MONDAY, JULY 21 – SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2014
BEST BETS
TRI-LINGUAL STUDENT AMONG 21 GRADUATING FROM RISE — When Andy and Ute Jocham’s daughter was diagnosed with Down syndrome, the couple was told that early intervention would be the key to her success — and then they discovered UA’s RISE program. The family, who had moved from Germany to Tuscaloosa about 12 years ago for Andy’s job, applied to the school when their daughter, Mandy, was 9 months. Now, six years later, Mandy will walk across the stage with 20 other students at RISE’s annual commencement ceremony at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 24, at the Stallings Center on the UA campus. She is the only child at RISE who is tri-lingual, fluent in German, English and sign language. Dress rehearsal for the RISE graduation ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 24, at the Stallings Center. RISE parents, including Ute Jocham, and Martha Cook, RISE director, will be available for interviews during that time. For assistance, contact Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 808/640-5912, kkeaton@ur.ua.edu or phone 205/348-5320.
FREE CHILD NUTRITION CAMP – UA’s Institute for Communication and Information Research, located in Reese Phifer Hall, has extended the dates for its free nutrition camp for children who have finished kindergarten through fifth grade. Children are invited to attend one of eight sessions on July 21-24, from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. each day. Parents should plan to drop off their children at the Walk of Champions in front of Bryant-Denny Stadium 10-15 minutes before the start of the session and must sign a consent form. Topics covered during the camp will include how to read nutrition labels, how to make good choices for snacks, how to understand food advertising and exercise. Participants are asked to come in shorts (or exercise pants), a T-shirt and tennis shoes. For questions or to register, contact: Dr. Kim Bissell, ICIR director, 205/348-7155, Bissell@ua.edu.
ENGINEERING CAMP HELD THIS WEEK – The Student Introduction to Engineering, or SITE, program is a summer camp designed specifically for rising juniors and seniors in high school. More than 25 years old, the SITE program is three, week-long sessions this summer with about 150 students attending. SITE students live in residence halls and engage in team exercises. They attend mini-courses in mathematics, engineering, computer science and English. As part of the camp, students participate in a design competition, and this week students will design marshmallow launchers. Students will launch the marshmallows in 1059 South Engineering Research Center Thursday at 3:45 p.m. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA engineering media relations, at 205/348-6444 or acjones12@eng.ua.edu.
UA TO HOST MILITARY TRANSITION SUMMITS – UA will host comprehensive summits in 2014 and 2015 on the multiple avenues to help military veterans transition successfully into civilian life. UA received a $25,000 grant from the National Institute of Child and Human Development to coordinate summit meetings during “Service Member to Civilian: A National Summit on Improving Transition” Dec. 1-3 and again in December 2015. The summits will focus on defining the critical next steps in understanding and addressing the reintegration needs of members of the total military force, veterans and their families. “This will attract the top researchers, in partnership with the VA, to look at critical issues in active duty to civilian life,” said Dr. Karl Hamner, assistant dean of scholarly affairs, Capstone College of Nursing and School of Social Work. The UA summit will include expert panels, collaborative sessions with veterans and their families, and a veteran’s job event that will bring in employers to provide sessions for veterans and their spouses. For more information, contact David Miller, UA Media Relations, at 205/348-0825 or dcmiller2@ur.ua.edu.
UA HOSTING WORKSHOP ON SUSTAINABLE FUELS – Ten nationally-recognized experts in energy will speak as part of a workshop on sustainable fuels at UA. The workshop will focus on research on production, processing and combustion of biofuels and opportunity fuels. It will be Tuesday July 29 in the South Engineering Research Center. For more information visit http://uanews.ua.edu/2014/07/ua-hosting-workshop-on-sustainable-fuels, or contact Adam Jones, UA engineering media relations, at 205/348-6444 or acjones12@eng.ua.edu.
UA EXPERT TIPS
UA MATTERS: HELPING YOUR PRESCHOOLER TRANSITION TO KINDERGARTEN – Sending your child to ‘big school’ can be one of the most exciting yet stressful times for you and your child. UA’s Dr. Laura Bloom offers some simple suggestions that can help ease the transition. Contact UA Media Relations, 205/348-5320.
UA MATTERS: STAYING SAFE IN THE WATER – As the summer heats up, many like to cool down by taking a swim. Before jumping into those cool waters, check out these water safety tips from UA’s Dr. Brian Gannon. Contact: UA Media Relations, 205/348-5320.