June 11, 1999

This and every University Communications news release is available at http://www.osu.edu

SMOKIN’ BUCKEYE SET TO RACE IN CALIFORNIA--June 11-13. The Ohio State Formula Lightning electric race team competes in Tustin, Calif., June 11-13 as two taxiways and helicopter pads at the Marine Corps Air Station are converted into a 2.2-mile course for the event. The Tustin Thunder, a big annual event for the Vintage Automobile Racing Association, will this year include the ABB University Spec Series as the only electric vehicle class in competition. Over 500 vintage race cars and 50,000 spectators are expected at the three-day event. Meanwhile, the Smokin’ Buckeye has been officially declared the winner of the Indy Electric Challenge on May 22. The OSU entry was initially scored in third place, but a further review of the race scoring showed a scoring error.
CONTACT: Chris Maupin, Smokin’ Buckeye, 688-4084.

STUDENTS LEAVE FOR STUDY IN SOUTH AFRICA AND ZIMBABWE--June 12. African studies faculty and students will take their classroom half-way around the world as they travel from Ohio State to South Africa and Zimbabwe for an 18-day study-abroad program. The trip, Ohio State’s first study-abroad program to that part of Africa, follows a 10-week class in which students studied the countries’ histories, religions and cultures. Lupenga Mphande, associate professor of African-American and African Studies; his students; and Sherif Barsoum, coordinator for the Office of International Education, will leave Saturday (6/12), dividing their time between the two countries. Ohio State offers more than 100 study-abroad programs, most of which are in Europe and South America.
CONTACT: Lupenga Mphande, African-American and African Studies, 292-8734; or Sherif Barsoum, Office of International Education, 292-6101.

OHIO STATE HOSTS LEADERSHAPE INSTITUTE--June 15-20. The LeaderShape Institute, designed to show students how to “lead with integrity,” will be held at the Agricultural Technical Institute campus in Wooster June 15-20. The institute incorporates current leadership issues in ways to meet the developmental needs of young adults. Faculty members serve as role models and learning coaches for 42 Ohio State students at the six-day event. The LeaderShape Institute was started in 1986 by the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity; the campus-based program began in 1992 at the University of Michigan. Ohio State’s program is sponsored by Office of Student Affairs, The Ohio State University Alumni Association and First USA Bank.
CONTACT: Craig Little, LeaderShape Institute program coordinator, 292-2938.

YOUTH CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY SERVICE--June 16-18. Teens will clean up a ravine in Clintonville and take animals to a nursing home to learn about community service at this year’s Ohio 4-H Youth Expo, June 16-18, on Ohio State’s Columbus campus. More than 450 4-H teens will attend the annual conference, which this year expands on the theme of “service learning,:”--learning about a subject area, and incorporating those skills into community service activities. Delegates will divide into 17 groups for hands-on learning sessions on Thursday. On Friday, they’ll participate in community service projects that include labeling storm drains in Clintonville with warnings against dumping waste or oil into the local watershed, cleaning a ravine and making a trail in the Indian Springs area, and helping kids ages 6-12 with their literacy skills at the Old South Side Community Housing Project. Others will take animals to an assisted living center, clown for patients at the Ohio State University Hospitals, and build and fly kites and rockets with Hubbard Elementary students in Goodale Park.
CONTACT: Sue Mantey, Communications & Technology media relations, 292-2011.

The person listed as the contact for each item will have the best information about the story. Feel free to call on our news services staff for assistance with these or other Ohio State news stories--Amy Murray, 292-8385; Ruth Gerstner, 292-8424; and Emily Caldwell, 292-8309.
**Compiled by Amy Murray, University Communications, (Murray- Goedde.1@osu.edu).