UC Irvine Parents eNews

Students from UCI, Chapman University, Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College joined forces as Team Orange County in the 2015 Solar Decathlon

November 2015

Issue No. 68

Parents & Family Day: Register by October 30

Please join us for UCI's annual Parents & Family Day on November 7, 2015, 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on the UC Irvine campus.

Featuring a welcome from Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs Thomas Parham and a keynote from UCI Head Coach for Men's Basketball Russell Turner, the event is one you won't want to miss!

The day also includes continental breakfast, lunch and workshops to help you and your student prepare for UCI as well as life after college.

The cost to attend Parents & Family Day is $35/parent or family member and $15 for your UCI student to join you for lunch. Parking is $10 and can be purchased at the Student Center Parking Structure kiosk upon arrival.

Online registration for Parents & Family Day open is now open ť
Deadline is Friday, October 30.

We encourage your attendance and hope that you'll join us for this fun and informative event!

Event information & registration ť

For questions, please contact Kathy Dong at 949-824-5182 or kdong@uci.edu.

Team Orange County scores big at 2015 Solar Decathlon

Zero-net energy home called "most innovative" design in Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon 2015

Take a virtual tour of Team OC's net-zero-energy home, Casa Del Sol

Team Orange County, the hometown entry led by University of California, Irvine with Chapman University, Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College, scored big in the prestigious engineering contest at the U.S. Dept. of Energy Solar Decathlon 2015. Jurors praised their net zero energy Casa del Sol home as "the most innovative in the entire competition."

Judges cited a "dazzling display" of technologies, including a first-ever bi-directional inverter that converts the sun's rays into direct current to power an electric car, a paraffin lined clothes dryer and other energy-saving features.

Team OC scored just one point less in the engineering contest than Stevens Institute of Technology, which won the overall decathlon for their disaster-response themed solar home.

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is an award-winning program that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.

UCI Special Report

Solar Decathlon photos ť

Final scores by team ť

Competition overview ť

Celebrating 50 years of UCI innovation at Festival of Discovery

As 50th anniversary parties go, this one was golden. UCI's Festival of Discovery, a daylong celebration of good health, great art, global impact and innovation had Aldrich Park hopping Saturday Oct. 3, from the 7 a.m. badge pick-up for the Anteater 5K & Family Fun Run to the closing of the last booth after 3 p.m.

More than 10,000 people took to the campus to be enriched and amazed at the discovery pavilions; satiated by cupcakes from UCI's birthday cake and gourmet goodies from food trucks; entertained by student performances; and mesmerized by science at the My Virtual Dream tent.

Social media coverage ť

UCI 50th Anniversary website ť

Festival of Discovery photos ť

Meet a Proud Anteater Parent

When our son, Michael, chose to attend UCI my husband and I were a bit concerned that he would get lost in the masses of a large university. Nothing could have been further from what Michael experienced during his freshman year. His dorm really became home; the students coordinated dining times, the RA planned movies, beach days, and many other bonding activities. All of Michael's professors and teaching assistants have been very welcoming and supportive. They encourage the students to meet with them during office hours, and in many cases before or after class for informal coffee chats. My husband and I are thankful to be part of the Anteater family, and to have the opportunity to stay connected to our son's education and to enhance the experience of all students through volunteering, networking and giving.

Zot, Zot, Zot!

Deborah Chian, Parent Leadership Council Chair

Proud Parent of Michael Chian, Class of 2018

Learn more about UCI Parent Leadership Council ť