The McNair Scholars Program at Buffalo State is seeking high-achieving undergraduate students from all majors. Applications are now available in the McNair office, Science Building 253. The McNair program prepares students for graduate study through a variety of scholarly and research activities. Please inform any student you feel qualifies for this program and refer them to the McNair office. For program qualifications, please visit www.buffalostate.edu/mcnair/x473.xml or e-mail Jennifer Johnson. Review of applications will begin Friday, December 9, and continue until all available positions are filled.

President’s Medal for Outstanding Undergraduate and Graduate Student
One undergraduate student and one graduate student will be awarded the President’s Medal. The President’s Medal is the highest honor awarded to a student by Buffalo State College. This award is given to a student who, through use of his or her natural talents and acquired skills, has demonstrated a commitment toward meeting the goals of higher education as set forth in the college’s mission statement. The recipients will deliver the student address at Commencement. A grade point average of at least 3.5 is required for consideration for this award. Only students graduating in December 2011, May 2012, or August 2012 will be considered.*

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence
The Chancellor’s Award is the highest honor bestowed by SUNY upon a student. This award recognizes model students who have integrated academic excellence with achievement in areas such as athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, entrepreneurship, leadership, and career achievement. Although there is no prescribed grade point average for this award, it is assumed that recipients will have high academic achievement. Award recipients will be recognized at a spring ceremony in Albany and at Commencement. Only students graduating between June 2011 and May 2012 will be considered.*

Nominations are being sought for both awards. Students must be nominated by a faculty or staff member at Buffalo State College. Candidates must have demonstrated the qualities recognized by each award. 

Selection criteria are similar for each award; however, to be considered for the President’s Medal, students are required to have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. A student may be nominated for either or both awards.

Selection Criteria for Both Awards
Academic Performance: Documented via grade point average, honors received, rank in class, research, and other scholarly projects.

Citizenship: As measured by college and community service, the quality of extracurricular activities, and/or involvement in professional organizations.

Leadership/Creativity: Documented local, state, national, or international recognition for excellence (i.e., recipient of major national scholarships/athletic awards and/or recognition by national and international associations and honor societies). For graduate students: Documented by activities related to the discipline of graduate degree program or other college service leadership in a professional organization, or community outreach activities related to the field of study.

More information and nomination materials are available online. Nominations and supporting documentation must be delivered to the Academic and Student Affairs Office, Cleveland Hall 519, by 4:00 p.m. Monday, December 19.

Those with questions or concerns regarding the application process are encouraged to call Daniel Vélez at ext. 5550.

*Information will be verified with the Registrar's Office.

Calling leaders across the campus interested in professional development and learning about personal strengths! A self-awareness instrument, StrengthsQuest, is available free to the first 25 staff or faculty members who R.S.V.P. to woodruom@buffalostate.edu by September 26. You’ll receive a StrengthsFinder 2.0 book and a code to take the assessment online before the workshop. 

A discussion group and workshop will meet on Wednesday, October 12, from noon to 2:00 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210 to discuss how to put your strengths and talents to use. This could be helpful personally and with students. StrengthsQuest is a lifelong adventure! Discovery, development, and application will continue throughout our lives. Anyone who has taken the StrengthsFinder is welcome to attend the forum. Please call Ottilie Woodruff at ext. 5364 with questions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all students, especially those who have a chronic medical condition such as asthma or diabetes and those who are taking prednisone, receive a flu shot.

Flu vaccines will be offered on Tuesday, September 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union upper lobby.

Insurance companies that might cover the vaccine at this clinic are Independent Health, Univera, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Medicare Part B. You must present your insurance card as proof of coverage. For all others, the cost of the shot will be $30; cash or check will be accepted.

This clinic was arranged through the Weigel Health Center. Please call Deborah Sarratori at ext. 6711 with questions.

Beginning Monday, September 19, Tower Dorm Road between the Science Building and the Towers will be reduced to one lane of traffic as workers continue renovations on underground utilities. This work is expected to last for about one week. Drivers may wish to avoid this area and are asked to use caution when traveling there. Please e-mail vpfm@buffalostate.edu with questions. For more information about campus construction projects, visit www.buffalostate.edu/construction.

Visit Moura's NY Deli and Café at the Burchfield Penney today! Buy a smoothie or blended coffee drink and get a free cookie when you mention the Daily Bulletin.

Valid on September 16, 2011.

Faculty and staff are urged to participate in the annual Orange Crush Homecoming/Family Weekend Food Drive to benefit the Buffalo State Food Pantry and Buffalo State students. Members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will visit offices on Friday, September 30, between noon and 3:00 p.m. to pick up nonperishable food items. To arrange a pickup at your office, contact Tom Koller, senior associate athletics director and chair of Homecoming/Family Weekend, ext. 6514. Please leave your name, phone number, and office location/number. Student-athletes will make the pickup on September 30.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to take part in the many events of Orange Crush, Homecoming/Family Weekend 2011, running September 27 through October 1. Register your office or department for the popular Wegmans Shopping Cart Float Competition to win great prizes. This unique event uses a Wegmans shopping cart and your imagination to create a float showcased during the annual Homecoming Parade and Victory March down Elmwood Avenue on October 1.

Tickets are still available for Spike Lee's talk at the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall on Friday, September  30, at 8:00 p.m. Call ext. 3005 for availability. Other events include the annual Homecoming Tailgate Party at the Sports Arena on October 1, beginning at 10:30 a.m., with live music by Herd of Buffalo, beer-tasting hosted by Alumni Relations, treats from Campus House, and a terrific tailgate-style menu, including chili and cornbread, prepared by the chefs at Wegmans.

The football Bengals then take to the field at noon against William Paterson, followed immediately by the men's soccer game against SUNY Fredonia. Tickets are just $5. For a complete listing of events, as well as contact information, visit the Homecoming website or call Tom Koller, senior associate athletics director and Homecoming chair, at ext. 6514.

Join us on Saturday, September 24, at 8:00 a.m. at Coca-Cola Field for a 5K walk to benefit the American Heart Association. The Heart Walk begins at 10:00 a.m. Heart disease is the nation’s No. 1 cause of death. The American Heart Association is striving to change that through research and by encouraging increased physical activity. You can help the AHA achieve both these goals by participating in the American Heart Association Heart Walk.

To join the Buffalo State team or to donate to a walker on the Buffalo State team, visit the Buffalo State page of the AHA website.

Also at the event will be health screening, Kids Zone, heart-healthy snacks, and exercise and CPR demonstrations, as well as information about heart-healthy living. 

For more information, contact Kim Jablonski.

The Anatomy of Clothing exhibition in Bacon Gallery, Upton Hall 234, opens today and runs through Friday, September 23. An opening reception will be held on Tuesday, September 20, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. just outside the gallery. Light refreshments will be served.

Ever wonder how your clothing is put together? What goes into developing a garment? Come to the Anatomy of Clothing exhibition to get the answers to some of your burning questions regarding the clothes you wear. Students in the fashion and textile program in multiple classes have been working on this yearlong project that mimics the industry methods of product development. Students have designed textiles, developed garment patterns, and assembled the pattern pieces into beautiful, creative 100 percent cotton garments. This exhibit shows the process from textile to finished garment and challenges you to put your spatial abilities to the test to win a $30 bookstore gift certificate!

An ongoing virtual exhibition in Second Life, Buffalo State Loves Cotton, runs through December 31.

Both exhibits are part of the Buffalo State Loves Cotton grant, with Lynn Boorady, associate professor of technology, serving as project director.