Utah Valley University Student Newspapers | 2005-10-03 | Page 8

MONDAY* OCTOBER 3 • 2005 \fovt new/ A8 Courtesy Photo/eaa.org UVSC Aviation Department is giving four female high school students the opportunity of a lifetime, to participate in the Coffy Gregory Aviation Academy. UVSC sends local high school students to aviation program Michael Palmer Assistant News Editor The Utah Valley State College Aviation Department has teamed up with the Experimental Aircraft Association to send four female high school students to the second annual Coffy Gregory Aviation Academy in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Katelin Hall Fitzgerald, a senior at Springville High School, and Winter Thayne, a junior at Timpanogos High School, were selected for the program based on their respective interests and career goals. Fitzgerald has been interested in aviation since she was thirteen, and she has already been instructed with twenty hours of flight time by her grandfather, a flight instructor. "The second I sat in that pilot seat of the Cessna 172, I knew that's what I wanted to do," Fitzgerald said. One of Thayne's goals is to start a program for children who have not had the opportunity to go flying and learn about aviation. She learned of the program in Wisconsin through her Aircraft Pilot course at Timpanogos High, which was recently being substitute taught by UVSC instructor Jared Ringer. Both students are also eligible for a scholarship from the EAA to pay for their course tuition, and a "Women in Technology" scholarship from UVSC to cover travel expenses to Wisconsin. The academy consists of two parts. The first, AeroScholars, is a web-based curriculum that introduces participants to aviation. AeroScholars gives the option to take the FAA Private Pilot written test, which can award up to Sign Up Today Foi your Student and SAVE at FOOD & DRUG STORES The card is absolutely FREE Sign-up takes about ONE MINUTE! Enjoy the benefits IMMEDIATELY! Joint symposium examines Utah Lake Emily Bitton News Writer Fwmh Values r y&u will receive: 5%* discount off every order, every day. No limits! Extra savings on Smith's Fresh Values specials! Automatic entry into Fresh Values contests and sweepstakes! Extra savings by enrolling in the Baby Club, Pet Club and Photo Club! *Excludes alcohol, tobacco, prescriptions, fuel, postage stamps, money orders and other items prohibited by law. ~~ GOOD ONLY AT: 350 North Freedom Boulevard, Provo 45 South State Street, Orem News Desk [phone] five college-level credits. These credits can count toward a degree in the UVSC aviation program. The Second part, the Coffy Gregory Flight Academy, is an extended weekend residence program held in Oshkosh, October 7-9. It will feature presentations and activities designed to pique the interest of young women interested in the pursuit of aviation. Participants in the residence portion of the Aviation Academy will enjoy a flight, and begin working on the Fundamentals of Aviation course with EAA mentors. Female leaders in aviation will also conduct sessions with the students. "Because of the wonderful partnership of the Experimental Aircraft Association and Utah Valley State College, these young women have the opportunity to travel to one of aviation's most treasured locations, Oshkosh Wisconsin, and experience an event they will remember for the rest of their lives," said Dustin Berlin, an adjunct faculty member of the Aviation Science Department. "These young women will experience the spirit and excitement that is there and learn how to make their aviation dreams a reality...back home at UVSC." Overall, more than fifty young women from around the country are expected to attend the event. This program is made possible by Florence Coffy Gregory, an aviation enthusiast from Illinois, a long-time EAA member, and one of the first licensed female pilots in the country. For more information on the program or its applicants, contact Dustin Berlin at [e-mail]. Late last month, Utah Valley State College joined with the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program to hold a seminar discussing Utah Lake. The symposium included dialogue about the history and management of the lake, shallow lake ecology, and a panel discussion allowing local city members to voice their opinions. The June Sucker is a type of fish that is native to Utah Lake but is an endangered species. The June Sucker is an indicator species, meaning that through the recovery of this species the ecosystem of the lake will become balanced. In the past, Utah Lake was considered a source of food, resources, and recreation. Over time, however, the condition of the lake has turned from a clear water state to a turbid state. Since the lake is now turbid, it appears to be polluted but is not. Since the lake has become turbid, a decrease in the population of the June Sucker has occurred, creating Visit us online at www.netxnews.net an unbalanced ecosystem. Local city officials and experts on shallow lake ecology addressed the group on what should be done about these issues. "90 percent of lake management is people management, and the other 10 percent is technical. The community has turned its back on Utah Lake. Nostalgia is not part of the game plan. Look aheadnot back," said Dick Osgood, Principal of Osgood Consulting on shallow lake ecosystems. "To begin changing Utah Lake, there needs to be an encouraging or restoring of healthy plants. Also, there needs to be a control on exotic species, which in this case is the carp fish," Osgood said. To control new fish species that have been implanted into Utah Lake, such as the carp, a plan is being made to decrease the carp population. People who fish on Utah Lake will be encouraged to catch carp. Mayor Lewis K. Billings was on the panel discussion and said, "There is great momentum for Utah Lake. It is exciting to have answers. We need to promote this information. We have great information available. I think we can create a sharing of the responsibility to get this moving forward. I believe that local elected officials have a passion but they need your help." Billings continued, "I suspect that where we are headed we are at a point where we need an authority to make information of policies made available. Someone who can be listened to beyond our own boundaries; the local mayors are willing to be a voice, but we need a drive. We would love to have input of local interest groups." David Keller, Director of The Center for the Study of Ethics at UVSC, said, "This is an issue that will be changed on a higher level. That is why I'm glad several of the mayors have been here and higher local authorities." Todd A. Growl, a member of the panel, said, "Utah Lake can become a cultural goldmine to Utah County." To find out more about the June Sucker Recovery \\ Implementation Program go to www.junesuckerrecovery. org. Send story ideas to [e-mail]