UM journalism students have earned a prestigious national award -- one often called the "poor people's Pulitzer."

Fourteen student reporters and photographers participating in UM's Native News Honors Project won a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, which honors outstanding reporting on the poor and disadvantaged. Past winners include Diane Sawyer of ABC, the Chicago Tribune, the Washington Post, National Public Radio and CBS's "60 Minutes."

UM won in the college print category for "Sovereignty," an in-depth look into seven Montanan Indian reservations, which highlights the struggle of tribal communities to regain control over the welfare and future of their people.

An upcoming lecture will examine the increasingly fragile relationship between the United Nations and the United States.

Gillian Sorenson will present "U.S./U.N.: Can This Marriage Be Saved?" from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, in Gallagher Building Room 123.

Sorenson also will appear at a reception from 3:45 to 4:10 p.m. the same day in Math Building Room 203. Refreshments will be provided. Then she will give a seminar titled "U.N. Reform: An Inside Perspective" from 4:15 to 5 p.m. in Math 203. All events are free and open to the public.

Sorenson is senior adviser at the United Nations Foundation. She served from 1997 to 2003 as U.N. assistant secretary-general for external relations on appointment by Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

UM was selected as one of 31 colleges and universities nationwide to receive the 2005 HP Technology for Teaching grant, which is designed to transform and improve learning in the classroom through innovative uses of technology.

The Department of Computer Science will receive an award package of HP products and a faculty stipend valued at more than $74,000. Each of the HP Technology for Teaching grant recipients will use HP wireless technology to enhance learning in engineering, math, science or business courses.

UM's computer science department received 21 tablet computers, which allow the user to write on the screen and save the changes.

A Utah community college administrator has been named the new dean of the UM Helena College of Technology, President George Dennison announced this week.

Daniel J. Bingham, currently associate vice president of business services at Salt Lake Community College, will assume his new position July 5. He replaces UM Executive Vice President Bob Frazier, who has served as interim dean at the Helena campus since former Dean Steve Hoyle retired last November.

Bingham brings more than 15 years of educational and practical experience in two-year college leadership and teaching to his new position. He was hired after a national search.

In his current position since 2003, Bingham previously served as Salt Lake Community College's executive dean during 2001-2003 and as assistant to the president and site administrator during 2000-2001.

The School of Education honored several local programs and people with Partnership Awards April 8 at the 16th Annual Education Reception. This year's reception also celebrated the school's 75th anniversary.

The awards recognize those who have shown commitment and dedication to preparing future educators by providing mentorship opportunities in a variety of areas.

Honorees are:

• Lolo elementary and middle schools.
• Glenn Moffatt Jr., a health enhancement instructor at Paxson Elementary School.
• The New Directions Wellness Center in UM's Department of Physical Therapy.
• Kenneth Welt, director of UM's Counseling and Psychological Services.
• Dave Shreeve, superintendent of Forsyth Public Schools.

Local jazz favorite Eden Atwood will perform in concert Friday, April 29, on the UM Oval.

Joining Atwood will be The Blue Talk and Love Big Band. The concert, part of the third annual Spring Thaw Festival, runs from noon to 2 p.m., while other activities, including sumo wrestling and virtual auto racing, beginning at 11:15 a.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Raffle tickets for a Las Vegas trip for two will be available for purchase.

Spring Thaw will close with a 9 p.m. concert by indie rockers Tegan and Sara. Tickets are $15 at the University Center Box Office, Rockin Rudy's, Ear Candy and online at InHouse Tickets.

Spring Thaw is a benefit for UM's Entertainment Management Program.

Montana Public Radio is bringing Grammy-nominated songwriter and storyteller Bill Harley to Missoula for two concerts at the Montana Theatre on Sunday, May 8.

Harley is known for songs like "Cool in School" and "Dad Threw the TV Out the Window," and for stories about a lunchroom lady, his school bus adventures and a paper he had to write about Zanzibar. He's also a commentator on National Public Radio.

The shows are at 1 and 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7.50 for kids 12 and under and are available at GrizTix outlets or by calling (888) MONTANA.

Students at Missoula's Willard Alternative School will exhibit their photography during May at the Missoula Public Library.

"Willard Photovoice: Crazy Kids With Cameras" will be shown in the library lobby facing Main Street. The exhibit was organized by Bethany Swanson, a UM graduate student in environmental studies, as a way to help local high school students connect with their community.

Swanson said Willard students discussed power, ethics and community in the context of photography, practiced their technical skills and documented their personal sense of place using cameras. They also planned the library exhibit.

Willard students also will host a reception at the library Friday, May 6, as part of the First Friday Art Walk.

UM's tennis teams wrap up the 2004-05 season this week at the Big Sky Tennis Championship in Phoenix.

The women, who earned the No. 5 seed, faced No. 4 seed Northern Arizona Thursday in the opening round of the six-team tourney. The men earned the No. 4 seed and faced No. 5 seed Idaho State.

Semifinal action takes place today, April 29, followed by the championship match on Saturday. Rounds are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. for the men and 2 p.m. for the women at the Phoenix Tennis Center.

UM's track and field teams will face Montana State in the two teams' annual dual meet Saturday, April 30, at the Runner's Edge Griz-Cat Dual at Dornblaser Field.

The women's hammer kicks off the field events at 10 a.m., while the women's steeplechase is the first running event at 12:30 p.m. The meet, which will be scored, is Montana's final home appearance of the 2005 season.