The Robert E. Cook Honors College News

The IUP Crimson Hawks women’s basketball team finished an impressive playoff run in the NCAA tournament, falling to Glenville State 65-59 in the East Region Championship round on March 12.

Three students from the Robert E. Cook Honors College helped bring the team to its successful season. They were senior accounting major Katie Glaws, freshmen biology/pre-med major Erika Hess and physical education major Kierstin Filla.

This trip to the NCAA playoffs marks IUP’s fourth visit to the tournament since first qualifying in 1999 and 2000.

Students Participate in English Undergraduate Conference
by Mary Siriani

Seven Honors College students presented critical papers and creative work at the Annual English Undergraduate Conference at IUP March 2, 2007.

The student presenters included Elise Auvil in the women’s literature session (“The Evolution of Morgan leFay”); D.C. Fisher, Elizabeth Barrett Browning (“Sensation Rather than Reflection”); Leeann Comfort, ethics in literature (“The Function of Repetition in the Affirmation of Identity in Beckett's Waiting for Godot”); Mary Sirianni, film (“What Makes Sammy Run? Structuralism and Marxism in Do The Right Thing); Tim Zeddies, creative non-fiction (“Squid-Boy Messiah and the Austrian Art Apocalypse”); Rose Huber and Bill Harder, creative works.

The conference, titled “English Studies in Action,” featured other sessions on seventeenth century literature, pedagogy, and Victorian literature. IUP English Department faculty Dr. Wendy Carse and Dr. Heather Powers coordinated the event, which was open to all English majors and minors.

Honors College Student Earns Internship Position at Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
by Melissa Yates

Junior Honors College student, Stephen Logan recently accepted a position at PHMC (Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission) as a Keystone Intern. The PHMC encompasses several agencies including the Bureau for Historic Preservation which is where Mr. Logan will be working this summer. The BHP (Bureau for Historic Preservation) houses records for properties that are listed on the National Historic Register. Employees provide historic preservation services by the authority of the Pennsylvania Historic Code and the National Historic Preservation Act.

Specifically Logan will work in the area of Heritage Development where he will focus on a program instituted by President Bush and chaired by First Lady Laura Bush called "Preserve America." Logan describes his assignment as encouraging local communities to take action to preserve their towns. He will work to register hundreds of eligible communities throughout the state. Logan will also meet with local government officials and community leaders in those areas who have not yet elected to join the “Preserve America” program to express to them the benefits of historic preservation. Says Logan, “Many times local communities avoid preservation because they may not have the resources or they are afraid that local taxpayers will not approve, so I will seek to ease their concerns.”

The Keystone internship is available to rising college juniors and seniors and is a highly competitive internship program. Approximately twelve interns are chosen annually after a rigorous application and interview process. Each Keystone intern receives a $3500 stipend for their 12 weeks of work.

McGovern accepted into research internship with Geisinger Health System

A sophomore from the Robert E. Cook Honors College was accepted into a summer
research internship at Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Health System. Biochemistry major Olivia McGovern will be working the field of biomedical research studying the cellular and molecular basis of human disease.

Olivia McGovern was selected to this program based on her academic performance, standardized test scores and stated career goals. This highly competitive program (the acceptance rate is about 15%) has involved students from more than 46 colleges and universities in 10 states.

"The Weis Center for Research represents a unique resource for Central Pennsylvania in terms of both physical facility and its human capital. The Weis Center Summer Undergraduate Research Intern Program is part of an effort to make these valuable resources available to promising college students from the region. This program, which was begun in 1988, exposes talented undergraduate students to career opportunities in biomedical research and provides hands-on research experience.”

McGovern will be working under the direct supervision of a Weis research scientist. She will engage in research investigating the molecular and genetic basis of human diseases. The Summer Undergraduate Research Intern Program culminates in a series of oral presentations by the students describing their work completed during the program.

Originally from Orangeville, PA McGovern is a graduate of Central Cambria High School. She is a utility player for the IUP Crimson Hawks Varsity Softball Team in addition to being a member of the Robert E. Cook Honors College.

Physics Major Interning at Washington State University

Umbel A sophomore from the Robert E. Cook Honors College was offered a Research Experience for Undergraduates at Washington State working with optics. Physics major Marissa Umbel will be working with Prof. Sue Dexheimer at Washington State from June 4 through August 8, 2007.

Umbel’s research will involve carrying out photothermal deflection spectroscopy measurements on a series of samples in which physical properties, including the nanoparticle size and shape, and the degree of crystalline order, have been systematically varied.

Umbel is trying to understand the relation of the semiconductor properties to the measured optical properties. This research should be able to relate to properties of the femtosecond time-resolved measurements of photonconductivity in these materials.

A 4.0 Physics major, Umbel is also an avid runner and member of the IUP Crimson Hawks Cross Country Team. She graduated from Indiana Area Senior High School in the top five percent of her class. This will be her second summer experience; in ’06 Umbel was enrolled at Cambridge University in England.

Robert E. Cook Honors College Students Help Crimson Hawks Claim Title
by Rachel McAndrew

The IUP Crimson Hawks claimed its second PSAC Women's Basketball Title in School History by Defeating California. With the 63-53 win, the Crimson Hawks have earned the number three seed in the NCAA Division II Region East tournament. This will be the fourth time in school history that women's basketball have advanced to the Region East tournament, but it will be the first time for the three Robert E. Cook Honors College students currently playing on the team.

Senior accounting major Katie Glaws, freshman biology pre-med major Erika Hess and freshman physical education major Kierstin Filla have excelled not just in the honors college but have been vital contributors to the Crimson Hawks' success.

Glaws was recently selected to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District II first team and is on the ballot as a candidate for Academic All-America honors, a step forward from her second team all-district berth from a year ago. Katie has a 3.94 and will graduate Summa Cum Laude in May before beginning an internship as a staff accountant at the Wailea Resort Hotel and
Spa in Maui, Hawaii. Next fall, Katie will be enrolled at Ohio State University to pursue a master's degree in accounting. She plans to become a certified public accountant.

Filla and Hess are beginning their academic and athletic careers and are off to a good start. In a recent semi-finals match against Millersville, Filla scored a career high fifteen points.

The Crimson Hawks play their first match in the Division II Region East tournament today at 1:00 against number six seed Barton.

Alumna Selected to Serve as a 2007 University of Delaware Legislative Fellow

Robert E. Cook Honors College alumna Shelley Cook was selected to serve as a 2007 University of Delaware Legislative Fellow. Cook is a master’s student at University of Delaware where she is studying public administration. Shelley will join 11 other Legislative Fellows who were selected through a rigorous, university-wide competition this past fall.

Begun in 1982, The Legislative Fellows Program links research capacity of the University of Delaware with the research needs of the Delaware General assembly. This experience offers Shelly Cook a valuable opportunity to observe and contribute to the political decision-making process. For the General Assembly, the program provides the research skills of the Fellows as well as a link to University resources.

Celebrating 25 years of service to the Delaware General Assembly in 2007, the program will provide Shelley with an opportunity to observe and contribute to the political decision-making process. Shelly has been placed in the Delaware General Assembly’s House Minority Caucus. She will assist legislators through her contribution to non-partisan in-depth research on critical issues facing the state.

The Legislative Fellows program is managed by the Institute for Public Administration (IPA), College of Human Services, and Education and Public Policy (CHEP). Information about the Legislative Fellows can be found at: http://www.ipa.udel.edu/legfellows/fellows.html

Shelley also serves as a research assistant for the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration. In addition, she is the Public Administration Representative for the Graduate Student Senate. In 2006 Shelley graduated summa cum laude from the Robert E. Cook Honors College at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She earned degrees in journalism and political science.

Alumna Receives Volunteer Service Award

Kara Taylor An alumna from the Robert E. Cook Honors College has been selected to receive the 2006 Foundation for the IUP Volunteer Service Award in recognition of significant dedication to community service.

A math education Major Kara Taylor was one out of two recipients selected by the Foundation for the IUP Community Volunteer Services Award Review Committee.

The Foundation for the IUP Volunteer Service Award recognizes the volunteer commitment of the Foundation for IUP’s Board of Directors through the years. Developed in June 1998 this award is a way to honor the 30th anniversary of the Foundation for IUP. The Foundation for IUP is a non-profit entity that receives and manages private support for IUP.

Kara Taylor has volunteered for the Katrina Disaster Relief Fund, Grocer’s Fight Against Cancer, Indiana County Humane Society, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and the Kids Read Program, a literacy program for elementary school children.

Currently, Taylor is teaching at R.K. Smith Middle School in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, a neighboring parish of New Orleans. Alumnae of the IUP Women’s Basketball Program, she is also coaching the R.K. Smith Middle School girl’s basketball team.

In addition Kara Taylor is also the 2006 recipient of IUP’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. She was also selected for ESPN: The Magazine’s Academic All-American Division II.

Honors College Junior Performs with National Wind Ensemble
by Rachel McAndrew

Medley This spring, a junior from the Robert E. Cook Honors College will be performing with the National Wind Ensemble at Carnegie Hall. Music education major Cheryl Leone Medley will join seventy-four other musicians in May when they will begin rehearsal in New York City.

The National Wind Ensemble selects the finest high school, college and graduate student musicians from across the country. Members are selected through an individual audition process; Cheryl auditioned in the fall of ’07 and received notification of her acceptance in January of ’08. This coming May, the ensemble will gather in New York for five days of preparations and rehearsals. Through this experience, Cheryl will have the opportunity to work with famous conductor H. Robert Reynolds.

“It will be an awesome experience to work with so many other talented musicians and such an exceptional conductor. As a music education student, I am always seeking opportunities to grow both as a player and as a potential teacher. Through working with this ensemble and this master conductor, I hope to increase my knowledge of how best to run a rehearsal as well as have an exceptional performance.”

Cheryl started playing trombone in 5th grade and teaches lessons for several students in the Indiana area. She currently is playing in Jazz Band, Brass Ensemble, Trombone Choir, and Wind Ensemble. At the end of last semester, Cheryl performed with a new faculty group on campus called Keystone Chamber Winds. “It was an awesome experience to work with a few other students and so many professors to play some really incredible music.” Keystone Chamber Winds is a fairly new group that grew out of the Keystone Wind Ensemble. The concept was to have an elite group of musicians such as the Keystone Wind Ensemble with emphasis on high quality band performances and apply it to chamber pieces. This past semester, Keystone Chamber Winds included various students and faulty. Faulty members include Conductor, Jack Stamp along with Therese Wacker, Stephanie Caulder, John Kuehn, David Martynuik, Jason Worzbyt, Kevin Eisensmith, David Ferguson, Jack Scandrett, Christian Dickinson, Linda Jennings, and Nathan Santos.

Cheryl primary instructor is Dr. Dickinson who she has been studying with for the past five semesters. “It’s been a great experience and I have grown as much as a player as well as a person.”

Cheryl will soon be student teaching and plans for a career as a band director. She feels that the Robert E. Cook Honors College has provided her with one of the best educational experiences available and has done an excellent job preparing students for anything they can think to do. “The Honors College is what brought me [to IUP] all the way from Rhode Island. So, I think the HC can pat themselves on the back!”

Botelho En-garde
by Jennifer Barton

Dr. Botelho When Indiana University of Pennsylvania History Professor Dr. Lynn Botelho is not teaching a class, participating on numerous committees, or preparing to publish a new essay, she spends her time lunging, attacking, and parrying as a nationally ranked fencer.

A fencing captain and champion in her undergraduate years at the University of Oregon, Botelho later participated on the Cambridge University fencing team while she was pursuing her doctorate. After taking a break from fencing to advance in her career, she jumped back into fencing and now competes at the national level. She noted, “It has always been who I am.”

Botelho competes as a veteran, but also in Division I, where younger fencers of equal ability compete. The top four Division I fencers make up the United States Olympic fencing team. In fencing, players are either rated A through E or are unrated. Botelho is ranked C, and can only fence against those players with a C or better ranking. “I am at the bottom of the elite,” Botelho explained.

Recently, Botelho participated in the Nittany Lion Open and finished third. At the recent Charm City Classic, held in Baltimore, Maryland, she finished very well with a third place. In big competitions such as the North American Cup and the National Championships, where Botelho finished eighth this year, fencers earn points that help form a national points ranking. Her current national rankings are 5th in Veterans and 53rd in Division I.

To train for fencing, Botelho runs daily and goes to the gym, like many athletes. Aside from this cross training, however, she is bound by contract to attend two private lessons a week. All the training Botelho completes is to prepare her for meets, in which she fences a series of bouts to five points each. Most individual meets are comprised of two parts, the pools and direct elimination. The pools establish player rankings by allowing each fencer to bout the other competitors one time. Following the pools, the direct elimination begins until there are four fencers remaining for the semi-final round, the two losers are each awarded third place while the winners advance to the final round to bout for first and second. Depending on the number of competitors, fencing tournaments can run from early morning into the evening.

So why does she keep working hard for this sport? She explained that, “it is physical chess for the very fit. You waiver a moment and you get stabbed. The fun starts when you start changing strategies in the middle of a bout because someone has figured out what you are doing -- and then you have to change what you are doing again.”

Botelho 2006 Fencing Championships Dr. Botelho's fencing mindset comes into play when she is teaching her students at IUP’s Robert E. Cook Honors College where critical thinking is explored through an interdisciplinary liberal arts curriculum. Botelho states, “Fencing is critical thinking at 70mph! I have to figure out my opponents motivation, technique, bias (style) while at the same time be equally honest about my own and how it fits into the mix. Then, as they change what they are doing, I have to go through the entire process again and figure it out and make my own adjustments accordingly. All of this in 3 minutes! It's fast and fun. My old coach was once asked if there were any dumb fencers and he said 'yes, just not good ones!’”

History Major at the Chinese University in Hong Kong

Russo Gina Russo, a Robert E Cook HonorsCollege studen, is studying abroad through a grant from the Phi Kappa Phi study abroad program and funding from the Robert E. Cook Enhancement Fund. In order to share her experiences, she is keeping an online travel blog. Russo, a junior history major from Lakewood, Colorado, is studying at the Chinese University of Hong Kong with the intention of learning more about the language and culture, as well as pursuing a concentration in Asian Studies. The blog can be found: http://realtravel.com/china-trips-i2352879.html.

The Honors College wants its students to have every chance to excel and goes to great lengths to help students, one example of this philanthropy is through the Cook Enhancement fund provided by benefactor Robert Cook for whom the college is named.

“One of the things we do is help young people to raise their sights, to aim higher and to achieve the very best that is in them. Our job is not to tell the student how to plan his or her life. Our job is to provide the tools to allow the students to transform the way they think, reason and react to intellectual stimuli. Part of that experience is to extend their personal horizons beyond what they have known,” explains Robert Cook. “We encourage our students to travel and study in other countries and to intern with top companies and in the public service sector. My reward will be to see these young people become more productive, more vital and more involved in the greater good of our society than would have been possible without the Honors College.”

Butler Biochemistry Student Wins Department of Homeland Security Scholarship

Kaycie Butler, a junior at the Robert E. Cook Honors College of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, has earned the Department of Homeland Security Scholarship. Following her spring semester, she will attend a 10 week internship at her choice of one department approved lab.

The biochemistry major was chosen from students across the country who wrote essays on how their majors and career goals will help defend the United States. Butler’s paper focused on the use of biochemistry to fight terrorism and protect the country from potential health disasters.

As a recipient of this award, Butler receives a scholarship covering the cost of tuition and all mandatory fees. She will attend an orientation in Washington D.C. during November with the small group of award recipients.

Butler, Daughter of Ed and Diane Butler from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, is currently involved in organic chemistry research with Dr. Carl LeBlond, a chemistry professor at IUP. She is also the western captain of the IUP Equestrian Team, a member of Alpha Chi Sigma, the Professional Chemistry Frat, and a member of the American Chemical Society.

HONORS COLLEGE GRADUATE LOOKS TO HISTORY TO UNDERSTAND MODERN RELATIONSHIPSWITH JAPAN

An Indiana University of Pennsylvania student and 2001 graduate of Warren Area High School recently completed a thesis examining the life and work of a prominent figure in 19th century Japanese government.

Kellie E. Sharp, daughter of Karen A. Repine of Jackson Run Rd. and Judd A. Sharp of Clarendon, PA, graduated summa cum laude from IUP’s Robert E. Cook Honors College in May 2006.

In her paper, “Fukuzawa Yukichi: Confucian Entrepreneur of Meiji Japan,” Sharp states that although he possessed forward thinking ideas, he was deeply rooted in Japanese Confucian tradition.

Sharp’s thesis advisor, Dr. Alan Baumler a history professor, said Sharp approached Fukuzawa’s life in a different way than those before her. “This thesis presents a new way of looking at Fukuzawa,” said Baumler. “Previous studies saw him as an importer of Western ideas of liberalism into 19th century Japan. Sharp looks at Fukuzawa as a Confucian entrepreneur, heir to a long tradition of Tokugawa-era samurai intellectual activists and intellectuals.”

Sharp sees research like this imperative to understanding how Japan acts today. “It is important to understand this vital period in Japanese history if we are to cooperate with Japan in the modern era,” said Sharp.

Currently Sharp is working in her hometown and planning to apply for the JET program which teaches English in Japan. She plans to go back to school for a master’s degree in TESOL, teaching English to speakers of other languages, and work in Asia.

While at IUP Sharp was an editor and web designer of IUP’s Student History Journal, a provost scholar and on the dean’s list.

-- Bill Harder, student writer

Honors College student earns National Research Award

Joseph W. Zewe, an honors college sophomore Chemistry major, is the recipient of the Sigma Xi Outstanding Research Award. In addition to this national honor, Zewe received a monitary award in recognition of his academic achievement and toward furthering his research with a faculty member.

Zewe was also recently honored with a 2006 Division of Analytical Chemistry American Chemical Society Undergraduate Award.

Zewe, a chemistry and chemistry education major, has served as president of the IUP chapter of the American Chemical Society since 2005 and as secretary during the 2004-2005 academic year.

He is also a recipient of the Ronald Marks Scholarship and the Chemistry Department Academic Achievement Award for the past three years.

Two Honors Students Earn Music Video Awards

Two Honors College students earned "Best non-animated music video" awards at The Indiana Video, Animation, Multimedia & Photography Awards on April 27, 2006. Aaron Stunkard, of Prompton, won First Place for the Flaming Lips song "SpongeBob and Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy." Robyn Schultz, of Peachtree City, GA, earned Honorable Mention for her video, "Crazy."

Stunkard, a political science major, described his video as "a fairly lighthearted video about two gents preparing for the drudgery of white-collar work one morning with overly-joyous gusto."

Stunkard, along with help from his brother and girlfriend, took about 12 hours to shoot, edit and convert the four-minute video onto analog media over spring break.

Schultz's video, "Crazy," is original song by fellow HC student and singer/songwriter Andrew Shingledecker. The video portrays a "date scene" with three of his crazy ex-girlfriends and shows Shingledecker in his living room reminiscing during the verses, according to Shultz.

The video features HC students Andrew Shingledecker as himself, Becky O'Neil as "girlfriend No. 1," Jill Orr as "girlfriend No. 2," and Rachel Weiner as "girlfriend No. 3." The video was made as part of an assignment for Broadcast News Process with Dr. Erick Lauber and took about 30 hours to plan, shoot and edit. Schultz is a communications media major.

Honors College Student Earns National Theater Award

An Honors College senior theater major has been selected as one of two national winners in dramaturgy in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival competition in Washington, D.C.

Emily L. Fargo, a native of Marion, Ohio, won the festival's PlayLabs fellowship and will spend two weeks in July 2006 working in dramaturgy at the Playwright's Center in Minneapolis in the field of original play development. In addition, she is an invited participant in the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas conference also to be held this summer. Dramaturgy is a specialized branch of theater art and involves translating the elements of story to stage. As such, it often involves research, contextualization and creative composition.

Her award came as recognition for dramaturgical research she completed for Minor Demons, a play produced by IUP's Theater-by-the-Grove in Fall 2005. Fargo was originally recognized for her work at the regional level, when she won KCACTF's Award for Excellence in Dramaturgy at the Region II festival in New Paltz, N.Y.

Moving on to the national level of competition, Fargo was able to gain valuable professional experience.

"The conference mostly involved sessions with prominent theater professionals and field trips to local theaters like Arena Stage and Shakespeare Theater Company," she said. "It was very inspiring to meet and interact with some like-minded peers!"

To be considered for the award, Fargo submitted a binder of research materials and explanatory essays, essentially an official copy of the dramaturgical Web site she maintained for Minor Demons (www.turgingsomedrama.com/minordemons). Her site, which includes indepth information about IUP and other productions, contains character and incidental background, past-performance research, photos and other reference materials.
After her regional award was announced, KCACTF officials passed Fargo's research on to national judges, who awarded her top honors.

Fargo will begin a graduate studies program in theater history, literature and criticism this fall at Ohio State University. Her long-term plans include obtaining a doctoral degree and becoming a professor, promoting the study of dramaturgy in undergraduate university theater programs.

Minor Demons originally performed in October as part of IUP's events celebrating the inauguration of IUP President Dr. Tony Atwater, is set in a small rural town somewhere in western Pennsylvania, not far from Pittsburgh. It tells the story of a high-powered lawyer who returns to his roots, running from the pressures and temptations of drugs and alcohol that had become part of his life in Philadelphia. His plans become derailed when he is caught up in a criminal case involving two young teenagers, placing his longtime friendship with the town police chief on the line.

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival is a national program promoting quality theater production in colleges and universities. Student performers, creators, writers and designers converge to showcase their work to a community of theater professionals and receive feedback, instruction and recognition through awards and scholarships

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Honors College Student Wins National Phi Kappa Phi Grant

An Honors College sophomore history major recently became the second Indiana University of Pennsylvania student in the last two years to receive one of 38 national grants from Phi Kappa Phi national honor society for study abroad experiences.

Gina Russo, Lakewood, Colo., is a tutor at IUP's writing center and an IUP Student Ambassador.

In addition, Russo serves as an editor for The Endnote, IUP's peer-reviewed history journal, a tutor at the Salvation Army and the piano accompanist for Bella Voce, a choral group that performs at local nursing homes.

The $1,000 grant will help her spend an entire academic year at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where she will gain advanced knowledge to complement her concentration in Asian Studies.

"I've studied Chinese language here at IUP," Russo said, "but the coursework is limited. I really look forward to building my cultural and language knowledge in China."

Russo competed for the grant first at the university level, where IUP's Phi Kappa Phi chapter leadership chose her application from all that were submitted by IUP students. Her application then moved to the national level and was selected as a winner in Phi Kappa Phi's annual study abroad grant competition.

Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's largest honors society, was founded in 1897 and serves as a global network of scholars and professionals from all disciplines. IUP's chapter of the honors society is one of 300 in the country. Membership is invitation-only, based on distinguished academic achievements.

According to representatives at Phi Kappa Phi's national office in Baton Rouge, the society's study abroad grants are designed to recognize and assist outstanding undergraduates who seek knowledge and experience through studying abroad. Applicants for the awards are expected to display academic and extracurricular leadership, in addition to exceptional dedication to their fields of study.

Russo is the second grant winner in two years from IUP. Last year, Phi Kappa Phi awarded a grant to Amber Skye Flynn, a junior double major in anthropology and religious studies from Little Marsh, in the Robert E. Cook Honors College. Flynn's grant helped her participate in a six-week archaeological excavation in northern Israel.

Honors College Student's Essay Appears on NYTimes.com

An essay by an Honors College student has been selected for inclusion in the online edition of The New York Times.

Jennifer E. Easton of Erie wrote a paper addressing the role of newspapers in a democracy for a conference held at the offices of the newspaper last spring.
The essay was one of seven published from the conference, "Inside the Times," sponsored by The New York Times and the American Democracy Project. The conference involved newspaper editors from public universities nationwide. Easton and another editor attended on behalf of The Penn, IUP's student newspaper.

Easton is working toward a double major in journalism and interdisciplinary fine arts and spent a year as editor in chief of The Penn. During her tenure, she directed "The Civic Project," a foray into civic journalism that has become the foundation for her undergraduate thesis research with journalism professor Dr. David Loomis.

She is also a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, IUP's German club and the Graphic Design Student Association, and is the layout editor of New Growth Arts Review, IUP's literary magazine, and the production artist of The Endnote, IUP's history journal. She is a provost scholar with a 3.91 GPA. Easton spent a summer internship at the Erie Art Museum and plans to pursue a master's degree in public policy this fall.

Her essay, "Telling the Whole Story," asserts that the journalistic traditions started during the muckraking era of the early 1900s still perform a vital service to public knowledge.

"Because the roots of our political system lie in the philosophy of popular sovereignty," she writes, "the populace must be educated - and well. What good is public power if the public does not wield it responsibly and make decisions based on fair and broad knowledge of current and past events?"

The American Democracy Project, co-sponsored by The New York Times and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, is a three-year national initiative aimed to foster informed civic engagement in the United States. The project involves 199 public colleges and universities representing more than 17 million students and provides opportunities for students to engage in activities designed to increase the level of undergraduate student commitment to meaningful civic actions.

Former HC Editor Speaks about The Penn's Pennsylvania Newspaper Award

The Pennsylvania Newspaper Association Foundation announced that The Penn, the campus newspaper at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, is a winner in the 2006 Keystone Press Awards and HC student and former editor in chief Jenni Easton says the award was not unexpected.

"While I was thrilled to learn of the Civic Project's recognition, I must admit that I was not entirely surprised," Easton said. "From the project's outset, I knew that it was unlike anything we'd done before."

"News Reporting students paid focused, unrelenting attention to Student Government Association issues and explored a number of troubling questions," Easton added. "News Reporting students performed an admirable public service through the scope of the civic project, and I'm proud to have published their work so that it could earn this much-deserved statewide honor."

The Penn earned a second-place tie in the public-service category for a series of stories about IUP's Student Government Association. The investigative stories were the product of a practicum partnership between The Penn and students in the fall 2005 News Reporting class taught by IUP journalism professor David Loomis.

The series - labeled the Civic Project - coincided with a Citizenship and Civic Engagement Initiative launched by IUP President Tony Atwater and coordinated by Veronica Watson, associate dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The Penn's Civic Project is an ongoing collaboration between local news media and students in Loomis' News Reporting class.
Easton earned an honorable mention as an editorial writer. Her award was based on three submitted opinion pieces - on suspected oil company price-fixing, on IUP Student Cooperative Association funding of The Penn, and on rapper Snoop Dogg's desire to coach the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Easton and Samuel Carlson, Windber, The Penn's former photography director, earned an honorable mention in the "layout and design" category. Easton and Carlson worked as a team to design The Penn's fall 2005 cover art, and the award is based on one of their collaborations.
The Harrisburg-based foundation granted The Penn awards for work published in 2005.

In addition to the public-service award, The Penn earned writing and design honors.

The students traveled to Hershey on March 29 to attend the America East Newspaper Operations and Technology conference, where The Penn's awards were presented at a ceremony.

The Pennsylvania Newspaper Association is a non-profit organization composed of print journalism professionals across the commonwealth. The association aims to emphasize the importance of a free, independent press and provide a forum for critical and innovative thought about the future of journalism and the newspaper industry.

The Keystone Press Awards competition is held annually by the PNA to recognize outstanding individual contributions to the field of newspaper journalism.

Info Source: Office of Media Relations, Michelle Fryling, Director

Honors College Student Receives Ali-Zaidi Award
March 28, 2006

A student in the Robert E. Cook Honors College at Indiana University of Pennsylvania will receive the 2006 Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence at IUP's commencement ceremony May 13.

Chelsea M. Grove will be presented with a medallion and $1,000 in recognition of her outstanding academic and extracurricular achievement.

Grove, a senior finance major, is the third IUP student to be chosen for this award, which is given annually to a student from one of the 14 Pennsylvania State System universities. The award program began in 2001.

In addition to her finance education, Grove has pursued a French language minor at IUP and a concentration in the Arabic language, which she plans to use in future Middle-East travels. In 2004, she traveled to Egypt, where she studied colloquial Egyptian Arabic and modern standard Arabic.

In May 2004, she was appointed by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell to serve as the student member of IUP's Council of Trustees, on which she helped evaluate and improve campuswide projects and further university goals. Grove also serves as the secretary of the IUP Student Cooperative Association board of directors as well as its finance and operations committees.

Applicants for the Ali-Zaidi award are required to submit, among other materials, an essay detailing how their college experiences have prepared them for the world. In her essay, Grove spoke of the combined effects of the Robert E. Cook Honors College, the finance department in the Eberly College of Business, her language coursework and her tenure with the Council of Trustees.
"Now, as I approach my final semester," she wrote, "it is evident that IUP has offered me so much more than just a classroom. It has offered me a high-quality education and a variety of unique opportunities that will benefit me for a lifetime."

Grove, daughter of Sam Grove and Jeff and Lisa Bouton, all of Indiana, is a 2002 graduate of Indiana Area High School. While at IUP, she also served as a residence hall adviser, worked as a student assistant in IUP's advertising department, tutored students in business classes and was treasurer of the International Business Association and a member of the IUP Language and Culture Exchange Program. She has received more than 10 scholarships.

The Ali-Zaidi Award was established by Syed R. Ali-Zaidi, a founding member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education's Board of Governors, to annually recognize and reward a graduating senior from one of the 14 state-owned universities. Funds for the annual award come from donations made to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation.

Each of the 14 PASSHE university presidents nominated a student for the 2006 Ali-Zaidi Award. The Board of Governor's Academic and Student Affairs Committee members selected the winner.

Past winners from IUP include Luke J. Matthews, a double major in anthropology and biology from Bryn Mawr, and Joanna Stone, a double major in anthropology and Spanish from Lititz. Both are graduates of the Robert E. Cook Honors College.

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Banquet Recognizes Honors College Athletes, Hears Keynote by Super Bowl Veteran

April 17, 2006

A two-time Super Bowl veteran joined President Tony Atwater as he honored IUP's outstanding student-athletes and presented the second annual Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards at the 2006 Crimson Club dinner on April 20.

HC student Kara Taylor (basketball) was presented with Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards in recognition of outstanding academic performance, outstanding performance as athletes and outstanding leadership, community service and citizenship.
Former NFL All-Pro offensive lineman William Roberts was the special honored guest speaker for this event.
"IUP takes pride that coaches and student-athletes prioritize academic achievement and community leadership," Atwater said. "This occasion provides an opportunity to highlight that fact and to recognize our outstanding student-athletes who put academic values first while dedicating themselves to athletic excellence," he said.
Taylor, from Wooster, Ohio, will graduate in May with a degree in mathematics secondary education. Entering the spring semester, she has a 3.91 cumulative grade point average.

She has been selected for membership in Phi Kappa Phi honors fraternity and has been named to ESPN the Magazine's Academic All-District II Team for the 2005 season.

Taylor exhibits leadership both in the community and on the court. She served as a team captain her junior and senior seasons and played in 102 games in her four-year career. She is second in IUP history with 117 three-pointers, 11th with 142 steals and scored a total of 791 points. As a senior in 2005-06, Taylor averaged 7.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game and led the team with 37 three-point field goals while dishing out 48 assists and making 43 steals.

Taylor has led her team in raising funds for Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita victims, working with other IUP groups to raise more than $13,000 to donate to the American Red Cross for these disaster victims.

She joined her team members as volunteers for the Salvation Army kettle campaign, participated in the Bowl for Kid's Sake fundraiser for Indiana County's Big Brothers and Big Sisters program, handed out lemonade as part of the Alex's Lemonade Stand fundraising for childhood cancer research and bagged groceries for the American Cancer Society. In November, she and her team raised more than $7,000 in the first Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation "Shoot for the Cure Classic" tournament.
In addition to the President's Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards, student-athletes who have achieved All-American status and who have received Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and regional awards will be honored during the event.

Honors College Students Recognized at IUP's First Undergraduate Scholars Conference

Six Honors College students were recognized for their contributions to Indiana University of Pennsylvania's first Undergraduate Scholars Conference held April 4.

The program featured more than 325 undergraduate students from all disciplines. They presented original research, music performance, artwork and posters. A total of $1,300 in prizes were presented to students for best paper and posters.

The following Honors College students were recognized (list includes winners, department affiliation and advisors).

o Best Paper Award ($300), Stephanie Perkovich, Factoring Finance Into Film: A Study of Box Office Revenue in the Motion Picture Industry; Economics Department; Dr. James Jozefowicz, faculty advisor.

o Honorable Mention: Paper Award ($100), Gina Russo, The Presentation of Ritualistic Hunting of the Qianlong Emperor through Painting; History Department; Dr. Alan Baumler, faculty advisor. Russo is IUP's 2006 Phi Kappa Phi study abroad scholarship winner.

o Best Poster Award ($300): Stereotype Threat Increases Bias in the Police Officers' Dilemma Task, Sarah Hogue, Rebecca Hoover, Karen Moser and several other students; multidisciplinary; Dr. Cora Lou Sherburne, faculty advisor.

o University Libraries Best Bibliography Award ($300), Whitney Hampson, "To Wives and Mothers: Let's Go Shopping!" Consumerism and Middle-Class Women in Ladies' Home Journal, 1890-1929; History Department; Dr. Elizabeth Ricketts, faculty advisor.

Honors College Student Garners Prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation has named an Honors College student as a winner in its national competition.

Kristin A. Juhasz of Indiana is IUP's newest Goldwater scholar. She is pursuing a double major in biology and anthropology. The award recognizes her exemplary academic merit.
Juhasz is IUP's third Goldwater scholarship recipient.

A junior, Juhasz transferred to IUP from Carnegie Mellon University, where she majored in music performance. She is currently spending a semester studying in South Africa and spent last summer as a research intern at Emory University in Atlanta, working in a primate lab to further Parkinson's Disease research.

"Being identified as a Goldwater scholar puts Kristin among the top science students in the country," said Mary Lou Zanich, who is IUP's local coordinator for the Goldwater competition. "It will facilitate her graduate career."

The scholarship is awarded to undergraduate sophomores and juniors with impressive academic qualifications who plan to pursue graduate study in mathematics, science or engineering. To receive a Goldwater scholarship, a student must be recommended by his or her university.

Juhasz's application came with Zanich's strong endorsement.
"Pick all the superlatives you want," Zanich said. "She's an excellent scientific thinker, extraordinarily competent in everything she does."

In addition, Zanich said, Juhasz has a clear sense of research she would like to pursue as her academic career progresses. On her application, Juhasz wrote that her eventual goal is a doctoral degree in neuroscience and genetics. She plans to conduct research that will lead to more comprehensive explanations of how the central nervous system functions.

As a Goldwater winner, she receives a scholarship covering the cost of tuition, fees, books and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500. Her award is among 323 granted for the 2006-07 academic year.

Previous IUP Goldwater winners are Brigid Mooney, a mathematics major who won in 2003, and Thomas A. Baker, a chemistry major who won in 2004. Both Mooney and Baker are Cook Honors College graduates.

The Goldwater scholarship program, founded in 1986, is designed to help alleviate the shortage of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers in the United States. According to the Goldwater Foundation, the scholarship is "the premier undergraduate award of its type in these fields."

Honors College Student Earns Fulbright Scholarship

April 14, 2006
IUP Robert E. Cook Honors College student Rebecca Galloway has been awarded a yearlong Fulbright Scholarship to spend a full year studying in the Netherlands. Only 1,200 university students in the nation are chosen for this prestigious scholarship.

The Fulbright award will allow Galloway to enroll in a master's program at the Universiteit Maastricht, a liberal arts college in the Netherlands, for the 2006-07 year.

Galloway is a senior French for international trade major who will graduate from IUP in May.

She speaks five languages and will draw upon past travel experience to inform her stay in the Netherlands: among other destinations, she says has visited Amsterdam and Roosendaal many times.

In addition, she spent last summer working in Brussels, Belgium, and toured Ireland and France before beginning a summer course in Dutch at the Universiteit Antwerpen in downtown Antwerp, Belgium. She previously earned a diploma in international management from a French business school during a study-abroad experience.
Most recently, she won first prize for a paper she presented at an undergraduate research symposium held at the University of Pittsburgh. Her award was for the "Populations Ebb and Flow" panel of the Europe: East and West symposium, which explored the continent through presentations of multidisciplinary research.

Galloway is the latest in a tradition of IUP Fulbright recipients. In 2000, Lori Felker went to Germany on a Fulbright; in 2001, Erica Shafran to Austria; in 2002, Honors College graduate student Betty Lanteigne went to Qatar; and in 2003, Abby Brewer earned a Fulbright to travel to Germany.

Honors College Senior Serves as Labor Department Intern

WASHINGTON - Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Robert E. Cook Honors College senior Shelley Cook is serving as a summer intern with the U.S. Department of Labor. The political science and journalism major is participating in the department's highly competitive internship program that selects 50 interns each summer from several hundred applicants.

At IUP, Cook has written for University Media Relations, The Penn, and the Honors College Web site. She is a member of Mortar Board and the Society of Professional Journalists, and studied abroad at the University of Nancy, France. Previously Cook interned in the U.S. Army's public affairs office and this fall she will intern for Speaker of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania.

Cook is assigned to the Office of Public Affairs. Her duties include assisting in writing and editing news releases, conducting media research and shadowing personal staff of the Secretary of Labor. Cook and other interns also participate in lectures from key White House officials and tour prominent national sites.

Cook's internship runs through August. When asked about her experience at the Labor Department, she said, "I enjoy working at the Department of Labor because what we do directly affects all working Americans' day-to-day lives."

Cook is the daughter of Darrell and Sharon Cook. Her future plans include a long-term mission trip work immediately following graduation in May 2006 and pursuing a graduate degree in public administration.

The Washington Center (TWC) is a nonprofit organization serving hundreds of colleges and universities in the U.S. and other countries by providing selected students challenging opportunities to work and learn in Washington, D.C. for academic credit. The largest such program, TWC has over 33,000 alumni, leaders in numerous professions and nations around the world.

English Department Honors Writers with Ceremony

By Bill Harder, Honors College Freshman
Penn News Editor

(Honors College students are indicated in red)

The English department recognized the achievements of its members Saturday in the Ohio Room at the 13th Annual English Department Honors Ceremony.

A group of more than 250 students, faculty and families gathered to recognize the achievements of students and faculty from the English department.

Awards from more than 30 different categories were presented.

English chairwoman Gail Berlin welcomed the group and explained the history of the awards ceremony.

It originated in 1992 as a small gathering of faculty and students in the backyard of English professor Janet Goebel's house.

Berlin spoke on the importance of "building community and family," a theme that echoed throughout the night.

"It is important to recognize the achievements of our students," said Yaw Asamoah, dean of the college of Humanities and Social Sciences, "while they are with their families."

"Our students strive for excellence, and when they do we want to reward them as much as possible," said Barbara Kraszewski, one of the ceremony organizers.

"We are very lucky to have students coming from families and it means a lot to have them here for this."

Kraszewski received awards for "Most Outstanding Bachelor of Arts Adviser," "Most Outstanding Professor" and also one of five Recognition Of Superior Effort awards for faculty.

"It is incredibly humbling," Kraszewski said, "to be recognized out of a department of superior educators and wonderful advisers."

An outstanding student was recognized from each year. Katherine Brawley, recipient of the "Most Promising Freshman" award was surprised at her winning and said that she felt both "welcomed by the department" and "lucky to be part of a department with such a friendly atmosphere."

There were three "Most Outstanding Sophomores" recognized: Michael Giffoniello, Bryan Godfrey and Elizabeth Kraszewski.

Three "Most Outstanding Juniors" were also recognized: Renee Brown, Jessica Bugosh and Jennifer Salem.

There were also three awards given to "Most Outstanding Seniors": Lora Baun, Erin Book and Heidi Lambertson.

"You work for your entire four years," Book said, "and hope that it gets you some recognition, and it is great to get that recognition from your own department."

Lambertson agreed.

"It really does mean a lot to be recognized professionally," she said.

Another senior award was given to Julie Roos, who was recognized as the English Association of Pennsylvania State Universities' "Outstanding English Major."

The English department also named its valedictorians.

Tara Warman was named English Bachelor of Arts Valedictorian, and Samantha Callahan was named English Education Valedictorian.

The Claudette Dolan Service Award was given to Samantha Callahan for her work as president of the IUP chapter of National Council of Teachers of English.

A new award was also created in order to give one student special recognition.

Robert Saxon was presented with the first ever "Service Award for Institutional Technology" for his work with the department's Web page.

Awards were also given in writing categories of pedagogical materials, expository writing, critical paper, creative non-fiction, short fiction and poetry.

An award for innovation was given to a student who created a work in an unusual or experimental way.

Other awards were distributed by departmental groups such as Peer Mentors and the New Growth Arts Review.

A number of students were also recognized for maintaining grade point averages of 3.5 -- 4.0.

Rocky Mount Telegram Staff Awarded for Excellence
Dave Hubbard Honored with First Place in News Sports Reporting

Telegram Staff Reports

The Rocky Mount Telegram staff won 10 awards Thursday from
the N.C. Press Association, including first place in General Excellence for newspapers of its size in North Carolina.

The award marks the fifth year in a row the Telegram has been recognized
as one of the top three daily newspapers in North Carolina with a circulation of 15,000 or less. It's the second time the Telegram has captured first place.

The N.C. Press Association contest drew more than 5,000 entries from newspapers of all sizes across the state, making it one of the largest contests in the country.

"We're proud of all of our award winners, but we're especially proud of the General Excellence honor," said Publisher Rip Woodin. "The fact that judges from five different states in five different years have judged our paper to be among the very best in North Carolina speaks well for the consistency of our efforts."

Other winners for the Telegram included staff writers Dorothy Lewis, who
won three awards; Ned Hunter; Spaine Stephens; David Hubbard; Jeff Gluck;
former Sports Editor Ted Newman; photographer Jason Ivester; and Editor Jeff Herrin.

Hubbard and Newman won first place in Sports News Reporting for stories
they wrote for a high school football preview page.

Hubbard, 23, joined the Telegram staff in 2002. He is a native of Greensboro who majored in journalism at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Hubbard lives in Rocky Mount with his wife, Erin.

Honors Collge Students Capture First and Second Place for Presented Papers at state-wide Conference -- written by HC freshman journalism major Rose Huber

And the winners are…
Philosophers-in-training, Erik Strobl capturing first place with Wes Cray right behind in second.

Erik Strobl, 1st Place paper at state conference

The Pennsylvania State Schools of Higher Education held their annual Philosophy Conference at Chaney College over the April 2-3 weekend and these two very talented IUP Honors College students represented IUP by presenting their own essays.

First place winner Strobl presented a paper concerning the language of philosophy and Cray focused upon the idea of identity with his "ping-pong possibility." Both students are Philosophy majors who have been interested in the area of study since their freshman year of college.

Strobl started out as an English major and then went on to add a double major with Philosophy. Strobl noted that he decided to double major because of a course he took his freshman year of college. "I was first an English major and then I took Philosophy with Dr. Begress in Unit A of Honors Core. After the class, I decided to become a double major," he said. Strobl also holds a minor in Religious Studies.
Cray's interest in Philosophy is much like Strobl's. He, too, holds a Religious Studies minor and plans to study metaphysics and logic in graduate school. His graduate school choice is still in the air. "I have a list of graduate schools that I am thinking about, but there is not one school that is at the top of the list," he said.
According to Honors College faculty, both students represented IUP in a way that previous students haven't. Taking home first and second place was an important achievement for IUP. Cray said, "IUP had a really strong showing at the conference."

Wes Cray, 2nd Place paper at state conference

Sherill Begress, professor of philosophy was overwhelmed with the classiness that Strobl and Cray displayed at the event. "I was amazed at how sophisticated they had become. I got them when they were only 'puppies' and now they are writing papers that make me have to look things up."

Strobl also looks up to Begress as an inspiration. "She is a wonderful teacher and one of the nicest people I know. She really motivates me," he said.
Begress also noted the intelligence level of these two Honors College students. She said, "I have heard graduate papers that are not as sophisticated as these papers."

Both students found out about the conference either through email or from current professors. For Strobl, this was a first time experience. "I have presented at English conferences before, but this was my first Philosophy conference," he said.
And attending proved to be successful for Strobl as he captured a first place award. "I didn't expect to win at all. I was very excited," he said.

Cray was also excited about his second place victory. "I was pretty thrilled about the whole thing. I thought it was great because we really represented IUP well."
Begress mentioned the importance of the overall conference 'experience'.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for students to get more practice with presentation. It gives them a chance to feel more at ease."

Outside of their academic lives, Strobl and Cray are very busy individuals. Both are involved in different organizations on campus and enjoy having a good time with friends. Strobl, from McCannochsburgh, enjoys watching movies as well as listening to music. Cray, from Middleburgh, also joked that he is a big fan of any music that is "obnoxious" as well as "pretentious".

Both students plan on attending the Philosophy conference next year. Other IUP students also have the ability to attend.

Begress said, "Every year a call comes out. Any student that wishes to attend the conference can talk to someone in the Philosophy department and they will refer them."

The IUP Honors College is proud of Strobl and Cray's achievements and looks forward to their future presentations and philosophy ideas.

HC Sophomore Named IUP Student Trustee
by Penn Editor-in-Chief Kelsey Volkmann

After almost a year of not having a student representative on the Council of Trustees, the search committee announced it has selected a candidate to serve on IUP's local governing board.

Out of three "excellent" applicants, Chelsea Grove (sophomore, finance and legal studies) was chosen to hold the highest, on-campus political position a student can attain, said trustee and search committee chairman Gealy Wallwork.

"There were three excellent candidates, and it was very close," Wallwork said Thursday. "But [Grove] had a few things in her favor. She had a better understanding of the operations of the [State System of Higher Education] and IUP. And since a significant part of the job is understanding how the university functions, that helps."

Grove, who is looking forward to starting her trustee work, still needs to be appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell before she can cast votes at the next council meeting in May.

She meets with trustees today to prepare for her final interview in Harrisburg, which will happen on a yet-to-be-determined date.

While helping a family friend and Indiana resident calculate and pay his bills Thursday, Grove took a break to share with Penn readers her reasons for wanting to be a trustee.

"I wanted to get more involved with the university and hopefully change some things," she said.

And Grove does have experience when it comes to making a difference.

She and Jesse Meals (junior, finance and legal studies/accounting) were involved in a successful campaign for a slate of candidates running for Indiana school board last fall.

She also helped create pandoris.com, a Web site devoted to easing the aggravation and reducing the cost of buying and selling textbooks, providing a forum for apartment hunters and rating professors.

In addition to her political activism and desire to help her fellow students, Grove noted her "townie" status as a useful attribute for a student trustee to have.

"I grew up here [in Indiana], so I know so many people," she said.

While already a busy person, Grove said she is committed to the position's demands.

"I understand it's going to take a lot, but I'm willing to put the time into it."

She said she wants to be an approachable student representative as well and that anyone can e-mail her (C.M.Grove@iup.edu).

"I really want to be someone people can bring their concerns to, so I can make their voices heard."

Grove is also a lover of languages, seven years into her study of French and a beginning Arabic student.

She named "Shawshank Redemption" as one of her favorite movies, raved about Edgar Allan Poe's poetry and said Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" left a lasting impression on her.

Grove isn't the only one anticipating her appointment.

"The trustees are enthusiastic about her candidacy and anxious for her to be confirmed," Wallwork said.

HC Junior Becomes Second IUP Goldwater Scholar
by Kara Boylan, Penn Staff Writer

IUP's second Goldwater Scholar: Tom Baker

A junior chemistry major recently became the second student from IUP to ever win the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, a national scholarship for natural science majors.

Thomas A. Baker competed with undergraduate students from all over the nation for this scholarship, which will cover his tuition, room and board, along with the cost of books for the 2004-2005 academic year.

"I'm lucky that this scholarship will completely take care of the financial burden of attending college for my senior year," said Baker, who is originally from Bloomsburg.

Baker completed a lengthy application that included general essays about goals, future plans, activities and why he deserves the award. It also included a scientific research proposal.

"My career goal is to receive a doctorate in chemistry, then conduct research using theoretical or physical chemistry with applications to nanotechnology, or material science," Baker said.

Nanotechnology is the art of manipulating materials on a very small scale in order to build microscopic machinery.

Baker is also president of IUP's student-affiliate of the American Chemical Society and vice president of the Mortar Board honors society. He is a member of IUP Ambassadors, Phi Kappa Phi honors society and is a student at the Robert E. Cook Honors College.

He has been named Chemistry Research Center Outstanding Freshman Chemist and won the ACS Organic Chemist award.

Last summer Baker participated in a 10-week paid internship at Columbia University in New York City, where he conducted research with the National Science Foundation, which funded Research Experience for Undergraduates.

He did research with an extremely powerful microscope to look at the absorption of molecules on a surface. These studies are a part of the up-and-coming field of nanotechnology, which is used in creating tiny, hi-tech electronics.

To get involved, he filled out an application (which included essays) and Columbia University completely funded the trip.

He has recently attended the ACS' National Meeting in Anaheim, Calif., March 27-31 where he presented his completed work from Columbia University's NSF-REU program.

This summer he'll be at another NSF-REU at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Material Science and Engineering.

"I plan to go on to graduate school and later work as a research chemist," Baker said.

Baker feels gratitude toward his IUP research adviser Ronald See for his academic support.

"He has been my research adviser since the summer after my freshman year and has been a great resource -- always willing to write me letters of recommendation and give advice," Baker said.

"He is a great example of the type of mentor, adviser and friend a professor can be, and I would like to thank him for everything he has done for me."

During his free time, Baker enjoys camping, hiking and anything outdoors. He also loves music.

"I try to play the guitar and piano," Baker said.

Last year, Brigid Mooney (junior, physics/math) won the national scholarship