Wednesday - December 4, 2024
*Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Virginia Newsletter for Saturday November 16, 2024 ( 22 items )  

A letter from Dean of Students Mark Sikes: Preparing for Thanksgiving and winter break
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Nov. 15 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: Dear Hokies, As Thanksgiving approaches and winter break follows soon after, many students are looking forward to taking a well-deserved pause from the demands of university life. For those heading home, this will likely be the first time you will see family since the semester began, and for some, the first extended break since starting at Virginia Tech. For others, whether due to distance, finances, or personal preferen  more

AUSA Staff Contribute to Veterans History Project
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Nov. 15 [Category: National Defense] -- The Association of the U.S. Army issued the following news: As part of its efforts to help tell the Army story, Association of the U.S. Army staff members are sharing their own experiences as part of the Veterans History Project. Established in 2000, the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress collects, preserves and makes accessible the firsthand recollections of U.S. military veterans who served from World War I through  more

Avoid holiday foodborne illness with tips from Virginia Tech food safety experts
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Nov. 15 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: Meals at Thanksgiving and other holidays serve as great social occasions for catching up with family and friends and for the sake of all gathered, the culinary delights on the table should be delicious, sumptuous, and most importantly, safe. Melissa Wright, director of Virginia Tech's Food Producer Technical Assistance Network, and Lester Schonberger, associate Extension specialist, are both faculty members in the Virgi  more

Cadets chosen to highlight the colors at the Duke game
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Nov. 15 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: Cadets Patrick Droney and John Elam will travel with the Hokies to receive the flags at Saturday's football game at Duke. The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and the Virginia Tech football team continue their proud partnership to highlight the colors during the pre-game ceremony at every football game. Three football players, chosen because of their performance in the last game or at practice, carry the American flag, t  more

Christendom College Names Chief Financial Officer
FRONT ROYAL, Virginia, Nov. 14 -- Christendom College issued the following news: Christendom College has appointed Philip Ashton as its new chief financial officer. Ashton brings more than 30 years of experience to his role as chief financial officer, including over a decade as a Partner and Director of Research at the Radcliffe Group, Inc., where he helped manage a $2.5 billion global portfolio, and seven years at the Rock Creek Group, where he served as a Director of Risk, overseeing the fir  more

CTA Announces CES Innovations Awards(r) 2025 Honorees
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Nov. 14 [Category: Electronic Products] -- The Consumer Technology Association issued the following news release: The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)(r) is announcing its CES Innovation Awards(r) 2025 honorees. The 2025 awards program received a record-breaking number of submissions, over 3400, a 13% increase from CES 2024. The CES Innovation Awards annually recognizes and honors exceptional designs and engineering in technology that tackle global challenges and drive  more

Eileen Van Aken completes tenure as president of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Nov. 15 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: As the former president of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) and the current head of Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) at Virginia Tech, Eileen Van Aken is no stranger to tackling complex challenges and working directly with the next generation of industrial and systems engineers. In May 2024, she completed her term as president of IISE the world's largest professional so  more

Expert explains effects of catastrophic weather events on forests and tree species
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Nov. 15 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: This year has seen its share of severe weather--but how do these powerful storms impact forests over the long term? A Virginia Tech forest health expert breaks down the long-term effects catastrophic weather events can have and how to revive hard-hit forests. Forest recovery Forests can recover from large-scale disasters through natural succession, though it may take years to resemble their original state, depending on  more

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute: Leading Oncologist to Share How Understanding DNA Helps Diagnose and Treat Cancer
ROANOKE, Virginia, Nov. 16 (TNSres) -- The Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech issued the following news: * * * Physician-scientist Luis Diaz Jr., a member of the National Academy of Medicine, will deliver the next Maury Strauss Distinguished Public Lecture at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC. * * * By Lena Ayuk Cancer cells are masters of disguise. Though our bodies are constantly on the lookout for foreign invaders that can cause illness, cells that trans  more

In memoriam: James H. "Jimmy" Cochrane '84, namesake of Cochrane Hall
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Nov. 15 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: Devoted Hokie and historian James H. "Jimmy" Cochrane '84 unexpectedly passed on Oct. 24. He was the ultimate Tech fan, rarely missing a Hokie football or basketball game. If he wasn't wearing orange or maroon, Cochrane might be found in Civil War Battalion attire or a Scottish kilt. He will be deeply missed around campus and the New River Valley. Cochrane, who earned a degree in architecture from what is now the Colle  more

In memoriam: Sean Tristan Garrick, sophomore majoring in general engineering
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Nov. 15 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: Sean Tristan Garrick passed away peacefully on the morning of Oct. 30, surrounded by family at home. Garrick had just embarked on his journey at Virginia Tech in the fall of 2023 and was a student in the College of Engineering. He lived in West Ambler Johnston Hall. Outside of the classroom, Garrick was happiest gaming online with friends, weightlifting, rock climbing, and indulging in his love of food especially sushi a  more

International Chiropractors Association Congratulates Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on His Selection as Secretary of Health and Human Services Designee
FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, Nov. 16 (TNSres) -- The International Chiropractors Association issued the following news release on Nov. 14, 2024: Today, President-elect Donald J. Trump made it official that he was nominating Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to serve as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Secretary-designee Kennedy has spent his entire career championing the health of the nation through education, advocacy, research and when needed litigation. Among his many accomplishments are protect  more

Leading oncologist to share how understanding DNA helps diagnose and treat cancer
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Nov. 15 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: Cancer cells are masters of disguise. Though our bodies are constantly on the lookout for foreign invaders that can cause illness, cells that transform to become cancerous can go unnoticed by exploiting the mechanisms of the very immune system that protects us. Luis Diaz Jr., a clinical oncologist who heads the Division of Solid Tumor Oncology at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, leverages knowledg  more

Photos: Virginia Tech Science Festival draws thousands to Blacksburg campus
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Nov. 15 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: Each year, the Virginia Tech Science Festival celebrates science as a way of knowing by providing community members an opportunity to engage with university research. Held on Nov. 2, this year's event brought more than 2,000 visitors to the Moss Arts Center and Newman Library to engage with 60 exhibits led by over 100 exhibitors spanning over 25 departments. Based on the idea that "science is bigger than you think," ea  more

Residential Well-being program earns national award
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Nov. 15 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: Virginia Tech's Residential Well-being program received an Outstanding Campus Program Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. Every year, the organization recognizes high-performing teams that embody collaboration in their efforts to support students. Teams are selected for proactive innovation in wellness and health promotion, thorough and creative design, and adapting their programs to   more

SiriusXM CEO Jennifer Witz to Deliver C Space Keynote at CES 2025
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Nov. 12 [Category: Electronic Products] -- The Consumer Technology Association issued the following news release: The Consumer Technology Association(r) (CTA), owner and producer of CES(r), the world's most powerful tech event, announces Jennifer Witz, CEO of SiriusXM, a leading audio entertainment company in North America, will keynote at CES 2025. During an event at McIntosh Group's House of Sound this afternoon, CTA shared the news that Witz will take the stage alongside  more

Symposium sparks connections in early childhood education
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Nov. 15 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: It takes a village to raise a child, and early childhood educators are an essential part of our communities. They are fundamental in shaping the lives of future generations by providing high-quality education to today's children. As a land-grant university, Virginia Tech recognizes the importance of providing a quality education from the start, especially for the New River Valley (NRV) community, or "village," that the   more

To the moon and back: Alumnus prepares for Blue Ghost Mission One
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Nov. 15 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: A number of commercial missions are underway to deliver science and technology to the moon through NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. These uncrewed missions will perform science experiments, test technologies, and help NASA explore the lunar surface, laying the groundwork for humans to have a lasting presence on the moon. Excitement is building for Firefly Aerospace's Ghost Riders in the Sky mission. T  more

Upcoming events and activities at Virginia Tech
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Nov. 15 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: Below is a sampling of activities coming up this week, including several Thanksgiving meals and musical performances, and the start of Thanksgiving Break. Be sure to check GobblerConnect for additional activities. Monday, Nov. 18 Self-Care Financial Wellness Workshop Finances After Graduation Bird Bucks: Party Positive Send Doods Recovery Meeting (Hybrid) Tote Bag Decorating Social Turkey Legs Opera Workshop Tues  more

VCU School of Education Earns $1.7M Federal Grant to Support STEM Learning for Middle School Students
RICHMOND, Virginia, Nov. 16 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news: * * * Based in Virginia and Michigan, the research practice partnership looks to link science and real-world experience for historically marginalized youth. * * * By Laura O'Brien Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Education has secured a four-year, $1.7 million federal grant to pursue a research project aimed at enhancing science learning opportunities for historically marginalized middle s  more

Virginia Tech students' water-sampling drone innovation takes them to Malawi and Rome
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Nov. 15 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: When three Virginia Tech students from different disciplines joined forces to advance a drone-based water sampling project in Malawi, none imagined their work would lead them to present at the World Food Forum, Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations in Rome. Yet their innovative approach to monitoring schistosomiasis, a devastating parasitic disease, earned them selection as finalists from over 1,000 g  more

WVWC's Black Student Union Honors Quarles '11, Riley '99 with Sankofa Alumni Awards
BUCKHANNON, West Virginia, Nov. 15 -- West Virginia Wesleyan College issued the following news: BUCKHANNON, West Virginia Two alumni who continue to support their alma mater and the work of the Black Student Union on campus at West Virginia Wesleyan College were recognized during a special Homecoming celebration. Angel Riley '99 and Dr. Robbie Quarles '11 received the first annual Sankofa BSU Alumni Awards. Sankofa is a Ghanaian adinkra symbol that means to go back and reclaim your past so yo  more