Alumna's TED Talk now available online

Kakenya Ntaiya ’04 has captured many audiences with her personal journey that included becoming the first woman from her African village to attend college. Now a TED Talk about her accomplishments is available online.

Ntaiya delivered the speech last fall as part of the popular TED Talk series that features thought leaders from various fields. Titled “Kakenya Ntaiya: A girl who demanded school,” the talk details life in her Massai village, her strategic efforts to convince her father and the village leaders to allow her to break tradition and attend college, and her decision to open a school for girls in her home village.

The speech was placed on the TED website this week. Watch it here:

Students show appreciation for Randolph staff member

Students took a few minutes at lunch today to honor a Randolph employee who was instrumental in creating the new Student Center.

They surprised Bobby Bennett, director of capital projects, with a cake bearing his picture and a large banner signed by many students.

Zara Sibtain ’13, the student government president, said students decided to honor Bennett because they were aware that he had worked long hours for many months on the Student Center renovation. “We love the new Student Center, and it is a wonderful space,” she said. “We would not have been able to have this if it wasn't for him and his hard work.”

Bennett was completely surprised when everyone in the dining hall erupted into applause and cheers as he entered the room. After a few minutes of thanking the student government leaders who organized the event, he cut the cake and began serving slices to people around him.

Scientist who helped discover the Higgs boson to kick off Randolph Science Festival

A scientist involved in one of the most important recent scientific discoveries will headline the Randolph College Science Festival in March.

Don Lincoln, a Fermilab scientist, will present the Science Festival’s keynote address, “Fireworks in July – An Insider’s Account of the Discovery of the Higgs boson,” at 7:30 p.m. on March 21. It will kick off four days of events that help people of all ages learn about—and have fun with—science.

The Randolph College Science Festival helps people discover the science that powers innovations we all love. Find out more on the Science Festival website, or read a detailed list of events below.

Lincoln worked on the team of scientists that used the Large Hadron Collider in Europe to test for the existence of the Higgs boson, a subatomic particle that is important to scientific theories about the beginnings of the universe. Last summer, the team announced that it had discovered what appeared to be a Higgs boson.

“The discovery of the Higgs boson is probably the biggest scientific discovery of the century,” said Peter Sheldon, a Randolph physics professor who organizes the Science Festival. “The large-scale science Dr. Lincoln is here to talk about impacts everyone, and he is able to really bring it to life.”

Lincoln is known for explaining deep scientific principles in a way that is easy for non-scientists to grasp—for example, he has written books and delivered a TED Talk about the Higgs boson, and also has a YouTube video with more than a million views. “He is able to show the beauty and express the importance of this and other discoveries,” Sheldon said. “He is a speaker you do not want to miss.”

After Lincoln’s keynote address, Science Festival will continue on Friday when Lincoln leads a class at Randolph College at 11:30 a.m. Members of the public may attend if they contact Sheldon in advance as seating is limited.

Other Science Festival events this year include:

Friday, March 22

The Center for Student Research Open House—Come learn about student research opportunities and achievements at Randolph College. 2:30 p.m., West 106
Women in Science Panel—Learn about how the College’s alumnae have built careers in science. 3:30 p.m., Nichols Theatre, Student Center
Poetry Competition Reading—More than 1,000 students have submitted science-themed poems to this year’s contest. 6:30 p.m., Wimberly Recital Hall, Presser Hall
A Scientist Goes to the Movies: The Avengers—Randolph mathematics professor Marc Ordower will dress as Nick Fury and offer scientific commentary about this popular film. Wear your own superhero costume for a chance to win a prize! 8 p.m., Nichols Theatre, Student Center

Saturday, March 23

Science Day Fun for Little Scientists—Randolph students will lead children in age-appropriate science-based activities at the Randolph College Nursery School. Noon and 1:30 p.m. (Requires pre-registration.)
Science Day—This popular event will include science-based activities for students in grades 3–6. (Requires pre-registration.)
Star Party—View stars, planets, and other astronomical bodies at Winfree Observatory. In the event of rain, a slideshow will be shown. 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 24

Art and Animals Drawing Contest—Draw animals from the College’s collection of birds and mammals. 1–3 p.m., Martin Science Building
Drop-in Science Activities—Science demonstrations including robots, lasers, nature, and more. 1–3 p.m., Martin Science Building
Pinewood Derby Regional Competition—We host this annual race for the Cub Scouts again. 1–4 p.m., Houston Memorial Chapel

Randolph hosts communication studies academic conference

Topics ranging from the British Monarchy to Harry Potter to breast cancer awareness campaigns were discussed this past Saturday when Randolph College hosted the Student Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF) Conference. In its 11th year, SURF brings together communication studies students from area colleges to present about a variety of field related topics.

Ryan Blackwell '13 explains the role that cultural citizenship
plays in the popular NBC television show Community.

In addition to sharing knowledge about communication studies, the conference offers a unique opportunity for networking among students, professors, as well as the general community.

Three Randolph College students presented at the conference:

Ryan Blackwell ’13, discussed the role of cultural citizenship in the NBC show Community.

Kaitlyn Kolster ’15 talked about her analysis of Hollywood’s portrayal of C.S Lewis’ series The Chronicles of Narnia.

Samantha Wittie ’13 recounted her research about the Bravo television network and it’s presentation of the gay and LGBT community through the lens of the show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

Jennifer Gauthier, a communications studies professor who helped in organizing the conference, praised the Randolph students’ use of theory and the relevancy to important issues such as race, class, gender, and sexuality. “Our students presented high quality research that represented our department’s expertise in critical media studies,” she said.

Kaitlin Kolster '15 analyzes the portrayal of the Chronicles of Narnia in film.

Weekly worship and prayer services aim to strengthen spiritual life

The Randolph College community has two new opportunities for engaging in spiritual life with community members of all faiths.

Beginning Feb. 14, the College is hosting a weekly worship service on Thursday afternoons and a weekly prayer service on Tuesday mornings. Liz Ecklund, the campus chaplain, organized the new events.

The Rev. Ron Litten, of Booneseboro United Methodist Church,
reads from the Bible during his sermon which opened the new
series the worship services at Houston Memorial Chapel.

The worship service is held each Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in Houston Memorial Chapel. Last week, the Rev. Ron Litten, from Boonesboro United Methodist Church, delivered a sermon about love to begin the worship service series. He read John chapter 21 from the New Testament and explained its message of love and service.

“It’s easy to say I love you; it’s hard to show it,” Litten said. “It’s easy to like someone; it’s hard to love them. If you love them, you might have to give them what they need instead of what they want.”

In coming weeks, religious leaders of various faiths in the community will deliver sermons for the worship service.

The weekly prayer and devotional meeting, called Prayer for Randolph, is held at 8 a.m. each Tuesday in the large conference room on the third floor of the Student Center. Each week, participants will spend a half hour in devotion, prayer, and meditation for the College, the students, faculty, and staff, and any specific prayer requests brought by those who attend.

Asa Bright Valente '90 featured on Good Morning America

Good Morning America recently featured one of our alumnae in a story about recovering after bone marrow transplants.

Asa Bright Valente ’90 was one of several people who spoke in a segment to welcome back Robin Roberts, a Good Morning America anchor who is returning to the show this week five months after receiving a bone marrow transplant to treat aplastic anemia. Focusing on the challenge of returning to work following, Valente talks about surviving leukemia, receiving a stem cell transplant, and finding renewed purpose when she returned to her school classroom.

You can watch the Good Morning America segment here.

Winfree Observatory continues Star Party series

Many will be hoping for clear skies this Saturday as the Winfree Observatory opens its doors for its monthly Star Party. The popular stargazing event is open to the Randolph community as well as the general public.

Star Party

Saturday, Feb. 17, 7 p.m.
Winfree Observatory is next to the Bell Hall parking lot above the Dell. See it here on our interactive campus map.

During each Star Party, Randolph students help visitors observe stars and planets through the Winfree Observatory telescope. Typically, two to three objects are viewed every time, said Hart Gillespie ’15, a Randolph College physics major who frequently assists with the star parties. Aspiring to earn a Ph.D. in astrophysics, Gillespie said that working with the telescope helps him better understand how the equipment works and also what people enjoy looking at, which he thinks will help him in achieving his degree goal.

Even if your goals do not include an astrophysics degree, a Star Party is an eye opening experience. When the sky is too cloudy for stargazing, many people still enjoy the social aspect of the event.

Katrin Schenk, a Physics professor at Randolph, organizes the Star Parties with the help of students such as Gillespie. In addition, the Blue Ridge Astronomy Club also attends many of the events to help offer additional insight.

This Saturday’s Star Party begins at 7 p.m. Star Parties also  will be held on the following Saturdays:

March 23, 2013 - 8:30-10 p.m.
April 13, 2013 - 9-10:30 p.m.
May 11, 2013 - 9:30-11 p.m.

Refreshments are served and admission is free.