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A rare space weather event May 11 marked by a sharp decrease in solar wind helped cause Earth's magnetosphere to balloon to more than 100 times its normal volume, reaching nearly to the moon in the process, according to a new study.

Chemical engineering undergraduate students at the University of Colorado at Â鶹ӰԺ won awards in all five categories of the student poster competition at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers annual meeting in November in Dallas. Three students received first-place awards and two won second-place awards for their research projects. The winning students and their projects are:

Special recognition ceremonies will be hosted by most University of Colorado at Â鶹ӰԺ schools and colleges in addition to the main University Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 9:30 a.m. in the Coors Events/Conference Center. Following are the events to be held by CU-Â鶹ӰԺ schools and colleges: * Architecture and Planning -- Graduation gathering, Dec. 17, 4 p.m. in the Muenzinger Psychology Auditorium. A reception will follow in the Environmental Design building, room 134.

The business plan for Wally.com, a pre-paid Internet purchasing card for teens, swept the CU-Â鶹ӰԺ $45,000 Business Plan Competition Dec. 8. The team from the College of Business and Administration's Business Plan Preparation course won the first-place $3,000 prize from Bank One, the Cornerstone EquitiesÂ’ Seed Capital Award valued at $20,000 and the Integer GroupÂ’s Excellence in Marketing Award worth $10,000 — netting the team $33,000 in prize money.

Next fall students at the University of Colorado at Â鶹ӰԺ will have an easily accessible, one-stop service location where many of their financial, academic and administrative questions will be answered. The university's goal to create a pilot student convenience center is on its way to becoming a reality, due to the recent selection of an associate manager for the project.

MEDIA ADVISORY WHO: Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah, Ambassador to the United States from the State of Kuwait, will present a public lecture on "US-GCC Relations: A Model of Cooperation" at CU-Â鶹ӰԺ on Dec. 11. Al-Sabah received a doctorate in economics from Harvard University and is known for his training in development economics. This is the first time Al-Sabah has visited the CU-Â鶹ӰԺ campus.

A ruptured steam condensate line discovered this afternoon at CU-Â鶹ӰԺ west of the campus power plant drained treated water into a storm sewer and Â鶹ӰԺ Creek at about Folsom Avenue but did not pose a danger to aquatic life, dogs, other animals, humans or the environment, campus officials said. The water is treated to prevent the growth of microorganisms and to preserve the pipes.

The economic growth enjoyed throughout the nation and in Colorado will slow in 2000, according to CU-Â鶹ӰԺ economist Richard Wobbekind. However, employment growth will remain strong. Colorado will enjoy 2.9 percent job growth, roughly double the national rate. The state's high-tech industry will support the economy by continuing to create high-wage employment opportunities. Wobbekind's annual forecast will be delivered at Denver's Brown Palace Hotel on Dec. 6.

CU-Â鶹ӰԺ business and engineering students will vie for thousands of dollars in prize money at the Bank One $45K Business Plan Competition on Wednesday, Dec. 8. The competition will be held at the University of Colorado at Â鶹ӰԺ College of Business and Administration.

The University of Colorado at Â鶹ӰԺ will confer 1,856 degrees on Saturday, Dec. 18, during its final commencement ceremonies of the century at the Coors Events/Conference Center. The winter commencement ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. and last approximately an hour. Guests are requested to be in their seats by 9:15 a.m. Because no tickets are required for the ceremony, early arrival is strongly suggested.