Story Idea for Media 5/23/13

Yet another “Corpse Flower” about to Bloom at Ohio State. It’s happening – again.

Titan Arum fans can celebrate Memorial Day weekend in the Biological Sciences Greenhouse with the second Titan Arum to bloom in less than two weeks. “Maudine” is projected to bloom Saturday, May 25. For daily updates and information, including public visiting hours, parking, directions, and streaming live video from the greenhouse, visit the Greenhouse website

Few have ever managed the feat of blooming a Titan Arum from start to finish – that is, planting the seeds, watching over them through germination, tuber growth, leaf production, and dormancy – and perhaps be rewarded with a bloom, instead of a leaf. In fact, this has happened less than 150 times worldwide since the plant was discovered in 1878.

Joan Leonard, Biological Sciences Greenhouse manager, is fast becoming a legend in the world of plant conservationists. She is one of very few people worldwide who have developed a successful Titan-blooming track record. Within days, in fact of Woody2’s bloom, Maudine is set to burst forth. If you include the Titan that bloomed at Miami University in April, which Leonard grew and donated to them two months before it bloomed, it makes three. MEDIA CONTACT: Sandi Rutkowski, College of Arts and Sciences: Rutkowski.1@osu.edu or 614-292-4759. SEE: http://artsandsciences.osu.edu/news/big-blooming-news-titan-maudine-breaks-record.

Teacher, students create community garden, thanks to Ohio State service learning course -- May 28. Maize Road Elementary School, Columbus City Schools (CCS), will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4360 Maize Road, 43224, at 9:30 a.m., for its new outdoor learning classroom and garden space created by the school and community. Physical Therapist Delphina “Del” Christopher and Occupational Therapist Allison Thompson engaged the entire school, grades Pre-K through fifth, in the service learning project with 50+ volunteers, thanks to a College of Education and Human Ecology course they took taught by Associate Professor Valerie Kinloch. More than 60 CCS teachers have taken Kinloch’s course on how to use service learning to engage students in real world experiences with community partners, while improving their academic skills. CONTACT: Gemma McLuckie, mcluckie.1@osu.edu.

Ohio State University Partnership Builds Playground for Area School – May 30. Ohio State University students and administrators, including Ohio State football head coach Urban Meyer, team members, and the Office of Student Life will partner with Lowe’s to dedicate a completely renovated playground at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 30 at the Graham Expeditionary Middle School, 140 East 16th Ave.

The “Play it Forward” initiative has provided the logistical coordination, resources and materials for the renovation. Play it Forward is a new partnership between Ohio State’s football program, the Office of Student Life, Lowe’s, and local schools in Columbus.

Media can shoot still photos and video of the volunteers at approximately 10 a.m. Interviews will be available at the 12:30 p.m. dedication ceremony. CONTACT: Dave Isaacs, Office of Student Life, Isaacs.84@osu.edu, 614-292-8424.

State Sen. Nina Turner is keynote speaker for the ACCESS Collaborative Student-Parent Support Symposium – May 30-31. State Sen. Nina Turner, a first generation college graduate, will deliver the keynote address for the ninth annual ACCESS Collaborative Student-Parent Symposium May 30-31 at the Blackwell Hotel, 2110 Tuttle Park Place.

The ACCESS Collaborative Program was developed by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to enable single parent students (male and female) with custody of their children, an opportunity to earn an undergraduate degree and secure employment. High school and college administrators, government officials, community leaders and social work professionals are among the registrants. Best practices, challenges, program models, unique life skills, housing needs and collaboration with community resources will be discussed. CONTACT: Kim Kovarik, 614-292-8441. SEE: http://odi.osu.edu/current-students/access/symposium/index.php.

College of Social Work student gets HPV conversation started. James Carter, a doctoral student and Schweitzer Fellow in the College of Social Work gets the human papillomavirus (HPV) conversation started in Central Ohio’s LGBT community by empowering people with not only information but services that protect them. Carter was recently featured on the national Schweitzer website for creating awareness about HPV and its potential impact in life conditions. Read Carter’s full story at http://tinyurl.com/cljlrtu. CONTACT: Frankie Jones-Harris, Communications Director, 614-292-3540, 614-330-2206 or jones-harris.1@osu.edu.

The person listed as the CONTACT will have the most current information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story: Jane Carroll, carroll.296@osu.edu; Liz Cook, 614-292-7276 or cook.17@osu.edu; or Amy Murray, 614-292-8385 or murray-goedde.1@osu.edu.