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Kinesiology Student Honored as Outgoing 2008 Senior Class President

Jesse Truax, 2008-09 Senior Class Council President and kinesiology major, was honored at graduation by the passing of the “Ram's Head” at commencement ceremonies last spring. For the fourth time, the “ram’s head” was passed from class president to class president when 1983 senior class president Kevin Drury (’83 ag business) handed the artifact to 2008 senior class president Jesse Truax (’08 kinesiology and health). According to Carole Gieseke, Chief Communications Officer for the ISU Alumni Association, the ram’s head once decorated a chapel column on Old Main, the hub of university activity that was destroyed by a 1902 fire.  Faculty members Edgar Stanton (1872 LAS) and O.H. Cessna (1872 LAS) uncovered the ram’s head when sifting through the fire ruins and declared it a symbol of “new education” at Iowa State.  It was first passed to 1933 senior class president Arloe Paul (’33 elec engr) with instructions to keep it for 25 years before passing it on in 1958 to class president Jerry Ladman (’58 farm op). The tradition has continued that the ram’s head is passed every 25 years. The artifact will now be officially housed at the new ISU Alumni Center, where it will be on display along with the University Mace and presidential necklace until it is passed to the 2033 senior class president.

Truax graduated from the community/public health option of kinesiology and was described by Dr. Frank Schabel as “one of our very best current and future leaders.”  Dr. Schabel is a longtime faculty member in the Kinesiology Department and coordinator for the health option of the curriculum.  He went on to say that Truax was not only very active as Senior Class Council President, but was also very involved with Eta Sigma Gamma, the National Health Honorary and numerous other ISU groups. Prior to graduation, Truax completed an internship with Jami Haberl, Executive Director of Business Executives for National Security-Safeguard Iowa Partnership.  Ms. Haberl was formerly the State Director of Bio-terrorism at the Iowa Department of Public Health and is a graduate of the Kinesiology Department at Iowa State.

 

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Dillavou Makes Most of Time at Iowa State

In recognition of his accomplishments while at ISU, Steven Dillavou kinesiology and health, led his classmates onto the Hilton Coliseum floor as the College of Human Sciences student marshal at the Iowa State University Commencement Ceremony on August 9.  Accompanying him was his faculty mentor and associate professor of kinesiology, Dr. Ann Smiley-Oyen.  "I worked with her in the Motor Control and Research Learning Lab," Dillavou said. "She was one of the best professors I had, always looking into deeper issues [instead of] skimming over the material."

" I wanted to make the most of my time at Iowa State," said Steven Dillavou, Hixson Scholar from Earlham, Iowa.  As someone who worked on research projects, devoted many hours to volunteer efforts, and played on intramural sports championship teams, it's easy to see that Dillavou wasn't kidding. Dillavou also combined international experiences, laboratory research and work in sports medicine to round out his classroom preparation.

"The main thing I learned is communication, both verbal and written. That's something I really had to focus on and improve," he said. "Critical thinking, too. I learned to analyze things instead of just taking them as they are, whether it's visiting a foreign country or studying the movement of an ankle."

See the entire article by Scott Schrage at:
http://www.hs.iastate.edu/news/inside/view/147/

	Steven Dillavou

 

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	Order of St. Maurice Award

 

Former Student Earns Prestigious Award from the U.S. Army

Dr. Tim Derrick recently updated colleagues about a former student and the prestigious award he received.  Mike Holthe earned a master’s degree from the Kinesiology Department in 1999 and has been working at the Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center doing shoe research.

On June 5, 2008, Michael Holthe was awarded the Order of Saint Maurice. Mr. Holthe received the prestigious medallion of the Civis level, awarded by the National Infantry Association and the Chief of Infantry of the United States Army for outstanding contributions to the infantry. The infantry medallion is named after the leader of the Roman Theban Legion, Saint Maurice, in the 3rd century. It is awarded to officers, noncommissioned officers, and special nominees who have made a significant contribution to the infantry. Some notable members who have received the award are Colin Powell, retired U.S. Army general and former U.S. secretary of state; Dale A. Dye, decorated retired U.S. Marine Corps captain and founder of Warriors, Inc.; and John Abizaid, retired U.S. Army general and former U. S. Central Command commander.

Mr. Holthe currently serves at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center in Natick, Massachusetts as the Project Engineer responsible for all US Army and Special Forces footwear.  During his tenure, Mr. Holthe has developed and implemented footwear design changes that have reduced incidence of lower leg injury in the Soldier and Special Operator by over thirty percent. His work has resulted in four United States Patents and numerous improvements to the effectiveness, safety and quality of life for United States service men and women.
 
http://www.infantryassn.com/pages/awards.html