CSU Happenings for May 3-11

May 2, 2008

MAY 3 - ‘Spring Bird Walk’ at Oxbow Meadows
CSU’s Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center will host the final of three “Spring Bird Walks” from 9-10 a.m. Saturday. Experienced birders will guide the walk around Oxbow Meadows at 3535 South Lumpkin Rd., Columbus. The program also will include discussion on bird watching and effective bird feeders for home. The program is geared to families with children ages 7and up. Participants should arrive by 8:45 a.m. Binoculars and field guides will be provided. Admission is $4 per person. Call 706-687-4090 to register or for more information.

MAY 6 - Reservation Deadline for May 13 President’s Recognition Banquet
Tuesday, May 6 is the deadline to reserve a seat for CSU’s annual President’s Recognition Banquet on Tuesday, May 13. This year’s event takes on special signficance as a community-wide celebration of the university’s 50th anniversary and forthcoming retirement of President Frank Brown. A reception, with cash bar, starts at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7. Reservations can be made by calling 706-565-4100 or visiting http://www.colstate.edu/50years.

MAY 9 - Senior Art Exhibition Closing Reception
CSU’s Department of Art will host a closing reception for its annual Senior Thesis Exhibition from 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 9 in the Corn Center for the Visual Arts’ llges Gallery in downtown Columbus. The reception will feature light refreshments, live music and participating artists on-hand to discuss their work. The exhibition, which opened April 30 showcases the graduating seniors’ works encompassing video projection, painting, collage, sculpture and digital media and more. The students in the show are Gretchen Arsenault, Will Basset, Ashley Kittrell, Meghan Guenther, Kelly Huskey, Benay Lewis, Jason McCullough, Christopher Matthew, Rondal Scott, Red Strafford, Nancy Presley and Al Ragin. Admission is free. For more information, call 706-507-8300.

MAY 10 – Spring Graduation Ceremonies
CSU’s spring 2008 commencement ceremonies are set for 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, May 10 in the Lumpkin Center. Seating before the programs will begin at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Retiring CSU President Frank Brown is the speaker for both ceremonies. The morning exercise will recognize graduates from the College of Science and Turner College of Business. College of Arts and Letters, College of Education and University College graduates will participate in the afternoon exercise. Guests should arrive early as traffic will be heavy. A live Web-cast of the ceremonies will also will be shown in a Lumpkin Center classroom. For more information, call 706-507-8800 or go to http://graduation.colstate.edu.

MAY 10 – Astronomy Night
CSU’s Coca-Cola Space Science Center will stage an Astronomy Night program on Saturday. May 10 at the center. The free event will open with an 8 p.m. planetarium program followed by telescope viewing at 9 p.m. The center is located at 701 Front Avenue, Columbus. For more information, call 706-649-1470 or go to http://www.ccssc.org.

MAY 11 - Oxbow Second Sunday Series: ‘Animal Mothers’
CSU’s Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center will present “Animal Mothers” as its Second Sunday series program for May 11 at 2 p.m. This Mother’s Day themed program will involve a quiz of different animal mothers, and guests can take home a potted plant. Admission is $2 per person and free for kids under 3. For more information, call 706-687-4090 or go to http://oxbow.colstate.edu.

MAY 11- CSU to Celebrate Diazes’ Retirement with Benefit Concert
The Schwob School of Music will honor professors Manuel and Betty Anne Diaz, as they each conclude nearly two decades of service, with a Diaz Benefit Concert and Scholarship Benefit at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 11 in RiverCenter’s Legacy Hall. The program involves three of the Diazes’ children: violist Roberto Díaz, cellist Andres Diaz and violinist Gabriela Diaz, and pianist Pianist Eugenio Urrutia, a student of Betty Anne Diaz in the mid-1990s at CSU. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the newly created Betty Anne and Manuel Diaz Music Scholarship. For tickets , call 706-649-1986 or e-mail fivecoat_hallie@ColumbusState.edu.