Date:3/30/00
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Lou Honary, UNI associate professor and ABIL director, (319) 352-5218
James O'Connor, Office of Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
PHOTOS: Lou Honary, SoyTRUK packaging, RUAN Truck 1, Truck 2, Truck 3, Governor Tom Vilsack
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa's Ag-Based Industrial Lubricants (ABIL) Research Program yesterday announced the successful field test results of SoyTRUK™, a soybean-based lubricant for semi-truck fifth-wheels. The announcement was made at a news conference on the steps of the State Capitol building in Des Moines.
For the past year SoyTRUK has undergone field tests with several trucking companies, including Des Moines-based Ruan Transportation, one of the nation's largest privately owned truck transportation service companies.
Mike Smith, Ruan's director of environmental affairs, said the lubricant performed so well that the company has approved its use in all 200 of Ruan's facilities nationwide. “Ruan is exceptionally proud to have been part of the field-testing of SoyTRUK, an environmentally safe product that is good for Iowa's industry,” he said. Smith noted that there are nearly 2 million semi-trucks registered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, each using at least one pound of grease each week.
Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, on hand for the news conference, praised ABIL for its efforts toward “value-added” agriculture, an issue Vilsack has advocated since his election to office. “Value-added agriculture is the future of Iowa's economy,” he said, noting it is essential for the state to help Iowa farmers find new products for their crops. “This is a great opportunity for our state to showcase yet another innovative product that is environmentally friendly, and good for Iowa's economy.” The Iowa Legislature is currently considering initiatives for expanded commercial use of ag-based industrial lubricants.
The Iowa House and Senate recently passed a bill which will fund a pilot project allowing the Department of Transportation to use soy diesel fuel in some of its vehicles.
“SoyTRUK represents a win-win for Iowa,” said Patty Judge, Iowa secretary of agriculture. “It is a win for Iowa because this project illustrates the wonderful things that can happen when government, private industry, and our universities combine their efforts to attain a shared goal. It is a win for our consumers as they will be getting a far superior product that is environmentally safe. It is also a win for Iowa soybean producers, as this will provide them with value-added opportunities.”
SoyTRUK is distributed by West Central Cooperative in Ralston, Iowa, and, says ABIL Director Lou Honary, it's priced comparably to conventional fifth-wheel lubricants. “Field tests indicate SoyTRUK also lubricates better, does not thin down when exposed to high temperatures, and lasts longer than the conventional greases,” he explained.
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.
ABIL's first commercial product introduction came in 1997, when it introduced a high-performance multi-grade hydraulic fluid, brand named BioSOY™. The next product, BioTRANS™, a patented electrical transformer fluid, was jointly developed with Waverly Light & Power Co., Waverly, Iowa. ABIL introduced SoyLINK™, a chainsaw bar oil, in September 1999, at the same it introduced SoyTRUK.
The Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) and the Iowa Soybean Promotion Board (ISPB) are two of the key organizations that help fund ABIL research and development efforts.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Steven Corbin, UNI associate professor of marketing, (319) 273-6204
Vicki Grimes, UNI Office of Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa —Fifteen marketing students at the University of Northern Iowa were recently inducted into the Mu Kappa Tau National Marketing Honor Society.
Student's name was inducted into the UNI chapter of the Mu Kappa Tau National Marketing Honor Society.
Membership to the honor society is limited to marketing majors who meet exceptional academic requirements. These requirements include: junior marketing majors must rank in the top 10 percent of their university-wide class; and senior marketing majors and graduate students must rank in the top 20 percent of their university-wide class. Mu Kappa Tau is a non-profit organization that entitles members to life-time membership.
The advisor for the UNI chapter of Mu Kappa Tau is Steven Corbin, UNI associate professor of marketing. He said the organization is firm in its commitment “to recognition and encouragement of individuals seeking a life-long commitment to an exceptional standard of ethics and achievement within the field of marketing.”
Founded in 1966, Mu Kappa Tau is associated with more than 90 colleges and universities.
Note: To obtain a listing of the students, please contact the Office of Public Relations at (319) 273-2761.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Robert Byrnes, UNI Men's Glee Club director, (319) 273-2028
Vicki Grimes, Office of Public Relations. (319) 273-2761
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The University of Northern Iowa Varsity Men's Glee Club completed its 40th Anniversary Tour with performances in Austria and Hungary, March 9-19.
___(Name)___ of ___(Hometown)___, traveled to Europe on the UNI Men's Glee Club's 40th Anniversary Tour. He is the son of (Parents' names) and is a (class) (major) major. The Glee Club is under the direction of Robert Byrnes of the UNI School of Music.
Piano accompanist for the Glee Club is Tracey Neuendorf. She is a graduate student in speech/language pathology and the daughter of Glenn and Terryne Meier, of Tripoli.
“One of the best things about the tour is that we did four of our concerts in wonderful settings or venues, with the largest audiences and, I think, the best performances we have ever had on our European tours,” said Bob Byrnes, UNI Men's Glee Club director. “The concerts were a delightful experience. For example, our concert in Prague was at St. Nicholas Church, which is located on a corner of St. Wenceslaus Square. This one was really fun because our concert was at 2 in the afternoon and for our first number, we stood on the steps of the church to sing and then invited everyone in to hear our concert— and they came. We were joined by singers from the Prague Radio Chorus for part of the concert.
Other concert sites included Grödig, a suburb of Salzburg, Austria, where they also attended a gala party with people from the area, and Melk Abbey, where they were given a guided tour and then performed in the abbey. They also sang in a Minoritenkirche, a Minorite church built in the 14th century, where they were joined by a local choir during their performance; and in the city of Mödling, where they performed with a local choir.
Glee Club members also visited Haydn's birthplace in Rohrau; Rüst, a small wine producing village which is famous for its storks nests; and Salzkammergut, where the Sound of Music was filmed. Other highlights included tours of Prague and Vienna.
The Glee Club's trip to Europe was partially funded by the UNI Intercollegiate Academics Fund and money raised from the UNI Varsity Men's Glee Club's Christmas Variety Show.
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Note: To obtain a list of participating students, contact the Office Of Public Relations at (319) 273-2761.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Leonard Upham, Price Laboratory School/NUHS music department chair and band director,
(319) 273-2407
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — Band, choir and orchestra students at Northern University High School will perform in small ensembles and as soloists at the school's annual Dessert Concert at 2 p.m., Sunday, April 2, in Butzier Auditorium at Price Laboratory School.
Admission is free to the concert, which is open to the public. Many of the soloists and ensembles will present selections that they will perform at the Iowa Class 1A State Solo/Small Ensemble Music Contest Saturday, April 8 at Don Bosco High School in Gilbertville.
Desserts, at $1 per selection, along with coffee or punch, will be available throughout the afternoon, with proceeds benefiting the NUHS music program.
Directors for the event are Leonard Upham, band director and music department chair; Linda Sharp, choral director; and Michael Fanelli, orchestra director, all of UNI's Price Laboratory School/NUHS faculty.
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