uncnews.unc.edu

Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina people and programs cited recently in the media:

National Coverage

Winners of MacArthur Foundation award include 10 people who focus on science
The Washington Post
Nine scientists and a science radio host were among the 22 people who received $500,000 MacArthur “genius” grants last week. Each year the MacArthur Foundation gives the no-strings-attached awards to innovative thinkers “to advance their expertise, engage in bold new work, or, if they wish, to change fields or alter the direction of their careers.” ... Kevin Guskiewicz, a sports medicine researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who has developed ways to diagnose and treat sports-related concussions by placing accelerometers in the helmets of football and hockey players.
UNC Release: http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/4774/71/

State and Local Coverage

Bloomberg to speak at UNC graduation
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be the speaker at UNC-Chapel Hill's commencement in May, the university announced Monday. Bloomberg will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree at the UNC-CH ceremony, set for May 13 at Kenan Stadium. He was chosen as the speaker by UNC-CH Chancellor Holden Thorp in consultation with a committee of students and faculty.
UNC Release: http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/4787/68/
Related Links: http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2011/09/26/nyc-mayor-bloomberg-to-speak-at-unc.html
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=8368029
http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story/15674444/article-NYC-Mayor-Michael-Bloomberg-to-speak-at-UNC-s-spring-commencement?instance=breaking_news
http://www.chapelboro.com/UNC-Announces-Spring-Commencement-Speaker/11021579

How students learn best
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
... Peer2Peer’s philosophy is that “students teaching students is the way to go,” said Nancy Cox, who’s heading up the company’s local efforts as a management operational mentor.... To publicize Peer2Peer’s expansion, Cox has visited school PTA meetings and visited with school principals, but her new employment doesn’t pose a conflict of interest with her role as a school board member, said Norma Houston, a professor with the UNC School of Government.

Issues and Trends

No More Waiting Around
Inside Higher Ed
The message was clear here at the annual meeting of the National Association for College Admission Counseling -- colleges' wait-list practices have become an issue of concern for many high school counselors. ... Counselors said they have noticed a trend of more students are getting put on wait lists every year, and many said they hear horror stories about students being blind-sided with quick deadlines or inadequate aid offers months after they gave up hope of getting into their preferred institutions.

Triangle firm a finalist in Dell-sponsored contest
Triangle Business Journal
Dell, Microsoft and MasterCard are looking for America’s favorite small business, and North Carolina State University graduate Vinay Kolluru thinks his startup has just the right mix to bring that title to the Triangle. ... Essentially, his site allows college graduates to give an elevator pitch in a short video that prospective employers can watch from the comfort of their corner office. Recruiters from major companies routinely go to universities like N.C. State or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, but not nearly as many will make a trip to smaller schools.