Feb. 25, 2000

Highlights: McCain holds town-hall meeting --Feb. 26.

Nation's top high school scholars on campus

(SHHHHH!) Kirwan to surprise award-winning faculty

Nation's Top High School Students Compete for Scholarships - Feb. 25-26. About 1,400 top high school seniors are competing on campus in the University Scholars Maximus Competition. At stake are 10 Presidential Scholarships, 30 Medalist Scholarships and 80 Tradition Scholarships. Presidential Scholars receive "full-ride" scholarships, currently valued at $12,901 per year, to Ohio State for four years. Medalist Scholars receive in-state tuition for four years, valued at $4,137 per year, and Tradition Scholars receive one-half in-state tuition, valued at $2,068. Students will complete an essay exam in the morning and take part in afternoon programs to better acquaint them with Ohio State and its Honors Program. There are also programs for their parents. This is the second and final weekend for the competition. CONTACT: Mabel Freeman or Nina Hoppes, University Honors Center, 292-3135.

McCain will hold town-hall meeting here--Feb. 26. Republican presidential candidate John McCain hold a town hall meeting at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in St. John Arena. McCain will answer questions from the audience for an hour, followed by 15 minutes of media questions. McCain accepted an invitation from the Ohio State Undergraduate Student Government (USG), Inter-Professional Council (IPC), and Council of Graduate Students (CGS) as part of the Inform 2000 project. Contact: Josh Mandel, Undergraduate Student Government, 292-0203.

Wexner Center Family Day is an International Affair--Feb. 27. Celebrate Around the World is the theme for the Wexner Center Family Day, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday (2/27). Kids and their parents can dance to a Caribbean beat, make a drum and join a drum circle, see Shakespeare with a twist, and enjoy the African drums and dances of Tony West and the Imani Dancers. CONTACT: Darnell Lautt, Wexner Center, 292-3535.

(SHHHHH!) Kirwan to surprise award-winning faculty-- President William E. Kirwan will drop in unannounced on unsuspecting Ohio State faculty members during the next week to present one of the three highest awards faculty can receive. Kirwan will interrupt classes or meetings to present a Melrose apple (developed at Ohio State in 1944) and his congratulations to winners of the 2000 Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching, the Distinguished Scholar Award and the Faculty Award for Distinguished University Service. The awards recognize superior teaching, exceptional scholarly accomplishments and contributions to policies and programs. Reporters are invited to accompany Kirwan on one or more of these visits. To preserve the surprise element, please call Amy Murray (292-8385) or Lesley Deaderick (292-0569) in the Office of University Relations, for the schedule.

Ancient Languages Spoken Here--Feb. 29. Joseph Tebben, a professor of Greek and Latin at Ohio State-Newark, will present Remembrance of Scholars Past: 127 Years of Ancient Languages and Literatures at The Ohio State University at the College of Humanities fourth Inaugural Lecture of the year at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (2/29) at the Faculty Club. In 1862 President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act, which led to the creation of Ohio State University. Classes in Latin and Greek have been taught here since then. This inaugural lecture will review the early deliberations of the Trustees regarding the character of this land-grant institution at its beginning, a topic of continuing interest as the Academic Plan 2000-2005 for the University seeks to implement "a land grant mission relevant for the 21st century." CONTACT: Shari Lorbach, College of Humanities, 292-1882.

Board of Trustees Meets--March 3. The Ohio State University Board of Trustees and its committees will meet at the Longaberger Alumni House, 2200 Olentangy River Road, on Friday (3/3). Committee meetings, where most of the discussion takes place, begin at 9 a.m. The full board meets at 10:30 a.m. in the Grand Lounge, Room 130. CONTACT: Elizabeth Conlisk, University Relations, 292-3040.

College of Law Offers Free Income Tax Help - through April 13. Low-income taxpayers can get free help with federal income tax filing at The Ohio State University College of Law from 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through April 13. The service is offered through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service. VITA trains volunteers to help low-income individuals - including students, non-English speaking and/or nonresident persons, older taxpayers, and those with disabilities - file their taxes. The service is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Taxpayers should bring financial records and forms, along with a copy of their 1998 federal tax return to the first-floor student lounge of John Deaver Drinko Hall (Law building), 55 West 12th Ave. CONTACT: Liz Cutler Gates, College of Law, 292-0283; or Loree Dendis, VITA, 527-7741.

The person listed as the contact for each item will have the best information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for assistance with these or other Ohio State news stories - Elizabeth Conlisk, 292-3040; Amy Murray, 292-8385; Lesley Deaderick, 292-0569; Melinda Sadar, 292-8298; and Karissa Shivley, 292-8295.

*Compiled by Amy Murray, University Relations, (Murray-Goedde.1@osu.edu).