Bear Briefs

Honor Roll—UM has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The distinction honors students, faculty and staff for helping to build a culture of service and civic engagement. In being named to the honor roll, UM was recognized by President George W. Bush “for extraordinary and exemplary contributions to meeting critical local and national needs through community service and service-learning.” The honor roll is a project of the Corporation for National and Community Service, whose mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities and advance civic engagement through service and volunteering. CNCS invests more than $150 million a year to foster a culture of service on college campuses.

Faculty Award—UM Professor Carol Brewer has been selected to receive the 2007 American Institute of Biological Sciences Education Award. The award is presented annually to individuals or groups who have made significant contributions to education in the biological sciences. In announcing the award, AIBS noted Brewer’s efforts to improve scientific literacy and reach diverse audiences through projects that interconnect the general public, educators and scientists. “She encourages collaboration between scientists and educators, trains teachers to use their schoolyards for ecological investigations with students, and practices new assessment strategies to clearly connect teaching and learning,” AIBS said. “Especially noteworthy is Brewer’s work heading the educational initiatives of the National Ecological Observatory Network.” Brewer is associate dean of UM’s College of Arts and Sciences and teaches in the University’s Division of Biological Sciences. She will receive the AIBS award at the institute’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C., May 14-15.

Powwow—The 39th annual Kyi-Yo Powwow, a celebration of American Indian heritage and artistry, will kick off with a grand entry featuring dancers in traditional dress at 7 p.m. Friday, April 20, in the Adams Center. The region’s largest powwow, this year’s theme is “Keeping Traditions Alive by the Tracks We Leave Behind.” Events during the three-day event offer community members a chance to enjoy the skills and artistry of champion American Indian dancers and drummers from across the region. Earl Old Person of Browning and Thomas Morning Owl of Pilot Rock, Ore., will serve as this year’s masters of ceremonies. Events will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday in the Adams Center.

Commencement—UM’s Commencement ceremonies will be held Saturday, May 12, in the Adams Center. The ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences and College of Technology will be held at 9:30 a.m. and the ceremony for professional schools and colleges (business administration, forestry and conservation, fine arts, journalism, education, and health professions and biomedical sciences) will be at 2 p.m.

Student Award—UM law student Valerie Grubich of Great Falls has been selected to receive the 2007 Distinguished Bankruptcy Student Award for the U.S. 9th Circuit Court from the American College of Bankruptcy. Grubich is the first Montana student to receive the award for the 9th Circuit, which includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. She was nominated for the award by the Hon. Ralph Kirscher, chief judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Montana.

Dedications—Though they have been easily visible rising above campus for months, the proverbial curtain will rise on two new buildings in the days leading up to graduation this spring. The addition to the Skaggs Building and Don Anderson Hall, the new home for the journalism school, will be dedicated the week before the May 12 Commencement ceremonies. The Skaggs Building Addition will be dedicated at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 9. Festivities will take place on the first floor, Room 169. Don Anderson Hall opens two days later with a ceremony beside the building at 2 p.m. Friday, May 11. Both events are free and open to the public.

Fulbright Grant—When Bill Knowles announced his retirement from teaching journalism at UM last year, he made it clear that though he was leaving the University, he was not done with journalism. It didn’t take him long to move on to the next stage in his long and illustrious career. Knowles recently was awarded a Fulbright Grant to teach journalism in Jordan for the 2007-08 academic year. Knowles’ proposal indicated a desire to lecture graduate students on the American media and possibly offer consultation to media outlets in addition to teaching the craft.

Art Loan—The Montana Museum of Art and Culture has announced it will receive a second major art loan from an anonymous private collector in April. “Torso of a Walking Woman,” by German Expressionist sculptor Wilhelm Lehmbruck (1881-1919) will be on display in the Mansfield Library at UM through July 23. Considered one of the artist’s most important works, it embodies the artist’s mature style.

Journalism Awards—UM students dominated this year’s regional Society of Professional Journalists conference by hauling in 32 awards. Their next closest rival, Oregon State University, won 10. The Region 10 Mark of Excellence Awards were presented March 24 at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. UM won 28 awards in radio and television broadcasting categories and four in print and online reporting. “What an honor to have an organization with the professional clout of SPJ recognize our student work,” said radio-TV Assistant Professor Denise Dowling. “All our students work hard reporting, shooting, writing and editing their radio and television assignments. It’s always special to receive acknowledgement of that hard work.”

Garage Sale—The “World’s Largest Garage Sale” will transform a UM parking structure into a bargain hunter’s paradise Saturday, April 28. The sale, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., will be on the first and second levels of the parking garage on Campus Drive next to the Mansfield Library. The 18th semi-annual event is a fundraiser for the UM Advocates, a campus service organization of more than 100 members who provide volunteer services for many campus functions.