Author: Diane Toroian Keaggy

Can good intentions sometimes lead to bad feelings? That’s one of the questions to be addressed at the annual Impact Conference being held at Washington University Feb. 16-19. About 600 students from across the nation are expected to attend the conference, which focuses on community service, service learning and community-based research at America’s universities.

Washington University in St. Louis senior and yo-yo choreographer Kevin Wu has pulled together a team of novices to perform Chinese yo-yo at Lunar New Year this weekend at Edison Theatre. He says passion matters more than proficiency.

In response to the federal government’s to controversial immigration ban, Washington University in St. Louis sophomore Jordan Gonen launched the site CelebrateImmigrants.us, an inventory of immigrant business founders from Irish immigrant James Gamble of Procter & Gamble to South African-born Elon Musk of Tesla.

Stephanie Smith, director of supplier diversity, says the Supplier Diversity Initiative is preparing minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to work at Washington University. “I knew that if I could make a difference for the businesses, I could make a difference for the community,” Smith said. “This work matters now more than ever as we, as a region, strive for racial equity.”

Washington University in St. Louis has joined Raise.me, an innovative program that rewards low-income high school students for good grades, community service and leadership with scholarship dollars — up to $10,000 a year.

Three of Washington University in St. Louis’ premier scholar programs — the Ervin Scholars, the Annika Rodriguez Scholars and the Danforth Scholars — are now part of the new Office of Scholar Programs. The office will provide scholar students a space in the Women’s Building to meet and collaborate.

The Office of Sustainability reminds the community that recycling bins are for clean, dry waste. That means no products containing food, liquid or ice are allowed. Paper-based soda cups, coffee cups or plastic utensils also cannot be recycled.

Kawanna Leggett, director of residential education, at University of California, Berkeley, has been appointed Washington University in St. Louis’ first executive director of residential life, effective March 20, said Lori White, vice chancellor for student affairs.

WUVets, a veterans group at Washington University in St. Louis, was named Chapter of the Year by the Student Veterans of America (SVA), a national organization that provides resources and scholarships to college veterans. WUVets leaders James Petersen and Jennifer Goetz, both students at the Brown School, accepted the award at the SVA National Conference in California.

Justin Carroll, associate vice chancellor for student affairs/dean of students and interim athletics director, has announced his retirement, effective Feb. 1. Carroll is a 36-year veteran of the university, playing a central role in the development of Washington University in St. Louis’ acclaimed residential life and athletics programs.