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| Title | South Dakota Tech news report October-November 2003 |
| Digitaization Specification | Master file format: ? bytes, application/doc, Uncompressed, DOC, ; Checksum: ; Adobe Photoshop CS3 |
| Transcript | November 12, 2003 South Dakota Tech News Report October-November 2003 Tech Chemical Society Chapter Honored The American Chemical Society student chapter at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has received an Honorable Mention award for its activities during the 2002-2003 academic year. The chapter, advised by Dr. Dan Heglund, associate professor of Chemistry, took part in many public service and professional activities during the 2002-2003 school year. Among other activities, the chapter: • Conducted a hygiene drive and collected 417½ pounds of soap, deodorant, shampoo and other items for the Cornerstone Rescue Mission, Wellspring Family Based Services and Working Against Violence, Inc. • Performed Chemistry Outreach shows for students at area schools and organizations. • Presented "Cool Chemistry, Hot Show" for school students visiting Tech during National Engineers Week. • Collected Teddy bears from campus for hospital and ambulance services to comfort children in times of need. • Attended regional and national chemistry seminars and meetings. • Won the 2002 "best overall" prize for homecoming parade floats. "The American Chemical Society is delighted to have a Student Affiliates chapter at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology" American Chemical Society President Elect Elsa Reichmanis wrote in a letter, "and would like to thank you for fostering an environment in which such an important extracurricular educational activity can flourish. We extend our warmest congratulations to the students and to Professor Heglund for setting such a fine example for other chapters." The chapter will be honored during the 227th Annual American Chemical Society National Meeting in Anaheim, Calif., in March 2004. #30# Love Inc. Forum Set A South Dakota School of Mines and Technology forum scheduled for noon Tuesday, Oct. 14, will focus on "Love Inc." John Lightenberg of Love, Inc. will speak. Love Inc. is a help agency supported by several local churches. It operates as a clearinghouse that connects families in need with the best resource for that particular need, whether that resource is an agency, a local congregation, or a church member who happens to have certain items or services available. The forum, part of a weekly series sponsored by United Campus Ministry, will be held in the Surbeck Student Center Bump Lounge. Tech invites the community to attend. Lunch is available before or after the forum in the Miner's Shack in the Surbeck Center. #30# Air Quality: More Than Meets The Nose There's more than meets the nose in the second year of Nature's Elements at the Children��s Science Center. "The Air We Breathe" will give Rapid City area youth the opportunity to discover and study many facets of air quality as part of this year's program. The first 12-week session, designed for 25 elementary school students in grades 1 through 5, will begin Tuesday, Oct. 28, at the Science Center, 515 West Blvd. A second and third session, one for middle school students and another for elementary students, will begin Feb. 24 and Feb. 26, respectively. This intense, hands-on after-school program is a collaborative effort of the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Parents for Rigor and Relevance in Education (PRRE), the Rapid City Air Quality Board and the Rapid City Air Quality Division. Funds for the program were made available through a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. "This multi-dimensional program will touch on cultural and social issues, plus law and science through contact with experts in the community" Julie Smoragiewicz, vice president for university relations at South Dakota Tech, said. "It's the kind of after-school program that many parents and students have been looking for." While there is no cost to participate in the program, the application process will include obtaining an endorsement from the interested student's teacher or principal. Parental participation is also strongly encouraged, as the program will include many field trips. Preference will be given to Children's Science Center members. The curriculum will look at air quality problems associated with Rapid City and why they exist, the way air quality data is collected and what it means, cooperation in our community between various institutions to reduce dust or smoke during air quality alerts and potential health effects from poor air quality. "We want kids to be motivated to think about what they want to become" Donna Kliche, a research scientist in Tech's Department of Atmosphere Sciences, said. She is coordinating the program. "Air Quality involves so many careers. There are so many different ways to contribute." Over four years, the Nature's Elements program hopes to cover each of the basic elements identified by Western and Lakota traditions as essential to our world – water, air, fire and earth. Registration forms are available at the Children's Science Center and on-line atwww.hpcnet.org/elements. The priority deadline for registration is Tuesday, Oct. 21. Due to the limited space available, early registration is encouraged. For more information, contact Julie Smoragiewicz at 394-5146. #30# Tech Professor Writes GIS Book Dr. Maribeth Price, associate professor in the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, has written the book, "Mastering ArcGIS." The book came out in September 2003 and is currently available at the South Dakota Tech bookstore and on Amazon.com. Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, provide ways to view, edit, and analyze map data, much as a word processor provides ways to work with written data, or a database program provides tools for managing information. For example, the popular Internet sites that provide driving directions based on an address you give them work using GIS technology. Often, the maps you see in a newspaper or a magazine article have been produced using GIS. The book serves as an introduction to GIS, and is the reader's partner in developing the skills needed to succeed in this rapidly developing field. Based on the widely-used ArcGIS software developed by ESRI, Inc., the book provides extensive training in GIS concepts and skills for either a student in a classroom setting or a professional working alone. It is the first GIS book to use short narrated video clips on a CD that demonstrate the techniques covered in the text. Students and professionals are increasingly turning to geographic information systems (GIS) to assemble and analyze information about features on our planet, both natural and man-made. The sophisticated capabilities of GIS support enhanced decision-making across a broad spectrum of fields, including natural resources, land use planning, business applications, education and more. Many people are finding GIS skills a valuable asset to their chosen professions, and the need for well-trained analysts is growing. The state of South Dakota recently concluded a statewide license agreement with ESRI, Inc. to place GIS software in K-12 schools throughout the state. Price started the book in the summer of 2001 as the result of an award from the Governor Janklow "Teaching with Technology" program that funded faculty at the state universities on projects related to bringing technology into the classroom. #30# Upgrade Will Shut Down Computer Services Computer system upgrades that will allow the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Black Hills State University and the state's other public universities better serve students will require a temporary shutdown of some services. Beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, live computer-based student services, including WebAdvisor, will be unavailable for approximately three weeks. When the systems return to service, students will see many enhanced features to make doing business with universities easier. The benefits include coordinated student services statewide. This coordinated effort will allow students to have a single transcript and eliminate the need to request transfer of courses from one South Dakota public university to another. Student also will be able to register for any course offered at any South Dakota public university, receive a single bill and be able to make a single payment. Courses taken by students at other South Dakota public universities will be listed on a Degree Audit/Program Evaluation on WebAdvisor. Students will also be able to receive needed student services at any of the six South Dakota public universities. "We realize the approximate three-week shutdown of services may cause an inconvenience, and we apologize for that" South Dakota Tech President Dr. Charles Ruch said. "We're sure the upgrades will be worth the short shutdown." #30# Meier Wins TEA Award The Career Service Council at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has given its Traditions of Excellence Award for October 2003 to Sandee Meier, a Senior Claims Clerk in the Student Accounts/Cashiering Office. She started at Tech in December 1994. The Career Service Council gives the award to someone who has performed their assigned duties at a high level or above and beyond expectations, who has taken the initiative to promote the concept of successful job completion and has promoted a positive working relationship with students, faculty and staff. Meier's nominator said, "Sandee consistently demonstrates great customer service to students, faculty and staff. This was reinforced during a recent student orientation meeting when a parent approached Sandee to give her a very grateful ‘thank you' for her assistance two years ago when her oldest daughter was a late-registering freshman and was having financial difficulties. As soon as she was transferred to Sandee, there was a resolution within five minutes. Sandee���s excellent customer service was obviously very impressive for this parent to remember her from two years ago and then go out of her way to express her appreciation. "Sandee is also very committed to Tech and the quality of her work. Over the past few months, she has successfully conquered one challenge after another. During this time period, she was extremely dedicated to do whatever it took to get the projects completed on time, commonly working on weekends and late at night, and always maintained a positive outlook. She has clearly and consistently performed her job assignment beyond expectations and promoted positive relationships with student, faculty and staff." #30# Try Something New Saturday Mornings Why watch cartoons Saturday morning when you could be having fun – and learning – at the Children's Science Center? This fall, the Science Center will offer two Saturday Enrichment classes each month for children ages 6 to 12. The fall lineup continues Saturday, Oct. 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. with an Origami class. During this class, students will make fascinating animal shapes and learn about the origins of Origami. Class participants also will construct several creations to take home. From 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, November 1, students will learn about the stars during Crazy Constellations. Additional upcoming Saturday enrichment classes include: • Nov. 15 – Magnet Magic • Dec. 6 – Holiday Tye Dye • Dec. 20 – Seashell Science All Saturday Enrichment classes cost $10 for members, $12 for non-members, plus a $5 lab fee for each student. Class sizes are limited. Call the Children's Science Center at 394-6996, or stop by 515 West Blvd., to register. Saturday's fall hours for the Children's Science Center are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Children's Science Center is an outreach service operated by the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. The mission of the Children's Science Center is to create an environment for learning through innovative exhibits, programs, and tools that help children and adults nurture their curiosity about science and technology in the work around them. #30# Tech To Host Red Ribbon Parade The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology will host the Red Ribbon Parade and Reception on Saturday, Oct. 18, for the fourth straight year. The Rapid City School District and the Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention Mayor's taskforce sponsor Red Ribbon month each October. The parade will line-up and start at 10 a.m. at O'Harra Stadium. Tech's Dining Services will donate food for a hot dog lunch in the Miners Shack for all participants at noon. Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Honor Society students from Tech will help serve lunch. In past years, the parade had had up to 1,200 participants, mostly Rapid City school students. Organizers invite Tech organizations and departments to have floats in the parade. Last year, the Robotics Team won an award for its float. Contact Jolie McCoy, director of Counseling and Student ADA Services, at ext. 1924. #30# Tech Enrollment Increases Slightly Total Fall 2003 enrollment at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology's increased by seven, or .29 percent, from a year ago. A total of 2,454 students are enrolled. "Enrollment at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology remains solid, showing that students remain interested in receiving great engineering and science educations at affordable tuition rates" Dr. Karen Whitehead, Tech's vice president for Academic Affairs, said. "We think it also shows that students know the education they receive at Tech will help them find good jobs." More than 80 percent of Tech's 2002-2003 graduates are already working in their career fields or have been accepted into graduate or professional programs. The graduates who entered the workforce averaged starting salary offers of more than $47,000. Tech also is listed as one of America's 100 Best College Buys for 2003-2004. Tech has made the list six consecutive years. #30# Scouting For Science Classes Area leaders looking for a little help with their Brownies, Scouts or Webelos need look no further than the Children's Science Center. Scout badge classes will be offered Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in topics ranging from space to nature science. "We want to provide a way for leaders to bring science to life for their groups" said Liliane Wood, Assisant Coordinator for Education. "In the process they can also earn badges." Classes for Brownies include The Senses on Dec. 4, followed by Space Explore on Dec. 11. Girl Scouts can attend class on Dec. 11th to complete their Sky Search badge. Cub Scouts will study Nature Science on Nov. 13 and Astronomy on Dec. 11. Webelos will complete the Geologist study on Oct. 16 and Engineer on Nov. 20. Astronomy is offered to Boy Scouts on Nov. 6. All classes are $10 per student. Reservations are preferred at least one week in advance to guarantee a spot in the desired class. Scout groups may attend the classes together, or sign up on an individual basis. Call the Children's Science Center at 394-6996, or stop by 515 West Blvd. to register. The Children's Science Center is an outreach service provided by the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. #30# Habitat For Humanity Forum Set A South Dakota School of Mines and Technology forum scheduled for noon Tuesday, Oct. 28, will focus on Habitat for Humanity. Michele Bascom, Black Hills coordinator of Habitat for Humanity, will speak. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat for Humanity has built more than 150,000 houses around the world, providing more than 750,000 people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent affordable shelter. Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller, along with his wife Linda. The forum, part of a weekly series sponsored by United Campus Ministry, will be held in the Surbeck Student Center Bump Lounge. Tech invites the community to attend. Lunch is available before or after the forum in the Miner's Shack in the Surbeck Center. #30# Air Quality Affects Kids Air quality affects everyone – including kids. That's why the Children's Science Center is offering a comprehensive after school program called "The Air We Breathe." Rapid City area youth will study many facets of air quality beginning with the Nature's Elements program's opening session at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Children's Science Center. The opening session will feature a presentation from Rapid City Air Quality Board Chairman Bob Riggio. Students from first through fifth grade will participate in a number of hands-on lessons at the Science Center, on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. but will also travel to sites in the community including Rapid City Regional Hospital, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and Dinosaur Hill where air quality will be observed. While there is no cost to participate in the program, the application process will include obtaining an endorsement from the interested student's teacher or principal. Parental participation is also strongly encouraged. A collaborative effort of the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Parents for Rigor and Relevance in Education (PRRE), the Rapid City Air Quality Board and the Rapid City Air Quality Division. Funds for the program were made available through a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. The first 12-week session, designed for 25 elementary school students in grades 1 through 5, will begin Tuesday, Oct. 28, at the Science Center, 515 West Blvd. A second and third session, one for middle school students and another for elementary students, will begin Feb. 24 and Feb. 26, respectively. Additional information about the program is available online atwww.hpcnet.org/elements. Registration deadline for the first session is noon on Monday, Oct. 27. #30# Tour Tech Nov. 1 The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology will host "Tour Tech 2003" for prospective high school juniors and seniors beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Rapid City campus. Visitors can tour the university, meet with professors, see departmental demonstrations, visit residence halls, browse through organizational fair booths, tour sports and recreation facilities and meet current students to hear a firsthand account of life at South Dakota Tech. "Tour Tech gives students a chance to see what college life will be all about" Tech Admissions Director Joe Mueller said. "It's a way for Tech to introduce itself to students and for students to get to know Tech." Call (800) 544-8162 ext. 2414 or 394-2414 for information or to register. Register on-line atwww.hpcnet.org/sdsmt/tourtech. #30# Tech Students Seek Treats For Food Bank In a slight variation on the "Trick or Treat" theme, teams of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students will spread out across Rapid City on Halloween night to collect items for a food drive. The students will go door-to-door beginning after 5 p.m. to ask for donations of canned goods and non-perishable food items. Everything collected will be given to the Rapid City Regional Food Bank. Theta Tau Omega fraternity is sponsoring the event. The fraternity has challenged other student organizations to compete with each other during the drive. Teams will meet at 5 p.m. at the Theta Tau house, 109 Kansas City St., and return at 10 p.m. to determine the winner. #30# Chemistry Society To Raise Money For Mission The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology student chapter of the American Chemical Society will celebrate National Chemistry Week by hosting a fund-raiser for the women's center being built for the Cornerstone Rescue Mission. The event begins at 10 a.m. Friday, October 24, in the Surbeck Student Center Bump Lounge. To match the theme of the week, "Earth's Atmosphere and Beyond" the club will have a scale-size model of the solar system, informative posters about the planets, demonstrations based in atmospheric chemistry, a raffle and a bake sale. The students have invited local elementary and middle school students to participate in a field trip to the solar system. #30# Tech Deploys Care Packages To Activated Students It started when a student's mother stopped by South Dakota Tech to brag a bit about her son who is serving in Iraq. It grew when someone on campus asked how many students were deployed. Someone decided to do something when the count grew to 17. The something turned into an effort to send those students some good will, comfort and a reminder that they are missed at South Dakota Tech. Tech faculty, staff and students put together care packages that are on their way to combat zones and other places Tech students are serving the country around the world. "We miss them, and we wanted to make sure these students knew we're thinking about them" Dr. Pat Mahon said. Mahon is Tech's Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. "We decided it was time to send care packages to these young men and women who are fighting for our freedom to show them we think of them and honor them." The care packages included T-shirts, socks, cooling scarves, emails from campus, lip balm, beef jerky, homemade American flag pins, water bottles, licorice, collages of campus photos, letters from Dr. Mahon and Tech President Dr. Charles Ruch, and much more. Many campus organizations donated items for the packages. Student Association was the primary sponsor and contributor, but the effort also received additional generous donations from IEEE, CAMP, and Tau Beta Pi, as well as from academic departments, facilities services, the SDSM&T Foundation, Alumni Association and ROTC. Many individual faculty and staff members also contributed. "The campus really came together to make this happen" Mahon said. "It was a wonderful effort to show we have not forgotten our fighting soldiers." #30# Tech Family Weekend This Week Families and friends of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students will come to campus Friday, Oct. 31, and Saturday, Nov. 1, to visit and see what Tech is all about during the 2003 Tech Family Weekend. Those attending will tour a student prganization fair, attend sporting events and a variety show and learn what their family members are learning at Tech. The theme for the event is "Have a Scream at Halloween at SDSM&T." Families can register from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, and from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, in the Surbeck Student Center. Tech invites all families to attend. Call 394-2416 for information. Register on-line at http://www.hpcnet.org/sdsmt/parents_family. The schedule: Friday, October 31 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.: Tech Family Weekend Registration, Surbeck Center 4 p.m.: Welcome Reception, Surbeck Center 5 p.m.: Dinner at the Tech Dining Hall 7 p.m.: Men's Basketball vs. Rocky Mountain College Saturday, November 1 8:30 a.m.: Late Registration, Surbeck Center 8:30 a.m.: Student Organization Fair and Continental Breakfast, Old Gym Breakfast for football players and their families 9:30 a.m.: Seminar, "Internship, Coop Experiences" Surbeck Center 10:30 a.m.: Message from Tech President Dr. Charles Ruch, Surbeck Center 11 a.m.: Parents Organization Meeting, Surbeck Center 11:30 a.m.: Tailgate, O'Harra Stadium 1 p.m.: Football vs. Minot State University, O'Harra Stadium 5 p.m.: All Campus Ministry Supper & Workshop, Surbeck Center 7 p.m.: Variety Show, Classroom Building Room 204 8:30 p.m.: University Reception following the variety show hosted by Dr. & Mrs. Charles Ruch and the Tech Parents Organization, Apex Gallery #30# Patriotism Forum Set A South Dakota Tech forum scheduled for noon Tuesday, Nov. 4, will focus on "Patriotism in Today's United States." A representative of the Rapid City Exchange Club will speak. The forum, part of a weekly series sponsored by United Campus Ministry, will be held in the Surbeck Student Center Bump Lounge. Tech invites the community to attend. Lunch is available before or after the forum in the Miner's Shack in the Surbeck Center. #30# The Art Of Lunch South Dakota Tech students will learn the art of business dining during a Business Lunch Etiquette program scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, in the Surbeck Student Center Bump Lounge. Tricia Hazard, South Dakota Tech's catering manager, will give students pointers about how to make a good impression in a social setting. Staff will serve the students a five-course business lunch, and Hazard will go over the basics about eating soup, which fork to use first, how to pass food and other proper dining practices. Students will dress in interview or business casual attire. Tech President Dr. Charles Ruch and his wife Sally will join the students for the event. The Career Planning and Placement Office and the Leadership Development Team are co-sponsoring the event. #30# Phonathon A Success Twelve South Dakota Tech students, working with the Tech Foundation, set a record by collecting $75,230.01 in pledges and contributions during the 2003 Foundation Phonathon. The students made more than 8,280 phone calls during eight nights of calling during drive. The Foundation processed almost 634 pledge cards during the effort. The majority of the donated and pledged dollars are unrestricted, meaning the Foundation can use them in areas of most need. The semi-annual Phonathon is the most effective way the Foundation has found to reach a large number of alumni in a short period of time. Alumni have contributed more than $400,000 to the university since the Phonathons began in the fall of 1998. The students: Jessie Ashley (Chem, Rapid City); Katie Begeman (ChemE, Rapid City); Michaela Brewster (Spec, Hot Springs); Nicole Carr (CEE, Rapid City); Megan Dangle (CEE, Viborg); Chrystal Haberer (ME, Aberdeen); Jonathan Hurd (ME, Rockham); Dan Keller (ME, Wallace); Tyler Loeb (EE, Raleigh, ND); Joy McClure (Met, Keystone); Jennifer Moege (Chem, IS, Parkston); Jennifer Pohl (CEE, Wheaton, MN); Joseph Steinbrown (ChE, Howell, NJ); Erin Vanneman (Chem, Rapid City); Liz Weimer (ChE, Miles City, MT) #30# |
| Creator | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. University Relations; |
| Subject | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; |
| Local Subject | Dean's List (South Dakota School of Mines and Technology)
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| Digital Publisher | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Devereaux Library
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| Date | 2003-11-12 |
| Type | Text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. Office of University Relations |
| Language | eng |
| Relation | Is part of Office of University Relations SDSM&T News Collection |
| Rights | The work from which this copy was made did not include a formal copyright notice. This work may be protected by U. S. copyright law (Title 17, United States Code), which governs reproduction, distribution, public display, and other uses of protected works. Uses may be allowed with permission from the copyright holder, if the copyright on the work has expired, or if the use is fair use or within another legal exemption. The user of this work is responsible for compliance with the law. |
| Submitting Institution | Devereaux Library. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. |
| Date Digital | 2009 |
| CONTENTdm number | 6056 |
| CONTENTdm file name | 7036.pdf |
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