University Advancement

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Clips

Ground squirrels act like tiny ninjas

It’s the squirrels penchant for digging these burrows that cause some humans to look upon them as pest animals, but the burrows actually help to rotate and aerate the soil, and cache seeds (for future plant growth and reforestation after wildfires). “By mixing mineral dirt with organic matter, ground squirrels encourage microbes to grow, speeding up soil production,” says grassland ecologist Paula Schiffman of California State University, Northridge. The squirrels’ abandoned burrows also provide housing for other animals that are unable to excavate burrows for themselves such as Burrowing Owls, California Red-Legged frogs, California Tiger Salamanders (which are fragile animals that spend about 10 months of the year underground)… and oddly enough even Rattlesnakes which often use abandoned squirrel burrows to hibernate in over the winter months. -- Record Bee

Envision the Future: Design a 3D Printed Educational Model for the Visually Impaired

“I first saw the impact that 3D printing could have on the blind and visually impaired when I was at the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference last year,” Mara Hitner, Director of Business Development at MatterHackers, told 3DPrint.com. “Watching the excitement of attendees (including Stevie Wonder) interacting with 3D printed math and biology models was incredibly emotional, because I knew there was a worldwide community of designers with 3D printers who would jump at the chance to help create them if they only knew of the need. A year later, we’re finally bringing the opportunity to life with the help of the e-NABLE community, Lulzbot, and Pinshape.” -- 3D PRINT.COM

Men's Volleyball: LBSU Sweeps CSUN

Sophomore Kyle Ensing finished with 17 kills on .484 hitting as No. 1 Long Beach State continued to excel, defeating No. 14 CSUN on the road in straight sets 25-19, 21-19, and 25-21. -- Gazettes Sports

Ahwatukee schools field sand-volleyball squads

Lauren McMurray is a senior who is committed to playing sand at Cal State Northridge, while Gabby Leo is a junior who recently committed to play indoor and sand at Pacific University. -- Ahwatukee Foothills News

Weber State softball wins 6th straight to open Matador Classic

Behind a timely, two-RBI single from senior Riana Splinter in the sixth inning, the Weber State University softball team won its sixth straight game Friday, dropping Cal State Northridge 5-3 in the opening game of the Matador Classic in Northridge, California. -- Standard-Examiner

Ricardo Ybarra Chosen as Malibu’s First Poet Laureate

In an interview, Ybarra said his involvement with poetry started as a “total fluke.” A couple of years after moving to Paradise Cove from Santa Cruz in 1981, he was working as a tile setter while attending classes at Cal State Northridge to get his teaching credentials. When required to take an elective, he chose a poetry workshop by default. -- Malibu Times

Newsmakers: People in Palm Beach County business, non-profits

Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches would like to announce the addition of Roshan Massoumi to its board of directors. Massoumi, retired owner of French R LLC Real Estate Holding Company, has been a 2005 nominee for the Palm Beach County Medical Society’s Heroes of Medicine, and received the 1993 Dynamic Duo Award in recognition of her outstanding team efforts benefiting both the medical community and the citizens of Palm Beach County. In 2016, Massoumi served as chairwoman of the spring luncheon for the Rehabilitation Center for Children and Adults. She is a member of the executive board of directors of Le Club InterContinental of Palm Beach and a member of the Beach Club of Palm Beach. Massoumi holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics, and attended the University of California, Los Angeles; California State University, Northridge; and George Washington University. -- MyPalmBeachPost

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