devastated when he could not LU or further academic achievements. Whittling set of skills, which be understood by his own family and was & B down the list to just one from each college was I attribute to my R E told he would have to receive nutrition via a v a difficult task, but here’s a sampling of what excellent education L I nasogastric tube,” Duckett says.