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Fall Lecture Event
Tuesday, Nov. 2

Minnesota History Center

St. Paul, Minn.

"The Wide World of Film: Have You Read Any Good Movies Lately?"

An overview of the wide world of cinema presented by Gorden Hedahl, UWRF emeritus professor of theatre, and former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. From the beginning, film has been an international art form, but it isn't always easy to tell that at the local multi-plex.

Join us from 2:30-5 p.m. for a light dessert buffet, lecture, and discussion. Enjoy free admission to the Minnesota History Center from 5-8 p.m. that evening.

Cost is $15/person.

R.S.V.P. deadline is Oct. 26.

R.S.V.P. to the Alumni Office 715-425-3505 or 877-258-6647. Pay via credit card when you call or mail your reservation and check to:

UWRF Alumni Office
410 South Third Street
River Falls, WI 54022

Wisconsin Dells Alumni Weekend
Nov. 12-14

Play Nov. 12-14 at the Wilderness Hotel and Golf Resort in Wisconsin Dells. For $109/night a family of four can reserve a double queen room and receive unlimited access to three indoor water parks and the four-story foam playhouse. Make a reservation by calling 800-867-9453 and mention reservation group name: UW-River Falls and block number #905122.

Not up for the whole weekend? Join us at the Wilderness Resort for an alumni reception (including appetizers, cash bar and door prizes) on Nov. 13 from 3-5 p.m.

CHAMPPS Americana

New Brighton, Minn.

Join with other northwest metro alumni  from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Bring your business cards and expect to meet with others in attendance. A database of those attending will be developed and shared after the event to be utilized for future networking purposes. Door prizes, appetizers and a cash bar featuring happy hour specials until 6 p.m. will be available.

There is no cost to attend this event.

Spring Lecture Event
Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Minnesota History Center

St. Paul, Minn.

Professor Eileen Korenic of the Physics Department will present "Parallels: Science, Art, and the Big Ideas."

Throughout history, thinkers in science and thinkers in art have developed new models for their thoughts, often in drastic breaks with the past. Often, these dramatic shifts have happened in parallel without communication between the artists and scientists, as if humanity was simply ready for these changes to occur.

In "Parallels: Science, Art, and the Big Ideas" a couple of these shifts where the worlds of science and art made simultaneous parallel strides will be explored.

Join us from 2:30-5 p.m. for a light dessert buffet, lecture, and discussion. Enjoy free admission to the Minnesota History Center from 5-8 p.m.  that evening (with paid admission to the lecture event). 

Cost is $15/person.
R.S.V.P. deadline is Feb. 22, 2011.

R.S.V.P. to the Alumni Office 715-425-3505 or 877-258-6647. Pay via credit card when you call or mail your reservation and check to:

UWRF Alumni Office
410 South Third Street
River Falls, WI 54022

• UWRF News Study to Investigate Feasibility of Wind Turbines
  
• Success Story Doornink Named Dairy Woman of the Year
• Traditions Wyman Series Set for 2010-11
• Need to Know Annual UWRF Family Day Promises Fun
  
• In (and Out) of The Classroom Professor Receives Funding For Heart Failure Research

Study to Investigate Feasibility of Wind Turbines

UWRF, well-known for making strides in sustainability, is investigating the feasibility of wind turbines. Commercial wind turbines could potentially produce nearly 50 percent of the energy used by campus.

A study, funded by the Wisconsin Division of State Facilities, a Focus on Energy grant, and energy rebate dollars, has been contracted through Windations, a consulting and project management company specializing in alternative energy.

Mike Stifter, director of UWRF Facilities Management, says, "We need to take a holistic perspective and examine the technical and economic feasibility of wind turbines."

The study will take a close look at wind resource availability, site civil engineering requirements, electrical interconnection requirements, and permitting and approval requirements for a potential turbine site at the Mann Valley Laboratory Farm, north of River Falls along St. Croix County Road MM.

The study is expected to conclude in December.From there, if it is found to be a viable project, a period for public information meetings would span the next six months. A process to develop a design, seek appropriate approvals, obtain bids, and finalize funding precedes construction of the wind turbines would follow.

"Efficiency is important first, and then we can look at the installation of renewable energy," notes Kelly Cain, director of UWRF's St. Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development.

Liz Doornink, '89, is passionate about the dairy industry. So passionate, in fact, that she was recently named World Dairy Expo's Dairy Woman of the Year.

"I am extremely honored and humbled to have receive this prestigious award. I do what I do for my family and for the industry I adore," says Doornink.

Doornink, who is raising three daughters on a 2,400 acre farm near Baldwin, is actively involved as personnel manager of their 52 employees as the family milks 1,550 cows three-times-per day. She also oversees all financial records and has designed and implemented an Environmental Management System for the operation gaining the Environmental Excellence Award from the State of Wisconsin.

Doornink also co-chairs a new grass-roots organization, American Farmers for the Advancement and Conservation of Technology, which she championed. She travels around the country and speaks on modern agriculture and advocates for producers' freedom to choose production technologies and practices.

Doornink also advises and educates producers and ag businesses on employee management, communication and environmental systems through her own personnel management consulting business, Legacy of Excellence Consulting, LLC.

"Moving forward will create new challenges for me, but I will continue to do right for our industry and educate in order to make a difference for the next generation," says Doornink.

The annual Wyman Series kicked off in September with a performance by the Golden Dragon Acrobats, a performance troupe from Hebei, China. Held in conjunction with Cirque du Serve, a carnival-themed volunteer fair, the group displayed artful acrobatics to both ancient and contemporary music.

The next event of the series, "An Evening with Michael Perry," is set for Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. in North Hall auditorium. Perry, a homegrown humorist and author with a decidedly rural flavor, shares his unique story accompanied by his trusty guitar.

In a truly heart-pounding and soul-searching performance, "Mixed Blood Theater Presents: African America" will take the stage on Feb. 1, 2011, at 7 p.m. in North Hall auditorium. Founded in 1976 and dedicated to the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream, Mixed Blood is a multi-racial professional company promoting cultural pluralism, individual equality, and artistic excellence. In their production of African America, the unexpected appearance of a magical African man leads a very modern interracial couple down the path of connecting with and celebrating one's heritage.

On March 3, 2011, at 8 p.m. the Portland Cello Project will fill North Hall auditorium with strains of music that vary from the expected to the fairly shocking. Known to play Bach one moment and Britney Spears the next, the project was founded on the belief that collaboration is the ironic cornerstone of independent musicianship.

This year's Wyman Series wraps up on April 21, 2011, at 8 p.m. with Jonny Dubowsky with "Rock 'n' Renew: A Plan of Action for the Planet, That Rocks." Dubowsky, branded as a rock-star with an environmental twang, shares ways to reduce your carbon footprint and expounds on the new 'green' economy. His performance will no doubt leave the audience with a challenge: rethink how actions can define a generation and the world to come.

All performances are open to the public. A notable change for the series this year is that all events are free of charge, in order to allow more of the community to experience the Wyman Series.

For more information, contact Karyn Wells, event coordinator, at 715-425-4444 or via e-mail at karyn.wells@uwrf.edu.

UWRF is hosting its annual Family Day on Oct. 23. This event gives families an opportunity to experience UWRF's campus community while spending time with their students.

The day will be filled with numerous events, including the Falcon football game against UW-Whitewater, breakfast with Chancellor Dean Van Galen, a campus block party, open ice skating, campus tours, and family photos with UWRF's mascot, Freddy Falcon.

"More than 1,500 students and families participated in last year's events," says Sarah Egerstrom, director of the First Year Experience Office and International Student Services. "Some of our families have been attending for more than three years."

Registration is required for this event. Tickets are $12 for adults and children six years of age or older. Children under five and UWRF students are free. Registration includes all meals, events, and a Family Day T-shirt. T-shirts are guaranteed only to those who register by the priority deadline of Oct. 17.

All students and their families are encouraged to participate. For a detailed schedule of the day's events and to register, visit http://www.uwrf.edu/FirstYearExperience/FamilyDay.cfm.

UWRF Assistant Professor Cheng-Chen Huang has been awarded nearly $40,000 to continue his research to discover new chemical compounds to combat heart failure.

Huang's project, "Characterization of Potential Drugs for Heart Failure Using a Zebrafish Embryo Model," has the potential to discover new medications for heart failure in humans due to the similarity of the cardiac physiology of both zebrafish embryo and human hearts.

"Using zebrafish embryos, we are able to see if a chemical works very quickly, and it's very low cost," says Huang. "Eventually, we hope we can isolate chemicals that might become a new heart failure drugs. This funding helps us prepare for a larger project and expand our chemical libraries."

UWRF students are involved in the project. Those working on the project will be involved at every step, including breeding the fish, setting up chemical treatments, and evaluation and analysis.

The grant was awarded by the WiSys Technology Foundation. Established in 2000 as an affiliate of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the WiSys Technology Foundation works hand-in-hand with the University of Wisconsin System to support research and technology development.