Newsroom Stories

Parents shared a picnic lunch with their children at the Washington University Family Learning Center April 19 to celebrate the Week of the Young Child. Shown, Katie Wools, of the Olin Business School, eats with her 3-year-old daughter, Penny.

​Susan Rotroff, PhD, a classical archaeologist, and Leigh Schmidt, PhD, historian of American religion, are the latest Washington University scholars to be selected for prestigious fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Rotroff and Schmidt were among 175 Guggenheim Fellows chosen in 2013 from almost 3,000 scholars, artists and scientists in the United States and Canada. The Guggenheim fellowship is awarded on the basis of prior achievement and exceptional promise.​

Defining Moments, an innovative course offered at Olin Business School, allows students to interact with top leaders in the corporate world who exemplify integrity and excellence. The course engages students to think about how they can achieve success without sacrificing character.

A low-cost medical device targeted at improving world health has taken home the top prize in Washington University School of Engineering & Applied Science’s inaugural Discovery Competition. Sparo Labs took the largest prize of $25,000. The company’s plan stems from an award-winning project to develop a low-cost, pocket-sized spirometer, which measures lung function.

Chenyang Lu, PhD, professor of computer science & engineering in the School of Engineering & Applied Science, and colleagues, have developed a unique system they call a Wireless Cyber-Physical Simulator, which can help bridges and other structures survive natural disasters.

The Women’s Society of Washington University handed out awards at its annual meeting April 17. Harriet Switzer, center, visits with the two seniors who received a leadership award named in her honor. They are Jennifer Head, far left, and Melany Lopez.

The annual Freshman Finale celebration was held on Tuesday, April 23 in College Hall on the South 40. Sponsored by the First Year Center and Freshman Class Council, the event included remarks from College of Arts & Sciences Dean Jennifer R. Smith, PhD, and a representative of the freshman class, as well as student performances. Awards were presented to outstanding members of the Washington University community who have had a positive impact on new students in their first year.

Timothy Eberlein, chairman of the Department of Surgery, has been named the inaugural winner of the Pillar of Support Award. The award was created by the Academic Women’s Network at the School of Medicine to recognize outstanding support of female faculty.

The Brown School held its second annual Research Without Walls student research symposium April 25 in the hallways of Brown and Goldfarb Halls on the Danforth Campus. The symposium gives students practice in presenting their research to peers, professors and the public in a relaxed, informal setting.

Members of the WU Racing Team revealed the 2013 race car April 25 in the Danforth University Center. The team and car will travel to Michigan International Speedway next month to participate in the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers competition.