Â鶹ÊÓƵ

The University of Colorado at Boulder is getting a boost from the Puksta Educational Foundation in its effort to educate students to be responsible citizens, according to Michael Grant, associate vice chancellor for undergraduate education. The assistance comes in the form of a new scholarship program, called Puksta Scholars. The scholarships are open to a select number of students whose charge is to be catalysts for positive change in the campus culture and in local communities.

The Natural Resources Law Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder recently appointed David Hayes, Sylvia Baca, Ken Hubbard and Lorna Babby to its advisory board. "We're enormously grateful that people of this stature and experience in natural resources law have agreed to serve on the center's advisory board," said Jim Martin, director of the NRLC.

University of Colorado at Boulder Professor Richard McCray is one of six faculty members nationwide to receive a 2002 National Science Foundation Director's Award for Distinguished Teaching Scholars. McCray, who is the George Gamow Distinguished Professor in CU's astrophysical and planetary sciences department, was cited for his outstanding contributions to research and for using his knowledge to enhance undergraduate education.

A new study by University of Colorado at Boulder researchers indicates regular, moderate walking by women using hormone replacement therapy restored the flexibility of their large arteries, most likely reducing the risk of heart disease. With advancing age, large arteries like the aorta and carotid lose their elasticity by roughly 50 percent, making it harder for them to expand and relax with each heartbeat, said Research Associate Kerrie Moreau of CU-Boulder's kinesiology and applied physiology department.

Editors: Reporters are welcome to attend the service, but no cameras (still or video) will be permitted inside during the memorial service. A memorial service to honor the late Byron R. White is scheduled for Monday, May 20, at 2 p.m. in Grusin Hall of the Imig Music building on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus.

Drought has most Coloradans focused on the increased risk of fire hazard, but scientists at CU-Boulder and NOAA have additional concerns about the risks to water quality as the summer heats up. "The threats that drought represents to aquatic organisms include loss of habitat and alterations to the quality of the remaining habitat," said Jim Saunders.

Local students were among the 4,377 students who received degrees May 10 during spring commencement ceremonies on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus. The ceremony was held in Folsom Stadium on the CU-Boulder campus. The Chancellor's Recognition Award for students receiving all As in their college careers was given to Nathan Brandwein of Fairway, Kan., who received a bachelor's degree in music, and Cara Seelinger of Lyons, Colo., who received a bachelor's degree in environmental, population and organismic biology.

Six students, including five women and two non-traditional students age 30 or older, will benefit next fall from $1,000 scholarships awarded by the University of Colorado at Boulder's Center for Education and Career Transition. Undergraduates Ricki B. Moseley, Rhonda Kaye Scott, Emily M. Utz and Shawna M. Ward won scholarships, along with non-traditional students Christina S. Manning-Lebek and Kazuhiko Yokota. Each recipient was chosen based on his or her biographical application essay, grade-point average and amount of academic financial need.

Claudio RoumainOchoa, a 22-year-old University of Colorado at Boulder student from Aurora, Colo., has been awarded a $1,000 academic scholarship from Pi Kappa Phi to use toward his future academic goals. RoumainOchoa, who will graduate this month with a degree in finance and international business, was recognized by the national fraternity as one of six 2001-2002 Pi Kapp Scholars. Recipients were selected from applications nationwide.

Down Beat Magazine has released its June issue honoring great students and jazz programs around the country, and the University of Colorado at Boulder jazz studies department is front and center. CU-Boulder student musicians won prestigious national recognition in three categories of Down Beat's annual competition: outstanding group performance in the instrumental jazz category, outstanding individual performance by a jazz instrumentalist and outstanding individual performance of an original composition.