Each year, outstanding students at the University of Minnesota are honored with awards for their acheivements in academics, leadership and service. This spring, six CFANS students were awarded the prestigious The President's Student Leadership and Service Award to honor their accomplishments, invaluable leadership and service contributions to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and the community.

Students who are nominated for this award are required to portray how their engagement experiences have affected their growth and development related to the University's Student Development Outcomes. The Student Development Outcomes outline the critical elements of a student's success. Successful students at the University of Minnesota learn and grow in these seven areas:

1. Responsibility and Accountability
2. Independence and Interdependence
3. Goal Orientation
4. Self Awareness
5. Resilience
6. Appreciation of Differences
7. Tolerance of Ambiguity

Congratulations to the six CFANS students who have been awarded the 2011 President's Student Leadership Award!

Anna Eggen (Sr.) - Agricultural and Food Bus Management
Caitlin Kasper (Sr.) - Agricultural Education
Dan Helvig (Sr.) - Agricultural Education
Hannah Rusch (Sr.) - Environmental Science, Policy and Management
Jason Kaare (Sr.) - Agricultural Education
Jessica Bubert (Sr.) - Applied Plant Science

Lately I have been very busy planning an event for a student group I am involved in called the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). I am currently the vice president and have been involved in the organization for two years. 

PRSSA is a national student-run society existing to develop students into responsible, ethical and professional public relations practitioners by building upon course work and personal experiences. Its mission is to serve members by enhancing their knowledge of public relations and providing access to professional development opportunities.

PRSSA is an extension of the professional organization, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Students that are interested in public relations, communication, journalism, or marketing usually get involved in PRSSA. Members have the opportunity to enhance their education, broaden their networks, and launch their careers. Ultimately it helps bridge the gap between college and a public relations career.

Here are some of the things our chapter does throughout the year:

Professional development - One of the best parts of being a member of PRSSA are the many professional development events and activities throughout the year. The Activities Committee plans company tours around the Twin Cities, networking events with local professionals, leadership retreats with the Minnesota PRSA chapter, guest speakers, resume workshops, and more. This year we went to Chicago for a weekend to tour companies and meet professionals!

Real PR experience - We have our very own firm called 'fusion' that works on public relations projects similar to what you would experience at a job or internship. It has real clients in the Twin Cities, such as Cliche, a clothing boutique in Uptown Minneapolis and Homegrown Lacrosse, a local non-profit organization. The philanthropy committee also has clients, but strictly works with cause-related organizations. 

Writing practice - Writing is a very important part of public relations and communications. The Link is our chapter blog in which members write blog posts about current events, job opportunities, and more. Check it out at http://mnprssa.blogspot.com/. Students also pratice writing for the web and social media within the internal and external communication committees.

Learn more about PRSSA at http://mnprssa.org/ or http://sua.umn.edu/groups/directory/show.php?id=631.

As noted in one of my most recent posts, this Saturday, the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences will be hosting "Classes without Quizzes". The keynote speaker for the event will be Marla Spivak. Marla is a world-renowned expert on bees and recent recipient of a MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant.

Here is a brief overview of her address: 

"Promoting the health of bee pollinators is beneficial in our environment. This can begin as an individual or local endeavor; however, one thing is clear, we need to support the health and diversity of bee pollinators. But why? Professor Spivak explains". 

This year's recipients of the Siehl Prize in Agriculture include an innovative farmer who is known worldwide for his conservation practices, a steadfast leader in the agribusiness finance industry, and a longtime voice of agriculture in southwestern Minnesota. Recipients are chosen for three categories: knowledge (teaching, research and outreach), production agriculture, and agribusiness.

Each winner (or "laureate") receives a monetary award of $50,000 and a beautiful granite and glass sculpture. The Siehl Prize is named in honor of philanthropist Eldon Siehl, a successful Minnesota businessman who wanted to educate the general public about where their food came from and to provide recognition for the dedicated people who make it their life's work.

This year's winners are:

Wallace "Wally" Nelson (knowledge): Mr. Nelson was the original superintendent at what is now the Southwest Minnesota Research and Outreach Center near Lamberton was a tireless advocate for putting agricultural research to work for farmers. He led the research center for nearly 40 years, contributing to important breakthroughs in corn management, hail damage, soils and drainage.

James "Tony" Thompson (production agriculture): Mr. Thompson is a Windom, Minn. farmer who manages his family's nearly 5,000 acres to produce bountiful, profitable crops while carefully conserving the farm's soil and water. He's opened his home and farm to hundreds of researchers and scientists who want to learn more about agro-ecology.

Paul DeBriyn (agribusiness): Mr. DeBriyn is the president and CEO of AgStar Financial Services. He took over a struggling agricultural lender in the 1980s and built it into an industry leader. In addition to his business success, DeBriyn has been a leader in advocating for agriculture, in developing leadership and scholarship programs, and in helping rural economies thrive.

The recipients were announced today as part of the celebration of National Ag Week. They will be honored at a ceremony on May 26 on the University campus.

U of M students are doing great things in their communities and around the world!

Megan Meyer, U of M dental therapy student, has devoted her life to A Hand in Health. This is the international nonprofit organization that she founded five years ago. Meyer created this organization in response to the many mission trips she has experienced in places such as Mexico and Gambia, Africa. Through working with patients during surgery at the Sulayman Junkung General Hospital in Gambia, Meyer was inspired to continuously help people less fortunate than herself. Now, she is an inspiration to other University of Minnesota students!

Since its founding, A Hand in Health has aquired 20 volunteers. Meyer has recently began a project to send one million books to the Gambian people. Currently, there is only one book per 1,000 citizens in this small, poverty-stricken nation. A Hand in Health, partnering with Books for Africa, has already delivered 7,500 books to create the first community library in Gambia. This service will undoubtedly benefit the children of Africa, and will improve the current 40.1 percent literacy rate of Gambia.

Meyer's life-long commitment to community service sets an amazing example for other students. She has proved that one person can make a huge difference, no matter how old (or young) you are! To learn more about Megan Meyer and A Hand in Health, check out this Minnesota Daily article. For even more information on this success story, visit the the 1 Million Books for Gambia blog, or the Books for Africa website.

The University of Minnesota offers great opportunities to develop academically, personally and professionally. Whether students are seeking a job for a little spending money or are ready to kickstart their careers, the University of Minnesota is a great place to work!

Student jobs can also be a great way to build professional skills, gain valuable experience in your field, and explore potential careers. As a student, I worked for the Office of Admissions as a customer relations representative, which eventually led to my current position as the College of Liberal Arts admissions counselor. My job with Admissions was one of my best college experiences!

The University is dedicated to developing professionals in their student workforce and recognizes students for their outstanding service. For example, each year the Outstanding Student Employee Recognition Awards honor about 10 percent of undergraduate student employees. The awards are awarded annually to recognize our outstanding student employees. That is a great honor to be able to put on a resumé talk or about during an interview! 

Employers at the University of Minnesota recognize that students are students first, and employees second. They will work around your class schedule and are often flexible during finals weeks or if you have an upcoming project or test. You can check out some of the employment opportunities at the University's Employment website where you can search by title, position category, location, and more!

Name: Yefei Jin
Hometown: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Major(s): Theatre and Asian Languages & Literatures
Year in School: Junior, Class of 2012

Colleges and universities he considered: As a high school senior, Yefei's top choices for college included the University of Minnesota, the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Hope College, and Yale University.

Why he chose the U of M:
"I chose the University of Minnesota for its prime location in a metropolitan area and the abundance of opportunities provided by its thriving artistic community. After visiting the campus, I discovered the strong academic and creative connections the university had with the local community. As a student pursuing the mechanisms for creating social change, the combination of service learning projects and academic rigor made the University of Minnesota the best choice for me."

How Yefei is involved at the U of M:
"I'm currently involved in multiple creative projects as well as student groups on campus, both of which motivate my academics and career goals. I'm in the process of writing a play for my senior project next year, called 'Atsumori in San Francisco.' As a student playwright, director, and actor, I've performed original pieces on campus for open audiences and student groups. As a board member of the Korean Student Association, I also seek to engage with the multicultural student body on campus. And finally, this summer, I will also be serving first year students as an Orientation Leader."

The highlight of his U of M experience so far:
"My U of M experience has taken me beyond what I could ever have imagined. My experiences on and off campus in theatre, education, and leadership development have been absolutely inspiring. I owe much of my passion to peers and faculty for offering me the support and insight for my creative development. At this point in my collegiate career, I have secured a strong mission statement along with the tools to challenge injustices."

His advice to future U of M students:
"Join organizations!!! Here you will find not the students who think like you, but those with similar passions. Some of these students will be your lifelong peers. As you pursue your interests, important relationships will form and with collaborating in student organizations, prepare to be amazed at how much you can learn!"

I love history and trivia. For my most recent post, I thought it would be fun to highlight some fun facts and trivia about Minnesota.

• On September 2, 1952, the world's first successful open-heart surgery was performed at the University of Minnesota.
• Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is the largest urban sculpture garden in the country.
• Minnesota has more Fortune 500 companies per capita than any other state in the country.
• Minnesota was the "Flour-milling capital of the world" from the 1880's through the 1930's.
• Minnesota has 90,000 miles of shoreline, more than California, Florida and Hawaii combined.
• The Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota in the largest Federal forest in the lower 48 states.
• Minnesota has one recreational boat per every six people, more than any other state.

I hope you all enjoyed some fun facts about Minnesota. Interested in visiting? Schedule your U of M campus visit today, and while you are here, explore the Twin Cities! Check out our Twin Cities Guide for Campus Visitors.

*All facts provided by minnesotafunfacts.com

Attention admitted students!

If you have not already done so, don't forget to register for the College of Liberal Arts Open House. The event will be held this Saturday, March 26 on the University of Minnesota campus. You can get more information about the event and register online at https://www.class.umn.edu/secure/cla_open_house/. I hope to see you there!

One factor that greatly impacted my decision to study at the University of Minnesota was its convenient location in the heart of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Situated on the outskirts of downtown Minneapolis, students at U of M are only minutes away from the great opportunities and entertainment that our vibrant metropolis has to offer.

Minneapolis skyline from the University's East Bank

In June 2010, Forbes Magazine has ranked Minneapolis as one of the Best Cities for Young Professionals. In article, Forbes highlights that Minneapolis is a very affordable city to live with good job prospects and larger-than-average incomes. "Minneapolis is a place where college grads can get a strong start on high-powered careers," said the article.

And just this month, Forbes Magazine ranked Minneapolis the Best City for Finding Employment. The article emphasizes that Minneapolis has a low unemployment rate with a diversity of job opportunities. In addition, Minneapolis offers a "high quality of life with a relatively low cost of living while being one of the major metropolitan centers of the Midwest."

There are many factors to consider during the college search process. When I was making my decision, the great location of the University of Minnesota was a deciding factor. Check out some of my other post on why the Twin Cities are such a place to live, study, and play!

- Twin Cities public transportation voted among best in US 

- Sing, Dance, and Live the Twin Cites Music Scene 

- Biking on campus and around the Twin Cities

It's hard to believe, but once again, it's time for midterms! This is always one of the busiest parts of my semester. It's times like these that I'm thankful to have a campus with so many student academic resources. Here are a few that I frequently use when I needs some support

SMART Learning Commons

SMART Learning Commons, on the second floor of Walter Library, is amazing. I spent a great deal of time there last semester when I needed help with calculus. Peer learning consultants are always available for walk-in appointments regarding almost any subject. These tutors are awesome; I have never had a bad experience with any one of them! By following the link, you are also able to find group study sessions, online resources, and more. I highly recommend checking it out.

Center for Writing

The Center for Writing offers support for any type of term paper or writing assignment you may have. It is really easy to set up an appointment with a consultant. These appointments can be either face-to-face or online, and they are super helpful! The Center for Writing is located in Nicholson Hall.

Breakout Rooms

Sometimes, all you need to study is a quiet space and some time to think without distractions. My favorite spot to do this is a Carlson School of Management breakout room, which you can reserve in advance for your own study time. However, there are lots of other great places to study on campus, such as Walter and Wilson Libraries. That's the beauty of this campus. Good luck on your midterms!

As a former U of M student and as a working professional, one of my favorite qualities of the University of Minnesota was its location. The Twin Cities campus is located in a large metropolitan area with great opportunities to get involved in the campus community and the Twin Cities community through jobs, internships, volunteer opportunities and student groups. The Twin Cities not only offers great opportunities for you to gain valuable experiences, but also tons of opportuntities to enjoy your four years as an undergraduate student.

Located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, our campus draws in performers, entertainers, and lecturers such as President Barack Obama, Bob Dylan and fomer Vice President Al Gore. Even the Dalai Lama is set to come this May. And if you are a Sarah Silverman fan, next Wednesday would be a great time to come to campus. She will be performing in Ted Mann Hall on Wednesday, March 23. Tickets are still available, so if you are interested check out more information about her show.

With so many events on campus you might think its hard to keep up-to-date on campus happenings, but the University's Events Calendar is a great resource to learn what's happening on campus today and each month.

With so many opportunities to get involved in activities and enjoy world-class entertainment, the Twin Cities campus is a great place for a college education!

The College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) will be hosting "Classes without Quizzes" on April 2nd on our St. Paul Campus. Honeybees, garden remedies, lawn care, healthy eating, tax policy, water quality, sustainable buying, and threats to the global food supply are among the featured topics this year.

Experts from CFANS will be presenting mini-seminars available to the general public. This is an opportunity for students of all ages to learn from top faculty and experts. The event will run from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by an optional lunch.

The event costs $30.00 for the general public, $10.00 for K-12 and U of M Students, and $25.00 for U of M Alumni Association Members.

Here is information on the different topics and seminars available.

Register online here!

I am very pleased to say that the University of Minnesota has opened a one-of-a-kind facility right here on our St. Paul campus. The U of M recently launched the first Animal Trauma Center in the nation, which is based on the human model for clinical trauma care. This Trauma Center is primarily designed for cats and dogs for injuries such as moving vehicle accidents, major falls, bite wounds, and smoke or chemical inhalation.

"Most animal hospitals are equipped to handle common animal emergencies during regular office hours, and a number of emergency clinics in the Twin Cities extend those services beyond normal hours," said Dr. David Lee, director of the Veterinary Medical Center. "The University of Minnesota's Animal Trauma Center is unique in that we're able to quickly mobilize the critical resources needed to meet the needs of trauma patients. Just as in human medicine, not every practice or emergency clinic needs the ability to handle trauma cases - but a large metro area can benefit from having a designated center to serve the region."

You can read more about the Animal Trauma Center here.

Thank you to all of you that have been following my blog throughout this year! Every week, I have tried to post intersting events, activities, and information about the College of Biological Sciences and the University of Minnesota.

If you enjoy my blog, be sure to check out BioBlog as well. BioBlog is a blog that concentrates on posting current news, information and event specifically in the College of Biological Sciences. Some recent posts include student job postings, faculty discussions, research symposiums.

One of the most recent posts on BioBlog is advertising an open discussion with Dr. Mark Borello, a professor in the College of Biological Sciences. This week, Dr. Borello will be talking about altruistic behavior and biological clues to human morality at Bryant Lake Bowl. Meet Dr. Borello yourself at Bryant Lake Bowl in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis to join his discussion on "unselfish genes." Or check out my previous post on Dr. Borello's new book on the history of the evolutionary debate.

Being a student at the University of Minnesota definitely has its perks. I would say one of my favorites is discounts on tickets and admission to events. Not only do students receive discounts for all the Golden Gopher sporting events, campus concerts, and special events, we also get great deals at places in the Twin Cities. Check out some of the deals offered through Student Unions & Activities:

Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild is the National Hockey League team here in the Twin Cities. I am a huge hockey fan and an even bigger Wild fan. It is so much fun to go to Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul and cheer on the team in the great state of hockey. (And students save over $54 on tickets!)

Minnesota Zoo
The Minnesota Zoo is one of the top zoos in the nation. There are over 2,400 animals to see, including 15 endangered species. The zoo is open year round and is the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Loring Theater
The Loring Theater is a historical, performing arts theater on Nicollet Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. There are always a variety of stellar performers lined up. See anything from world renown musical artists to hilarious comedians.

Water Park of America
Water Park of America is located right outside of the Twin Cities nearby the Mall of America. The water park houses Minnesota's only surf simulator pool and America's longest indoor raft ride. There are also tons of water slides, a wave pool, arcade, and a spa. I know where I am having my next birthday party!

Minnesota State Fair
The Minnesota State Fair, often referred to as "The Great Minnesota Get Together," is one of the best celebrations of the year. It happens at the end of August, right before school begins. There is just about every type of food you can think of (on a stick, of course!), concerts, petting zoos, rides, and more. There is something for everyone to enjoy at the state fair and we Minnesotans love it!

This is just a small sampling of the events and tickets discounted for students. Visit the Student Unions & Activities website for a listing of all of the discounts available.

The winter 2011 edition of Solutions, the College of Food Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) official magazine, will be arriving in subscribers' mailboxes soon. The latest version of the magazine includes stories about how climate change can be tracked via polar bear counting; how high-tunnel research has evolved; a project that shows how Twin Cities household habits affect pollutants; and a follow-up to professor Paul Porter's bicycle trip across Africa.

CFANS publishes this wonderful magazine a number of times throughout each year. This magazine highlights the numerous exciting things that our students, faculty, and alumni are doing. You can check out some of the magazine's stories on the CFANS website.

Jamie Millard, Regan Smith and Meghan Suszynski, three recent graduates of the College of Liberal Arts, will be debuting their third issue of Paper Darts, a local literary magazine, this Saturday! The magazine, which incorporates artwork, literary submissions, and poetry from local artists (and artists as far away as Belgium!), combines all different forms of art and interweaves them in a full-size, colorful magazine and an interactive website.

The trio first met while working together on a couple of literary magazines including the Ivory Tower, the U of M's literary magazine, and Alive Magazine. As students at the University of Minnesota they were able to explore their interests in publishing and develop their professional skills through coursework and student groups.

Read more about Paper Darts in a recent Star Tribune article.

Students in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition are frequently involved in research projects focused on food and nutrition. This offers students the opportunity to get some great hands-on research experience, while giving other U of M students the opportunity to be paid to eat food! These research sessions range from a short 30-minute research project to long-term projects where panelists earn $10.00 per hour.

One recent project consisted of a lunch where panelists tasted different foods, and then had a videotaped conversation about how the panelists feel about the food and its taste.

In another recent project, students taste-tested foreign snack foods. Then, they rated the snack foods based on taste, and completed a questionnaire. This whole experience took about 15 minutes, and the panelists were each paid $7.00. Once you have become a student here at the U of M, you can sign up to receive emails about the different food and nutrition studies happening around campus.

Visit the Department of Food Science and Nutrition to learn more!

If you're looking for a competitive way to get involved and have fun at the University of Minnesota, you may want to join one of the 25 different sport clubs organized here by other students. The many offerings include almost everything, ranging from ballroom dance to rugby to kung fu! By joining a sport club, you can either enhance your skills in a club you already love, or learn about an activity that you have never tried before. Team members frequently compete against other intercollegiate teams. Some sports hold try-outs before each season, but most don't require any previous experience.

The U of M Synchronized Swim Club, also known as the Gopher Synchro Swim team, is an example of a team that can gain your interest in a sport you may never have tried before. This particular club contains both a non-competitive "recreational" team and a competitive team. If you love to swim, this is a great way to meet new people on campus and get an excellent workout. In the team's most recent competition on February 12, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities beat the Colorado State University Rams, 92.5 to 69. They will be competing next in the collegiate regional competition in Ohio. I personally had not heard about this team before my research to write this post, but I am so glad that I know about it now! It is just another great example of the University's many different and interesting activities for students!

Photo courtesy The University of Minnesota Synchronized Swim Club

People from around the Twin Cities gathered in Rapson Hall on the University of Minnesota campus on Saturday, February 19, for Distortion: the 43rd Annual College of Design Fashion Show. The annual fashion show is an event put on by the College of Design to showcase the work of seniors majoring in design apparel.

The seniors studying apparel design spend months drawing, sewing, and stitching for this huge event. Students, faculty, local fashion designers, and fashion journalists attend the show each year to see the work of this next generation of designers. The eighteen seniors designed a variety of collections from menswear to evening dresses, from Lady Gaga inspired looks to preppy apparel.

Visit http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/arts/university-minnesota-senior-fashion-show-distortion-photos to see photographs from the show.

This fashion blog also has some great photographs from the event: http://artofwore.com/blog/2011/2/20/u-of-m-senior-fashion-show.html.

Also, check out the website to learn more about the designers: http://www.wix.com/uropfashion/distortionfashionshow

About Apparel Design
The College of Design offers a bachelor of science in apparel design. Students take courses in computer and manual pattern design, costume history, social and cultural meanings of apparel, the textile and apparel consumer, and aesthetics. The students are required to take six studio courses and do an internship which provides them plenty of professional experience. Visit the College of Design website to learn more about apparel design and other design majors.

Last week I was so excited to find a copy of Schoolhouse Rock: Science Rock when cleaning out a room in Lind Hall. I learned so much from Rocky and his pals when I was in elementary and middle school. Watching that old VHS tape, I was reminded of some really neat research being conducted at the Solar Energy Laboratory on campus.

At the Solar Energy Lab, researchers are using seven-mirrored, 6,500 watt lamps which have the irradiance of 3,000 suns to generate temperatures of more than 3,600 degrees F to split carbon dioxide and water to form carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

Carbon monoxide and hydrogen are the two main components of "syngas," a synthetic gas created from carbon dioxide using solar power. Syngas can be converted to "synfuels," which can take the form of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, methane (natural gas), or other products.

The best thing about this process: it requires no input of fossil fuels. U of M researchers are working on a way to take carbon dioxide, a byproduct of burning fossil fuels, and turn it back into fuel. An analysis indicates that the sunlight-to-synfuel process can run with nine percent efficiency.

Jane Davidson, mechanical engineering professor in the College of Science and Engineering said about the project, "With 9 percent efficiency--which would be many times more efficient than using biofuels--we could replace all the petroleum in the United States with solar collectors covering 15 million acres.That's the size of West Virginia, and half of what we use for highways."

Already, Davidson and her colleagues have produced syngas in their lab and are beginning to work on prototype reactors. As they develop reactors, another team of researchers is studying materials which could make the process easier and even more efficient. 

I'll leave you with a lesson I learned from Schoolhouse Rock, "If everyone tries a bit harder, our fuel will go farther and farther."

Meet the College of Science and Engineering (CSE) Ambassadors:

This newly formed CSE student group participates in a lot of amazing activities in our college.  If you've visited campus, you have probably already spoken with one of our CSE Ambassadors! These outstanding students share their experiences with students in grades K-12 by meeting individually with students on campus, visiting local schools, attending science and engineering events (such as FIRST Robotics conferences, Science Olympiad competitions, and more), and giving campus tours.

CSE Ambassadors recently started a pilot mentorship program for current CSE freshmen.  The official mentor program will kick-off in fall 2011. Check out the mentorship website this summer to sign up for a mentor! You can meet some of the officers and mentors who are members of CSE Ambassadors on their website.

In addition to the outreach and mentoring programs, CSE Ambassadors also get an inside look at many of the departments within the College of Science and Engineering.  Last semester, CSE Ambassadors got to learn about the huge telescope on the roof of Tate Lab of Physics. Check out some photos of recent events.

If this sounds like fun to you, I encourage you to watch the CSE Ambassadors recruitment video, which won second place at the February CSE Student Organization Fair hosted by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.

I am lucky to be an adviser for this group. I get to work with truly incredible students in the College of Science and Engineering. I hope to see you at our meetings next fall!