May 2007

School of Architecture + Design collaborates in "green museum" project

Thu, 31 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The Virginia Tech School of Architecture + Design, the nation's number one ranked public institution for undergraduate architecture, will be collaborating with the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum in Winchester, Va, in the creation of a new, green museum facility.

Kimberle Badinelli named mid-Atlantic region vice president of National Association of College and University Food Services

Thu, 31 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Kimberle Badinelli, Virginia Tech associate director of student programs for public relations and information technology, has been elected vice president of the National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS), mid-Atlantic region.

Upward Bound program receives $1.8 million federal grant

Wed, 30 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education, TRIO Programs, has awarded $1,851,972 grant to the Upward Bound program at Virginia Tech. The funds will cover operations for the next four years, with a first-year allocation of $462,993, up slightly from the 2003 award. The first-year grant monies will be supplemented with in-kind support from Virginia Tech amounting to another $145,914.

Tom Brown appointed Dean of Students

Wed, 30 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

James Thomas "Tom" Brown, former senior associate dean of the Dean of Students office, has been appointed as the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students office is responsible for the coordination of student advocacy, new student orientation and parent programs, and responding to student emergencies in collaboration with Judicial Affairs, Residence Life, Cook Counseling Center, Schiffert Health Center, and other departments and agencies.

Virginia Cooperative Extension presents Jeff Ishee with State Friend of Extension award

Wed, 30 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Jeff Ishee, a Shenandoah Valley farm broadcaster, has received the 2007 State Friend of Extension award for his ongoing support of Virginia Cooperative Extension through his radio and television shows.

Virginia Tech Board of Visitors to meet June 3-4

Wed, 30 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors will hold its quarterly board meeting at 1:15 p.m. Monday, June 4, in the Board Room of Torgersen Hall (Room 2100) on the Blacksburg campus.

Virginia Bioinformatics Institute completes largest ever Affymetrix GeneChip plant experiment

Tue, 29 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) at Virginia Tech today announced that it has completed the largest ever Affymetrix GeneChip microarray study for a plant experimental system in an academic research setting. The 2600-chip experiment explores the counter-play of plant and pathogen genes during infection of soybean with the root-rot pathogen Phytophthora sojae, with a focus on mechanisms of long-lasting disease resistance. P. sojae causes severe damage in soybean crops and results in $100–200 million annually in losses for commercial farmers in the United States alone.

Chef to demonstrate cooking with fresh local ingredients at the Blacksburg Farmer's Market

Tue, 29 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Adriana Simpson, chef de cuisine for Virginia Tech's Dietrick Dining Center, will be the first to participate in the Chef at the Market pilot program at the Blacksburg Farmer's Market on Saturday, June 2. She will demonstrate various techniques for cooking with fresh ingredients grown by local farmers and offer samples from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

University completes self study for NCAA certification program

Fri, 25 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech has completed a year-long, comprehensive self study as part of the NCAA Division I Athletics Certification program, which is required of all NCAA member schools to ensure integrity in the operation of athletics programs at the university.

Fire ants are emerging nuisance for Virginians

Thu, 24 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Red imported fire ants (RIFAs), which have caused trouble in Florida and Texas for decades, are now advancing in Virginia. Colonies of the tiny, highly aggressive insects have been observed in the commonwealth since 1989 and, in recent years, have caught the attention of Virginia Tech scientists who are trying to learn more about the increasing number of fire ant infestations.

Members of Virginia Press Women take home honors

Thu, 24 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Four members of the Virginia Press Women (VPW) and one retired university employee won several categories in the 2007 VPW contest.

Blacksburg Police question graduate student

Thu, 24 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Ensuring the safety and security of our university community remains a priority of the highest order for Virginia Tech. In the spirit of increased vigilance and transparency, University Relations shares the following information with our university community.

Novel sugar-to-hydrogen technology promises transportation fuel independence

Wed, 23 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The hydrogen economy is not a futuristic concept. The U.S. Department of Energy’s 2006 Advance Energy Initiative calls for competitive ethanol from plant sources by 2012 and a good selection of hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles by 2020.

White recognized for teaching excellence in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Wed, 23 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Alex White of Blacksburg, Va., was awarded the 2007 Certificate of Teaching Excellence from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech.

Scoggins recognized for teaching excellence in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Tue, 22 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Holly Scoggins of Blacksburg, Va. was awarded the 2007 Certificate of Teaching Excellence from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech.

International team with Virginia Tech participation maps genome of dengue and yellow fever mosquito

Tue, 22 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Developing new strategies to prevent and control yellow fever and dengue fever has become more possible with the completion of the first draft of the genome sequence of Aedes aegypti mosquito by scientists led by Vishvanath Nene at The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) and David Severson at the University of Notre Dame. The genome is the complete set of genetic material including genes and other segments of DNA in an organism.

Virginia Tech Incident Review Panel meets in Blacksburg

Tue, 22 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The second public meeting of Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine's Independent Virginia Tech Incident Review Panel was held May 21 at The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center.

Virginia Tech to host third annual Garden Gala on June 16

Mon, 21 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The third annual Hahn Horticulture Garden Gala--"A Midsummer Night’s Garden Gala"--will be held on Saturday, June 16, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the garden on Washington Street on the Virginia Tech campus.

Residence Hall Federation President Manisha Patel named 2007 winner of the A. Alan Baird Memorial Award

Mon, 21 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The Office of Student Programs at Virginia Tech has selected Manisha Patel, a junior from Danville, Va., to receive the 15th annual A. Alan Baird Award. Patel, a double major in economics in the College of Science and history in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, was selected for demonstrating outstanding leadership and dedication to the residence hall program and the Virginia Tech community.

Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Inc. hires licensing associates to help entrepreneurs find ideas for tomorrow's products

Mon, 21 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Inventions by Virginia Tech faculty researchers range from technologies that use energy more efficiently and safeguard the electric grid to developments to improve human health, business management, and education.

Sherwood Wilson named Virginia Tech vice president for administrative services

Fri, 18 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Sherwood G. Wilson has been named vice president for administrative services at Virginia Tech. His appointment is effective July 10.

Tragedy strengthens student generosity as Flex Out Hunger collects highest donations in recent years

Fri, 18 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and the Office of Student Programs joined forces for the seventh consecutive year to give students the opportunity to donate extra money from their dining plans to the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program (MCEAP), located in Christiansburg, Va.

Bill Elvey is president elect of Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers

Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Bill Elvey, assistant vice president for facilities at Virginia Tech, was elected president-elect to APPA, the association serving educational facilities professionals in April.

Sinnott awarded Goldwater Scholarship

Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Rebecca Sinnott, a junior honors student in the College of Science at Virginia Tech has been awarded a Barry M. Goldwater scholarship for the 2007-08 academic year.

Second public meeting of Governor Kaine's Independent Virginia Tech Incident Review Panel

Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The second public meeting of Governor Kaine's Independent Virginia Tech Incident Review Panel will convene on Monday, May 21, at The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center Latham Ballroom, 901 Prices Fork Road in Blacksburg.

Virginia Tech prepares to welcome Class of 2011; university exceeds enrollment goal

Thu, 17 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech has received deposits from 5,215 freshman students for the Fall 2007 semester, slightly more than the enrollment target goal of 5,000 set for the Class of 2011.

Lecture to explore the space-time continuum

Wed, 16 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The Department of Physics in the College of Science is sponsoring a free public lecture called “The End of Space and Time,” that will describe how Einstein combined space and time into a dynamic entity.

Outstanding engineering faculty achievements recognized

Wed, 16 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The College of Engineering at Virginia Tech held its eleventh annual engineering faculty reception where faculty members were honored for a number of achievements.

Virginia Bioinformatics Institute and Mayo Clinic awarded $2.4 million grant to study debilitating nasal disease

Wed, 16 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Bioinformatics Institute and Department of Biological Sciences Associate Professor Chris Lawrence are teaming up with Mayo Clinic on a $2.4 million research project funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The work could help researchers develop treatments, diagnostic tools, and preventative measures for patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

Virginia Tech honors and celebrates its 5,000 graduates for 2007

Fri, 11 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech will hold its 2007 University Commencement ceremonies at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 11, in Lane Stadium/Worsham Field.

Senior awarded National Science Foundation fellowship

Fri, 11 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech senior and honors student Brian Skinner, of St. Anthony, Idaho, has been awarded a prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Skinner, who is double majoring in physics and mechanical engineering, will use the $90,000 award to research complex systems and emergent behavior in theoretical physics at the University of Minnesota this fall.

KPMG partner to receive Pamplin College Distinguished Alumnus Award

Thu, 10 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Lynne M. Doughtie, of Powhatan, Va., will receive the 2007 Distinguished Alumnus Award from Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business at the college's commencement ceremony that begins at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, at Cassell Coliseum.

Alumnus Homer Hickam is recipient of Distinguished Achievement Award for 2007

Thu, 10 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Homer Hickam, nationally known freelance writer and best-selling book author, is the recipient of the 2007 University Distinguished Achievement Award in recognition of his personal and professional achievement.

President Steger addresses Virginia Tech Review Panel

Thu, 10 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger addressed the Virginia Tech Review Panel here Thursday. These were his comments.

Congressman Jim Moran to speak at 2007 National Capital Region commencement

Wed, 09 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Congressman Jim Moran, Eighth Congressional District representative of Virginia, will address the 2007 graduates of the Virginia Tech National Capital Region during the university’s commencement ceremony at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, May 13, at the Center for the Arts located at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

Alumni Association announces two Alumni Distinguished Service Awards

Wed, 09 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Charles E. Broadwater Jr. and W. Thomas Clark Jr. are the 2007 recipients of Virginia Tech's Alumni Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes outstanding service to the university and the Alumni Association.

Undergraduate student awarded Fulbright Scholarship

Wed, 09 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech graduating senior Amanda Davis of Chesterfield, Va., an International Studies and Human Development double major, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Mexico at The Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM).

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine graduation ceremonies scheduled

Wed, 09 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Membership in the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine's Alumni Society will soar past the 2,000 mark with the graduation of the Class of 2007.

College of Architecture and Urban Studies doctoral student named Eno Fellow

Tue, 08 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Carrie Makarewicz, a doctoral student in environmental design and planning in Virginia Tech's College of Architecture and Urban Studies, has been named an Eno Fellow by the Eno Transportation Foundation.

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will host ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp

Tue, 08 May 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech has been chosen as a site for a 2007 ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp on June 18-30. The Virginia Tech camp will be one of 20 hosted by universities across the country. The two-week residential camp offers an innovative program that enhances middle school students’ knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) while encouraging students to stay in school and fostering leadership and citizenship.

President of Monterrey Technological Institute to deliver Graduate Commencement address