Award-winning vets

Earlier this month, three students and one scholar were cited for their vision and leadership in the field of veterinary medicine.

The year’s recipients of the Penn Vet Student Inspiration Awards are Catherine Brinkley, who combines veterinary medicine with city planning and new technologies to create a unified approach to animal care in urban life; and Alison Barnstable and Laurel Redding, who have partnered with a non-profit organizations to help people produce their own food and encourage the development of para-professional veterinary services. Winners receive $100,000 in research funding—the largest unrestricted student award in veterinary medicine, from the Vernon and Shirley Hill Foundation.

Brinkley, a second-year vet student, has also been accepted into Penn’s urban planning Ph.D. program, where she will pursue the study of “Design for Health: Planning Animal Facilities to Prevent Infectious Disease Spread.” Barnstable and Redding, also second-year vet students, won with the project, “Increasing Agricultural Productivity in Developing Countries.”

Frederick A. Murphy, the James W. McLaughlin Professor in Residence at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, is the 2009 recipient of the Penn Vet World Leadership Award. This award is given annually to a veterinarian who has dramatically changed the practice and image of the profession and substantially influenced the lives and careers of others, and includes $100,000 in unrestricted funding from the Vernon and Shirley Hill Foundation.

Children’s Festival is back

For 25 years, the Philadelphia International Children’s Festival has been entertaining kids (and adults) with clowns, puppets, dancing and drama. The festival returns to the Annenberg Center with a full roster of fun and games beginning on Tuesday, April 28, and running through Saturday, May 2.

Performances include the show, “Blues Journey,” which follows the story of blues music and musician Willie Brown; L.A. Theatre Works’ version of Orson Wells’ infamous radio drama, “War of the Worlds”; the show, “BREAK! The Urban Funk Spectacular,” which traces the history of hip hop dance over the last thirty years; and shows by folk musicians Cathy & Marcy, who perform with hip hop artist Christylez Bacon.

Ticketholders can also enjoy a host of activities on the Annenberg Center plaza, including entertainment by the Give & Take Jugglers and hands-on kid-friendly crafts.

For more information, including ticket prices and showtimes, visit the Children’s Festival website: www.pennpresents.org/tickets/childfest.php or call the Annenberg Box Office at 215-898-3900.

Survey says

Let Business Services know what’s on your mind.

Participate in a survey about Penn’s on-campus restaurant, the University Club, at www.upenn.edu/survey/universityclub. Entrants have a chance to win one of three sets of Club lunch passes for two people.

And while you’re online, participate in the Penn Ice Rink survey for a chance to win one of four prices: an iPod, a free session of “Learn to Skate” classes, or one of two books containing 10 free skating passes. That survey is online at www.upenn.edu/survey/icerink.

Race day

Put all of those miles logged on the treadmill to the test at the 17th annual University City 5K Run on Saturday, May 2. Proceeds from the race, which is open to both experienced and amateur runners, will help provide scholarships to Drexel University students.

The race begins at 32nd and Chestnut streets promptly at 11 a.m., and the 3-mile loop takes runners along Chestnut, into Center City to 16th Street, and then up Walnut to 36th Street. The race ends at 32nd and Chestnut. Afterwards, from noon to 2 p.m., runners can enjoy complimentary food and games at a family picnic.

The pre-race day registration fee is $18; the fee is $20 on the day of the race. To register online, or for more details on the race, go to www.univcity5k.org.