Campus and Community Briefs
Horticulture event gives USU third
Utah State University horticulture students took third place at the Fourth Annual Career Day Competition as part of the Desert Green Conference for the Nevada Landscape Association.
According to a press release, the students competed in eight events Nov. 7 and 8, including plant identification, irrigation installation and design, and landscape design and estimation. They also interviewed with industry representatives for entry-level career opportunities and internships.
Wes Murray and Jake Johnson took first place in arboriculture techniques. Aaron Lawyer and Cable Jones took third place in irrigation assembly.
USU competed against BYU, Utah Valley State College, Mesa Community College, BYU-Idaho and University of Nevada Las Vegas.
Faculty members get Golden Mouse
Utah State University faculty who enhance learning using technological innovations are recognized with the Golden Mouse Award.
This year’s recipients are Chad Bingham, a clinical instructor in the department of communicative disorders and deaf education, Kathy Bayn, an academic adviser in the College of Engineering, and the USU music department.
According to a press release, Bingham received the award for his use of computer-based video conferencing to enhance distance education advising. Many of his students are able to receive master’s degrees from remote Utah sites.
Bayn used electronic signatures to authorize upper division courses for students 433 times last semester, according to the press release. This streamlines the authorization process.
The music department is working with Sony Classical Music and the USU FACT Lab to digitize more than 2,000 CDs with 50,000 tracks, making them available online to professors and students, according to the press release.
Golden Mouse nominations can be made online at www.usu.edu/provost/web/goldmouse.asp.
New theaters open in Providence
Westates Theatres opened its eight-plex, stadium-seating theaters Dec. 13 in Providence.
The theaters, located at 535 W. 100 North, feature wall-to-wall screens and all-digital sound systems, according to a press release. They also sport high-back, rocking love seats with retractable armrests.
The Providence theaters may be reserved for private group showings and parties for groups of more than 200. Information is available at www.westatestheatres.com.