2 • The Tech Talk • June 24, 2010

Alumna serves soldiers overseas

CampuscBriefs
AWS applications out MSSA holds student
for Executive Board paper competition
The Association for
Women Students is seek-
ing applicants to serve on
the Executive Board.
Applications will be
reviewed the first two
weeks of fall quarter.
AWS is an organiza-
tion in which all female
undergraduate students
belong.
Each member is as-
sessed a fee of $0.50 per
quarter, which is used for
activities and programs
benefiting women stu-
dents.
The Executive Board
is the governing body for
AWS and meets once a
month to review requests
for funding.
For more information
contact Linda Griffin,
dean of student develop-
ment, at 318-257-2445 or
The annual under-
graduate student paper
competition, organized
by the Mid-South Socio-
logical Association, is ac-
cepting papers.
The competition is
open to students in the
mid-South region and un-
dergraduate students
who are members of the
MSSA.
A $50 prize will be
awarded to the best orig-
inal sociology paper.
The winning authors
are presented a certifi-
cate of merit at the 2010
MSSA Annual Meeting.
Papers must be sub-
mitted to David LoConto,
vice president of MSSA,
by June 30.
For more information
contact LoConto at 256- Submitted Photo

lgriffin@latech.edu.
SAT selling Tech wel-
come buckets for $25
The Student Advance-
ment Team is selling wel-
come buckets for $25
until Aug. 27.
With the Tech logo on
one side, the buckets
hold various types of
candy and snacks, two
beverages, a pencil, pen,
highlighter, Scantron
sheet and note cards and
can be used as a trash
can once emptied of
goodies.
The Welcome Buck-
ets will be hand-delivered
to on-campus residents
prior to fall quarter 2010;
off-campus residents can
pick them up at the Mar-
bury Alumni Center on
Tech Drive.
For more information
contact Jackie Kitching-
ham, coordinator of ad-
vancement programs, at
782-5621 or dlo-
conto@jsu.edu.
Women soccer team
to of fer free clinics
Tech’s soccer team is
offering free clinics from
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. every
Tuesday and Thursday
during the summer.
The clinics are offered
at the Lady Techster Soc-
cer Complex located
across the street from the
Charles Wyly Athletic
Center.
It is open to girls ages
8-12.
Head Coach Kevin
Sherry and the Lady
Techster soccer team will
be heading the one-hour
sessions.Members of the
Lady Techster’s team, in
an effort to contribute to
the local community, will
help teach the essentials
of soccer to the partici-
pants.
For more information
contact the Tech soccer
Tech Alumna Sgt. Arnikko Walters assists young Afghani children at a school in Kabul, Afghanistan.
By TAYLOR STEPHENS
tds026@latech.edu
Soldiers take care of Amer-
ica, but Sgt. Arnikko Walters
takes care of the soldiers.
Walters is serving in Kabul,
Afghanistan, as a human re-
sources officer in the U.S. Army.
Walters graduated as a mar-
keting major from Tech in 2007,
after first wanting to be a
lawyer and then an accountant.
Walters said Tech did not
necessarily influence her deci-
sion to join the reserves, but she
ended up joining to finish pay-
ing for college. She said she
was surprised the reserves were
willing to help her even though
she wanted to remain in school.
In her job overseas, Walters
must ensure service members
stay focused on their missions
whil overseas and are not bur-
dened by external sources,
such as financial issues, rede-
ployment, transportation and
supplies.
“During this deployment, I
“
truly enhanced my capabilities with the organization that has “I know what I am fighting
as a soldier.” been helpful to her while she for,” Walters said. “I am giving
Walters said volunteer work has been deployed. this country the ability to stand
is important to her as a soldier “Cyprus Cares sends me on its own. I know what I am
and a person. care packages and e-mails and defending. I am defending my
“I volunteered with the local supports not only me but my freedom and the freedoms of
school for girls,” Walters said. entire unit as well,” Walters the human race. I know that I
“With this proj- said. “There’s a am part of a team, which is not
ect we were drive held that only the U.S. Army, but the U.S.
able to reach collects bed- Military.”
out to the local sheets for or- Walters said it is an honor to
population and phanages that I know she is a part of history.
show them that want to be in- “It is easy to read history
we care about
their problems;
“During this deployment, I have volved in as well
as supporting
books and hear stories from my
peers and leaders about their
we support their matured in terms of my work re- troops who service, but to have your own
efforts to give don’t have basic story and experience brings it
young girls the sponsibility, my leadership skils supplies like toi- to reality,” Walters said. “Now
opportunity to letries.” that I have served overseas, it
have a decent and, most of all, my iniative.” Walters said puts things into a whole new
education.” she was also perspective as to the men and
Walters said glad to be a part women who risk their lives so
her work with Sgt. A rn ik ko Wa lte rs of the Army others can enjoy freedom.”
young Afghani when it cele- Walters said she celebrates
women is not US Army Human resources officer brated its 235 those who serve and have
the only volun- birthday June served, especially in commem-
teer work she has done. 14. The army’s birthday is a oration of the Army’s birthday.
“I’ve been volunteering my time to celebrate the establish- "I salute everyone before
whole life, but I really picked up ment of the organization, which me,” she said. “As well as all
on it when I went to Tech,” was created to defend the na- who are present with me an-

Adventure begins here!

318-255-7950 or online office at 318-257-4778 or have matured in terms of my Walters said. tion. swering the call of duty that
at www.latech.alumni.org. ksherry@latech.edu. work responsibility, my leader- She said when she returns Walters said serving in the gives freedom to our loved
ship skills, and most of all, my home from overseas, she plans army means another day of ones, our fellow Americans and

IfM names new director LINCOLN PARISH PARK

initiative,” Walters said. “I have to continue her volunteer work freedom for America. those who need help.”

By CRYSTAL MCCANTS Louisiana native and cares personally about the

csm035@latech.edu state’s success.
“Dr. Null has a unique perspective on guiding a
Randy Null is the new director in the Institute technology-based academic research center be-
for Micromanufacturing and new professor of cause of his years in the microelectronics and se-
biomedical engineering. curity industries,” Napper said. “His management
Null said he is extremely excited to join the IfM and technical expertise align perfectly with op-
and Tech. portunities and directions in which Tech is grow-
“I am working with the IfM to develop a strate- ing.”
gic plan that will focus on strengthening our ties According to the IfM website, the institute car-
to industry in order to help generate economic ries out leading-edge research and development
growth in Louisiana and the nation,” efforts in microsystems and nanosys-
Null said. “Given my background, we tems for biomedical, biological, environ-
will also increase our efforts in the areas mental, chemical and information
of homeland security and national de- technology, among other applications.
fense.” The institute also seeks to contribute
Null has served in executive positions economically to the state and the nation
with the Department of Homeland Se- by being a top resource developing in
curity, the Transportations Security Ad- commercially-feasible nano and mi-
ministration, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Intel crosystems.
Inc. and Texas Instruments Inc. Nanotechnology is the branch of en-
According to an article by Jeannette gineering dealing with things smaller
Futrell, administrative assistant for the than 100 nanometers. Likewise, micro
IfM, as director of the Institute, Null will NULL technology focuses on features near one
provide leadership in research and de- micrometer; IfM specializes in both.
velopment that improves energy systems, cyber- As an applied research facility, the IfM con-
space security, medical technology and tributes to the economic development of
fundamental nanotechnology processes, to name Louisiana and the nation through the invention
a few. and realization of specific types of micro and
Although born in Sonora, Texas, Null is from nano systems, which aligns with Null’s objectives.
Louisiana and earned a bachelor’s degree and Null has been named distinguished professor
doctorate in chemical engineering from Tech. by Entergy/Cordaro, serves on the Technical Ad-
Stan Napper, dean of the College of Engi- visory Board of Pixel Velocity Inc. and is the
neering and Science, said that although Null has founding owner of Cogent Solutions, LLC, of
spent 30 years outside of the state, he is a Phoenix.

University apartments receive makeovers

By CRYSTAL MCCANTS able to be given to updates with- in a different way, according to

HAVE AN OVERWHELMING NEED TO

csm035@latech.edu out disturbing residents, said Sam Speed, assistant dean of
Peel. student life.
Changes are being made to Last summer, some indoor Speed said funds are spent on

EXPERIENCE THE GREAT OUTDOORS?

one of the commons in phase
one of University Crossing.
Sofas, loveseats and chairs are
being replaced in Caruthers A, B
and C, as well as being freshly
painted.
Melanie Peel, director of res-
painting was done, the steel rail-
ings were repainted and bal-
conies and sidewalks were power
washed.
According to Peel, the new
furniture will be delivered mid-
July, while painting and mainte-
various repairs in the residence
halls.
“Oftentimes, students don’t
see the money that is spent on
repairs and basic upkeep,” Speed
said. “Once that is addressed,
Allow Lincoln Parish Park to be the catalyst for your outdoor adventure!
there is very little, if any, money

With a 10 mile mountain bike trail, RV & primitive campsite area,

idential life, said these changes nance will be done between left for cosmetic repairs.”
are being made to ensure that the conferences scheduled through- Students are the driving force

apartments continue to remain in
good condition and up to the
housing department’s standards.
“For many years the tradi-
out the summer. All is scheduled
to be complete prior to the first
day of fall quarter 2010, which is
Sept. 3.
lake with beach area & rental pavilions with amenities, you’re sure to have a memorable
behind decisions that are made,
along with the administration
outdoor experience. Come claim your adventure today.
leading each particular endeavor.
Student requests are taken into

tional halls did not have an ade-
quate repair and replacement
account, so those facilities did
not receive the attention needed
to stay updated,” Peel said. “With
the apartments, a budget is set
aside specifically for maintaining
that standard of quality.”
Every summer, a different
area of University Park will be
updated. By closing one area
each summer and not allowing
12-month leases in the closed lo-
cation, more specific attention is
Although this process is
planned to continue at a different
common at University Park each
summer, it is not known exactly
what will happen.
No plans are being made to
add new residence spaces, but
Caruthers and Neilson Halls are
scheduled to be demolished.
Funds are not set aside for the
traditional residence halls in the
same manner they are for Uni-
versity Park apartments because
the funds for UP were procured
FOR RENTAL RATES AND OTHER INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE
account and much is done to
make it happen, said Peel.
Christy Jackson, a senior en-
gineering major, said she is ex-
cited about the changes.
“It’s good that the housing of- www.park.lincolnparish.org
fice is taking measures to main- Winter 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. • Spring 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
tain the new apartments,”
Jackson said. “Those are really Summer 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. • Autumn 8 a.m .- 7 p.m.
nice apartments that should be (318) 251-5156 • 211 Parish Park Rd. Ruston, LA
kept nice.”
“I can’t wait to see what
changes will be made next sum-
mer.”