Utah State |
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Dr. David Lancy dlancy@cc.usu.edu |
Dr. Christie Fox clfox@cc.usu.edu |
Kay Gamble kgamble@cc.usu.edu |
Honors is proud to announce that two of Utah State University's four nominees to the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship were named 2004 Goldwater Scholars in March. This scholarship provides tuition, fees, room & board (up to $7,500) for 1-2 years for undergraduates studying and planning a research career in math, natural science, or engineering. Congratulations to Stephanie and David! Stephanie J. Chambers, a junior from Providence, Utah, will graduate Spring 2005 with Honors in Biology and University Studies. Stephanie then plans to earn an M.D./Ph.D. in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology and conduct research into protein biochemistry and heart diseases. David R. Hatch, from Wellsville, Utah, is also a junior. David will graduate Spring 2005 with Bachelor of Science degrees in Physics and Mathematics and intends to obtain a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics, after which he will pursue a research career. |
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Goldwater
Scholar Stephanie Chambers poses for a photo with Honors Program
Director Dr. David Lancy, and Vice Provost for Undergraduate Research
Dr. Joyce Kinkead at the dedication by President Kermit Hall of the
"Wall of Honor" on the first floor of the Merrill Library. |
Also on a congratulatory note, two of this year's six USU Hubbard Family Scholarships went to students in the Honors Program. Lafe Conner is a junior majoring in History Teaching, and Rachel Johnson is a senior in the Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning program. These students were selected as Hubbard scholarship recipients for their interest and ability in creative writing, including the areas of poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction. Candidates submitted portfolios that were reviewed by the scholarship selection committee. Lafe and Rachel will each receive a $3,000 scholarship to be used next academic year. |
Introducing the nine Honors students who will be working as Honors Fellows for the 2004-2005 school year. While the title remains the same as it has in the past, Honors Fellows will now play a more dynamic role in the Honors Program. Each Fellow will assist in either one of the Honors breadth courses or Scholars Forum, help with Last Lecture, present their own research to next spring's Honors 2100 classes, and work in an advising capacity to other students. |
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HONR 1300
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Daniel
Guy Schauerhamer, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Guy is involved
in USU's Get Away Special Research Team, which designs experiments to
fly on space shuttles. Of Honors, Guy explains that: "The classes I
have taken through Honors have helped me become a better student, and
have broadened my education." |
HONR 1320 |
Christine
Merrill, History, French minor. Christine plans to graduate with Honors
in History in Spring 2005. She says that Honors classes have made it
possible for her to "interact with several amazing people . . . . [and]
see what makes someone the best of the best." |
HONR 1330 |
Aubrey Eldredge, Elementary Education. Aubrey is involved in several clubs and councils on campus and enjoys serving in leadership positions. Of Honors, Aubrey explains: "I have taken advantage of so many opportunities that would not have been mine had I discontinued Honors." |
HONR 1340 |
Brooke
Christensen, Elementary Education. Brooke is currently involved in an
undergraduate research project at the Edith Bowen Laboratory School,
having to do with at-home reinforcement of classroom-taught mathematics
concepts. Brooke has "enjoyed the Honors Program this year, and look[s]
forward to the new challenges it will bring." |
HONR 1350 |
Joel
Gillespie, Computer Science. When Joel first enrolled at USU in Fall
2002, he participated in the Honors Program's former Honors Council and
"had the opportunity to actively participate in the advancement of
Honors." Joel has found Honors classes "to be thought-provoking and
much more fun than . . . normal classes." |
HONR 1360 |
Amanda
Haycock, Political Science. Amanda is excited to begin Department
Honors and says that she looks "forward to the opportunity of working
closely with professors in [her] field." |
Scholars Forum HONR 2000 |
Talina
Christensen, Chemistry. Within her first year at USU, Talina has worked
in two different chemistry research labs and, next semester, hopes to
begin her "own research in cellular chemistry and prevention of the
degeneration of cells upon the treatment of asbestos." Talina is
excited to help incoming students "realize that USU is not just a
four-year university; it is a wonderful institute of learning and
opportunities, not to mention a lot of fun." |
Scholars Forum HONR 2000 |
Lisa
Ferrara, Professional and Technical Writing, Women and Gender Studies
minor, Art History minor. Lisa currently has artwork on display in the
"Women Inspiring Hope and Possibility" show at the AVA Gallery and,
even though this is her first year at USU, has already begun her
Department Honors work in the English Department. |
| Scholars Forum |
Julia
Squires, International Studies, Linguistics minor. During high school,
Julia spent ten months with her family in the West Bank of Israel,
which led her to become "extremely interested in the Middle East,
particularly Israel and the occupied territories." Julia plans to
revisit Palestine this summer, as a precursor to her undergraduate
research and application for an URCO grant. Julia says that she has
"found Honors to be an altogether worthwhile experience" and looks
forward to continue being "involved as much as possible." |
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read more about the breadth courses these Fellows will be mentoring and
the professors with whom they will work, please visit http://www.usu.edu/honors/CoursesF04.htm. |
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Department Honors is now available to students majoring in Art, Social Work, and Agricultural Education. Honors is also working on extensive revisions to Departmental Honors in Business, Engineering, and Elementary Education. For copies of the new plans, please write to kgamble@cc.usu.edu . |
We are also working on the development of a unique Honors concentration (comparable to Department Honors) in Creative Writing. If you are interested, please write to dlancy@cc.usu.edu. |
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The 29th Annual Last Lecture was held on Thursday, April 15th in the TSC Ballroom. Melissa Bowles, Stephanie Chambers, Sarah Moody and Katherine Shakespeare formed the panel of Honors students who interviewed the student-nominated professors. The panel selected Dr. William L. Furlong from the Political Science department to speak to students and faculty, offering the advice he would give were this his "last lecture" at USU. Steve Stoddard, an Honors student majoring in Political Science, introduced Dr. Furlong to the gathering. Dr. Furlong's talk, entitled "Academic Freedom and Political Correctness: Teaching Controversial Topics Constructively," is available online, in PDF format, at http://websites.usu.edu/politicalscience/ . |
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Congratulations to Benson H. Morrill, who was awarded the first annual Helen B. Cannon Award on April 29th . As the Awardee, Benson will receive $1000 in two payments of $500. Benson became passionately interested in amphibians and reptiles, especially snakes, in his youth and was able to begin a focused study of them while he was home-schooled between the sixth and tenth grades. Upon graduation from Skyview High School, Benson entered USU as a food science major, because he had a hard time envisioning making a living by studying reptiles. Benson left for an LDS mission to Alabama, thinking that he would use the time to decide whether to continue studying food science or change to biology; Benson's lifelong passion for reptiles won in the end. "[A]t the end of those two years," says Benson, "I found that I still remembered most of the scientific names I had memorized years before, and had not seen at all for two years. Thus, when I returned to Utah State I changed my major to biology." Benson is currently conducting extensive research on the Marine Toad Bufo marinus,
and will spend this summer in the Portal, Arizona, area, working to
determine the amount of genetic variation among populations of the
Marine Toad north and south of the Trans-Mexican Neovolcanic Belt.
Benson plans to graduate with Honors in Biology in December 2004, and
go on to graduate school, where he will continue to study herpetology. |
The Inaugural Helen B. Cannon Award Reception was held April 29 th in the University Inn. Helen and Dr. Larry Cannon were in attendance, as were their son-in-law and daughter, Nathan and Laurel Cannon Alder. Helen was also joined at the reception by many friends, former students, and other members of her family. The far-reaching effects of Helen's giving nature were readily apparent in the stories shared about her influence on others, especially in portions of letters of appreciation shared by Honors Program Director, Dr. David Lancy, with those present. One former student, speaking of the binder full of essays she wrote in Helen's class, says, "They are a priceless treasure to me . . . . I loved getting papers back because [Helen] took the time to write her own responses on every page . . . . [E]ven though I'm now changing diapers, wiping noses, and planning meals instead of teaching and writing for hours each day, she continues to send praise for the simple words I mail her way. I [feel] like writing back to her the words she wrote at the very top of my final essay in [English] 301, 'I could just hug you!'"Another former student wrote to tell of a time when she dropped by Helen's office to discuss an Honors project she was working on. "On this day, Helen must've been looking for something in particular," the student explains. "[W]hen I arrived at her door, vast amounts of papers had migrated from the shelves to the floor, and I found Helen sitting on the carpet amid the piles . . . . Of all the experiences I could tell," she continues, "I like this one best because I love the image of Helen, immersed literally to her chin, in the written work that she loved. Without hesitation, she stopped in the middle of her own engrossing work and invited me to join her, neck-deep in writing. To me, this small incident illustrates the unfailing commitment and generosity Helen showed all her students."Helen's influence is perhaps most apparent in the flood of donations that have been sent to supplement the institutional donation made by the Alders and Cannons. Dozens of friends and associates who've benefited from Helen's generosity have eagerly contributed to the Award. To read more about Helen and the Cannon Award, please visit http://www.usu.edu/honors/cannon.htm. To read more about the 2004 Cannon Awardee, please visit http://www.usu.edu/honors/cannon_winner.htm. |
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Helen was joined at the Reception by her husband, Dr. Larry Cannon, a professor in the mathematics department. |
Nathan Alder, husband of Laurel Cannon Alder and co-founder of the Cannon Award, speaks to the gathering. |
Members of Helen's family stand behind a statue inspired by the New Yorker, made by Pia Bergholtz in honor of Helen. |
Benson H. Morrill, 2004 Cannon Awardee, expresses his thanks to those who made the Award possible. |
Also chosen by the selection committee were five students to receive Honorable Mentions. These students will receive $200 apiece, to assist them as they complete degrees in Honors. Stephanie J. Chambers, Biology |
Honors is now accepting applications for nomination to the Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship for the 2005-2006 school year. These Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships provide funding for one academic year of study in another country. The award is intended to help cover round-trip transportation, tuition, fees, room and board expenses, and some educational supplies up to $25,000. USU is permitted to select three students to submit their applications for this scholarship.Applicants should have excellent scholastic credentials, a clear idea of proposed field of study, enthusiasm for the Rotary ideals of service and the promotion of world understanding, and must complete their baccalaureate degree before July 2005. Please visit www.rotary.org for more information about the scholarship. (Click on "The Rotary Foundation," then "Educational Programs," and "Ambassadorial Scholarships.") Completed applications are due to Dr. Joyce Kinkead in Old Main by July 12th. Please contact Dr. Lancy at dlancy@cc.usu.edu or Dr. Fox at clfox@cc.usu.edu by June 15th if you are interested in applying. |
Many thanks to Panu Puikkonen, the Honors Activities Chairman, who organized our end-of-year social, which was held April 21. CRY-USU, a student organization that provides relief to children in India, prepared and served a delicious meal for those who attended. Thanks to all who helped make the evening successful! |
And, finally, give a round of applause to those students who graduated with Honors during the 2003-2004 Academic Year:Spring 2004 Fall 2003 Summer 2003 |
We hope everyone has a safe, fun summer! —Honors |