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College News
IOWA STATE WELCOMES 36,000 TO CAMPUS
Iowa State University is greeting another record-breaking group of students to campus. About 36,000 students began classes Monday. This year’s student body reflects the seventh year of record enrollment and ninth consecutive year of growth. Official fall enrollment numbers will be available in September; read STORIES Online next month for more details about the new student body in CALS. Here’s a “by the numbers” snapshot of ISU students and how ISU is adapting to serve students, including:
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The average student brings five electronic devices to campus. IT techs are installing more than 4,500 high-speed, wireless access points around campus.
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More than 70 percent of new freshman are expected to participate in a learning community.
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124 new tenured or tenure-track faculty have been hired.
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Cy Ride has added up to five additional hours of service each day.
ISU HORT STATION TRIES THEIR HAND IN HOPS
One acre, 100 poles and nearly 1,000 plants bring hops research and demonstration together at the Iowa State University Horticulture Research Station north of Ames. Diane Cochran, assistant professor of horticulture and extension fruit specialist, says there are commercial hops growers and farmers looking to diversify and the project seeks to evaluate hop cultivars under Iowa growing conditions and determine fertility programs.
IMPRESSIVE SALARIES FOR AG AND LIFE SCIENCES GRADS
CALS Career Services released the annual entry-level salary summary for recent graduates earning bachelor’s degrees. Seventeen universities participated in the survey. Top earning majors include technology, agricultural economics/business, food science and agronomy.
AG BUSINESS CLUB WINS 11TH OUTSTANDING CLUB AWARD
 The Iowa State University Ag Business Club brought back both the Outstanding Club and Creative Club Awards from a national competition. The Student Section of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association has awarded the club both awards for 11 of the past 15 years.
GAMERS GET A TASTE OF FARMING IN C6 BIOFARM
Demonstrations of C6 BioFarm, a new tablet app, were featured at the Iowa State Fair last week. The game is aimed at students in grades 5-9, and can be played much like FarmVille. C6 the game teaches values and steps to create products in environmentally, economically and socially sustainable ways. BioFarm is sponsored by ISU Extension and Outreach, CenUSA Bioenergy and Iowa NSF EPSCoR.
HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION…
More than 95 students traveled to eight different countries this summer exploring forests, coral reefs, food processing, livestock production, culinary arts and more on College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Study Abroad programs. Visit the CALS Study Abroad Office on Facebook for more photos and details about how many CALS students spent their summer.
UPCOMING FIELD DAYS ON CROPS, BIOMASS, REDUCING NITRATES, UAVs
MORE COLLEGE NEWS
Alumni News
PAUL HONORED FOR SERVICE TO AGRICULTURE BY AG EDITORS
Rolland “Pig” Paul (’57 animal husbandry) was recently presented with the 2015 Distinguished Service Award by the American Agriculture Editors Association at their annual meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. Paul was honored for his outstanding and meritorious service to American Agriculture.
DEGNER RETIRES, MCGONEGLE TO LEAD IOWA PORK PRODUCERS
The Iowa Pork Producers Association Board of Directors has announced the hiring of a new chief executive officer. Pat McGonegle (’83 animal science), right, has accepted the position and will begin October 1. He replaces Rich Degner (’72 ag and life sciences education, MS ‘77), who is retiring on September 30 after 35 years with IPPA, the last 17 as CEO. McGonegle was formerly with the National Pork Producers Council as the vice president of state relations and resource development.
TAYLORS APPEAR IN IOWA STATE FOOTBALL COMMERCIAL
The Taylor family of Ames, Iowa, appear in a recent Iowa State Athletics Cyclone football promotional video. The clip, set at the family’s farm, features alumni Bob Taylor (‘54 animal husbandry), his son Jeff (‘89 farm operations), Jeff’s wife Shelley (‘97 anthropology), director of CALS study abroad, and their children.
ALUMNAE SPEAK TO WOMEN IN AG
 The annual Iowa Women in Agriculture Conference held Aug. 4 in Ankeny, Iowa, involved several CALS alumnae presenters, participants and board members. Agronomist and farmer Kellie (Barry) Blair (’06 agronomy, forestry), above left, and Sarah Carlson (MS '08 crop production and physiology, sustainable agriculture), Practical Farmers of Iowa Midwest cover crop specialist, were part of a panel about proactive agronomic practices moderated by Donna Ramaeker Zahn (’87 ag journalism), above center, communications director for the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance.
BONNER INSPIRES GARDENERS WHILE HONORING THE PAST
John Bonner (’68 dairy science, MS ’71 animal science, PhD ‘74), above right, is helping future gardeners get their start while honoring the rich history of the Fort Museum in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Bonner oversees a garden featuring plants - including corn, beans, squash, potatoes and herbs - that would likely have been grown at the time of the original Fort's mid-19th century operation. The plot is called the Soldier Garden, but its caretakers are 4-H'ers, not members of the military. Produce is donated to local charities and food pantries. Read more about 4-H involvement and how Bonner has partnered with historic organizations on the project (see page 35).
PARK, DAIRY INDUSTRY LEADER, FEATURED BY ISU AA
Hong Sik (Peter) Park (BS ’62 dairy industry, MS ’64 dairy industry), left, recently visited Iowa State. Originally from South Korea, Park was driven by the desire to boost dairy production to bolster the economy and provide better nutrition to his home country. As a student, he was the first instructor of the ISU Judo Club. His visit included meeting with retired dairy industry professor Bill LaGrange (’53 dairy industry, PhD ‘59) and a tour of the ISU Dairy Farm. “My main memory is people’s kindness,” Park says. “I met so many nice people who helped me when I needed it.” Read more about Park on the ISU Alumni Association’s blog.
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