From fitness classes to outdoor adventures, Campus Recreation has something for everyone. Club sports athletes will be out in force for demonstrations and sign-up information. There will be fun inflatable games, free food, prizes (including free shirts), free popsicles, a Slip ’n Slide, grass volleyball, rock wall, early registration for activities and much more. Providing good tunes and even more fun will be 103.3 KISS FM.

For more information, visit http://rec.boisestate.edu, call Heather Carlson, promotions coordinator for Campus Recreation, at 426-5674 or e-mail heathercarlson2@boisestate.edu.

According to an annual survey conducted by ACT Inc., the percentage of freshmen across the nation returning to their first-year colleges dropped from 68 percent in 2006-07 to just 66 percent a year later. Over that same time period, retention rates at Boise State rose from 63 percent to 68 percent., putting Boise State’s retention rate above the national average.

“We are very pleased that our freshman retention rate has shown such positive improvement, especially in light of national trends to the contrary,” said Sona Andrews, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We are especially excited to note that this improvement is the result of strategic planning and action on the part of the university to ensure student success.”

In 2004, Boise State created a freshman success task force to determine why students do or do not return for a second year, review the effectiveness of current campus programs and make recommendations on services that would increase the likelihood of retaining first-year students. The result was the Freshman Success Task Force Action Plan, unveiled in spring 2006.

Recommendations for improvement identified in the plan include areas of staffing, orientation, learning in math, student services, and academic and career advising.

Rodman, an Idaho native, will perform with saxophonist Brent Jensen and bassist Aaron Miller in an all-Idaho night of spontaneous jazz at the Boise Blue Note, located in the Belgravia Building at 461 Main St. in downtown Boise. The show starts at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 23. A no-host bar will be available and snacks will be provided. Seating is limited to 40 and tickets are $20 for Boise Jazz Society members only. Reservations can be e-mailed to Mike Samball at msamball@boisestate.edu.

The 2009-2010 subscription series features:
• The Benny Green Trio: Sept. 13. Benny Green, veteran of bands led by drummer Art Blakey and bassist Ray Brown, has a sensitive touch, stunning technical command and a sturdy sense of swing. His jazz style has been influenced over the years by everything from bop to blues to funk. Visit www.bennygreenmusic.com.
• The Dena DeRose Trio: Feb. 21. Dena DeRose has been described as “the most creative and compelling singer-pianist since Shirley Horn.” She and her trio have developed a hard-swinging, dynamic sound that has graced clubs from the Blue Note, Jazz Standard and Kennedy Center in the U.S. to Body and Soul in Tokyo, the Jazz Center in Istanbul, and Alexander Platz in Rome. Visit www.denaderose.com.
• Martin Taylor: March 28. Completely self-taught, Martin Taylor is admired and imitated by guitarists all over the world and has performed in Europe, North America, Japan, Asia and beyond. When not touring, he divides his time between his homes in France and Scotland, where he writes music for TV and film. Visit www.martintaylor.com.

All shows are at 7 p.m. (6:15 p.m. doors) at Esther’s Place in the Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy in Boise. Nonmember admission is $45 per show (if available). A Boise Jazz Society membership fee of $95.40 includes tickets to all three concerts as well as access to community jazz symposiums, living room concerts, lectures, listening and film parties. Call (208) 426-3498 or visit http://boisejazzsociety.com/bjsjazzmail/index.html for membership and concert information.

Boise State students from a variety of disciplines, including business, engineering, construction management and environmental health and science, will be trained to analyze utility bills and complete on-site energy evaluations. Participating businesses then will receive a detailed report that explains current energy use, recommends ways to reduce energy use, provides calculations for return on investment and paybacks, and identifies utility incentive programs and other financing options.

“Small businesses can save as much as 20 percent on their utility bills through energy efficiency,” said Joan Meitl, Idaho SBDC environmental assistance coordinator. “Our evaluations will help businesses manage their energy costs.”

Adoption of energy efficiency measures by small businesses has been relatively limited, Meitl said, as they are busy running operations and do not have time to learn about energy saving options or available incentives. The no-cost service hopefully will interest businesses that typically would not hire a professional auditor or do an energy evaluation on their own, she said.

Retail, service and wholesale businesses that own or lease space within a 20-mile radius of Boise State may apply to have an evaluation completed. Applications and additional information are available at www.idahosbdc.org, by phone at (208) 426-1511, or by e-mail to energy@idahosbdc.org. The evaluations will be scheduled during Boise State’s fall and spring semesters. In 2010, the program is expected to expand to other regions of Idaho.

The Idaho SBDC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and is a partnership with Idaho’s institutes of higher education and the private sector.

Friends are encouraged to contribute toward this project and honor Nally, who long has been a supporter of Boise State and the community. A fundraising goal of at least $1 million has been set. Among those in attendance at the Stueckle Sky Center event were Nally’s good friends Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter and John Keiser, president of Boise State from 1978-1991, and the lead donors to the Alumni Center Building, Allen and Dixie Dykman.

The new Essentials of Business certificate is an opportunity to grow personally and professionally through a customized 360-degree feedback tool and the DiSC™ Personality Profile. Participants will gain experience as effective team leaders and team members through group exercises and learn negotiation, conflict management and marketing techniques from world-renowned faculty.

Participants also will take on a challenging Web-based business simulation to harness the dynamic interaction of business functions (finance, marketing, operations, human resources, etc.). Sessions on finance, lean operations and streamlined supply chains will support the business simulation.

Workshop topics are divided into four sessions that will run Sept. 11-12, Sept. 18-19, Sept. 25-26 and Oct. 2-3 on the Boise State campus, with business simulation briefings taking place by Web conference between sessions. The program fee of $1,995 includes all instructional materials, simulation support and parking. For more information or to register, call (208) 426-3485, send e-mail to lynmoore@boisestate.edu or visit http://cpd.boisestate.edu/essofbus.html.

Billed as “a field school of urban affairs,” the immersive, two-part, 10-day class titled “Investigate Boise” features the insights of Boise State history professor Todd Shallat and Boise City Councilman David Eberle, a doctoral-level economist. In addition, three other Boise State professors, two city council members and agency directors from the City of Boise and the Capitol City Development Corporation are helping teach the 50 Boise State students taking the class.

Boise State senior and lifelong Boise resident Hayley Perkins said the unique class caught her attention because of her interest in city planning and the insight it offered into little known things about her hometown.

“I had no idea about all of the old buildings that were razed in downtown Boise during the 60s and the 70s,” said Perkins, a communication major at Boise State. Partly because of the class, she may pursue a master’s degree in community and regional planning, a new master’s degree program at Boise State that could be up and running by the fall of 2010. “My favorite buildings downtown are the old ones. It breaks my heart to know that we could have had so many more.”

Perkins’ realization about the value of Boise’s past, and growing understanding of how decisions about the city’s future are made, is exactly the kind of lesson in citizenship that Shallat and Eberle hope to impart to students in the new class.

The series explores the most common issues and challenges faced by new leaders and provides tools for dealing with these challenges effectively. Participants can take all six workshops or choose specific workshops that address their biggest challenges. Participants who complete at least four will receive a “Foundations in Leadership” certificate from Boise State.

Workshops are scheduled for July 28 and August 4, 12 and 19. The cost is $49.99 per workshop and includes all materials and parking. Those who register for three workshops can participate in a fourth for no cost. For more information or to register, call (208) 426-3861, email cpdinfo@boisestate.edu or visit http://cpd.boisestate.edu.

Under the auspices of the International Society for Nanoscale Science, Computation and Engineering, the annual conference is a platform for leading researchers in computer science, mathematics, chemistry, physics, molecular biology and nanotechnology to present significant results and build interdisciplinary projects. It began in 1995 after the publication of landmark work by Leonard Adleman, a theoretical computer scientist who opened the door to the relatively new field of DNA computing.

Yurke was recognized with a Tulip Award for his important contributions to DNA-nanotechnology. Past winners include faculty from Duke University and the University of Tokyo, and conference participants typically hail from research powerhouses such as Caltech, Stanford and Princeton.

In three progressive workshops held at downtown Boise’s Grove Hotel, participants will explore and improve personal mastery skills, gain experience as effective team members/leaders and develop unique action plans through interactive exercises, presentations, literature, self-evaluations, group dialogue and personalized feedback. While each workshop will kick off with a seminar by a construction industry leader, the core facilitators are Anthony Songer, associate professor and Construction Management Department chair at Boise State, and Christine Fiori, assistant director for undergraduate programs, industry relations and outreach in the Myers-Lawson School of Construction at Virginia Tech.

“Companies need to invest in their people and the continuous development of their leadership skills, especially now,” Songer said. “This leadership workshop will strengthen individual competencies, align values with authentic behaviors and enable the attainment of goals.”

Workshop topics are divided into three sessions (Sept. 10-12, Oct. 8-10 and Nov. 12-14) with an early bird rate of $2,950 or $3,250 after August 1. Registration is limited to 18 people. The cost includes 48 hours of instruction, books, assessments, printed materials and meals for all three sessions. Participants will be responsible for transportation, hotel fees and any meals not provided during the workshop. The Grove Hotel is located at 245 S. Capitol Blvd., and reservations can be made at 1-888-961-5000.

More details and registration are available online at http://coen.boisestate.edu/cm/LWS/index.asp.

Directed by English professor Jeff Wilhelm in Boise State’s College of Arts and Sciences, the BSWP is an affiliate of the National Writing Project, a professional development network dedicated to improving student achievement by improving the teaching of writing and learning in American schools. Founded in 2004, the BSWP includes more than 100 fellows (teachers who have completed a fellowship year) in a variety of subjects and grade levels providing development opportunities and in-service training for other teachers, schools and students.

“Professional expertise about teaching resides with expert teachers, so we need to use their resources to assist and promote improved instruction across the profession,” said Wilhelm, who was named a 2009 Boise State Foundation Scholar for his dedication to teacher education. “The 21st century demands on readers and writers are increasing exponentially. Teachers need to be able to reframe curriculum to meet students’ motivational needs and implement instruction that will teach students to read, write and think more like disciplinary experts.”

“Undergraduate scholarships and graduate assistantships allow the university to attract the best and brightest students, helping to keep talented young people in Idaho and encouraging those from other areas of the country to look at all that Boise State has to offer,” said President Kustra. Support for scholarships is a priority of Boise State’s Destination Distinction comprehensive campaign.

The Kustras previously established funds to support Boise State’s leadership in energy and sustainability research, and have supported the university’s Annual Fund, Bronco auction and Boise State Radio and the Brad Morse Memorial Computer Science Scholarship, among others. “We love Boise and are so glad to be able to give back to the university that helps make this a special place to live and work,” said Kathy Kustra.

Kustra is starting his seventh year as president of Boise State University. Several significant scholarship opportunities have been created during his tenure, including the Langroise National Merit Scholars, Boise State Capital Scholars and Presidential Civic Leadership Scholars.

The Destination Distinction campaign is the most ambitious fundraising effort in Boise State’s history and provides an opportunity for those who care about the university and the region to help shape the future. Donors can make tax-deductible contributions through the university’s Web site at www.boisestate.edu.

Under the terms of the memorandum of understanding and preliminary ground lease terms endorsed at the SBOE meeting, ACC will develop and manage new on-campus housing that could provide more than 850 beds by the fall of 2011 in potentially a 1,200- to 1,300-bed, $55 million community. As part of Boise State’s campus master plan, the new student housing would be located across the street from the parking garage on Lincoln Avenue between University Drive and Beacon Street.

“As Boise State grows, so does student demand for living and learning opportunities on our campus near the heart of downtown Boise,” said Bob Kustra, president of Boise State. “This public-private partnership allows Boise State to address an urgent need for housing, while keeping other valuable resources free for our continued expansion of academic and research facilities. We believe our persistent focus on improving every aspect of campus life is essential to the creation of a college experience worthy of a metropolitan research university like Boise State.”

Presented by Boise State’s Theatre Arts Department and Idaho Dance Theatre, DanceFest has become one of the most distinguished and unique dance workshops in the region.

“At the time I founded this workshop, there wasn’t anything else like it going on in the Boise area or even in the state. There really was nothing outstanding for local kids to participate in where high-caliber dancers were brought in to work with them, where they would have an opportunity to perform in a very formal setting. I felt there was a niche that needed to be filled,” said DanceFest director Marla Hansen, an associate professor and director of dance in Boise State’s Theatre Arts Department and co-artistic director, dancer and choreographer for Idaho Dance Theatre.

Having danced professionally for more than two decades with companies including Portland Ballet and American Festival Ballet, Hansen understands the importance of training that prepares students for the rigors and versatility required for a career in the American dance world, especially when it comes to sharing their craft.

“That’s what dance is,” Hansen said. “It’s not just about taking technique classes and being able to do the turns and jumps; it’s about communicating and entertaining. It’s an art form, so the performance component of DanceFest has always been really important.”

Boise State Radio will completely revamp its Saturday line-up. Both “Bob Edwards Weekend” and an extra hour of “Weekend Edition” will be added. This changes the start times of the popular programs “Car Talk” and “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!”

The new Saturday line-up, beginning July 4, is as follows:
• 6-10 a.m. — “Morning Edition”
• 10-11 a.m. — “Car Talk”
• 11 a.m.-noon — “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!”
• Noon-1 p.m. — “This American Life”
• 1-2 p.m. — “Splendid Table”
• 2-3 p.m. — “Marketplace Money”
• 3-4 p.m. — “Fresh Air Weekend”
• 4-5 p.m. — “Bob Edwards Weekend”
• 5-6 p.m. — “All Things Considered Weekend”
• 6-8 p.m. — “Whad’Ya Know”
• 8-9 p.m. — “City Club of Boise/Cleveland”
• 9-10 p.m. — “Commonwealth Club of California”
• 10 p.m. — “BBC World Service”

This change coincides with the departure of the long-running show “Calling All Pets,” which has been in reruns since fall 2008.

Sunday’s schedule will remain the same.

Many of the students enrolled in the English as a Second Language program are refugees or immigrants who are new to the United States. Helping these students requires no knowledge of a foreign language or prior experience tutoring. Many students just need someone with whom to carry on simple conversations. Others need help with their ESL class work or with particular needs such as pronunciation, reading, writing or grammar. Additionally, some students are preparing for their citizenship interview and test.

ESL volunteers will be oriented and mentored by ESL master instructors. The off-campus site in Boise is located in Room 202 of the Oak Park Plaza at 2323 South Vista Ave. For more information, contact Ruth Merrill at (208) 426-3440 or rmerrill@boisestate.edu.

Many of the students enrolled in the English as a Second Language program are refugees or immigrants who are new to the United States. Helping these students requires no knowledge of a foreign language or prior experience tutoring. Many students just need someone with whom to carry on simple conversations. Others need help with their ESL class work or with particular needs such as pronunciation, reading, writing or grammar. Additionally, some students are preparing for their citizenship interview and test.

ESL volunteers will be oriented and mentored by ESL master instructors. The off-campus site in Boise is located in Room 202 of the Oak Park Plaza at 2323 South Vista Ave. For more information, contact Ruth Merrill at (208) 426-3440 or rmerrill@boisestate.edu.

Through July 10, 160 participants in the TRiO Upward Bound program are living in Boise State dormitories to take part in college preparation courses, workshops, enrichment opportunities, service learning projects and extracurricular activities. The students come from Borah, Capital, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell and Owyhee high schools. The program is one of the TRiO Pre-College programs, which were established by Congress in 1965 to provide educational opportunities for low-income students.

“This program is a great opportunity for these students to get a feel for what the college experience is really like and help them overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education,” said Sue Huizinga, project director for TRiO Pre-College Programs at Boise State. “This summer, in addition to the academic support, perhaps the best lesson they learn is what it’s like to help others through the huge slate of service learning projects they do throughout the community.”

The Boise Rescue Mission, the Boise Veterans Administration Medical Center, the Idaho Foodbank and the American Cancer Society are among the dozens of local organizations where the students will volunteer during the six-week program.

Ziker will spend the 2009-10 academic year with colleagues in the Faculty of Social Sciences’ Department of Archaeology researching indigenous dwellings, movements and demography in the circumpolar north. Ultimately, the research is aimed at broadening understanding of human behavior and sustainable engagement with the environment.

Ziker’s central task is to work on data analysis and writing. In addition, he plans to visit the Tlicho First Nation near Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. This group has been involved in Ziker’s National Science Foundation project, “Home, Hearth, and Household in Siberia and Northern Canada.” Representatives have participated in two research trips to the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., to study a caribou-skin lodge cover acquired in the 1920s. Ziker’s long-term objectives are to facilitate research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, improve materials for teaching, and aid the repatriation of knowledge to First Nations and the wider public.

Boise State faculty members integrate Service-Learning into their courses, making community involvement an essential part of the curriculum. Courses with a Service-Learning component provide students with opportunities to apply course concepts to a community issue, then complete a service project with a local organization. Program director Kara Brascia said that students are attracted to Service-Learning because it offers hands-on learning and community networking, as well as a chance to make a difference in the community.

Just 11 years old, Boise State’s Service-Learning program is the largest in the state and is growing. Public engagement is a pillar of Boise State’s strategic plan, and since fall 2000 more than 12,000 students have contributed more than 285,000 hours of service to the Treasure Valley through Service-Learning. Students and faculty members were connected with about 70 community agencies this year. Some of their projects included:

— Boise State faculty member Peter Wollheim was a student in a graduate class titled, “Counseling Issues with Older Adults,” and found himself participating directly in Service-Learning. “While I was initially resistant to the idea, it opened up a world of amazing experiences for me working with Alzheimer’s patients. It’s something I continue to do on a volunteer basis, but never would have thought of absent this course requirement.”

Boise State’s program began in 2006, and in 2008 about 96 percent of its graduates gave the overall program the highest possible rating in an independent survey by the International Executive MBA Council. That compared with an average score for participating schools worldwide of 83 percent. In addition, about 70 percent of Boise State’s Executive MBA alumni report that they have received promotions or otherwise advanced their careers as a direct result of their participation in the program.

The Executive MBA program is designed specifically for middle- to senior-level professionals who wish to obtain a master’s in business administration on a schedule that minimizes disruption of work and personal pursuits. The informational session will run from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in The Loft on the fifth floor of the Stueckle Sky Center on the west side of Bronco Stadium. Those planning to attend should e-mail emba@boisestate.edu or call (208) 426-4034 to reserve a space.

All undergraduate and graduate programs in Boise State’s College of Business and Economics (COBE) are accredited by AACSB-International — the premier accrediting organization for business programs —putting it in the top 25 percent of business schools nationally and top 4 percent worldwide. COBE is the only AACSB-accredited school in the Treasure Valley.

For more information about the program, visit http://emba.boisestate.edu.

The workshop will provide tools and enhance participants’ skills to advance from being an individual star performer to having responsibilities for guiding others. New leaders will increase their effectiveness by understanding personality types and how they impact those being led. Techniques from the workshop can be applied to create a motivational work environment and develop positive thinking patterns that improve workflow and results.

The course fee is $450 and includes all materials and parking. For more information or to register, call (208) 426-3861, email cpdinfo@boisestate.edu or visit http://cpd.boisestate.edu.

Andrea Evans, senior director of state customer relations for Corrections Corporation of America, was elected to a one-year term as association president. Also, a new slate of executive committee members was elected: Travis Burgess, senior manager at Eide Bailly LLP, first vice-president; Ward Hooper, graphic designer, artist and illustrator, second vice-president; Jess Byrne, intergovernmental affairs coordinator for the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, treasurer; Greg Chavez, president at Orion Integration Group, secretary; and Travis Jensen, partner at KPMG LLP, past president.

New board members are Sheri Muncy-Freeman, Aaron Charrier, Heidi Low, Brian Ballard, Joshua Ingram, Monte Jackson, Tom Labrecque and Pat Large.

The Alumni Association connects, celebrates and engages alumni and friends of the university to build lifelong relationships that support the future of Boise State. With more than 65,000 alumni throughout the world, the association also strives to support students and advocate on behalf of higher education. Key programs include the Bronco Advocacy Network, the Legacy Scholarship Fund for relatives of alumni, and a nationwide network of chapters and volunteers. For more information about the Alumni Association, visit http://alumni.boisestate.edu or call (208) 426-1698.

David Nefzger, supervisor of Campus Copy, and Ted Bailey, manager of Printing and Graphic Services, came up with the idea when discussing how they might help Boise State job seekers.

“The current economic environment and the stress that go along with the job search process are huge. This is our way of offering a little relief,” Bailey said. “In addition to social networking and a digital resume, a customized printed resume could create a lasting impression that gets you in the door.”

Campus Copy also is developing an online template for ordering social networking business cards that will be available in the next few weeks.

Boise State’s winning proposal was written by Joe Guarino, professor and associate chair of the Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, and Pat Pyke, director of education research in the College of Engineering. Thanks to their efforts, the university will receive an HP Innovations in Education award package of HP technology, cash and professional services valued at more than $280,000. Technologies such as wireless HP Tablet PCs, wide-format HP DesignJet printers and remote access to high-power HP Blade Workstations from anywhere on campus will be used in innovative ways to fundamentally redesign the undergraduate learning experience.

Guarino said the grant will fund the Engineering Learning Community for Idaho (ELCI) project, which will provide learning resources for science, mathematics and engineering for use by students at all levels. It also will support basic research in these areas, and the Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering will offer a course this fall for engineering students interested in developing simulations for the ELCI project. In addition, remote-access capabilities will allow students throughout Idaho to use powerful engineering and scientific programs hosted by Boise State’s College of Engineering.

“Hewlett Packard is continuing its tradition of giving back to the engineering community. The HP Innovations in Education award will enable a sustained, virtual community for the promotion and advancement of engineering and science education in Idaho. We look forward to sharing our experiences with our colleagues at other universities, including the University of Illinois, Clemson, Purdue and Tulane, who also received HP grants,” Guarino said, adding that recipients will present their projects at the 2010 Education Innovations Conference, hosted by HP.

Teams may have a maximum of four players. The goal is to create brackets that evenly match teams. As such, teams will be divided into six divisions: Boys/Girls 12–14, Boys/Girls 15–17 and Men/Women 18 and over. Games will take place in the Student Recreation Center, the Auxiliary Gym in Taco Bell Arena and in Bronco Gym.

Cost is $39 per team on or before June 26. After June 26, the cost is $59 per team. Registration continues until July 6.

Register at http://rec.boisestate.edu/Basketball3v3/. For more information, call 426-2447.

The team, led by David Rush, worked with Boise inventor Dale Kramer to develop an innovative energy-saving electric water heater that allows utility companies to shift electricity consumption to off-peak periods.

H2O placed third in the preliminary round of the 2009 Global Moot Corp Business Plan Competition losing out to a team that went on to the final round. Rush’s team was honored with the Benchmark Capital Challenge award and $1,000 in prize money.

“This competition was the most valuable portion of my MBA experience so far,” Rush said, noting that he had the opportunity to interact with renowned entrepreneurs who have built companies and sold them for millions of dollars. “We’re going to take it one step at a time and continue to pursue our idea.”

Other competitors at the international competition included: Boston University, Brigham Young University, Carnegie Mellon University, Colorado School of Mines, Fayetteville State University, Kennesaw State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, San Diego State University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Arkansas, University of California at Berkeley, University of Chicago, University of Louisville, University of Michigan, University of Oregon, University of San Francisco, University of Utah, University of Adelaide (Australia), Queen’s University (Canada), University of Manitoba (Canada), University of Waterloo (Canada), Chinese University of Hong Kong (China), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (China), Pontifica Universidad Javeriana (Columbia), Universidad de los Andes (Columbia), E.M. Lyon (France), Wissenschaftliche Hochschule fur Untemehmenffuhrung (Germany), London Business School (Great Britain), University of Oxford (Great Britain), Centro de Investigacion en Materiales Avanzados (Mexico), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway), and Thammasat University (Thailand).

For more information about Boise State’s College of Business and Economics and its Center for Entrepreneurship, visit http://cobe.boisestate.edu.

Challenge yourself to learn a new skill or brush up on an old one. Each class offers expert training from a dynamic instructor. You will progress through the session with the same group of classmates while getting a great workout and having fun.

Salsa — Beginner/Intermediate
When: 5:30–6:30 p.m. Thursdays, June 11–July 30
Cost: $49 for members, $69 for nonmembers

Salsa — Intermediate/Advanced
When: 6:45–7:45 p.m. Thursdays, June 11–July 9
Cost: $39 for members, $55 for nonmembers

Jiu-Jitsu
When: 5:15–6:15 p.m. Tuesdays, June 9–July 28
Cost: $49 for members, $69 for nonmembers

Hip Hop
When: 4-5 p.m. Mondays, June 8-July 27
Cost: $49 for members, $69 for nonmembers

Register at http://rec.boisestate.edu/fitness/instruction/. For more information, call 426-1592.

An opening reception is from 6-7:30 p.m. June 5, followed by an awards ceremony from 7:30-9 p.m. in the SUB Hatch Ballroom. Free parking during the reception is available in the Liberal Arts parking lot just to the west of the Special Events Center.

This juried member’s exhibition presents the best water-media paintings of artists living in the state of Idaho. The work exemplifies skill, creativity, imagination, a desire to communicate an original vision, and works that simply come from the heart. This year’s juror, Pat Weaver, will provide a lecture presentation regarding her work, with an accompanying demonstration.

The exhibition is presented by the Fine Arts Program at the SUB.

Students who need to take the ACT to complete their admission application have two more opportunities to take the test. Boise State will offer the Residual ACT on May 30 and June 27. Scores from either test will be acceptable for meeting the June 30 deadline. To reserve a seat, complete the online reservation form or print and mail the reservation form to the Boise State Admissions Office.

For more information on how to apply, contact the Boise State Admissions Office at (208) 426-1156 or visit the Web site at http://admissions.boisestate.edu.

Boise State offers nearly 200 academic programs in seven colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business and Economics, Education, Engineering, Graduate, Health Sciences and Social Sciences and Public Affairs. Degrees offered include doctoral, master’s, bachelors and associate’s, as well as several graduate certificate options.

The university also offers a new Bachelor of General Studies degree, an accelerated course of study for adults who have already earned some college credit but never completed their degrees. And the AfterWork Program caters to working adults with evening and weekend classes. By following a planned course of study, Boise State guarantees students can complete their degrees in just four years. Learn more about Finish in Four at http://www.boisestate.edu/finish4/.

As part of Boise State’s priority to help local businesses and organizations weather the economic storm, the College of Business and Economics (COBE) launched the Business Research and Economic Development Center in January. The center is a one-stop-shop for the local business community to tap into the expertise of Boise State faculty members and other specialists. The center’s Spring 2009 Economic Turnaround Initiative was a concerted effort to positively impact at least 200 of them before summer. Response to the college’s invitation to help was well received, and it has since engaged with 617 Treasure Valley businesses and organizations.

Business faculty and their students took on 102 class projects and 15 consulting projects, the TECenter assisted 22 callers with high-tech entrepreneurial ventures, and 478 others connected with small business and manufacturing experts in the Idaho Small Business Development Center and TechHelp to meet their specific needs. COBE even assembled a group of recent MBA graduates to offer free consulting.

Rob Anson, a professor of information technology, acted as consultant for five teams of students in ITM 490, a senior capstone project class for information technology majors. The students did everything from system development to cost benefit analysis for their clients.

The book is an investigation into American sexual, political and poetic consciousness, at the eccentric heart of which lies the undead and uneasy 37th President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon.

Also sifting the evidence (or implicated in its findings) are J. Edgar Hoover, Sylvia Plath, Hugh Hefner, Wyatt Earp, Valerie Solanas and Vladimir Putin, as well as an experimental subject in a pink tutu, a Finnish gravedigger, an exiled Anglo-Saxon poet, and an industrious gang of fairies.

Loden’s Nixon is never merely the consummate villain deplored by his critics nor the tragic visionary statesman acclaimed by his apologists. He is nearly a force of nature: throwing off his gravestone in the garden at Yorba Linda, calling up his troops, his family and even his black and white cocker spaniel, ready to smash death by any means necessary, to beat back a sea of pretenders and retake Washington by storm.

Loden’s “Hotel Imperium” was named one of the 10 best poetry books of the year by the San Francisco Chronicle. She has twice been included in the “Best American Poetry” series and has received a Pushcart Prize. Loden lives in Palo Alto, Calif. “Dick of the Dead” is her second book of poems.

Ahsahta Press begins its 35th year of publication at Boise State in September under the direction of Janet Holmes, a professor in the master of fine arts program in creative writing. The press publishes seven books each academic year by emerging and established poets, including Dan Beachy-Quick, Kate Greenstreet, Graham Foust, Susan Tichy and Ben Doller. Books are available from most bookstores or at the Web site, http://ahsahtapress.boisestate.edu.

Carr’s work was selected by Rae Armantrout, whose most recent book, “Versed,” was published by Wesleyan University Press in 2009. The winner was chosen from among 670 entries. The press received manuscripts from 11 foreign countries as well as 45 states.

Carr is the author of “Equivocal” (Alice James Press, 2007) and “Mead: An Epithalamion,” which won the University of Georgia Press’s contemporary poetry prize for 2004. Her poems have appeared in such journals as Volt, American Letters and Commentary, Pool, Verse, The Iowa Review, Boston Review, and TriQuarterly. She teaches at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

In addition to Carr’s book, Ahsahta will publish the runner-up manuscript, “Sancta,” by Andrew Grace of Cincinnati, Ohio.

The 2010 Sawtooth Poetry Prize contest, which runs Jan. 1-March 1, will be judged by Terrance Hayes, author of “Wind in a Box” (Penguin, 2006) and “Hip Logic” (2002), a National Poetry Series volume. Hayes has received the Kate Tufts Discovery Award, the Whiting Writers Award and an NEA Fellowship, and teaches at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Ahsahta Press, named for the Mandan word for “Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep,” was founded in 1974 and publishes seven books of poetry per year, one of which is the winner of its annual contest. Based at Boise State, the press is directed by Janet Holmes, a professor in the MFA program for creative writing.

Roark received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho in 1992 and his doctoral degree in philosophy from the University of Washington in 1999. After a visiting professorship at The Ohio State University, Roark joined Boise State as an adjunct professor in 2000 and was hired as an assistant professor in 2001. He has served as chair of the Philosophy Department since 2007.

Roark has 21 peer-reviewed publications and conference papers to his credit and was recognized with the Students’ Choice Award in 2005. He serves as a content referee for the professional journal Ancient Philosophy and has reviewed manuscripts for Oxford University Press and Longman Publishing. Roark currently serves on the Boise Ethics Committee and is co-chair of the Core-Reform Task Force. He also is a frequently invited speaker in the community.

Held at the Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy in downtown Boise, the performance begins at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Cost for non-Boise Jazz Society members is $45.

Anat Cohen has many interests in jazz. She plays clarinet and both soprano and tenor saxes in various and sundry settings, including modern jazz, traditional ensembles, classical music and every type of Afro-Latin hybrid imaginable, including Argentinean, Brazilian, and pan-Caribbean. With her quartet, Cohen funnels all of her interests into spirited original compositions. From Fats Waller’s “Jitterbug Waltz” and Ernesto Lecuonas “Siboney” to Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” expect Anat and the quartet to display a diversity of musical tastes using the language of jazz.

The Washington Post said “Cohen has emerged as one of the brightest, most original young instrumentalists in jazz …[she] has expanded the vocabulary of jazz with a distinctive accent of her own.” The Village Voice spoke of her “Enviable insouciance” and how “she alludes to the mystical in a merry way,” and Downbeat magazine expressed the opinion that “Noir could be a classic” and “[Cohen’s] stately intonation and unforced elegance on clarinet could take her to the top.”

Earlier the same day, Anat and members of her quartet will conduct a free Boise Community Jazz Symposium. Beginning at 4 p.m., the symposium also will be held at the Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy. The artists will perform and discuss their music, giving the audience an insider perspective on how the music is created in the live performance.

For more information, contact Mike Samball at msamball@boisestate.edu or (208) 426-3498.

The premiere episode of “Inside Boise State” airs Friday, May 15, at 8:30 p.m. on KTVB’s 24/7 NewsChannel, cable channel 28 and digital channel 7.2. Repeat broadcasts will air Saturday, May 16 at 1:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 11 p.m., and Sunday, May 17, at 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

“This broadcast goes beyond the famous blue turf and takes you inside the halls of higher education,” said Frank Zang, Boise State’s director of communications and marketing. “Original footage and interviews with students, professors and staff provide insights and access to untold stories. We appreciate KTVB providing us an opportunity to show the public our people, places and programs.”

This edition of “Inside Boise State” reveals an in-depth look at the impact of research from the arts to geosciences; the new Student Union Building and the diversity of more than 200 student organizations; and the university’s model living and learning communities where students and professors make the residence halls their home.

“Inside Boise State” is an ongoing production of the university’s Office of Communications and Marketing.

More than 500 courses are currently being offered in a variety of disciplines and areas of general interest. Many are the same classes available in fall and spring semesters, while others are unique to the summer session. In addition, more online and evening courses for working adults are available.

Summer courses are taught in three-week, five-week and eight-week sessions, so students have several points at which they can start taking classes. The first session begins May 18.

“It is a sign of a metropolitan campus that so much activity is going on in the summer, and year round for that matter,” said Mark Wheeler, dean of Extended Studies. “Many of the full-time faculty are combining teaching with research agendas over the summer. Students who attend in the fall and spring are increasingly opting to take one to two classes in the summer. Plus, there are workshops and other offerings that attract community members.”

Picking up one or two classes in the summer could save a student thousands of dollars if it helps shorten completion of his or her degree by even a semester. Students can more easily finish their degrees in four years by adding a summer class each year.

Currently enrolled Boise State students can register for summer classes on BroncoWeb (students who have not attended Boise State since spring 2007 will need to reapply — information on how to do that is available online). For more information and a complete schedule of summer classes, visit www.boisestate.edu/extendedstudies or call (208) 426-1709.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, which provides non-credit enrichment seminars and lectures for adult learners, is offering its first-ever summer series. For more information on Osher courses, visit www.boisestate.edu/osher.

Nick Miller, history, received the Research Award; Troy Rohn, biology, received the Teaching Award; and Jeffrey Wilhelm, English, received the Service Award. All three recipients will be formally recognized at an event hosted by the Boise State University Foundation. Date and location for the event will be announced at a later time.

“We congratulate this year’s award winners for their outstanding work and dedication to academic excellence,” said Sona Andrews, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We recognize that our Foundation Scholars represent the extraordinary quality of teaching, research and service found across the faculty at Boise State University.”

Located along University Drive next to the engineering complex, CESED will be home to Boise State’s departments of Geosciences, Civil Engineering, Public Policy and Administration and Political Science. It will support a Western agenda on the environment, transportation, water, land use and community and regional planning, and bring together many of the state’s experts in these areas.

The university marked the beginning of the two-year project this afternoon with a groundbreaking ceremony. CESED’s construction is anticipated to create about 150 jobs in the valley, with hundreds more workers being utilized throughout its duration.

The State Board of Education originally approved a $42.8 million budget for CESED, and the 2008 Idaho Legislature appropriated $10 million from the Permanent Building Fund toward its construction. In February, bids came in about $12 million less than anticipated.

“In the short term, this project will bring jobs and breathe new life into our local and state economy,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra. “When complete, CESED will foster new collaboration across academic disciplines and spawn innovation that will make ongoing and lasting contributions to our economy.”

Widescreens will be set up so family and friends can see the graduates up close as they are individually recognized. For those who cannot attend, Boise State will broadcast the ceremony live online at http://www.boisestate.edu/provost/commencement/broadcast.shtml (those who are feeling ill are encouraged to stay home in observance of CDC recommendations regarding H1N1 flu). A reception for graduates and their families will be held immediately following the ceremony on the Intramural Field adjacent to the Taco Bell Arena and the Appleton Tennis Center.

While 1,200 graduates are expected to walk, 2,082 are eligible for 2,204 degrees/certificates, and 548 are eligible for honors: 80 summa cum laude, 157 magna cum laude and 311 cum laude.

The GRE is required to enter most master’s degree programs. GRE prep course participants will review exam topics, types of verbal and quantitative questions and the new essay portion of the test. Participants also will learn test-taking strategies and work with test-simulation exercises in reading comprehension, vocabulary, discrete quantitative, quantitative comparison, essay and advanced math strategies.

In addition, participants will take a diagnostic exam on the first night of the course, and the instructor will use test results to focus on the topics that participants need most.

The course fee is $399 and includes instruction, textbook, practice tests and a CD-ROM.
For more information or to register, call (208) 426-3861, email cpdinfo@boisestate.edu or visit
http://cpd.boisestate.edu.

This morning, Boise State President Bob Kustra joined presidents and administrators of the University of Idaho, Idaho State University, North Idaho College, Lewis-Clark State College, The College of Idaho, Northwest Nazarene University, College of Southern Idaho and Brigham Young University-Idaho in celebrating the award at the Boise VA Medical Center, also an INBRE partner.

This is the third major award for the network and brings the total federal investment to $40 million since Idaho INBRE’s founding in 2001. Boise State historically has received a significant portion and has focused on growing research capacity and building research infrastructure.

“In line with Boise State’s strategic vision, Idaho INBRE has helped enhance our research facilities, establish new projects, support student participation and enable faculty to better balance their commitments,” Kustra said. “Across the network, Boise State already is supporting collaboration and sharing resources, and we look forward to identifying growth areas so more individuals can get involved in research that has the potential to impact lives and livelihoods far beyond our campus.”

Sixty students from across the country were selected, and their agenda in Washington D.C. includes field trips, advocacy training, visits to Congressional offices, and a reception where they can display their research posters and interact with prominent members of the national science community as well as senators, representatives and their aides. While “Posters on the Hill” has been going on since 1998, this year’s event comes on the heels of the Obama administration’s commitment to double the nation’s investment in basic research and bring science back into the center of the political process.

Martin will have a chance to express the importance of the work he has been doing over the past two years with associate chemistry professor Owen McDougal and Michael Hill, senior scientist and president of research and development company Boise Technology Incorporated. Hill has affiliate status with Boise State’s Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, and his company contracts with the university to fund several projects, including Martin’s, which focuses on decontamination of chemical warfare agents using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. McDougal said the collaboration has been especially beneficial to student researchers as it provides them internship opportunities and industrial training while they work toward their degrees. Funding comes from federal appropriations set aside for Boise Technology Inc. by Congress, and Martin hopes his participation in “Posters on the Hill” will help make the case for continued support.

A new AfterWork degree offering this year is elementary education. Overall, the AfterWork initiative has nine programs, including a Bachelor of General Studies along with degrees in accountancy, communication, criminal justice, general business management, health science studies, information technology management and applied science. All required classes in a major are offered on a rotating basis, at least once every two years so that degree work can be completed.

“The tight labor market is really showing the value of an education,” said Ken Brauchle, assistant dean for the Division of Extended Studies. “The unemployment rate for those with a bachelor’s degree is half that of high school graduates. Boise State is committed to helping adults complete their degree with regional sites and flexible class scheduling.”

AfterWork is designed for working students who have some college experience. A minimum of 128 credits, including transfer credits, is needed to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. The Bachelor of General Studies also allows credit to be awarded for knowledge acquired from external study or from life experiences equivalent to the learning outcomes of traditional courses. Sources may include testing, military or other training programs and the student’s prior learning portfolio.

The first step is to apply for admission to Boise State. Financial aid is available for students in the AfterWork program. Select AfterWork degrees are also offered at the Twin Falls site and Canyon County, and significant course work toward specific AfterWork degrees is available at Gowen Field.

For more than 30 years, Spring Fling has been celebrated by Boise State students and the community. This year, Spring Fling is rocking the river with headlining band Reel Big Fish and other bands. A graffiti wall and bounce house will be set up to help students and families rock out, and food vendors and picnic tables will be available.

Free parking will be available at the Boise State Towers lots during the event. In the event of rain, Spring Fling will move to the Taco Bell Arena, and free parking will be at Bronco Stadium.

Spring Fling is sponsored by Student Programs Board. For more information, contact Emily Dickson at spbannualevents@boisestate.edu.

Graduates are required to pass the NCLEX exam before entering the practice. Individuals who want to ensure they can apply their skills as quickly as possible will benefit from the understanding of exam content and question formats presented in this course. Participants will leave with an individualized test plan to ensure NCLEX success and avoid common preparation mistakes made by other candidates.

Class instructor Michael Vallez, MX, RN, NP-C, is a clinical assistant professor in Boise State’s Department of Nursing and has more than eight years of experience preparing graduate nurses for the NCLEX.

A fee of $279 includes instruction, materials and parking. For more information or to register, call (208) 426-5438, email cpdinfo@boisestate.edu or visit http://cpd.boisestate.edu

“My Life in Ruins” features Nia Vardalos, the star of the hit movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and Oscar winner Richard Dreyfuss. In the film, Vardalos plays a novice tour guide in Greece, shepherding a group of American tourists, including a capricious Dreyfuss. Fox Searchlight Pictures is making the film available to Boise State. Producers include Rita Wilson and her husband, Tom Hanks. “My Life in Ruins” already has opened in Europe; it will open in North America on June 5; and it is the closing night film for the Tribeca Film Festival in New York next week.

Tickets for the Boise event are available at the Egyptian Theatre, 700 W. Main Street, (208) 387-1273. Showtime is 7 p.m. Petrie will participate in a question and answer session after the movie. A pre-screening reception for Petrie will begin at 5:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $10. Reserved seating and reception tickets are $20.

Petrie’s films include the hits, “Mystic Pizza,” “Grumpy Old Men,” and “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” He has directed Julia Roberts, Whoopi Goldberg, Sandra Bullock, Michael Caine, Kate Hudson, Matthew McConaughey, Gene Hackman, Lindsay Lohan and Matt Damon.

TechHelp will partner with the Powered By Community Team at Panhandle State Bank, Intermountain Community Bank and Magic Valley Bank to offer the sessions. For a single registration fee of $99, a senior executive can bring as many employees as desired from an organization to the conference. The conference will feature breakout sessions that will help all departments reduce costs and boost efficiency and sales.

Conference topics will include an economy in transition, obtaining/maintaining credit facilities, survival strategies for tough economic times and translating strategies into action.

The conference schedule is as follows:

— May 8, Nampa Civic Center, 311 Third St. S., Nampa. Contact: Roger Aguilar at (208) 454-2800.
— May 7, Red Lion Hotel Canyon Springs, 1357 Blue Lakes Blvd. N., Twin Falls. Contact: Katie Milam at (208) 732-0151.
— May 12, Panhandle State Bank, Community Center, 414 Church St., Sandpoint. Contact: Colleen Spickelmire at (208) 263-0505.
— May 14, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 13541 W. Highway 53, Rathdrum. Contact: Tamie Phelps at (208) 687-5585.

TechHelp is headquartered at Boise State University and is a partnership of Idaho’s three state universities and an affiliate of the Federal Manufacturing Extension Partnership. It provides technical and business assistance to Idaho manufacturers, making them more competitive through continuous process and product innovation. It is also Idaho’s EDA University Center, targeting economically distressed areas. For more information, visit www.techhelp.org.

The Ying Quartet occupies a unique position of prominence in the classical music world, combining brilliantly communicative performances with a fearlessly imaginative view of chamber music in today’s world. Now in its second decade as a quartet, the group has established itself in tours across the United States and abroad. Their performances regularly take place in many of the world’s most important concert halls, including Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House. The quartet’s belief that concert music can be a meaningful part of everyday life has drawn the foursome to perform in settings as diverse as workplaces, schools, juvenile prisons and the White House.

The concert in Boise will open with Felix Mendelssohn’s “Quartet in E-flat Major, Opus 12.” Bela Bartok’s “Sixth String Quartet” will follow and will close with Antonin Dvorak’s “Quartet in A-flat Major, Opus 105.”

In addition, the Boise Chamber Music Society will host its fourth annual Young Artist String Quartet Competition from 9 a.m.-noon May 9 in the Morrison Center Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the public and sponsored in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Six finalist student string quartets will perform short programs of contrasting works at the pre-college and collegiate levels; students from Boise, Meridian and Timberline high schools will be represented. The collegiate quartets were selected from Boise State University, Brigham Young University-Idaho and the College of Idaho. First-place winners in each category will receive cash prizes, and all participating quartets will receive written comments from the Ying Quartet; the quartet judged the first annual competition when they appeared in Boise three years ago.

Membership in the Institute is open to all adult learners for a fee of $35 for a single season or $55 for the year. This year’s members may register for any or all of the summer offerings without paying an additional membership fee. Non-members can sign up for the upcoming fall session for $35 and also take advantage of the summer events.

Summer topics include: Yellowstone/Tetons/Craters of the Moon; digital photography; fly fishing; Shakespeare’s comedies; basic computer skills; pottery; yoga/pilates; drawing; understanding neurodegenerative diseases; the local food system; genealogy/family history; and watercolor.

The events are made possible due to the generous support of the Bernard Osher Foundation.
The Institute works with a number of community partners, including the Discovery Center and the Idaho Botanical Gardens, as well as many Boise State faculty members, to offer its members unique experiences.

For more details about the summer offerings, or the upcoming fall series, visit the Web site at www.boisestate.edu/osher or call (208) 426-2027.

The project, called the EcoStruction University Challenge, is the brainchild of Michael Jobes, CEO of Elevation Films. Jobes has an option on a site with development potential on the corner of 11th and Miller streets near downtown Boise and proposed that student teams could compete — on camera — for a chance to design a trio of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified townhomes. The footage is part of Jobes’ documentary project, which follows the creation of a sustainable, residential development. Winners of the design challenge will be recognized at both events being headlined by Lovins on April 30, with proceeds benefitting the University of Idaho’s Urban Research and Design Center and Boise State’s Construction Management Department.

The first event is an educational business luncheon from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at The Grove Hotel, 245 S. Capitol Blvd. Lovins will deliver a presentation called “Drivers of Change: The Business Case for Sustainability” and participate in a panel with local business leaders. General admission is $50 (tickets at www.usgbcidaho.org) including lunch. There will be a book-signing opportunity, an EcoStruction University Challenge exhibit and an announcement of the challenge winners.

—“Modern Physics Experiments: from Simple to Sophisticated” will be held May 20-21 in Room 404 of the Multipurpose Classroom Facility on the Boise State campus. Richard Reimann will lead this workshop for high school teachers who teach physics or a related science. A science kit will be provided for the teachers to keep. The two-day workshop will cover a variety of modern physics experiments that can be illustrated simply and performed with modest equipment. Results are refined using more sophisticated apparatus and related to current application and research. Registration deadline is May 15; cost is $90.

— Introduction to Biochemical Research will run from 8:30 a.m.-noon June 15-26 in the chemistry department, Science/Nursing building, on the Boise State campus. Henry Charlier and Heidi Pluska will lead this workshop for high school students that will teach them to apply modern biochemical methods to solve a variety of problems encountered in the field of environmental and medical research. Registration deadline is June 1; cost is $350.

The Concurrent Enrollment program offers university classes at area high school campuses during the academic year for both high school and university credit, at a low cost and with the rigor of a university course.

“Offering academic workshops like these is our way of continuing to provide educational opportunities for high school instructors and students who want to keep on learning,” said the program’s director, Fabiola Juarez-Coca. Concurrent Enrollment will continue to offer a wide array of university courses next fall at high schools, but it’s been a goal of the program also to offer summer education opportunities.

For more information, call (208) 426-2281, or visit the Concurrent Enrollment Web site at www.boisestate.edu/concurrentenrollment.

Career Center director Debbie Kaylor said the number of students and alums taking advantage of the center’s services surged between fall 2007 and fall 2008, with a 40 percent increase in career counseling appointments, a 30 percent increase in job search appointments and a 90 percent increase in alumni appointments. Meanwhile, job postings in the center’s database are down from 2,000 to 1,500, though Kaylor said the situation is not as dire as it might seem.

“It is one of the most challenging times we have seen in decades, but it isn’t impossible,” she said. “Employers are hiring; they are just being more selective and targeted in their search for employees, so job seekers need to take advantage of all resources and recognize that it’s going to take time.”

The Job Search Boot Camp will be a unique and significant resource. The one-day conference will feature breakout sessions team-taught by Career Center representatives and employers on a variety of topics, including resumes, interviewing, networking, transitioning from college to career and jobs in government and public service sectors. The opening address by Mark Rivers, CEO of Boise-based Brix and Company, will cover the local economy. Keynote speaker Dr. Phil Gardner, director of the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University, will address the national job market, and the day will end with an employer panel and a networking reception.

“Les Femme en Noir,” or “Women in Black,” features original works by 10 choreographers. In addition to the work of promising student choreographers, the performance includes choreography and performances by Idaho Dance Theatre members Casee Hogg, Kaelen O’Shea and Yurek Hansen. Katie Ponozzo, a dance adjunct faculty member, will premier a comedy.

“Les Femme en Noir” is suitable for children and adults. For more information, call 426-3957.

The Boise State Capital Scholars program has completed its fifth year with a total of 280 scholarship recipients. The 2009 class is the second largest group of recipients.

Selection is based on college entrance examination scores and class rankings. All Idaho high school juniors who scored in the top 10 percent of the ACT, SAT or PSAT and rank in the top 10 percent of their high school classes were recognized as Boise State Capital Scholars, but they had to attend the April 14 event to receive their scholarship certificate. It is a $1,000 renewable scholarship for up to five years when they enroll at Boise State as full-time college students.

The program included a welcome from Craig Hemmens, director of the Honors College, and Michael Laliberte, vice president for student affairs; teaching demonstrations with professors Eric Landrum (psychology), Michelle Sabick (engineering), Anika Smulovitz (art) and Henry Charlier (chemistry); tours of campus featuring Albertsons Library, Honors College, university housing and the Interactive Learning Center; an academic reception; and an awards banquet with President Bob Kustra and student Rachael Knapp as keynote speakers.

Coach Petersen promised to donate $5 for every racer who beat him to the finish line. This year, 322 people beat the coach — exactly the same number as last year. Coach Pete finished with a time of 25 minutes and 52 seconds; the top male finishers came in around 15 minutes and the top women racers came in around 18 minutes. Coach Petersen gave more than his bet required, however, signing a check for $5,000.

For more information about Beat Pete, call Lisa Stuppy, assistant director of fitness programs for Boise State Campus Recreation, at (208) 426-1592 or lstuppy@boisestate.edu.

The Boise Choristers include women from all over the Treasure Valley, directed by Karma Ellsworth and accompanied by Gail Borup. This year’s program ranges from classics by Handel Haydn and Debussy to traditional Shaker melodies, Broadway show tunes and various folk songs. The final set will remind the audience that “to everything there is a season” with familiar songs that bring to mind the four seasons. Patrick Scott, a 2008-2009 scholarship winner, will join the Choristers and play selections from his senior recital performance.

The keynote speaker for this year’s event is David M. Cooper, a 1971 Boise State alumnus. Cooper is managing partner for the regional accounting firm Cooper Norman.

Top Ten Scholars are chosen from among the top 10 percent of Boise State’s graduating class of more than 3,000 students for 2008-09. They are selected based on academic performance, recommendation from college deans, and extracurricular and research activities.

“These ten students represent the very finest in scholarship and community service and are excellent examples of Boise State’s role in helping to shape our nation’s next leaders,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra. “If the examples they've set here on campus are any indication of what’s to come as they launch new careers or move on to other academic challenges, their future success is without question.”

Moreover, Boise State’s program achieved these high standards during its first session. The Executive MBA Council, an organization comprised of Executive MBA programs worldwide, hired an outside firm to conduct the exit survey with Boise State’s 2008 Executive MBA graduates, the first to graduate from the 3-year-old program.

Graduates noted in the survey that after completing the program they are more creative, more strategic in their problem solving and decision-making, higher contributors to their company’s success and overall more effective leaders.

“We worked on solving real business issues,” said Greg Hanmer, an IT director with Hewlett-Packard, adding that he and fellow EMBA participants examined HP’s forecasting and supply chain processes and outlined opportunities for material savings. “The program gave us the academic tools we needed in today’s business environment and access to business professionals throughout the valley.”

Involving students and faculty sponsors from across campus, the conference is a way for young researchers to celebrate their efforts with an audience of peers, professors, prospective college students, community members and the university at large.

“Boise State’s advancement as a metropolitan university where groundbreaking research and technological discoveries are the rule, rather than the exception, is inextricably linked to an outstanding undergraduate experience,” said Bob Kustra, Boise State president. “This conference provides our undergraduate students an opportunity to share their research projects and be recognized for their exceptional work.”

Associate vice president for undergraduate studies Sharon McGuire, who is facilitating the conference, said it is designed to enhance traditional conceptions of research.

“We want people to interpret research and scholarship broadly, to understand they include writing, dance, video production, fine arts, graphic design,” McGuire said. “A lot of these projects have life beyond this one day in April, but it helps plant the seed. We want more students to get involved in research earlier in their academic careers, and the conference helps them get their feet wet.”

In “The School for Wives,” Arnolphe, an aging bachelor, has a brilliant plan. Determined to avoid an unfaithful wife, he’ll marry a girl too innocent and too ignorant to fool him. But in his house of bumbling servants, Arnolphe’s plan is bound to backfire.

“The School for Wives” was first performed in France in 1662. Boise State’s production is guest directed by Tracy Sunderland. It is suggested for children 13 and older due to innuendo.

Tickets are available through Select-a-Seat and idahotickets.com and are $15 general and $12 for non-Boise State students, Boise State alumni and seniors. All tickets are $9 each when purchased in groups of 10 or more. For more information, call 426-3957.

The project’s intent isn’t to be a university-wide press, but instead a flexible publishing consortium that will feature juried non-fiction and popular scholarship with proven market appeal that focuses on Idaho and the American West. The project will expand beyond books to include on-line and downloadable works, print-on-demand publications and DVDs. Overall, the project will consolidate and coordinate the university’s research and publication efforts.

A sample of the numerous publications available include:

• The Hemingway Western Studies Series, edited by English professor Tom Trusky.

• The Idaho Metropolitan Research Series, featuring books about urban-rural problems and policy. The series is edited by social sciences and public affairs dean Melissa Lavitt.

• The Otter Pre K-12 Idaho Education Series, developed by education professor Stan Steiner, history professor Todd Shallat and Idaho first lady Lori Otter. The series includes education books including Steiner’s “P is for Potato,” “Ida,” and others directed at the K-12 market.

In addition to juried works published in the Boise State series, a publications catalog, “New U Writings,” is available now and a Web site, www.booksboisestate.com, will include writings by Boise State professors published elsewhere by notable university and commercial presses. For more information, call 426-1514.

This year’s honorees are:

Boise — Denise Buske, Human Resource Management; Amanda Clausen, Accountancy Taxation; Jon Daley, Masters of Business Administration; Maria Shimel, Management; Daniel Simenc, Management; Erin Taylor, Information Technology; Steve Wargo, Accountancy; Mark Woychick, Masters of Business Administration

Bonners Ferry — Johanna Farrell, International Business

Meridian — Melissa Warwick, Finance

Idaho Falls — Jake Davis, Entrepreneurship; and Jason Davis, Supply Chain Management

Payette — Jennifer Stemple, Marketing

Twin Falls — Jeff Woods, Masters of Science in Accountancy

For more information about Boise State’s College of Business and Economics and its programs, call (208) 426-4950 or visit http://cobe.boisestate.edu.

Events begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Family Advocacy Center and Education Services (FACES) building, 417 S. 6th St. in downtown Boise. Speakers will include Melissa Wintrow, residential program director and former coordinator of the Women’s Center at Boise State; Jeff Matsushita, director of Men Today Men Tomorrow; and Jamie Lange, Boise State student. Information will be made available on Idaho sexual assault statistics, deconstructing attitudes that perpetuate violence, the role of men in speaking out against sexual assault, violence prevention and survivorship.

Participants are then invited to walk from FACES up Capitol Boulevard toward the Statehouse carrying messages denouncing sexual violence. The march will pause briefly at Front and Main streets before concluding in Capitol Park. Participants are then welcome to break into small groups to share their personal stories. Trained professionals will be on hand to facilitate discussion.

Since the inception of Take Back the Night, thousands of marches and rallies bearing its name have taken place worldwide. Events are held to increase consciousness of the beliefs and behaviors that promote sexual assault and to eradicate violence against women. Rallies offer survivors of violence an opportunity to voice their experiences and publicly affirm their transition from victim to survivor.

For more information, contact the Women’s Center at (208) 426-4259.

“Having attended Boise Junior College many years ago, I deeply appreciate receiving this honorary degree,” said Church. “I feel strongly connected to Boise State, which contributes so much to making Boise such a vital and interesting place to live.”

“Bethine Church and her extraordinary family are an integral part of the fabric of Idaho and Boise State University,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra. “Her example of selfless civic service and her uncompromising devotion to and passion for the political process, the environment and the betterment of Idaho’s citizens serves as an inspiration to us all. We are pleased and excited to recognize the many contributions of this true Idaho icon with an honorary doctorate.”

Grigg, from Eagle, is a junior majoring in entrepreneurial management; Bunt, from Boise, is a sophomore majoring in political science. Both are active in the LDS Student Association and the College Republicans.

Grigg and Bunt received 1,318 of the 1,968 votes cast, or 67 percent. Evan Meriwether and Chase Johnson came in second with 550 votes. There were also two write-in candidate teams: Joseph Huxhold and Anthony Podvin, and Mike Olsen and William Broocks.

The black-tie event is an every-other-year tradition at Boise State; 2009 marks its 14th year. Festivities begin at 5 p.m. with a silent auction sponsored by The Idaho Statesman, followed by dinner and a live auction. New this year is a Super Silent Auction that will close 10 minutes after the end of the live auction. Tickets are $150 per person; table sponsorships are available.

The special honorees for the 2009 Boise State Auction are Lyle and Eleanor Smith. Lyle Smith, who is considered to be the father of Boise State football, was Boise Junior College’s head football coach from 1947 to 1967. During those two decades, the Broncos won 82 percent of their games, including a 37-game winning streak. He also served as the Bronco athletic director until his retirement in 1981. Korey Hall, a former Boise State Bronco who now plays with the Green Bay Packers, also will be a guest.

Sponsored by Boise State’s Volunteer Services Board and Office of Energy Research, Policy and Campus Sustainability, the week’s events will include volunteer opportunities, movie viewings, demonstrations of sustainable lifestyle choices and discussions about resource consumption.

“Now more than ever, we as citizens of Idaho and the United States need to be good stewards of the natural resources we’ve been given,” said John Gardner, associate vice president for energy research, policy and campus sustainability. “The events that the students have planned are designed to help us all understand how we can integrate the principles of sustainability into our everyday lives. An essential theme is that living green can be synonymous with living well. We don’t have to give up true quality of life to leave a smaller footprint.”

Read More for the full schedule

Of the 278 Goldwater Scholars this year, 163 are men and 115 are women, and most intend to obtain doctoral degrees. Fifty-one are in engineering disciplines, including Goyal, and the distinction is a first for Boise State’s College of Engineering. The 17-year-old electrical and computer engineering major maintains a 3.96 GPA and is involved in a variety of extracurricular activities. She has served two terms as president of the Indian Student Association and is a dynamic member of the Engineering Honor Society. Her community service ranges from performing classical Indian dance to raise funds for cancer research to organizing student cookie bakes for American troops in Iraq.

In addition to many other scholarships, Goyal was selected in 2006 for a National Society of Collegiate Scholars merit scholarship, which is awarded to the top 50 undergraduate students in the country. She also has won a competitive Micron Foundation Scholarship given only to two Boise State engineering students each year.

“Shatakshi has demonstrated exemplary dedication and amazing work ethic, especially at such a young age,” said Janet Callahan, a professor and associate dean of academic affairs in the College of Engineering who nominated Goyal for the Goldwater Scholarship.

Cummins is the author of the novel “Yellowcake” and the short story collection “Red Ant House.” Her work has appeared in the New Yorker, “Hayden’s Ferry Review,” “A Room of One’s Own,” and “Sonora Review,” among others. Her story “The Red Ant House” — originally published in “McSweeney’s” — was anthologized in “The Best American Short Stories 2002.” A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the University of Arizona writing programs, Cummins now teaches creative writing at Northern Arizona University.

Free and open to the public, the Boise State MFA Reading Series brings nationally renowned authors and poets to the Boise State campus. Past speakers include Rick Bass, Chris Offutt, Rae Armantrout, Alice Notley, J.H. Prynne, Lyn Hejinian, Michael Palmer, Joy Williams, Anthony Doerr, Denis Johnson, Richard Bausch and Nathaniel Mackey. For more information, contact Jacob Powers at jacobpowers@boisestate.edu.

The latest studies show that one in seven people will get breast cancer, and more than 25 percent of all new cancers in the U.S. in 2008 were breast cancers, which can metastasize to the liver, lungs, brain and bones. Jorcyk’s project focuses on Oncostatin M (OSM), a signaling molecule produced by breast cancer cells and tumor-associated cells of the immune system that plays a role in inflammation and, according to Jorcyk, may contribute to the progression and spread of tumors.

“OSM has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells, and this effect initially focused much attention on it as a potential breast cancer therapy,” Jorcyk said. “However, work in my research laboratory has suggested that OSM could actually contribute to breast tumor progression and metastasis.”

Admission is free and open to the public. Following the film, Detective Brian Holland of the Boise Police Department will talk about gang activity in Boise and lead a question-and-answer session. “Crips and Bloods: Made in America” contains scenes that may not be suitable for children.

In the southern portion of the richest city in the richest state in the United States, a civil war has been raging for more than 40 years and has claimed more than 15,000 lives. South Central Los Angeles is surrounded by the icons of California — Rodeo Drive, Hollywood and Vine, the beaches of Santa Monica, Disneyland. Yet the most violent outbreaks of civil unrest in the United States have erupted on its streets.

“Crips and Bloods: Made in America” searches for answers by providing a historical and sociological context for the rise of gang violence. Filmmaker Stacy Peralta, whose movies “Riding Giants” and “Dogtown and Z-Boys” explored the culture of young male tribes, documents the emergence of gangs and also offers insight into how the ongoing tragedy may be resolved.

Hosted during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the workshops will be presented by faculty members from Boise State, Idaho State University and University of Idaho, Boise State student affairs professionals and professionals from the community. Running from April 27-30, the panels will be held in various rooms in the Boise State Student Union Building. The sessions are free and open to the public. Parking will be available in the Lincoln Garage.

Lisa Bostaph, professor of criminal justice at Boise State and coordinator of the workshops is particularly pleased with the evening events.

“We have a series of great panels and events set up in the evening, giving those who cannot attend during the day an opportunity to take part in some quality events,” Bostaph said.

Boise State hosted the regional competition and conference April 3-4. Associated with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), it featured games that test knowledge of human resource management.

Boise State’s third-place team included Jacob Donahoo, Rachel Alverson and Heleena Burton. Andrea Buss, Alexandra Alvarez and Jennifer Wolf finished fifth. Megan Stradley was an alternate. Decateur Reed, adjunct faculty member in the Boise State Management Department, was the coach and James Pendergrass, president of Boise State’s Human Resource Association, led the conference organization effort.

California State Stanislaus won the competition by defeating last year’s champs, Fresno State, in the finals. University of Nevada Reno won the Collegiality Award. Other participants included Hawaii, San Jose State, Western Washington and Idaho State.

Held each spring and fall for more than 35 years, the Clay and Fire Sale has become a tradition for many in the Treasure Valley. The sale features hundreds of high-quality ceramic pieces, ranging from elegant to exotic, made by Boise State students, faculty and alumni. A portion of the proceeds benefits Boise State’s Visiting Artists in Ceramics program, which brings world-class artists to campus to teach students.

Admission is free.

Mouli’s winning question was: “Pula, a port city on the Adriatic Sea, is an industrial center and resort area in which country?” He correctly answered, “Croatia,” beating runner-up Helena Kirkland, a sixth grader from Moscow, and third place winner Ethan Judd, an eighth grader from Burley.

Competition for the state title involved 100 finalists in grades four through eight, all of them hoping for a shot at the top national prizes of college scholarships worth $10,000 and $15,000 and a first place package including a $25,000 scholarship and a trip to the Galapagos Islands with Alex Trebek, host of “Jeopardy” and moderator of the 2009 National Geographic Bee. But organizers insist even those who don’t take top honors benefit from being challenged to go beyond the basic curriculum.

“I have two degrees in geography, and I couldn’t compete with these kids,” said David Wilkins, an associate professor of geosciences at Boise State and director of this year’s Idaho National Geographic Bee. “What these students have learned gearing up for this competition is a foundation they can take and run with.”

For more information on the competition, visit http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee.

“We’re excited to be part of such an innovative project that illustrates the power of Idaho academic libraries working together,” said Marilyn Moody, Boise State dean of university libraries. “WorldCat Local gives Boise State faculty and students an easy way to search for all kinds of books and resources they need for their classes and research. The unique linking aspect of WorldCat Local to books, online articles, e-books and worldwide library collections makes it convenient and fast for libraries to get the items people really want and need.”

Traditional library catalogs provide access to a single library’s collection. WorldCat seamlessly accesses the collections of other Idaho libraries and more than 10,000 libraries worldwide. Combined, the libraries have more than 100 million resources waiting to be discovered. This tool integrates searching of thousands of articles, as well — many with immediate, full-text access; borrowing takes just one click.

Roth, a native of Czechoslovakia, spent much of his childhood fleeing from the Nazis and seeking shelter with people sympathetic to his family’s plights. When he was a teenager, he was sent to Auschwitz and later sent on a forced march to Buchenwald. His brother was sent to Bergen Belsen, where he died, but Roth survived in Buchenwald’s children’s camp. He was liberated in 1945 and moved to the United States in 1947, later serving in the U.S. military.

Roth has been a tireless educator about the Holocaust and the dangers of prejudice and anti-semitism. He is the director of the Holocaust Resource Center at Temple Judea of Manhasset and an adjunct professor at the University of Maine. He has received the Spirit of Anne Frank Outstanding Citizen Award from the Anne Frank Center USA for his work and for his Adopt a Survivor program. He is the co-author of “Bondi’s Brother” (written with his son, Rabbi Edward Roth) and has developed a curriculum to be taught in conjunction with “Bondi’s Brother.”

A one-credit Boise State course, presented by the Boise State Writing Project, is available for teachers in conjunction with Roth’s lecture. Coursework for the class will run from April 30-May 2. For more information on the course or the lecture, contact Writing Project Director Jeffrey Wilhelm at 433-9919 or jwilhelm@boisestate.edu or Diane Williams at 384-1903 or dwilliams@ansercharterschool.org.

The one-time program will feature scholars from Boise State discussing research on Idaho’s Latino history and a collection of one-of-a-kind historical documents that tell stories of biography, ethnicity and immigration. The program will be held at the Idaho Public Archives and Research Library at 2205 Old Penitentiary Road from 4-5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 9. The event is free and open to the public.

“The past is ever-present in Latino culture,” said Sergio Romero, assistant professor of sociology and director of Boise State’s Multi-Ethnic Studies program. “Knowledge of our past – the individual stories, family biographies, and the social and historical era these relatives lived under – gives us a greater understanding of how we got here.”

The Talking Broncos competed with some of the best forensics programs in the country at the tournament hosted by Louisiana State University in Shreveport, La. Other teams included Southwest Baptist University (the winner of 15 of the last 17 PKD nationals), Webster University, William Carey University, Bowling Green State University, the University of Oklahoma, Texas A&M University and the College of Idaho.

“This was one of the larger PKD national tournaments in recent years with 68 schools representing a cross section of the very best forensics programs in the country,” said David Bailey, director of forensics at Boise State. “The team’s strong finish in sweepstakes and the many individual awards they won in competition with the elite forensics programs represented at the tournament are indicative of the team’s outstanding dedication and work ethic. I am proud of them.”

The Maneline Dancers’ hip hop routine was choreographed by Ajhlia Hall. Boise State faced University of Oregon, California State University Fullerton, San Diego State University and in-state rival Idaho State University in this year’s finals. They entered the final round with the highest composite score, the equivalent of being the first seed in a tournament. The team has only competed in the hip hop division for the past three years. Last year they advanced to the final round for the first time and ultimately placed fourth in the nation. Coached by Julie Stevens with the assistance of Tara Batiato, the team has won four national championships in the open dance division in past years.

“This championship is a great credit to Julie, who has now overseen six national championships between cheer and dance in her career at Boise State,” said assistant cheerleader coach Jonathan Wood. “These students work hard. Seeing that day-to-day work translate into a national championship and watching their excitement as they received their trophy is something I'll never forget.”

The Boise State Cheerleaders entered the competition as the defending national champions. A strong first performance advanced them to the final round, where they squared off against Northern Kentucky University, California State University Long Beach and Loyola Marymount University. Since 2003, the cheerleaders have advanced to the final round every year, including a second-place finish in 2007 and their 2008 national championship. Their routine was choreographed by Wood. The program is also under the direction of Stevens.

Boise State University students and faculty from the College of Engineering are currently participating in NASA’s Microgravity University program. In a specially outfitted Boeing 727 (G-Force One), the research team is conducting an experiment over the course of several hours and 32 extreme parabolic maneuvers simulating Martian, lunar and zero gravity. During two flights, the team is collecting data about possible lunar surface traction concepts for rovers that will contribute to NASA’s vision of returning to the moon and establishing a permanent platform for exploring far beyond.

Photos and captions from yesterday’s flight are below and attached. Another flight is scheduled for today or tomorrow, weather depending.

Boise State team members featured in the photos are: students Dan Isla and Alex Miller, NASA mentor Pedro H. Curiel, and Barbara Morgan, former NASA astronaut and now Boise State’s distinguished educator in residence.

To learn more about Boise State’s project and the Microgravity University program, visit the team blog at http://microgravityu.blogspot.com.

To see previous press releases about the program, go to:
http://news.boisestate.edu/newsrelease/022009/0211SEEDmicrogravity.shtml
http://news.boisestate.edu/newsrelease/032009/0331microgravity.shtml.

A 90-minute performance featuring poems, songs, monologues and narrative essays will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. on April 14 in the Student Union Jordan C Ballroom. A follow-up workshop with performers Jared Paul and B. Dolan will be from noon-1 p.m. on April 15 in the Student Union Farnsworth Room.

Paul and Dolan are well respected on the slam poetry circuit and use their performances and workshops to examine the role of responsible citizens in a functioning democracy. For more information about “Direct Democracy,” call Charlie Varland at 426-2224 or charlievarland@boisestate.edu.

Sutherland and Prynne will read at 7:30 p.m. April 10 in the Student Union Bishop Barnwell Room. Prynne is closely associated with the British poetry revival, and is a life fellow of Gonville and Caius College at Cambridge. He has published 30 volumes of poetry, most of which have been collected in the 600-page anthology “Poems.” Prynne also has written numerous critical essays, all of which will be published in the forthcoming “Collected Essays” from the University of Manchester Press. In 2005, Prynne retired from teaching at the University of Cambridge and as director of studies in English at Gonville and Caius College. Prynne’s appearance at Boise State will be one of his first public readings in the United States since 1968.

Sutherland is the author of several published books of poetry, including “Hot White Andy.” He completed his bachelor’s degree at Cambridge in 1997 before becoming the Joseph Hodges Choate Fellow at Harvard University. Sutherland later returned to Cambridge to complete his doctorate. He is the editor of the journal “QUID” and co-editor of Barque Press. He is currently a lecturer at the University of Sussex.

The training is particularly relevant for those who have been, or may be, dislocated from their jobs, and who might want to pursue an entrepreneurial venture. The sessions will address the skills needed and the resources available to plan and run a business. In addition to the training programs, the Idaho SBDC staff will provide experienced consulting services for entrepreneurs.

The program’s content and delivery is designed for managers and owners. Participants leave with new methods and tools to execute enterprise-wide and help in making strategic decisions in a turbulent marketplace. They learn from business experts and practice decision-making through an online, team-based business simulation.

The early bird rate is $4,450 (a $300 discount) and includes a private room, most meals and all managerial assessments and instructional materials. For more information or to apply, call (208) 426-3485, email tse@boisestate.edu or visit http://cpd.boisestate.edu/tse.html

Today’s flight and another tomorrow come after nearly a week of orientation and training at NASA’s Ellington Field, the Johnson Space Center and the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, all in Houston, Texas. Boise State team members on the G-Force One plane today are: students Dan Isla and Alex Miller, NASA mentor Pedro H. Curiel, and Barbara Morgan, former NASA astronaut and now Boise State’s distinguished educator in residence. The students, assisted by Curiel, are testing the traction of custom wheel designs in a lunar dust-like substance in the hope of helping NASA engineers address anticipated challenges in building better rovers for missions to the moon and Mars. On Wednesday, Boise State engineering professor Jim Browning will assist students Mallory Yates, Ryan Bedell and Kyle Knori in completing the experiment.

“We Shall Remain” includes film screenings, workshops and discussions about issues relating to Native American culture. This year’s event will also include Native American Student Recruitment Day on April 10; the Intertribal Native Council is reaching out to five Idaho reservations to encourage students to learn more about thriving in higher education.

The week will wrap up with the powwow, an annual event featuring traditional music and dancing, competitions, storytelling and more. The two-day event is open to the entire community.

All “We Shall Remain” events are free and include:

• Screening of “Trudell.” 5 p.m. April 6, Boise State Student Union Brink Room. Filmmaker Heather Rae will be on hand to discuss the documentary she created about Native American activist John Trudell.

• Historical Impact of the “S” Word: From One Generation to the Next. 5 p.m. April 7, Student Union Brink Room. Facilitated by Sonya Rosario.

The Boise Master Chorale will perform at 7:30 p.m. April 3 at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa and at 2 p.m. April 5 at the Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise. Admission is $15 general and free for students with ID. Tickets are available through http://boisemasterchorale.net or by calling Jirak at 426-4101.

Theodorou is the associate professor of music and director of choral activities for the Department of Music. He and his wife, soprano Megan Starr-Levitt, will perform in the season finale, “Music for All Ages.” The duo will sing in John Rutter’s “Mass for the Children” along with the Master Chorale and the Capital City Children’s Choir. Starr-Levitt is currently performing in “Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular.”

• The sixth annual Art Metals Silent Auction from April 1-25 at R. Grey Jewelry Gallery at 415 S. 8th St. in Boise is organized by the Boise State art metals program. An opening reception will be held from 5-9 p.m. April 2 at the gallery. Fifteen wearable works of art were created by intermediate and advanced art metals students, who selected this year’s theme of “Change/Hope.” The students worked collaboratively, exchanging the pieces every 45 minutes. The proceeds from the auction will be used to purchase new tools for the art metals program and to pay for visiting artists. For more information, contact Anika Smulovitz at 426-4060 or anikasmulovitz@boisestate.edu.

• Red Circle Press is hosting a silent auction of prints from April 1-30 at the Flying M Coffeehouse, 500 W. Idaho St. in Boise. The auction features hand-pulled and photographic prints, including etching, woodcut, linocut, polyester plate lithography, serigraphy and digital work. Red Circle Press’ membership base consists of students, faculty and community members. The press organizes print exchanges between other presses and facilitates exhibitions. The proceeds from the auction will be used to invite visiting artists to present workshops and share their research. For more information, e-mail Benjamin Love at b.morganlove@gmail.com.

Hosted by Boise State’s Canadian Studies Program and Department of Political Science, Canada Week is a celebration of Idaho’s relationship with its northern neighbor in a series of business, cultural, educational, political and social events.

Officials and academics from both sides of the border will gather on the Boise State campus for the four-day conference to discuss a wide range of issues that affect the relationship between the United States and its largest trading partner. The program is part of Boise State’s internationalization initiative.

“A truck goes across the U.S.-Canada border every two seconds as $1.6 billion in trade takes place every day,” said Lori Hausegger, Boise State political science professor and co-director of Canada Week. “Canada Week is an opportunity to explore some of the issues important to both countries and to examine the similarities and differences that impact the relationship, while underlining its importance for our students and the community.”

All events are free and the public is invited to attend:

Rockman is a contemporary artist known for his paintings depicting the precarious relationship between man and nature; his works examine how our culture perceives and interacts with plants and animals, and the role culture plays in influencing the direction of natural history. For his futuristic landscapes, Rockman consults with biologists, zoologists and paleontologists and has done field work in remote locations such as the rainforests of Guyana.

— March 31, Boise, Associated General Contractors, 1649 West Shoreline Drive, Suite 100

— April 1, Idaho Falls, Idaho Falls Public Library, 457 West Broadway

— April 14, Post Falls, North Idaho College Workforce Training Center, 525 W. Clearwater Loop

The multi-sector general permit regulates the discharge of storm water from industrial facilities in 29 different industrial sectors. Any facility with outdoor activities that are exposed to precipitation may be subject to these regulations. Examples include auto salvage and recycling facilities, mines, forest product operations, asphalt and concrete plants, and transportation facilities.

This week, the Talking Broncos will compete in the Pi Kappa Delta National Forensics Tournament (PKD) in Shreveport, La. Up to 65 schools will compete for the national title March 19-21, with more than 1,300 individual speech event entries and around 500 debate team entries.

The meet in Spokane focused the team on the national meet, coaches said.

“We as the coaching staff were proud of the fact that this was truly a team victory – every person contributed to the successful outing,” said David Bailey, director of forensics at Boise State. “The tournament also showed us a few areas where we need to improve in the short week prior to PKD Nationals.”

The Talking Broncos encountered strong competition from eleven other Northwest schools including: Carroll College, the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, the University of Montana, Lower Columbia College, and Linfield College.

The $2,065,000 appropriation comes as a result of efforts by Congressman Mike Simpson, who secured more than $1.4 million through the Department of Energy, and Senator Mike Crapo, who secured $665,000 through the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the project.

“This project will create jobs, save money and provide a clean, renewable and efficient source of energy to Boise State for years to come,” Mayor Bieter said. “We all owe a debt of gratitude to Congressman Simpson and Senator Crapo for making this project a reality.”

“Geothermal heating encourages Boise State’s already strong commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainability and economic judiciousness,” Kustra said. “Another benefit is the hands-on research opportunities it affords for our students and faculty as we explore clean energy development. We thank the Idaho delegation, particularly Senator Crapo and Representative Simpson and the City of Boise for spearheading this project.”

Brian Wampler, an associate professor of political science, is one of approximately 1,100 U.S. university faculty members who will travel abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.

Wampler will spend the 2009-2010 academic year conducting research, teaching and lecturing at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Wampler, who is fluent in Portuguese, will team-teach graduate political science classes with UFMG faculty members and conduct research on how civic groups in a democratic society access their government.

Wampler’s family, including his wife Paula and two young children will travel and live in Brazil with him for the duration of his stay. Sebastian (5) and Ginger (3) will enroll in Portuguese-language pre-school.

“This award allows me to extend a decade-long research project,” Wampler said. “I will be investigating how community leaders and citizens use different paths to interact with their local elected officials. I have lived in Brazil for three years, so this opportunity allows me to contribute to the education of Brazilian students and the Brazilian academic community.”

Her first book of poetry, “My Life,” has been reprinted five times since 1980. Her recent works include “Saga/Circus,” “A Border Comedy,” “Slowly,” “The Beginner” and “The Fatalist.” A collection of her essays, “The Language of Inquiry,” was published in 2000. In 2007, Hejinian was elected a chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. She teaches at the University of California-Berkeley.

Free and open to the public, the MFA Reading Series brings nationally renowned authors and poets to the Boise State campus. Past speakers include Rick Bass, Chris Offutt, Rae Armantrout, Alice Notley, Michael Palmer, Joy Williams, Anthony Doerr, Denis Johnson, Richard Bausch and Nathaniel Mackey. For more information, contact Jacob Powers at 426-2669 or jacobpowers@boisestate.edu.

• March 30-April 2: Educational display on the life of Chavez, Student Union Atrium.

• March 30: Screening of part one of the film “Chicano!” from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Student Union Bishop Barnwell Room.

• March 31: Birthday cake and a performance by Danza Azteca Queztacoatl, a 16-member dance troupe wearing traditional and historical regalia, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on the Quad. Part two of “Chicano!” will be screened from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Student Union Farnsworth Room.

• April 1: Part three of “Chicano!” from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Student Union Forum.

• April 2: “Identity Development of Latin@s” workshop, 10:30 a.m. in Business Building Room B102B.

“That’s why alternative energy is not yet as predictable and financially viable,” said Todd Haynes, a Boise State research engineer on the project along with lead researcher and professor Paul Dawson and engineering graduate students Alan Russell and Kevin Nuss. “We’re asking how we can better integrate intermittent renewables onto the grid and maximize utilization in a cost-effective way.”

Such goals are in line with the Obama administration’s pledge to double U.S. renewable energy production within the next three years. One of the key players hoping to help meet that challenge is Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), a federal agency that operates most of the high-voltage transmission in the Northwest and provides about half the electricity used in the region. The potential for wind power in BPA territory is huge, and Boise State’s yearlong project is among a handful the agency is funding to address issues of forecasting and storage.

Tickets are available by calling Select-a-Seat at 426-1494 or visiting http://idahotickets.com. Ticket packages are available for multiple concerts and are offered at a discount — an all-events ticket package is $150.

• The 2009 festival will get underway with “The Three Pianists: A Gene Harris Legacy Concert.” This fundraising performance, memorializing Harris’ name and his music, will be presented at 7 p.m. April 1 in the Stueckle Sky Center, with social hour beginning at 6 p.m. Pianists Pat Coil, Mark Levine and Chuck Smith will play jazz inspired by Harris’ musical journey and explore its influence on jazz pianists today. Night club seating will be limited to 400 and admission will be $100; the tax-deductible funds raised from this event will support both the operating budget of the festival and the Gene Harris Jazz Festival Endowment, providing scholarships for students demonstrating artistic potential.

The Idaho Small Business Development Center, headquartered at Boise State University, has released its annual impact report for 2008 that measures the success of the Idaho SBDC in its efforts to assist the state’s small businesses.

The report shows that Idaho SBDC clients added jobs at 9.6 times the average rate for Idaho small businesses with a total of 1,175 jobs created or saved in 2008. Sales increased $107 million for Idaho SBDC clients, and those clients generated $7 million in additional state and federal tax revenues. Overall, for every $1 invested in the program there was a return of $7.38 to the state’s economy.

“The importance of Boise State’s focus on bolstering the Idaho economy becomes more important every day,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra. “These numbers show that the Small Business Development Center is creating real jobs and provides a significant return on the investment. We’re proud to be part of programs and partnerships like these that will help Idaho business lead our economy back to health.”

The politics of environmental health and pharmaceutical safety will be the focus of the three-day conference, which will include discussions and presentations on water policy, urban pesticides, rabies management, ground water monitoring for pharmaceuticals and food safety, among others.

Doug Farquhar, program director of environmental health for the National Conference of State Legislatures, will be the keynote speaker.

The residential leadership development program is designed for high-potential managers and business owners. An early registration discount is available until April 3.

Successful leaders do more than manage functions; they lead people, define and implement strategies, and achieve results. The program’s content and delivery is designed for managers and owners who want or need to develop a broader-based understanding of the different business functions and how the business forces interact. Participants leave with new methods and tools to execute enterprise-wide and make strategic decisions that affect their businesses in a turbulent marketplace.

Presentations by business experts and practice in decision-making through an online team competition and business simulation prepare participants to lead through the critical changes that affect today’s business environment.

“We are so proud of our team,” said Katy Jibben, assistant director of forensics at Boise State. “Everyone has worked incredibly hard over the course of several tournaments, and being designated a Gold Medal Program is a direct result of their dedication, effort, and enthusiasm for our program.”

Team member Regan Charlton (Junior, Inkom) took second place in the coach’s commemorative overall open division speaker standings – an impressive achievement given that every open division competitor in the three designated tournaments is automatically entered into the standings based upon their performance.

The Northwest Forensics Conference is an association of the 42 colleges and universities in the Northwest region that compete in intercollegiate forensics.

As is the tradition with the First Year Read, incoming first-year students will receive the book during their orientation this summer and are expected to read it in preparation for the fall. “Run” is the first novel that has been selected during the four years the program has been in existence at Boise State.

“I was struck by the manner in which the story integrates compassion for our fellow travelers into a number of its themes,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra. “It is a resounding affirmation of the role character can play in shaping the lives of friends and family. We all have something to learn from Ann Patchett’s story.”

The novel is set over a period of 24 hours and takes readers from the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard to a home for retired Catholic priests in downtown Boston. It shows how worlds of privilege and poverty can coexist only blocks apart from each other, and how family can include people you’ve never even met. As in her bestselling novel “Bel Canto,” Patchett illustrates the humanity that connects disparate lives, weaving several stories into one surprising and endlessly moving narrative. “Run” is ultimately a novel about secrets, duty, responsibility and the lengths we will go to protect our children.

All total, more than 2,400 pounds of food were donated and over $2,600 in cash and online contributions were collected. Members of the Boise State campus community, as well as alumni and friends of the university, donated to the food drive Feb. 12-25. The Idaho Foodbank estimates the food and cash donated will provide approximately 9,675 meals.

“We came together as a university community to help make a positive impact on Idaho families, many of them confronting the issue of hunger for the first time in their lives,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra. “Thanks to the outpouring of support for this food drive, we are helping put food on the table and a spirit of hope in the hearts of many people during this time of economic uncertainty.”

Non-perishable food items were dropped off at barrel locations across campus and monetary donations were made online from the Boise State Web site and in person. All donations benefit The Idaho Foodbank, which provides food to agencies and organizations that help feed the hungry in Idaho.

Two barrels full of dog and cat food were also collected during the Valentine’s Food Drive for the Pet Food Pantry, a joint effort by several local organizations — including The Idaho Foodbank, Meals on Wheels and the Idaho Humane Society — to provide dog and cat food for families and individuals in need of assistance.

The center will serve as a permanent coordinating entity for all COBE outreach efforts, including the Idaho Small Business Development Center, TechHelp, TECenter, Centre for Creativity and Innovation, Idaho Council on Economic Education, Center for Entrepreneurship, and The Economic Forecast Project. The center is a permanent incarnation of a COBE initiative announced in January to help 200 Treasure Valley businesses weather the down economy this spring. Businesses can call one number, (208) 426-4950, and be connected with the appropriate resources to address their needs.

“Boise State’s role as a resource and repository of expertise for the region is more vital than ever as we all work toward the recovery of the economy,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra. “We’re working very hard to ensure that businesses and organizations can benefit from the deep pool of knowledge our faculty can offer. This center is one of many ways Boise State is focusing on helping local business lead us out of this recession.”

As part of CAES, the EPI is made up of policy researchers and educators from the four CAES institutions: Boise State, Idaho State University, the University of Idaho and Idaho National Laboratory. Its inaugural summit is dedicated to prompting discussion and identification of current and future energy challenges and opportunities facing the region. The public is invited to join state and local legislators, researchers, policy experts, energy practitioners and students in learning more about Idaho’s energy challenges from diverse perspectives.

“We’re very excited to add Elizabeth to our staff here at Boise State Radio,” said John Hess, general manager of Boise State Radio. “She has a comprehensive knowledge of our broadcast region and understands that our listeners really need in-depth local news coverage. She definitely has the experience and skills to lead our news team toward this important goal.”

• Keynote speech by Rudolfo Chavez-Chavez: 7 p.m. March 5, Liberal Arts Building, Room 106. Chavez-Chavez is an education professor at New Mexico State University. He specializes in critical multicultural education, curriculum theory/foundations, equity and social justice inquiry.

• Keynote presentations: Herman Garcia at 8:30 a.m. and Alma Gomez at 3:30 p.m. March 6 at the Hispanic Cultural Center in Nampa.

• Workshops: March 6-7 at the Hispanic Cultural Center. The workshops for students and parents will include lunch and an evening “conjunto” on Friday featuring the C-Town Boys.

• Keynote presentation by Roberto Maestas: 9 a.m. March 7, Hispanic Cultural Center.

For more information, call 426-5950 or visit http://culturalcenter.boisestate.edu.

“These results show that if we continue to dedicate ourselves to the craft and further develop our techniques, we should be major contenders once again at the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament next month,” said team member Ben Bishop (senior, Meridian).

The Talking Broncos encountered stiff competition from the other 16 schools in attendance, including: Pacific University, Clark College, Mt. Hood Community College, George Fox University, the University of Portland, Lower Columbia College, the College of Southern Idaho and host Oregon State.

This year marked the 22nd consecutive running of the largest construction competition for college students in the world. More than 950 competitors participated on 160 teams from 37 universities and 16 states. Boise State entered teams in eight divisions (Heavy Civil, Design Build, Commercial, Residential, Marine, Preconstruction, LEED and Risk Management), competing against top schools such as Arizona State University, Colorado State University, Brigham Young University, University of Washington, Oregon State University, Cal Poly, UC Berkeley and Virginia Tech.

An opening reception will take place from 6-8 p.m. March 6 to celebrate Hamilton’s work and an additional student juried exhibition, “Reflex.” The reception is free and open to the public, and free parking will be available during the reception in the lot between the Liberal Arts Building and the Special Events Center.

Amanda Hamilton is an assistant professor of drawing and painting at Northwest Nazarene University. Her new photographs and video reference the phenomena of the disappearance of White Lake in Bolotnikovo, Russia, in May 2005.

“Scientists and geologists announced that (the disappearance of White Lake) was a logical explanation due to a series of underground caves that collapsed,” Hamilton wrote in her artist’s statement. And yet the real effect was a reminder that nature is far more mysterious, dangerous and volatile than we admit to each day.”

“On behalf of Boise State University, we are saddened by the passing of Lois Chaffee and express our sincere condolences to the family,” said Bob Kustra, president of Boise State. “She was the First Lady of Boise State for 30 years and an unwavering advocate of the school. Boise State has become the university it is today in part due to Lois Chaffee’s dedication to its students, faculty and staff.”

Successful managers do more than manage functions; they lead people, define and implement strategies and achieve results. The program’s content and delivery are designed for managers who want or need to develop a broader-based understanding of different business functions and how they work together in order to be more successful. Participants leave with new methods and tools to execute enterprise-wide in a turbulent marketplace.

The students have planned an exciting evening beginning with a buffet-style dinner with dishes from around the world. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices will be available, and dessert also will be served.

Summer classes start May 18 with the first three-week session. Five-week, eight-week, second five-week and 10-week sessions continue through mid-August. Classes are scheduled during the day, evening and on weekends.