UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO TIP SHEET Outstanding Graduate Profiles
Monday, April 30 2007
April 30, 2007 The University of Idaho's May graduates are integrating knowledge and passion in ways that impact people in Idaho and around the globe. Following are two additional outstanding graduate profiles. Casper "Cap" Bendixsen, from Idaho Falls, degrees in anthropology and philosophy, College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences A native of Idaho, Bendixsen transferred to the University of Idaho in 2005. According to Mark Warner, associate professor of anthropology and associate director of the University Honors Program, he is "one of those renaissance students that only come along once every few years; he is one of those rare students that embodies academic excellence but who also has so much more to offer to a community." In summer 2006, Bendixsen spent eight weeks in Guatemala conducting ethnographic research with local fishermen. He just presented some of the results of that work at the annual meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology, and he has submitted his work for publication to the journal Human Organization. "Having undergraduates take on large research projects such as this does not happen very frequently in my experience," said Warner. "In fact, I have never had an undergraduate pursue such an aggressive research agenda during my 11 years of teaching." Bendixsen has submitted two professional conference papers; in spring 2006 he was co-author of a student paper presented at the Western Regional Honors Conference. In addition to his interest in anthropology, Bendixsen regularly competes as a bareback bronco rider on the rodeo circuit. A member of the University of Idaho rodeo team, he currently is ranked third in the Northwest college region, and is a contender for the college rodeo finals. "College rodeo has been a highlight of both my rodeo and college careers," said Bendixsen. "College rodeo is a great venue for student athleticism. Idaho is a land-grant institution and has roots. The rodeo team has direct lineage to this school's founding." He also served the last two years as a resident firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT) with Moscow Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Department. "I believe we have an obligation to give back to our communities and I choose a particular way to do this," he said. Bendixsen, who will receive the University Honors Program Certificate, is one the university's two nominees for the national Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholarship. He has been accepted to the anthropology doctoral program at Rice University in Houston, Texas, for next fall with full funding. CONTACT: (208) 403-3682 or cbendixsen@vandals.uidaho.edu. Ted Yamamoto, from Caldwell, degree in biology, College of Science. "Ted Yamamoto is an extraordinary undergraduate student, and without a doubt far superior to any other that I have known in my academic career," said Larry Forney, Idaho professor of biological sciences and bioinformatics and computational biology. "During the three plus years that I have known Ted as his teacher and research mentor, he has provided me with at least 10 clues that he is indeed a quite different breed." Those "clues" include outstanding accomplishments at levels beyond comprehension to most undergraduates. Yamamoto was a 2006 recipient of the national Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. Following his freshman year, he received a fellowship through the statewide Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network funded by the National Institutes of Health. He joined Forney's lab in the spring semester of his freshman year and has remained a part of the lab group ever since. "He regularly presents his research to the group with the organization, clarity and professionalism usually found in third or fourth year graduate students," said Forney. With his team, Yamamoto currently is finalizing a paper to report the findings of research he has done of vaginal microbiota of adolescent women; he will be the first author, or lead investigator, something rarely accomplished by an undergraduate. While at the University of Idaho, he has been a member of the Honors Program; he will receive an Honors Program Certificate, the program's highest level of distinction for completed honors coursework. Yamamoto plans to take a year off and "ground" himself before going to medical school. He is exploring various alternatives, including traveling to Guatemala to work for several months in rural areas to gain experience in health care delivery in rural areas. CONTACT: (208) 596-2066 or yama1029@uidaho.edu. -30- About the University of Idaho Founded in 1889, the University of Idaho is the state’s flagship higher-education institution and its principal graduate education and research university, bringing insight and innovation to the state, the nation and the world. University researchers attract more than $100 million in research grants and contracts each year; the University of Idaho is the only institution in the state to earn the prestigious Carnegie Foundation ranking for high research activity. The university’s student population includes first-generation college students and ethnically diverse scholars. Its high academic performers include 42 National Merit Scholars and a 2006-07 freshman class with an average high school grade point average of 3.42. Offering more than 150 degree options in 10 colleges, the university combines the strengths of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu. Media Contact: Joni Kirk, University Communications, (208) 885-7725, joni@uidaho.edu JK-4/30/07-GRAD
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.