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Miami zoologist certified as bird banding trainer

David Russell, a lecturer in zoology at Miami University, has recently become one of fewer than 100 bird banding trainers in North America, and one of only five in Ohio, certified by the North American Banding Council. The status of Trainer, the highest level of competency for a bird bander, is based on exceptional experience, knowledge, skill, demonstrated teaching ability and passage of a written and field examination. NABC Trainers certify bird banders according to the standards set in the certification program established by the NABC.

Russell "can now train and certify our students to be NABC certified bird banders who can establish research stations anywhere in the world," said Jill Russell, adjunct assistant professor of zoology and executive director of the Avian Research and Education Institute. "We will be hosting and training students from other research stations across the country at our Miami banding stations."

Banding stations maintained by the Avian Research and Education Institute are the Miami University Bird Observatory located in Peffer Woods; the Hueston Woods Biological Station; the Clifford Bird Observatory located at The College of Mount Saint Joseph; and the Montecarlo Biological Station located within El Cielo Biosphere Reserve in Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Students from Miami, Earlham College and The College of Mount Saint Joseph are engaged in research and education at the banding stations. Local high school classes, community groups and individuals also visit the banding stations, with hundreds of visitors annually.

Miami-produced video wins award

A Miami University-produced video received an Award of Distinction from the Communicator Awards this spring. The video, "Fig Leaf Files — Best Practices," was produced by Craig Rouse, IT services video production supervisor and the IT services security awareness team of Connie Johnson, William Custer and Rich Knowles. "Fig Leaf Files" is used for technical, academic and staff personnel training.

The Communicator Awards honor creative excellence by seeking out the best in video/film/multi-media productions, broadcast commercials and programs, cable commercials/programs and television news and promotions.

Entries are judged against a standard of excellence based on the awards' 14-year history of judging work, rather than against each other. A category may have multiple winners or no winners at all. The Award of Distinction is presented for projects that exceed industry standards in quality and excellence. The 2008 Communicator Awards featured a pool of more than 8,500 entries.

Pi Sigma Epsilon chapter takes top national awards

 With an almost complete sweep of major team awards at its national convention in March, Miami University's Gamma Gamma chapter of Pi Sigma Epsilon claimed the position of PSE's top chapter. Gamma Gamma, which has a strong tradition of leadership in the national sales and marketing fraternity, impressed judges in almost every aspect of its operations.

Led by senior president Chris Stafford and his executive board, Miami's PSE chapter won the Lewis F. Gordon Top Chapter Award, defeating strong competition from PSE chapters at LSU, Arizona State and UNC- Wilmington. 

The award has a very positive impact on both the chapter and the Farmer School, said current chapter President Jonathan Buehner.

In addition to the Gordon Award, Gamma Gamma captured almost every major team award, including Top Management Team, Top Marketing Project, Top Service Project, Top Marketing Research Project, Top Public Relations and Top Recruitment Plan. 

Winning projects included a nationally focused marketing campaign for DollarsFromSense.com, a Web site that offers free financial and investment advice; market research for Procter & Gamble; and a fundraiser for the Starfish Children's Fund, which supports a school for blind children in Calcutta, India.