General News

A new garden in the works at UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens will  blend southeastern native flora, sustainable practices and smart home landscape design in a 1/5-acre showplace that will add to the diversity of these public gardens.

Longtime UNC Charlotte friend Carol Grotnes Belk, the wife of UNC Charlotte benefactor Irwin “Ike” Belk, died Aug. 25 at The Cypress.
Born in Park Ridge, Ill., Carol Belk was a founding trustee to Charlotte Latin School and served on the board of Discovery Place. She and Ike Belk were married almost 66 years, and Carol is survived by her husband and their sons and daughters William Irwin Belk (Georgia), Irene Belk Miltimore (Dean), Marilyn Belk Wallis (Edward) and Carl Grotnes Belk (Beth).

Rebecca MacNair-Semands, senior associate director of the Counseling Center, was named a Fellow of the American Psychological Association at the organization’s national convention in Washington, D.C.
The APA bestows Fellow status upon members who have shown evidence of unusual and outstanding contributions or performance in the field of psychology. According to the APA, Fellow status requires a person’s work to have had a national impact on the field of psychology beyond a local, state or regional level.

Tracy Rock, an associate professor in the College of Education, is a finalist for the Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence, one of the University’s most prestigious honors.

For its innovative and efficient application of National Instruments products, the Lee College of Engineering’s Rocket Team won a chance to travel to Austin, Texas, to present at the 20th annual NIWeek. Out of 3,250 student projects submitted from 25 countries for the Student Design Competition, National Instruments selected the 49er team as one of three finalists.

Debra Smith, associate professor of Africana studies, is among the five finalists for one of UNC Charlotte’s top honors – the Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence. The recipient of this award will be revealed at a special ceremony on Friday, Sept.

The Office of Parent and Family Services anticipates a large contingent of Niner Nation members at the annual Family Weekend, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26-27.
Registration for the event has been successful with the three family packages offered sold out; however, Kesha Williams, assistant director for parent and family services, noted tickets are still available for select activities.

The Graduate School has issued a call for nominations for the 2014 Graduate Dean’s Master’s Thesis Award, which recognizes outstanding work by a master’s student in each of the following areas:

Math, Physical Sciences and Engineering (one award)
(Physics, Chemistry (excluding Biochemistry), Astronomy, Atmospheric Sciences, Geology, Earth Sciences, Metallurgy, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Sciences and Engineering)

Charlotte 49ers red-shirt quarterback Matt Johnson is among the nominees for  the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, considered one of the most coveted and prestigious off-the-field honors in college football.
The award recognizes players whose charitable involvement and community service contributions stand out among all other student-athletes participating in the sport. Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced a record-breaking 182 nominees from across the country.