• NCSA director takes job at N. Carolina: Daniel A. Reed, director of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), has accepted an appointment as founding director of a new interdisciplinary computing institute based at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He will start in January 2004.

"(Personal) ties, plus the opportunity to build a broadly based institute with strong emphasis on biomedical research and the arts and humanities, made this a very personal choice," Reed said in a press release.

Reed has been director of NCSA for four years and has been at the University for 20 years.

Rob Pennington, head of NCSA's Computing and Data Management Directorate, will serve as interim director of the center until a permanent successor is hired.

"Dan Reed's vision has been extraordinary," said Chancellor Nancy Cantor in a press release. "He is leaving NCSA in superb shape, positioned for a bright future. We owe a great debt of gratitude to Dan for his leadership."

— Ann Sanner

• Farm Bureau offers agriculture scholarships: Scholarship applications provided by the Champaign County Farm Bureau Foundation are now available for students seeking careers in agriculture and agriculture-related fields.

Every year, the Champaign County Farm Bureau Foundation grants $1,000 scholarships to approximately 30 students. Academic performance, school and community activities, honors and awards, community and industry service, employment history and the intent to pursue a career in agriculture are the criteria evaluated during the selection process.

"There are so many fields that relate to agriculture, so if anyone thinks they are headed in that direction they should apply for this scholarship," said Marla Todd, information director for the Champaign County Farm Bureau Foundation. "In the past, more than half the scholarships were given to University of Illinois students."

Applications are available at the Champaign County Farm Bureau office at 801 N. Country Fair Drive, Champaign. All applications are due to the Farm Bureau office by Monday, Feb. 16, 2004, at 5 p.m. Students who received a scholarship for the 2003-2004 school year will need to complete a renewal application. For more information about the scholarships please call 352-5235.

— Colette Richert

• Jakobsson joins drive for domestic violence: Naomi Jakobsson, state representative for the 103rd district, is participating in a cell phone collection drive to help victims of domestic abuse by providing them with cell phones for emergency use only.

"As the former executive director of the University YWCA, I know how important it is for the victim to have an emergency contact option," said Jakobsson. The collected phones will be refurbished with 9-1-1 pre-programmed in the phone.

Those willing to donate used phones can drop them off at Jakobsson's Constituent Service Office at 206 N. Randolph St., Suite 120, Champaign.

"Some people often get new cell phones and this is a perfect way to put those old cell phones to good use, plus it is an earth-friendly alternative," she said.

For more information about the mobile phone drive, please call Jakobsson's office at 373-5000.

— Colette Richert