To fight hunger in Africa, a Penn State University program has helped design more affordable greenhouses and solar food dryers.
A conventional greenhouse costs about $2,500 in Kenya, Khanjan Mehta noted Dec. 4 at Bluffton University. But an alternative, expandable model—designed by a new Kenyan company and Penn State’s Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship program—is $550, said Mehta, the program’s director.
And solar dryers used for food preservation, which have cost as much as $5,000, can now be built by two people in two days for $200, he said.
The Bluffton University men’s basketball team used a strong run late in the first half en route to a 73-65 victory over the Kalamazoo College Hornets on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012. It snapped a two-game losing streak as Bluffton improved to 2-4.
The Beavers were led by Dustin Kinn (Alvada/New Riegel) who scored 18 points to go along with eight rebounds. Freshman phenom Thayne Recker (Arlington) also chipped in with his first career double-double performance of 15 points and 13 rebounds.
The Beavers (4-2, 0-2 HCAC) traveled to Cincinnati to face HCAC rival Mount St. Joseph on Wednesday, Dec. 5, and fell just shy of their fifth win of the season as the Lions edged the visitors, 48-47, in a close game that featured 12 lead changes.
Ten of those 12 lead changes came in a wild first half. Mount took the first lead in the game, but freshman Brooke Ruffer (Stryker) turned the tables with two successful free throw attempts and a layup.
Bluffton University senior Thomas Gingrich (Goshen, Ind/Goshen) has been named Second Team Academic All-America by CoSida.
Gingrich, a biology and pre-medicine major with a 3.89 GPA, was named First Team Academic All-District honoree as a junior. A four-year starter at right tackle for the Beavers, Gingrich was also a three-time Academic All-HCAC performer.
Bluffton University will host Community Day at a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader versus Rose-Hulman on Saturday, Dec. 8, in the new Sommer Center for Health and Fitness Education.
The Bluffton University track and field program opened its indoor season this weekend at the Defiance Holiday Meet. This venue will also be the host site for the HCAC Indoor Championships held on February 16.
The Beavers jumped out to a fast start this season with three school records falling as well as multiple first place finishes and many personal bests.
