March 2008 Newsletter
In this issue
SINGMASTER RECEIVES OUTSTANDING PROFESSOR AWARD
Karen A. Singmaster, chemistry professor, is the recipient of the 2007-2008 Outstanding Professor Award at San José State University. This award, which recognizes excellence in teaching, is one of the top four faculty awards given annually by SJSU.
"Karen is a committed and passionate professor who gives her all to the advancement of education," President Don W. Kassing said. A faculty member since 1988, Singmaster's unique teaching techniques attract students to her general chemistry courses. Singmaster is the SJSU program coordinator for a National Science Foundation Alliance for Minority Participation grant that funds a two-week chemistry prep course and peer-facilitated workshops. The program targets students traditionally underrepresented in the fields of science, math, engineering and technology. Read the news release.
Mummified Deer
Saturday, March 8
University Theater
Curtain 7 p.m.
Mummified Deer, written by San José State alumnus Luis Valdez, is his mature exploration of the Yaqui Indian roots of Mexican American culture and Valdez's own family. Kinan Valdez, Valdez's son, will direct the play, and several actors from Teatro Campesino will work with students on the play and documentary film project. Advance ticket purchases to Mummified Deer are available at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the door.
The SJSU Alumni Association will host a private, post-production dessert reception to give audience members a chance to meet Luis Valdez, the cast and crew. This is a one-time, exclusive event offered to SJSU Alumni Association members. To RSVP for the reception, call 408-924-1109.
Wine Tasting in Santa Cruz
Tuesday, March 18
5-7 p.m.
Delight your palate at an unforgettable wine tasting experience with the San José State University Alumni Association and its Santa Cruz County Chapter. Guests will sample an array of chardonnay, pinot noir and syrah from the Wines of Vine Hill, located in the Santa Cruz Mountains. In addition to sampling a variety of wines, Vinocruz, the host of the event, will offer a 10% discount on purchases.
The cost to attend is $10 per person. To RSVP, contact Marie McCann at 408-924-1109 by Thursday, March 13. Vinocruz is located in Abbott Square at 725 Front Street in Santa Cruz.
Alumni Association Scholarship Benefit
Thursday, May 8
6-9 p.m.
Make plans to join the Alumni Association for an exciting night of food, wine and live music at the Silver Creek Valley Country Club. Benefiting Alumni Association scholarships, you will have the opportunity to be part of silent and live auctions. Auction items include vacation getaways, golf packages and much more! For more information, please call 408-924-6515 or e-mail us.
WHAT IS ... ?
SJSU Washington Square, San José State University's quarterly magazine sent to 175,00 alumni worldwide, is seeking your input on questions that make us pause, sit back, think and re-evaluate. The newly redesigned periodical has a section on the inside back cover called "What is ... ?" The section is a forum for philosophical questions we believe should be pondered in an educational setting. In the past three issues of the magazine, we asked our readers to define truth, happiness and justice, and got some interesting responses.
Intrigued? Would you like to share your insights? If so, e-mail us your responses to any of the questions below in approximately 50 words:
- What is liberty?
- What is evil?
- What is success?
If you haven't seen the newly redesigned version of the magazine, check out our Web site.
Please note: Responses are not guaranteed a space in the print publication and responses accepted for publication may be edited for clarity or space.
CHANGING COURSE
Did you major in one subject and are a national expert on another? Did you make a dramatic career switch in pursuit of happiness? Do you know of a San José State alum who did? If you have stories of people who made a major career shift (when we say major, we mean from being a journalist to a masseuse, or giving up a lucrative law practice to become an impressionist painter), Washington Square would love to hear from you! If you have an interesting story to tell, we're listening. Please send us your "dramatic career shift" story.
FORMER COMMANDER OF U.S. FORCES IN BAGHDAD PROMOTED
Army Lt. Gen. Joseph F. Fil, Jr., '76 Anthropology, who served 15 months at the helm of the Multi-National Division-Baghdad, was recently redeployed to command the 8th Army forces in Korea and promoted to lieutenant general, earning his third star. A native of Portola Valley, Fil is a distinguished graduate of SJSU's ROTC program and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June 1976. In addition to his service in Iraq, he has served in Army units in the U.S., Germany and Belgium. Speaking to the New York Times in November about conditions in Iraq, he described the country's stability "within sight but not yet within touch." If 2007 was the year of security, he said, 2008 would be "a year of reconstruction."
PIERRE-DIXON JOINS SILICON VALLEY NCCJ BOARD
Rolanda Pierre-Dixon, '77 Political Science, deputy district attorney for Santa Clara County and domestic violence expert, has joined the board of directors of the National Conference for Community & Justice (NCCJ), Silicon Valley. She leads the county's domestic violence unit and developed the first training program for the San José Police Department's domestic violence unit. A senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum, she also sits on the boards of SJSU's Administration of Justice Bureau and the School of Nursing. Among her many awards are the John Gardner Leadership Award-ALF Silicon Valley and the Spirit of Vision and Courage Award from Women as Allies.
MUSICIAN PAUL-CARLSON "BAGS" THREE NATIONAL AWARDS
Ericka Paul-Carlson, '86 Music, vocalist, pianist and performer, is winning raves and awards for her interactive children's jazz CD, "Scat's My Bag." Among the latest honors accorded the CD are the Parents' Choice Award, The Children's Web Award for Best Recording, and the NAPPA Parenthood Honors Award. Paul-Carlson lives in Reno.
2008 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
A pair of ESPN nationally televised home games and a road contest at the University of Nebraska highlight the 2008 San José State football schedule. The Spartans open the season at home August 30 against UC Davis, followed by a September 6 trip to Lincoln, Neb., where they will face the Cornhuskers and new head coach Bo Pellini.
The Spartans will appear on a major television network with two Friday night ESPN2 broadcast games. On October 24, SJSU hosts Boise State in a nationally televised contest set for a 6 p.m. kickoff at Spartan Stadium. The Spartans close the regular season with their second ESPN2 contest, hosting rival Fresno State on Nov. 21, also at 6 p.m. Other home games include Mountain West Conference member San Diego State on September 13, Utah State on October 11 (Homecoming) and Louisiana Tech on November 8. See the complete schedule.
GYMNASTICS TAKES SECOND AT ASU TOURNAMENT
Veronica Porte won the all-around with a 39.050, and the San José State women's gymnastics team placed second with a 194.200 at the UNO's Flip For a Cure quadrangular meet, hosted by Arizona State Friday evening. Seventh-ranked Stanford won the meet with a 195.800. The Spartans defeated 17th-ranked Arizona State for second place by just .200 of a point as the Sun Devils had a 194.000. "Our second-place finish was huge for our team and San José State," said San José State head coach Wayne Wright. "We went 24-for-24 on our routines and it was a total team effort. We had 15 athletes compete and score for us this evening." For the season, the Spartans were perfect at home and have an 11-2 record.
SOFTBALL HOSTS NIST MARCH 7-9
From Friday, March 7, through Sunday, March 9, San José State will host the 22nd National Invitational Softball Tournament at Alden E. Oliver Sports Park in Hayward. Six teams from around the country will be competing. On Friday, the Spartans will face Tennessee State at noon and will return to the diamond at 3 p.m. to take on Northern Iowa. On Saturday, SJSU will play California at 1 p.m. and Boston College at 4 p.m.
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