Closing out 2011 – the year in review…

This year a lot has happened for the Buffs, both in Colorado and for our Boston Buff Alums, I thought I would give some of the highlights as we approach the the coming new year.

January

• CU gets two new big wigs: David Ikenberry takes over as the dean of the Leeds School of Business and Frances Draper is named associate vice chancellor for strategic relations.
• Two CU faculty named to 2010 AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) – William “Ned” Friedman (E&EB) and Veronica Bierbaum (CHEM).

February

• Make Love. Not War: CU-Boulder ranks No. 1 nationally for Peace Corps volunteers.
• Final flight of space shuttle Discovery to carry two payloads built by CU-Boulder labs.

March

• Colorado graduate programs earn national rankings.
• Taking over the reigns: John A. Stevenson named dean of graduate school.
• CU Basketball comes east! Colorado MBB plays at Madison Square Garden for the NIT Semi-Finals and Boston Buffs take a road trip.

April

• Boston Buffs were lucky enough to welcome a band new mini-Buff, Walter, to former Boston Chapter Leader, Wade Hendricks and his wife Audrey.

• President Obama nominates CU Professor Carl Lineberger to serve on National Science Board.
• Boston Buffs had their first Pac-12 event in Boston and joined the rest of the Alumni Clubs on a pub crawl.
• CU-Boulder receives Tree Campus USA designation – hug a tree to celebrate, there are plenty to go around!

May

• CU applied mathematics professor Harvey Segur receives 2011 Hazel Barnes Prize.
• Jewish Studies Program receives donation for $2 million endowed chair.
• Two CU faculty named to National Academy of Sciences – James Nynes (CHEM) and Jun Ye (PHYS).
• CU ties MIT for top universities for Department of Energy Early Career Research awards – take that MIT (and Harvard!).
• Buffs with brains: Colorado Athletics Academic Progress Rate (APR) highest since NCAA’s program began.
• Washinton D.C. heads…heads west: White House adviser on technology and innovation, Phil Weiser, named CU law dean.

June

• Record number of Buffs awarded Fulbright grants for 2011-12 (10).
• NSF awards CU $5.9 million grant for alpine ecosystem research – Of course we will study the slopes for you, meet me at the lodge.
• Christopher Braider named director of journalism and mass communication faculty.
• Colorado Athletics formally announced we were headed to the Pac-10. With the addition of Utah as well, it would now be the Pac-12; ushering in a new era of rebirthed rivalries, (prettier) road game destinations and an exciting future for the Buff Nation.

July

• Gift establishes endowed chair in finance at Leed’s School of Business.
• NASA mission to Mars led by CU-Boulder completes major milestone.

August

• Going Green: Boulder’s newest residence hall, Williams Village North is applauded for it’s sustainable design.
• CU’s chemical and biological engineers help fuel economy with 10 entrepreneurial startups.
• Reaching for the stars: Prof Douglas Duncan receives prestigious award for excellence in college astronomy teaching.
• CU cuisine initiatives receive national ‘Best of Show’ award from food service magazine – Chef from South Park would be proud.
• After a hot hot summer, the Boston Buffs gathered at Scoozi to cool off for a Happy Hour to welcome the newcomers, introduce the new Chapter Leader, Kat Vierzba, and kick off the football season right.
• CU Alum night at the MFA. Boston Buffs gathered for a night of art, music and cocktails at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

• Colorado Alum, Jon Embree steps on the field for his first game as the new head coach for the Colorado Buffaloes.
• CU kicks CSU’s butt in the 2011 Rocky Mountain Showdown 28-14.
• Boston Buffs make North Star Bar their new home for local events.
• The PhET Interactive Simulations online science project at CU receives international award, The Tech Award 2011.
• CU’s Leed’s School of Business MBA program named one of the best in Colorado and the nation.
• Boulder campus to lead five-year, $6.5 million effort to reduce violence in Denver’s Monetbello neighborhood.
• CU wins bid to host National Solar Observatory headquarters.
• NSF awards $4.5 million to CU-Boulder-led team to study electrical processes in Earth’s atmosphere.

October

• Bill Nye, the Science Guy visits CU campus!
• Who killed the electric car? Not CU – U.S. Dept of Energy providing CU grants to development of courses to prepare engineers for careers in developing new technologies for vehicles having electric drivetrains. The master’s-level courses will be taught by both UCCS and CU-Boulder faculty members with expertise in batteries, battery controls, and power electronics.

November

• Two CU professors named Fulbright Scholars – Clair Farago (ART) and Thea Lindquist.
• Colorado’s campus holds annual Veteran’s Day ceremony, this year they dedicate plaques honoring the fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan.

December

• Pac-12 Toys 4 Tots Happy Hour, hosted by UCLA is a huge success with a great Colorado turnout.
• CU’s Williams Village North earns platinum rating in LEED certification.

***All of these stories are available through the University of Colorado News Center Archives***

What can you look forward to in 2012 for your Boston Buffs?

• Colorado Basketball Watch Parties at North Star – we will be watching them with our opponents’ alum squads! (select dates/games)
• Networking and Meet-n-Greet social hour
• A CU hosted Pac-12 Happy Hour
• Volunteer Events
• Cultural Events

Is there something missing from the list that you would like to see happen? Email me at BeantownBuffs@gmail.com

Happy Holidays, 

Kat Vierzba