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• NAU GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) received $9,000 from the Qwest Communications Office of Corporate Social Responsibility to provide updated technology at the Arizona GEAR UP site at High Desert Middle School in Globe, Ariz.
  
  GEAR UP, a division of the College of Education, partners with 19 schools across the state to increase the number of students in economically disadvantaged communities who are prepared to succeed in postsecondary education.
  
  The funds will be used to purchase 10 computers and monitors to be installed in the research center of the school's library.
• George Hershey, team physician for NAU Athletics, will serve as a volunteer physician at the 16th Pan American Games from July 11-31 in Rio de Janerio. Hershey will be one of about eight physicians and 26 athletic trainers to make the trip.
  
  Hershey has volunteered at two previous Pan Am Games, which are held every four years, including 1991 in Havana and in Buenos Aires in 1995 as the head physician.
• John Doherty, librarian and Arts and Letters team leader at Cline Library, recently published his article "No Shhing: Giving Voice to the Silenced: An Essay in Support of Critical Information Literacy in Library Philosophy and Practice 2007." The paper frames the information literacy agenda of academic libraries in the critical theoretical perspective present in educational research, and suggests that the emergence of critical information literacy is long overdue and in need of serious examination by library practitioners who wish to empower student learning.
• Mary I. Dereshiwsky, associate professor of educational leadership, presented "How to Communicate with Online Students about Grades," at the Learning Resources Network web-based conference, Multiple Assessments and New Ways of Grading, June 20-21. Dereshiwsky was one of five distance education experts invited to present at the conference.
• Two recent graduates and several NAU Greek organizations have been recognized with national and regional awards:

  • Michael Swofford, past president of NAU's chapter of Sigma Chi fraternity, received a 2007 National Balfour Award from Sigma Chi International Fraternity. The award recognizes outstanding graduating seniors across the nation. Swofford graduated in May with a degree in criminal justice.
  • Ashlee Hicks, who graduated in May with a degree in elementary education, has been selected to be a national leadership consultant for Chi Omega fraternity's executive headquarters.
  • The Epsilon Tau chapter of Kappa Alpha Order was awarded the 2007 Samuel Zenas Ammen Award for Chapter Excellence. This award is the highest honor a chapter can receive and recognizes the top 15 percent of Kappa Alpha undergraduate chapters nationwide.
  • Delta Chi fraternity was recognized with an Outstanding Chapter Award at the Delta Chi International Fraternity regional conference.
  • Delta Tau Delta fraternity was recognized with an Outstanding Recruitment award at the Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity regional conference.
  • Alpha Delta Pi Sorority received 11 awards at its regional conference, including recognition for outstanding recruitment.

Information about NAU fraternities and sororities is available through the Office of Greek Life at (928) 523-5840.