Desert Research Institute University and Community College System of Nevada P.O. Box 60220 Reno, Nevada 89506

Contact: John Doherty Public Information Office Reno (702) 673-7313 Las Vegas (702) 862-5414

First Lady Sandy Miller Receives First DRI "Presidents Medal"

Nevada First Lady Sandy Miller received the first DRI Presidents Medal from Desert Research Institute President James V. Taranik Monday for her work in support of DRI's Nevada Medal Award program and the institute's K-12 science outreach programs. Mrs. Miller received the honor during the 1997 Nevada Medal Award Dinner in Reno.

Taranik cited Miller's "passion for science and science education" in presenting her with the award during the Tenth Nevada Medal Award Dinner at the Reno Hilton. DRI and Nevada Bell were honoring Nevada Medalist F. Sherwood Rowland, the Nobel Prize winning scientist who linked the use of chlorofluorocarbons--CFCs--with the depletion of the ozone layer.
Gov. and Mrs. Miller served as co-chairs for this year's Nevada Medal Dinners, which include a southern Nevada award ceremony in Las Vegas Wednesday. Taranik noted that Mrs. Miller has served on the Nevada Medal selection committee for years and has hosted the medalists in science-themed dinners at the governor's mansion. He said she has also initiated numerous K-12 programs including one bringing Las Vegas and Reno K-12 students into contact with DRI scientists in Antarctica using local television stations and the World Wide Web.

That project, called "Antarctic Classroom," allowed students to ask questions answered by DRI Vice President for Research Robert Wharton from his remote base in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica. The project was televised by KOLO TV in Reno and KLAS TV in Las Vegas.

Taranik said DRI decided to establish its own Presidents Medal in emulation of Nevada's university campuses since DRI could not confer honorary degrees and "it is important that support such as we have received from Sandy be acknowledged."