Most read stories of 2014: In the classroom and the community​​

​Washington University making a difference in St. Louis; students and alums making a difference at Washington University

In 2014, Washington University in St. Louis continued to play a major role in the St. Louis community.

This summer marked the debut of the $80 million Lofts of Washington University, which brought student apartments, a 24-hour diner and a long-needed grocery store to the Delmar Loop. Washington University also continued its investment in Cortex, the innovation district which is bringing development, new jobs and top talent to the St. Louis region.

Washington University students and alumni also made their mark on campus in 2014. A posthumous gift from Sam Lachterman and Betty Wynn, the homeless brother and sister who were beloved by generations of students, helped support a variety of campus programs while a major gift from Gary M. Sumers will help build new recreation facilities at the Athletic Complex.

Here is a list of the 10 most-read campus and community stories from the Washington University Newsroom:


Known to generations of Washington University students and faculty members as “Sam and Betty,” Sam Lachterman and Betty Wynn, a homeless brother-and-sister who spent decades attending programs on campus, bequeathed $54,000 to Washington University.

2. WUSTL students ‘print’ pink prosthetic arm for teen girl

Three biomedical engineering seniors in the School of Engineering & Applied Science gained national attention for the robotic prosthetic arm they developed for a 13-year-old St. Louis girl. Built on a 3-D printer, the arm is cheap, functional — and pink.

3. Staudt named dean of the School of Law at Washington University in St. Louis​​​​​​

Nancy Staudt, JD, PhD, assumed leadership of the School of Law. Staudt formerly served as vice dean for faculty and academic affairs at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.

4. Sumers Recreation Center will provide WUSTL community a new place to play, exercise and celebrate

A suspended jogging track, a three-court gymnasium, state-of-the-art fitness equipment and team locker rooms are among the features planned for the new Gary M. Sumers Recreation Center. The center is scheduled to open in 2016.

The Lofts opened in August. (Credit: Joe Angeles)


5.
The Lofts of Washington University development opens for business, students

The Lofts of Washington University, a new $80-million mixed-use development, brought green architecture, new residents and, at last, a grocery store to the Delmar Loop. Some 400 Washington University undergraduates live in The Lofts’ 167 fully furnished three-bedroom, two-bedroom and efficiency apartments.

6. Washington University to re-establish sociology department

Washington University re-established its sociology department after a nearly 25-year hiatus. The new department enhanced the university’s ability to educate students and conduct world-class research in areas that are central to the critical social issues of our time.

7. Washington University alum shares Nobel Prize in chemistry​​​

Washington University alumnus W. E. Moerner, PhD, was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry. Moerner shared the award with Eric Betzig, PhD, of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Stefan W. Hell, PhD, of the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, in Germany. The trio received the award for developing super-resolved fluorescence microscopy.​

8. Largest-ever freshman class moves in, ready to tackle tough issues​

In 2014, the university welcomed its largest freshmen class.

Some 1,740 students from across the United States and the globe moved into the South 40 area of Washington University’s campus in August. New students said they were eager to both to help St. Louis face its challenges and to explore all it had to offer.​

9. Three Egyptian mummies receive CT scans

The School of Medicine teamed up with the Saint Louis Art Museum and the university’s Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum and scanned some very unusual patients: three Egyptian mummies.

10. Washington University is big player in St. Louis’ booming central corridor​

Washington University continued to bring new projects and jobs to St. Louis in 2014. Major projects included the CORTEX innovation district and the School of Medicine Campus Renewal Project.​​

Want more: Read the most-read stories of 2014: In the laboratory and In the field.