In brief

HARVARD-AFFILIATED MEEI NAMED ONE OF AMERICA’S BEST HOSPITALS

The 2008 edition of America’s Best Hospitals, published by U.S. News & World Report, assigned Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI) a top-five ranking in two categories. The hospital ranked No. 4 in ophthalmology and No. 5 in ear, nose, and throat care. MEEI has attained a U.S. News & World Report top-five ranking in either one or both of its specialties since the magazine began publishing its annual survey of hospitals in 1990. Founded in 1824, MEEI is an affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

HUDS AND CRIMSON CATERING RECOGNIZED WITH AWARDS

In early July, Harvard University Dining Services’ (HUDS) Crimson Catering received the Grand Prize and People’s Choice Award at the meeting of the National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS). In addition, HUDS Executive Director Ted Mayer was elected at-large director for NACUFS and will serve on the association’s board of directors for two years.

DOCENTS SOUGHT FOR SEMITIC MUSEUM

The Semitic Museum is currently seeking volunteer docents for the coming year. Docents will provide guided tours to school groups and the general public on the museum’s collection of archaeology of the ancient Near East. The current exhibits include artifacts from ancient Israel, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Cyprus. The initial training program will provide guidance from experts in the field. The full training program runs from Sept. 9, 2008, to May 12, 2009. For more information, contact Dena Davis at davis4@fas.harvard.edu. Applications are due by Sept. 1 and can be found at www.fas.harvard.edu/~semitic/docentintro.html.

AGREEMENT TO DOUBLE NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS FOR COLOMBIAN STUDENTS

A new scholarship program for Colombians studying at Harvard University was recently formalized in an agreement between the University and Colfuturo, a Colombian foundation that makes funds available to top students from the South American nation. In the new agreement, Colfuturo will commit up to $1 million annually to finance the studies of Colombians who have been accepted at Harvard.

In the past decade, an average of 35 students from Colombia per year have attended Harvard, but under the new agreement, that average could increase to between 70 and 80 students per year, according to Margot Gill, administrative dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, who also manages the Harvard-Colombian Fund. This fund currently has a market value of $4.3 million. Harvard has recently doubled the size of its endowment holdings dedicated to scholarships for Colombian students.

HU PRESS PUBLISHING MODERN GREEK STUDIES SERIES

The Harvard Modern Greek Studies program recently announced a new publication series titled “Harvard Early Modern and Modern Greek Studies,” published by Harvard University Press. The research focus and scholarly scope of the series aims to be highly interdisciplinary and comparative. The publication series will produce two groups of books: monographs on aspects of Greek literature, history, and culture in the period between the 12th century and postmodernism; and editions of texts, with commentaries, English translations, and introductions.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SALE SET FOR AUGUST

The annual Harvard Habitat for Humanity (HHH) stuff sale is back again for 2008! The event features thousands of pieces of furniture, rugs, chairs, school supplies and books, and more. All proceeds support HHH’s mission to aid disadvantaged families who wish to become independent homeowners. The sale will be held on the Harvard Science Center lawn on the following dates: Aug. 23, 24, 30 and 31, and Sept. 6-10, 13, and 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information or to view items before the sale, e-mail Irina Perjar, iperjar@harvard.edu.

HARVARD POPS BAND TO HOLD SUMMER CONCERTS

The Harvard Summer Pops Band will hold concerts this summer on July 30 and Aug. 3. “Invitation to a Dance: Music for Dance Through the Ages” will feature selections from “The King and I,” “The Nutcracker Suite,” and the swing music of Glenn Miller. The July 30 concert begins at 4 p.m. in Harvard Yard; the Aug. 3 concert begins at 3 p.m. at the Hatch Memorial Shell in Boston.

Both concerts are free and open to the public. For more information, call (617) 496-2263 or visitwww.hcs.harvard.edu/~hub/events/summerband.shtml.

EXTENSION SCHOOL PROVIDES OVERVIEW OF PROGRAMS

The Harvard Extension School will hold a general information session on Aug. 19. The event will provide an overview of the School, and feature independent sessions on degree and certificate programs.

The information session is open to anyone interested in applying to a degree or certificate program, taking a course, or hoping to learn more about the Extension School. In addition, representatives from the career and academic resource center will be on hand and distance-learning staff members will demonstrate online courses.

The information session will be held at the Harvard Science Center from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Limited parking will be available beginning at 5 p.m. at Broadway Garage, 7 Felton St. located near the Science Center. To register for the event or for more information, contact events@dcemail.harvard.edu.

A.R.T. BRINGS SHAKESPEARE TO THE SQUARE

Shakespeare comes to Harvard Square this August, with outdoor theater performances by the American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.), Actors’ Shakespeare Project, and Revels. The following performances take place at Winthrop Park:

• A.R.T. performs Shakespeare Slams, which feature a blending of Shakespeare works with modern contemporary music, movement, and culture. Directed by A.R.T. member Thomas Derrah, the performances will be held on Aug. 1 at 6 p.m., Aug. 2 at 4:30 p.m., and Aug. 3 at 7:45 p.m.,

• Actors’ Shakespeare Project performs “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” a classic tale in which six actors play 16 roles dancing back and forth between male and female, pursuer and pursued. Performances will be on Aug. 1 at 7:15 p.m., Aug. 2 at 7:30 p.m., and Aug. 3 at 3 p.m.

• Revels will re-create their environs to match that of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, filling the area with musicians, jugglers, dancers, and other performers.

Throughout the square, local businesses will participate in creating an unforgettable Elizabethan scene, coordinated with A.R.T. The event is presented by the Harvard Square Business Association and is free and open to the public. All performances take place at Winthrop Park, located at the corner of JFK and Mt. Auburn streets.

SUMMER SCHOOL CHORUS TO PERFORM

The Harvard Summer School Chorus will perform Franz Schubert’s Mass in E flat at 8 p.m. on Aug. 1 at Sanders Theatre. Led by director William Wright, the 120-person chorus is composed of Harvard Summer School students and members of the community.

The chorus will be joined by an orchestra and will feature soloists Jayne West, soprano; Gale Fuller, mezzo-soprano; Aaron Sheenan, tenor; and Robert Honeysucker, bass. The concert is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

‘KIDNEY KABARET’ LETS HARVARD FOLKS SING FOR CAUSE

A group of Harvard students, staff, and faculty, who have been rehearsing cabaret songs since March, are ready to use their talents for a good cause. Proceeds from “Kidney Kabaret” will defray medical expenses for a kidney transplant for the husband of fellow Extension School student Lauren LaRosa.

Songs from “Chicago,” “Hairspray,” and “La Cage aux Folles” among others will be performed 7:30 p.m. Friday (July 25) and Saturday (July 26) at First Church, 11 Garden St., Cambridge.

“Most of the songs hit a humorous note,” said LaRosa. “After all, laughter is the best medicine.”

Assisting LaRosa in creating “Kidney Kabaret” was Harvard instructor Pamela Murray. “Just because it’s for a good cause doesn’t mean people can’t have a good time,” Murray explained. “We want people to feel glad both because they’re giving someone a hand and because they are having a fun evening.”

LaRosa selected all the songs and has crafted them into a continuous program interspersed with some of the inspirational thoughts that have helped her cope with her husband’s illness.

Tickets are $25 for general admission and can be purchased in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/37944 or at the door (check or exact change preferred).

DEADLINES FOR ONLINE AND FIRST PRINT ISSUE

The Harvard Gazette’s next online issue will be Aug. 21 (/gazette). Deadlines are the Thursday prior to publication. For the first print issue of the academic year, Sept. 11, 2008, the deadline is two weeks prior to publication. Send news items to terry_murphy@harvard.edu. Send Calendar items to calendar@harvard.edu.

For the latest in Harvard news, visit http://www.harvard.edu.