October 17, 2003

Three From Notus Elementary Submit
Winning Name for UI’s Third Mule Clone

MOSCOW, Idaho – Three students from Notus Elementary School north of Caldwell, Idaho, are among the eight who submitted the winning entry in the University of Idaho’s naming contest for the third mule clone foal.

Eleven-year-olds Tarah Anderson and Ciara Basaldua and 10-year-old Jennifer Sanchez said “Idaho Star” would be the best name for the world’s youngest mule clone. Project Idaho scientists Gordon Woods and Dirk Vanderwall of UI and Ken White of Utah State University agreed.

Literally hundreds of school children and others from throughout Idaho and the United States entered the naming contest, which was a feature of the Clone Zone web site. The winning name was announced at a news conference this morning.

Those submitting the winning name will be formally recognized during half time of the UI-Middle Tennessee State University football game as part of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences’ Ag Days celebration.

Others who submitted the winning name are:

IDAHO FALLS
Courtney Pollitt, 9, Longfellow Elementary School

MIDVALE
Mindi Bruce, 15, and Melissa Pickett, 14, Midvale High School

POST FALLS
Brooklyn Wilson, 10, Ponderosa Elementary School

SANDPOINT
Grace Lockhart, 6, Washington Elementary

SACRAMENTO, Calif.
Maureen Daly

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CONTACTS: Kathy Barnard, University Communications, (208) 885-6291, kbarnard@uidaho.edu; or Bill Loftus, UI science writer, (208) 885-6291, bloftus@uidaho.edu