Researchers from all disciplines were honored at a reception to recognize faculty achievements in research and creative endeavors Nov. 2. The annual awards reception is sponsored by the Division of Research and Economic Development.

• Learn more about UNT research activities.
• Learn more about the awardees.

These researchers were honored:
• Paolo Grigolini, professor of physics - Decker Scholar Award for outstanding research in the natural sciences, computational sciences or technology.
• Gerald Knezek, Regents Professor of learning technologies - Competitive Funding Award for the the rearcher responsible for the highest total amount of newly awarded competitive research funding during the previous fiscal year.
• Rada Mihalcea, associate professor of computer science and engineering - Early Career Award for Research and Creativity, which recognizes the faculty member within his or her first 10 years whose research accomplishments or creative endeavors have been outstanding.
• Angela Wilson, associate professor of chemistry - Teacher Scholar Award, given to a mid-career faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in research or creative productivity while also performing in an extraordinary manner as a teacher.
• Harlan Butt, Regents Professor of art - Creative Impact Award, designed to honor the faculty member whose work in the literary or creative arts has had greatest societal impact. Photo, above right, Butt with Dornith Doherty, professor of art.
• Kent Chapman, professor of biology - Research Leadership Award, recognizes the veteran faculty member whose research excellence and leadership has made substantial contributions and has achieved national/international recognition. Left, Provost Wendy Wilkins, President Gretchen M. Bataille, Chapman and Vish Prasad, vice president for research and economic development.

 

 

 

UNT’s student UNICEF chapter will be honored Dec. 4 for raising more money for the Help Us Save Some Lives Campus Challenge than students at other participating campuses.

The Campus Challenge, set by UNICEF, the Association of College Unions International and the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF, ran from Sept. 5, 2008 to Feb. 28, 2009. UNT students raised more than $4,500 toward the campaign’s overall goal of $150,000 by organizing several fundraisers, including a raffle and a concert in Denton featuring local bands. The challenge was organized by UNICEF student president Marcelo Ostria, left, an international studies and political science major.

The UNT UNICEF chapter will be honored at a 7 p.m. ceremony in the University Union, Lyceum. Actress Alyssa Milano, one of UNICEF’s ambassadors, will attend. Admission is $10 for the public and $5 for faculty and staff. UNT students will be admitted for free with university identification, but must obtain tickets at the Information Desk in the University Union, third floor. Call 940-565-3800.

Milano called the time, enthusiasm and hard work that the UNT students put into the Campus Challenge “impressive.” “Every day, 24,000 children die needlessly from preventable causes, such as the lack of clean water or basic medical attention. But anyone can make a difference as shown by the efforts of the students at UNT,” she says.

A documentary about Beatle George Harrison’s 1971 Concert for Bangladesh will shown at 8 p.m. The concert was organized at Madison Square Garden for relief of refugees from Bangladesh impacted by a war with Pakistan.

Officials from UNT and the Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will collaborate to recruit English language speakers to teach at elementary schools across rural Korea. This is the ministry’s first partnership with an American university, says Sang-ki Chung, the ambassador and president of Korea’s National Institute for International Education. Left, President Gretchen M. Bataille and Chung at the partnership announcement.

As part of the Teach and Learn Korea, or TaLK, program, college students will travel to Korea for six-month or one-year periods to teach English in after school programs in rural elementary schools. UNT students are expected to participate beginning in 2010. 

• Lean about TaLK Korea on facebook.

TaLK aims to improve English proficiency in rural Korea to provide young Koreans with the skills they will need to succeed professionally. Government officials are also seeking to prevent a brain drain from the rural areas to cities. Students enrolled in TaLK will teach 15 hours a week and are encouraged to spend free time participating in cultural and social activities and visiting other parts of the country.

Materials produced by the Division of University Relations, Communications and Marketing recently earned 15 awards in national advertising and marketing competition.

The award-winning material was prepared to help build the university’s reputation nationally and in Texas, and to recruit students. Numerous departments and individuals worked with division staff to help produce targeted, accurate and cognitively appealing materials.

Ads, brochures, newsletters and similar marketing material were prepared in 2009 to explain and promote UNT’s range of academics, research, innovative student programs and the university’s value to North Texas and to the state.

• Learn more about how marketing supports UNT’s strategic goals; contact Rolando Rivas, director of integrated marketing and branding.
• Find and order online marketing materials that help tell UNT's story.

MarCom Awards
MarCom awards recognize outstanding achievement by marketing and communication professionals and are administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication professionals. More than 5,000 entries were received from throughout the United States and several foreign countries. Awards are:

• College of Music Viewbook - Platinum
• News release and writing - UNT Researchers making progress on future of lighting (writing/news release) - Platinum
• News release and writing - cell phone - Gold
• Zillion Opportunities TV ad - Platinum
• College of Visual Arts and Design Viewbook, two awards – both Gold
• The North Texan magazine - summer issue, left, Gold
• News promotions - Retirement of a Jazz Legend - Gold
• Traditions video - Gold
• Ads featuring achievements by TAMS student Wen Chyan, and alumni Harry Joe and Jesus Moroles – Honorable Mention

International Davey Awards
Winning entries for the Davey Awards are selected by the International Academy of the Visual Arts. Entries are from organizations who are the Davids, as in the story of David and Goliath, in the media marketplace. Awards are:

• Annual Report, President’s Report 2008, right - Gold
• Integrated branding, advertising campaign - Silver
• Zillion Opportunities television ad - Silver
• Traditions video - Silver
• Zillion/252 Degree ad - Silver
• The North Texan magazine, summer 2009 - Silver

The division previously earned a Telly Award from the National Association of Broadcasters for the Zillion Opportunities ad, and an award of excellence from the International Association of Business Communicators Dallas chapter. The ad was produced by the division and Cold Front Films of Dallas. The UNT Brand print campaign also won an award of merit from IABC. Find a captioned video of the ad on YouTube.

More than 1,000 Mean Green
supporters were on
hand

Jordan Case (’81), chair of the volunteer committee raising private donations for the stadium; Dakota Carter, Student Government Association president; UNT President Gretchen M. Bataille and Athletic Director Rick Villarreal turn dirt at the stadium groundbreaking. See more photos at meangreensports.com.

Nov. 21 as UNT broke ground for its new stadium, set to open in 2011.

With Scrappy, cheerleaders and the pep band in full swing, proud Mean Green supporters like NFL Hall of Famer Joe Greene (’69) helped the university celebrate. And the ceremony emcee was George Dunham ('88), co-host
of a top-rated sports radio show on KTCK-AM — "The Ticket" — in Dallas and the play-by-play announcer for the Mean Green Radio Network.

“It’s a great day for UNT,” Athletic Director Rick Villarreal says. “This has been 9 years in the making. It is a great and historic moment for North Texas.”

The multi-purpose facility, which will be under construction beginning in January, will feature increased tailgating space, luxury suites, a club level, a Spirit Store and a Touchdown Terrace.

The stadium will be the centerpiece of UNT's Mean Green Village. In addition to hosting UNT events, it will serve the entire region as a venue for outdoor concerts, community events, high school games and band competitions.

Support from alumni and community members is vital to the future stadium.

“I've waited for years to build a new stadium for the Mean Green,” says Jordan Case (’81), chair of the volunteer committee raising private donations for the facility. “Thanks to the many donors who are making lead gifts and those who will join us in the coming months, our new stadium will be a spectacular demonstration of UNT’s commitment to first-rate athletics.”

UNT President Gretchen M. Bataille and Villarreal led the platform party in the ceremonial groundbreaking. Following the ceremony, the crowd joined fans at Fouts Field to watch the Mean Green take on Army. The victims of the shooting at Fort Hood also were remembered, and first-responders to the tragedy were honored at midfield during the playing of the national anthem.

To learn more about the stadium, visit www.unt.edu/stadium.