Author: Deb Parker

The No. 22 WUSTL men’s basketball team will host Spalding University in the first round of the 2013 NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship Saturday, March 2, at the Field House. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

More than 150 students performed in this year’s Lunar New Year Festival, making it one of the largest cultural shows on campus. The student performances ranged from juggling to water sleeves (pictured) to a memorable Chinese Lion Dance. All proceeds from the show will go toward covering surgeries for orphans, including reconstructing unilateral cleft lips and palates.

For nearly two decades, Black Anthology has been a strong tradition at WUSTL during Black History Month. Students write, perform and produce a politically conscious and artistically creative play highlighting issues affecting the African-American community. This year’s production took place Feb. 1 and 2 in Edison Theatre.

Tracy Collins, who earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from WUSTL, returns to his alma mater after 20 years at the Creative Producers Group, a St. Louis-based agency. As WUSTL’s first senior creative director, Collins will help communicate the university’s brand through words and imagery.

The new Stamps Leadership Scholarship will award the full cost of undergraduate attendance to an average of five incoming freshmen each year. This unique program also includes an enrichment fund of $10,000 per student to be used over four years to pay for outside-the-classroom educational experiences such as study abroad, research or unpaid internships.

Two faculty members have been named Faculty Fellows in the Office of the Provost: Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert, PhD, professor and associate chair of biomedical engineering, and Heather Corcoran, MFA, associate professor of communication design. They are working on important university initiatives with Edward S. Macias, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs.

The lecture by playwright Sarah Ruhl, scheduled for noon Thursday, Jan. 31, in the Ann W. Olin Women’s Building, has been postponed.

The Lunar New Year Festival, an annual student-run production, celebrates the Lunar New Year and promotes awareness of the different aspects of Asian culture. Festivities begin with a free fireworks show at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, outside Danforth University Center and conclude with a two-night performance Friday and Saturday, Feb. 8 and 9, in Edison Theatre.

Black Anthology at Washington University in St. Louis presents “Metro,” a riveting, dramatic play examining the challenges of criminality and profiling in the life of a modern African-American. “Metro” explores the importance of embracing the intersection between race, identity and sexuality.

Nominations now are being accepted for the Gloria W. White Distinguished Service Award. Named for the late Gloria White, who retired in 1997 as vice chancellor for human resources after 30 years, the award recognizes a staff member for his or her exceptional effort and contributions that result in the betterment of the university.