June 2007

What's going on at Ohio State?

Former President Bill Clinton speaks at spring commencement. A study reveals that intelligence and wealth aren't related. Engineering students volunteer at an orphanage for HIV-positive children. President Karen Holbrook is honored before her retirement. The Shoe gets new turf. Researchers find that summer poses weight challenges for heavy kids. Global warming expert Lonnie Thompson is honored by the White House. A Wexner Center exhibition features Ohio artists.

Congratulations, graduates!

Spring Ohio State grads had a memorable commencement speaker: former President Bill Clinton, who urged new alumni to focus on "our common humanity" rather than be divided by "our interesting differences."

"We have to see each other," Clinton said. "Because in an interdependent world, we really can't succeed without each other."

See commencement photos and watch the ceremony, including Clinton's speech.

Smart money?

Smart people get paid more than the less intelligent--but a recent study found that IQ has no bearing on overall wealth.

"Your IQ has really no relationship to your wealth," says university researcher Jay Zagorsky. "Being very smart does not protect you from financial difficulty."

Find out more about the study. And read advice on how to teach teens to manage money.

Mountain of light

In 1998, when Montaña de Luz was established as an orphanage for children with HIV and AIDS, it was basically a place where sick kids came to die.

But thanks to improved medical care, children at the Honduran center are thriving. Each spring break, Ohio State engineering students travel to Montaña de Luz for a week of volunteering. They've fixed electrical problems, improved water quality, and installed a computer lab, among other tasks.

Find out more about the students' work.

Homage to Holbrook

Since she came to Ohio State in 2002, President Karen Holbrook has encouraged undergraduates to get the most out of their college experience by pursuing research and studying abroad.

Holbrook, who retires this month, is honored with a university endowment that will fund undergrad research and study abroad scholarships.

Find out more about the Karen A. Holbrook Fund.

Home turf

When the Buckeyes take the field for their seven home games this fall, they'll play on artificial turf.

Last month, the university took out the old grass, which was given to Columbus parks, and started work on the new field, which will include scarlet end zones and a scarlet Block "O" at midfield.

Check out a slideshow of the revamped field.

School's out for summer

Parents often point the finger at schools for the childhood obesity epidemic, criticizing the food and drink sold during lunch and complaining about insufficient recess time.

But a recent Ohio State study found that heavy children gain more weight during summer than they do during the school year.

Find out why. And get healthy snack ideas for children.

High honor

Ohio State's Lonnie Thompson has spent nearly 30 years at high altitudes, leading climate-study expeditions to ice caps and glaciers around the world.

This summer, President George W. Bush will recognize Thompson's work providing explicit evidence of global climate change with a National Medal of Science, arguably the highest honor the United States bestows on an American scientist.

Find out more about Thompson and his award. And read "Managing the Meltdown," a recent Ohio State Alumni Magazine story about university efforts to study--and stop--global warming.