Story Ideas for Media 8/9/11

Ohio State is a top contributor of graduates to Teach For America. Teach For America is recognizing Ohio State as a top contributor of graduates. Corps members are top college graduates and professionals who commit to teach for two years in underserved schools and become life long leaders in the pursuit of educational equity. The organization recruits on more than 1,500 college campuses, seeking seniors and graduates from all academic majors and backgrounds who have demonstrated achievement, perseverance, and leadership.
This year, 54 Ohio State graduates joined the corps, which is becoming more selective each year, earning a ranking as the 13th top contributor to the organization.
The Ohio State University made its debut at 16th on the top contributors list in 2009. Throughout Teach For America’s 20-year history, more than 200 Ohio State alumni have taught as corps members. SEE: www.go.osu.edu/EHj

Princeton Review ranks Ohio State a top Midwestern school and best value college. The annual Princeton Review college rankings recognize Ohio State as one of the top 50 Best Value Public Colleges for 2011, and one of the Best Midwestern Colleges. Best Value Colleges are selected for their excellent academics, low sticker price and/or generous financial aid. The publication selects Best Midwestern Colleges that it feels stand out within each region. The publication also notes Ohio State’s extracurricular offerings: Best Athletic Facilities (5th nationally), Students Pack the Stadiums (18th nationally) and Jock Schools (19th). SEE:
http://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings.aspx

Ohio State scientists to share in $25 million grant to study virus-related foodborne illness. Four Ohio State University scientists are part of a multi-state, $25-million effort to reduce the number of foodborne illnesses caused by viruses.
Under the leadership of North Carolina State University, the grant allows the formation of the Food Virology Collaborative involving more than a dozen universities as well as food and health organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
"We'll be involved in this project with some of the very best people in the country," said Richard Linton, who is one of the Ohio State scientists involved. Linton, currently at Purdue University, starts at Ohio State on Aug. 15 as professor and chair of the Department of Food Science and Technology.
The project focuses on human noroviruses, which cause more than 21 million cases of foodborne illness each year and are the second-leading cause of gastroenteritis in children under 5 years old. More than half of all foodborne disease outbreaks are due to noroviruses, and they are also the second-leading cause of hospitalizations due to foodborne illness. SEE: http://extension.osu.edu/news-releases/archives/2011/august/ohio-state-scientists-to-share-in-25-million-grant-to-study-virus-related-foodborne-illness

Ohio State trials reveal consumer preference of new ornamental plants. A rudbeckia as bright as the desert sun, a gerbera the color of tropical fruit and a begonia with striking reddish undertones are this year's favorite ornamental plants following consumer evaluations undertaken as part of Ohio State University's extensive annuals trials in Columbus.
The judging – led by a group of garden experts and volunteers – took place in July and is the first of several evaluations to be conducted during the summer.
Top performers were Benary’s Rudbeckia ‘Denver Daisy’ (field trial), Ball Seed’s Gerbera ‘Funtastic Mango’ (container trial), and PanAmerican Seed’s Begonia ‘Gryphon’ (shade trial). Additionally, many entries received a nearly top rating: 60 in the field trial, 30 in the container trial and 15 in the shade trial. SEE: http://extension.osu.edu/news-releases/archives/2011/august/ohio-state-trials-reveal-consumer-preference-of-new-ornamental-plants

Events

Kelleys Island "Operation: Military Kids" Camp – Aug. 8-12. As U.S. military involvement increasingly shifts from Iraq to Afghanistan, thousands of troops are still being deployed overseas to serve their country – and often leave children behind.
Supporting those children is the motive behind the "Operation: Military Kids" (OMK) Camp at Lake Erie's Kelleys Island. Now in its seventh year, the camp will be held Aug. 8-12.
As they have done in previous years, organizers are coordinating two camps to be held simultaneously to accommodate 277 campers. The Junior Camp, for youths age nine to 11, will be held at the Erie County 4-H Camp; the Teen Camp, for youths 12 to 15 years old, will be held at Camp Patmos, just east of the 4-H camp.
The camp is a joint effort of OMK, Ohio State University Extension's 4-H Youth Development program and the Ohio National Guard. CONTACT: Brett zumFelde, Ohio Operation: Military Kids, zumfelde.3@cfaes.osu.edu or 614-372-3367 (cell); or Sue Ann Carroll, Ohio National Guard, sue.ann.carroll@us.army.mil, 614-302-8227 (cell). SEE: http://extension.osu.edu/news-releases/archives/2011/august/media-advisory-kelleys-island-operation-military-kids-camp-aug.-8-12

Engineering camp for girls is Aug. 8-12. WiE GROW: The College of Engineering this week is hosting 30 girls ages 12 and 13 at WiE GROW, a summer camp to inspire youth to pursue careers in engineering. Among the week’s many activities, the girls will make wind turbines, learn about materials used in cardiac tissue research, visit the High Voltage Laboratory, make ice cream scoopers and create bird feeders to donate to Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens on Friday when the park dedicates a new bird sanctuary area on the ScottsMiracle-Gro Community Garden Campus. Reporters and photographers are welcome to cover the various aspects of the camp. CONTACT: Shawna Fletcher at fletcher.234@osu.edu, (614) 292-0003. SEE: http://engineering.osu.edu/news/?p=2101

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: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276 or cook.17@osu.edu; Shelly Hoffman, (614) 247-4748 or hoffman.511@osu.edu; Jim Lynch, (614) 247-4110 or lynch.270@osu.edu; or Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385 or murray-goedde.1@osu.edu