Theater renamed to honor former president, wife

A ceremony to rename the University Theatre in honor of former UM President George Dennison and his wife, Jane, will be held at 3:30 p.m. Friday, May 11, on the steps of the theater.

Dennison, UM's longest-serving president, and his wife will be recognized for their contributions to the University, and they both will address the audience.

A memorial plaque also will be dedicated to Keith Dukes, a carpenter who was killed during the remodel of the theater. Dukes' widow, Traci, will be present at the event along with her family and friends.

The ceremony will kick off with a performance by a quintet of student musicians, and a reception will follow. Stephen Kalm, dean of UM's College of Visual and Performing Arts, will emcee the event, and President Royce Engstrom will provide remarks and unveil new lettering on the theater.

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Faculty receive award for teaching excellence

Faculty members Leora Bar-el and Robert Greene received UM's 2012 Cox Award for Teaching Excellence.

Bar-el is an assistant professor of linguistics in the anthropology department, who has been successful with her research program on Salish languages. She teaches introductory- to graduate-level courses, and most of her courses include a research component.

Greene is an associate professor in the history department. In addition to teaching introductory- to graduate-level courses, he also teaches courses through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UM.

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Former Microsoft attorney to speak at ceremony

Bill Neukom, an attorney who served as Microsoft's chief legal officer for 25 years and founded the World Justice Project, will speak at the UM School of Law graduation and hooding ceremony this month. 

The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 19, in the University Theatre. It is free and open to the public.

"We are delighted that Mr. Neukom has accepted our invitation to speak at our graduation and hooding ceremony," said law school Dean Irma Russell. "I am grateful that this year's graduates, their families and our community can benefit from his experience and service."

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Research: 1 percent of trees dominate biomass

Recent research shows that large trees 3 or more feet in diameter accounted for nearly half the biomass measured at a Yosemite National Park study site, yet represented only 1 percent of the trees growing there.

Andrew Larson, a UM assistant professor of forest ecology, is part of the research team reporting this new finding.

"These trees are the elites of the forest," Larson said. "Just a few individual trees per acre, especially sugar pines, store a disproportionately large amount of the carbon in this forest."

Larson is co-author of a paper on the largest quantitative study yet of the importance of big trees in temperate forests. The article was published May 2 in PLoS ONE, an online peer-reviewed journal.   

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UM honors education partners, awards scholarships

State educators and community partners were honored at the 2012 Partnership and Scholarship Recognition Reception hosted April 27 by UM's Phyllis J. Washington College of Education and Human Sciences.

About 380 professionals, students and guests attended the event in the University Center Ballroom to recognize educational partners who collaborate with the University and the College of Education and Human Sciences in the preparation of future professionals. Student scholarship recipients also were recognized for their outstanding academic accomplishments.

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J-school awards record amount in scholarships

UM's School of Journalism awarded a total of $139,000 in student scholarships and awards at the 2012 Dean Stone Awards Banquet on April 20.

The total was a record amount, Dean Peggy Kuhr said.

"Thanks to the continuing generosity of alumni and supporters of the J-school, we've been able to help students more than ever," she said.

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Business plan competition May 10 at UM

The UM School of Business Administration will showcase the entrepreneurial aspirations of students across the state when it hosts the 23rd Annual John Ruffatto Business Plan Competition on Thursday, May 10, in the Gallagher Business Building.

Faculty from higher education institutions across Montana will nominate 30 teams to compete based on their written business plans. From those 30 teams, a distinguished group of judges will invite 15 to the semifinal round. Teams will compete for more than $30,000 in prize money this year.

The prestigious panel of judges consists of venture capitalists, angel investors, bankers, successful entrepreneurs and corporate executives. They will offer feedback on the business plans chosen for the semifinal round, which begins at 5 p.m., and will then narrow the field to four finalist teams. The finalists will present their business plans to a larger audience during the final round, which is free and open to the public. Appetizers and beverages will be served throughout the evening.

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Course offers unique Glacier Park excursion

UM's School of Extended & Lifelong Learning will offer an experiential learning opportunity unique in nature and curriculum this summer.

The course, Discover the Crown of the Continent: A Glacier National Park Experience, will take participants on a three-day journey Monday through Wednesday, June 18-20, through areas of Glacier not often explored by the average park visitor.

UM geography lecturer Rick Graetz and scientists from the Glacier Institute will lead the noncredit course, giving participants an insider's view of Glacier National Park through their combined years of research, observation and first-hand knowledge.

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Beekeeping course creates buzz

The School of Extended & Lifelong Learning at UM is creating a buzz with its new apprentice-level beekeeping course.

The first in a series of SELL courses in a full-certificate beekeeping program that ranges from beginner to intermediate and master levels, the apprentice-level course will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from May 21 to June 11 at Fort Missoula. The course can be taken for academic or nonacademic credit and is taught by one of the nation's premier bee research teams.

Jerry Bromenshenk, co-founder of Bee Alert Technology, will lead the course, which includes classroom lectures and hands-on experience at the Fort Missoula Research Complex and Apiary. UM Bee Alert research team members Scott Debnam, senior field technician, and Phillip Welch, senior lab supervisor, also will instruct.

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Library hosts resource, grant-writing workshop

UM's Mansfield Library will host a free workshop, "Grant-Seeking Basics with the Foundation Directory Online Professional and Proposal-Writing Basics," from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21, in Room 283 in the library.

Kief Schladweiler, coordinator of Cooperating Collections at the national Foundation Center, will lead the session. He will highlight the electronic and print resources available for free at the Mansfield Library, which is a Cooperating Collection of the Foundation Center, a leading worldwide source of data, analysis and training on philanthropy.

Seating is limited, and registration is available online. Email linder.schlang@umontana.edu for more information.

Climate change, ice patches focus of presentation

The Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, a part of UM's College of Forestry and Conservation, will host a discussion and video presentation about the impacts of climate change on the archaeology of ice patches in Glacier National Park and other high-elevation areas.

The talk, which is free and open to the public, is at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, in University Center Rooms 332-333.

Ice patches, unlike glaciers, are stable and have the potential to preserve ancient artifacts, as well as the remains of plants and animals for thousands of years. Ice patches are attractive to animals because they are good sources of water and offer cool, insect-free zones. Therefore, hunters have tracked game into these areas for millennia.

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Journalism students take home national honors

Three UM journalism students were named national winners and one a national finalist in the annual Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards.

National Mark of Excellence Award judges chose one winner and two finalists in each competition category. At the regional level, UM School of Journalism students won 19 awards, including 10 first-place finishes. The awards honor collegiate journalism published or broadcast in 2011.

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Student employee receives regional accolade

A University Dining Services student employee recently received a regional award for her outstanding work performance.

Jessica Maytum, who also was named UDS' Student Employee of the Year, received the 2012 Sam Brooks Student Employee of the Year award for the Continental Region of the National Association of College and University Food Services. She is a senior from Chester, Calif., majoring in English.

Maytum earned the award, given annually to an exemplary food-service student employee from a regional institution, for her work and leadership at UM Concessions and the Cascade Country Store. She will receive a $500 scholarship provided by the Sam Brooks Scholarship Fund.

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Broadcast students win Fox News contest

Fox News Channel recently named two UM broadcast journalism students the winners of the network's College Challenge.

Alexandra Schwier of Bozeman and Kyle Schmauch of Kalispell produced a television news story on Montana's controversial wolf hunt that won the national contest. 

Schwier, Schmauch and UM Professor Ray Ekness flew to New York City and appeared on the morning entertainment news program "Fox and Friends" on April 27 to accept the award.

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Russian majors receive scholarships, awards

Several students studying in UM's Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures program recently received prestigious scholarships and awards.

Taylor Keister won a Critical Language Scholarship through the U.S. Department of State to fully fund a study-abroad experience in Russia this summer.

Justin Trifiro won a bronze medal in the annual national essay contest sponsored by the American Council of Teachers of Russian. More than 1,057 students from 48 universities and colleges competed in the contest.

Brinna Boettger was honored as UM's Russian Scholar Laureate under the auspices of the American Council of Teachers of Russian. 

ForUM takes a break

This is the final issue of ForUM for spring semester 2012. Look for ForUM again in the fall, and have a wonderful summer!

President Engstrom's office hours

President Engstrom welcomes members of the campus community to meet with him to discuss issues and topics of their choice. Call 406-243-2311 or email prestalk@umontana.edu to make an appointment.

President Engstrom's scheduled office hours for spring semester are:

• Wednesday, May 30: 2-4 p.m.