Today's Stories:
RU Home to Commonwealth's Largest Basswood Tree
Education Faculty Member Holly Robbins
Highlanders Festival Returns Ocober 11
RU History Professor Sings National Anthem at Salem Stadium
Kudos: Jeremy Wojdak and Christinia Schoch
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This Week's Top News

RU Home to Largest Basswood Tree in the Commonwealth
The large basswood tree located beside Jefferson Hall is the largest on record in the Commonwealth. According to biology faculty John Kell, “I've always admired that particular tree. I've taught biology classes here at RU for many years, and various lab exercises have included identification, measurement and surveys of campus trees. I knew that one was one of the largest.” He measured the tree on June 13. “I've measured it in the past, and it wasn't a state champion, but it's grown enough in the past few years that it's surpassed the previous champion.”

Kell used the “Virginia Big Tree” website maintained by professor and extension specialist Jeff Kirwan in the College of Natural Resources at Virginia Tech. RU's basswood is recognized on the site.

“I'd guess it's probably close to 100 years old or more, so it might have been here before Radford College,” says Kell.

RU faces Features Education Faculty Member Holly Robbins
RU's College of Education and Human Development is evolving and growing at a competitive rate. Holly Robbins, School of Teacher Education and Leadership faculty member, is one of the new additions to the college.

Visit the newly updated RU faces page to view a video in which she discusses new technology in the classroom.

RU faces highlights the many facets of RU's Highlander family. We invent, discover, challenge, mentor and make a difference in our communities and the world. Here you will find stories of alumni, faculty, staff and students whose caring, drive and success have created positive opportunities for themselves and those around them.

Campus News

Radford Highlanders Festival Returns
October 11 with New Look
The Radford Highlanders Festival, a popular fall destination for Southwest Virginia residents and tourists across the nation for more than a decade, will take place Friday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 11, in downtown Radford and on the campus of Radford University. A joint partnership between the city and university, this is the festival's 13th year and features familiar and new events.

Two of the more noticeable and exciting changes are the music schedule and an increased presence of student involvement and community and town volunteers. Traditionally, the headline musical performance featured two afternoon concerts. The 2008 festival includes a daytime line up of regional Celtic and pipe and drum music and an evening concert in Bondurant Auditorium, Preston Hall, featuring performances by Scythian and Seven Nations. Admission to the festival is free but tickets are required for the evening concerts. Admission is $12 for RU students and $15 for general public. Tickets go on sale August 11 and ticket outlets will be announced soon. To learn more, see RU News Release.

History Professor Will Sing National Anthem
at Salem Avalanche Game
RU history professor Suzanne Ament will sing the national anthem for the opening of the Salem Avalanche game on Tuesday, July 15. Ament, a member and past president of the Blacksburg Breakfast Lion's club, will sing the anthem as part of the Lion's night at the Salem stadium. Her seeing-eye-dog Nikita will accompany her, but will not sing.

Kudos

RU Faculty and Student Study Parasitic Flatworm
Radford University biologist Jeremy Wojdak, RU undergraduate student Christinia Schoch and Virginia Tech biologist Lisa Belden are studying Echinostoma trivolvis, a parasitic flatworm, and its harmful effects on local amphibians. Many amphibian species are currently imperiled around the world. Human influence on the landscape, such as nutrient pollution, may actually be increasing the prevalence and intensity of disease among wildlife, and in particular among amphibians.

This research may uncover information relevant to human disease systems. The scientists' studies range from basic biological observations in the laboratory and at local field sites, to direct experimentation in small artificial ponds at RU's Selu Conservancy and VT's Kentland Farm. To learn more, see the RU News Release.

The Back Page

On this day in 1941, crackerjack British cryptologists broke the secret code used by the German army to direct ground-to-air operations on the Eastern front. Over the next year, various keys would continue to be broken by the British, each conveying information of higher secrecy and priority than the next. - History.com

Recent Releases from University Relations

RU Hosts Scottish Rite Luncheon to Celebrate Successful Clinic >>Story

COBE Co-Sponsors SBAA Workshop >>Story

Coming Up at RU

7/10-13, Women's Tennis Camp
7/11-13, Men's Soccer Elite Camp
7/13-17, Women's Softball Camp
7/14-17, Transfer Quest
7/14-17, Baseball Camp
7/14-17, Golf Camp at Draper Valley Golf Club
7/26, Women's Soccer Clinic
7/28-31, Women's Volleyball Camp
7/28-31, Golf Camp at Draper Valley Golf Club
(See RU Calendar for more listings;
contact RU Athletics at 831-5228 for information on summer sports camps)

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