Each year in India, thousands of babies are born with cleft lip and palate deformities – conditions that can lead not only to health and communication problems, but also to negative social stigmas.

College of Idaho student Makhosazana “Khosi” Nkambule will spend her summer locating villages with large orphan populations in her native Swaziland as part of her plan to help alleviate poverty. The sophomore’s project has received support from the market and social research firm ActivQuest and is working to secure funding from Rising Tides, a program that promotes self-sufficiency for young people leaving the foster care system.

The spring 2013 issue of The College of Idaho’s “Quest” magazine is in mailboxes now! The issue has a theme of “Scholarship,” honoring the College’s long-standing tradition of academic excellence and the many scholarly accomplishments of C of I students, faculty and alumni.

Not many college freshmen get a chance to discover a new virus and contribute to the fight against diseases affecting humans. Yet that’s exactly what students taking a College of Idaho introductory biology course this year have done as part of a national genomics research project.

From the impact of land management practices on biodiversity to the unveiling of a strategy game for Android smartphones, the wide-ranging scholarly and creative work of College of Idaho students will be on display during the 8th annual Student Research Conference on Saturday, April 27.

The College of Idaho is pleased to announce “Experiential Continuum,” an exhibition of work by the 14 graduating art majors of 2013. The show opens with a reception from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 26 and runs through May 18 at the recently renovated Rosenthal Gallery of Art inside Blatchley Hall on the C of I campus in Caldwell. Admission is free and open to the public between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays or noon and 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

Another successful season of competition has come and gone for The College of Idaho’s Howlin’ Yotes speech and debate team. Team members competed in three national tournaments this March, putting a wrap on another year’s worth of hard work and success.

When the reinstated College of Idaho football team returns to the field next fall, there’s a chance Cesar Montes will be the first Coyote to touch the football. Montes, a kicker and punter from McCall-Donnelly High School in north-central Idaho, is the latest member of Coach Mike Moroski’s initial recruiting class, and he’ll also play soccer at the College.

The College of Idaho’s Model United Nations delegation enjoyed a successful week of competition during spring break, traveling to New York City to participate in the National Model United Nations Conference (NMUN). Twelve students joined political economy professor Dr. Robert Dayley as the C of I represented the Southeast Asia nation of Malaysia at the conference, an academic simulation that includes 1,500 students from 200 colleges and universities representing more than 50 countries.

The College of Idaho Theatre Department is pleased to present its spring 2013 main stage production The Gut Girls, a drama written by British playwright Sarah Daniels. The show plays at 7:30 p.m. nightly April 11-13 and April 17-20 inside the Langroise Studio Theatre on the C of I campus in Caldwell. There also is a 2 p.m. matinee closing performance April 21. Tickets cost $15 for adults or $10 for seniors and students. C of I students, faculty and staff receive one free ticket. For tickets and information, contact the Langroise Box Office at (208) 459-5426.