Top Stories
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Alumni cyclists raise over $1 million for scholarships
Three generations of Bucknell alumni exceeded their goal of raising $1 million for scholarships for Bucknell students by cycling from coast to coast. [full story]
Walter McConnell '53, Frank Arentowicz '69, Jay Kosa ’07, Pat O'Malley '07, and Kyle Rosendale '07 completed a 19-day, 3,050-mile trek Sept. 27. It is said to be the first such effort by alumni anywhere to raise scholarship money.
The five Bucknell cyclists - part of the Bucknell-Penn Alumni Bike Race Across America - were honored at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium prior to the Sept. 29 Bucknell-Marist football game. Marking the generosity of those who supported their ride, they presented a check for $1,168,514 to Laura Denbow, executive director of Alumni Relations and Career Services at Bucknell.
Arentowicz, who turned 60 during the ride, and McConnell, who will turn 76 this month, completed at least two 100-plus mile rides during the course of the trip. All five Bucknellians pedaled the last 10 miles together.
"Not only had we done it, we were now three generations of Bucknellians bonded forever by what we had done together - three fantastic young graduates Jay, Pat and Kyle, 'middle age' Frank, and one old geezer. What a thrill that words can hardly describe," wrote McConnell in his blog. "We had covered over 3,000 miles and marveled daily at the expanse, beauty, and diversity of our country and friendliness of our people. We are truly blessed." -
Civil engineers receive $230,000 in NSF grants
The National Science Foundation funded two proposals by Bucknell professors related to the study of soil-bentonite cutoff walls, commonly used as barriers against groundwater pollutants. [full story]
Proposals for the NSF grants, which total more than $230,000, were submitted by Jeffrey Evans, professor of civil and environmental engineering, and Michael Malusis, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering.
One grant will fund a drill rig and accessories worth nearly $134,000. The drill rig, which should arrive in November, is the second Major Research Instrumentation grant obtained by the University this year, the first being an atomic force microscope acquired by the chemistry department.The cutoff wall grant is in conjunction with Louisiana State University professor Radhey Sharma, formerly a visiting professor at Bucknell.
The partnership with LSU, a Research I institution, allows both schools to accomplish a larger body of work, while encouraging students to engage in high-level research and to consider pursuing advanced degrees.
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President Mitchell issues statement on Burma crisis
President Brian C. Mitchell recently affirmed the University community’s concern about the political crisis in Burma. [full story]
In late September, non-violent demonstrations by Buddhist monks and nuns and common people throughout Burma were met with violent attacks by the military regime and police. After a week of increasingly large public demonstrations against the government’s fuel price increases, the regime instituted a repressive crack-down.
Bucknell has a long historic relationship with Burma, also known as Myanmar (as renamed by the military government in 1989).
In 2008, Bucknell will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Maung Shaw Loo, Bucknell’s first international student and the first student from Burma to enroll in a U.S. university. In recent years, the creation of the Shaw Loo Memorial and Win scholarships have given more students from Burma the opportunity to study at Bucknell.
"On behalf of the University, I must declare our deep concern for the safety of our students’ families, and our many alumni and friends in Burma, and our hope that the international community, in keeping with its commitment to the principles of human rights, will do whatever is appropriate to press the military government to cease its attacks on and arrests of monks, nuns, demonstrators and democracy activists," Mitchell said in a statement. "We trust that this crisis might open the door for peaceful negotiation on the demonstrators’ demands for relief from extreme poverty, a more open society, and a genuinely humane future for Burma." -
Loftus named director of Strategy Implementation
Edward Loftus has been named director of the Office of Strategy Implementation. [full story]
The office is charged with assisting the Bucknell community in developing and implementation tactical proposals to fulfill the five strategies outlined in University's strategic plan, The Plan for Bucknell.
"Ed brings to the Office of Strategy Implementation a wealth of experience in project leadership and strategic planning," said President Brian C. Mitchell. "He has demonstrated he knows how to translate complex issues and ideas into action, and we look forward to the great impact he will make on achieving the University's strategic goals."
Loftus, who joined Bucknell Oct. 1, was director of Business Initiative Development and Delivery with Prudential Financial-Retirement in Newark, N.J., since 1999. He graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in management from the University of Scranton and cum laude with an MBA in finance from the University of Notre Dame. He is a certified Project Management Professional and has taught as an Adjunct Professor of Management at University of Scranton.
As director of the Office of Strategy Implementation, Loftus will be responsible for managing the overall implementation schedule of plan tactics, including tracking and reporting progress. He will serve as the main contact point regarding The Plan, and will work with the Bucknell community to identify and nurture opportunities for collaboration.
Since The Plan's launch in April 2006, more than 400 suggestions to implement the strategy have been submitted. A searchable database of all tactical suggestions is available on myBucknell.
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Russert kicks off Bucknell Forum with election talk
Speaking to a full house at Bucknell's Weis Center for the Performing Arts, veteran NBC newsman and best-selling author Tim Russert kicked off the Bucknell Forum's national speakers series Sept. 18, saying the 2008 presidential election is wide open. [full story]
But Russert said the political situation is Washington is "poisonous" and that the next president of the United States must find common ground to bring the country together on a diverse array of significant issues.
"We are capable doing this if we are willing to accept a simple notion: That one party and one ideology does not have a monopoly on the truth," the moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press" said.
"The Bucknell Forum: The Citizen & Politics in America" is a national speakers series exploring major issues in the 2008 presidential election, notably those at the forefront of today's national discourse. The series features nationally renowned leaders, scholars, and commentators exploring these issues from multi-disciplinary perspectives and offers opportunities for campus and community conversations.
The Bucknell Forum will present a panel of national political correspondents representing such media as the New York Times, Time, NPR, Politico.com, and the Wall Street Journal on Oct. 18 and, on Nov. 5, a talk by internationally renowned scholar Dr. Benjamin Barber titled, "The News as Commodity in an Interdependent World: Can Citizenship Survive?"
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Celebrate at Homecoming 2007!
Please join us on campus for Homecoming 2007 (Oct. 19-21) – it’s a family-oriented weekend of food, friends, and fun. [full story]
Events will include the Outdoor Extravaganza field party, opportunities to consult with the Career Development Center experts and learn about their resources for alumni, football against Georgetown, a concert by Antigone Rising featuring Bucknell alumnae, and a Weis Center performance by the comedy troupe Capitol Steps.
New this year is "Bucknell Village," where alumni can catch up with classmates and faculty by major while enjoying barbecue and beverages on the Academic and Science quads.
The Office of Alumni Relations offers an online schedule of events, lists of confirmed attendees by major and class year, and registration.
