March 29, 2024

The ospreys have returned to Radford University, continuing a tradition of nesting on our main campus this time of year. Thanks to a collaborative effort between the Departments of Biology and Geology, University Advancement, Facilities Management, Information Technology Services and Marketing and Communication, and with the support of CMG Leasing, Radford community members can watch the birds of prey in their nesting habitat via a YouTube feed.

Learn more about these remarkable birds, including their long-distance migrations, their declining population and conservation measures underway to help them flourish again, as well as how we can respect and protect them during their seasonal stay.

The Radford University Procurement and Contracts team represented the university at the National Association of Educational Procurement’s 2024 annual meeting, which took place March 17-20 in National Harbor, MD. At the meeting, Teresa Anders was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Service Award, recognizing her exceptional contributions and commitment to Radford’s strategic procurement initiatives.

Fallon Kreye brought home the esteemed Young Professional in Procurement Award, showcasing her remarkable talent and dedication in the field.

Kate Dicken and Hunter Malcom each won $2,000 scholarships to attend the national meeting. Dicken has also been selected as the Lead Mentor for NAEP’s National Professional Council. 

“Their achievements not only reflect their individual excellence but also the collective strength and expertise of our team on a national level,” said Kimberly Dulaney, executive director of strategic sourcing for Procurement and Contracts at Radford University. “Join me in congratulating Teresa, Fallon, Kate and Hunter on their well-deserved honors.”

Radford University will be celebrating the 33rd annual Student Engagement Forum from Wednesday, April 17 through Tuesday, April 23. Over 400 students will present the new knowledge they created over the past academic year. This event is open to the public.

Oral presentations will be taking place in the McConnell Library’s Ross Art Gallery on Wednesday, April 17, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and poster presentations will take place Thursday, April 18, from 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. in the Artis Atrium in Reed-Curie and the Center for the Sciences Main Street Lobby.

The detailed program will be coming soon. For more information, contact the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship.

The Radford University Highlander Success Center will launch the new electronic Undergraduate Academic Petition campus-wide beginning Monday, April 1.

The petition form is the first to be transformed from a paper process to an automated electronic format using the Kuali Build program. This software is being used to help automate manual processes and streamline form routing and approvals across the university.

Located in One Campus, the electronic Undergraduate Academic Petition will be used exclusively beginning Monday, April 15, replacing the paper form and e-mail template. You can search “Academic Petition” in OneCampus and click on the Undergraduate Academic Petition tile. Instructions on generating and reviewing petitions are available on OneCampus and on the IT Knowledge Base website. For technical issues with submitting the petition, contact IT at 540-831-7500.

The process flow for the academic petition request is as follows:

The Highlander Success Center is happy to provide departmental or individual training on using the new petition.

The one-woman show “They Call Me Q” will be performed by writer and actress Qurrat Ann Kadwani in Radford University’s Bonnie Hurlburt Student Center Auditorium on Thursday, April 11, 7-8:30 p.m. This event is free, and no tickets are required to attend.

Kadwani has been called a “woman who shapes the future” in reviews of her play, which won the Best Play Award from the Maui Fringe. Additionally, Kadwani received the best actress award at the VTG Festival and is the first South Asian female to have a solo play produced off Broadway, running for seven months in 2014.

“They Call Me Q” is the story of a girl from Bombay, India, growing up in the Bronx, gracefully seeking a balance between cultural pressure and wanting acceptance into the American culture. In the production, Kadwani portrays 13 characters that have shaped her life, including her parents, Caucasian teachers, Puerto Rican classmates and Indian and African American friends. The play speaks to the universal search for identity experienced by immigrants of all nationalities.

This event is hosted by the Radford University Center for Diversity and Inclusion and R-SPaCE.

As a reminder, the deadline for the new Highlander Works Grant program for summer 2024 is Monday, April 15.

The Center for Career and Talent Development will manage the program. Apply now for funding to support internships that are either unfunded or lower-funded opportunities. Additional information, including online application materials, is available by visiting the Highlander Works Grant program webpage or by contacting Lee Svete at lsvete@radford.edu.

Mark your calendar for the Radford University Pride Festival, coming on Thursday, April 18, at 3 p.m. on Heth Lawn.

Join co-sponsors the Radford University Center for Diversity and Inclusion and PRISM for a vibrant celebration of love and expression with games, music and more. Embrace the freedom to love who you love with music, fun and community. All students, faculty and staff, as well as the general public, are welcome to attend.

The Indigenous Community Center at Virginia Tech will host the seventh annual spring powwow in partnership with the Native at VT student organization on Saturday, April 20, noon-4 p.m. on the Graduate Life Center Lawn at Virginia Tech. Join the Radford University Center for Diversity and Inclusion at this free, family-friendly event, which is open to the entire campus community as well as the general public. Several artisans and vendors will be on hand for this event, and there will be food, music, dancing and more.

Transportation will be available for students to this event. Limited seats are available.

All students, faculty and staff are invited by the Radford University Center for Diversity and Inclusion to the Multicultural Congratulatory Ceremony on Friday, May 3, from 7-9 p.m. in the Bondurant Auditorium.

This biannual tradition celebrates graduates and their cultures by presenting them with a stole of their choice. This is an opportunity for graduates, family and friends to celebrate a joyous milestone ahead of Spring Commencement.

Please let students graduating in May know they can register for this event online now.

As part of Radford University’s partnership with the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, some exciting events are planned for April.

All Radford students, faculty and staff are automatically members of the Taubman Museum. Click a link below to learn more about specific events.

To sign up for a visit: Taubman Museum of Art (blackbaudhosting.com)

Also, save the date for the Annual Sidewalk Art Sale on Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2, in downtown Roanoke.

Academic Technologies has training opportunities on a variety of topics during April. Click on the corresponding link to register. All sessions are in Walker Hall 275 on the main campus, with the option to join remotely.

Embracing the warmth of togetherness, we cherish moments with family and friends, no matter what form, celebrating the unique shapes and sizes that make each bond special. Whether it's laughter-filled gatherings or quiet moments of companionship, every connection, like with our Highlander's cute bunny friend, enriches our lives.