GOVERNOR’S GREATEST: Three professors and a student are among the winners of this year’s Governor’s Writer’s Awards, given for the best books published by Washington state authors for the previous calendar year. Architecture Professor Grant Hildebrand, was honored for his nonfiction book, The Origins of Architectural Pleasure, a study of the way architectural forms derive from natural settings that human beings have found appealing. Creative writing professors Heather McHugh and David Wagoner were honored for their poetry collections, The Father of Predicaments and Traveling Light, respectively. And non-matriculated student Lensey Namioka won for a young-adult novel, The Ties that Bind, the Ties that Break, the tale of a young girl’s coming of age in early 20th century China.

BENCH PRESS: Like to sit in the garden? Know what you like to sit on? The Arboretum Foundation is seeking entrants for its first-ever bench competition. Benches will be on display at the Pacific Place Mall Jan. 15-Feb. 3 and at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show Feb. 7-11. The competition is open to anyone who wants to submit a one-of-a-kind garden bench. Applications and bench designs must be submitted by Nov. 15 to the Arboretum Foundation. Accepted contestants will be notified by Dec. 1, and benches must be complete by Jan. 14. To get applications and specifications, call 325-4510 or visit http://www.orgsites.com/arboretumfoundation.org after Nov. 1. The benches will eventually be sold at a silent auction to benefit the Arboretum Foundation.

KUDOS: Chemistry Professor Larry Dalton received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Michigan State University Alumni Association. He earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from MSU.