Wednesday; July 2, 1997 -The Michigan Daily -- 3 Eesident iwarded ,e1owshi Katie Plona ily News Editor t 27, senior neurosurgery resident y Gupta is the youngest of 15 dividuals selected nationally to serve r one year as a White House Fellow one of the U.S. government's most estigious fellowships. Gupts, a Novi nstive sand graduate of e University's Inteflex program, dured a rigorous nine-month applica- on process consisting of numerous says and a series of interviews to win e position and a trip to the nation's gal. ~ite House Fellows work as ape- al assistants to leading government fficials, including cabinet secre- ries, senior White House staff mem- rs or heads of executive branch encies. Gupta said people from all walks f life, ranging from an investment anker to a professor of cinematogra- hy, were named e House " e ws this year. owever, they ave one ttribute in com- ion - they are. eveloping lead- rs in their spective fields ho have outside terests. Gut "I think they * looking for n extremely well-rounded person ho demonstrates significant leader- hip potential early in their careers" upta said. Gupta said applicants were asked luestions on a wide assortment of top- es regarding anything from Chilean >oetry to government policies. "I think most importantly, they were o ng for a general level of knowl- d,' Gupta said. Gupta said he is excited to embark n the fellowship and hopes he can erve the public, in addition to learning great deal about the government's nany facets, such as foreign policy and lomestic trade. Jackie Blumenthal, director of the 'resident's Commission of White Douse Fellowships, said Gupta will >e participating in "America's most >r ,ious fellowship program for ea rship development and public ervice." The White House Fellow program vas initiated by President Lyndon ohnson to give U.S. citizens a unique md challenging opportunity to have lirect interaction with the federal ;overnment, Blumenthal said. "This is not only an opportunity to earn from the government, but to con- rie to the country." Blumenthal In addition to the full-paid position n a high-ranking office, the White See FELLOW, Page 8 Volunteer David Thomas looks through plants to record whether they are blooming at the Matthael Botanical Gardens. Gardens brighten 'U' By Dolores Arabo Daily Staff Reporter There is one place on campus where students can find a desert in the middle of winter. The Matthaei Botanical Gardens, located on North Dixboro Road, pro- vide a year-round natural experience that the public and students alike can appreciate. The gardens include a conservatory that houses three different climates, four scenic nature hiking trails and var- ious specialty gardens. "It's really beautiful," said Information Officer Margaret Vergith. "Everyone calls it an oasis. It's serene and it's a getaway from all the hustle and bustle on campus." The University developed the gar- dens in 1958, from land in the estate of former University Regent Frederick Matthaei, Jr. The conservatory was later completed in 1965. LSA now shares the grounds with other departments and roughly six other universities. The gardens also offer memberships to the general public that include many ben- efits, such as free conservatory admis- sion, free flower show viewings, reduced lecture fees and discounts during various plant sales. There are currently over 1,700 members, or "friends" as they are called by the staff of the gardens. "What we're trying to do is educate the public in the broadest sense, which is to teach the interaction between humans and plants," said Associate Director Brian Klatt. There are many educational pro- grams offered at the gardens, including adult-education courses such as "how to landscape your land." "We went to the Botanical Gardens for my art class," LSA senior Ron Watters said. "I liked it because it was hands-on learning." Yet many other students are unaware that the gardens even exist. "I never heard of them," said LSA junior Rajal Pitroda. Administrators at the gardens take pride in their strong educational pro- grams. For one program, volunteera give tours of the grounds. This particu- lar program is geared towards elemen- tary-level students. The gardens occupy 600 acres and attract more than 40,000 visitors annual- ly. Faculty and students conduct many research projects in the gardens and lab- oratory space. The mission statement of the Botanical Gardens is "to study and dis- seminate knowledge of plants as they exist in nature, contribute to human cul- ture and support life on earth" The Conservatory is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. However, the grounds and trails are open from 8 a.m. until sunset. Students with an Univeristy ID are admitted free of charge. Wolverine places 6th in Sunrayce '97 By Maria Hackett nology and equipment, which were more Daily Staff Reporter advanced than many of the other teams.' Relief and accomplishment lit up the "We won the first two races on tech- faces of the University's solar car team nology. The last one got a little too hi- as the Wolverine crossed the finish line tech," said Prof. Charles Klemstine, the of Sunrayce '97 on June 29. team's financial advisor. "We thought "I was standing at the finish line with we'd scale it back a little this time.' some of the members of the SolarVision The $600,000 budget and top-notch team (the 1995 group) including one of equipment they acquired gave the race the drivers," said Steven McGillivary, team a few advantages over some of the co-director of design and member of the 40 other teams involved in the race. 1995 race team. "We had a feeling of While many of the other teams had to relief that we finally did it" rely on The Weather Channel for fore- The race route began in Indianapolis, casts, the University's solar car team had Ind., and extended across 1,200 miles of it's own weather equipment. surface roads to Colorado Springs, Colo. "No other college has weather fore- The Wolverine placed sixth in the 10- casters on their crew. We're unique in day race. The team from Califormia State that respect," said Jed Christiansen, University won the race. short-term weather specialist. "It's not what we were hoping for, but Talent and teamwork proved to be a we'll take it," said Aaron Bragman, team major asset as well. administrative director and race manager. "We have the strongest strategy. We Although team members were disap- really plan ahead," said Paul Edwards, pointed that they did not win the race, one of the team's strategists. "You can't many said they were proud simply to be too prepared. see the car cross the finish line. "Unfortunately, this time, no real The team redeemed themselves after strategy was needed because it was technical difficulties that forced sunny the whole time;' Edwards said. SolarVision to withdraw from the bian- On day two of the race, the team pre- nual race in 1995, following two consec- dieted bad weather for the next day and utive national championships. conserved energy by driving slower than The team has spent the past two years normal speed, but the sun continued to working on the Wolverine. shine. Bragman said the error caused "This car has been completely rebuilt them to lose an hour and a half- a mar- from the previous one so it's much gin they could not make up. stronger and more reliable;' Bragman "We made a gamble, and it didn't said. work for us,' Edwards said. McGillivary said the significant dif- If the hunch had been right, the race ferences between the twocams"comes results may havebeen radically different, directly from the lessons we learned in he said. 1995." The University's team is always con- Organizers attribute some of the sidered one of the top contenders. team's success to the University's tech- Christiansen said. Grade A Notes Your source for... High-Speed Copying Self-Serve Copiers Lecture Notes Bindery Custom Publishing Copyright Clearonce Resumes Business Cards Letterhead Envelopes Rubber Stamps AND MORE! II - Me, M PmCENTE 549 E. University Ave., 2nd FloortUlrich's Bookstore ' Ann Arbor, MI 48104 email: annarbor@gradeanotes.om Website:.www.gradeanotescom .. .. _ . ..