February 15, 2006 — Founders Day at the University of Utah will be celebrated this year with a series of compelling lectures by distinguished alumni. One of the talks, by author Matthew R. Simmons, deals with a topic of great importance today to people all over the world-Middle East oil. Simmons will discuss his much heralded book, Twilight in the Desert: The Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy. The lecture is set for Feb. 22 at the Hinckley Institute of Politics, 255 Orson Spencer Hall, at 2 p.m.
Two other much anticipated lectures will be delivered by alumnus Alan Kay who is a giant in the world of computing. He will deliver the Organick Memorial Lecture on “Are ‘Computer Science’ and ‘Software Engineering’ Oxymorons?” in the Aline Wilmot Skaggs Biology Research Building, Room 220, Feb. 23 at 3:30 p.m. That evening at 7:30 p.m. in the same room, Dr. Kay will present a talk on “Children, Powerful Ideas and the $100 Laptop.” Kay played a major role in the development of the personal computer. He is credited with the concept of the first laptop computer and as an architect of the “graphical user interface” in which overlapping windows appear on a computer screen, making PCs easy to use.
Founders Day traditions date back as far as 1899, when the Utah State Legislature voted to move the University of Utah to its permanent campus. To commemorate the founding of the U of U, the Alumni Association each year honors four alumni and one non-alumnus/a who have distinguished themselves professionally, served the local and national communities, and supported the University in its mission.
Other lectures during this year’s Founders Day commemoration are geared toward assisting students with their education and service work. The following is a complete list of those being honored and the lectures they will offer:
Tuesday, February 21
Distinguished Alumnus Joseph B. Wirthlin, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, LDS Church Humanitarian Committee Chairman, and Garry Flake, director of the LDS Church‘s Emergency Response Program, will discuss “Humanitarian Efforts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” in the Olpin Union West Ballroom at noon. The event is hosted by the Bennion Service Center.
Honorary Alumnus/a Ira A. and Mary Lou Fulton, philanthropists and owners of Fulton Homes, Inc., will meet with student leaders to discuss the importance of giving at 5 p.m. at the Alumni House*. The event is hosted by the U of U Student Alumni Association.
*This event is by invitation only; for more information or to RSVP, please call Jenny Young at 581-4088.
Wednesday, February 22
Distinguished Alumnus Matthew R. Simmons will talk on “Energy in the 21st Century” at the Hinckley Institute of Politics, 255 Orson Spencer Hall, at 2 p.m. His book, Twilight in the Desert: The Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy, will be available for sale.
Thursday February 23
Distinguished Alumna Merline Clark Leaming will talk to students in an art class, First-year Studio No 2-D, on “The use of color,” from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. in the Art building. Public seating is limited; please call 581-6764 to RSVP. The event is hosted by the College of Fine Arts.
Distinguished Alumnus Alan Kay will deliver the Organick Memorial Lecture on “Are ‘Computer Science’ and ‘Software Engineering’ Oxymorons?” in the Aline Wilmot Skaggs Biology Research Building, Room 220, at 3:30 p.m. The lecture is specifically geared toward computer science students and faculty but is open to the public. The event is hosted by the School of Computing.
That evening, Dr. Kay will present a talk on “Children, Powerful Ideas and the $100 Laptop” at 7:30 p.m., 220 Skaggs Biology Research Building. The event, hosted by the School of Computing and the College of Engineering, is open to the public.
These events are being held in conjunction with the 2006 Founders Day celebration, organized by the University of Utah Alumni Association. For more information and a listing of the honorees biographies please visit the following Web site: http://www.alumni.utah.edu/foundersday
