In case you missed it, Union's
team raked up Dartmouth in the
first installment of “Robot Rivals,” which aired on May 14.
Three mechanical engineering
students — Jason Fishner, Marissa Post and Adam Retersdorf – are representing
the College on the Do-It-Yourself Network show, which was taped last December.
By winning, the Union
team advances to the next round and a shot at the $2,000 scholarship. (Without
giving away the ending … stay tuned for news of a campus event in June to
premiere the final show and to honor the Union students for their awesome
performance.)
The teams
were asked to design and build a robot that can rake leaves and capture them on
board the robot, according to the Robot Rivals web site said. “Union
designed a robot with a combine mechanism consisting of sheet metal fins
riveted to an attachment chain, while Dartmouth built a robot using a series of fans to vacuum leaves up
through ductwork into a quick-release leaf bag. Both robots come together late
in the day, but Union's 'Dutch-Bot' bagged the win, and Dartmouth's 'Mega Maid' had to make like a tree and leave.”
Robot Rivals is found locally on Channel
1065 of the “On Demand” cable system offered by Time Warner. Shows
are repeated; see web site below for schedule.
“Robot Rivals” pits student teams
from all over the country in a competition to build a robot to complete a task.
The shows, taped last fall in Knoxville, Tenn.,
will be aired throughout May and June. See the following website for more on
this week's show and the other air dates: http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/shows_drob/episode/0,2046,DIY_14305_32006,00.html
Fireworks, a ReUnion highlight, are scheduled for Saturday at 10 p.m. in Library Field.
From as long ago as the Class of
1933, and as far away as Italy,
they're coming back to campus for ReUnion 2004.
With registrations up 19 percent
over this time last year, members of the Alumni Relations office are confident
they will break last year's record of 1,400, second only to the Bicentennial
event in 1995.
“The alumni spirit is alive and
well,” said Nick Famulare '92, “This is a campus-wide event as we welcome back
the sons and daughters of Union College.
Everyone [on campus] is playing a role in this weekend.”
The Alumni Parade, a perennial
highlight of ReUnion, steps off Saturday at 10:30 a.m. from Alexander
Lane. It will end around 11 a.m. at Memorial Chapel with the Alumni Convocation
and “Required” Chapel.
The Alumni Council will present
Alumni Gold Medals to William Burns '54, retired vice chairman and director of
NYNEX and life trustee of the College; James Lippman '79, president of JRK
Asset Management and chair of ReUnion 2004; and Dr. Estelle Cooke-Sampson '74,
a Washington, D.C.-based radiologist and trustee of the College. George Gmelch,
professor of anthropology and leader of many Union term abroad programs, is to
receive the Faculty Meritorious Service Award.
Saturday evening will include the ReUnion gala, starting at 7 p.m. in the tent at Library Plaza, with music by the Swing Docs. The evening will end at 10 p.m. with a ReUnion favorite: fireworks, donated by Steve Ente ‘75.
Of particular interest this year are
several “affinity” programs, Famulare said.
The Choral ReUnion Concert on
Saturday at 3 p.m. in Memorial Chapel
will feature more than 120 alumni from six decades performing under the
direction of Prof. Emeritus Hugh Allen Wilson and Prof. Victor Klimash. The
alumni singers also will meet for a barbecue on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. on
the Reamer Campus Center Patio.
Also gaining momentum is the
Student-Alumni Association Reception on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Reamer Campus Center 410. Leaders of current
student organizations including Student Forum, Concordiensis, WRUC and Montebanks will meet with alumni who were
members of those organizations. “Alumni are eager to see if those organizations
have changed,” Famulare said, “And the students are excited to meet the leaders
who came before them.”
“Entertainment Today: Live from Union
College” is set for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Joann Yarrow, assistant professor of
theater, will moderate a discussion on careers in the entertainment field with panelists
Jay Kohn '74, production manager at the John F. Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts; Julie Greifer Swidler '79, entertainment attorney now with
Arista Records; Laura Modlin '84, writer and producer; Tom Riis Farrell '81,
actor; Peter Sears '79, comedian and staff writer for “The Tonight Show with
Jay Leno”; and actor Jeffrey DeMunn '69, whose credits include The Shawshank Redemption and TV shows The West Wing, Law & Order and ER.
Union
College has been awarded $1.6
million from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to build programs and motivate
students toward research, study and careers in emerging new fields in the
sciences and engineering.
The funds will be used to create a
Center for Bioengineering and Computational Biology, including new research
laboratories, networked classrooms, a bioengineering teaching laboratory, and
curriculum materials to support several new courses.
“We are delighted by the Howard
Hughes Medical Institute's confidence-once again-in Union,”
said President Roger H. Hull. “The grant comes at a perfect time for the
College. As we move forward with Converging Technologies, our unique
effort to blend the liberal arts and engineering, we are appreciative of HHMI's
support. We know that what we are doing is right, and we are thrilled that HHMI
is giving us their stamp of approval.”
Leo Fleishman, chair of Union's
Biology Department, was the lead person for the proposal, with assistance from
Biology and Mechanical Engineering faculty.
In 2003, Union
began offering an academic minor in bioengineering. This program will be
greatly strengthened by these funds and allow for the hiring of a new faculty
member. In addition, the College will create 24 student research fellowships
over the four years of the grant. Four students each year will spend a summer
conducting research at one of three collaborating institutions — Syracuse
University, Albany
Medical College,
and the New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Laboratory in Albany.
Also planned is a web-based “Virtual
Bioengineering Center,”
which will make possible interactive activities to allow remote users can work
with experimental systems located at the College's Bioengineering
Center and view the results online.
Activities for both high school and college students will be developed.
Union
College received grants from the
HHMI in 1993 and 1988 as well. Among the programs funded by past Hughes grants
were several targeting K-12 science, math and technology curriculum
improvement, particularly in economically disadvantaged school districts in the
region. This grant will allow for the continuation of these programs, including
the popular Summer Science Workshop for underrepresented talented high school
students. The program is designed to encourage juniors and seniors to attend
college, major in biology or another science, and go on to graduate or
professional school.
The HHMI awarded nearly $50
million in grants to 42 colleges in the U.S.
and Puerto Rico. Union shared the
lead for top awards with Williams College
and Haverford College.
The Union College men's hockey program has
announced the addition of 10 freshmen to their 2004-05 roster. The incoming
class will include three defensemen, six forwards, and one goaltender. The
class will join a solid corps of veterans who return from a 03-04 team that
finished the season 14-17-5.
“We have tried to address our weaknesses through
our current recruiting class and are very excited to be adding some great
character and great talent to our team,” said Nate Leaman, head coach.
Among Union's
recruiting class is Casey Ftorek, son of legendary player and
coach Robbie Ftorek. The 1972 Olympian went on to play in the NHL and later was coach of the Albany River Rats and Boston Bruins. The class includes three Canadians and seven American-born
players, including local product Jake Schwan from Clifton
Park.
The Dutchmen, who will graduate two seniors on June 13,
return several key players, including the team's top six scorers from last
season, and goaltender Kris Mayotte who has posted a 2.70 GAA and a .905 save
percentage in 58 career appearances during his two seasons with the Dutchmen.
Union will begin the regular season
on October 15 at Colorado College
and host their first game on October 22 vs. Bowling Green.
The following list provides a quick capsule of each player
in the Dutchmen's 2004-2005 freshman class:
DEFENSE
Mike Beynon – 6-3, 210 lbs., born 6/9/83, Nepean, ON
Most recently played for the Nepean
Raiders (CJHL); 65gp 10-11-21
206 PIM: team was a CJHL play-off finalist.
Skylar Berman – 6-0, 190 lbs., born 5/3/83, Winnipeg
Most recently played for the
Manitoba-Selkirk Steelers (MJHL); 78gp 12-55-67 40 PIM; team was MJHL Play-off
Champions; one of three finalists for league top defenseman award; played for
Team Saskatchewan in Viking Cup
Phil McDavitt – 5-11, 185 lbs., born in 1985, Duxbury,
MA
Most recently played for Noble and
Greenough School;
Mass. Select 15,16, 17 teams
FORWARD
Sam Bowles– 5-11, 185 lbs., born 1/25/85, Davidsonville, MD
Most recently played for the
Boston Jr. Bruins (EJHL); 71gp 24-33-57 30 PIM +60, 5 GWG; EJHL All-Star,
graduate of Hotchkiss School;
team was EJHL regular season champs and play-off runners-up
Scott Brady – 5-11, 175 lbs., born 4/21/83, Sutton, MA
Most recently played for the
Boston Jr. Bruins (EJHL) (assistant captain)
69gp 39-40-79 33 PIM +58, 8 GWG; EJHL All-star, graduate of Pomfret
School; team was EJHL regular
season champs and play-off runners-up
Torren Del Forte – 5-11, 165 lbs., born 7/13/86, Shortsville,
NY
Most recently played for the
Boston Junior Bruins (EJHL); 65gp 11-39-50 30 PIM +36 3 GWG; NY State Select
15,16, 17 teams; team was EJHL regular season champs and play-off runners-up
Josh Coyle – 5-10, 180 lbs., born 9/15/84, Brooklyn, OH
Most recently played for the NH
Jr. Monarchs (EJHL); 52gp 42-40-82 82 PIM; EJHL All-star; team was EJHL
play-off champs, played previously for Soo Indians (NAHL)
Jake Schwan – 5-11, 195 lbs., born 4/6/83, Clifton Park, NY
Most recently played for the
Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL); 63gp 13-9-22
114 PIM +3, 2 GWG; team played in the USHL Final four; played previously for
Capital District Select
Casey Ftorek – 5-9, 170 lbs., born 8/16/84, Bedford, MA
Most recently played for the Taft
School; 71gp 51-55-106 35 PIM;
Father Rob is coach of Albany River Rats; member of the Mid-Western Jr. B
Champs and Sutherland Cup Champs; 3rd in league scoring
GOAL
Justin Mrazek – 6-3, 185 lbs., born 7/21/85, Regina Saskatchewan
Most recently played for the
Estevan Bruins; 14-16-4 record; 2076.11 minutes; .903 save pct.; 1020 saves;
109 goals against
2004-2005
Union Hockey Newcomers at a Glance
Name HgtWgtDOBPosLast TeamHometown
Sam Bowles 5-11 185 1/25/85 F Boston
Jr. Bruins Davidsonville,
MD
Scott Brady 5-11 175 4/21/83 F Boston Jr. Bruins Sutton,
MA
Casey Ftorek 5-9 170 8/16/84 F Taft School Bedford,
MA
Torren Del Forte 5-11 165 7/13/86 F Boston
Jr. Bruins Shortsville,
NY
Josh Coyle 5-10 180 9/15/84 F NH
Jr. Monarchs Brooklyn, Ohio
Jake Schwan 5-11 195 4/6/83 F Waterloo Black Hawks Clifton Park, NY
Mike Benyon 6-3 210 6/9/83 D Nepean Raiders Nepean,
Ontario
Skylar Berman 6-0 190 5/3/83 D Manitoba-Selkirk
Steelers Winnipeg, Manitoba
Phil McDavitt 5-11 185 1985 D Noble & Geenough School Duxbury, MA
Justin Mrazek 6-3 185 7/21/85 G Estevan
Bruins Regina, Saskatchewan
Union
College has been awarded $1.6
million from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to effectively build programs
and motivate students toward research, study and careers in emerging new fields
in the sciences and engineering.
The funds
will be used to create a Center for Bioengineering & Computational Biology, including new research laboratories,
networked classrooms, a bioengineering teaching laboratory, and curricular
materials to support several new interdisciplinary courses.
Leo
Fleishman, chair of Union's Biology Department, was the
lead person for the proposal, with assistance from Biology and Mechanical
Engineering faculty.
“We are
delighted by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's confidence-once again-in Union,”
said Union College President Roger H. Hull. “The grant comes at a perfect time
for the College as we move forward with Converging Technologies, our unique
effort to blend the liberal arts and engineering. We are appreciative of HHMI's support and their recognition of the groundbreaking
work we are doing.”
In 2003, Union
began offering an academic minor in bioengineering. This program will be
greatly strengthened by these funds and allow for the hiring of a new faculty
member. In addition, the College will create 24 student research fellowships
over the four years of the grant. Four students each year will spend a summer
conducting research at one of three collaborating institutions: Syracuse
University, Albany
Medical College,
and the New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Laboratory in Albany.
Also planned
is a web-based “Virtual Bioengineering Laboratory” that will develop and house
interactive activities, whereby remote users can work with experimental systems
located at the College's Bioengineering
Center and view the results online.
Activities for both high school and college students will be developed.
Union
College received grants from HHMI
in 1993 and 1988 as well. Among the programs funded by past Hughes grants were
several targeting K-12 science, and math and technology curriculum improvement
(particularly in economically disadvantaged school districts in the region).
The present grant will allow for the continuation of these programs, including
the popular Summer Science Workshop for underrepresented talented high school
students. The program is designed to encourage juniors and seniors to attend
college, major in biology or another science, and go on to graduate or
professional school.
HHMI awarded
nearly $50 million in grants to 42 colleges in the U.S.
and Puerto Rico. Union shared the
lead for top awards with Williams College
and Haverford College.
