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DRI 2006 News Releases

~ for immediate release

news release April 24, 2006

Contact: Heather Emmons, DRI PIO, heather.emmons@dri.edu, Reno (775) 673-7313 (w), (702) 743-3435 (c)
All DRI News Releases are available at: http://news.dri.edu/

Sen. Raggio, KOLO-TV News Channel 8 awarded DRI President's Medal for 2006

KOLO News Channel 8 General Manager Matt James accepts President's Award
Sen. Raggio accepts the President's Medal
From l to r: KOLO News Channel 8 General Manager Matt James accepts the President's Medal from DRI President Steve Wells From l to r: Sen. Raggio accepts the President's Medal from DRI President Steve Wells
Reno, Nev. -- In March, State Senator William Raggio and KOLO-TV News Channel 8, represented by Matt James, were awarded the DRI President's Medal at the 19th annual Nevada Medal Dinner held at the Reno Hilton in Reno, Nev.  The President's Medal was given in recognition of both Sen. Raggio and KOLO-TV's dedication to enhancing and raising the profiles of science, science education and DRI in Nevada.  Las Vegas architect Tom Schoeman, also a 2006 DRI President's Medal winner, was honored in a separate ceremony in Las Vegas.

The DRI President's Medal is given out each year by DRI President Stephen G. Wells to companies or individuals to acknowledge exceptional service or support of DRI and its mission.  These medals are presented in lieu of honorary doctorates or similar forms of recognition awarded by teaching campuses of the Nevada System of Higher Education. 

Senator William J. Raggio has served in the Nevada Senate since 1973, including eight special and 17 regular sessions of the Legislature.  Currently Senate Majority Floor Leader, Raggio has held leadership posts on the Senate’s Finance and Education Committees and on the Interim Finance Committee and Legislative Commission.  Wells calls Raggio "a leading supporter of higher education in Nevada for at least three decades," as Raggio's record shows. 

In recognition of Raggio's legislative leadership on education and research issues, the primary road through DRI's Dandini Research Park in Reno was named Raggio Parkway in his honor. 

Of Raggio, Wells said, "He’s a person who has provided a great deal of valuable guidance and advice to DRI in its efforts to tackle some of the most serious environmental challenges facing the state of Nevada."  

Raggio has even joined DRI scientists in the field and has had the opportunity to watch them at work on location, joining a DRI research team in Shaanxi Province, China, where scientists are currently conducting air quality studies to help preserve the famous terra-cotta soldiers found in Xian, China. 

DRI and KOLO-TV have had a partnership that goes back nearly 20 years.  The KOLO program “Live from Antarctica”—begun with help from former Nevada First Lady Sandy Miller—allowed Washoe County students to talk to DRI scientists stationed in the Antarctic.  More recently, KOLO, with AT&T Nevada, supported the DRI WeatherNet Project, which used weather reports as part of an on-air science curriculum.  KOLO is also the media sponsor for DRI’s Golf Extravaganza and a past sponsor of the Nevada Medal Award program. 

In cooperation with DRI and the Washoe County School District, KOLO-TV currently sponsors an on-going science student of the month award, highlighting top science students in the district.  The Science Student of the Month series is part of KOLO’s effort to reinforce the significance of academic achievement among today’s students. 

"DRI looks forward to a long, continuing relationship with Channel 8," Wells said.

ABOUT DRI: A nonprofit, statewide division of the Nevada System of Higher Education, DRI pursues a full-time program of basic and applied environmental research on a local, national, and international scale.  More than 500 full- and part-time scientists, technicians, and support staff conduct more than 300 research projects at DRI annually.  DRI generates $45 million in total revenue consisting predominately of competitively won research contracts and grants. The State of Nevada provides critical funding in support of DRI's administration, operations, and maintenance through the Nevada System of Higher education budget.  While DRI’s portion of the NSHE budget is approximately one percent, the institute leverages these funds to enhance its competitiveness.