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When Alexander Oshmyansky arrived at the University of Colorado at Boulder fresh out of high school in fall 2002, he had a surprise for his classmates - he planned to graduate in the spring. After spending less than a year at CU-Boulder, Oshmyansky will indeed graduate in the spring, when on May 9, just months after his 18th birthday, he will receive his bachelor's degree in biochemistry.

Photo advisory: The best opportunity for photos of students painting the mural will be May 6-7. To arrange, call Denise Hogenes Lewis at (303) 492-3334. The mural will be painted in the food court of the University Memorial Center on the CU-Boulder campus. The University of Colorado at Boulder is offering students a different approach to relieving stress during finals week this year. Â鶹ÒùÔº, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to contribute to a mural painted by a national artist. Painting began April 30 and will be completed by May 9.

James Randi, internationally recognized investigator of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims, will give a free, public lecture at the University of Colorado at Boulder on May 21. Randi will speak on "Search for the Chimera: An Overview of How Science Has Pursued Magic and Miracles in the 20th Century and Into the 21st Century" at 7:30 p.m. in Macky Auditorium. His lecture is intended for a general audience and no reservations are required.

Editors: A complete schedule of events is attached. Media are welcome to attend. Please inform the check-in table inside Interlocken Ballroom B, where the keynote addresses will be held. Hotel address is 500 Interlocken Blvd., Broomfield. Prominent experts on school violence and school safety from around the state and nation will gather in Broomfield May 1-2 for the third annual Safe Communities -- Safe Schools Conference sponsored by the CU-Boulder Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence.

The Office of Diversity and Equity at the University of Colorado at Boulder awarded five faculty, staff and students the 2003 Equity and Excellence Awards on April 24 at the 18th Annual Equity and Excellence Graduation Ceremony and Awards Banquet. Ofelia Miramontes, associate vice chancellor for diversity and equity, was also presented with the Equity and Excellence Special Recognition Award.

Larry Zimmer, renowned sports announcer and adjunct instructor of sports broadcasting at the University of Colorado at Boulder School of Journalism and Mass Communication, will deliver the School's commencement address on May 8 at 2:30 p.m. in Macky Auditorium. The School of Journalism and Mass Communication will award 211 degrees on May 9.

Naomi Soderstrom, associate professor of accounting at the CU-Boulder Leeds School of Business, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to teach and conduct research at the Stuttgart Institute of Management and Technology in Germany during the 2003-04 academic year. Soderstrom's research addresses environmental programs that reduce emissions and save companies money.

A University of Colorado at Boulder expert on the political aftermath of war is among three winners of this year's Eugene M. Kayden awards for excellence in scholarly writing. CU-Boulder's Roland Paris joined Duke University's Karla Holloway and Anath Ariel de Vidas from the University of Haifa, Israel, in accepting Kayden awards, which are administered by the CU Foundation. A CU selection committee annually reviews the award nominations and the awards are presented by Chancellor Richard L. Bynny.

Paul S. Voakes, associate professor at the Indiana University School of Journalism, has been appointed dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Colorado at Boulder, pending final approval by the CU Board of Regents. The appointment, effective July 1, was announced by Provost Phil DiStefano. "I am confident that Paul Voakes will provide the necessary leadership to navigate the tough fiscal times ahead and move the school to the next level of excellence in its academic programs," DiStefano said.

Colorado Engineer Magazine, a student publication at the University of Colorado at Boulder since 1904, brought home 10 awards including first-place Magazine of the Year from Engineering College Magazines Associated this spring. ECMA, which has 14 active members including Purdue, Cornell, the University of Wisconsin and other top engineering schools, presented the awards April 5 in Minneapolis.