Mackie O’Hara, a senior Donaghey Scholar at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has been named a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow.

A total of 14,000 students from around the United States applied for the fellowship; O’Hara was one of just 2,000 to earn the honor.

Only 16 awards were given in Mackie’s category of biological anthropology, most of them to graduate students.

“I am thrilled to be awarded the NSF fellowship. It is an honor for first-time, undergraduate applicants to receive it,” O’Hara said.

The research fellowship award includes a $32,000 annual stipend and $12,000 in tuition support for three years, as well as opportunities to apply for additional travel funding.

Dr. Jessica R. Scott, assistant director of the Donaghey Scholars Program, further explained the rigorous competition for the fellowships.

“Undergraduates, graduate students, and first year doctoral students are all eligible to compete for these awards, so her selection is a real testament to Mackie’s hard work and preparation here at UALR,” Scott said.

“The award was very competitive this year. This is an honor for all of the UALR programs with which Mackie is involved.”

O’Hara is majoring in anthropology and minoring in biology and has accepted an offer to pursue a master’s/doctoral degree in biological anthropology at The Ohio State University beginning this fall.

“I have to thank the Donaghey Scholars Program and the anthropology, biology, and earth sciences faculty because they provided constant support, resources, and ideas,” said O’Hara.

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Congratulations to the Donaghey Scholars who won awards at the UALR Undergraduate Research Expo!

Social Sciences & Professional Studies- Amber Jackson, First Place

Life Sciences- Bernice Nounamo, First Place

Engineering and Technology- Bruce Stracener and Josh Lintag, First Place

Physical Sciences- Saad Azam, First Place

Physical Sciences- Brendon Tucker, Second Place

Physical Sciences- Zach Hicks, Third Place

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For thousands of applicants seeking entry every year into highly competitive M.D./Ph.D. programs, the path can be arduous because acceptance rates are low.

But for identical twins Dolapo and Bukola Odeniyi, who graduate this month from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, their path to becoming medical doctors and researchers was set years ago in their homeland of Nigeria.

The sisters made a joint decision at the age of seven about their careers when Dolapo incurred injuries to her leg in a horrific vehicle accident. Her wounds were treated in a hospital that was so loosely regulated and with such substandard care that she developed a severe infection which nearly resulted in the amputation of her right foot.

The injustice of a system that seemed tilted in favor of the wealthy left an indelible mark on the young girls. “From that moment on, we knew we wanted to help others get access to affordable, quality care by becoming physicians,” said Bukola.

Bukola received further confirmation about their career destiny when she briefly enrolled in a Nigerian public school and met a classmate with a cleft palate, a birth defect that is usually easily treatable.

“Here is this poor girl, with this awful defect, and nothing is being done about it. But her family could not afford the treatment,” she said.

In their quest to become physicians, the twins began doing research immediately before beginning their undergraduate career. The sisters, both double majors in biology and chemistry, became intrigued by the opportunities research could provide. They immediately realized a M.D./Ph.D. program would provide the best training to work with underserved patient populations, from a clinical and research perspective.

Their father dreamed of broadening the opportunities available to his children, so he brought Bukola and Dolapo, their older brother (also a UALR graduate), and their mother to the U.S. through a federal program known as the “Green Card Lottery” in early 2001. The program makes a limited number of visas available for immigrants each year if they meet certain eligibility requirements.

The twins, Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School co-salutatorians, came to college as members of UALR’s Donaghey Scholars, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minorities Participation, and University Science Scholars programs. They have been McNair Scholars since the summer of 2013.

While at UALR, their academic accomplishments have reflected their ambitions to gain acceptance to a quality M.D./Ph.D. program.

For example, Dolapo was listed as a co-author in a 2013 issue in the American Journal of Physiology Renal Physiology for her contributions to research that seek to improve the shelf life of organs available for human transplant. Meanwhile, Bukola earned multiple research grants.

Both delivered numerous presentations at state and national scientific conferences, accumulating top awards for their research along the way.

Last year, the twins targeted and applied to M.D./Ph.D. programs that had built-in service components, particularly for underserved communities, and that also provided close mentoring relationships. And there was one other non-negotiable item they both insisted upon.

“We wanted to be together,” said Bukola. “If they were willing to have one of us, they had to take us both.”

With news of their recent acceptances to several programs, the twins have edged closer to fulfilling their dreams. They have committed to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences for their post-baccalaureate training, where they hope to continue work begun as undergraduate researchers with their mentors Alexei Basnakian, M.D., Ph.D. and Elvin Price, Pharm.D., Ph.D.

The twins will fill two of only four slots available this academic year for the program at UAMS, which waives tuition for accepted applicants and provides an additional stipend during the Ph.D. portion of their academic studies. Their acceptance to the rigorous program is not surprising, given their impressive list of achievements since coming to the U.S. as young girls.

“Of course, we understand that we could not have achieved all of these things alone,” said Bukola. “We would like to thank everyone who has helped us reach our dreams.”

“I believe it was the hand of God at work,” said Dolapo. “From the moment of my accident in Nigeria, until now, it has all been a miracle.

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A University of Arkansas at Little Rock Donaghey Scholar who earned a remarkable 141 college credits while also maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average is this year’s Edward L. Whitbeck Memorial Award winner.

Senior Mackie O’Hara will receive the award during an annual awards luncheon Friday, May 16, at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. Joining her will be the UALR 2014 Distinguished Alumnus, Jon T. Rymer, who serves as the inspector general for the U.S. Department of Defense, and local attorney Tjuana Byrd, recipient of the 2014 President’s Award.

The event is hosted by the UALR Foundation Fund Board and the UALRAlumni Association.

The Whitbeck Award is given each year to an outstanding graduating senior who has demonstrated excellence in scholarship, leadership, citizenship, and character.

Last summer, O’Hara earned the Mark Hartmann Student Fieldwork in Anthropology Fellowship and a research travel grant to finance a trip to South Africa, where she joined an excavation team from the University of Wisconsin.

The trip inspired her honors project at UALR, the development of a process for preserving fragile fossils as they are being removed from soil so that valuable data is not lost.

O’Hara, an anthropology major and biology minor, has presented two conference posters on her research focusing on a three-dimensional technique that reconstructs the human diet based on “wear patterns” on fossilized teeth.

After collaborating with Vanderbilt University to compare two-dimensional and three-dimensional microwear analysis techniques, she was listed as a co-author in an academic journal and received numerous acceptances to top-tier graduate programs, including one at The Ohio State University, where she will be attending this fall.

In recognition of her many achievements, O’Hara was also selected as UALR’s nominee for a Marshall Scholarship and the Gates-Cambridge Fellowship.

She will graduate May 17 at UALR’s 2014 Spring Commencement.

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The Donaghey Scholars Program would like to extend a warm welcome to Dr. Simon Hawkins, who was appointed Interim Director effective July 1, succeeding Dr. C. Earl Ramsey. Dr. Ramsey retired this summer following twenty-five years as Director of the Donaghey Scholars Program and more than fifty years of teaching. Dr. Hawkins, who is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at UALR, is a member of the Donaghey Scholars Program Policy Council.

Dating back to his honors program in anthropology at Swarthmore College, Dr. Simon Hawkins has been dedicated to education and the liberal arts. In 1988, his interests in other cultures led him to Tunisia as a Peace Corps volunteer, an experience that eventually became the center of his professional research. Upon returning from the Peace Corps he pursued an MA in secondary education at the George Washington University and taught briefly as a high school social studies teacher before joining the National Center for Improving Science Education where he conducted research on national and international education topics.

Rather than pursuing further graduate studies in education, he returned to anthropology at the University of Chicago. As a Fulbright Scholar, he moved with his wife and baby daughter to Tunisia in 1998 where he pursued his doctoral research on language learning and national identity.  Over the years he has taught at the University of Tunis, the University of Chicago, Vassar College, Montana State University, and Franklin and Marshall College.

His anthropological research in Tunisia has tackled a range of topics, including: national identity, schooling and language learning, relations with Europe, gender and modernity, and state construction of religion. He is an award winning teacher with particular skills in social theory and qualitative research methods. In addition to his academic work, he is a graduate of Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Clown College.

The post The Donaghey Scholars Program Welcomes A New Interim Director appeared first on Donaghey <br />Scholars.

While some college students are using the summer months to relax, UALR student Jeannie Kuang-Nguyen is serving as the primary communications intern at the Pan American Health Foundation in Washington, D.C.

The organization works closely with the Pan American Health Organization to mobilize resources for public health projects in the Americas.

Kuang-Nguyen, a sophomore chemistry major, is one of six UALR students selected to participate in summer internships through Aug. 8, at The Washington Center, an independent nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C.

She is helping to manage the organization’s social media content and creating and disseminating public information about the organization. Aside from communication projects, she also helps review concept notes and papers that become project proposals.

Kuang-Nguyen said she originally wanted to find a position in a lab but has since decided that she is content with the internship she ended up with.

“It allows me to gain insight on public health and the current health issues in the Americas, mainly, Latin America and the Caribbean,” Kuang-Nguyen said. “I am gaining skills that is applicable to a number of professions, not just a lab position.”

At UALR, Kuang-Nguyen is a Donaghey Scholar and a University Science Scholar.

The other UALR students interning through the Washington Center are: Abigail Marshall, a mass communication major from Searcy; Mackenzie Bolt, an anthropology and international studies double major from North Little Rock; KenDrell Collins, an economics and professional/technical writing major from Osceola; Mehr Shah, an undeclared major from Little Rock; and Hayley Chronister, an art major from Hot Springs.

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Dating back to his honors program in anthropology at Swarthmore College, Dr. Simon Hawkins has been dedicated to education and the liberal arts. In 1988, his interests in other cultures led him to Tunisia as a Peace Corps volunteer, an experience that eventually became the center of his professional research. Upon return from the Peace Corps he pursued an MA in secondary education at the George Washington University and taught briefly as a high school social studies teacher before joining the National Center for Improving Science Education where he conducted research on national and international education topics.

Rather than pursuing further graduate studies in education, he returned to anthropology at the University of Chicago. As a Fulbright Scholar, he moved with his wife and baby daughter to Tunisia in 1998 where he pursued his doctoral research on language learning and national identity.  Over the years he has taught at the University of Tunis, the University of Chicago, Vassar College, Montana State University, and Franklin and Marshall College.

His anthropological research in Tunisia has tackled a range of topics, including: national identity, schooling and language learning, relations with Europe, gender and modernity, and state construction of religion. He is an award winning teacher with particular skills in social theory and qualitative research methods. In addition to his academic work, he is a graduate of Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Clown College.

The post Biographical Sketch of Interim Director Simon Hawkins appeared first on Donaghey <br />Scholars.

Simon Hawkins

Assistant Professor of Anthropology

569-3406

sxhawkins@ualr.edu

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Education

2003   Ph.D. Anthropology, University of Chicago. Thesis titled Globalization vs. Civilization: The Ideologies of Foreign Language Learning in Tunisia.

1997   MA Anthropology, University of Chicago.

1992   MA Education, George Washington University.

1987   BA Sociology/Anthropology Honors program, Swarthmore College.

Professional Experience

2011-present            Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas, Little Rock.

2004-2011    Assistant Professor, Franklin and Marshall College.

2003-2004    Visiting Assistant Professor, Vassar College.

2002-2003    Visiting Assistant Professor, Montana State University.

2001               President, American Institute for Maghreb Studies Graduate Students’ Association.

2000               Starr Lecturer, University of Chicago.

1998-1999    English Language Instructor, Université de Tunis—9 Avril.

1992-1995    Research Associate, National Center for Improving Science Education.

1991-1992    Social Studies Teacher, Suitland High School, Prince George’s County, MD

1989-1990    Peace Corps Volunteer, Tunisia.

Publications

Forthcoming  “The Rage of Young Martyrs: A Unifying Ideology in the Tunisian Revolution” in an edited volume, Adeline Mesquelier, editor, SAR Press.

Forthcoming “’Madam, you drive a hard bargain:’ Selling to Tourists in Tunis’ Medina” in the edited volume Everyday Life in the Muslim Middle East Third Edition, Donna Lee Bowen, Evelyn Early, and Beck Schulthies, editors. Indiana University Press

2014   “Teargas, Flags, and Dances: Images of and for Revolution in Tunisia,” in the edited volume, Beyond the Arab Spring: The Political Aesthetics of Revolt and Popular Protest, 2010-2011, Pnina Werbner, editor. Edinburgh University Press.

2014 Book Review Faith in Schools: Religion, Education, and American Evangelicals in East Africa. Journal of Religion in Africa. V. 44, N. 1 pgs. 129-131.

2012   “Protecting the Mosque: Secular Salesmen’s Price and Fear in Tunis” in the edited volume Prayer in the City: Muslim Practices of Place Making, Dorothea Schulz and Patrick Desplat, editors. Transaction Publishers.

2011   “Tunisia: Was it a revolution” in The Arab Spring of Discontent: A Collection from e-International Relations” e-International Relations. Fall 2011. P. 10-11.

2011   Book Review The Edge of Islam: Power, Personhood, and Ethno-religious Boundaries on the Kenya Coast. Journal of Religion in Africa. V. 41, N. 2.

2011   “Who Wears Hijab with the President: Constructing a Modern Islam in Tunisia,” for Journal of Religion in Africa. V. 41, N. 1 pgs. 1-24.

2010   “National Symbols and National Identity: Currency and Constructing Cosmopolitans in Tunisia,” Identities, Global Studies in Culture and Power. V. 17, N. 2 pgs. 228-254.

2010   “Cosmopolitan Hagglers or Haggling Locals? Salesmen, Tourists, and Cosmopolitan Discourses in Tunis,” City and Society. Spring 2010 V. 22, N. 1.

2008   “Hijab: Feminine Allure and Charm to Men in Tunis,” Ethnology. V. 47, N. 1 pgs. 1-21

2008   ”Non-national Englishes and their Alternatives: Academics and the Internet in Tunisia,” International Journal of Multilingualism. V. 5, N. 4 pgs. 357-374.

1996   Hawkins, Simon, Gandal, Matthew, and Britton, Edward “Examination Systems in Seven Countries.” Examining the Examinations, Edward Britton and Senta Raizen, editors. Boston, MA: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

1996   Britton, Edward, Hawkins Simon, Matthew Gandal “Comparing Examination Systems.” Examining the Examinations, Edward Britton and Senta Raizen, editors. Boston, MA: Kluwer Academic Publishers

1994               Michelsohn, Arie and Hawkins, Simon “Current Practice in Science Education of Prospective Elementary School Teachers” The Future of Science in Elementary Schools. Ed. by Senta Raizen and Arie Michelsohn. San Francisco: CA Jossey-Bass, Inc.

Presentations

November 2013        “Blurred Boundaries: Shifts in Markers for Religious and Secular Identity in Post-Revolutionary Tunisia” at the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association, Chicago, IL.

November 2013        “Shifting Language Identities: Gender, Age and Class in Tunisia” at annual meeting of the Arkansas Philological Association, Little Rock, AR.

November 2012        “Unifying Images: The Use of Photographs in the Tunisian Revolution” at the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association, San Francisco, CA.

November 2012        “The Arab Spring: Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia” as the Zia H. Hashmi Lecture for 2012 at Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA.

March 2012               “Pictures for Revolution: The Role of Shared Images in the Tunisian Uprising” at the annual meeting of the Southern Anthropological Society, Birmingham, AL

November 2010        “Dominating Men: Hierarchy, Power, and Physicality in Tunis’ Medina” at the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association, New Orleans, LA.

December 2009        “Protecting the Mosque: Cosmopolitan Salesmen and Parochial Tourists in Tunisia” as part of an invited panel at the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association, Philadelphia, PA.

December 2009        “Shifting Languages, Shifting Identities: Language Ideology in Tunisia” at the Symposium on Contemporary Perspectives in Anthropology,” Lambertville, NJ.

November 2009        “Variations Across Languages, Divisions Within Communities: Languages, Schools and the Internet in Tunisia,” an invited talk for the Linguistic Data Consortium Institute at the University of Pennsylvania.

March 2009               “Constructing a Modern Islam in Tunisia” at the biennial meeting of the Society for the Anthropology of Religion, Asilomar, CA.

November 2008        “Desires and Destinies: Sex, Marriage, and Opportunities in Tunisia” at the Symposium on Contemporary Perspectives in Anthropology, Guerneville, CA.

May 2008                  “Desire and Dress in Tunisia” at the annual meeting of the Society for Cultural Anthropology, Long Beach, CA.

May 2007                  “Cosmopolitan Claims: Merchants and Tourists in the Medina of Tunis” at the annual meeting of the American Ethnological Society, Toronto, Canada.

April 2007                 “What Men Want: Desire, Modesty, and Hijab in Tunis” at the biennial meeting of the Society for the Anthropology of Religion, Phoenix, AZ.

November 2001        “Pre-Colonial Languages and Learning in Tunisia: Is The ‘New’ ‘Modern’?” at the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association, Washington, DC.

May 2001                  “Ideologies and Practices of Globalism: What are Foreign Languages for in Tunisia?” at the CASPIC—Middle East Conference, Chicago, IL.

November 2000        “Testing Discipline: The Practice of Exams in Tunisian Universities” at the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association, San Francisco, CA.

May 1999                  “Power, Pedagogy, and Parole: Foreign Language Learning in Tunis” at the Centre d’Études Maghrébines à Tunis, Tunisia.

Awards and Grants

2014               UALR AHSS Summer Research Fellowship.

2014               UALR Graduate and Retention Advocate Award.

2013               Received ATLE Professional Development Certificate.

2012               Recipient of ATLE Distinguished Teaching Fellow award.

2011               UALR AHSS Summer Research Fellowship.

2011               Fulbright Grant for research in Tunisia. Declined to take position at UALR.

2006               Franklin & Marshall Faculty Research Grant. “Negotiating Authenticity: Tourist Haggling in Tunisia,”

2002               Watkins Fellowship of the Department of Anthropology, University of Chicago. Declined in favor of appointment at Montana State University.

1998-99         Fulbright/IIE Grant for research on language education and nationalism in Tunisia.

1997               University of Chicago Unendowed Fellowship

1997               Spencer Foundation Travel Grant.

1996-97         FLAS Title VI Grant for Arabic area and language studies.

The post Curriculum Vitae for Interim Director Simon Hawkins appeared first on Donaghey <br />Scholars.

Dear Alumni, Friends, Colleagues, and Current Scholars,

The rumors of my retirement are no longer exaggerated.  My last day as Director was June 30^th.  I am feeling some separation anxiety, and leaving the best job an academic could ever have is bitter sweet, but half a century of full time teaching and a quarter century directing arguably one of the best honors programs anywhere seem sufficient.  I am looking forward to the next phase of my life.

Until my successor is selected (probably for a year), Dr. Simon Hawkins of the UALR Anthropology Department will serve as Interim Program Director (we have attached his bio and resume).  Dr. Scott and I both wholeheartedly support the selection of Dr. Hawkins.  He is a smart guy, and he loves students.  I hope you will make a special effort to meet him.  You will like him.  There are tentative plans to have an alumni event in the late summer or early fall; that will give you a chance to meet him.

My ultimate successor will be Dean of the UALR Honors College (tentatively planned to begin in the fall of 2015) as well as Director of the Donaghey Scholars Program.  The Scholars Program will be included in the honors college, but the Program will remain intact and exactly as it now is.  The Program will keep its current extraordinary funding and will remain one of UALR’s crown jewels.  New honors tracks will be added to expand UALR’s honors offerings.

We fully expect these transitions to be smooth.  Indispensable to our continuity over the next couple of years will be Dr. Jessica Scott.  I am glad to report that Dr. Scott is now Assistant Director of the Donaghey Scholars Program.  Her talents, skills, and dedication to the Program are unrivaled.  Possibly the best thing I ever did as Director was hiring her.

As I leave, I think I can honestly say that the Program has never been stronger.  Recruitment this year went exceedingly well.  We had 144 applicants (our previous record was 110), we interviewed 82 of them (our previous record was 81), and 29 of the 33 to whom we made offers accepted.  Those 29 will constitute one of our two largest beginning groups, and they could become our best group ever.

This year’s graduates were themselves impressive.  Among them was our twenty-second consecutive Whitbeck winner, Mackie O’Hara.  Among many of Mackie’s achievements was her selection as a National Science Foundation Fellow (one of only two undergraduates in Arkansas to win this coveted award).  Ably mentored by Dr. Scott, Mackie will use her $32,000 annual stipend to do a PhD in biological anthropology at Ohio State.

I leave with only one mild regret.  As most of you will remember, one purpose of the Jubilee was to raise funds for a lecture series in my honor—the C. Earl and Kathy Ramsey Distinguished Lecture Series.  (I did not want a lecture series named after me, but the other members of the Jubilee planning group unanimously out voted me).  As you may also remember, my wife and I offered to match your contributions, in tiered amounts, up to $50,000.  Initially, to receive our full match, we asked that your contributions total $150,000, and we set a date of July 1^st, 2013.  We fell far short of our goal.  So I now agree to match your contributions, dollar for dollar, up to $50,000.  And we are establishing a new deadline of December 1^st, 2014.  As I previously suggested, you might want to consider a contribution or pledge equal to 1% of your annual income.  More would certainly be welcome.  In any event, you should not leave money on the table!

Gifts can be made online at ualr.edu/development; by check made payable to UALR Foundation (please note “Ramsey Fund” on the memo line) and mailed to UALR, Office of Development, 2801 S. University Ave., Little Rock, AR 72204; or you can call Mary Boaz at 501-569-8738 if you have questions or would like to make a pledge or discuss other giving options.

As I bid you farewell, I hope you will not forget me.  I will not forget any of you!  I plan to remain in Little Rock.  I hope to see many of you again over the next few years.  Keep the faith!

Sincerely,

C. Earl Ramsey

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A Message from Interim Director Simon Hawkins - As Donaghey Scholars, you have all benefitted from the generous resources the program provides. But those resources have not made the program what it is. Dr. Ramsey’s energy, dedication, stubbornness, humor, caring, and curiosity have shaped the character of this program, making it distinct in a world of generic honors programs. I cannot replace Dr. Ramsey. No one can do that. But it is my hope to honor him and perpetuate his legacy by providing the C. Earl and Kathy Ramsey Distinguished Lecture Series with the funding it so richly deserves. In the coming weeks we will be soliciting contributions, and I hope that we will all show our appreciation for Dr. Ramsey and the Donaghey Scholars Program by repaying some of the debt so many owe to him.

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UALR has selected 27 of its incoming students to join the Donaghey Scholars Program, the institution’s top honors program. The Donaghey Scholars Program includes a generous financial package of $75,000-$90,000, an interdisciplinary core curriculum emphasizing critical thinking, primary texts, writing, and discussion; a study abroad experience, and a supportive learning environment for undergraduate studies. These students were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants and represent five states and three countries.

Priority application for the next Donaghey Scholars class is Feb. 1, 2015. Applications are accepted through March 1. For more information, contact the Donaghey Scholars Program office at 501-569-3389 or email dsp@ualr.edu.

Donaghey Scholars Class of 2018

El-Noor Akhter of Mountain Home, AR, daughter of Batool and Mohammad Akhter

McKenzi Baker of North Little Rock, AR, daughter of Willie and Kathy Baker

Gary Dewayne Blanks II of Jacksonville, AR, son of Gary Blanks and Cassandra Blanks

Marina Bobyleva of Volograd, Russia, daughter of Elena Bobyleva and Sergey Bobylev

Paige Bower of Harrison, AR, daughter of Breanna Bower and Adam Bower

Madison Christie of Wagoner, OK, daughter of Sheldon Christie and Tammy Christie

Connor Donovan of Little Rock, AR, son of Peter and Stacey Donovan

Natalie Doris of Little Rock, AR, daughter of Desmond and Carol Doris

Hannah Dorsey of North Little Rock, AR, daughter of Mark Dorsey and Michelle Dorsey

Jamie Forth of Parkers Chapel, AR, daughter of Charlene Forth and Dan Forth

Brianna Gant of Fort Smith, AR, daughter of Kim and Chris Gant

Aimee Claire Glenn of Little Rock, AR

Brian Gregory of Jacksonville, AR, son of Larry and Latasha Gregory

Kayla Grimm of O’Fallon, MO, daughter of Steve and Susan Grimm

Seraphim Lawhorn of Knoxville, TN, son of Jeffrey Lawhorn and Cathy Wilson

Adam Ness of Farmington, AR, son of Kenny and Dee Ness

Wyatt Pace of Gepp, AR, son of Wesley and Jennifer Pace

Rebecca Parker of Maumelle, AR, daughter of Mike and Linda Parker

Emily Phillips of Mountain View, AR, daughter of Joel and Christi Phillips

Maddie Robertson of Little Rock, AR, daughter of Sherry and Neely Robertson

Lelia Rosenkrans of Springdale, AR, daughter of Charles Rosenkrans and Diana Johnson

Grace Rutter of Little Rock, AR, daughter of Mike and Kaye Rutter

Zach Smith of Fort Smith, AR, son of William Smith and Heather Owens

Jeffrey Streng of Clio, MI, son of Jeffrey and Lisa Streng

Zaria Sumler of Poplar Grove, AR, daughter of Avis Donahoo and Amoja Sumler

Emily Summers of Cordova, TN, daughter of Jeff and Mary Grace Summers

Miguel Valderrama of Lima, Peru, son of Teresa Valerrama

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Recent news reports on the Bardarbunga volcano in Iceland have reminded many of its potentially destructive nature, but for one geology major at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, it is a reminder that volcanoes are a fascinating object of nature worthy of respect.

UALR senior Kelly Ho, who recently studied in the San Francisco volcanic field in Arizona, spent eight weeks researching the timing, styles, and hazards of volcanism through the geology program at Northern Arizona University.

“Volcanoes are one of the most fascinating topics in geology, so any geology major knows what an honor it is to spend a summer with them,” she said.

The program is funded through a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) grant, which was part of the appeal for Ho.

“Since REU try to help students really understand what scientific research entails, I was able to make major decisions from the birth of my project to its final conclusions,” she said.

The program begins with a week’s study of volcanoes and volcanic processes. In the second week, students work closely with a faculty mentor to develop a project prospectus that outlines their work plan and a timeline for completing it.

The San Francisco volcanic field contains more than 600 volcanoes, most of which are scoria, or cinder cones. Scientists believe that many of these volcanoes erupted within the last 500,000 years. They bear record of the diversity of eruptive styles seen, but not often preserved in scoria cones.

The research internship was not all work. Ho was able to plan some side trips with participants in other REU programs on campus.

“Arizona is full of nice geology and people, and nothing beats sitting at the top of a volcano,” Ho said. “Although, standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon is definitely a close second!”

Ho, a Jonesboro native, is a University Science Scholar and a Donaghey Scholar at UALR.

Dr. Jim Winter, director of the University Science Scholar program, helped Ho find significant summer research opportunities and apply for them.

“Kelly is an enthusiastic, high energy, hardworking, intelligent, and exuberant budding young scientist,” Winter said. “We are so pleased she enjoyed her experience, and we know she has many more exciting research opportunities in her future.”

Outside of UALR, Ho participates in the Central Arkansas Gem, Mineral, and Geology Society. She has also served as a teaching assistant for introductory geology labs.

Ho, who expects to graduate in May 2015, will soon begin the application process to graduate schools focused on sustainability and conservative water remediation.

She said the research summer internship was a great chance to get to know people from different parts of the world, share ideas, and learn from others academically and personally.

“I have been just as fortunate to meet people at UALR that have shared many interesting personal experiences as well as what is going on in the scientific community,” Ho said.

“If there’s anything that I’ve learned these past few years, it’s to ask questions about others – you never know what you’ll learn!”

The post Donaghey Scholar Studies Volcanoes in Arizona appeared first on Donaghey <br />Scholars.

Dr. Edward M. Anson, professor of history at UALR, has been nominated for the Criticos Prize for his 2013 book, Alexander the Great: Themes and Issues.

Funded by the Athens-based Critico-Fotinelli Foundation and administration, the London Hellenic Society sponsors the prize, worth more than $16,000.

Dr. Anson has authored six additional books and more than 30 journal articles. He is currently under contract to produce a second edition of Eumenes of Cardia: A Greek Among Macedonians to be published in 2015.

He is the also the editor of the “Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic World” series for Lexington Books, published by Rowman and Littlefield; associate editor of the Ancient History Bulletin; and a classics assessor for an Australian government agency that awards grants to researchers.

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The Donaghey Scholars Program invites all prospective students to attend our annual Sampler Day on Thursday, October 30 from 9:45 AM-4:00 PM. Sampler Day is an opportunity for interested students to spend the day as a Donaghey Scholar by attending courses and getting to know current Scholars, faculty, and alumni. Information sessions for both parents and students will also be held throughout the day. In addition to learning more about the Scholars Program, students will have the chance to tour the campus and the residence halls, and meet with faculty from their prospective majors.

Space is limited and reservations are requested. Call 501.569.3389 or email dsp@ualr.edu for more information or to RSVP.

The post Donaghey Scholars Sampler Day- October 30, 2014 appeared first on Donaghey <br />Scholars.

Congratulations to Donaghey Scholars Program Director Emeritus Dr. C. Earl Ramsey on being elected Regional Director of the Great Plains Honors Council! In this role, Dr. Ramsey will help to increase the visibility of regional honors through fundraising and promotional activities.

The post Director Emeritus C. Earl Ramsey Elected to Regional Office appeared first on Donaghey <br />Scholars.

Third Year Donaghey Scholar Kelly Montgomery is living a lifelong dream this fall as part of the Walt Disney World College Program. Montgomery, a psychology major at UALR, is working in attractions at the Magic Kingdom. Her thoughts on the experience:

“The Disney College Program has been a wonderful experience for me. I work Attractions in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom. Specifically, I work at Peter Pan’s Flight and “it’s a small world.” I get to perform lots of different jobs within my role. I greet guests coming into my attractions, help load them onto the boats (pirate ships at Peter Pan’s Flight and cruise ships at “It’s a small world), check for Fastpasses, and push the buttons that actually run the attractions.

My favorite role at work is what we call “pixie dusting” at Peter Pan’s Flight. We stand at the end of the load belt, and as the pirate ships come toward us, we sprinkle them with pixie dust to make the lap bars magically lower and to help the boats fly. It’s wonderful watching the smiles on little girls faces when I tell them that Tinker Bell herself gave me the pixie dust. I truly am creating magic. On my days off, I’m able to go into the parks and leisurely explore the magic that unfolds in each land.

I live in Disney-owned housing right outside Disney property. It’s a wonderful community filled with other college students working for “The Mouse.” I’ve made so many friends here and adore each and every one of my coworkers. It’s better than I could have ever dreamed it would be.

I absolutely love my job here. I’ve loved Disney my entire life and I still can’t believe I’m actually living out my dreams here in Florida. Disney is a wonderful company and they treat their Cast Members just as well as we treat the guests each and every day. I would highly recommend this internship to anyone. It’s really helping me build my interpersonal skills and I feel like I’ll be a better person after it’s all over.”

The post Donaghey Scholar Creates Magic at Walt Disney World appeared first on Donaghey <br />Scholars.

First Year Donaghey Scholar Natalie Doris has written an excellent article for the UALR Forum on Donaghey Scholars Program Interim Director Dr. Simon Hawkins. You can find the piece at the link below.

http://ualr.edu/forum/index.php/2014/10/08/students-share-impressions-of-professor-simon-hawkins/

The post Interim Director Described as “Eccentric” and “Wicked Smart” appeared first on Donaghey <br />Scholars.

Jermaine Marshall, 22, a senior computer science major at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has been accepted as a National GEM (Graduate Engineering Degrees for Minorities) Ph.D. Science Fellow.

As a GEM Fellow, Marshall, a graduate of Central High School in Helena-West Helena, will have the opportunity to participate in a paid summer internship hosted by Adobe, a global leader in digital marketing and media.

Among his many distinctions at UALR, Marshall is also a McNair Scholar, a Donaghey Scholar, African American Male Initiative Program member, Engineering and Information Technology Ambassador, former EIT Summer Undergraduate Program of Entrepreneurship and Research Scholar, a member of the Dean’s List, and an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Kappa Psi Chapter.

As part of his research through the UALR McNair Scholars Program, a federally-funded TRIO Program, Marshall analyzed Twitter feeds for language use based on mature-rated video games and their reported usage under the mentorship of Dr. Keith Bush.

The GEM Fellowship favorably positions Marshall for the many doctoral programs in computer science to which he has applied.

The stated mission of The National GEM Consortium is to enhance the value of human capital for the U.S. by increasing the participation of underrepresented groups at the master’s and doctoral levels in engineering and science.

Each year, more than 1,300 applicants are screened and matched to employer needs. Students’ average GPA exceeds 3.5 across a wide variety of technical majors.

The post Donaghey Scholar Selected as National GEM Ph.D. Fellow appeared first on Donaghey Scholars.

The Donaghey Scholars Program was well-represented at the Great Plains Honors Council conference on South Padre Island, Texas last weekend. Fourth Year Scholars Emily Dobson and Xeniya Rudolf presented their research.

Dobson, an anthropology major who spent spring semester 2014 in Taiwan, gave a talk titled “Cultural Encounters in Study Abroad: Understanding the Relevance of Students’ Experiences and Perceptions in Developing Intercultural Competence.” Rudolf, a biology major working with UAMS on amyotrophic lateral schlerosis research, presented her poster, “Effects of Nicotine on Expression of Membrane Cofactor Protein CD46 in Human ARPE-19 Cells.”

Also in attendance were Interim Director Simon Hawkins, Assistant Director Jessica Scott, and Director Emeritus C. Earl Ramsey. They participated in GPHC executive committee and conference business meetings, in addition to the important tasks of watching dolphins, learning about mariachi music, and combing the beach for shells.

The post Scholars Make a Splash at the Great Plains Honors Council Conference appeared first on Donaghey Scholars.

UALR has selected 25 of its incoming students to join the Donaghey Scholars Program, the institution’s top honors program. The Donaghey Scholars Program includes a generous financial package of $75,000-$90,000, an interdisciplinary core curriculum emphasizing critical thinking, primary texts, writing, and discussion; a study abroad experience, and a supportive learning environment for undergraduate studies. These students were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants and boast a median ACT score of 30 and a median GPA of 3.9.

Priority application for the next Donaghey Scholars class is Feb. 1, 2016. Applications are accepted through March 1, 2016. For more information, contact the Donaghey Scholars Program office at 501-569-3389 or email dsp@ualr.edu.

Donaghey Scholars Program Class of 2019

Victoria Antely of Lockesburg, AR, daughter of Carol and Sam Antely

Noah Asher of Little Rock, AR, son of Mark and Stacy Asher

Maxwell Campbell of Texarkana, AR, son of Charla and Levi Campbell

Mirah Dievernich of Hot Springs, AR, daughter of Andrea and Markus Dievernich

Stephanie Donovan of Little Rock, AR, daughter of Peter and Stacey Donovan

Harrison Hayworth of Kansas City, Mo, daughter of June and Doug Hayworth

Ingrid Helgestad of Little Rock, AR, daughter of Tara and Karl Helgestad

Arooba Ilyas of Little Rock, AR, daughter of Alia Ilyas and Mohammad Ilyas

Grishma KC of Lalitpur, Nepal, daughter of Binod KC and Geeta Karki KC

Kathryn Latham of Little Rock, AR, daughter of Mary Margaret and John Latham

Tyler Maxwell of Hamburg, AR, son of Alan Maxwell and Fran Maxwell

Jessica Morris of Jacksonville, AR, daughter of John and Gail Morris

Willow Moyer of Rogers, AR, daughter of Wade and Cathy Moyer

Olivia Oberling of North Little Rock, AR, daughter of Don and Jennifer Oberling

Julie O’Hara of Little Rock, AR, daughter of Meredith and Joe O’Hara

Alex Palmer of Vilonia, AR, son of Monica and Calvin Palmer

Abigail Resendiz of Alexander, AR, daughter of Maria and Paulino Resendiz

Kaleb Smith of Texarkana, TX

Cameron Still of Benton, AR, son of Machelle Garrett and Mike Still

Jessica Tate of Nashville, AR, daughter of Timothy Tate and Irene Tate

Luke Tyhurst of Bryant, AR, son of Julie Tyhurst and Charles Tyhurst

Shayna Underwood of New Braunfels, TX, daughter of Sid and Sheri Underwood

Nicole Ursin of Batesville, AR, daughter of Kristina and John Ursin

Taemora Williams of Tacoma, WA, daughter of Katrina Williams

Dylan Wright of Little Rock, AR, son of Tanya and Richard Wright

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