Long Beach State (LBSU) sophomore T.J. Robinson has been named second-team All-District 9 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), which announced its Division I All-District teams for 2010, recognizing the nation's best men's collegiate basketball student-athletes.
Robinson is one of just 240 student athletes from 24 districts to be honored as an All-District selection.
Robinson earned second-team recognition after leading the 49ers in scoring (15.4 points per game) and rebounding (10.1 rebounds per game). In fact, the 6-foot-8 forward finished the regular season as just one of a handful of Division I players to average a double-double while leading the Big West Conference (BWC) with 17 double-doubles. During the season, he scored more than 20 points seven times and finished with 30 double-digit scoring games and 17 double-digit rebounding games. He also led the BWC in rebounding and field goal percentage (.520) while finishing eighth in scoring.
Robinson ranks in the top 20 in the country in both rebounds per game and double-doubles. His 332 rebounds were the third most ever by a LBSU player and the most since the 1960-61 season. His 216 free-throw attempts this season are the most in school history.
All 240 student-athletes from the All-District teams are eligible for the State Farm Division I All-America teams, which will be announced on Saturday, April 3, during the NABC Convention and NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis.
In addition to his All-District honor, Robinson also earned first-team All-BWC honors this season and was a member of the BWC All-Tournament Team after helping lead the 49ers to the finals of the conference tournament.
-- Todd Miles
Monday, March 22, 2010
Cal State Long Beach Graduate Student in Nutritional Sciences Receives 2010 Rathmann Hartford Dietetic Internship Scholarship
Amanda R. Brown, a graduate student in nutritional sciences at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), has been awarded the 2010 Patricia Rathmann Hartford Dietetic Internship Scholarship.
Established in 2007, the dietetic internship scholarship was created with a $10,000 endowment from Rathmann Hartford, who was one of the first alumnae from the campus’ undergraduate nutrition program back in the mid-1960s. This year’s award was worth $400.
“Amanda stands out because she has pursued her education and early professional career quite financially independent of her family,” said Gail Frank, professor of nutrition and director of the nationally accredited Dietetic Internship Program at CSULB. “This is always challenging to our CSULB students and Amanda has continued so she can pursue her ultimate professional goals.”
A full-time student in the dietetic internship program, Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a biology minor at Loyola University, Maryland, where she graduated cum laude in 2004. She said the scholarship will help her with the educational costs and related expenses of the dietetic internship.
“The dietetic internship program is a non-paid, two-semester, full-time commitment. Time is very limited to work outside of the internship to generate income. When I found out that I was selected, I was very excited and felt extremely grateful,” Brown recalled. “Most of my rotations are 30-40 miles away from my home, so you can only imagine how much I spend on gas. The scholarship funds will also go toward the cost of registration to the American Dietetic Association and the cost of the registered dietitian exam.”
The 27-year-old graduate student said she has been interested in nutrition since she was a child and has found that learning about how the human body utilizes nutrients from food to influence overall health and well-being is highly intriguing. With her background and interest in nutrition, she decided to become a registered dietitian and wants to dedicate herself to preventing and treating disease by promoting healthy eating habits and recommending dietary modification in society.
Brown is also an athlete. She played field hockey and lacrosse and ran track in high school, and she continued her field hockey career Loyola University. In fact, she is still playing field hockey with the Los Angeles Field Hockey Association and the Huntington Beach Field Hockey Club. She has traveled to several states and national field hockey tournaments the past few years.
“Practicing a healthy lifestyle has always been important to me. So, having an educational background in the field of nutrition will allow me to promote health and wellness,” Brown pointed out. “Being an athlete has made me want to commit my career to helping other athletes with their nutritional health. I am also interested in participating in corporate wellness program. Many adults spend most of their time at work, making it a great place to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors.”
Brown has her own business as a personal trainer and nutrition consultant, working with her clients at their homes, private gyms and down at the beach about five to 10 hours a week. She also worked as a nutrition assistant at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach for two years, taking patient food orders, serving food to patients and assisting clinical dietitians with appropriate patient nutrition care.
With March being National Nutrition Month, Frank thought announcing the award at this time was especially appropriate, and she believes that this spring’s student recipient reflects well on the CSULB nutrition program.
“As a fitness and sports professional already, Amanda blends this skill with her knowledge in nutrition to benefit clients,” Frank noted. “Amanda is highly organized and encourages her peers to assist in many community activities. This past fall she coordinated a dietetic internship booth for Senator (Alan) Lowenthal's Empowerment conference for local high school girls at CSULB. Additionally, she was elected president of the dietetic internship class for fall 2009."
-- Rick Gloady
Established in 2007, the dietetic internship scholarship was created with a $10,000 endowment from Rathmann Hartford, who was one of the first alumnae from the campus’ undergraduate nutrition program back in the mid-1960s. This year’s award was worth $400.
“Amanda stands out because she has pursued her education and early professional career quite financially independent of her family,” said Gail Frank, professor of nutrition and director of the nationally accredited Dietetic Internship Program at CSULB. “This is always challenging to our CSULB students and Amanda has continued so she can pursue her ultimate professional goals.”
A full-time student in the dietetic internship program, Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a biology minor at Loyola University, Maryland, where she graduated cum laude in 2004. She said the scholarship will help her with the educational costs and related expenses of the dietetic internship.
“The dietetic internship program is a non-paid, two-semester, full-time commitment. Time is very limited to work outside of the internship to generate income. When I found out that I was selected, I was very excited and felt extremely grateful,” Brown recalled. “Most of my rotations are 30-40 miles away from my home, so you can only imagine how much I spend on gas. The scholarship funds will also go toward the cost of registration to the American Dietetic Association and the cost of the registered dietitian exam.”
The 27-year-old graduate student said she has been interested in nutrition since she was a child and has found that learning about how the human body utilizes nutrients from food to influence overall health and well-being is highly intriguing. With her background and interest in nutrition, she decided to become a registered dietitian and wants to dedicate herself to preventing and treating disease by promoting healthy eating habits and recommending dietary modification in society.
Brown is also an athlete. She played field hockey and lacrosse and ran track in high school, and she continued her field hockey career Loyola University. In fact, she is still playing field hockey with the Los Angeles Field Hockey Association and the Huntington Beach Field Hockey Club. She has traveled to several states and national field hockey tournaments the past few years.
“Practicing a healthy lifestyle has always been important to me. So, having an educational background in the field of nutrition will allow me to promote health and wellness,” Brown pointed out. “Being an athlete has made me want to commit my career to helping other athletes with their nutritional health. I am also interested in participating in corporate wellness program. Many adults spend most of their time at work, making it a great place to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors.”
Brown has her own business as a personal trainer and nutrition consultant, working with her clients at their homes, private gyms and down at the beach about five to 10 hours a week. She also worked as a nutrition assistant at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach for two years, taking patient food orders, serving food to patients and assisting clinical dietitians with appropriate patient nutrition care.
With March being National Nutrition Month, Frank thought announcing the award at this time was especially appropriate, and she believes that this spring’s student recipient reflects well on the CSULB nutrition program.
“As a fitness and sports professional already, Amanda blends this skill with her knowledge in nutrition to benefit clients,” Frank noted. “Amanda is highly organized and encourages her peers to assist in many community activities. This past fall she coordinated a dietetic internship booth for Senator (Alan) Lowenthal's Empowerment conference for local high school girls at CSULB. Additionally, she was elected president of the dietetic internship class for fall 2009."
-- Rick Gloady
Cal State Long Beach Kinesiology Department Celebrates 40 Years of Helping Children with Disabilities on Campus
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) marked 40 years of assisting children with disabilities with a special celebration that recognized a pair of on-campus programs and those who have participated in them.
“I began thinking that 40 years was a pretty big milestone and we were the first program of this kind west of the Mississippi in 1969-70,” said Barry Lavay, a professor in CSULB’s Department of Kinesiology (KIN) where his primary responsibility is to train students to teach physical education to individuals with disabilities. “I thought it would be a good idea to have this celebration.”
The 40th anniversary is as much a celebration of those who have participated in the program as the program itself, according to Lavay, who credits former CSULB faculty members Andy Sinclair and Dan Arnheim for having the vision to start the program.
“When I look at this program, it accomplishes three things,” he said. “It provides training for university students who are studying to be adapted physical education teachers, it provides physical activity for children with disabilities, and it’s a great university public relations tool because of what we are giving back to the community.”
Lavay also coordinates the State Adapted Physical Education Teaching Credential Program where more than 250 students have received a California APE Specialist Credential since 1988. He notes that anybody who has been credentialed in Adapted Physical Education from CSULB since 1970 has worked in the programs and received valuable hands-on experience in learning to work with children with disabilities.
The after-school program is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 3:45-4:45 p.m. throughout the academic year. It offers two 10-week, 20-session programs to children ages 6-12 with disabilities and gross motor delays. Provided is both small group (2:1 or 1:1 child/staff ratio) and group instruction by university students studying in the Department of Kinesiology and working toward an adapted physical education specialist credential. Individualized and group instruction emphasizes gross motor fundamental skills, cooperative lead-up games, sports, relaxation activities and social interaction.
Camp Nugget, a four-week, three-hour-a-day program which normally begins the last week of June and runs into July, is offered to children ages 5-12 with disabilities and special needs. Small group instruction with a 4:1 child/staff ratio is again provided by adapted physical education specialist credential students. Camp activities include aquatics with swim instruction, instruction in fundamental skills and lead-up cooperative games, outdoor adventure course and adapted sports.
“The after-school program has been run under different names over the years and is really just an extension of the summer camp we run,” said Lavay. “I’ve run the camp and the after-school program since 1988, so there are many similarities because we are providing quality physical activity instructions for children with disabilities. In the summer, if a child needs intense one-on-one instruction, we’re not set up for that, but we work on a very small ratio of 4.5 children to every counselor. In the after school program, it’s usually one-on-one or one-on-two. But we also do group activities because they need to learn to socially interact and cooperate with other children.”
Lavay said he enjoys the work. It is rewarding to see his students grow in their teaching, and he also enjoys giving back to the community.
“It’s also really good training. Students need practical experience, they need hands-on experience, they need the opportunity to combine theory with practice and theory comes alive when they work with a child who has a disability,” he pointed out. “Kids with disabilities are real receptive to receiving instruction. I mean it’s challenging sometimes and there’s some real unique behaviors that some of the children exhibit, but it’s rewarding.”
Lavay estimated that since the programs’ beginning in 1970, more than 2,500 disabled youth with disabilities have participated.
“Opportunities for children with disabilities have increased tremendously since 1970, but still it’s challenging when you are a parent and you’re trying to find services for your child with special needs,” said Lavay. “With us they know they are going to get a quality program. There are public school and recreational programs for these kids, but the reality is that there are not a lot of programs like ours in Southern California where universities are involved.”
-- Shayne Schroeder
“I began thinking that 40 years was a pretty big milestone and we were the first program of this kind west of the Mississippi in 1969-70,” said Barry Lavay, a professor in CSULB’s Department of Kinesiology (KIN) where his primary responsibility is to train students to teach physical education to individuals with disabilities. “I thought it would be a good idea to have this celebration.”
The 40th anniversary is as much a celebration of those who have participated in the program as the program itself, according to Lavay, who credits former CSULB faculty members Andy Sinclair and Dan Arnheim for having the vision to start the program.
“When I look at this program, it accomplishes three things,” he said. “It provides training for university students who are studying to be adapted physical education teachers, it provides physical activity for children with disabilities, and it’s a great university public relations tool because of what we are giving back to the community.”
Lavay also coordinates the State Adapted Physical Education Teaching Credential Program where more than 250 students have received a California APE Specialist Credential since 1988. He notes that anybody who has been credentialed in Adapted Physical Education from CSULB since 1970 has worked in the programs and received valuable hands-on experience in learning to work with children with disabilities.
The after-school program is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 3:45-4:45 p.m. throughout the academic year. It offers two 10-week, 20-session programs to children ages 6-12 with disabilities and gross motor delays. Provided is both small group (2:1 or 1:1 child/staff ratio) and group instruction by university students studying in the Department of Kinesiology and working toward an adapted physical education specialist credential. Individualized and group instruction emphasizes gross motor fundamental skills, cooperative lead-up games, sports, relaxation activities and social interaction.
Camp Nugget, a four-week, three-hour-a-day program which normally begins the last week of June and runs into July, is offered to children ages 5-12 with disabilities and special needs. Small group instruction with a 4:1 child/staff ratio is again provided by adapted physical education specialist credential students. Camp activities include aquatics with swim instruction, instruction in fundamental skills and lead-up cooperative games, outdoor adventure course and adapted sports.
“The after-school program has been run under different names over the years and is really just an extension of the summer camp we run,” said Lavay. “I’ve run the camp and the after-school program since 1988, so there are many similarities because we are providing quality physical activity instructions for children with disabilities. In the summer, if a child needs intense one-on-one instruction, we’re not set up for that, but we work on a very small ratio of 4.5 children to every counselor. In the after school program, it’s usually one-on-one or one-on-two. But we also do group activities because they need to learn to socially interact and cooperate with other children.”
Lavay said he enjoys the work. It is rewarding to see his students grow in their teaching, and he also enjoys giving back to the community.
“It’s also really good training. Students need practical experience, they need hands-on experience, they need the opportunity to combine theory with practice and theory comes alive when they work with a child who has a disability,” he pointed out. “Kids with disabilities are real receptive to receiving instruction. I mean it’s challenging sometimes and there’s some real unique behaviors that some of the children exhibit, but it’s rewarding.”
Lavay estimated that since the programs’ beginning in 1970, more than 2,500 disabled youth with disabilities have participated.
“Opportunities for children with disabilities have increased tremendously since 1970, but still it’s challenging when you are a parent and you’re trying to find services for your child with special needs,” said Lavay. “With us they know they are going to get a quality program. There are public school and recreational programs for these kids, but the reality is that there are not a lot of programs like ours in Southern California where universities are involved.”
-- Shayne Schroeder
Long Beach Rotary Scholarship Foundation Presents $174,800 to Cal State Long Beach for Student Scholarships
The Long Beach Rotary Scholarship Foundation has given $174,800 to California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) that will be used for scholarships to more than 130 students.
The check presentation was made by Greg Hill, president of the Long Beach Rotary, and Frank Newell, chairman of the Long Beach Rotary Scholarship Foundation, during a special halftime ceremony at a recent 49er men’s basketball game.
Long Beach Rotary is supporting four President’s Scholars scholarships, and another 129 CSULB students each received a $1,200 annual scholarship during the 2009-10 school year. Rotary members held a pre-game reception at The Pointe in The Walter Pyramid to honor this year’s scholarship recipients.
“At Cal State Long Beach during the past 45 years, the Rotary Scholarship Foundation has funded more than 2,500 annual student scholarships totaling more than $2.5 million dollars,” Newell pointed out. “We also provide $80,000 in annual scholarships to more than 100 students attending Long Beach City College.”
Founded in 1917, Rotary is the largest and oldest service organization in Long Beach. The organization also sponsors a service club for students at the university called the Rotaract Club. Members of Rotaract also were guests at the pre-game reception.
“Long Beach Rotary has been an incredible partner for Cal State Long Beach, and Rotary has helped thousands of students achieve success in college,” said Andrea Taylor, CSULB’s vice president for university relations and development. “We are very grateful for Rotary's long standing and enthusiastic commitment to our students and to the community.”
Long Beach Rotary Scholarships are available to students from Long Beach area high schools who attend Long Beach City College and CSULB. Applications for Fall 2010 scholarships are available at www.rotarylongbeach.org and are due by April 12.
-- Colleen Bragalone
The check presentation was made by Greg Hill, president of the Long Beach Rotary, and Frank Newell, chairman of the Long Beach Rotary Scholarship Foundation, during a special halftime ceremony at a recent 49er men’s basketball game.
Long Beach Rotary is supporting four President’s Scholars scholarships, and another 129 CSULB students each received a $1,200 annual scholarship during the 2009-10 school year. Rotary members held a pre-game reception at The Pointe in The Walter Pyramid to honor this year’s scholarship recipients.
“At Cal State Long Beach during the past 45 years, the Rotary Scholarship Foundation has funded more than 2,500 annual student scholarships totaling more than $2.5 million dollars,” Newell pointed out. “We also provide $80,000 in annual scholarships to more than 100 students attending Long Beach City College.”
Founded in 1917, Rotary is the largest and oldest service organization in Long Beach. The organization also sponsors a service club for students at the university called the Rotaract Club. Members of Rotaract also were guests at the pre-game reception.
“Long Beach Rotary has been an incredible partner for Cal State Long Beach, and Rotary has helped thousands of students achieve success in college,” said Andrea Taylor, CSULB’s vice president for university relations and development. “We are very grateful for Rotary's long standing and enthusiastic commitment to our students and to the community.”
Long Beach Rotary Scholarships are available to students from Long Beach area high schools who attend Long Beach City College and CSULB. Applications for Fall 2010 scholarships are available at www.rotarylongbeach.org and are due by April 12.
-- Colleen Bragalone
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Cal State Long Beach to Host 11th ‘Math Day at The Beach’ Competition for Southern California High Schools this Saturday
University High School of Irvine will defend its title against 34 other Southern California high schools during the 11th annual Math Day at The Beach competition at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) on Saturday, March 20.
The event takes place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in the campus' University Student Union Ballroom.
Presented by CSULB’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics, the event pits teams in a math problem-solving festival. Schools will field groups of six students who compete in team as well as individual events for prizes and trophies. CSULB Math Professor James Stein will be guest speaker.
More than 215 students from 35 schools as well as 11 independent individuals will be participating. Schools are divided into Divisions A and B, vying for the top prize in each division. The centerpiece of the event is a 70-minute exam including both multiple choice and free response questions in high school-level mathematics, designed by CSULB Mathematics Department faculty.
The contest emphasizes intuitive thinking rather than computational skill, without the use of calculators. Questions are selected from algebra, geometry, trigonometry, number theory, combinatorics, and probability and statistics.
In addition to the individual exam, there is a team round in which all members work on a set of problems in a given amount of time, and a final face-off round in which top-scoring individuals represent their team in an oral format.
As many as 17 of the approximately 500 students in the U.S. who qualified for the 2009 USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) are expected to participate, including one of the 12 national USAMO 2009 winners, ninth-grader David Yang of Diamond Bar High.
Sponsors include the Beckman Coulter Foundation, LBS Financial Credit Union and other individual donors, along with CSULB’s Mathematics and Statistics Student Association, 49er Shops Inc., and Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
For additional information, contact CSULB Math Professor Kent Merryfield at 562/985-5787, kmerry@csulb.edu, or visit www.csulb.edu/depts/math/mathday/index.htm
The event takes place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in the campus' University Student Union Ballroom.
Presented by CSULB’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics, the event pits teams in a math problem-solving festival. Schools will field groups of six students who compete in team as well as individual events for prizes and trophies. CSULB Math Professor James Stein will be guest speaker.
More than 215 students from 35 schools as well as 11 independent individuals will be participating. Schools are divided into Divisions A and B, vying for the top prize in each division. The centerpiece of the event is a 70-minute exam including both multiple choice and free response questions in high school-level mathematics, designed by CSULB Mathematics Department faculty.
The contest emphasizes intuitive thinking rather than computational skill, without the use of calculators. Questions are selected from algebra, geometry, trigonometry, number theory, combinatorics, and probability and statistics.
In addition to the individual exam, there is a team round in which all members work on a set of problems in a given amount of time, and a final face-off round in which top-scoring individuals represent their team in an oral format.
As many as 17 of the approximately 500 students in the U.S. who qualified for the 2009 USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) are expected to participate, including one of the 12 national USAMO 2009 winners, ninth-grader David Yang of Diamond Bar High.
Sponsors include the Beckman Coulter Foundation, LBS Financial Credit Union and other individual donors, along with CSULB’s Mathematics and Statistics Student Association, 49er Shops Inc., and Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
For additional information, contact CSULB Math Professor Kent Merryfield at 562/985-5787, kmerry@csulb.edu, or visit www.csulb.edu/depts/math/mathday/index.htm
Cal State Long Beach's ‘Women Engineers @ the Beach’ Celebrates 10 Years of Attracting Young Girls to Engineering
Celebrating 10 successful years in encouraging young girls to consider future careers in engineering and science, Cal State Long Beach’s (CSULB) College of Engineering (COE) will host the “Women Engineers@the Beach” conference on Friday, March 19 from 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the campus’ Vivian Engineering Center (VEC).
More than 380 girls from 19 middle and high schools in California will attend the biannual conference to learn about the variety of disciplines involved in engineering and related sciences.
Lily Gossage, director of engineering recruitment and retention for the COE, has organized “Women Engineers@the Beach” since 2001. She believes that aside from introducing young girls to engineering, the event also focuses on encouraging school counselors and teachers to promote engineering at their school sites.
“Ten years is an important milestone for the College of Engineering, the conference and all its partners. We have come so far in the past decade, but there still is a lot to do because the socio-cultural issues that set male and female expectations of career roles still exist,” said Gossage. “These gender roles go against the research that tells us that girls are just as capable as boys at succeeding in math- and science-based careers. This is one reason the opportunities for young girls to explore the mathematical-logical part of cognitive thought are limited.”
The COE’s long-term goal with the conference it to help increase the number of women engineers in both academia and the industry. Currently, women comprise less than 10 percent of the engineering workforce and represent less than 15 percent of the engineering student population.
Gossage also believes it is important to promote the social acceptance of engineering in young girls during the formative years when there is plenty of time for academic preparation. “It is important for parents, teachers and counselors to enforce the belief that engineering is also a woman’s world,” she said.
From 10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. at the conference, students will be involved in hands-on activities during 20 45-minute workshops designed to teach them about such areas as measuring concrete strength, robotics designing, structural engineering, hydraulics and the engineering involved in medicine.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary, a cake-cutting ceremony will take place during lunch at 12:30 p.m.
A number of other innovative and fun activities such as building bridges, designing 3D worlds, Web site design and the “human factors” related to product safety will enrich the students’ critical reasoning skills.
CSULB student projects will also be on display, such as a race car, a concrete canoe and a steel bridge.
Other displays will include an off-road vehicle built by CSULB’s chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers for the Mini Baja Project as well as an entry for the Intercollegiate MicroMouse Competition, which challenges students to build an autonomous robot designed to solve and run a maze in the shortest time.
The students who will attend the conference this year were chosen for performing at grade-level or higher in mathematics. The vast majority (93 percent) will come from the schools’ Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) programs.
The high school girls are enrolled in advanced placement calculus and/or physics at their schools, while the majority of the elementary and middle school girls have scored in the upper 10 percent in the California Standards Test for math and science.
The keynote speaker will be Jennifer Harris, an industrial engineering transportation manager at United Parcel Service and the Sonora regional governor for the Society of Women Engineers.
Sponsors include the Fluor Corporation and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). The co-sponsor is the Society of Women Engineers.
Last year, the National Society of Women Engineers awarded Women Engineers@the Beach the prestigious Kimberly-Clark Outreach Event Award.
Like Gossage, Pannada Marayong, a faculty adviser from the Society of Women Engineers, also believes that programs like “Women Engineers @ The Beach” are essential in attracting young women to engineering who may otherwise feel the industry is not suited for them. She also recognizes the importance of such programs in enabling girls to develop supportive relationships with working women engineers.
“It is immensely important for universities to provide outreach opportunities to attract more women into science and engineering,” said Marayong. “This should start as early as the middle school and continue all the way through high school. This is when kids start to explore their interests and their career paths. Unfortunately, many girls are discouraged about engineering because they perceive it as being ‘too technical’ and ‘unexciting.’”
-- Paul Browning
More than 380 girls from 19 middle and high schools in California will attend the biannual conference to learn about the variety of disciplines involved in engineering and related sciences.
Lily Gossage, director of engineering recruitment and retention for the COE, has organized “Women Engineers@the Beach” since 2001. She believes that aside from introducing young girls to engineering, the event also focuses on encouraging school counselors and teachers to promote engineering at their school sites.
“Ten years is an important milestone for the College of Engineering, the conference and all its partners. We have come so far in the past decade, but there still is a lot to do because the socio-cultural issues that set male and female expectations of career roles still exist,” said Gossage. “These gender roles go against the research that tells us that girls are just as capable as boys at succeeding in math- and science-based careers. This is one reason the opportunities for young girls to explore the mathematical-logical part of cognitive thought are limited.”
The COE’s long-term goal with the conference it to help increase the number of women engineers in both academia and the industry. Currently, women comprise less than 10 percent of the engineering workforce and represent less than 15 percent of the engineering student population.
Gossage also believes it is important to promote the social acceptance of engineering in young girls during the formative years when there is plenty of time for academic preparation. “It is important for parents, teachers and counselors to enforce the belief that engineering is also a woman’s world,” she said.
From 10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. at the conference, students will be involved in hands-on activities during 20 45-minute workshops designed to teach them about such areas as measuring concrete strength, robotics designing, structural engineering, hydraulics and the engineering involved in medicine.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary, a cake-cutting ceremony will take place during lunch at 12:30 p.m.
A number of other innovative and fun activities such as building bridges, designing 3D worlds, Web site design and the “human factors” related to product safety will enrich the students’ critical reasoning skills.
CSULB student projects will also be on display, such as a race car, a concrete canoe and a steel bridge.
Other displays will include an off-road vehicle built by CSULB’s chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers for the Mini Baja Project as well as an entry for the Intercollegiate MicroMouse Competition, which challenges students to build an autonomous robot designed to solve and run a maze in the shortest time.
The students who will attend the conference this year were chosen for performing at grade-level or higher in mathematics. The vast majority (93 percent) will come from the schools’ Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) programs.
The high school girls are enrolled in advanced placement calculus and/or physics at their schools, while the majority of the elementary and middle school girls have scored in the upper 10 percent in the California Standards Test for math and science.
The keynote speaker will be Jennifer Harris, an industrial engineering transportation manager at United Parcel Service and the Sonora regional governor for the Society of Women Engineers.
Sponsors include the Fluor Corporation and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). The co-sponsor is the Society of Women Engineers.
Last year, the National Society of Women Engineers awarded Women Engineers@the Beach the prestigious Kimberly-Clark Outreach Event Award.
Like Gossage, Pannada Marayong, a faculty adviser from the Society of Women Engineers, also believes that programs like “Women Engineers @ The Beach” are essential in attracting young women to engineering who may otherwise feel the industry is not suited for them. She also recognizes the importance of such programs in enabling girls to develop supportive relationships with working women engineers.
“It is immensely important for universities to provide outreach opportunities to attract more women into science and engineering,” said Marayong. “This should start as early as the middle school and continue all the way through high school. This is when kids start to explore their interests and their career paths. Unfortunately, many girls are discouraged about engineering because they perceive it as being ‘too technical’ and ‘unexciting.’”
-- Paul Browning
5 Student-Athletes from Long Beach State Men’s, Women’s Basketball Teams Earn All-Big West Conference Recognition
Five players from the men’s and women’s basketball teams at Long Beach State (LBSU) have been named to the Big West (BWC) All-Conference teams for their performances during the 2009-10 season in a vote of the conference’s coaches.
On the men’s side, sophomore forward T.J. Robinson led the way with his selection to the first-team squad while teammate Casper Ware, a sophomore guard, was named second-team All-Big West.
Robinson garnered first-team recognition after leading the 49ers in scoring (15.7 points per game) and rebounding (10.3 rebounds per game). He finished the regular season as just one of a handful of Division I players to average a double-double while leading the BWC with 17 double-doubles. The 49er forward scored more than 20 points seven times during the season and finished the regular season with 28 double-digit scoring games and 17 double-digit rebounding games.
Robinson led the BWC in rebounding while finishing seventh in scoring and second in field goal percentage. He ranks in the top 20 in the country in both rebounds per game and double-doubles. His 308 rebounds are the most by a 49er in the last 30 years and the sixth most all-time, and his 197 free-throw attempts rank seventh in school history. He was an honorable mention all-conference last year as a freshman and was named to the Big West All-Freshman Team.
Ware earned second-team accolades after averaging 11.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He finished the regular season with three 20-point games, 18 double-digit scoring games and one double-double. Ware led the conference in assists while finishing second in steals, seventh in free-throw percentage (.764) and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.60). His 147 assists are tied for the eighth most in a season at LBSU, and his 57 steals rank ninth on the single-season list. As a freshman he was named to the Big West All-Freshman Team.
From the women’s team, senior Karina Figueroa was a first-team All-BWC selection, and her teammates Lauren Sims and Ally Wade were honorable mentions.
Figueroa, a 5-foot-8 guard, has had a stellar senior season, averaging a career-high 17.8 points, 5.6 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game. Her 162 assists on the season rank her first in the conference and 10th in the 49er single-season record books. She has reached double figures in scoring in 27 of 29 games and has hit the 20-point mark 12 times. She also has a team-best four double-doubles.
Figueroa, a four-time all-conference selection, surpassed the 1,000-point barrier after scoring 23 in the season-opener against Prairie View A&M. She now ranks seventh in school history with 1,499 points. She also is among LBSU's career leaders in scoring average (14.7 ppg), 3-pointers made (114), 3-pointers attempted (330), 3-point field goal percentage (34.5 percent), free throws made (359), free throws attempted (455) and free-throw percentage (78.9 percent). This is Figueroa's first time being named to the All-Big West first team.
Sims earned honorable-mention recognition for the second year in a row after averaging a career-best 11.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game during the regular season. She set a school single-season record and ranks first in the BWC with 67 3-point field goals made. She also tied a 49er single-game record with seven threes en route to a career-high 25 points at Miami (Fla.). In addition to her accomplishments on the court, Sims has racked up the academic accolades as well. She was recently selected as a second-team Academic All-American and is a three-time Academic All-District pick.
Wade, a 5-foot-11 forward, garnered her first all-conference award after averaging a career-high 11.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game this season. Her 178 rebounds on the year is tops on the team and ranks her sixth in the conference. She has hit double figures in scoring in 17 games. She also pulled down a personal-best 14 rebounds against Cal State Bakersfield on Jan. 23.
-- Todd Miles
On the men’s side, sophomore forward T.J. Robinson led the way with his selection to the first-team squad while teammate Casper Ware, a sophomore guard, was named second-team All-Big West.
Robinson garnered first-team recognition after leading the 49ers in scoring (15.7 points per game) and rebounding (10.3 rebounds per game). He finished the regular season as just one of a handful of Division I players to average a double-double while leading the BWC with 17 double-doubles. The 49er forward scored more than 20 points seven times during the season and finished the regular season with 28 double-digit scoring games and 17 double-digit rebounding games.
Robinson led the BWC in rebounding while finishing seventh in scoring and second in field goal percentage. He ranks in the top 20 in the country in both rebounds per game and double-doubles. His 308 rebounds are the most by a 49er in the last 30 years and the sixth most all-time, and his 197 free-throw attempts rank seventh in school history. He was an honorable mention all-conference last year as a freshman and was named to the Big West All-Freshman Team.
Ware earned second-team accolades after averaging 11.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He finished the regular season with three 20-point games, 18 double-digit scoring games and one double-double. Ware led the conference in assists while finishing second in steals, seventh in free-throw percentage (.764) and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.60). His 147 assists are tied for the eighth most in a season at LBSU, and his 57 steals rank ninth on the single-season list. As a freshman he was named to the Big West All-Freshman Team.
From the women’s team, senior Karina Figueroa was a first-team All-BWC selection, and her teammates Lauren Sims and Ally Wade were honorable mentions.
Figueroa, a 5-foot-8 guard, has had a stellar senior season, averaging a career-high 17.8 points, 5.6 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game. Her 162 assists on the season rank her first in the conference and 10th in the 49er single-season record books. She has reached double figures in scoring in 27 of 29 games and has hit the 20-point mark 12 times. She also has a team-best four double-doubles.
Figueroa, a four-time all-conference selection, surpassed the 1,000-point barrier after scoring 23 in the season-opener against Prairie View A&M. She now ranks seventh in school history with 1,499 points. She also is among LBSU's career leaders in scoring average (14.7 ppg), 3-pointers made (114), 3-pointers attempted (330), 3-point field goal percentage (34.5 percent), free throws made (359), free throws attempted (455) and free-throw percentage (78.9 percent). This is Figueroa's first time being named to the All-Big West first team.
Sims earned honorable-mention recognition for the second year in a row after averaging a career-best 11.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game during the regular season. She set a school single-season record and ranks first in the BWC with 67 3-point field goals made. She also tied a 49er single-game record with seven threes en route to a career-high 25 points at Miami (Fla.). In addition to her accomplishments on the court, Sims has racked up the academic accolades as well. She was recently selected as a second-team Academic All-American and is a three-time Academic All-District pick.
Wade, a 5-foot-11 forward, garnered her first all-conference award after averaging a career-high 11.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game this season. Her 178 rebounds on the year is tops on the team and ranks her sixth in the conference. She has hit double figures in scoring in 17 games. She also pulled down a personal-best 14 rebounds against Cal State Bakersfield on Jan. 23.
-- Todd Miles
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
