MERCED -- St. Luke's Anglican School will celebrate its 45 years as a Merced institution June 1 with a campus party and farewell celebration for students, alumni, parents, teachers and staff.

The school, at 350 W. Yosemite Ave., which now serves only preschoolers and kindergartners, will close for good June 5.

"It's sad that we're closing, but we have so many happy memories to share," said Jani Clarke. She co-founded the school in 1967 with JoAnne Wright, and was its head teacher from 1967-75, and again from 1999-2001,

Reporter Doane Yawger can be reached at (209) 385-2407 or __lt__a href="mailto:dyawger@mercedsunstar.com"__gt__dyawger@mercedsunstar.com__lt__/a__gt__.

Rummaging through old photos to be displayed June 1, Clarke recalled students and parents she had not seen in years but remembered well.

"The school has always had such a good family atmosphere," Clarke said. "I knew the parents well. They were required to be involved, and indeed they were. They helped enormously with the annual auction, and also gave their time and talents on campus."

Clarke said the mission of the school has been to provide a safe and loving environment where children can exceed academically.

"It's a Christian school, but parents of many faiths sent their children here because of the education and care they would receive," she said. "Our teachers have always been excellent. All were credentialed and committed to nurturing the whole child."

Although many students came from privileged homes, St. Luke's offered scholarships to lower- income families, made possible by its annual auction.

Castle Air Force Base also provided students. In its heyday, the school that began with 16 preschool and 11 kindergarten students grew to well beyond 200 pupils, and included a middle school.

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St. Luke's will say goodbye

Naomi Granado and Christopher Abello

The 23rd Annual ISSF Star Luncheon in which top students from 70 accredited private schools are recognized by the Independent Schools of South Florida drew a crowd of more than 800 individuals, including three MCS students.

Nina Beam (Grade 5), Justin Marono (Grade 8) and Andre Bergouignan (Grade 12) were among those receiving medals for setting an example for others, whether in home, school or community.

Those honored at the annual event at the Doubletree on April 17, typically excel in one or more of areas: academics, community service, citizenship, fine arts, athletics, student activities, perseverance, effort, dedication, commitment to positive goals, improvement in performance and attitude.

Also recently receiving special honors were several first grade students who entered the Youth Fair poster competitions and won either a Second Place ribbon and a $3 check or a First Place ribbon and a $4 check. Winning students who drew their interpretation of Fun at the Youth Fair included Anthony Barcelo, Zoe Campos, Nathan Hernandez, Zack Lembert, Yaneiliz, Austin Ocana, Josh Ortet and Angelin Vazquez.

Top students (l-r) Nina Beam, Andre Bergouignan, Justin Marono.

In alumni news, Chrissy Stachl (09) joins a long list of outstanding graduates. Now in her fourth year at the University of Washington in Seattle on a Bill Gates M i l l e n n i u m Scholarship covering all study costs for five years, she is pursuing a double major in Neuro biology and Chemistry. Invited by Yale University for an all-expense paid six-week Summer Medical and Dental Educational Program during the summer of her freshman year, Stachl participated in an introductory program and shadowed personnel. The Millennium Scholarship also paid for a six-week program in Florence, Italy where she completed a 5 credit course in drawing and bookmaking to complete an Arts requirement for graduation. The summer of her Sophomore year, Stachl was invited to Harvard Universitys STAR program, an all-expense paid eight week venture, where she worked on cancer research and shadowed medical personnel. Stachls Junior year took her to the University of Edinburgh where she studied chemistry, history and neuroscience. Because of her work at Harvard, her professor invited her to work with him on cancer research, a work published along with others from Stockholm, Sweden and London, England in the Journal of American Chemical Society. Her studies continued the summer of her Junior year in South India working in a nursing program for a month in two separate clinics. This summer, Stachl takes off again to England for a five-credit English course, studying Shakespeare in London and attending two plays per week at The Globe Theatre. Stachl will study another year in Seattle before pursuing a MD/PhD, most likely abroad.

Chrissy Stachl, outstanding 09 alumna.

On the art front, MCS Sophomores Christopher Abello and Naomi Granado are entering pieces in the 2013 Congressional Art Competition, An Artistic Discovery, a nationwide competition for showcasing high school students talent and creativity. Each entry must be an original concept, design and execution in any of seven mediums, all to be collected in a District area for expertly judging of winning pieces sent to Washington DC on behalf of Congressman Mario Diaz- Balarts District to be displayed for a year in the Cannon Tunnel, leading to the US Capitol building.. Naomi entered a photograph and Christopher, entered a drawing.

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Miami Christian School Students, Alumni Shine!

State Controller John Chiang, Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy, Harbor Area Rep. Janice Hahn and California State University Chancellor Timothy White will be among six commencement speakers at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday and Saturday.

Also delivering an address at the Carson campus will be two Cal State Dominguez Hills alumni: Nancy Carlson, CEO of Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center, and Sam Enriquez, senior page-one editor of the Wall Street Journal.

"It is an honor to welcome such accomplished individuals as our 2013 commencement keynote speakers, all of whom are leaders in their fields," said Willie J. Hagan, interim president of Cal State Dominguez Hills, in a statement.

Roughly 3,100 undergraduate and graduate students are expected to walk in commencement this year, representing students who completed their degrees in the summer and fall of 2012, and those who completed or expect to complete their degrees during spring or summer 2013.

Carlson, who obtained her nursing degree from Dominguez Hills in 1994 and a master of public administration in 1996, will speak at 3 p.m. Friday before the graduates of three programs: the College of Professional Studies, the School of Health and Human Services, and the School of Nursing.

Chiang, a Torrance resident, will speak at 6:30 p.m. Friday before the graduates of the College of Business

Hahn will deliver her address before the graduates from the College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences at 8 a.m. Saturday. Addressing that same school as a guest speaker will be White, who in December became the seventh president of the nation's largest university system.

Enriquez, who earned a bachelor's degree from Dominguez Hills in 1985, will address the College of Arts and Humanities, as well as the College of Extended and International Education, at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Deasy will address the College of Education at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The ceremonies will be broadcast live at http://dhtv.csudh.edu.

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Cal State Dominguez Hills lines up commencement speakers

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Claridad Clan Reunion

AUBURN, AL (WSFA) -

A meeting held Friday to discuss the future of Auburn University's embattled Aviation Management program ended with College of Business Dean Dr. Bill Hardgrave promising to save and improve the program, but students and alumni are not fully pleased with all they heard.

"We're putting a plan in place that addresses some recent challenges and puts the program in a position to grow," said Hardgrave, who is recommending it continue to operate under the College of Business.

Hardgrave said the Aviation Management program will get better facilities and other improvements designed to make it available to more students and responsive to changes in the aviation industry.

While the Aviation Management program may be saved, alumni said there was "shock" in the boardroom full of industry leaders, professors, flight education employees, students, parents and alumni that Hardgrave plans to "sunset" the Aviation Management Profession Flight Program, effectively terminating it.

Hardgrave says the University is exploring options including one recommendation that would involve partnering with a commercial firm that would allow the expansion of flight training beyond students in the College of Business. Hardgrave said outsourcing flight education to a professional flight school, or PFS, partner would provide the opportunity for flight instruction to any Auburn student, community member, Southern Union student, Tuskegee University student or high school student wishing to obtain pilot ratings or simply learn to fly.

"This decision puts in jeopardy Auburn University's recent agreement with JetBlue Airways," the students and alumni said in a statement. "It also puts our long-standing relationships with corporations and other segments of the industry in peril."

Auburn is one of just four universities in the country to offer the Gateway Program with JetBlue, helping pilots fly for major air carriers in half the time.

Those in the meeting say Dr. Hardgrave originally said he wasn't planning on coming to the meeting, but when he arrived he read a prepared statement and then "hastily departed without engaging those in attendance."

"While we are pleased that he chose to retain the Aviation Management program, the decision to close the flight program falls well short of our stated goal and desire of maintaining our nationally recognized flight program," students and alumni, collectively working through FlyAuburn.org, said. Auburn has offered aviation education since 1941.

Read the rest here:
Students, alumni only half pleased with latest plan to save AU Aviation program

News Study by UChicago professor finds that the South Side will be hit the hardest by the influx of newly insured patients from the Affordable Care Act.

A study published in the journal Health Affairs by University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC) Associate Professor Elbert Huang forecasts that 29 million people will be insured for the first time in 2014 as a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), requiring 7,200 more primary care providers at a time when prospective doctors are being driven into more lucrative specialty areas.

The likely influx of insured patients has medical researchers, practitioners, and leaders in the industry worried that the South Side of Chicago, particularly the neighborhoods of Lawndale and Englewood, will be hit especially hard because of the number of currently uninsured people.

Englewood, for example, is predicted to see a 10 percent increase in demand for primary care, requiring the addition of four doctors to the existing group of 40 practitioners in the neighborhood.

In absolute numbers it doesnt seem that bad, but this doesnt account for the fact that the baseline 40 people already represents a shortage. Also, whos going to do it? Four doctors who open a clinic? A provider who expands? Huang said.

Attempting to meet the increasing demand of primary care physicians, the federal government has prepared incentives to accompany the implementation of the ACA, offering a 10 percent hike in salary to primary care doctors choosing to work in medically underserved areas.

But Huang is skeptical of how effective these incentives will be.

Such incentives are never designed on any empirical data. They are entirely designed on what can be affordable, Huang said. Also, we dont know if these incentives have been noticed by people. Im quite concerned that its not enough. The [salary] gap between specialists and primary care practitioners is much more than 10 percent.

Non-governmental institutions are taking matters into their own hands. For instance, the Pritzker School of Medicine, the UCMC, and the Urban Health Initiative are encouraging current medical students to choose a career in primary care.

Pritzker Associate Dean of Students James Woodruff, M.D., has noted a trend of student interest in practicing in underserved areas and as primary physicians in the last five years. According to Woodruff, this correlates with the schools concrete steps to grow and develop mentorship programs, classes, volunteer opportunities, and scholarships emphasizing service learning and working in underserved communities.

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Under ACA, doctor supply won’t meet demand

Longtime Yolo County educators and UC Davis alumni Sandi Redenbach and Ken Gelatt are the 2013 winners of the Charles J. Soderquist Award, an honor bestowed by the university in recognition of exceptional volunteer leadership and philanthropy benefiting the campus community.

In 2011, Woodland residents Tom and Meg Stallard also won the award for their volunteer involvement with the university.

Created in 2005 by the UC Davis Foundation, the award honors the late Charles "Charlie" Soderquist -- a UC Davis alumnus, management professor, and well-known Sacramento-area entrepreneur and philanthropist.

"Sandi and Ken's commitment to philanthropy and passion for UC Davis truly exemplify Charlie Soderquist's legacy and the UC Davis

Foundation's vision," said Shaun Keister, president of the UC Davis Foundation and vice chancellor of development and alumni relations at UCD. "Their generosity, volunteerism and compassion have made a tremendous, lasting impact on improving the lives of students at UC Davis and throughout the region. We are very fortunate to have them as members of our community."

The award comes with a $5,000 prize that recipients give to the university program or area of their choice. Redenbach and Gelatt are donating their prize money to the School of Education's Guardian Teachers Scholarship. This program was created in 2011 with seed funding from the San Francisco-based Stuart Foundation to encourage former foster youth to pursue careers in

"I think we all have a responsibility to give back," said Gelatt, a math teacher and coach in Davis for nearly 40 years. "I want our gifts to UC Davis to serve as a way to let people know that giving is not hard to do. All of us can do more than we think, especially educators."

Redenbach, a veteran speech, drama and English teacher, agreed. "If two teachers can make that type of contribution, it must be clear to others that there is much they can do as well. My education proves that anyone can overcome obstacles and work toward a life of fulfillment and contribution," she said. "Our education at UC Davis helped Ken realize his dream of being a teacher and coach; it helped me discover my passion for teaching; and together, we discovered how we can effectively contribute to others."

Supporting the Guardian Teachers Scholarship resonates with Redenbach since she herself was adopted, a teenage runaway and a former high school dropout. Redenbach and Gelatt hope others will join them in their support of the Guardian Teacher Scholarship to inspire more former foster youth to pursue careers in teaching.

"Even when I was a dropout, I knew someday and somehow I would go back to school, get my diploma and find a way to be somebody," said Redenbach, who is currently president and founder of Esteem Seminar Programs and ESP "Wise" Publications. "And I just really want that for every kid."

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UC Davis Foundation honors Yolo County educators for supporting foster youth

The University of Maryland School of Medicine announced this week a $500 million fundraising goal the Baltimore institution's largest campaign ever.

Donors already have given $339 million during the quiet phase of the campaign, dubbed "Transforming Medicine Beyond Imagination." The money will be used to advance research, fund top-notch training of doctors and devise ways to improve patient care, said Dean E. Albert Reece.

Reece said institutions like his need to look more to private donors as government funds fail to keep pace with growth.

State funding made up 9 percent of the medical school's $417.3 million budget in fiscal year 2002. That had dropped to 3.5 percent of a nearly $1 billion operating budget in fiscal year 2012.

Future federal funding also is more uncertain as the government seeks to reduce its debt by slashing spending. Research institutions around the country are bracing for $1.6 billion in cuts to the $30 billion budget of the National Institutes of Health under the across-the-board spending cuts known as sequestration.

"With this very, very difficult environment for institutions like us, we have to depend on philanthropy becoming much more of a major player to allow us to continue to do the things we do," Reece said.

The medical school also is looking to increase its $160 million endowment, which it said is much smaller than those of institutions its size. Until 2000, the medical school didn't do much fundraising, depending instead on public funding, tuition and revenue from caring for patients.

"We value state support and wouldn't want to lose it," Reece said. "The reality is it's not expanding at amounts that keep up with inflation."

The money raised will be used to support scholarships for medical students and to develop procedures and surgical techniques that are less invasive with quicker recovery times. It will allow the institution to make advances in emerging fields where it has already made progress, including regenerative medicine and stem cell biology.

The medical school also hopes to advance trauma care and vaccine development, and conduct further research on deadly viruses such as HIV and hepatitis C.

Original post:
University of Maryland School of Medicine aims to raise $500 million

The choice to come lead the Kansas University School of Engineering wasnt a tough one, Michael Branicky said Thursday. And he should know.

Photo by Mike Yoder

Kansas University has named Michael Branicky as the new dean of the School of Engineering. Branicky, who teaches and chairs the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, will officially take over as dean on July 1. Branicky was touring the KU campus and meeting with faculty Thursday, May 9, 2013.

In my field, theres things called decision trees that enable you to figure out exactly whats the best thing to do at any time. In this case, it was a very easy decision, said Branicky, a specialist in robotics and control systems who will become KUs new engineering dean July 1.

Branicky, a professor and department chairman at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, on Thursday made his first appearance at KU since he was announced as the next engineering dean in February. He spoke briefly at an annual School of Engineering banquet to honor distinguished alumni, where he received a great big Kansas welcome from the 150 or so alumni, current and retired faculty and others present at the direction of interim Dean Stan Rolfe.

Branicky told them his choice to come to KU was a no-brainer, considering the state of the school, which is expanding rapidly in the areas of facilities, faculty and students.

Our program here is not just growing, Branicky said. It is thriving. He showed hes already learned a way to enliven a room at KU with a Rock Chalk Jayhawk call and response though he wont officially take over for about two more months.

Thats when Rolfe, a faculty member in the school for 43 years, will step back down after a year overseeing the school. Rolfe had actually begun a phased retirement before he was approached to lead the school as KU searched to replace Stuart Bell, who left to become provost at Louisiana State University.

It wasnt what I figured on in retirement, Rolfe said with a laugh earlier this week.

And this wasnt just any year for the engineering school. Rolfe has overseen the opening of a new $23.6 million research building, the groundbreaking for another $80 million education building, 16 faculty position searches and a once-every-six-years national accreditation review, all as the school grows its enrollment and faculty with orders from the state to produce more engineers.

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Incoming dean praises KU engineering school

Dr. Ronald Dunlap (Courtesy photo)

A Norwell cardiologist has been elected officially to be the next president of the Massachusetts Medical Society. Dr. Ronald Dunlap will serve a one-year term beginning Monday, after serving a year as president-elect. Dunlap is a physician with South Shore Cardiology in Weymouth with appointments at South Shore Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

He is a long-time leader at the society, which is the largest organization representing doctors in Massachusetts.

Dunlap began his career as a biomedical engineer before studying at Tufts University School of Medicine, where he is now a member of the alumni board. He is an instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and board member at malpractice insurer Coverys.

Dr. Richard S. Pieters, Jr., a radiation oncologist at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, was named president-elect. Dr. Dennis Dimitri, a family medicine doctor also at UMass Memorial, will be vice president.

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Dr. Ronald Dunlap to be president of the Mass. Medical Society