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Department News
Contents
2007 News
Josef Felver Participates in REU
at Kansas State University (Posted Nov. 19, 2007)
Josef
participated
during the summer of 2007 in the National Science Foundation's Research
Experiences for Undergraduates program in the Physics Department at Kansas
State University.
Three Physics Majors Graduate (Posted Oct.
1, 2007)
Three
physics majors graduated from Southwestern College
in May of 2007. Alex Stong
married Brian Brazill on
August 3, 2007. They live in North Carolina where Brian is
stationed at the marine corps base at Camp Lejeune.
Rachel Pollock is now a Ph.D. student in physics at the University of Maine,
and Alex Chen is in graduate school working on a Ph.D. in statistics at
Colorado State University .
2006 News
Dr. George Gangwere participates in a Chautauqua Course in Guatemala
(Posted Sept. 19, 2006)
 George
Gangwere, along with his wife Patricia, traveled to Flores, Guatemala this
summer to participate in a Chautauqua Course titled "Archaeoastronomy in the
Maya Ruins of Peten, Guatemala: Tikal, Uaxactun, Seibal, and
Flores".
The five-day tour and lecture
series investigated the observation methods developed by the Maya and what
astronomy may have meant to them as a people. The home base for the course
was on the
island of Flores in Lake Peten Itza, located in the Peten region of northern
Guatemala. The focus of the course was on archaeoastronomy as seen through
Maya calendars, hieroglyphs and architecture.
In addition to the lectures in
Flores, course participants took day trips to several
Maya ruins in the vicinity of Flores. In Uaxactun, participants visited a
group of four buildings oriented to record solstices and equinoxes.
In Tikal, the largest city ever built by the Maya, course participants
learned how to read the calendar dates on its monuments and how the city
timed its battles to the risings and settings of the planet Venus. South of
Flores, course participants traveled by boat up the Rio Pasion and then on
trails to the remote ruins of Seibal. In Seibal the group saw astronomically
aligned buildings as well as monuments that chronicle the intrusion of
Mexican religion into a formerly Maya culture.
Group picture taken at Tikal on July 11, 2006.
Rachel Pollock Participates in REU at the University of Oregon (Posted
Sept. 19, 2006)
 Rachel
Pollock traveled to the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon this summer
to participate in a Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program (REU) funded by the National Science Foundation. Rachel gave a presentation
to Southwestern's physics club on Sept. 14, 2006 about her research and
extracurricular activities while in Oregon. The title of her presentation
was Characterization of Fluorinated Self Assembled Monolayers.
Rachel (second from left, bottom row) eating ice cream with other REU
students in Oregon during the summer of 2006.
Alex Stong Participates in REU at Duke University (Posted Sept. 19,
2006)
 Alex
Stong traveled to Duke University this summer to participate in a Research
Experiences for Undergraduates Program (REU) funded by the National Science
Foundation. Alex gave a presentation to Southwestern's physics club on
Sept. 14, 2006 about her research and extracurricular activities while at
Duke. The title of her presentation was Simulation of a BF3 Counter and
Effect of Moderator and Container on the Efficiency as a Function of Neutron
Energy.
Physics club members having pizza for lunch before Rachel and Alex give
their REU presentations.
Two Physics Majors to
Participate in REU's (Posted May 22, 2006)
 Two
physics majors will be participating this summer in the
Research Experiences for Undergraduates program (REU) sponsored by the
National Science Foundation.
Alex Stong will be at Duke University in
Durham, North Carolina and
Rachel Pollock will be at the University of
Oregon in Eugene, Oregon.
Both students passed Quantum
Mechanics this spring and are now certified quantum mechanics.
2005 News
Four Physics Majors Graduate (Posted Oct. 28, 2005)
 Four
physics majors graduated from Southwestern College
in May of 2005. From left to right in the picture,
Evan Pollock is now in graduate school at the University of Maine working on
a Ph.D. in physics. Natalie Terry is is currently doing her student teaching
in physics and math at Derby High School. She is considering going to graduate
school in physics in the future. Shalah Allison has joined the Navy
and is in basic training in California. She plans on a career
in cryptography with the Navy. Moses Mungonia is working in Winfield and
plans on attending graduate school in mathematics next year.
Physics Instructors Attend Astrophysics Workshop (Posted Oct. 28, 2005)
Dr. George Gangwere and Dr. Bob Gallup attended an
astrophysics workshop last summer from July 7- 9 at the University of
Washington in Seattle. The workshop, which was open to college faculty who
teach astronomy courses, was entitled "Exploring the Extragalactic
Universe".
The
course included discussions about astronomical phenomena found outside the
Milky Way and some of the current theoretical models for explaining the
structure and evolution of the Universe.
The three day course began with an introduction to the physics of light and
how basic physical models can be applied to astronomical systems. Also
included were discussions on the origins and evolution of the Universe, and
on some of the current mysteries that are on the cutting edge of
astronomical research.
Extensive use was made of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), which has
taken deep images and spectra of approximately one quarter of the sky.
Because the SDSS is available on-line, it is an excellent educational
resource that can be accessed anytime and from almost anywhere. A major
goal of the course was to demonstrate how the SDSS data can be utilized in
the teaching astronomy.
Introductory Physics Lab Converted for Student
Laptop Use (Posted Nov. 1, 2005)
The desktop computers that had been an integral part of
the introductory physics lab for many years were removed before the
beginning of the 2005 fall semester. New interfacing equipment and computer
software were purchased to allow students to use their own laptop computers.
Southwestern College is a laptop college where all full-time students are
issued new Dell computers at the beginning of the freshman year. Juniors
trade-in their old laptops for new ones at the beginning of the junior year.
Physics students collect data using special probes and a Lab Pro interfacing
box which connects to the USB port of the laptop. Students use Logger Pro
software to analyze and graph the data.
2004 News
Angela
Pooler Graduates (Posted Aug. 26, 2004)
Angela Pooler graduated in May of 2004 and has begun graduate studies in
physics at the University of Kentucky. She also married fellow SC physics
alum Matt Douglass in August of 2004 before leaving for Kentucky.
 Collin
Stucky Graduates (Posted Aug. 26, 2004)
Collin Stuck graduated in December of 2003 and has
moved to Oregon.
Three Junior Physics Majors Participate in REUs
(Posted Aug. 26, 2004)
Three junior physics majors participated during the summer of 2004 in
Research Experiences for Undergraduates sponsored by the National Science
Foundation.
Shalah Allison worked on a nuclear stellar astrophysics project at Texas
A&M University.
Natalie Terry worked on a photonics/optoelectronics project at Lehigh
University.
 Evan
Pollock worked on a solar coronal astrophysics project at Montana State
University
Physics Department Purchases 11" Telescope (Posted Aug.
26, 2004)
During the Spring semester of 2004, the Physics Department purchased an
11″ GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope from the
Celestron Corporation. This telescope will be used for student projects,
public observing sessions, and observing sessions connected with the
Integrative Studies course, Atom & Cosmos.
Bob Gallup Uses Computational Technology (Posted Aug. 26,
2004)
 During the
Fall semester of 2003, Bob Gallup incorporated computational technology into
the laboratory of the advanced “Classical Mechanics” course. Students in
this course used the software package STELLA to solve the differential
equations of motion for several complex physical systems.
2003 News
The Physics Department to Offer a New Major in
Engineering Physics (Spring 2003)
Beginning in the fall of 2003, Southwestern College
will offer a new major in engineering physics. Southwestern currently
participates in a dual-degree program with the School of Engineering and
Applied Science at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Before the
introduction of the engineering physics major, students completed a physics
major at Southwestern in four years and then transferred to Washington
University to complete an engineering curriculum in an additional two years.
The new major is designed so that students can transfer to Washington
University after only three years at Southwestern. The introduction of the
engineering physics major is designed to increase enrollment in the
dual-degree program by reducing the time required for completion to five
years.
The Physics Department to Offer a New Minor in
Physics (Spring 2003)
Beginning in the fall of 2003, Southwestern College will offer a new minor
in physics. Because of the large number of mathematics prerequisites
required for physics classes, the new minor in physics is primarily designed
for mathematics majors who would like to minor in physics. Mathematics
majors would only need two additional physics courses beyond those required
for the mathematics major (General Physics 3 and Modern Physics) to minor in
physics.
Kristin Kraemer Completes First Year in Graduate
School (Aug. 21, 2003)
 Kristin
has completed one year of graduate school at the University of Nebraska
where she is working on her Ph.D. in physics. She was the only student in
her class from a liberal arts school to go directly into graduate classes.
She also received the highest score in her class on the first round of
written qualifiers.
Angela Pooler Participates in REU at the University
of Minnesota (Aug. 21, 2003)
During
the summer of 2003, Angela Pooler participated
in a National Science
Foundation, Research Experience for Undergraduates
(REU) in the Physics Department of the University of Minnesota.
In addition to being accepted at the University of Minnesota, Angela was
accepted for a REU at Notre Dame, Baylor, Oklahoma, Idaho, Toledo, and
Lehigh.
Warren Bergquist Receives Premier Fellowship from
Washington University (Aug. 21, 2003)
 Warren
Bergquist has been selected to receive a Harold P. Brown Fellowship from the
School of Engineering and Applied Science at Washington University in St.
Louis, Missouri. Brown Fellows are selected on the
basis of their academic record, their involvement in extracurricular
activities, and their promise for professional achievement in engineering.
Brown Fellows receive a full-tuition scholarship and a stipend.
Warren is participating in the Dual Degree Program in Engineering and will
be studying civil engineering while at Washington University. At the end of
two years at Washington University, Warren will receive two degrees, a B.A.
in physics from Southwestern College and engineering degree in civil
engineering from Washington University.
Three Physics Majors Graduate (Aug. 21, 2003)
Three
physics majors graduated from Southwestern College
in May of 2003.
Matt Douglass plans to attend Ashbury Theological Seminary in the fall of
2003 and wants to teach Religion and Philosophy at a seminary as a career.
Nathanael Wheatley and Warren Bergquist will be attending Washington
University in the fall of 2003. Both students are participating in the
Dual-Degree program with the
School of Engineering and Applied Science at Washington University in St.
Louis, Missouri.
Nathanael
will be studying electrical engineering and Warren will be studying civil
engineering.
Society of Physics Students Visits K-State's
Physics Department (April 14, 2003)
On Thursday, March 27, 2003 Bob Gallup and George
Gangwere took eight physics majors to Manhattan, Kansas to visit the campus
of Kansas State University and the Department of Physics.
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| From left to right:
Moses Mungania, Shalah Allison,
Matt Douglass,
Evan Pollock, Ben Carden,
Natalie Terry, Omar Humphrey,
Angela Pooler, and Dr. Bob Gallup. Dr.
George Gangwere took the picture. |
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| Studying the specifications of the
Van de Graaff Accelerator. |
The group visited the 7 million volt Tandem Van
de Graaff Accelerator located in the James R.
Macdonald Laboratory. The JRM laboratory is located in
the basement of Cardwell Hall. The laboratory
houses the most extensive university-based accelerator facility dedicated to
studying ion-atom collisions in the United States. The
laboratory has been officially designated
as a national user facility and is host
to many visiting scientists from all around the world.
Basic atomic physics experiments
are conducted there which
provide a deeper understanding of the structure of matter.
The results of some recent experiments have been
applied to areas in astrophysics. Data from other
experiments were applied to fusion technology, where scientists are
exploring the possibility of a revolutionary energy source. Additionally,
basic research conducted at the Macdonald Laboratory helps prepare young
scientists for careers in physics.
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| Ben Carden and Angela Pooler
examine one of the pulse lasers in the Kansas State Light Source
facility adjacent to the Van de Graaff Accelerator. |
The group also visited the "Kansas State Light
Source", a system for generating high-power ultra-fast pulses of laser
light. The laser light
source is used to study the fundamentals of
producing ultra-fast femptosecond light pulses, and to use those pulses to
study photoionization and photon-atom collisions. These studies are an
excellent complement to the lab's ongoing work in ion-atom collision
physics.
The group also
visited the Wide Band Gap Semiconductor
Group research
labs. The research is focused on III-V Nitrides,
GaN, AlGaN, InGaN, and InAlGaN wide band gap semiconductors. These
semiconductors are recognized as a very important technological material
system for the fabrication of optoelectronic devices operating in the
blue/UV spectral region and electronic devices capable of operating under
high power and high temperature conditions.
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| Dr. Hongxing Jiang describes the
type of research performed in the
Wide Band Gap Semiconductor
Group research
labs. |
2002 News
Two Physics Students, Cross Country Runners Nab
Shoplifter (Nov. 5, 2002)
Warren Bergquist |
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Nathanael Wheatley
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Warren Bergquist and Nathanael Wheatley are physics majors and members of
the Southwestern College men's cross-country team.
Southwestern Runners Nab Shoplifting Suspect
By ROY GRABER
Winfield Courier
Monday,
October 28, 2002
Anyone thinking about shoplifting in Winfield had
better think twice. The Southwestern College men's cross-country team, which
has won 22 consecutive championship titles in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic
Conference, might be just around the corner. A youth suspected of
shoplifting at JC Penney learned that the hard way Monday afternoon when he
was caught by members of the cross-country team. Vince DeGrado and Nathaniel
Wheatley said they were doing their regular warm-up exercise before practice
when all the excitement began.
The team routinely runs around the Winfield Plaza
shopping center, but Monday's warm-up was interrupted when a youngster ran
into them as they rounded the corner of Maurices. “He was sprinting as hard
as he could, and we were all in a bunch,” Wheatley said. “He came flying out
around the corner and ran into us.” The boy was apparently acting nervous
and scared, but he told the runners he wasn't hurt, got up and proceeded to
run away. “We really didn't think anything of it,” Wheatley said. However,
when they were in front of the JC Penney store, someone stepped onto the
sidewalk and informed them the boy is believed to be a shoplifter. At that
point, Wheatley said, the team split up into several groups to chase after
him. The boy's odds of outrunning that team were mighty slim. “I don't know
why he was running,” said Wheatley, who earned All-American honors during
the 2001 cross-country season. “He wasn't going to be able to outrun us.”
The boy eventually surrendered his backpack to the
runners who caught him. They in turn took the backpack back to the store,
thinking the stolen goods were inside. They weren't, but apparently some of
the boy's schoolwork and a cellular phone were, and they helped tie the
suspect to the crime. “We basically caught him red-handed,” DeGrado said.
As police investigated the incident, they learned the
suspect apparently had taken off his old shoes, put them in a shoebox at the
store, and left the store wearing the shoes that had been in the box, said
Assistant Police Chief Tom Nigh. Officers later found the suspect, who
apparently admitted taking the shoes, Nigh said.
Citing a corporate policy that forbids JC Penney
employees from discussing security matters with the media, the store manager
declined to comment. DeGrado said it felt good knowing he and his teammates
had done something beneficial – and without even planning to do so. “We
weren't expecting anything like this at all,” DeGrado said. “We had a hard
workout ahead of us – that's what we were thinking about.” It was also the
last thing the team's head coach, Jim Helmer, was expecting. ”It was kind of
interesting,” Helmer said. “They were all excited about it. We had a little
trouble getting practice started because they were all so excited.” But
despite the distraction, Helmer appeared glad his runners were willing to
offer a helping hand. “They were in the right place at the right time,”
Helmer said. But did the boy learn from his experience? “I think he did,”
Wheatley said. “He was pretty scared. We all pretty well cornered him.”
Bob
Gallup to Teach More Math
(September 8, 2002)
Bob Gallup, Associate Professor
of Physics and Mathematics, has returned to a more active role in the
Mathematics Department this year due to recent staff changes. Because of
this change, Bob has passed the Chair of the
Science Division to Michael Tessmer, Assistant
Professor of Chemistry. This semester Bob is teaching
Calculus 1 and Calculus 3 for the Math Department as well as Mathematical
Physics in the Physics Department.
2002 Physics Graduates
(September 8, 2002)
Two physics majors graduated from SC in 2002. Kristin Kraemer has entered
the PhD program in physics at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She
plans to continue the research on thin-film ferroelectrics that she began
during an NSF-REU at Nebraska, Lincoln during the summer of 2000. James
Larson, a dual major in physics and biology, has entered the PhD program in
biology at Notre Dame University. James plans to study the environmental
impact of a class of compounds known as ionic liquids that are proposed
alternatives to conventional, and often toxic, industrial solvents.
 Summer
2002 NSF-REU Participant
(September 8, 2002)
Senior physics major Nathanael Wheatley spent the summer of 2002 at
Pittsburg State University conducting research on soybean-based polymers.
Nathanael’s research was supported by a grant from the National Science
Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) program.
Nathanael Wheatley to Participate in REU
(April, 25, 2002)
Nathanael will be participating in a Research Experience for
Undergraduates (REU) this summer at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg,
Kansas. He will be wo rking on the
Soybean-Based Polymers project in the Department of Engineering Technology
at PSU. In addition to his research, Nathanael will be taking a two hour
polymers and plastics laboratory and lecture course
entitled:
“Research Topics In Polymers & Plastics”. Congratulations, Nathanael!
2001 News
Physics Majors at NAIA Regionals
(November 5, 2001)
On Saturday, November 3rd, the Southwestern College
cross-country team participated in the NAIA Regionals in Lincoln, NE. The
women placed 3rd and the men were 2nd (1 point from 1st) out of 21 teams.
Two SC physics majors placed 1st and 2nd in the
8000m. Nathanael Wheatley came in 1st and Warren Bergquist 2nd.
Congratulations to Nathanael and Warren.
Nathanael Wheatley
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Warren Bergquist
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Two Physics Students Graduate
(June 2001)
Melissa Nichols
Melissa graduated with a degree in physics and math
in May of 2001. She wants to go to graduate school and eventually teach
physics and math at the college level. Currently she is teaching two
sections of College Algebra at Southwestern and three sections of
Intermediate Algebra at Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City,
Kansas. She is also a lab aid for the physics department at Southwestern.
Melissa transferred to Southwestern College from
Butler County Community College in the fall of 1999. Her husband's name is
Greg and the couple have two children, Isaac 4 andWhile at
Southwestern Melissa was a grader for the physics department, and assisted
in the introductory physics labs.
 Greg
Bomhoff
Greg graduated from Southwestern in May 2001 with a degree in physics and
biochemistry. Currently Greg is in the PhD program in the Biochemistry
Department of the University of Kansas.
While at Southwestern, Greg was a 4-time NAIA Academic
All-American and 1999 NAIA Track & Field All-American in the marathon. He
was a lab aid for the physics department for the school year 2000 - 2001. In
the summer of 1999 he participated in a REU at the University of Kansas in
the Department of Chemistry. In the summer 2000 he was at the University of
Oregon's Institute of Marine Biology for an REU. His interests included
cross country and track.
Kristin Kraemer Participates in REU
During
the summer of 2001 Kristin participated in an NSF-REU at Iowa State
University. Her project title was "Building One-Micron Deep Photonic Band
Gap Crystals Using Micro-transfer Techniques."
Physics Students Visit Cessna
(March 2001)
On March 8, 2001 physics majors visited Cessna Aircraft in Wichita,
Kansas. The tour lasted all day and was organized by SC physics graduate
Jeff Rahm ('00). Others assisting in the tour were SC physics graduates
Kenisha Bell, Jason Speegle, and Kristen Petty.
From left to right. Nathanael Wheatley, Warren Bergquist, Melissa
Nichols, Jason Speegle ('99), Kristin Kraemer, Mathew Lann, Matt Douglass,
Ashley Helfrich, Jeff Rahm ('00), Angela Pooler, Dr. George Gangwere, and
Kenisha Bell ('98). Not pictured, Kristen Petty
(Martin) ('98).
The Tour
9:30-11:00 AM: Plant tour of the manufacturing
facilities where the Citations are built. We saw the assembly lines for
Citation CJ1, CJ2, Bravo, Encore, Excel, and X.
11:00-11:30 AM: Tour of Kenisha’s area where structural testing of
aircraft and components is carried out. Kenisha is a Flight Performance
Engineer. We were shown entire airplanes being stressed under simulated
flight conditions. After the tests, the plans are taken apart piece by
piece, and studied for unusual wear and cracks. The testing of single
components, like landing gear, is also carried out here. Kenisha collects
and analyses the data from test runs. She also helps design testing
platforms.
11:30-12:30 AM: Lunch, W-2 Cafeteria. Good, inexpensive food. We all eat
for less than $40.
12:30-1:00 PM: Tour of the full-scale mockups of Cessna aircraft in the
Marketing Building. This is the place were customers are taken to see the
interiors of the different Cessna models.
1:00-1:30 PM: Tour of Jeff's area. Jeff is a Mass
Properties Engineer in the Mass Properties Engineering Sustaining
Group. We were introduced to the CATIA software where the airplanes and
individual components are designed. Jeff also showed us how he can
determine which airplane best fits the needs of a customer.
1:30-2:00 PM: Tour of Kristen’s area. Kristen is a
Safety Engineer in the Systems Safety & Reliability Group. Her job is to
calculate failure possibilities. She showed us
viewer software she is now training on.
2:00-2:30 PM: Tour of Jason’s area. Jason is a Non-Destructive Testing
Engineer in the Materials & Processes NDE Group. He showed us
various ways of doing non-destructive testing of aircraft components for
small or hidden cracks. Some of the techniques included magnetic eddy
currents, ultrasound, x-rays, and fluorescent paint.
2:30-3:00 PM: Meeting with Jeff's boss. He explained what was involved in
building an airplane from the initial design, through the building of the
plane, to the delivery of the final product to the customer.
3:00-3:30 PM: Check out and group picture.
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