Date: 2/3/00
Contact:
Lou Honary, associate professor and ABIL director, (319) 352-5218
Diane Green, publisher, Lubricants World, (713) 840-0799
James O'Connor, Office of Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Lubricants World magazine today announced that two products developed through research at the University of Northern Iowa Ag-Based Industrial Lubricants (ABIL) Research Program, SoyLINK and SoyTRUK, have been honored in the publication's 2000 Annual Awards program. SoyLINK chainsaw bar oil and SoyTRUK semi-truck fifth-wheel grease are commercially produced and distributed by West Central Cooperative, Ralston, Iowa.
The two soybean-based lubricants were winners in the publication's “Industrial” category. According to Lubricants World, they are among an elite list of 10 products recognized for contributions in advancing and enriching the lubricants industry. Other winners include products from Dow Corning Corp., 3M Specialty Materials, Lubrizol and Pennzoil Marine.
“Some of these offerings have provided resolutions to regulatory restrictions on emissions while helping automakers meet demands for fuel economy, reduced wear and increased power,” said Katherine Bui, Lubricants World editor. “Others have increased the security or safety of products. Driven by rigorous competition and stricter standards, all of our winners have had or will likely have significant impact on the industry.”
This is the eighth year the magazine has honored outstanding products through its annual awards program. Lubricants World is written for manufacturers, marketers and users of lubricants and related materials worldwide.
SoyLINK and SoyTRUK were introduced in September 1999. Established in 1991, the UNI-ABIL Research Program is nationally recognized as a leader in the development and commercialization of soybean-based industrial lubricants. The program brings together research and testing to identify soybean oil characteristics and match them to appropriate industrial uses.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Bill Callahan, professor and associate dean of the UNI College of Education, (319) 273-2719
Yana Cornish, UNI College of Education graduate assistant, (319) 273-3064
Garth Cornish, Informational Technology Services-Educational Technology graduate assistant,
(319) 273-2309
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa—Four undergraduates from the University of Northern Iowa College of Education recently assisted two graduate students on a four-week multicultural teaching, learning and research experience at Herzen State Pedagogical University in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Garth Cornish, seeking his master's in information and training technology, started the project after leading a practicum in St. Petersburg last May. He realized that educators wanted to know more about the technology that was available to them. Using the Concerns Based Adoption Model, he planned to measure the changes and shifts of attitude towards technology.
Cornish returned to UNI and talked to Bill Callahan, professor and associate dean of the College of Education, who suggested getting help on the project through the experiential learning grants offered on campus. The research became a joint project with his wife, Yana Cornish, a doctoral candidate in curriculum and instruction.
Four students came on board to help develop materials: Amy Lustik, the daughter of Ken and Martha Lustik, Burnsville, Minn., a senior elementary and secondary education major with minors in mathematics and educational technology; Erin Payne, the daughter of Lavene and Cheryl Payne, Muscatine, a senior English education and special education major with a minor in educational technology, who is seeking her coaching endorsement; Teresa Routh, the daughter of Mary and Rodger Routh, Ankeny, a senior Spanish major and TESOL; and Sarah Emerick, the daughter of Paul and Mary Anne Emerick, Pella , a senior elementary education major and educational technology minor, also seeking her reading endorsement.
These students helped Garth design curriculum and prepare additional materials necessary for the seminars. The primary emphasis of the seminar topics focused on the teaching of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL); the use of specific computer applications, such as Microsoft Office Suite, HyperStudio and Claris HomePage; and the development and integration of the courseware into an
English as a Foreign Language (EFL) curriculum. As they prepared to go, there was a chance that they wouldn't make it to St. Petersburg.
“We weren't sure if the project would get started, but we gambled on it anyway,” said Yana. “We didn't know until two weeks before the start of the trip that we could go.”
The team was divided into two groups for the project, each spending two weeks in Russia. The first group that went to Herzen State University included: Routh, Payne, and Yana Cornish. Their goal was to show the educators how to use certain software. The second group, continuing that goal, included: Emerick, Lustik and Garth Cornish.
In Russia, all of the workshops were presented in English to an audience of university faculty and area teachers. The objective was to teach practical applications on technology in their environment. Their main obstacle was to convince the professors that students were actually able to teach them something new.
“Suspicions by the professors had to be overcome,” Yana Cornish said. “But, we eventually did that.”
Because the UNI students were gone during classes, they found a way to incorporate their findings into their coursework.
“Overall, teachers were very supportive,” said Payne. “A lot of us did homework over the internet.”
“Our visits to English language classes and asking about the curriculum in primary schools applied to a few of my classes,” said Emerick, who presented her findings in class.
For their research, Lustik developed a Web site. The Web site allowed the two groups to communicate during their seminars in St. Petersburg. It will also be used to discuss technology and teaching through a list serve. The site also offers photographs of the seminar participants and of the trip itself. It can be found at www.kca.net/garth.
The students were able to experience Russian culture while in St. Petersburg. A group of Russian students guided the four UNI undergraduates through the city and they were able to attend ballet, visit cathedrals and the circus.
Currently, the group is putting information together regarding the effect of their seminar on the participants. With the aid of Herzen State faculty member Victoria Pogosian, they are analyzing feedback questionnaires.
“We were nervous at first about taking UNI students to such a large metropolitan area where a language other than English was spoken,” Yana said. “But, these four individuals not only survived, they functioned wonderfully.”
The trip was funded through the UNI College of Education, the UNI Department of Modern Languages and the UNI Department of English Language and Literature. They were also assisted by Sharon Smaldino, professor of curriculum and instruction; George Zucker, professor of modern
languages; and Joyce Milambiling, assistant professor of English language and literature.
“Independent research provides students the opportunity to travel and do research that they may not be able to afford otherwise,” said Callahan.
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