Claire Riggs ’11 received a pre-doctoral fellowship from the National Science Foundation, a prestigious award that allows her to continue research on killifish embryos as she works on her doctorate at Portland State University. Her research was the subject of an article (“Life in the Extreme”) by Maya Seaman that appeared in the publication, Vanguard. Killifish embryos can survive pretty tough conditions–in extreme heat, without water, and, believe it or not, without oxygen. Riggs studies the role of the fish embryos’ microDNA in their ability to go dormant and survive in anoxic environments. For killifish embryos, such dormancy is characterized by a reduction of metabolism, inhibition of cell development, and stoppage of the heart beat … up to 90 days … without harm! Clues to how this process works, should it ever prove applicable to humans, could eventually have important potential for cancer therapy and treatment of heart attack and stroke.
alumni
“I Went to Kalamazoo College!”
Dan Blustein, Joel Haas, and Tess Killpack have a great deal in common. They’re classmates (2006); they’re working on their doctorates; and they’re finalists in a video contest! “Dan entered us in an NSF fellows video contest (of course he did…),” wrote Tess to Professor of Biology Paul Sotherland, “and we made it to the finals.” The contest celebrates the 60th anniversary of the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Dan, Joel, and Tess share that too; each is an NSF GRF. The title of their video is “Sharing Our NSF GRF Skills With the World.” “We took a little different approach from most of the other entries and did a collaborative entry filming on our own and working over the Internet,” said Dan. “Judges pick winners, and there is one People’s Choice award determined by online votes.” There’s great variety in their research work and geographic dispersion—robot lobsters, cellular energy balance, and avian immune system development, in Boston, San Francisco, and Madison (Wis.) for Dan, Joel, and Tess, respectively. In true K fashion, they do much more than their research. Each works on issues important to science and society, including effective teaching, diversity in the sciences, and scientific policy. Congratulations, Dan, Joel, and Tess. And good luck in the finals.
An Internship Becomes a Career for Bruce Timmons ’64
Bruce Timmons ’64 was so intrigued by his Kalamazoo College professor’s explanation of a local annexation dispute between two municipalities, that when he spotted an opening for a legislative internship with the Michigan House Judiciary Committee a few years later, he applied and was one of eight hired. He’s still there more than four decades later, and seems content to help the committee guide the course of Michigan law for years to come.
K Graduate Wins Poetry Contest
Genevieve Leet ’11 is the winner of the poetry category in the 3rd Annual Terrain.org Contests in Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction. Her poem set was titled “[when I died they found a nest of snakes in my intestines, their backs]” and “Somewhere beyond the curve of the earth, there is a ceremonial bamboo boat.”
The poet Suzanne Frischkorn served as the contest judge and wrote about the poems’ “terrible beauty;” their complex layers of sound, language, and meaning; and the slow and sequential opening of the poems so deeply rewarding to the reader.
Leet wrote to her friends and mentors at K, “I am so proud and excited! Thank you to all of you who have supported my poetry journey with your kind words, by coming to readings, and by giving critiques.” The poems will be published in January at Terrain.org.
K’s Russell Cooper in ArtPrize 2012
Russell Cooper ’89 is a self-described “photographer, musician, computer nerd, roller coaster expert, [and] proud and tired father of two.” Now add to this impressive resume: 2012 ArtPrize entrant! Cooper’s entry is a photography exhibit titled “Sibling Point of View.” It explores how a five-month-old brother and three-and-a-half-year-old sister view each other.
K Psychology Professor and Student Publish Collaborative Research
Psychology professor Siu-Lan Tan and K alumnus John Baxa ’09 published a book chapter on their video game research in the book Interdisciplinary Advancements in Gaming, Simulations, and Virtual Environments (published in 2012 by IGI Global, edited by R. Ferdig and S. de Freitas). Their research focuses on the role of music and sound effects on video game performance in gamers with different levels of expertise. It is based on collaborative work between Tan and Baxa beginning in his sophomore year, continuing through his Senior Individualized Project, and extending beyond his graduation. Baxa is currently a graduate student pursuing a degree in Entertainment Technology at Carnegie Mellon University, where he will learn video game design and may be able to implement their research on sound design in future video games. Baxa (right) is pictured with Tan (center) last April, at her Lucasse teaching award presentation. Also shown is Sally Warner ’08 (left), who worked with Tan for three years to co-organize service-learning projects and assisted her on a book manuscript. Warner is currently working on a Doctorate in curriculum, instruction, and teacher education at Michigan State University.
Soo-to-Kazoo in ’62: 50 Years Later
In the fall of 1962 Kalamazoo College Cross-Country Coach Warren “Swede” Thomas loaded his Hornet harriers in a van (a.k.a. the Blue Goose) and drove the team to Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula. The team’s mission: run the 287 miles back to campus in 10 days. Well, not every mile (some portions were driven), but a good chunk was traversed by sneaker sole, including the five-mile span of the Mackinac Bridge (you could do that back then on days other than Labor Day).
The “Blue-Goosed Soo-to-Kazoo in ’62” training trip had a hometown trajectory because the team made stops in hometowns of as many team members as possible. Fifty years later, team member Don Schneider ’63 honored the early-September anniversary—albeit by van and tandem bicycle—with his wife, Jean Chin. The commemoration kept the hometown theme, and Don and Jean visited former teammates Dave Bellingham ’63 (Jan), Bill Atkinson ’63 (Linda), and Dennis Lamb ’63 (Pat) in Rapid City, Suttons Bay, and Frankfort, respectively. “Those were wonderful visits,” said Don. He and Jean also made sure their biking routes included Saugatuck (hometown of teammate Bob Brackenridge ’63), Plainwell (hometown of Dick Payne ’65), Whitehall (hometown of the late Tom Schaaf ’65), and Muskegon, where Don starred on the Muskegon High School cross country and track teams. In all, the couple biked a little more than 300 miles, including some rides of astounding scenic beauty near Charlevoix, Traverse Bay, Ludington, and Crystal Lake.
The bike trip was a nice way to honor the memory of “Swede” Thomas, who also taught physical education and directed the Career-Service Center at K. Said Schneider: “We also hope the anniversary ride stimulates attendance at the Class of 1963 reunion at next year’s Homecoming (October 18-20, 2013).”
Alumna Will Deliver Keynote Address at Alzheimer’s Conference
Mary Ellen Geist ’78, author of Measure of the Heart: A Father’s Alzheimer’s, will deliver the keynote address at the Schreiber Caregiver Conference on Tuesday, October 16, 2012. The conference takes place at Western Michigan University’s Fetzer Center in Kalamazoo; the title of Mary Ellen’s talk is “The Heart of the Matter.” Mary Ellen is a former broadcast journalist of 20 years who gave up her career as a CBS Radio anchor in New York City so that she could return to her childhood home in Northern Michigan to help care for her father when his Alzheimer’s disease became too overwhelming for Mary Ellen’s mother. Her book chronicles this experience, and its insights have inspired millions of caregivers.
K Alumnus’ Sculpture Part of International ArtPrize
After graduating from Kalamazoo College in June with a studio art major and classical civilizations minor, sculptor Daedalian Derks ’12 spent the summer rebuilding and expanding a portion of his Senior Individualized Project for installation in downtown Grand Rapids as a competitor in the international art competition ArtPrize 2012.
The sculpture is called the “Binary Strip,” and is a kinetic installation made from stainless steel aircraft cable and lightweight aluminum panels. The panels harness the power of the wind on the bank of the Grand River and spin, changing from black to white and back again.
ArtPrize is the only art competition in which the grand prize winner is chosen solely by public vote. With more 1500 artists involved in the competition this year representing some 50 countries and almost every state in the U.S., support from Daedalian’s alma mater is critical. To be eligible to vote, one must register at an Exhibition Center in Grand Rapids. Once one is registered, voting is easy and can be done through texting, online, or with a smartphone app. The app can be found at the ArtPrize Web site and voting can be done at the site.
The competition begins September 19 and ends on October 7. The Binary Strip is installed on the Grand Rapids Public Museum (see photo), just north of the Blue Bridge walking bridge. The Museum is also an exhibition center, so viewers can both register to vote and see “Binary Strip” in one place. The “Binary Strip” voting number is 52874.
Welcome Back, Orange-and-Black: Homecoming 2012
Homecoming and Reunion Weekend is October 19-21. Join fellow Hornets on campus for the 8th annual 5K Run/Walk, departmental receptions with current and emeriti faculty, the K versus Hope College football game, and much much more! All alumni, students, faculty, staff, and K friends are invited.
Weekend highlights include:
– Reunion activities for the classes of 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, and a special Emeritus Club celebration
– The 7th annual Farms to K Social
– A student film festival featuring seven documentaries produced in film production classes
– Lunch on the Quad while enjoying the band, Canasta, which boasts some strong K connections
– A special dedication and celebration of the Kalamazoo College Athletic Field Complex
Don’t miss out on K’s biggest event of the year. Check out the Homecoming site to register. If you would like a registration form mailed to you or need assistance with online registration, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 269.337.7300.