Buena Vista Universityäó»s student-operated media organizations took home several awards and other honors at the 2014 conference of the Iowa College Media Association held in Des Moines.

Buena Vista University Theatre is presenting two one-act plays, Trifles by Susan Glaspell and The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter. Performances of the plays will take place Feb. 12-15 at 7:30 p.m. in Anderson Auditorium on the BVU campus.

Buena Vista University has announced that Michael K. Pierce of Houston, Texas, has been elected to the Board of Trustees. He is a native of Storm Lake, and is a partner at Thompson & Knight, LLP in Houston, Texas.

The BVU School of Education has adopted an elementary school classroom at Field Club Elementary in Omaha, Nebraska. The program helps young students recognize the possibilities that come with a college education.

Students on the "Storytelling with Walt Disney" travel course meet BVU alum Tracy Cochran at Walt Disney World. Tracy drives the horse-drawn trolley up and down Main Street USA at Magic Kingdom.

Students in the "Recreational Mathematics" course explored polyhedra figures using origami. The class focuses on mathematical games with an emphasis on logical thinking and problem-solving techniques.

Dr. David Klee's Interim class, "How to Become a Recording Star," performs in Anderson Auditorium. The concert is the culmination of their month-long study of song writing, music theory, and trends in the music industry.

Students in Bei Yi's January class "Behind the Gold Star - The Real China" are exploring the culture and customs of China through research and hands-on activities including Chinese knots, paper cutting, and brush calligraphy.

A small group in the Interim class "On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and in Life" discuss a in-class activity about evaluating relationships.

Dr. Timothy Ehler's Interim class, "How Things Work," toured the AGCO tractor production facility in Jackson, Minn. The class includes discussions and activities to explore scientific principles behind technological wonders.

Caroyln McDermott briefly relaxes at Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. The BVU Global Fellows group visited the park during their January Interim trip.

"Food for Thought" allows students to explore food in a cultural context. Topics include cultural diversity, family traditions, nutrition, food production, and everyday food norms, values and taboos.

Students and faculty on the Interim travel course "Voluntourism" traveled through the Panama Canal on Jan. 16. The Voluntourism class made stops at a rescue mission in Miami, the Cayman Island Animal Shelter, and a children's foundation in Columbia.

Kirsten VanZuiden gets ready to try out the humvee rollover simulator at Camp Dodge in Johnston. She has performed a January internship with the Iowa Association Business and Industry.

Students in Siebens Fieldhouse explore the graceful and reflective movements of kung fu in "Ching Chi Kung Fu: Meditation in Motion." The class focuses on movement, breathing and wellness.