Wichita State News: Geology

Freshman rower comes to WSU Crew with unique experience

Incoming freshman Sydney Fish began her rowing career in 2007, and she will continue rowing at Wichita State University for WSU Crew.

Her first experience in competitive water sport was at 6 years old as a swimmer. Fish spent her summers at Twin Rivers swim club and swam for Wichita East High School for four years.

"I've never been a particularly great swimmer or a team star," she said, "but if my boat sank a couple miles away from a remote island shore, I'd survive."

Fish responded to a recruiting call from the Wichita Rowing Association when she was 16.

"Usually, you have to do a lot of training on land before you can get in a boat on the water," she said, "but the very first day I showed up, I got plopped in a boat and started rowing."

She said she picked up the sport in a couple of weeks and competed in her first regatta that fall.

Fish is the captain of the juniors' team and a member of the board, representing junior rowers, at the Wichita Rowing Association.

Her success traveled to WSU where she competed in the Shocker Sprints, an indoor regatta raced individually on rowing machines. She won both races in the junior women's division.

"But that race is really intense so I pretty much felt like a blob of jelly after it," she said.

Fish said the WSU Crew brought her on because she had past rowing experience, which is rare in Wichita.

"They realize that I'm going to hit the ground running, and I'll put in a lot of focus and effort and push myself," she said.

Fish will join the novice team when she begins college in the fall, but she does not know where she'll be placed in the boat.

"I'm an experienced rower on both starboard and port, not to mention stroke and bow and any seat in between," she said. "I can be useful wherever I'm put."

Fish will major in geology at WSU.

"I've always been an enthusiastic student of science, especially chemistry, and the earth sciences particularly interest me," she said.

But she also said she may not have chosen geology if it had not been for family members working as geologists.

"They really got me interested in it," she said.

Fish applied to both Kansas State University and the University of Kansas and was offered small rowing scholarships, but she said WSU was a better fit.

"I'm really excited about coming to WSU," she said. "It'll be a lot more compatible to my learning style, and I'm just ready to make the change."

Fish said she's an explorer and, as she did with rowing, she's always willing to try something new.

Lt. Gov. Parkinson to attend WSU Earth Day panel

Kansas Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson plans to take part in a panel discussion titled "Green Energy Options in Kansas," on Earth Day at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 22.

Mark Parkinson

The event will be held at Wichita State University in 209 Hubbard Hall. Parkinson is co-chair of the Kansas Energy Council and chair of the Kansas Wind Working Group.

Additional confirmed panelists include Kansas Sen. Donald Betts Jr.; WSU Distinguished Professor Emeritus Bill Wentz; and several other green energy experts. Betts has recently dealt with the proposed Holcomb coal-fired power plant expansion issue in the Kansas Legislature. He also is running for the seat in Congress currently held by Rep. Todd Tiahrt.

Wentz is working to develop a carbon footprint for the city of Wichita. He also is former executive director of the National Institute for Aviation research.

The panel will be moderated by WSU geology instructor Toni Jackman, assistant director of WSU's Center for Environment and Human Health.

The panel discussion will be preceded by a short documentary, "Revolution Green: A True Story of Biodiesel in America." The documentary has won awards at several film festivals and features Willie Nelson with narration by Woody Harrelson. Revolution Green is being shown through a special arrangement with the producer. More information can be found at www.revolutiongreen.com.

This event is co-sponsored by the WSU Green Group, WSU College Democrats, WSU Center for Environment and Human Health and WSU Student Activities Council. The goal of the event is to engage the community in an honest discussion of Kansas energy policy, green energy options and potential green energy solutions in Kansas.

WSU Green Group is an officially recognized WSU student organization. The mission of the group is to encourage the community to be conscious of its relationship with a shared natural environment. The group advocates conservation, awareness, responsibility and education. Additional information about the WSU Green Group can be found at www.wichita.edu/wsugreengroup.

The WSU Center for Environment and Human Health is a statewide clearinghouse for environmental, community coalitions, networks of community members and nonprofit health and human service organizations. More information about CEHH can be found at http://webs.wichita.edu/cehh/.

Geology department hosting 2008 Open House

The Wichita State University geology department and WSU GeoAdvisory Association are hosting the Geology Open House from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, March 8, in the Geology Building on the WSU campus.

The free event will allow people to reconnect with alumni and friends; visit with faculty, staff and students; learn about undergraduate and graduate geology programs; and see the department's geology collections and exhibitions.

The 2007-2008 Scholarship Award Presentation will be held from 11 a.m.-noon, followed by a lunch buffet. From noon-5 p.m. there will be tours, presentations and showcases.

For more information, call Kevin Smith, senior administrative assistant, at (316) 978-3140 or go to http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=geoscience&p=index.