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STARS student has science in her genes

STARS student has science in her genes

At 15, with college right around the corner, Preethi UmaShanker has been giving a lot of thought to the universal question that plagues most teenagers, “What do I want to be when I grow up?”

Scholar recognized as model career counselor for modern times

Scholar recognized as model career counselor for modern times

Mark Pope has worked tirelessly to promote multicultural awareness and social justice for all individuals. So it’s no surprise he has received the inaugural Diversity Initiative Award from the National Career Development Association. He was honored for his leadership of cultural diversity and social justice issues in career counseling and career development over his lifetime. As the first recipient of this important professional award, Pope, chair and professor of counseling and family therapy in the College of Education at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, represents the prototype of the career counselor for modern times.

New libraries dean focuses on students, technology

New libraries dean focuses on students, technology

Once upon a time, library walls contained signs that read “Shhhhh!” Pretty soon, at least one library sign will read “Cappuccino.” By the end of 2012, the Thomas Jefferson Library at the University of Missouri–St. Louis will sport a new cafe featuring Starbucks coffees, pastries, sandwiches and salads. And no one is happier about that than Christopher Dames, the new dean of libraries.

A star is born: Student carves out thriving music career

A star is born: Student carves out thriving music career

“I don’t sleep as much as I’d like to,” said a chuckling Lydia Vaughan. The 19-year-old junior majoring in communication at the University of Missouri–St. Louis is extra busy these days balancing her school work, a part-time job and a thriving music career.

Math Inquiry Institute gives teachers creative tools

Math Inquiry Institute gives teachers creative tools

Making math and science more visual and exciting is something several area teachers have in mind for the upcoming school year thanks to the creative new tools they learned during the 2012 Math Inquiry Institute at the University of Missouri–St. Louis this summer.

Arnold Grobman, former chancellor, dies at 94

Arnold Grobman, former chancellor, dies at 94

Arnold Grobman, a former chancellor of the University of Missouri–St. Louis who in 1975 expanded the young institution’s academic mission to include the colleges of optometry and nursing, died July 8 in Gainesville, Fla. He was 94. A cause of death was not available.

Grobman Drive re-opens to vehicle traffic

Grobman Drive re-opens to vehicle traffic

Arnold B. Grobman Drive is driveable once again! The section of road on the North Campus of University of Missouri–St. Louis has re-opened to vehicle traffic. It was closed down in early June for a construction project. The portion of Grobman Drive directly east of Parking Lot D was closed off to cars.

Study questions long-held conclusions of male mating habits

Study questions long-held conclusions of male mating habits

During courtship, peacocks raise their colorful fan of tail feathers and shake them, the objective is to advertise to potential mates and win female favor. But a recent WIRED magazine article is poking holes in that theory, indicating that the mating dance between the sexes is far more complicated than male showmanship.

IB alumnus takes on new challenge in Prague

IB alumnus takes on new challenge in Prague

Traveling the globe is nothing new to Sean Hanebery. Having spent time living in London, France, Germany and the United States, the University of Missouri–St. Louis alumnus didn’t hesitate when offered the opportunity to move to Prague.

Bridge’s summer classes attract more than 400

Bridge’s summer classes attract more than 400

When the rest of their friends are sleeping this summer, hundreds of high school students are lining up for 8 a.m. classes at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. The UMSL Bridge Program, the university’s award-winning precollegiate program, is now in it’s 26th year. And it’s enrollment has climbed to more than 400 this summer including it’s middle school program.

Coke wins cola war at UMSL

Coke wins cola war at UMSL

Coke or Pepsi? “Are you kidding? Coke. When I want a real soda, I get a Coke,” said the woman, pointing to the soda can on her desk.

Chinese flowers focus of student’s research on climate change

Chinese flowers focus of student’s research on climate change

How do flowers in a remote area of China factor into the study of climate change? Since 2009, Robbie Hart, a PhD candidate in biology at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, has been traveling to China’s Yunnan Province to study how rhododendrons in the region are adapting to global warming, according to The Christian Science Monitor.

Students pull out all stops to make ‘The Stakes’

Students pull out all stops to make ‘The Stakes’

Joshua McNew thought he’d scouted out the perfect location to shoot the gritty student-driven drama “The Stakes.” In January, cast and crew set up shop at the Ford Asphalt Company building in Bridgeton, Mo., for a two-day, 24-hour marathon shoot. One problem, the site is right next to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

Student’s digital portrait paintings to be displayed at Gallery Visio

Student’s digital portrait paintings to be displayed at Gallery Visio

Becky Wulf blurs the lines of animation and fine art through her series of digital portrait paintings. The University of Missouri–St. Louis student will display her work July 12- Aug. 8 at Gallery Visio. An opening reception for the exhibition called “Booshi” “will be from 4 to 7 p.m. July 12. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Greek dig makes pages of Archaeology magazine

Greek dig makes pages of Archaeology magazine

Each summer for more than a decade, University of Missouri–St. Louis archaeologist Michael Cosmopoulos has led an expedition of students and volunteers to an area in the middle of an olive grove in southwest Greece for hands-on experience they’re likely to never forget.

Students develop formula, algorithm for school bus routes

Students develop formula, algorithm for school bus routes

Transportation continues to be a growing cost for area school districts facing annual budget cuts. University of Missouri-St. Louis doctoral students Jeremy North and William Ellegood may have just discovered a way to save thousands of dollars on busing and routing for districts. The pair recently won first place at the Graduate School Research Fair for their project “Applying Business Logistic Optimization Modeling to School Bus Routing.”

Instructor shows off international instrument collection

Instructor shows off international instrument collection

Aurelia Hartenberger has been collecting musical instruments for nearly four decades. But, they’re not your average run-of-the-mill ones. They come from all over the world. Her collection features African drums, bells and rattles, plus historical Civil War instruments and one-of-a-kind custom-made modern jazz pieces, including some played by jazz greats Artie Shaw and Clark Terry.

Xtreme IT! doubles in size thanks to gifts

Xtreme IT! doubles in size thanks to gifts

Next week more than 40 high school students will arrive on the campus of the University of Missouri–St. Louis ready to learn the ins and outs of information technology.

Beekeepers to swarm UMSL for 3-day conference

Beekeepers to swarm UMSL for 3-day conference

The University of Missouri–St. Louis will be buzzing with activity during a three-day conference of beekeepers July 12-14. The 2012 Heartland Apicultural Society Conference will offer instructional classroom programs and hands-on classes in a bee yard. Sessions are designed for beekeepers at all skill levels. Click here to view the conference schedule.

Scholar walks away winner at Madrid Film Festival

Scholar walks away winner at Madrid Film Festival

Niyi Coker’s film “Pennies for the Boatman” took center stage at the Madrid International Film Festival by beating out the competition and taking home the prize for best film script.

New bike trail, underpass taking shape

New bike trail, underpass taking shape

A new bicycle underpass being constructed on the campus of University of Missouri–St. Louis finally started to take shape Friday, as crews used a large crane to put sections of the underpass in place.

Eye on UMSL: ‘Call Me Maybe’

Eye on UMSL: ‘Call Me Maybe’

With recreations of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” video popping up all over the Internet, a group of University of Missouri–St. Louis students decided to create their own tribute to the sugary sweet summer hit.

Student gets hands dirty at Cahokia excavations

Student gets hands dirty at Cahokia excavations

Timothy Meyer, a senior majoring in anthropology at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, has been getting his hands dirty this summer, logging real-world experience helping excavation efforts at Cahokia Mounds in Collinsville, Ill., just east of St. Louis.

Piano students to hold benefit concert

Piano students to hold benefit concert

A group of University of Missouri–St. Louis piano students will soon travel to Russia and to help defray the costs they are holding a special benefit concert June 15 at Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis.

Touhill makes St. Louis ‘Hot List’

Touhill makes St. Louis ‘Hot List’

The University of Missouri–St. Louis has snagged a ranking in a St. Louis magazine that puts out an annual “Hot List” of the 100 things to love about St. Louis.

Panel to discuss IRA pros, cons

Panel to discuss IRA pros, cons

To IRA or not to IRA? That is the question. Panel experts will explore the pros and cons of individual retirement accounts for the discussion “Do you have an IRA for the IRS?” at 8 a.m. June 7 in the Student Government Association Chamber in the Millennium Student Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Game-show dream comes true for alumnus

Game-show dream comes true for alumnus

University of Missouri–St. Louis alumnus Jim Virtel tested his trivia knowledge during a recent “Jeopardy!” appearance. And while he didn’t walk away a champ, he was happy with his third-place performance.

Film with UMSL ties scores coveted Cannes showing

Film with UMSL ties scores coveted Cannes showing

A movie with ties to the University of Missouri–St. Louis has scored a major coup. The thriller “Fatal Call,” was recently screened at the Marché du Film, a film market that is part of the Cannes Film Festival in France. Jack Snyder, a lecturer in media studies at UMSL wrote, produced, directed and edited the film. He also makes a cameo in it.

STARS places students with scientists in lab, field

STARS places students with scientists in lab, field

Academically talented high school juniors and seniors will get a chance this summer to research everything from plant responses to environmental stress, to a protein important for nervous system differentiation and cancer, during the 2012 STARS program at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Instructor sheds light on Pentecostalism, tongue-speaking

Instructor sheds light on Pentecostalism, tongue-speaking

While it might sound like gibberish to the untrained ear, there are actually two varieties of tongue-speaking among Pentecostals, according to Peter Marina, a visiting assistant professor of sociology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

ROTC grads honor history, take next big step

ROTC grads honor history, take next big step

In unison, the 16 young men and women recited the Cadet Creed. A standing-room- only crowd filled the sanctuary of a former church on the St. Louis University campus May 10 for the military ceremony.

UMSL acquires Quincy public radio station

UMSL acquires Quincy public radio station

Expanding on the success of St. Louis Public Radio | 90.7 KWMU, the University of Missouri–St. Louis is acquiring Quincy University’s public radio station WQUB 90.3 FM in Quincy, Ill.

Bridge Program receives national award from College Board

Bridge Program receives national award from College Board

After years of presenting hundreds of awards to students and their organizations, Curt Coonrod got to accept one for his team. The Bridge Program at the University of Missouri–St. Louis was recognized by the College Board for its commitment and efforts to positively impact the African American community. Coonrod, UMSL’s vice provost for Student Affairs, accepted the Dr. Asa G. Hilliard Model of Excellence award on April 27 at the College Board’s 2012 A Dream Deferred: The Future of African American Education conference in Los Angeles.

Accounting alumna wins 2011 Elijah Watt Sells Award

Accounting alumna wins 2011 Elijah Watt Sells Award

When Nguyen Ngo received word she was a recipient of the 2011 Elijah Watt Sells Award, the University of Missouri–St. Louis alumna was excited to share the news with the faculty who helped make the honor possible.

Thinking out loud with the intellectually curious

Thinking out loud with the intellectually curious

Why do we think about certain things? Why do we do certain things? A three-day conference for the thinking person gets under way May 20 at the Moonrise Hotel in St. Louis. The St. Louis Annual Conference on Reasons and Rationality or SLACRR is sponsored by the University of Missouri–St. Louis and Washington University in St. Louis. It runs through May 22. The conference provides a forum for new work on practical and theoretical reason.