Happy Monday, CALS,
The academic summer has truly begun today, with graduation exercises in the rearview mirror.
We had wonderful commencement and convocation ceremonies last week, including one of the best-ever commencement addresses. It was given by Temple Grandin from Colorado State University at Iowa State’s undergraduate commencement. Grandin is a world-renowned advocate and innovator for livestock care and for the understanding of autism. She spoke about both topics, very much including that we should all embrace and include people with different ways of thinking (e.g., visual, numerical, word-based) – such as her own way of visual-thinking. I truly encourage you to do some homework on this remarkable person via her websites - Temple Grandin - Colorado State University College of Agricultural Sciences and Temple Grandin's Official Autism Website. But the best way I think to get to know her and be inspired to know more is to enjoy and be challenged by the award-winning movie made about her early life - "Temple Grandin."
At the university’s graduate commencement last Thursday evening, there were terrific remarks from FSHN’s Kevin Schalinske, and at CALS Convocation last Friday morning, the student speaker was Julia Campbell, who did a great job! We also saw Paige Jergens and Colton Holdgrafer from CALS Council present graduating senior awards to fellow students – Amber Friedrichsen, Sofia Fernandez, Leah Mosher, Gracie Greiner, Nathan Behrends and Turner Anderson. Also at our Convocation, we had the best-yet handshake line (thank you to all who participated – and next time let's have more of you!) and gathering of graduates, faculty, staff, family and friends on the Hilton Coliseum floor immediately after the formal event. Really terrific and fun gathering!
Last week on Thursday afternoon, the agronomy department hosted a terrific “going-away” party for Kendall Lamkey, who after 17 years with agronomy, and years before that with ARS here on campus, will become the college’s associate dean for facilities and operations on May 16. Truth is he’s not going all that far away – only about 100 yards, and will continue to serve the college so very well!
This week on Wednesday, we will have the annual CALS Picnic – and I truly hope faculty and staff and families will come by! We’ll have food, music (by the Indigo Monks) and great CALS fellowship and fun! Join us at Moore Memorial Park - Big Bluestem Shelter in north Ames on Wednesday, May 17, from 4:30-7 p.m. Please RSVP online or email Angie Weeks (amweeks@iastate.edu) to let us know you're coming - but even if you have not and at the last minute you decide to stop by – please do!
Have a great week. - Dan
Scenes from CALS
Immediately before Iowa State's undergraduate commencement last Saturday, graduating senior Sydney Paris and her mentor, Howard Tyler, posed for a photo before Sydney carried the CALS banner at the start of the procession as the spring 2023 CALS Student Marshall.
See other photos from the spring 2023 CALS Convocation on the CALS Facebook page.
