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Five WVU students earn Kidder Scholarships for vet, med school

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:45:00 EST

As they finish their final exams as undergraduate students, five West Virginia University students can breathe a little easier knowing they have some financial support as they prepare for the next stages of their collegiate careers.

The Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design students recently received awards from the H.E. “Doc” Kidder Memorial Trust, which will provide them with thousands of dollars for each year of their post-baccalaureate instruction.

This year’s Kidder recipients are: Alexandra Bay, Princeton, W.Va.; Matthew Miller, Wheeling, W.Va.; Ryan Poling, Augusta, W.Va.; Jennifer Tonkin, Little Birch, W.Va., and Adam Younis, Charleston, W.Va.

The students, all of whom are seniors in the Davis College’s animal and nutritional sciences program, will each receive $2,000 annually during their continued studies.

“All five students did an exceptional job during their interviews and there was no student who was clearly more or less deserving than the others,” said Matt Wilson, interim director of the Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences. “As a group, they had a better understanding of H. E. ‘Doc’ Kidder and his passion for supporting students both inside and outside the classroom. We’re confident they will represent us well in their future endeavors.”

For the full story and pictures of the recipients, visit WVU Today.

Collegiate Horsemen host barbecue and fundraiser

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:17:00 EST

As part of its fundraising efforts, West Virginia University’s Collegiate Horsemen’s Association recently hosted a barbecue and donkey plop at the Reedsville Farm.

According to organization president Melissa Lloyd, an animal and nutritional sciences student, the event was a great way to not only raise money but also bring awareness to the farm and equine program.

“It gave students, members and faculty the opportunity to experience something different,” she said.

For the event, the arena was divided into a grid and individuals were able to choose and buy squares where they believed a horse would leave behind “droppings.” Squares for the donkey plop were available for purchase prior to and the day of the event for $5.

Megan Govindan, teaching assistant professor of human nutrition and foods, picked the correct square and won $100.

Lloyd says WVUCHA hopes to continue hosting events like this in the future.

If you’re interested in learning more about the club or the equine program, please click here.

Entrepreneurs get boost from new competition

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:03:00 EST

Teams of student innovators got a leg up in their entry into West Virginia’s energy industry thanks to an entrepreneurship challenge sponsored by West Virginia University.

The inaugural West Virginia Technology Entrepreneurship Challenge, hosted by the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design with the support of the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, recently awarded prize money to three student-driven technology enterprises.

The $20,000 first prize went to WINDPAX, LLC, created by Justin Chambers, a mechanical engineering student in the Statler College from Glen Dale, W.Va. WINDPAX is a design company that specializes in the development of recreational energy producing and energy storage devices. The core technology is based on portable power generating wind turbines for outdoor recreational use. The company currently has a patent pending unit and has other patentable units under development.

Visit WVU Today for the full story.

A summer of opportunity

Mon, 13 May 2013 08:40:00 EST

WVU Today offers a preview of some high-impact summer internships, including one for a student in our fashion design and merchandising program:

According to fashion design and merchandising senior Emily Dearth, “The right outfit can make a person feel beautiful, empowered and confident.”

The right internship can do that, as well.

That right internship may be Dearth’s own, with fashion designer Michael Kors on West 42nd Street in Manhattan. She will work in the accessories design department.

Kors is best known for designing classic American sportswear for women. His designs have been worn by Michelle Obama, Jennifer Garner and Jennifer Lopez.

Visit WVU Today for the full story.

In the news: Solar Decathlon team

Fri, 10 May 2013 10:07:00 EST

West Virginia Public Broadcasting reporter Ben Adducchio recently spoke with members of the WVU Solar Decathlon team about building an energy efficient home and their upcoming trip to California:

The West Virginia University Solar Decathlon Team is starting its official practice trials of its home-building for this year’s competition.

WVU is one of 20 teams from around the world that’s competing in the 2013 Solar Decathlon, in October, in Irvine, Ca.

WVU’s team is building a home in the style of a rustic log cabin that utilizes energy efficient technologies.

and

Right now, the site is a cement pad. But soon the building will begin.

Andrea Argabright is the design team coordinator, working in landscape and interior design.

She is walking around the pad and pointing out where different rooms will actually be.

“Our Wood Science Department at WVU has provided us with the workshop and the training and we have volunteers from their program as well as our team; we are building our dining room table and chairs, all the living room tables,” she said.

“We are going to cut this log stump, and that’s going to be the counter top for our bathrooms. We are going to use their shop and build all of our kitchen cabinetry.”

To read the full story and listen to audio, please click here.

Two scholars earn mini-grants

Thu, 09 May 2013 08:40:00 EST

West Virginia University research promoting fuel for our engines and our bodies advanced thanks to a pair of mini-grants provided by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission’s Division of Science and Research.

The mini-grants provide replacement salary for an uninterrupted period of time for a faculty member to write research or research equipment proposals during the summer. Each of the six winning faculty members agrees to submit a proposal for funding from an external agency or foundation as a result of obtaining the mini-grant.

Vagner Benedito and Kaushlendra Singh, both of WVU’s Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, each earned $5,000 to further their research agendas. Both will use the mini-grants to spend a portion of this summer crafting proposals to the National Science Foundation.

For the full story, please visit WVU Today.

WVU EnvironMentors students headed to national competition

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:07:00 EST

After spending eight months on their research projects – and giving their first of what could be many important scientific presentations – three Morgantown High School students will be rewarded with a trip to the nation’s capital this month.

As part of West Virginia University’s EnvironMentors Chapter, Emma Mathers, Kasey Bolyard and Zoie McNeill will attend the National EnvironMentors Fair in Washington, D.C., May 20. Daniel Pan, who tied with McNeill for third, will attend if one of the others is unable to do so.

The students competed against 17 of their peers in a juried poster session during WVU’s EnvironMentors fair in late April.

EnvironMentors is a national environment-based mentoring program developed by the National Council for Science and Environment. The program provides high school students the opportunity to work with researchers and professionals to develop scientifically rigorous research projects. The program also promotes future studies and careers in environmental science fields.

WVU was selected as a university chapter in May 2011 and is currently one of 13 chapters. The three students from WVU will compete in the national fair against the top representatives from the other universities for scholarship prize money.

“Our program introduces students to scientific research early and gives them a unique perspective of how college ‘works’ at the undergraduate and graduate levels,” said Catherin Artis, coordinator for the WVU EnvironMentors Chapter. “Many of our mentors are current graduate students performing their own independent research. This means they are in an ideal position to explain the research process and discuss their own transition from high school into an undergraduate program and how that led them to where they are today.”

For the full story and pictures of the students, visit WVU Today.

Zipping through the treetops

Thu, 02 May 2013 10:29:00 EST

Visit WVU Today for more details.

In the news: Passion for the brew

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:35:00 EST

Writing for The Daily Athenaeum, Cody Schuler talks to Davis College alum Bill Rittenour about his burgeoning brewing business:

Rittenour said his doctoral degree in fungal biology was a serendipitous experience and has been useful in his brewing pursuits.

“Yeast is a fungus, and I took a fungal genetic class at the Ph.D. level. Out of all the fungi, there’s most known about yeast,” he said. “I learned all about its fermentation and its physiology; that definitely applies to brewing as far as how they take in sugars and how temperature affects their metabolism.”

Click here the full story.

Graduate researchers honored

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:45:00 EST

Master’s degree and Ph.D. candidates in West Virginia University’s Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design earned accolades for their ability to communicate research at the college’s recent graduate research conference.

Students presented either a 15-minute oral research paper or a research poster. Ph.D. and master’s students were judged separately in the two categories.

Lei Wang, in reproductive physiology, took first place in the Ph.D. presentation competition. Her research, “MicroRNA-1296 Regulates Bovine Oocyte-specific Karyrophrin alpha 7 Expression During Maternal-Zygotic Transition,” is conducted with Jianbo Yao, associate professor of reproductive physiology at WVU, and George W. Smith of Michigan State University.

Eric Merriam, who is studying wildlife and fisheries resources, took first place in the Ph.D. poster competition. His research, “Complex Land Use Thresholds and Multi-Stressor Impacts to Streams in the Mountaintop Mining Region of Central Appalachia,” is conducted with Todd Petty, professor of wildlife and fisheries resources.

Jesica Jacobs, in animal and nutritional sciences, took first place in the master’s presentation competition. Her research, “Peripheral Characterization of Cellular Immune Responses to Haemonchus Contortus by Parasite Resistant and Parasite Susceptible Sheep,” is conducted with Scott Bowdridge, assistant professor of food animal production.

Kellie D’Souza, who studies reproductive physiology, took first place in the master’s poster competition. Her research, “P.G. 600 Increases Fertility and Fecundity in Non-Lactating Ewes Bred During the Anestrous Period,” is conducted with Marlon Knights, associate professor of animal and nutritional sciences, and fellow graduate students Stephanie Simpson and Adam Redhead, and post-doctoral research associate Quinn Baptiste.

Posters and presenters were judged by a panel of faculty representing the Davis College’s five academic divisions. The Davis College offers 17 master’s degree programs and Ph.D. programs in 23 different disciplines. Students may also pursue the Peace Corps Master’s International program, which combines graduate study with a direct track to a Peace Corps tour of volunteer service.