Honor an SAU coaching legend by becoming a member of the Rip Powell Society

You can move SAU Football to the next level of excellence.

Southern Arkansas University is pleased to announce a unique opportunity for players and fans to recognize the commitment and accomplishment of Coach Rip Powell by joining the Rip Powell Society.  Your gift of $1,000 or more will secure your membership in this prestigious organization.  Members of the Rip Powell Society will be listed on a permanent plaque at Wilkins Stadium.  The goal of the Rip Powell Society is to raise funds to replace the existing scoreboard with a modern LED version, which features instant replay.  The new scoreboard will display the new field name Rip Powell Field.

Your gift will

• honor Coach Powell for 28 years of service to Southern Arkansas University,
• benefit the program that Coach Powell lifted to a new level of excellence, and
• ensure continual facility improvements expected of a NCAA Division II program

If you would like to join the Rip Powell Society today, Click Here to make your donation today or download a Rip Powell Society Membership Form to mail in your donation.

For more information call SAU Foundation at 870-235-4078 or toll free at 877-235-7409.

Current Members of the Rip Powell Society are:

J. D. Williams – Tuscaloosa, AL
Dr. and Mrs. David Rankin – Magnolia, AR
Mr. and Mrs. Jay Adcox – Magnolia, AR
Mr. and Mrs. Homer Stout – Bossier City, LA
Mr. Richard Beach – Shreveport, LA
Mr. and Mrs. Phil Brooks – Plano, TX
Barron Christensen – Atlanta, TX
Bill Perry – Gulf Shores, AL
Dan Vela – Katy, TX
Bo Ray, Max Adcock, Boyd Rosser, Roger Bell

Donations provide state-of-the-art equipment

Article and pictures used with permission of Banner News.

CLASS ACT: Dr. Shawn Krosnick, Xi Wu, Dr. James Rasmussen, Candace Starr Canady and Kate Curtis-Dockter stand next to the newly installed Licor DNA sequencer that has been in use since the beginning of the semester. The machine was purchased through a matching grant by the Licor Biosciences company and Southern Arkansas University.

Although DNA studies are becoming more popular thanks to television programs like “CSI” and “Law and Order,” students at Southern Arkansas University are learning that the study of genetics goes much farther than TV.

Three genetics students at SAU, all in the SAU Honors College program, are using a new piece of equipment that sets them apart from students in universities of similar size, said Dr. Shawn Krosnick, SAU assistant professor of biology.

The new $100,000 Licor Biosciences DNA sequencer came to SAU after the Chair of the Department of Biology Dr. James Rasmussen’s grant proposal to Licor Biosciences for a matching grant in 2009.

“Licor offers matching funds through their Genomics Education Matching Funds (GEMF) Program,” said Krosnick. “The machine costs about $100,000 in total, but SAU Foundation  provided $40,000 from private donations to the University Science Center with $60,000 in matching funds from Licor because of Dr. Rasmussen’s grant proposal request.”

Students Candice Starr Canady, Kate Curtis-Dockter and Xi Wu are using the Licor sequencer in an independent study that not only prepares them for grad school programs, but also teaches them about the hard work it takes to complete professional research.

The students’ work is contributing to a larger project of Krosnick’s: studying the genetics of passionflowers to determine the relationships between species.

“They are learning these methods and will be able to apply them to any type of organism, not just plants. This is because the techniques for working with DNA are the same, no matter if it comes from a plant or an animal,” said Krosnick.

Dockter said that though she is a chemistry major, studying with the Licor sequencer has been something she has enjoyed this semester. “I really didn’t know what I wanted to do,” she said, referring to her major. “I just took a lot of different things and waited for something that made me say ‘Ooo.’ I’ve said that a lot, and though I’ve decided on chemistry, I’ve learned a lot about the proper way to do research.”

Canady added that she plans to take her new knowledge to grad school. “There aren’t a lot of students who get to work with things like this,” she said.

“We’re extremely appreciative,” said Dockter.

“Dr. Rasmussen had some great foresight in finding a way to bring this to SAU,” said Krosnick. “This machine sets SAU apart from other schools that compare in size.”

Krosnick added that she believes science students who are interested in SAU may take features like the new equipment into consideration when looking at what the university has to offer.

“This is where science is going,” Rasmussen said. “I knew that this is where we’re headed and this is what we needed.”

Other equipment like a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Thermocycler, which multiplies the number of DNA molecules to be read by the sequencer, also had to be purchased and made available to students for their research efforts.

“When you see those guys on TV get a little drop of blood and they walk out straight out of the lab with a result, you appreciate what these students are doing here,” said Rasmussen. “For them to show you the whole process on TV, you’d have an 18 hour show.”

Rasmussen said that the DNA in a drop of blood isn’t enough for a sequencer to pick out identifying factors. Those molecules must be multiplied again and again, a process completed by the PCR thermocycler, before there are enough molecules for the sequencer to provide an accurate reading, Rasmussen explained.

Krosnick said most of the independent study project in which the students are taking part this semester involves the multiplying of this genetic material in the PCR thermocycler.

“I think these kids need to be recognized for their research,” said Krosnick, “And I think Dr. Rasmussen definitely needs to be recognized for what he’s done for this department by bringing in this piece of equipment.”

Krosnick said a new course in molecular biology will begin next semester using the Licor sequencer and that among other things, students will learn how to trace their family lineages through their own DNA.

President’s Christmas Gala

The SAU Foundation Christmas Gala will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2o10.

This year’s gala will be held at the Magnolia Country Club at 7:00 p.m. and will feature live dance music.

Invitations for this event will be sent.

Please RSVP by calling the Office of the President at 870-235-4001.