Courtesy of Radford University

About 100 people paid $25 or more to take the plunge into the frigid New River at Bisset Park on Saturday raised money for the Special Olympics. The event was part of Radford University's homecoming celebration.

The first New River Polar Plunge held as part of Radford University's homecoming celebration Saturday raised more than $3,000 for the Special Olympics.

About 100 people paid $25 or more to take the plunge into the frigid New River at Bisset Park and raise money for programs to benefit disabled athletes.

The event, sponsored by the Radford City Police Department and the RU Alumni Association, among others, was also part of the university's centennial celebration.

Centennial events celebrating the founding of Radford in 1910 focus on service to the community.

The homecoming celebration, originally scheduled for Feb. 5-6, was postponed by severe weather and was rescheduled for Friday and Saturday.

LGBT group to offer scholarship

Virginia Tech's LGBT Caucus, an advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, is accepting applications for a scholarship honoring students who advance the rights and acceptance of sexual minorities.

The $500 scholarship is awarded to a rising senior who has attended Tech full time and is scheduled to graduate in December 2010 or May 2011. Candidates must be in good academic standing with a cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 or higher.

The winning student is set to be announced at the annual Lavender Commencement Ceremony in May, a ceremony that honors LGBT graduates.

Applications, including a recommendation, are due March 25 and must be submitted online at vtlgbtcaucus.org.

Computer modeling to treat cancer

Virginia Tech biology professor John Tyson presented his research on math-based, disease-fighting techniques at a conference in California this week.

Tyson explores how math-based computer modeling can help scientists better treat cellular diseases such as cancer by mapping how healthy cells work and what goes awry in diseased cells, according to a news release from the university.

Tyson will present his findings on yeast cells at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting Sunday in San Diego. The study of yeast cells could have implications for cancer treatment.

Tyson's presentation was part of a series titled "Moving Across Scales: Mathematics for Investigating Biological Hierarchies," which included talks ranging from "HIV interventions in Africa" to the "Neural Dynamics of Decision Making," the release stated.

Tyson's presentation was titled "Molecular Network Dynamics and Cell Physiology," or the cell as an information-processing system.

Southern writing scholarships offered

Applications are being accepted through March 29 for Radford University's second annual Rita Riddle Student Creative Writing Scholarship Award.

Open to Radford graduate and undergraduate students and named for Riddle, the late professor and author, the scholarship is given to two students who want to attend the annual Appalachian Writers Workshop or Southern Appalachian Writers Cooperative events.

Workshops take place annually in Hindman, Ky., and New Market, Tenn. Many of the teachers have been featured speakers and instructors at Radford's annual Highland Summer Conference, one of the longest-running Appalachian-themed creative writing workshops in the nation, according to a news release from the university. This year's conference is set for June 7-18.

For submission criteria and other information, contact Radford professor Jim Minick at jminick@radford.edu.

Winter carnival set at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech Union will host the annual Winterfest carnival from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Commonwealth Ballroom at Squires Student Center.

The carnival is free and open to the public and will offer activities for all age groups.

Children's activities will include bounce houses, magicians, performances and games. There will also be food, including popcorn, snow cones and cotton candy.

Campus organizations will host booths and activities. Off-campus businesses and vendors will also participate.

Founded in 1992 to help stave off the winter blues, the annual event draws about 1,000 people to campus.

For more information, visit www.vtu.org.vt.edu.

Tech picks director of information security

Virginia Tech has named Wayne Donald as the university's director for information security resources and coordination.

As the first director for information security resources and coordination, Donald will establish a documentation and coordination process for requests for digital information ranging from forensic investigations to investigation of online copyright infringements, according to a news release from the university.

Randy Marchany, director of the Information Technology Security Lab, has assumed the duties of information technology security officer.

Marchany has experience in Tech's information technology security office and security work at the national level. Marchany will continue to direct the Information Technology Security Lab, his previous assignment.

Conflict resolution expert to speak

Fulbright scholar Linda Lantieri will be the featured speaker at the Radford University College of Education and Human Development's premiere Mind Body Spirit Institute set for March 24-25.

Titled "Building Emotional Intelligence: Cultivating Inner Resilience," the workshop is part of the university's centennial celebration.

Lantieri will present workshops with faculty, students, human resource professionals, teachers and counselors. A weekend retreat will follow the workshop.

An internationally known expert in social and emotional learning and conflict resolution, Lantieri specializes in emotional intelligence and its effects, the release stated.

Lantieri serves as director of The Inner Resilience Program and is co-founder of the Resolving Conflicts Creatively Program, a social-emotional learning program that has been implemented in 15 school districts in the United States.

She is one of the founding board members, along with Daniel Goleman, of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, the release stated.

Find a full schedule at eduweb.education.radford.edu. For more information, call 831-6374.