September 2010 Gaucho eNews

STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR FELLOW GAUCHOS

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AROUND STORKE TOWER

U.S. News & World Report has ranked UCSB number 9 in its annual listing of the “Top 50 Public National Universities” in the country, and number 39 on its list of the “Best National Universities.” These are the highest rankings ever for UCSB in the U.S. News listings. The announcement was made Aug. 17. Read more.

A new laboratory for stem cell biology was unveiled in the Biological Sciences II Building in August. The Center for Stem Cell Research "will provide access to state-of-the-art stem cell culture facilities that will promote the expansion of stem cell research at UCSB." Read more.

At Guantánamo, UC Santa Barbara sociologist is keeping an eye on military trials. Lisa Hajjar, an associate professor of sociology, is gathering material for a book about the lawyers who have defended detainees since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Read more.

Four scientists from UC Santa Barbara contributed to the sequencing of the genome of a Great Barrier Reef marine sponge, from a 650 million-year-old group of organisms –– a project that indicates there were rich genetic resources available at the dawn of the animal kingdom. Read more.

The UC Santa Barbara Middle Eastern Ensemble won Arab hearts and minds in Cairo with a series of sold-out performances. The 60-member musical troupe, under director Scott Marcus, toured Egypt in mid-July at the invitation of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, and the tour seems to have been a triumph. Read more.

Blue Horizons, UC Santa Barbara's summer program for environmental media, screened a series of short films produced by students during August. Among the subjects covered in the films are an otter relocation program; Santa Barbara's Mission Creek restoration project; and a tribute to Jacques Cousteau. Read more about the program.

The National Science Foundation has renewed and increased funding for UC Santa Barbara's pioneering research and education partnership with China in chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science. The UCSB project will focus on technological research of international importance related to the development of clean energy and energy conservation. Read more.

Linda Adler-Kassner, a professor of writing, has joined the Writing Program at UC Santa Barbara as its new director. Adler-Kassner comes to UCSB from Eastern Michigan University, where she was director of First-Year Writing and director of the University Writing Center. Read more.

UCSB Extension is unveiling the Green Building Professional Certificate Program, a new program that “offers a great entry point into the world of green building design and operations," said instructor Lindsey Taggart. The target audience includes regional professionals as well as realtors, interior designers, and homeowners. Read more.

Former UC Santa Barbara swimmer Katy Freeman took third place in the 200-meter breaststroke at the ConocoPhillips National Championships in Irvine, Calif. Her finish earned her a spot on the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships team, along with fellow Gaucho Jason Lezak, who qualified as a member of the 400 free relay. Read more.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Former UC Santa Barbara standout Chris Valaika was recalled from Class AAA Louisville on to join the Cincinnati Reds in San Francisco in August, the first time he has been called up to the majors. Valaika pinch-hit in the sixth inning and lined the very first pitch he saw into centerfield for a single. Read more.

UPCOMING EVENTS

UCSB Lagoon Open – Sept. 4 at the UCSB Campus Lagoon. 9:30 a.m. Alumni Community 5k. $25. Pete Dolan will host a barbecue at his house in Santa Barbara after the race, and all alumni and their families are invited. Come and relive the glory days with past teammates and connect with other gaucho greats. Barbecue RSVP required to keli.kadota@athletics.ucsb.edu. For more information, click here

Incoming Student Welcome Receptions – Last Chance to Register -- Sept. 11-12 in Los Angeles, Bay Area, Santa Barbara, Bakersfield. Join fellow alumni in welcoming our incoming freshmen, transfer students and their families to UCSB. This event offers our students a head start on the UC Santa Barbara experience by providing useful insight from University representatives and you, our UCSB alumni! Free to attend. Complimentary food and beverage will be provided. To register and for more information, click here.

Shop at Borders and Give Back to UCSB Students – Sept.18 and 19 at Borders - Books, Music and Movies in Goleta and Santa Barbara. When shopping at Borders on these two days, show this printable voucher at the time of purchase and a percentage of the sale will go to the UCSB Alumni Association Scholarship Fund.

50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps Panel Discussion – 3 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Lobero Theatre, 33. E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara. Free. The International Service: Bringing the World Back Home panel discussion will examine the impact of the Peace Corps on the lives of distinguished returned volunteers, including Sarah Chayes, Gordon L. Radley and Thomas Tighe. For more information on Peace Corps anniversary events, click here.

UCSB Men's Basketball Golf Tournament -- Sept. 30 at Sandpiper Golf Course in Goleta. The popular tournament, which will have a shamble format, will begin with an open driving range at 11:30 a.m. There will be a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start and golfers will have a box lunch to eat on the course. A 5 p.m. cocktail reception and auction will immediately follow the play, and at 6 p.m. there will be a dinner and presentation of awards. Click here.

Circle Bar B Theatre - BBQ Lunch and Live Performance – 12:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at Circle Bar B Guest Ranch, Goleta. Lunch begins at 1 p.m., performance begins at 2 p.m. Come enjoy a show and a delicious barbecue lunch at one of Santa Barbara's longest running and most charming theaters. Tucked away in a secluded country canyon just 20 minutes from Santa Barbara lies the Circle Bar B Guest Ranch. Registration includes barbecue lunch buffet, non-alcoholic beverages, and the live theater performance. To register and for more information, click here.

Save the Date - 5th Annual All Gaucho Reunion happening April 29 - May 1, 2011. Take part in the Gaucho Gallop benefit race, Alumni Vintners Tasting and much more. Looking to get YOUR group together? Contact John Lofthus at john@ucsbalum.com for help in getting the process started. The All Gaucho Reunion - not your average reunion!

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Take advantage of all the Gaucho online community has to offer. Joining is free and easy – just be ready with your graduation year or birth date. Log in now!

Register for a UCSB alumni event happening near you
Check out photos of our newest Gaucho alums at the Zero-Year Reunion in June
Find out about UC Santa Barbara’s latest rankings in the News Listings
Reconnect with other Gauchos in our Alumni Directory (log-in required)
Submit a Class Note (log-in required)
Update your information and stay connected to UCSB (log-in required)

Alumni Legacy Scholarship - Do you have a relative attending UC Santa Barbara? Encourage your Gaucho student to apply for an Alumni Legacy Scholarship. The UC Santa Barbara Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a $1,000 per student scholarship created through membership dues paid by members of the UC Santa Barbara Alumni Association to support current students who are relatives of UC Santa Barbara alumni. Students must have already completed 12 or more units while at UC Santa Barbara. Application deadline is Nov. 30.

Keep UCSB a mouse click away! We are proud to introduce a new UCSB Toolbar that you can download straight to your favorite internet browser. The best part is that when you use the Yahoo-powered internet search engine, the UCSB Alumni Association receives valuable revenue. You will be supporting your Alumni Association just by searching the web! To download your UCSB Toolbar and support your Alumni Association, click here.

Gauchos Hiring Gauchos - If you are a hiring manager and are hiring, or know of employment opportunities in your company, make those opportunities known to other Gauchos free-of-charge. Connect your personal LinkedIn account to the UCSB Alumni Association LinkedIn group and post your jobs. If your hiring manager is not a Gaucho, have her/him contact alumni .careers@ia.ucsb.edu for information on how to make your company's employment opportunities available to the more than 8,000 UCSB graduates on UCSB Alumni Association LinkedIn!

MEMBERSHIP

Stay Connected. Make UCSB Stronger! As a UC Santa Barbara alumnus, you are already apart of the global Gaucho Alumni Community. However, membership with your UC Santa Barbara Alumni Association allows you to stay better connected and makes UC Santa Barbara stronger. Your Alumni Association supports many valuable programs, services and scholarships, all of which is made possible by the support of alumni like yourself. To learn more about how your UCSB Alumni Association keeps you connected and makes UC Santa Barbara stronger, click here.

TRAVEL AND VACATION

Egypt & The Eternal Nile -- February 25-March 11, 2011 -- Jordan Post Trip Extension -- Explore Egypt's history, antiquities and culture with an Egyptologist during this journey to Egypt's most notable sights. Limited to 24 passengers visit places such Cairo, Alexandria, Abu Simble, Luxor, Aswan and Valley of the Kings and Queens. Cruise Lake Nasser and the Nile.

Galapagos Islands -- March 3-12, 2011 -- Machu Picchu Post Trip Extension -- Aboard our 48-passenger ship, journey to a number of the most notable islands in this volcanic archipelago, each with species adapted to the differing surrounding environment. Observe and photograph from close range, snorkle with sea lions and perhaps sit among a colony of penguins. Galapagos Islands.