UC Davis won the first Causeway Classic of the month — the Causeway Classic Blood Drive — by registering 11 more participants than California State University, Sacramento.

The final tally: 1,653 participants for the Aggies, 1,642 for the Hornets. The totals include the number of people who registered for two-day blood collection events (Oct. 21-22 at Sac State, Nov. 4-5 at UC Davis), plus the number of people who visited donor centers or other mobile drives from Oct. 21 to Nov. 5, and asked for their donations to be credited to UC Davis or Sac State.

With total turnout of 3,295 people, the Causeway Classic Blood Drive continues to be the most successful BloodSource collection in high school and college settings in the Sacramento region. BloodSource reported a net collection of 2,425 lifesaving products (not all registered participants complete the donation process, for a variety of reasons).

“Many, many thanks to all of the staff, faculty, fraternities, sororities, student organizations and students that supported this event,” said Felicia Roper of Sacramento-based BloodSource. “It is because of your generosity, enthusiasm and commitment to saving patient lives that patients will be granted another day.”

UC Davis now holds the edge in the 7-year-old Causeway Classic Blood Drive: 4-3.

Next comes the Causeway Classic football game, 1 p.m. kickoff Saturday, Nov. 22, at Aggie Stadium. Tickets.

4-year sentence, $20,000 fine in explosives case

Former UC Davis chemist David Snyder has been handed a sentence of four years and four months and a $20,000 fine for his conviction on charges stemming from an explosion in his campus apartment in January 2013.

The terms as spelled out in Yolo County Superior Court last week call for him to serve half his sentence in custody and half on supervised release. The court scheduled a Dec. 19 hearing on restitution.

Snyder pleaded no contest in September to all 17 counts against him — including weapons and explosives charges.

The laboratory and hazardous chemicals in his Russell Park apartment became known on Jan. 17, 2013, after Snyder sought hospital treatment for a hand injury caused by a small explosion.

Snyder, who received bachelor's and doctoral degrees from UC Davis, had been hired for two months as a junior specialist at UC Davis. Immediately after his arrest, Snyder was put on investigatory leave. His employment with UC Davis ended on Jan. 31, 2013.

Memorial service: ‘Live Like Lisa’

“Live Like Lisa — Celebration of Life of Lisa Nakamaru” is scheduled for this Sunday morning (Nov. 16), open to all who wish to celebrate her life at UC Davis. The third-year student died Oct. 12 in a rafting accident on Putah Creek.

Her friends, joined by her family from Los Angeles, are holding the memorial service from 9 to 10 a.m. in MU II in the Memorial Union. A coffee hour will follow; people are asked to bring cookies and pastries to share.

“She is dearly missed by all of her close friends, Ultimate Frisbee team, students in the Japanese program, and many others,” said  Haruko Sakakibara, lecturer of Japanese in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures.

For more information, contact Sakakibara by email.

1-day sale on regalia for faculty, graduate students

With a one-day sale set for next week, faculty and graduate students may want to consider buying commencement regalia of their own, instead of renting.

UC Davis Stores announced discounts of up to $165 on select UC regalia and black doctoral gown packages. The sale is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, in the book lounge area of the main store in the Memorial Union.

Orders placed during the sale will arrive in time for use in spring 2015 commencements, a stores spokesman said.

The discounts: $100 off the price of a full, official UC regalia package (blue gown, hood and tam), or 25 percent off a few different styles of black gowns. People who order a black gown can choose velvet panels of dark blue (Ph.D.), light blue (Ed.D.), purple (J.D.), Kelly green (M.D.) or black (which does not denote a specific discipline).

B-ball team gives a bounce to kids’ reading

A record number of grade-school students, more than 20,000, are signed up for the UC Davis Men’s Basketball Reading Program, beginning its third season. The number of participating schools is a record, too: 29 in Yolo and Sacramento counties.

“The surrounding communities have done a great job supporting this team, and the Reading Program since its inception,” head coach Jim Les said. “The players and coaches feel this program is an excellent way to collaborate with local teachers, promote the benefits of reading to their students and give back to our community.”

Each participating student will receive a complimentary ticket to a game, weekly player bios and videos, motivational posters and a monthly newsletter. 

Read the complete news release.

Reminders

• Mail Services Holiday Food Drive — Continues until Friday, Nov. 21. Leave your donations in or near your department's outgoing mail bin — and mail personnel will pick up the food! The Davis campus collection goes to the Food Bank of Yolo County, and the Sacramento campus collection goes to the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. Here’s a list of suggested items: canned, ready-to-eat meals; canned meat, fish and soups; canned vegetables and tomato products; dry beans (any type); enriched rice and pasta; ramen; boxed macaroni and cheese; canned fruit (in juice); peanut butter (plastic container); iron-rich cereal (45 percent or more of the daily value); powdered milk; fruit juice (100 percent, in plastic containers 48 ounces or smaller); and powdered milk formula and Similac baby food.

• Open enrollment — Deadline 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25 (two days before Thanksgiving). More information: Dateline UC Davis article, Oct. 28; and the UC open enrollment website.

• Transitioning to Retirement —Presented by the Retiree Center, this series comprises four classes on consecutive Fridays, Jan. 16 to Feb. 6, at the Buehler Alumni Center. Enrollment is limited to staff and faculty within five years of retirement; if you're interested, you should sign up as soon as possible — owing to the fact that space is limited. Classes for staff members will run from 9 a.m. to noon, and for faculty members and other academics from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. You may sign up for one or more classes, although the organizers recommend all four. Note: Supervisors will not be automatically notified when employees register for these workshops. Session descriptions and registration links are available on two different Web pages: one for staff, and the other for faculty and other academics. More information is available on the Retiree Center’s “Planning for Retirement” website, or by contacting the Retiree Center by phone, (530) 752-518, or email.

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