F oundation F ellows & R amsey H o n or s S ch o l ar s
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THE ENDOWED FELLOWSHIPS
Philip Alston Fellows
Bernard Ramsey Endowed Fellows
Rachel Claire Sellers ’14
Catherine Mahala Callaway ’17
Jonathan Paul Adelman ’17
Blake Elizabeth Shessel ’14
John Bradley Stroud ’16
Tristan Paul Bagala ’17
Grace Maastricht Siemietkowski ’15
Yuliya Bila ’14
Madison Grace Snelling ’16
Eugene Black Fellows
Sara Thomas Black ’14
Minhyuk Michael Song ’16
Eilidh Geddes ’15
Jesse Yuen-Fu Chan ’14
Karishma Sriram ’16
Justin Samuel Payan ’17
Laura Agatha Courchesne ’17
Jeremiah Hudson Stevens ’14
Maria Gardner Cox ’15
Kevin Hongyi Sun ’16
Carlyle Fraser Fellows
Jonah Stephen Driggers ’17
Jason Patrick Terry ’17
Bruce Li ’17
Alexandra Rae Edquist ’16
John Henry Tab Thompson ’15
Eytan Aaron Palte ’16
Parker Timothy Evans ’15
Luke Tellis Thompson ’17
Avery Elizabeth Wiens ’15
Smitha Ganeshan ’14
La’Ron-Chenee H. Tracey ’16
Joseph Elliott Gerber ’14
Matthew Telford Tyler ’14
Vera Milner Fellows
Sophia Helene Giberga ’15
Jacqueline Elizabeth Van De Velde ’14
Megan Elizabeth Ernst ’15
Shuchi Goyal ’17
Kishore Pavan Vedala ’14
Torre Elisabeth Lavelle ’16
Philip Joseph Grayeski ’14 Osama Shariq Hashmi ’14
Penelope W. and E. Roe Stamps IV
William Morris Fellow
Anisha Ramchandra Hegde ’14
Foundation Fellows
Savannah Elyse Colbert ’15
Caleb Alexander Ingram ’16
Joshua Andrew Chang ’15
Paul Alexander Kirschenbauer ’14
Lee Handly Folk ’16
Winship Nunnally Fellows
Allison Nicole Koch ’15
Kirstie Dolores Hostetter ’16
Nathan Andrew Farr ’17
Ronald Jackson Kurtz ’15
Glenn Anderson Jacoby ’17
Cameron Saeed Zahedi ’14
Michael Tyler Land ’15
Susan Margaret Jones ’17
Marianne Morris Ligon ’14
Hammad Ahmed Khalid ’17
Martha Nunnally Fellow
Kelsey Jane Lowrey ’16
Shaun Henry Kleber ’16
Caroline Grace Coleman ’16
David Richman Millard ’14
Michael Tyler Land ’15
Kameel Mir ’15
Charles Edward Leasure IV ’17
John White Ramsey Fellow
Sarah Aneese Mirza ’15
Christopher Thomas Lewitzke ’16
Bert Ferguson Thompson ’16
Caroline Elizabeth Moore ’16
Krystal Lo ’17
Vijeth Mudalegundi ’17
Katherine Ann Lovejoy ’16
Charlotte and Claude Williams Fellow
Trang Xuan Nguyen ’17
Sandip Minhas ’16
Carver Lowell Harris Goodhue ’17
Clara Marina Nibbelink ’14
Gautam Rajhar Narula ’15
Morrison Robert Nolan ’17
Meredith Marie Flood Paker ’16
Davis Reynolds Parker ’15
Rand Warren Pope ’16
Gabrielle Antoinette Pierre ’17
Hannah Mary Reiss ’16
Camir Neville Ricketts ’15
Elijah Hunter Scott ’17
Giovanni Righi ’16
Treva Chung-Kwan Tam ’16
Leighton Michele Rowell ’16
Megan Frances White ’15
Neal J. Quirk Atlanta, GA William N. Searcy Savannah, GA Stanley W. Shelton Wayland, MA Susan Sherman, Advisory St. Louis, MO Stephen W. Smith Atlanta, GA Brenda A. Thompson Greenwich, CT
PROGRAM STAFF David S. Williams Director Jessica B. Hunt Major Scholarships Coordinator Emily L. Myers Program Administrator Elizabeth M. Sassler Graduate Assistant
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Sarah Corn Irby Atlanta, GA
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Steve Joiner Atlanta, GA
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Michael H. Godwin Valdosta, GA
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Mission Statement . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The Foundation Fellowship . . . . . . .
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National Recognition . . . . . . . . .
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Faculty Mentors . . . . . . . . . . .
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Academic Enrichment
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Travel-Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Internships . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Undergraduate Research . . . . . . . .
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Conferences, Presentations, Publications . . 64
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Silvia Q. Giraudo, Ex-Officio Athens, GA
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Civic Engagement . . . . . . . . . . . 68
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Joseph C. Frierson, Jr. Athens, GA
Fellows as Entrepreneurs . . . . . . . . 72
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Victor E. Corrigan Atlanta, GA
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Kathryn L. Ash Charlotte, NC
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Mary Lou Swift, Chair Columbus, GA
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FOUNDATION FELLOWS TRUSTEE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Lisa Ann Coole Award . . . . . . . . . 74 Fellows Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Foundation Fellows Alumni . . . . . . . 94 Ramsey Honors Scholarship . . . . . . 100 Travel-Study . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Civic Engagement . . . . . . . . . . 106 Undergraduate Research . . . . . . . . 110 Internships . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Ramsey Classes . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Ramsey Alumni . . . . . . . . . . . 125
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The reputation of The University of Georgia is dependent upon the outstanding quality of our faculty and students. I had the honor to direct the Foundation Fellows Program at one point in my career. This remarkable program, part of the legacy of Bernie Ramsey and the UGA Foundation, provides a way for this university to compete for the very best students by offering an Ivy League-quality education in the setting of one of the country’s best public research universities. I enjoy my interactions with Foundation Fellows and Ramsey Scholars, and I am honored to support this exceptional academic program. Jere W. Morehead, President The University of Georgia
The Foundation Fellows and Ramsey Honors Scholars continue to be top students on the UGA campus who grow beyond it to become leaders in local, national, and global communities. These students earn some of the most prestigious scholarships in the country, are admitted to top graduate programs, and find jobs with leading companies. The trustees of The University of Georgia Foundation are proud of these outstanding students and are convinced that the Foundation Fellowship is the best program of its kind in the country. Mary Lou Swift, Chairperson Foundation Fellows Committee The University of Georgia Foundation
Foundation Fellows and Ramsey Scholars are truly stellar individuals. Collectively, their exciting array of talents—and their sustained commitment to service and concern for others—makes a very positive impact on our campus and beyond. It is an honor and privilege to know these exceptional students and to work with them on a daily basis. David S. Williams, Associate Provost and Director Honors and Foundation Fellows Programs
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The Foundation Fellows Program seeks to foster a community of scholars and leaders by providing intellectual, cultural, and service opportunities in an environment conducive to learning and personal growth through shared knowledge and experience.
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T H E F O U N DAT I O N F E L LO W S H I P UGA’s Premier Undergraduate Scholarship Program
In addition to the obvious scholastic benefits, the Foundation Fellows Program emphasizes fellowship, sharing of resources and ideas, and lifelong friendships. Peer mentoring, dinner seminars, cultural
ounded in 1972 by The University of Georgia Foundation’s trustees, the Foundation Fellowship is the University’s foremost undergraduate scholarship, placing students in a community of similarly dedicated scholars, offering a stipend that approximates the cost of attendance, a post-first-year Maymester study abroad program at Oxford University, individual travel-study grants, spring group travel-study, research and academic conference grants, dinner seminars with some of the University’s best minds, and a mentoring plan that matches Fellows with professors who share their interests. Beyond the obvious scholastic benefits, the Fellows program emphasizes fellowship, sharing of resources and ideas, and lifelong friendships. Peer mentoring (Big and Little Fellows), dinner seminars and book discussions, cultural events, group travel, the Fellows Library in Moore College, and twice-a-year off-campus retreats promote a sense of community among the Fellows. They quickly find themselves at home on campus within a close-knit group of scholars, and through extensive travel, they extend that experience to include global communities. In the 2013-2014 academic year, 22 first-year students and four thirdyear Mid-Term Fellows joined the program, bringing the total number in the program to 87. New Foundation Fellows for 2013-2014 had an average SAT score of 1540 (math and verbal only). Their high school grade point average was 4.19 on a 4.0 scale, which indicates extra points for Advanced Placement courses.
events, annual retreats, the Fellows Library in Moore College, and group travel promote a sense of community among the Fellows.
I just spent way more time than I intended to poring over last year’s Annual Report, soaking in the photos and stories and reliving some of my own memories. What a magical time and an unparalleled experience the Fellowship provides! I’ve got my signed class picture hanging in my apartment, and by coincidence spotted [FF alumna] Grace Hale’s book on segregation in the American South featured at the Monroe County Library in Bloomington, Indiana a few days ago. “How fortunate I am to be surrounded by such a fun, passionate, accomplished group of people! Many thanks to the Fellowship for changing the world one life at a time.” —Calley Mersmann, FF Alumna ’11 – AmeriCorps VISTA, Tremont West Development Corporation of Cleveland
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On Campus – Honors, Research, Civic Engagement, Career Development Complementing the Foundation Fellows Program is UGA’s Honors Program, one of the oldest and most respected programs in the country. The program provides some 2,500 students with the resources to make the most of their higher education experience – including 300 Honors classes a year with an average class size of 17 students, expert advice from Honors and faculty advisors, independent research opportunities, mentoring, internships, lunchbox lectures and book discussions with faculty, and the Myers Hall residential community. Honors students may participate in graduate courses and pursue a curriculum leading to combined bachelor’s/ master’s degrees in only four years. Through the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO), students work with faculty on projects that allow them to reach beyond classroom learning and give them important research-related experience to demonstrate their passion to admissions staff at graduate or professional schools. Undergraduate research opportunities abound across the curriculum, from laboratory and social sciences to humanities and fine arts. The Honors Program affords numerous opportunities for local, national, and global civic engagement and career development – including internship placements in Washington, New York, and Savannah; the Roosevelt Institution, a student-run think tank; the Corsair Society, which mentors undergraduates pursuing banking and finance and management consulting careers; the Atlas Business Society; MATHCOUNTS Outreach at UGA; PromoteAfrica; Association of Women in Science; Mock Trial; and the Thomas Lay After-School Mentoring Program. Among the on-campus benefits provided to Fellows is access to Honors staff members, including the Major Scholarships Coordinator, who provides important counsel for a variety of pursuits – including drafting personal statements, resumes, and cover letters for job, scholarship, and postgraduate study applications.
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The Benefits of Being a Fellow Annual stipend: $11,072 plus the Zell Miller Scholarship ($8,590) for in-state students; $18,180 plus an out-of-state tuition waiver (currently worth $18,210 per year) for out-ofstate students First-year housing supplement of $546 Three fully funded spring travel-study programs (first through third years) One fully funded summer study abroad program to Oxford, England immediately following the first year Individual travel-study grants up to a cumulative total of $9,000 (closely related to students’ academic and professional goals, can be combined with semester stipends for study overseas for a full semester or academic year) Research and academic conference grants up to a cumulative total of $1,750 Special seminars and book discussions with UGA and visiting professors Faculty and peer mentoring Twice-a-year, all-Fellows retreats Participation in a community of young scholars who stimulate each other’s intellectual and personal development through the exchange of ideas and experiences
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As I have spent the last couple weeks reflecting on my past and looking ahead to apply for a residency in pediatrics, few memories come to mind that can’t be linked somehow to the Fellowship. My mentors in research, medicine, and life; my desire to work in an underserved community as a clinician, advocate, and developer; my yearning to longitudinally invest and serve globally through education and service; my modeling of how it looks to have healthy mentor-mentee relationships and peer collaboration. Indeed, each time I walk into Johns Hopkins Hospital, no matter what the hour, I can almost palpably feel the support of the Bulldawg nation.” — Phillip Mote, FF Alumnus ’11 – Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Class of 2015
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NATI ONAL R E CO GNITI ON
The University of Georgia is a national leader among public universities in the numbers of major scholarships earned by our students. In 2013-2014, many current Fellows and Ramseys were among the list of winners of national awards, such as the Truman and Goldwater scholarships, and alumni Fellows and Ramseys made a splash as well, with the announcement of the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowships.
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2014 Truman Scholar – Sarah Mirza (Fellows Class of 2015) Sarah Mirza, a third-year Fellow majoring in Spanish and geography, received a 2014 Harry S. Truman Scholarship, which recognizes juniors with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in government and elsewhere in public service. Sarah is a graduate of Grand Island Senior High in Grand Island, Nebraska. She was one of 59 students nationwide to receive the scholarship, which offers up to $30,000 for graduate study. She is the 19th UGA recipient of the Truman scholarship since 1982, the first year UGA students received the award. Sarah, who aims to pursue a master’s degree in cultural geography followed by a law degree so that she can work as an immigration lawyer, has dedicated herself to volunteerism and empowering disadvantaged people to advocate for themselves. Sarah has studied abroad in Oxford, England, through the UGA at Oxford Program and is active in a number of campus organizations. In 2013, she chaired the events and outreach activities of the Undocumented Student Alliance, an organization that works to promote education as a human right. She plays trumpet in the University’s Redcoat Marching Band and is a DJ at campus radio station WUOG-FM 90.5. She volunteers at Casa de Amistad, a non-profit organization in Athens that provides services and support to underserved members of the Hispanic community. Her volunteer work also takes her to the Stewart Detention Center for individuals detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, where she visits detainees and helps them communicate with their distant families. She volunteers for Freedom University, which provides college-level instruction to academically qualified students regardless of their immigration status. Sarah interned with the Workers Defense Project, a membershipbased organization in Austin, Texas that empowers low-income workers to advocate for fair employment. She is a member of the Sigma Delta Pi National Spanish Honor Society and Gamma Theta Upsilon International Geographic Honor Society, and is the recipient of the UGA geography department’s Kenyon Memorial Award for academic excellence in geography. Truman Scholars receive priority admission and supplemental financial aid at some premier graduate institutions, leadership training, career and graduate school counseling, and special internship opportunities within the federal government.
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2014 Goldwater Scholar – Tuan Nguyen (Ramsey Class of 2015) Along with Honors student Amy Webster, Tuan Nguyen, Ramsey Scholar ’15, was named a 2014 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar. The UGA Goldwater Scholars are among a group of 283 recipients of the one- and two-year scholarships that recognize exceptional sophomores and juniors in engineering, mathematics, and the natural sciences. UGA students have received the Goldwater Scholarship almost every year since the mid-1990s, and the 2014 recipients bring the University’s total of Goldwater Scholars to 46. Tuan is a junior from Douglasville majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology as well as
2014 Carnegie Junior Research Fellow – Yuliya Bila (Fellows Class of 2014) Yuliya Bila, the University of Georgia’s latest Carnegie Junior Research Fellow, graduated in May with degrees in international affairs, Russian, and Spanish. She has spent much of the last two years pursuing her interests in the relationship between Russia and the United States, first as a Critical Language Scholar in the Russian Republic of Tartarstan and later in Washington, DC, as an intern in UGA’s Washington Semester Program. Every year, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace offers 10-12 one-year fellowships to graduating seniors who serve as research assistants to the endowment’s senior associates. Born in Ukraine and raised in the Czech Republic before immigrating to the U.S. to become a citizen, Yuliya has been a passionate student of the language and culture of Russia and will avail herself of the opportunity to learn even more in Carnegie’s Russia/ Eurasia Program. “This is a great way for me to launch my career as a foreign policy expert specializing in the countries of the former Soviet Union,” says Yuliya, a Mid-Term Foundation Fellow who attended high school in metro Atlanta before enrolling at UGA. “The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is one of the most prestigious think tanks in international relations and one of the few to have a full-fledged office in Moscow. The institute attracts some of the brightest minds in the field, and I am excited to work with them to explore
mathematics. He plans to pursue a combined MD/ PhD degree with the ultimate goal of improving cancer diagnostics and treatment. Tuan conducts research in the lab of Dr. Natarajan Kannan, with whom he has co-authored two articles that have been submitted to peer-reviewed journals. He is a member of the UGA Chapter of the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Foundation, a volunteer tutor through the UGA Division of Academic Enhancement, and a tutor through UGA MATHCOUNTS. In 2013 he participated in an NSF-funded summer undergraduate research fellowship at the University of California-San Diego, and in 2014 he participated in New York University’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Tuan is also a recipient of the UGA CURO Honors Scholarship and the CURO Summer Research Fellowship.
how we can better engage with Russia in the pursuit of the national interests of the United States, our allies, Russia’s neighbors, and Russia itself.” Thanks to the Critical Language Scholarship she received, Yuliya spent the summer of 2013 in intensive Russian language classes, but that time away from Athens also afforded her the opportunity to more closely examine Russia’s culture while finding the answers to questions she’s long held about the complicated relationship between Russia and Ukraine. During the spring 2014 semester, Yuliya’s internship with the State Department provided her with a front-row seat to history in the emerging friction between Russia and Ukraine over the Crimean Peninsula, an issue that has drawn worldwide interest since late February. “The unfortunate crisis between Ukraine and Russia certainly made for an exciting time to be working at the State Department, especially in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs,” says Yuliya. “Since the violent developments of February 18, the bureau has made Ukraine a top priority – our leadership dedicated the vast majority of their time and energy to the crisis. My office (Western Europe) was heavily involved in
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coordinating the response of the United States and our allies, and we were swamped by the constant visits and calls between Secretary of State John Kerry and his counterparts in London, Paris, Berlin, and other cities. “During such a period of crisis management, I also had the chance to be part of the State Department’s 24/7 crisis monitoring and response team, working overnight and early morning shifts to be the first to report on developments. I learned something new every hour of every day.” Yulia plans to earn a doctorate in area studies, with the goal of working at Carnegie Moscow to
2014 James Madison Graduate Fellow – Matt Tyler (Fellows Class of 2014) Receiving the prestigious James Madison Graduate Fellowship will afford Matt Tyler the opportunity to pursue his passion – teaching social studies to high school students. The fellowship, awarded to only one person per state, is granted to students desiring to become outstanding teachers of the American Constitution at the secondary school level. Matt, a Mid-Term Foundation Fellow who graduated in May with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science, will use his Madison Fellowship to attend Teachers College at Columbia University in New York. “I hope that the Madison Fellowship will provide me with the same type of support that I have received from faculty, staff, and students at UGA,” Matt says. “There are 25 years’ worth of social studies teachers that have come through this program. I will be connected to a network of extraordinary secondary teachers before I even step foot in the classroom.” Although he admittedly lacks classroom seasoning, Matt possesses a host of experiences – both at home and abroad – that have prepared him for a career in education. Where he’s been will no doubt guide where he’s going. His passion for teaching began during the summers of 2010 and 2011, when he worked as a counselor at an environmental education camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. It was there that he learned that students learn more through experiences than through memorizing names and dates in a book. He has researched the impact of experiential
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influence the foreign policy strategies of the U.S.-Russia relationship. She constructed an excellent foundation for her future endeavors while at UGA, serving as the committee president of AIESEC, the world’s largest youth-run nonprofit, conducting cyber warfare project research for the Roosevelt Institute (and presenting her findings at a CURO symposium and at the Defense, Diplomacy & Development Conference in Washington), and working as an intern at both the Center for International Trade and Security in Washington and the International Rescue Committee in Atlanta.
learning on student outcomes and aims to put that research into practice as a social studies teacher in Georgia. Last summer, Matt traveled to Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai to study politics, political economy, culture, and education as part of UGA’s School of Public and International Affairs’ China Maymester program and also served as a research assistant at the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Education. In Hong Kong, he began work on a collaborative study of mathematics teaching that he later contributed to through data analysis at the University of Cambridge. In the spring of 2012, Matt undertook an independent research sojourn to France, Ghana, and Italy. His intention was to explore the nexus of policy, society, and pedagogy through classroom observations, homestays, and extensive interviews with teachers, parents, and government officials. Earlier that year, he spent three months at the University of Oxford, examining contemporary political thought and political philosophy. A little closer to home, Matt has served in a number of roles with UGA’s Students for Environmental Action (SEA) and Phi Kappa Literary Society and was an executive board member for the local Lunchbox Garden Project, an innovative program where volunteers teach food literacy and environmental education through experiential learning. As the president of SEA, Matt organized a light waste audit, co-organized a departmental bike share program, and led petitioning campaigns and monthly volunteer events. As a research assistant in the College of Education, he researched democratic values in the 21st century classroom and assessed experimental teaching of civic skills through teacher-supervised projects and group discussions. He also worked as a research fellow at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, a counselor with Duke TIP, and a teaching assistant in the UGA Honors Program.
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2014 Phi Kappa Phi Marcus L. Urann Fellow – Smitha Ganeshan (Fellows Class of 2014) Smitha Ganeshan, a May University of Georgia graduate, was one of six students nationwide to receive a $15,000 Marcus L. Urann Fellowship. The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi awards only six Urann Fellowships at $15,000 each to members entering the first year of graduate or professional study. Each active Phi Kappa Phi chapter may select one candidate from among its local applicants to compete for the Societywide awards. Previously the recipient of a 2013 Truman Scholarship, Smitha earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in anthropology from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. She will begin her studies at Harvard Medical School in the fall, where she intends to pursue dual MD and Master of Public Policy degrees. Smitha’s undergraduate career at UGA focused on the intersection between health and policy. She directed the health policy center and the environmental policy center at the Roosevelt Institute, a student-run think tank. Through the Roosevelt Institute, she drafted a
2014 DAAD Research Intern in Science and Engineering (RISE) – Erin Hollander (Ramsey Class of 2017) Erin Hollander’s first year at UGA has been highlighted by work she’s done in creating policy on the regulation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and conducting research on the CRISPR-Cas system of prokaryotes. And the school year ended on an even higher note for Erin when she accepted a prestigious DAAD RISE award, which enabled her to spend the summer conducting research in Germany. Erin began her summer with a two-week intensive language course in Berlin and then spent the next three months in Lübeck in northern Germany. An Athens native and Ramsey Scholar, Erin has conducted research at UGA in the laboratory of Drs. Michael and Rebecca Terns. Her research centers on little-known CRISPR-Cas prokaryotes, which function as the immune system against viruses and other foreign invaders by incorporating DNA segments from the invader into its own genome and utilizing this “memory” to identify and destroy the invader upon subsequent attacks. “This system is similar to the human RNA interference pathway that protects us from viruses, which is actually what I will be conducting research on through the DAAD Rise program,” Erin said earlier this spring. “I hope to be able to apply the knowledge I gain this summer to my own research in the Terns lab.” Erin also took part in the Roosevelt Institute, a national student-led think tank whose members
federal Health Professional Shortage Area designation application on behalf of Athens-Clarke County that has enhanced the ability of safety net providers to compete for grants. She conducted research under the guidance of faculty in the UGA College of Public Health and has interned at the Greater New York Hospital Association, the Centers for Disease Control, and the federal Department of Health and Human Services. Smitha studied at Oxford University through the UGA at Oxford program, interned at the World Health Organization’s M.V. Hospital for Diabetes in Chennai, India, and has assisted physicians in Peru and Nicaragua. She volunteered at the Athens Nurses Clinic and interned at the Athens Health Network, which works to reduce health care disparities by coordinating health services for the indigent population. create policy solutions to challenges throughout the country and the world. Choosing GMOs as her topic of interest, Erin created a policy on decreasing regulatory hurdles for nonprofit research organizations, enabling those entities – Golden Rice among them – to join well-funded conglomerates in marketing their crops. She presented her policy paper at the CURO Symposium, and her work was published in the Roosevelt Southern Regional Policy Journal. She also joined the Networked Think Tank initiative, which strives to make colleges and universities better anchor institutions in their communities. Just as her first year at UGA involved both policy and research, Erin plans to follow both paths in her professional life. “I first plan to immerse myself in research, heading up a lab, collaborating with other scientists, and doing my part to solve the problems of tomorrow,” she says. “I also plan to obtain a PhD in biomedical engineering. Once I tire of spilling carcinogens on myself, I plan to move into a leadership position in a government research organization such as the Centers for Disease Control or the Environmental Protection Agency. From that stand I can influence the policymaking process that leads to real and effective change.”
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Tatum Mortimer (Fellows Class of 2012) – Microbiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2014 National Science Foundation Graduate Fellows National Science Foundation
Tatum Mortimer is studying in the microbiology doctoral training program at the University of WisconsinMadison. Her research focuses on the ecology and evolution of pathogenic bacteria, but she is particularly interested in mycobacterium tuberculosis, a bacterial species responsible for causing most cases of tuberculosis worldwide. Her interest in research came as a result of her participation in the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities while at UGA. A 2012 graduate of UGA with degrees in microbiology and genetics, Tatum spent three years on an independent research project regarding the molecular epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus. Her work enabled her to travel to Geneva, Switzerland, where she presented her findings at the Fourth Congress of European Microbiologists in 2011. Tatum also served as president of the American Society for Microbiology at UGA, participating in a host of outreach events at area elementary schools and promoting science, and more specifically, microbiology. While at UGA, Tatum visited a variety of locales, including Australia, Costa Rica, England, Germany, Morocco, and Tanzania. She spent a summer volunteering with the nonprofit Fighting AIDS in Tanzania, providing HIV/AIDS education to schools and community groups, escorting individuals to clinics for HIV testing, and aiding HIV-positive women to establish cooperative business groups. She traveled to Australia as part of UGA’s Australian Northern Territory Maymester in 2012, studying sustainability and public health communication. Closer to campus, Tatum was a member and president of the Prelude Dance Ensemble and was a volunteer dance instructor at Oasis Católico. She was also a member of Animal Advocates at UGA. Tatum was Phi Beta Kappa, received CURO Research Scholar Distinction, was the outstanding student in Franklin College and a Presidential Scholar, was on the Dean’s List, and graduated with highest honors.
Graduate Research Fellowships provide up to $126,000 during a five-year period for students pursuing their master’s and doctoral degrees in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The fellowships are among the most competitive in the United States. The NSF received over 14,000 applications for the 2014 competition, and made 2,000 fellowship award offers.
Three Fellow and Ramsey alums were among the 11 University of Georgia recipients this year, and here’s a quick look at what they’re up to these days.
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Lauren Pinson (Ramsey Class of 2010) – International Affairs, Yale University Lauren Pinson’s future career plan is to work as a professor at a research university, and the NSF fellowship she received is a reflection of the many years she’s already devoted to her professional and academic interests. Lauren, a Ramsey Scholar who graduated from UGA in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and a master’s degree in public administration, is currently seeking her PhD in political science from Yale University and has about a year of coursework left before she begins work on her dissertation. She has also worked as senior researcher and project manager at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) at the University of Maryland.
Addison Wright (Fellows Class of 2013) – Molecular & Cell Biology, University of CaliforniaBerkeley Among the many extracurricular activities Addison Wright explored during his undergraduate days at UGA was serving as a volunteer for MATHCOUNTS, a program that removes the mystery from mathematics for middle school students. By assisting young students in learning the intricacies of an often-difficult discipline, Addison was also taking the first steps toward his intended career as a university professor conducting research in his own lab. Addison, who graduated from UGA in 2013 with degrees in history and biochemistry and molecular biology, is currently pursuing his PhD in molecular and cell biology at California-Berkeley, where he plans to conduct research on a bacterial adaptive immune system known as CRISPR. Specifically, he would like to study the molecular mechanisms that provide immunity in the body to new threats.
While at UGA, Lauren had a summer internship at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York, working in the nonproliferation and safeguards division, where she aided in the development of “Nuclearpedia,” a prototype website that collects nuclear-related content for policymakers. She was a security leadership fellow at the Center for International Trade and Security at UGA, a research assistant in UGA’s School of Public and International Affairs, and an inaugural intern with Vinson Institute of Government’s fellowship program, where she worked with Dr. Wes Clarke in Vinson’s research and assistance division. Lauren says the highlights from her undergraduate years include being able to conduct research with the same professor throughout her time at UGA (“a rare opportunity in social sciences at other universities”), the opportunity to pursue a combined degree, her study abroad experiences in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina (where she focused on ethnic conflict and national identity), and the chance to apply the perspectives she gained through the Center for International Trade and Security’s programs.
While at UGA, Addison focused his research under the supervision of Dr. William Lanzilotta on the biochemical characterization of HutZ and HutW, proteins involved in heme utilization by aliivibrio fischeri, a bacterium most often found in marine settings. As part of the Foundation Fellows program and various internships, Addison lived and worked in China for two summers and also traveled to Costa Rica, England, South Korea, and Tanzania. His most memorable excursions included staying at monasteries in South Korea, taking Mandarin courses and working on a farm in China, conducting research in a lab in Beijing, and working in an orphanage in Dar es Salaam and joining classmate Derek Ponticelli on a climb of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. In addition to receiving the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, Addison has been honored with the Alan J. Jaworski Science Award, received CURO scholar distinction, and was a Presidential Scholar. He graduated from UGA with highest honors and was a first honor graduate in the Class of 2013.
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FA C U LT Y M E N T O R S
From the moment Fellows arrive on campus, they build meaningful relationships with professors across disciplines, contributing to their development as scholars, researchers, and global citizens. Marianne Ligon ’14 “There are so many professors at UGA who have been supportive of my academic pursuits. I’ve worked in the lab of Dr. Michael Terns since I was a first year and have developed an extensive research project under his mentorship. Dr. Claiborne Glover, also in biochemistry, has been a great resource, always willing to have a talk and give some quick career advice. And Dr. Kim Klonowski served as my UGA faculty contact while I conducted research abroad at Oxford University. I continued that work with Dr. K in her graduate-level Advanced Immunology class in my last semester.”
Dr. Margaret Christ has been a pillar throughout my time in the accounting program. First as a student in her class and later as her teaching assistant, I have been able to depend on Dr. Christ for her support and insight. Whether I have a question about grading or I’m just stopping by to say hello, she always gives me new ideas to think about. Her support has been a critical component of my success in the accounting program, and her accessibility on campus has been unparalleled.” — Jesse Chan ’14
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Megan White ’15 “My faculty mentor is Dr. Andrea Everett, a professor in the School of Public and International Affairs. Under her supervision I have studied and written on the causes and humanitarian consequences of various civil wars and intercommunal conflicts, and I have contributed to her research on the role of public opinion in a government’s decision to launch a peacekeeping operation. She has been a great role model to me and has helped me plan a future as a student and professional in the field of international affairs. “Dr. Loch Johnson is not only a great mentor but also a great friend to have on campus. He has helped me improve my research and writing skills inside the classroom, through assisting me on an analysis of foreign intelligence agencies, and outside the classroom through dinner excursions with intelligence officials. His guidance and weekly fist bumps have helped me thrive at UGA.” Cameron Zahedi ’14 “I met Dr. Craig Wiegert my freshman year in his Introduction to Physics Research seminar. As a CURO Honors Scholar, I was expected to begin a research project in the fall of my first year, and I was intrigued by Dr. Wiegert’s work in improving physics education. He was excited to bring me aboard and immediately began providing guidance for my foray into academic research, helping me develop skills and a problem solving mindset. “This past year, Dr. Wiegert did me an immeasurable kindness. I was unable to enroll in Quantum Mechanics – a course required for completing a physics degree – due to scheduling issues. I chose to ‘challenge’ the course, whereby I would sit for the final exam and receive that grade for the course. Dr. Wiegert worked with me weekly on quantum mechanics problems to help me prepare for the exam. I was extremely appreciative of his help and humbled by his selflessness. I aced the test, which I would not have done otherwise, and gained a lesson in dedication from someone who has been teaching me since day one.”
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Treva Tam ’16 “Dr. Linda Renzulli has been one of the most encouraging and supportive professors I’ve encountered in college. In the classroom, she encourages discussion and will play the devil’s advocate until you don’t even know your own opinion. If you are looking to get into research in sociology, she is the professor to talk to. She’s just plain awesome.” Joseph Gerber ’14 “International affairs professor Dr. Brock Tessman has been an intentional and insightful mentor as well as an erudite and effective teacher. He takes a student’s single spark of interest and fans it into full flame. There is no professor I recommend more highly as an academic mentor and sage friend than Dr. Tessman.” Savannah Colbert ’15 “Dr. Bryan Reber is a public relations professor in the Grady College who has been instrumental in my exploration of the field. He encouraged me to start a research project of my own, and he guided me through this project over a semester in which I learned a lot about public relations, politics in the media, and myself. He was one of the professors on the study abroad program I attended in Cannes, France, and he has also given me contacts as I begin networking to look for future internships and jobs.” Matt Tyler ’14 “Over the past three years, I have been on two study abroad trips – the SPIA Oxford semester and the China Maymester – and taken five classes with Dr. Bob Grafstein from the political science department. He expertly weaved together normal class instruction with the experiences we had in Oxford and China. Outside of the classroom, Dr. Grafstein has always been willing to spend extra time to guide me in my academic endeavors and provide insight into the political science discipline.”
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ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT
Athens and UGA offer an unparalleled array of intellectual, cultural, and social events for Fellows to take advantage of. The Fellowship organizes opportunities throughout the year to enrich students’ studies through books, movies, presentations, performances, and discussions with award winning faculty, industry leaders, and distinguished Fellows alumni. The Fellowship also provides funding for enrichment activities that students identify on their own. This year’s Fellows enjoyed a wide range of events including dinner seminars on the future of energy production and architectural design, book discussions on the art of writing well and the role of finance in our society, relaxed evenings at Ciné and Canopy Aerial Dance Studio, and hands-on training in Excel and emergency medicine.
Frontier Energy Access with Bronson Lee, Fellows Class of 2000
Fellow alum Bronson Lee discussed how GE is addressing energy issues on multiple fronts, ranging from engineering new batteries for efficient storage to his own work negotiating supporting financial structure for new energy projects in Myanmar/ Burma. He allowed all of us a window into his world and, in my case, provided the final push to solidify my career focus. He impelled me to put my skills to use in a career in the energy industry, starting with an internship with GE this summer. I hope one day I can return to give a similar presentation and inspire another student as Bronson inspired me.” —Cameron Zahedi ’14
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Kirstie Hostetter ’16 “Bronson Lee introduced a completely new view of Southeast Asia to us with his discussion of the burgeoning energy frontier in Myanmar. His insights revealed a new side of the energy industry in the developing world and the different actors influencing these growing economic centers. With an interactive and enthusiastic style, he shared with us a captivating description of where energy has been, where it is going, and, most interestingly, what it could be.” Eli Scott ’17 “I learned that there is not a predestined, linear path to a career that someone loves. Bronson encouraged us to seize unusual opportunities that arise in order to test out the careers and experiences we might enjoy.”
On Writing Well with Fran Teague, University and Meigs Professor, Theatre & Film Studies/English Meredith Paker ’16 “On Writing Well challenged us to think about writing in all aspects of our lives, pushing us to write clear, concise prose even outside of the classroom. In a world of texts and tweets, putting a little extra thought into what we say and how we say it leads to more effective and meaningful communication. Full of practical and applicable writing tips, this discussion spurred deeper contemplation of the role of writing, reading, and communication in our modern lives.”
Designing the Science Learning Center: An Introduction to the Design Process and Charrettes with Sheena Zhang, Fellows Class of 2011 Torre Lavelle ’16 “With her expert ability in blending the environmental with the architectural, Sheena Zhang invited us to bring out our rulers and scratch paper and become university architects for an evening. As someone who has successfully integrated her multidisciplinary academic interests of ecology and design, Sheena’s group design exercise served as wonderful inspiration for others who refuse to be defined solely by one department.”
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Development and Delivery of Novel Therapeutics to Address Cancer with Michael Goldberg, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School Cali Callaway ’17 “This casual discussion gave us a glimpse into the world of cancer research. Dr. Goldberg shared his perspectives on medicine, pharmaceuticals, and research and also his personal experiences in the realm of academia. His kindness and intellect made this seminar one of the most enjoyable of the semester.” Hammad Khalid ’17 “I had a feeling this dinner seminar would be unique when Dr. Goldberg opened the discussion by asking each of us how we want to change the world. From talking about how meditation changed his life to the importance of innovation and taking risks in medical research, there was never a dull moment. Before I knew it, our two hours had flown by. I left Moore College with an invigorating new outlook not only on cancer therapy but also on life in general.”
A Conversation with Buddhist Monks Visiting from South Korea with Hyangsoon Yi, Professor of Comparative Literature, Interim Director of the Center for Asian Studies Madison Snelling ’16 “I have never met a group of people who exuded such peace. The way they sat, the way they ate, everything had a calmness to it. The monks gave answers to questions that provoked one of the most meaningful dinner seminars I have attended. Their comments remained with me far beyond our couple of hours together.” Chris Lewitzke ’16 “I don’t know how many students across the country are able to have an intimate dinner with three Korean monks, but it can’t be that many. Hearing about their lives, what they believe, and why they believe it opened my eyes to a lifestyle I was unfamiliar with. The monks were very open about their beliefs and were willing to answer any questions we had, no matter how simple or philosophical.”
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Emergency Medicine: How to Suture a Skin Wound with Lucy Fu and Claire Underwood Hailey, Fellows Class of 2011 Caroline Coleman ’16 “I don’t spend many Saturday mornings suturing skin wounds on semi-frozen pigs’ feet, but when I do, it’s with the Fellowship. Events like these have helped me solidify my career goals and interests. I officially decided to be pre-med the morning after this seminar, and it wouldn’t have been possible for me to decide on medicine with such conviction without this opportunity.” Marianne Ligon ’14 “Learning to do some basic sutures was a refreshing affirmation that the stress of applying to medical school last year was totally worth it. I didn’t expect to enjoy ‘surgery’ at all, but it was one of the most fun and unique things I’ve done all year. Hearing from FF alums about the realities of medical school made me excited about what my future holds.” Drew Farr ’17 “Fellows alumnae led us through several hours of relaxed but intense work practicing a variety of surgical knots on a rainy Saturday in Athens. Lucy and Claire modeled their seminar on a similar forum introduced to them when they began their studies in medical school at Emory. I walked away with a tenderfoot understanding of surgical techniques and a galvanized interest in the hands-on aspects of my future in medicine.” Karishma Sriram ’16 “As an undergraduate, I never expected to come in on a Saturday morning to slice into a pig’s foot and attempt to sew it back together. Though we’ve had many opportunities to engage with medical students, residents, and doctors, this seminar was different. While talking about medicine and medical school is useful, actually getting our hands dirty working with pigs’ feet was a completely different and informative experience.”
Lean In with Kim Curley, Fellows Class of 1989, and Gwen Kaminsky, Fellows Class of 1990 Megan White ’15 “As a busy college student struggling with the question, ‘Is it possible to have it all?’ I left the Lean In book discussion with a lot to think about. Gwen and Kim led a high-spirited discussion that was at times humorous and at other times sobering. It was a treat to analyze Sheryl Sandberg’s views on women and leadership alongside two successful female professionals and a group of future leaders, both male and female.”
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Trang Nguyen ’17 “Lean In focused on the challenges that high achieving women face. Not even ten pages in, I knew this book would make my favorites list. Gwen and Kim led the talk by sharing personal stories about their careers while encouraging us to contribute our own experiences. Finding out that other female Fellows had similar doubts and ambitions created a certain sense of community, and hearing how male Fellows interpreted the book lent an interesting perspective. Gwen and Kim did a wonderful job leading an honest and engaging discussion.” Grace Siemietkowski ’15 “In the days leading up to our book discussion, I talked about Lean In with students in the Fellows library, at home with my roommates, and on the phone with my mom and sister. Having attended an all-girls high school, the concept of ‘leaning in’ was not new to me, but reading about Sandberg’s life experiences, talking with my friends (male and female) about their experiences, and hearing those of Gwen and Kim gave me a whole new appreciation for what it means to be a feminist.” Giovanni Righi ’16 “Gwen and Kim, who led our discussion, were a dynamic duo and a riot. With them we explored this difficult topic both seriously and lightly. The best part was they invited us men to join the conversation, and I think the conversation and the book were all the better for it. This was one of the most productive seminars I’ve been to.”
Finance and the Good Society with Jesse Chan (Fellows Class of 2014), Patrick Fitzmaurice (2012), Ryan Friday (2011), Camille Gregory (2013), and Derek Ponticelli (2013) Paul Kirschenbauer ’14 “With the global economy still reeling from 2008’s financial crisis, the rising generation of professional business men and women is realizing its opportunity and responsibility – defining the role that finance will play in society for years to come. This is an issue with no easy solution, and therefore it merits a great deal of discussion. Drawing on the experiences of Foundation Fellows alumni working for some of the world’s top accounting, consulting, and banking firms lent an invaluable perspective when discussing the topics covered in Robert Schiller’s Finance and the Good Society.” Eilidh Geddes ’15 “Getting the chance to discuss the book with alumni who are working in business postgraduation allowed us to apply what we had read to the real world and think about the pros and cons of current business culture.”
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Addressing the Total Needs of Children with Neurological and Psychological Diagnoses with Nevada Waugh Reed, Fellows Class of 1993 Kishore Vedala ’14 “Dr. Reed’s discussion was insightful because it addressed different modes of approaching children with an autism spectrum disorder. She spoke about not just clinical treatments but also the support system that is just as vital to encourage proper development of the child. I already had an interest in pediatric medicine before, but Dr. Reed inspired me to think about pediatric neurology and developmental behavior.” Hammad Khalid ’17 “Growing up in a household with two physician parents, one of whom is a pediatric neurologist, I came to this seminar especially interested in hearing what Dr. Reed had to say. Her presentation on recent developments in autism spectrum disorders gave me insight into how the medical field is evolving and adapting to new diagnoses every day. Dr. Reed reminded me of the significance of medical innovation in a clinical setting.”
Climate Change and Human Conflict with James Porter, Meigs Distinguished Professor of Ecology Glenn Jacoby ’17 “As an ecology major, I found Dr. Porter’s lecture and discussion on naval weapons testing in Puerto Rico and its effects on the marine environment incredibly engaging. His strong passion for his work was obvious from the minute he started speaking, and I was sad for the discussion to come to an end. It was one of the first opportunities I’ve had in college to be surrounded by older students interested in the same topics I was, and I felt like I gained so much from hearing the creative questions the older students asked.” Jonah Driggers ’17 “Dr. Porter’s seminar was the first extracurricular event I attended at UGA as a freshman. Nothing could have been more ideal to get me excited about my future here. Dr. Porter was fascinating, engaging, and extraordinarily passionate. I left energized and ready to make an impact on the world around me.”
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A Testament of Hope with David Williams, Associate Provost and Director of Honors, Meigs Professor of Religion Meredith Paker ’16 “Under the shadow of Stone Mountain, we discussed A Testament of Hope, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s collected essays, speeches, sermons, and philosophy. Grounded in these primary sources and guided by Dr. Williams’ background in religious studies, our discussion focused on King’s role as a man of his time. By incorporating our own political, social, and educational experiences into the discussion, we questioned what role his teachings could play in modern life as we continue to struggle with issues of race and identity.” Joseph Gerber ’14 “The discussion Dr. Williams hosted on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and writings was a wonderfully varied and authentic conversation on race, activism, politics, worldview, and sociology. I left the conversation with a fresh desire to learn more about the history and process of rendering this nation’s social fabric whole.”
“I Hope You Dance” – Interventional Cardiology with Robert Sinyard, Athens Regional Cardiology Hammad Khalid ’17 “After graciously allowing us into his home, Dr. Sinyard captivated us with stories of two similar patients with remarkably different outcomes. He gave us a humbling talk on the civic duties of being a physician and the moral responsibilities that accompany dealing with people’s most intimate problems. Coming into this seminar, I had no idea our discussion would turn into a heated debate on medical ethics and health policy reform. I thoroughly enjoyed the highcaliber discussion that is a testament to the incredible community the Fellowship provides.”
Star Wars Movie Night with Martin Rogers, Associate Director of Honors & CURO Josh Chang ’15 “Few things go as well together as pizza and Star Wars. Throughout the seminar, we would stop to discuss the stylistic elements of the film as well as the ways in which they changed over multiple revisions of the piece. It was great having the chance to hear Dr. Rogers’ analysis of these aspects of the Star Wars films, many of which I had never fully understood or even noticed in the past.”
Katie Lovejoy ’16 “One of the greatest perks of the Foundation Fellowship is working with the incredible individuals in the Honors Program. Martin Rogers is not only the best academic advisor, he is also an expert on the Force. His commentary on the editing of Star Wars from the original 1970s version to the newer version was even more entertaining than the movie itself.”
Night of the Living Dead Movie Night with Martin Rogers, Associate Director of Honors & CURO Megan White ’15 “Thirty antsy moviegoers, one zombie expert, a campy yet unsettling horror movie, and ten different flavors of popcorn. I can’t think of a better way to get into the Halloween spirit. The Night of the Living Dead movie night at Ciné was an opportunity to watch a classic film on the big screen while picking Marty’s brain about its cultural significance. I left with a greater understanding and appreciation of the zombie genre, and I may or may not have slept with the lights on that night.” John Henry Thompson ’15 “Martin Rogers hosted a night of cinematic intrigue and discussion, screening the cult favorite Night of the Living Dead. Tracing the current zombie craze from its distant Caribbean beginnings to The Walking Dead, Dr. Rogers examined the historical and cultural milieu that has made zombies all the rage. The film itself was surprisingly intense, rife with flesheating ghouls and veiled social commentary.” Justin Payan ’17 “Night of the Living Dead really has to be experienced on the big screen, so we were very lucky to get the chance to see it at Ciné. Afterwards we discussed what elements of the movie worked for us and what didn’t. Dr. Rogers explained the historic context of the film so we could understand the artistic decisions the director made based on the history at the time of its release.”
EPICer – Canopy Aerial Dance Studio Fall Repertory Show Glenn Jacoby ’17 “Fellows social events bring students together from different classes and allow us to see these incredibly inspiring and hardworking students in a relaxed setting. From musicals to trapeze performances, the Fellowship and Athens do not disappoint in the quirky cultural experiences they have to offer, and nothing is more fun than experiencing them with your best friends.”
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Grace Siemietkowski ’15 “What I enjoyed most about this year’s show was the question-and-answer session with the performers afterward. Hearing them talk about their careers outside of dance, their families, and the sheer amount of time and dedication that went into the show resonated with me as I try to determine how to best fit dance into my life after graduation.” Jonathan Adelman ’17 “The Canopy aerial show was the closest I’ve been to a performance – the acts were being performed practically above our heads! It was such a great experience that I subsequently went to a trapeze workshop at Canopy Studio.” Jason Terry ’17 “A testament to the impact of this event and the performers is the fact that the Fellowship set up a follow-up workshop with Canopy, allowing us to imagine that we could one day have the skill to pull off a similar performance.”
Evil Dead: The Musical – Athens Town & Gown Theatre Kirstie Hostetter ’16 “The most cherished aspect of my experience within the Fellowship is the community, a fact I was reminded of when I attended Evil Dead: The Musical. As the hilarious production unfolded before us, I was surprised by the sometimes even funnier comments coming from my peers. Attending the play brought out the hidden wit in a surprising number of us and the playful camaraderie in all of us, serving as a welcome and heartwarming break from academia.”
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Book Discussions and Seminars 2013-2014 Betsy Allen*
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (Alexie) and Shine (Myracle)
Jonathan Arogeti*
Life in Washington, DC
Jeff Berejikian
Foreign Policy Decision Making
Pete Brosius
Indonesian Language Study and Internships
Jesse Chan, Patrick Fitzmaurice*, Ryan Friday*, Camille Gregory*, Derek Ponticelli*
Finance and the Good Society (Shiller)
Jesse Chan, Camille Gregory*, Matt Passarello, Derek Ponticelli*
What is Management Consulting?
Dan Coenen
Supreme Court Landmarks: Texas v. Johnson
Amy Lee Copeland* & Bill McDaniel*
Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America (King)
Victoria DeLeo & Mariana Satterly
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking (Cain)
Lucy Fu* & Claire Underwood Hailey*
Emergency Medicine: How to Suture a Skin Wound
Julio Garin
Welfare Economics
Michael Goldberg
Development and Delivery of Novel Therapeutics to Address Cancer at the DanaFarber Cancer Institute
Geales Goodwin*
Speak (L.H. Anderson) and Feed (M.T. Anderson)
Grace Elizabeth Hale
Child’s Play: Making Alternative Culture in Athens, Georgia during the Reagan Era
Chris Hanks
Becoming an Entrepreneur
Billy Hawkins
The New Plantation: Black Athletes, College Sports, and Predominantly White NCAA Institutions (Hawkins)
Jessica Hunt*
The Fault in Our Stars (Green) and Eleanor & Park (Rowell)
Mir Inaamullah* & Alex Squires*
Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman (Feynman)
Paul Kirschenbauer & Matt Tyler
R/LaTeX Workshop
William Kisaalita
Engineering Research Opportunities
Gwen Kaminsky* & Kim Wilson*
Lean In (Sandberg)
Lisa Last*
Wildlife Diseases
Bronson Lee*
Frontier Energy Access and Myanmar
Stefanie Lindquist
Lunch with the Dean of the School of International and Public Affairs
Loris Magnani
Cosmology, Dark Energy, and Dark Matter: Is the Universe Really This Weird?
Aaron Marshburn*
Google, Silicon Valley, and Working in Tech
José A. Flores Velasco & Milton Masciadri
Dinner with the Argentinian Cónsul
David Millard
Anathem (Stephenson)
Emily Myers
Graceling (Cashore) and The Name of the Wind (Rothfuss)
Balaji Narain
DOMA, Voting Rights, and Affirmative Action: Recent Supreme Court Rulings
James Porter
Climate Change and Human Conflict
Nevada Waugh Reed*
Addressing the Total Needs of Children with Neurological and Psychological Diagnoses
Martin Rogers
Night of the Living Dead Movie Night and Star Wars Movie Night
Amy Sexauer*
Diagnostic Cases and Applying to Medical School
Robert Sinyard
“I Hope You Dance” – Interventional Cardiology
Jenny Taylor*
How does Helicobacter pylori get its famous curves?
Fran Teague
On Writing Well (Zinsser)
Jennifer Thompson
Race and Risk: What Do Students Think about Direct-To-Consumer Genetic Tests?
David S. Williams
A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Washington)
Hyangsoon Yi
A Conversation with Buddhist Monks Visiting from South Korea
Sheena Zhang*
Designing the Science Learning Center: An Introduction to the Design Process and Charrettes
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TR AV E L- S TUDY
Domestic and international travel-study is an integral part of the Foundation Fellowship. Fellows enjoy unique, immersive learning opportunities around the world through individual travel grants, spring break group sojourns led by faculty, and a study abroad Maymester after the first undergraduate year.
Graduating Fellows Highlight the Influence of Undergraduate Travel-Study Experiences
With the Foundation Fellowship, I’ve been able to pursue my professional goals while building my enthusiasm for service. Studying abroad while being supported by such a caring and passionate group, I have combined and redefined my approaches to all sorts of problems – academic, social, local, global.” —David Millard ’14
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David Millard ’14 – Costa Rica, England, Germany, South Africa “From an early age, I’ve been drawn to technology. As I grew up, I also developed a strong interest in social justice and community engagement through education. Born and raised in Athens, I have tried to use my time as a Foundation Fellow to maintain and build ties with local nonprofits as well as engage with communities abroad. “My professional goal is to complete a PhD in computer science and to research artificial intelligence, specifically for autonomous robotics. Throughout my college career, I was involved with the local nonprofit Free IT Athens, which provides low-cost computers running open source software to the Athens community. There I trained volunteers in computer repair and maintenance, worked to build up the network infrastructure of the organization, and helped to recreate some of the procedures used for supplying computers. “During the summer of 2012, I worked with an autonomous robotics group at the University of Freiburg in Freiburg, Germany. There I developed a system for inexpensive multi-agent mapping using acoustic time delay of arrival sensing. This was my first extended stay abroad, and the rich immersion in German culture was the foundation for my understanding of other cultures. “On the Fellows spring break trip to South Africa, I met Dr. Patti Silbert from the Schools Improvement Initiative at the University of Cape Town. After corresponding with her, I traveled to Cape Town during the summer of 2013 to work with the Schools Improvement Initiative in Khayelitsha, the largest and fastest-growing township in South Africa. Together with Cameron Zahedi, another Foundation Fellow, I worked in three schools to build up available technological resources. To increase maintainability of these resources, we prepared informational posters and conducted training sessions so that teachers and administrators could maintain the labs without relying on the Department of Education. “With the Foundation Fellowship, I’ve been able to pursue my professional goals while building my enthusiasm for service. Studying abroad while being supported by such a caring and passionate group, I have combined and redefined my approaches to all sorts of problems – academic, social, local, global.”
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Joseph Gerber ’14 – Costa Rica, England, France, India, South Africa “Growing up and attending high school in the suburban American milieu of Chicagoland, the farthest I had ever traveled was to Canada. I never in my wildest dreams anticipated seeing as much of the world as I’ve seen these past four years. The Foundation Fellowship took me to incredible locations and gave me the confidence necessary to continue an intentional habit of global awareness and international travel. “This process – a sort of globalization of the self – began with a five-week Maymester in the storybook setting of Oxford, England. Surrounded by buildings with traditions of learning older than nations, my classmates and I studied under professors who were the foremost minds in their fields. I was tutored in the perennial Israeli-Palestinian crises and in the outbreak of violence in the DRC. From there, some of my classmates and I got our feet wet traveling in groups on our own, touring some of the most historic cities of Europe, including Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Rome, Florence, and Istanbul. It was an unparalleled bonding experience that also served to prepare us for future travel ventures. “Our class’s sophomore spring break saw us touring the jungles and beaches of Costa Rica, learning from indigenous hosts the importance of maintaining native traditions and history, and witnessing the vitality of ecotourism to local economies. Kayaking through mangroves, sleeping in a tree house, snorkeling among coral, and playing soccer with locals on the beach are all vivid memories of one of the best spring breaks of my life. “All of this travel experience encouraged and emboldened me to take off on my own and spend my junior year in Paris, France – one of the best and most formative decisions I’ve ever made, and one I was enabled to make by the support of the Foundation Fellowship staff before and during the process. I spent ten months in France as an increasingly Francophone exchange student in Paris, a fall break lodger in the Alps around Grenoble, and a Christmas guest of a new friend’s family in Strasbourg. I fell so in love with the French way of life that only the beauty of Athens could have drawn, and eventually did draw, me back. “While I was studying abroad, the Fellowship flew me from Paris to Johannesburg, South Africa for another incredible spring break trip and reunion with dear friends. The week we spent in South Africa was filled with incredible wildlife – baboons, lions, and penguins, to scratch the surface – and memorable experiences – hiking the top of Table Mountain, hearing from local university faculty on the education system in Khayelitsha (the largest township of Johannesburg), and visiting Nelson Mandela’s home. “All of these experiences with the Fellowship have changed me and prepared me in indelible ways for future incredible experiences and have given me the tools and perspective I need to become a bicultural aid and missions worker after college, a dream that has slowly crystallized into a vision and now, thanks to the Foundation Fellowship, is on the cusp of becoming a reality.” Foundation Fellows & R a m se y Honor s S chol ar s A nnual R ep ort
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Cameron Zahedi ’14 – Costa Rica, South Africa, Tajikistan “I always had interests ‘all over the board,’ and when I was choosing a college, I knew that I could explore all of my passions at The University of Georgia. With the support of the Foundation Fellowship, I’ve pursued my various interests through working and immersing myself in countries all over the world, and these experiences have shaped my personality and future career goals. “Interest in the environment and the Spanish language led me to Costa Rica, where their sustainability initiatives are among the most progressive in the world. I lived in the home of a Costa Rican family, assisting them with farm work and helping with their ecotourism business. I gained a greater appreciation for the environment and humanity’s place in it. I hiked through beautiful rainforests, zip lined through clouds high above the tree canopy, and even tried surfing. While living on tico time, I learned a valuable lesson about balancing work and rest and prioritizing happiness. My homestay family also taught me that families are not determined by birth – they can change and grow as we meet people we love. “I also traveled to the Republic of Tajikistan one summer for a Farsi language immersion program. I had always wanted to study Farsi, out of a passion for foreign languages and to connect with my father’s rich culture, and the Fellowship provided the opportunity to do so. I lived with an Iranian family in Dushanbe and spent each day working with a professor from the American
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Institute of Iranian Studies. I met and bonded with other American students who were also interested in Farsi – future policy makers, linguists, and researchers. By the end of the summer, I had progressed to near fluency, and I had a much more accurate picture of life in the Middle East and Central Asia. “After touring South Africa on a Fellows spring trip, I returned with David Millard, another Foundation Fellow, to conduct an educational technology service project in Khayelitsha Township near Cape Town. We helped schools with their computer laboratories and communications networks, allowing them to provide a better learning environment for their students. We also hiked Table Mountain, trekked to the wine country in Franschhoek, and spent time in the agricultural outskirts with a local family. Amid providing IT services to people in need and witnessing farmers incorporating solar energy into their farm production, everything came together for me. I knew my future would involve similar work to David’s and my service project, but focused on renewable energy and an efficient power infrastructure, or smart grid. “Having incredible travel-study experiences as an undergraduate student is an opportunity available to all Foundation Fellows. I am extremely grateful to the Fellowship for the support I received as I pursued my passions all over the globe and for the perspective and wisdom these experiences will provide for my future in the energy industry.”
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Grants for Individual Travel 2013-2014 Jonathan Adelman
London, England
Gautam Narula
Australia
Tristan Bagala
Nova Scotia, Canada
Morrison Nolan
Yuliya Bila
Washington, DC
Cali Callaway
Zurich, Switzerland
Interdisciplinary Field Program, Western United States
Joshua Chang
Taiwan
Meredith Paker
Tanzania
Savannah Colbert
Herrang, Sweden
Eytan Palte
New York, NY
Caroline Coleman
New York, NY
Davis Parker
Boston, MA
Laura Courchesne
Lausanne, Switzerland
Gabrielle Pierre
Costa Rica
Maria Cox
Oxford, England; Los Angeles, CA
Rand Pope
San Diego, CA
Hannah Reiss
Oxford, England; Bangalore, India; Valencia, Spain
Camir Ricketts
Oxford, England
Giovanni Righi
London, England
Alex Rowell
France
Leighton Rowell
Philadelphia, PA
Eli Scott
Antarctica; England
Blake Shessel
Oxford, England
Grace Siemietkowski
Paris, France; Senegal
Madison Snelling
Stellenbosch, South Africa; Tanzania
Michael Song
Quito, Ecuador
Karishma Sriram
La Paz, Bolivia
Alex Edquist
Washington, DC
Megan Ernst
Bali; Laos; Thailand
Parker Evans
Yosemite, CA
Drew Farr
Malaga, Spain
Sophie Giberga
China; Taiwan; Washington, DC
Shuchi Goyal
Wuhan, China
Osama Hashmi
Palo Alto, CA; New York, NY
Kirstie Hostetter
Costa Rica
Glenn Jacoby
Guatemala
Shaun Kleber
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Alli Koch
Costa Rica; Greeley, CO
John B. Stroud
Dallas, TX
Torre Lavelle
Fiji; Washington, DC
Kevin Sun
London, England
Chris Lewitzke
Reston, VA
Treva Tam
Bruce Li
London, England
Cannes, France; Istanbul, Turkey
Katie Lovejoy
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Bert Thompson
Cambridge, England; Verona, Italy
Kelsey Lowrey
Dusseldorf, Germany
John Henry Thompson
Washington, DC
Sandip Minhas
Riobamba, Ecuador
Luke Thompson
London, England
Sarah Mirza
Oxford, England; Austin, TX
Chenee Tracey
Uruguay
Caroline Moore
Cannes, France; New York, NY
Vijeth Mudalegundi
Jacqueline Van De Velde Lyon, France Megan White
Washington, DC
Avery Wiens
Berlin, Germany
Zurich, Switzerland
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Spring Break 2014 International and Domestic Trips ARGENTINA & URUGUAY Program Leader: Milton Masciadri, Distinguished University Professor of Double Bass, Coordinator of Hodgson School of Music International and Study Abroad Program, Director of UGA International Double Bass Symposium Academic Focus: History, Culture, and the Arts Visit the Plaza de Mayo, Puerto Madero, Museo del Bicentenario, Casa Rosada, and Argentina’s National Congress, Recoleta Cemetery, La Boca Barrio Attend a tango performance Tour Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires) and Teatro Solis (Montevideo) Ride horses and attend a gaucho exhibition at the Estancia Santa Susana ranch Tour the old city of Colonia del Sacramento, a UNESCO World Heritage site Meet with members of Uruguay’s General Assembly
Megan White ’15 “After a particularly snowy winter in Athens, catching the end of the summer in Argentina and Uruguay made for an ideal spring break. Even more illuminating than the sun was the chance to see the cities of Buenos Aires, Colonia del Sacramento, and Montevideo through the eyes of a world-renowned bassist and area native, Milton Masciadri. Whether we were riding horses in the Pampas, watching local tango performances, exploring vibrant neighborhoods, or touring famous theaters, we did so with an insider and an expert. This trip also gave me a whole new perspective on steak.” Shaun Kleber ’16 “The Argentina and Uruguay spring break trip was my first experience in South America. It exposed me to an entirely new culture – a unique blend of Latin American and European influences. We learned about gaucho culture from the gauchos themselves, saw tango in action in the place where it began, and explored some of the most famous theaters in the world. We also discussed some of the less savory aspects of Argentina’s past – a taste of reality that I appreciated being exposed to.”
Tour Alto de la Ballena boutique winery Tour Casa Pueblo en route to Punta del Este
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My spring break in Argentina and Uruguay was easily one of the most memorable things I’ve done during my college career. It was my first trip to South America, and being with Jessica Hunt and the Fellows made it even more special. My favorite things about both places were the music, architecture, and food. Dr. Masciadri gave us a unique perspective since he had performed many times in the theaters we visited. (I also came to understand why Argentina takes so much pride in its beef.) I’ve taken a few Spanish classes while at UGA, and this trip gave me an opportunity to see just how much I’ve learned – more than I thought, but still not enough. It was a wonderful trip with wonderful people, and I wish I could do it again.” —Camir Ricketts ’15
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MOROCCO Program Leader: Kenneth Honerkamp, Professor of Arabic, Islamic Texts, Shar’ia (Islamic Law), and North African Sufism Academic Focus: North African Islamic Culture and Traditions Study Moroccan Arabic at the Center for Language and Culture Stay with homestay families in Marrakech and meet Moroccan students Visit the Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia Palace, and El Badi Palace in Marrakech Trade stories and songs while camping in the Sahara Desert Visit Agalmous, Agadir, a 14th century Berber granary Tour Tamagroute library and see famous Tamagroute pottery be created Talk about Sufism and shrines See local shrine of Sidi Ali Bou’Amar, a saint from Murabit times Explore Casbah Ait Ben Haddou with local guide
Leighton Rowell ’16 “Morocco was the most welcoming country I have ever visited. Despite the language barrier, I immediately felt at home with my host family in Marrakech as my roommate and I got to know them over numerous cups of mint tea. From there, our group traveled through the High Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert with Dr. Honerkamp, an expert scholar and, from all appearances, a minor celebrity in Morocco. To learn about history and culture in a classroom is one thing, but with Dr. Honerkamp as our trip leader, we had the privilege of reading ancient manuscripts in the Library of Tamegroute, taking in the beautiful view atop the kasbah Aït Benhaddou, and learning firsthand about Islam on our visits to mosques in Marrakech. We goofed around, naming our camels in the Sahara and rolling down the dunes until we were too dizzy to stand. The Francophones among us even got to practice our French! Because of my trip to Morocco, I came home with a new favorite meal (tagine and tea), a more profound understanding of Islam, and countless memories with some of my closest friends.”
Participate in traditional tea times
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SOUTH KOREA Program Leader: Hyangsoon Yi, Professor of Comparative Literature, Director of Korean Language and Literature, Director of Vietnamese Language and Literature, Interim Director of Center for Asian Studies Academic Focus: Zen Buddhism in South Korea Travel to Gyeongju, the ancient capital
of the Silla Kingdom Tour Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto, and Royal Tombs Park Hike Mt. Namsan and see Buddha carvings Stay at Unmunsa Temple, a Buddhist teaching monastery for nuns Hike to Sari Hermitage Participate in evening and morning chanting with 108 bows,
meditation, balwoo formal breakfast, morning work period, traditional temple crafts and stay at Tongdosa Temple, a monastery for monks Learn traditional Korean tea ceremony and have tea with head abbot Return to Seoul for tour of Gyeongbukgung Royal Palace Explore National Museum of Korea, Insa-dong neighborhood, and
East Gate Market
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Eytan Palte ’16 “With opportunities to participate in Buddhist rituals, such as chanting and playing the dharma drum, and to discuss Buddhist philosophy and tenets with monastics, we were exposed to a special culture in the fun and eyeopening manner unique to the Foundation Fellowship. The trip balanced Korea’s traditional Buddhist culture with the upbeat, modern metropolis of Seoul to create an unforgettable experience shared with some of our closest friends.” Giovanni Righi ’16 “That week, we woke up at 3am, took terribly long bus rides, drove through thick smog, and couldn’t always bring ourselves to eat what was in front of us, and yet it was one of the best weeks of my time at UGA, perhaps because it was matched by much more beautiful things.
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There was the sense that we were part of an institution that respected people and the planet; the sunrise through the hills that warmed our legs that were weary from bowing; delicious little rice cakes; and the hikes to the hermitages. We stayed in temples isolated from the city and nestled between the mountains of southeast Korea. There was an understanding that the intricate architecture of the buildings and the monastics’ routines were motivated by a deep desire to connect with an ultimate happiness and their respect for everything alive. We got to see all of these things thanks to the fantastic Dr. Yi and her personal relationship with the monastics.” Caroline Coleman ’16 “Before being a part of the Fellowship, I never pictured myself spending spring break in South Korea, let alone with Buddhist nuns in a monastic college over a thousand years old. From waking up in the early hours of the morning to perform ancient chanting rituals and watch the sunrise to
exploring the vibrant streets of Seoul, this travel-study trip was one of the most culturally enlightening and exciting trips I’ve ever been on. And of course, none of it would have happened without the incredible direction of Dr. Yi, who has served as an interpreter for the Dalai Lama in her spare time.” Meredith Paker ’16 “Traveling with Dr. Yi, one of the foremost scholars on Buddhist nuns in the world, we immersed ourselves in Buddhist monastic traditions. From joining the nuns of Unmunsa Temple in their 108 bows during morning chanting at 3am every morning to drinking plum tea with the abbot of Hongbeopsa Temple at a small hermitage we hiked to in the mountains, we experienced a Korea I could have never seen on my own. In the process, we learned about Korean history and culture and about being people. My Foundation Fellowship spring break trip to South Korea was invigorating, inspiring, and an experience I will never forget.”
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NEW YORK and WASHINGTON, DC (First-Year Fellows) Program Leaders: David S. Williams, Associate Provost & Honors Program Director; Jere Morehead, University of Georgia President Academic Focus: Finance, Theatre, Public Health, and Politics New York Tour Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the 9/11 Memorial, and the Brooklyn Bridge Meet with Susan Waltman, Senior VP and General Counsel, Greater New York Hospital
Association Meet with Joel Oppenheim, Senior Associate Dean, NYU Langone Medical Center Discuss finance careers with David Kirby at Goldman Sachs and other UGA alumni working
in banking and finance Attend a Broadway performance of Tony Award winner Book of Mormon Meet and dine with Fellows alumni at Carmine’s
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Washington, DC Meet Associate Justice Clarence Thomas at the Supreme Court
– and everyone else that week – was so willing to share knowledge and experiences with us really put into perspective how fortunate we are.”
Meet political consultant and CNN commentator
Paul Begala at McKenna, Long & Aldridge law firm Have breakfast with Georgia Senator Chiefs of
Staff: Camila Knowles (Sen. Chambliss) and Joan Kirchner (Sen. Isakson) at the Monocle Restaurant on Capitol Hill Dine with Fellows alumni at Old Ebbitt Grill
Bruce Li ’17 “The whole week was a surreal experience for all of us. We went from talking with analysts on the trading floor of Goldman Sachs to learning about biomedical research from the director of NYU’s Sackler Institute. We heard the firsthand account of dealing with Hurricane Sandy from the head of the Greater New York Hospital Association, and one short plane ride later we were talking politics with lobbyists and senators over breakfast. That Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas
Susie Jones ’17 “Traveling to New York City and Washington, DC provided the incredible opportunity to make connections and become familiar with cities where many of us will end up working or studying. My favorite part of the trip was bonding as a class. Spring break brought the class together in the middle of a busy semester and allowed us to become closer friends.” Gabrielle Pierre ’17 “I really enjoyed each city revealing itself, from the famed attractions such as Broadway, the Met, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Smithsonian to subtle nuances like $2 dumpling boxes in Chinatown and little hidden DC restaurants at night.”
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First-Year Maymester 2014 Study Abroad at Oxford University Courses Biomedical Ethics – Hanna Pickard, All Souls College English Historiography in the Early-Modern Period:
Literature and Politics – George Southcombe, University College Environmental Economics – George Bitsakakis,
Pembroke College Modernist Literature: Satire and Dystopia in
Modern and Contemporary Fiction – David Bradshaw, Worcester College Jonah Driggers ’17 “Oxford was a fantastic experience. It is incredible to be surrounded by the history and culture of learning that is so apparent in this city. From studying in the Bodleian Library (and sitting next to a professor who will tell you about the book he’s working on), to working with the brilliant tutors that teach your
classes, to sitting in the garden with a book, there’s nothing better. Well, almost nothing better. Oxford without quite so much rain might be a very slight improvement. I cannot think of a better way to start your four years of globe-trotting.” Hammad Khalid ’17 “Engaging in stimulating seminar and tutorial discussions with Dr. Pickard and classmates challenged me to think critically and question why I hold the beliefs and values that I do. Outside of class, taking in the unique sights and sounds of Oxford – punting on the Cherwell River, exploring the Bodleian Library, attending Open Mic Night at the Catweazle Club – made for some truly surreal experiences. Visiting Amsterdam and Paris also proved to be highlights of the trip. However, the greatest part of the Maymester was having the opportunity to make all of these memories with some of my closest friends in the Fellowship and creating lifetime bonds in the process.”
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My friends and I explored some of the great natural areas that Europe has to offer. A few of the more memorable snapshots include paddling into a school of jellyfish while sea kayaking in Norway and photographing the incredible diversity of Alpine wildflowers while backpacking the Tour du Mont Blanc.” —Drew Farr ’17
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Maria Baetti, FF Alumna ’08 – Communication Officer, INTERACT, Vienna, Austria; Fulbright Scholar, Diplomatic Academy of Vienna “I earned a dual degree in advertising and psychology at UGA, as well as a minor in French language. Thanks to the encouragement of Foundation Fellowship and Honors Program staff, I applied for a Fulbright Scholarship towards the end of my senior year and was selected. The scholarship sent me to Vienna, Austria for a year of study at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, the oldest school of diplomacy in the world. After two years of rigorous study of political science, economics, international law, and history, I earned my master’s degree there. “Vienna kind of charmed me and I’ve been there ever since. After an internship at the United Nations and six months at a women’s rights NGO, I started a job in communications for a European Union program called INTERACT that focuses on regional development and territorial cooperation. The job allows me to combine my interest in international relations and communications, as I work with people and government
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institutions across Europe to increase visibility of crossborder cooperation. “The Fellowship definitely opened doors for me that made an international career possible. The travel opportunities the Fellowship offers are unique – not only the spring travel-study trips but also the individual travel grants. During my four years at UGA, I traveled to New Zealand, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Ecuador with the Fellows. I used my individual travel grant to do a semester exchange program in Lyon, France and to do behavioral psychology research on dolphins in the Bahamas and then lab research in Mystic, Connecticut. I also did a summer internship at Fitzgerald+CO, an advertising agency based in Atlanta. “While the opportunities and experiences offered to me by the Fellowship have been amazing, one of the most important aspects of the program for me was the people I met. I have held onto the friendships I have made through the Foundation Fellows and continue to forge new ones through this diverse network of bright and driven people.”
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INTERNSHIPS
Internships give students hands-on experience and professional connections they can build on for years to come. As undergraduates, Fellows hold internship positions in for-profit, non-profit, academic, and governmental organizations throughout the U.S. and around the world. They gain valuable skills and test out possible career paths, often while earning credit toward graduation.
During my career as a Foundation Fellow, I have pursued a wide range of interests in the classroom and complemented my academic experiences with myriad professional and internship experiences.” —Paul Kirschenbauer ’14
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Jacqueline Van De Velde ’14 – INTERPOL, The Carter Center, Roosevelt Institute Campus Network, Human Rights League Slovakia “I spent three months living in Lyon, France as I worked within the Capacity Building and Training Directorate of INTERPOL, the international criminal police organization. I had sought out the internship to gain exposure to international organizations – to understand their mission, contribute to their work, and make connections from around the world. Being at INTERPOL was incredible. At a typical lunchroom table, you would be immersed in rapid conversations in French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and English. I was inspired to see colleagues with different cultures, languages, and beliefs coming together each day to improve the lives of all global citizens. I now have an international network of foreign policy professionals and friends from around the globe. “The following fall, I interned at the Carter Center in Atlanta. With funding from the Foundation Fellowship to commute to and from Atlanta twice weekly, I worked within the Conflict Resolution program to address inequities in access to justice in Liberia. I gained so much from my position working to train local paralegals to assist tribal chiefs and elders in conflict mediation while navigating both customary and formal law. The Carter Center was extremely intentional in facilitating the professional development of their interns, from taking an interest in our career goals to bringing in speakers to develop our leadership skills to giving us the opportunity to meet and talk with President and Mrs. Carter. The internship gave me a clearer understanding of the day-to-day work at a non-governmental organization, professional experience with West African issues, and an opportunity to connect law and policy. “From August 2013 to May 2014, I worked for the Roosevelt Institute, the nation’s oldest and largest student-run think tank, with over 100 clubs and 8,000 students at college campuses across the nation. I was hired by the national organization to serve on its staff as the Senior Fellow for Defense & Diplomacy, serving as the thought leader for students across the network. Through blogging, engaging with media, meeting with students across the network, and facilitating the creation of quality policy pieces, I worked to inject the informed millennial voice into politics and policy. My work was extremely rewarding, taking me across the country and giving me the opportunity to speak about foreign policy. I hope that my efforts lead to a more engaged populace and more diverse input in foreign policy making at the highest levels.”
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Paul Kirschenbauer ’14 – Georgia Theatre, Chase Park Transduction, Superfly Marketing Group, Hamburg Radio Station TIDE 96.0 FM, Unum “During my career as a Foundation Fellow, I have pursued a wide range of interests in the classroom and complemented my academic experiences with myriad professional and internship experiences. In Athens, I worked as a part of the Georgia Theatre’s production team. As one of the Southeast’s premier concert venues, the Theatre exposed me to audiovisual support and artist relations for national tours such as The Wailers, Bob Marley’s band. The semester thereafter, I parlayed this experience into a position at Chase Park Transduction recording studios, where I worked alongside producers to record and master albums of various genres, using state-of-the-art equipment. “Through Superfly Marketing Group, I hired and led a team of campus ambassadors for Turner Broadcasting’s Adult Swim. My responsibilities revolved around designing, implementing, and executing a semesterlong marketing campaign to promote the Adult Swim brand among UGA students and Athens residents. The campaign culminated in the pilot appearance of a country-wide tour, which the company filmed and used as promotional material on national television. “The Fellowship’s support system also encouraged me to search for opportunities outside of Athens. I spent the summer after my sophomore year working as a Continuity Support Team member for a radio station in Hamburg, Germany. This internship allowed me to hone my German skills alongside team members from several European countries while managing the station’s on-site facilities and programming. “I spent the following summer in Chattanooga, Tennessee working for Unum (a Fortune 500 life insurance company). As a part of the Internal Audit and Investor Relations departments, I worked independently and with senior staff to develop internal educational materials on industry dynamics, an executive report analyzing Unum’s stockholders, and a summary of multiple audits intended to identify and mitigate internal risk factors.” Jesse Chan ’14 – El Fondo de Desarrollo Microempresarial (FODEMI), Ernst & Young (EY) “In the summer of 2012, I had the privilege of traveling with another Fellow, Jeremiah Stevens, to Ibarra, Ecuador to intern at FODEMI for several weeks. FODEMI is a microfinance institution dedicated to 56
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helping borrowers who would not otherwise qualify for credit obtain microloans to fund start-up ventures, expand ongoing microenterprises, and build better lives. Jeremiah and I worked closely with FODEMI’s staff, increasing our understanding of microfinance and of microsavings accounts for individuals and households who could not otherwise obtain traditional savings accounts. This experience led me to consider the idea that banking services could directly benefit the lives of those who need it most and help to build healthy businesses and families. Having the chance to see how well-designed financial services can empower individuals in Ecuador led me to think about similar efforts in the U.S. and other countries. “The next summer, I interned at Ernst & Young’s (EY) Atlanta office in the Transaction Services group, where I worked directly on projects that had an immediate impact. There I developed an understanding of the complex valuation models needed to determine the appropriate figures for reporting certain transactions, assets, and liabilities for financial reporting. I worked directly on the valuation of intangible assets, considering what things like trademarks, brand names, and order backlogs were worth for clients conducting a purchase price allocation. I also conducted research on the rapidly growing field of embedded automotive software technologies, particularly how these technologies could be valued and the proportion of a car’s value that these types of software comprised. Seeing a wide variety of specialized financial accounting issues gave me a greater appreciation of the significant input and evaluation that goes into the single number investors read on financial statements.” Jeremiah Stevens ’14 – El Fondo de Desarrollo Microempresarial (FODEMI) “Through the internship, I honed my Spanish skills, reaching near-fluency over the course of the summer, and I witnessed a well-run, financially stable, impact-oriented business’s operations up close, learning a lot about how all of the competing mandates on an institution such as FODEMI get worked out in reality. It was a helpful experience and one I will carry with me as I consider working overseas in similar business models long term.” Alex Edquist ’16 – U.S. Department of Justice “I am interning for the DOJ’s Economic Analysis Group within the Antitrust Division in Washington, DC. One of my University of Georgia economics professors, Honors Schol
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Dr. Jon Williams, connected me with this internship through his research partner, who is doing a yearlong stint as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division. My role as an intern is to assist the group’s 40 economists with their various projects, most of which concern mergers, so it’s a lot of number crunching! The economists here are great about giving the interns meaningful tasks – I joke that I went a whole two weeks without making any photocopies – that allow us to practice the econometric skills we learned in class and learn about many different industries (the division’s work ranges from hazardous wastewater disposal to tour buses). I am deciding if either a JD or an economics PhD is in my future, and this internship will help me make that decision because I am doing economics research to facilitate legal proceedings.” Davis Parker ’15 – Boston Consulting Group “As a summer associate, I work with a team of BCGers to better structure the pricing strategy for a large, national corporation. My role focuses on organizing and understanding data via tools such as Excel and SQL while also building slides that best represent the data in PowerPoint. The experience of working alongside post-MBA consultants has pushed me to be a more strategic and efficient thinker – a skill that will yield great dividends during the balance of my educational and business career.”
Kirstie Hostetter ’16 – UGA Costa Rica “As a sustainability intern, I’m working with the on-site general manager and the director of UGACR to help the campus apply for their sustainability rating from the Costa Rican Department of Tourism. The most inspiring part of this process for me has been seeing how sustainability reaches beyond the typical ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ mantra and into the community. Cleaning the kitchen after meals, weeding on the farm, and milking cows lets me work alongside locals to practice my Spanish and hear firsthand how UGACR dedicates itself to ensuring cultural and environmental sustainability. As an environmental economics and management major, my classes tend to focus on the dollars and cents of promoting sustainability. Here, nestled within the cloud forest among beautiful flora and fauna, I’ve been exposed to the most essential element for ensuring a sustainable world for future generations – the human element.” Megan White ’15 – U.S. Department of State “I interned in the Central Asian Division of the Office of the Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia within the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the Department of State. From its headquarters in Washington, DC, my office was responsible for planning, budgeting, and advising on U.S. foreign aid projects in the former Soviet Union, as
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well as coordinating with embassies and other donors to ensure the region’s needs are being met. Specifically, my team focused on the ‘-stans.’ From setting up video conferences with the European Union to drafting letters for the Vice President’s Office, my responsibilities provided a glimpse into how the U.S. approaches foreign aid. I was challenged to learn about the issues facing the region, what the United States takes into consideration while setting its priorities, and how to make one snazzy pie chart.” John Henry Thompson ’15 – American Enterprise Institute “My internship at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC involves assisting Dr. Arthur Brooks, the president, and his executive assistant and research assistant. The executive assistant often requires help with scheduling and travel arrangements. I have worked on a number of interesting projects, gaining practical experience in economics research and exposure to influential economic and policy minds in Washington. Although I am not entirely sure of my career goals, this internship has heightened my research skills and been a highly stimulating intellectual experience. I would recommend a summer at AEI to anyone interested in economics, public policy, politics, or social science research.” John B. Stroud ’16 – Encompass Home Health “As one of the top ten largest home health providers in the U.S., Encompass Home Health in Dallas, Texas is looking for new opportunities to expand by buying smaller companies in key geographic areas. A lot of what I do in the acquisitions department centers on gathering and organizing tons of data into appropriate formats to rank potential markets for the future. I create models comparing data points, primarily using a weighted geometric mean. I’ve learned how large businesses operate at a high level, and I’ve learned a lot about home health and hospice.” Torre Lavelle ’16 – Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute “The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia serves at the forefront of the study, protection, and management of threatened species and habitats. Interning there for nine weeks provided a wonderful medium between my scientific curiosity and passion for environmental policy. My time as a conservation ecology research assistant has been devoted to a variety of conservation-related activities in the field 58
and in the computer lab, including assessing endangered landscapes, analyzing the biology of extinction, and identifying key conservation strategies for each unique ecosystem. Working under a Smithsonian National Zoo senior scientist and having constant interaction with the world’s leading cheetah and elephant specialists has furthered my goal of working at the intersection of human-wildlife conflict.” Bert Thompson ’16 – Office of U.S. Representative Jack Kingston “My time as the Military Legislative Intern in Congressman Jack Kingston’s office during spring 2014 was a fantastic, eye-opening, and demanding experience. I participated in UGA’s Washington Semester Program and worked full time in the Kingston office while taking classes in DC. In the office, I helped to prepare daily updates for the Congressman on international situations like the crisis in Crimea and the Bilateral Security Agreement in Afghanistan. I also accompanied the Congressman in meetings related to military issues, worked closely with our Military Fellow, and conducted constituent relations. I learned there is a lot more to the policy world than what a textbook presents.” Caroline Coleman ’16 – Greater New York Hospital Association “My summer internship at GNYHA in New York City has helped me to explore the complexities of the healthcare industry. Under the direction of Susan Waltman, Executive Vice President of Legal, Regulatory, and Professional Affairs, I’ve been learning about a wide array of pressing healthcare issues, from opiate and heroin addiction to organ donation. This experience will provide an important health policy perspective and cognizance of public health issues as I continue on my path to medical school.” Eytan Palte ’16 – Greater New York Hospital Association “My internship at GNYHA has introduced me to the behind-the-scenes work of healthcare. I am working on initiatives aimed at implementing team-based and patient-centered care to improve quality of care and health outcomes, as well as strengthen the providerpatient relationship. As an aspiring physician, these public health projects have given me insight into the future of healthcare delivery, and I hope to incorporate these lessons and models into my future medical education and practice.”
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Foundation Fellows Internships 2013-2014 Yuliya Bila ’14
Intern, Office of Western Europe, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC
Jesse Chan ’14
Transaction Services Intern, Ernst & Young, Atlanta, GA
Savannah Colbert ’15
Public Relations Intern, UGA College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Department of Communication and Creativity, Athens, GA
Caroline Coleman ’16
Summer Intern, Greater New York Hospital Association, New York, NY
Laura Courchesne ’17
Research Intern, Brain-Mind Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland; Fall Research Intern, TradeSecure LLC, Athens, GA
Maria Cox ’15
Development Intern, Circle of Confusion, Los Angeles, CA; Development Intern, Hutch Parker Entertainment, Los Angeles, CA
Alex Edquist ’16
Economic Analysis Intern, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC
Smitha Ganeshan ’14
Intern, Office of the Assistant Director for Policy, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; Intern, Athens Health Network, Athens, GA; Student Intern, Hospital Regional de Loreto and Public Health Centers: Bellen, Morona Cocha, Iquitos, Peru
Eilidh Geddes ’15
Summer Sales and Trading Analyst, J.P. Morgan, New York, NY
Joseph Gerber ’14
Ministry Intern, Impact Asia, Kolkata, India
Shuchi Goyal ’17
Summer Teaching Assistant, New Oriental School, Wuhan, China
Anisha Hegde ’14
Maternal and Child Health Intern, Child and Family Health International, Pune, India
Kirstie Hostetter ’16
Sustainability Intern, UGA Costa Rica, Santa Elena de Monteverde, Costa Rica
Paul Kirschenbauer ’14
Internal Audit and Investor Relations Intern, Unum, Chattanooga, TN
Shaun Kleber ’16
Summer Intern, Kolikova and Partners Law Firm, Bratislava, Slovakia
Torre Lavelle ’16
Intern, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA
Chris Lewitzke ’16
Intern, United States Tennis Association, Reston, VA
David Millard ’14
Research Assistant, THINC Lab at UGA, Athens, GA; Educational Technology Service Intern, Schools Improvement Initiative, Khayelitsha, South Africa
Caroline Moore ’16
Summer Advertising Intern, Marketing Strategies, Inc., Myrtle Beach, SC
Eytan Palte ’16
Summer Intern, Greater New York Hospital Association, New York, NY
Davis Parker ’15
Summer Associate, Boston Consulting Group, Atlanta, GA
Hannah Reiss ’16
Summer Intern, Organization for Rare Diseases, Bangalore, India
Alex Rowell ’15
Economic Policy Intern, Center for American Progress, Washington, DC
John B. Stroud ’16
Business Development Intern, Encompass Home Health, Dallas, TX
Bert Thompson ’16
Military Legislative Intern, Office of U.S. Representative Jack Kingston, Washington, DC
John Henry Thompson ’15
Intern, American Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC
Jacqueline Van De Velde ’14
Intern, Capacity Building and Training Directorate, INTERPOL, Lyon, France; Conflict Resolution Intern, The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA; Senior Fellow for Defense and Diplomacy, The Roosevelt Institute Campus Network, New York, NY
Megan White ’15
Central Asia Intern, Office of the Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC
Avery Wiens ’15
Summer Research Fellow, Center for Computational and Quantum Chemistry, Athens, GA
Cameron Zahedi ’14
Information Technology Leadership Program (ITLP) Intern, GE Oil & Gas, San Ramon, CA; Summer Intern, Windham Capital Management, Boston, MA; Educational Technology Service Intern, Schools Improvement Initiative, Khayelitsha, South Africa
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U N D E R G R ADUAT E R ESEAR CH
As a major research institution, The University of Georgia encourages undergraduates to participate in research with faculty in all academic disciplines. From their first moments on campus, Foundation Fellows are introduced to top-tier faculty members who can direct them to people and projects that complement their interests. With funding from the Fellowship, many Fellows also pursue research opportunities off campus at institutions in the United States and abroad. These experiences bring classroom subjects to life, confer practical skills, and guide students toward the next steps in their academic and professional careers.
Graduating Fellows Highlight the Influence of Undergraduate Research Experiences Undergraduate research was what drew me to UGA, and I haven’t been disappointed. Since my first semester, I’ve worked in Drs. Michael and Rebecca Terns’ lab in the biochemistry department studying the CRISPR/Cas system, a newly discovered RNAbased immune system in bacteria and archaea that is now being used for genome editing in nearly every model organism available.” —Marianne Ligon ’14
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Marianne Ligon ’14 – Biochemistry & Molecular Biology “Undergraduate research was what drew me to UGA, and I haven’t been disappointed. Since my first semester, I’ve worked in Drs. Michael and Rebecca Terns’ lab in the biochemistry department studying the CRISPR/ Cas system, a newly discovered RNA-based immune system in bacteria and archaea that is now being used for genome editing in nearly every model organism available. “Drs. Michael and Rebecca Terns taught me a plethora of biochemical and genetic techniques that I’ve been able to apply to other fields and, most importantly, how to meticulously design and run experiments. Although it’s been difficult at times, like most great challenges, the learning experience has been immensely rewarding. I started my project without a clear direction, intending mostly to learn, but after several semesters in the lab, I began to take charge and move my project forward investigating the biochemical mechanisms of a particular subtype of the CRISPR/Cas system. With the Ternses’ guidance and much help from my lab mates, I prepared an Honors thesis and hope to submit my work to a scientific journal in the near future. “The Foundation Fellowship also gave me the opportunity to explore research beyond UGA. I participated in a research program at NYU one summer working with Dan Littman, one of the world’s leading immunologists. Originally I was interested in his work on HIV, but he introduced me to the field of mucosal immunology and the role that commensal bacteria play in shaping the gastrointestinal and systemic immune system. Dr. Littman was instrumental in helping me develop independent research skills, particularly with regard to literature review, which sparked new interests and scientific creativity. Handling a huge amount of literature that discussed techniques I had never done challenged me to learn and grow. This skill helped me improve my research project back at UGA and has also been an essential skill in my favorite class (graduatelevel Advanced Immunology with Dr. Klonowski), where we explore current literature in a variety of immunological fields and prepare a research proposal within each topic.
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“I followed up my summer in the Littman lab by arranging a visiting student position under Kevin Maloy at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology at Oxford University, starting another short-term project that examined the role of ER stress in colon inflammation. These varied experiences have inspired me to pursue an MD/PhD in the field of immunology and inflammation with the goal of practicing as a physician scientist.” Matt Tyler ’14 – Education, Political Science “Over the past four years, I’ve participated in several research projects abroad – all supported by the Fellowship and the Honors Program. I’m a fourth-year Fellow completing a combined bachelor’s/master’s in political science. I came to UGA expecting to go to law school and signed up for a one-hour CURO seminar on law research my first semester. The professor who taught the class did research in education law, and after asking to work with him the next semester, I became interested in education research. “The subsequent semester, I participated in an Honors book discussion with Dr. Ron Butchart on education policy. By this time I was already planning to do the SPIA at Oxford program in spring 2012. The program ended in mid-March, so I planned to volunteer at a school in Ghana for the rest of the semester. After talking with Dr. Butchart, however, I realized I could turn my travel into a research opportunity. I applied for and received a grant from the Honors International Scholars Program to visit schools in Ghana, France, Italy, and England after the Oxford program. In each location, I participated in homestays; interviewed teachers, students and government officials; and conducted classroom observations and statistical analyses. On this trip I became interested in the politics of education (how a country’s history and social context affect how teachers teach), which became the focus of my master’s thesis two years later! And I received class credit for it, which helped to make the timing more feasible. “Fast forward to spring 2013. I was in a similar situation as before – I was planning to participate in the UGA China Maymester through the political science department. The China program was only going to last three weeks, but I wanted to stay in the region longer. When I mentioned this to the professor leading the trip, he said that I could receive funding through the Freeman-ASIA program, a scholarship administered through several departments at UGA for the purpose of internships and research in Asia. With this in mind, 62
I targeted universities in Hong Kong (since it’s largely a bilingual region) with professors conducting research in education. After emailing five or six professors, one responded and said that I was welcome to come. I received money from the Freeman Foundation and spent a month conducting research on teacher selfefficacy in relation to group learning in a comparative study with Cambridge University. “Five months later I reached out to the professor at Cambridge with whom we were working to talk about their master’s program (which I applied to). She mentioned that the professor in Hong Kong spoke highly of me and said off-the-cuff that they would love for me to help with their data analysis. To the professor’s surprise, I told her that I had grant money from the Foundation Fellowship and could make a trip to England for a few weeks to help them. I went at the beginning of January 2014 for ten days. Both the Hong Kong and the Cambridge trips resulted in conference proposals, and our research in Hong Kong got nominated for a ‘best paper’ award at the International Conference for Education Research in Seoul! “Long story short: programs organized by departments are going to have a very different feel from those you organize yourself, and both have their advantages and disadvantages. To do research abroad, you have to be willing to be flexible and take risks. It requires a lot of extra planning on your part since you don’t have the same structure that you would get from a program organized by a department. But it is well worth it – my research trips abroad have comprised some of my favorite memories over the past four years and have dramatically influenced my career path. And the Fellowship and the Honors Program provide a ton of support for it.” Sara Black ’14 – Social and Environmental Movements “My passions are community organizing; social movement dynamics; and the politics of race, class, immigration, and environmental justice. I wanted to engage with these topics in a deep and meaningful way, so I spent my first three years at UGA running around the United States organizing conferences and trainings, interning, and meeting people. I worked or networked with communities resisting destructive extraction, building a new food system, or fighting economic and racial oppression. I dove deeply, and because the culture, purposes, and potentials of these networks of activism were my primary curiosity, I was voraciously
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but unknowingly gathering three years of ethnographic data on the modern American climate movement. “In the spring of 2013, at a friend’s suggestion, I took Dr. Nik Heynen’s service learning geography class, Urban Political Ecology of Climate Change, and my whole world shifted. He encouraged me to bring my organizing experiences into the class and to reflect on justice movements in an academic setting. Our class developed a project in which we hosted a convergence of climate and immigrant justice organizers in Georgia to reignite a dialog about intentional collaborative relationships. At the end of the class, having realized that I had enough experience and contextual knowledge to write about organizing, I asked Nik to be my Honors thesis mentor. With help from Nik Heynen and geography PhD candidate Richard Milligan, I have had a thoroughly satisfying experience collecting field data, wrestling with ideas about strategy, globalization, and scale, and getting feedback from my peers. “I presented my first attempt at an Honors thesis at the Dimensions of Political Ecology conference in Lexington, Kentucky in February and took home the undergraduate paper prize! I also presented at the 2014 Association of American Geographers conference in Tampa and am working to have a version of my final thesis published with Nik and Richard. I’m excited now to pursue graduate school and to use the tools of academe to continue to engage with and address the justice issues that matter to my communities.” Phil Grayeski ’14 – Genetics “Coming into The University of Georgia, I knew I liked the idea of tinkering with the DNA of living organisms. In Dr. Jan Westpheling’s lab, I created genetic knockouts of key proteins that enable Caldicellusiruptor bescii, an anaerobic thermophile, to digest unpretreated biomass with the goal of creating new organisms for biofuel development. At the time, I naively thought this level of genetic engineering was limited to simple organisms, such as bacteria or flies. In Dr. Westpheling’s Honors genetics seminar, however, I learned that this level of genetic engineering is achievable in higher-order organisms and is currently being explored as therapeutics for diseases that were previously thought incurable, such as cystic fibrosis and Adrenoleukodystrophy.
“With Dr. Westpheling’s and the Foundation Fellowship’s support, I traveled to Munich, Germany to conduct research for Dr. Manfred Ogris and develop my newfound interest in eukaryotic genetic engineering. I worked on creating hybrid promoters that maintained high expression of their target gene yet had tissue specificity to selectively transcribe a therapeutic gene in target tissues, in this case melanocytes, to treat metastatic melanoma in a plasmid-based gene therapy approach. When I returned to UGA, I knew I wanted to continue my training in eukaryotic genetic systems. Hence, I transitioned to Dr. Jonathan Eggenschwiler’s lab, a phenomenal new professor at UGA, to work on dissecting the relationship between the cell cycle and sonic hedge signaling in mammalian cells. Between Dr. Westpheling’s and Dr. Eggenschwiler’s training at UGA, I developed the requisite skills to craft and execute my own experiments, which will help me succeed as a future scientist. “To gain further experience in developing advanced therapeutics, I worked in Dr. Michael Goldberg’s lab at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School in Boston. There I created albumin nanoparticles that were small enough to navigate through the extracellular matrix walls surrounding tumors to deliver a payload that would promote these walls’ degradation and provide access for immune cells to infiltrate and respond to the tumor. In the coming years, I plan to continue the development of advanced therapeutics as I will be enrolling in the Master’s in Bioscience Enterprise program at the University of Cambridge and then joining the MD/PhD program at the University of North Carolina. I hope to combine this business education with my physician scientist training to translate a potential research idea into a viable therapeutic for my patients. These experiences would not have been possible without the support of my four mentors and the Foundation Fellowship, which made it possible for me to work with each of them.”
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C O N F E R E N C E S , P R E S ENTAT I O NS, P UB LI CAT I O NS
Domestic and international conferences add to Fellows’ professional education and introduce them to academic communities near and far. They learn to communicate their research findings through presentations and publications, guided by their research mentors.
Research and Conference Grants 2013-2014 Fellows Attend Professional and Academic Conferences and ExtraUniversity Courses with Funding from the Fellowship Yuliya Bila ’14 AIESEC National President’s Meeting, Ithaca, NY
I presented my first attempt at an Honors thesis at the Dimensions of Political Ecology conference in Lexington, Kentucky in February and took home the undergraduate paper prize! I also presented at the 2014 Association of American Geographers conference in Tampa, Florida, and am working to have a version of my final thesis published with Dr. Nik Heynen and geography PhD candidate Richard Milligan. I’m excited now to pursue graduate school and to use the tools of academe to continue to engage with and address the justice issues that matter to my communities.” —Sara Black ’14
Sara Black ’14 Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Tampa, FL; Annual Dimensions of Political Ecology Conference, Lexington, KY Drew Farr ’17 Empowering Future Physicians Conference, Atlanta, GA; REI Wilderness Survival/First Aid, Atlanta, GA Smitha Ganeshan ’14 Ryan White Consortium Conference, Washington, DC Sophie Giberga ’15 National Hunger Free Communities, Washington, DC Carver Goodhue ’17 REI Wilderness Survival/First Aid, Atlanta, GA Anisha Hegde ’14 Roosevelt Campus Network Conference and Leadership Summit, Poughkeepsie, NY Kirstie Hostetter ’16 US Naval Academy Leadership Conference, Baltimore, MD Paul Kirschenbauer ’14 American Association of Individual Investors Conference, Orlando, FL Alli Koch ’15 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships 2014, Tempe, AZ; ACSM Health and Fitness Summit, Atlanta, GA Ronnie Kurtz ’15 One Spark Conference, Jacksonville, FL Michael Land ’15 Cato University, Washington, DC Torre Lavelle ’16 Clinton Global Initiative University, Tempe, AZ Chris Lewitzke ’16 Sports Event Marketing Experience Conference, Washington, DC Katie Lovejoy ’16 AIESEC Winter National Conference, Chicago, IL Caroline Moore ’16 Grady NYC Maymester, New York, NY
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Guatam Narula ’15 Data Week Challenge, New York, NY Hannah Reiss ’16 New Yorker Festival, New York, NY Giovanni Righi ’16 Real Food Rising Conference, Salt Lake City, UT
Alex Edquist ’16 Capital-Intensive Punishment: Reducing the High Costs of Federal Drug Incarceration Megan Ernst ’15 Addressing Inequality in Early Childhood Executive Function Development
Rachel Sellers ’14 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO
Seth Euster ’16 Uncovering the Heritage of Slavery at the Shields Ethridge Farm: Memory, Identity, and Heritage Tourism
Blake Shessel ’14 Photography Clinic, San Diego, CA; Equine Veterinary Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Smitha Ganeshan ’14 Positive Psychology in Teen Mothers
Michael Song ’16 TEDxUChicago, Chicago, IL Karishma Sriram ’16 National Collegiate Research Conference, Cambridge, MA Kevin Sun ’16 MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, Boston, MA Chenee Tracey ’16 TEDxUChicago, Chicago, IL Matt Tyler ’14 International Conference on Education Research, Seoul, South Korea; Georgia Political Science Association Annual Conference, Savannah, GA; Education Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England Jacqueline Van De Velde ’14 Managing Diversity, Washington, DC; Ready for Hillary, Washington, DC; Samuel Dash, Washington, DC; Carter Center, Atlanta, GA Kishore Vedala ’14 University of Texas Jhalak Dance Competition, Austin, TX Avery Wiens ’15 Greek Summit, Destin, FL
Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) 2014 Symposium Presenters Sara Black ’14 And Justice for All: Scale, Solidarity, and Integrational Organizing in the Climate and Immigrant Justice Movements in Georgia
Joseph Gerber ’14 Mapping the Horn: 1991-2011 Carver Goodhue ’17 Applying International Strategies to Domestic Issues of Micronutrient Deficiency Phil Grayeski ’14 Cell Cycle Gating of the Mammalian Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Pathway Kirstie Hostetter ’16 The Negative Side Effects of Organophosphate Pesticide Usage in Thailand Paul Kirschenbauer ’14 Closing the Income Gap: Education and Technology in the United States Shaun Kleber ’16 Decreasing Summer Learning Loss Among Low-Income Students in Athens-Clarke County Torre Lavelle ’16 How to Tackle the Bike Share Helmet Problem Hannah Reiss ’16 Creating a Chimeric Chicken Resistant to Newcastle’s Disease Virus; Neonatal Mortality in Uttar Pradesh, India and Possible Policy Solutions Giovanni Righi ’16 Addressing Droughts and Water Overuse in the Flint River; Searching for Noise-Induced Phase Transitions in Ecological Systems Karishma Sriram ’16 Bone Fracture Putty: A Combined Stem Cell and Lentiviral Approach; Increasing Physical Education in American High Schools John B. Stroud ’16 The Monkey Saddle
Joshua Chang ’15 Proteomic Identification and Analysis of Potential Biomarkers for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
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Additional Conference Presentations and Publications Sara Black ’14
And Justice for All: Solidarity, Scale, and Integrational Organizing in the Climate and Immigrant Justice Movements in Georgia. Presented at the Dimensions of Political Ecology Conference, Lexington, KY and at the Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Tampa, FL
Seth Euster ’16
Uncovering Roots at the Shields-Ethridge Farm: Memory, Identity, and Heritage Tourism. Presented at the Georgia Association of Historians Conference, Athens, GA
Smitha Ganeshan ’14
HIV/AIDS Needs Assessment in Northeast Georgia, District 10. Presented at the Ryan White Consortium Conference, Washington, DC
Phil Grayeski ’14
Farkas J, Chung D, Cha M, Copeland J, Grayeski P, and Westpheling J. (2013). Improved Growth Media and Culture Techniques for Genetic Analysis and Assessment of Biomass Utilization by Caldicellulosiruptor bescii. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology. 40: 41-49.
Camir Ricketts ’15
Determining the Genetic Basis of Attenuation in Mycoplasma gallisepticum Vaccine Strains. Presented at the Southeastern Branch Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Auburn, AL
Giovanni Righi ’16
Developing a Model for a Natural Noise-Induced Phase Transition in Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. Presented at the Ecological Society of America Conference, Sacramento, CA
Rachel Sellers ’14
Isotopic and Petrographic Evidence for Quaternary Long-Term Climate Change from a Stalagmite from the Serra do Courel of Spain. Presented at the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO
Karishma Sriram ’16
Bone Fracture Putty: a Combined Stem Cell and Lentiviral Approach. Presented at the National Collegiate Research Conference, Boston, MA
Matt Tyler ’14
Relationships Among Subject Knowledge, Subject Efficacy, Background, and Pupil Achievement in Primary School Mathematics in Hong Kong: An Opportunistic Study. Presented at the International Conference on Education Research, Seoul, South Korea
Matt Tyler ’14
Party-Switchers in the Georgia Legislature. Presented at the Georgia Political Science Association Annual Conference, Savannah, GA
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CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Graduating Fellows Highlight Their Service and Leadership Experiences
Over the past four years, the Foundation Fellowship has enabled me go beyond the classroom, learning from diverse communities and joining in with them as they pursue betterment and equity. Locally, I have mentored a grade school student through the Clarke County Mentor Program. My mentee and I have spent countless hours reading out loud to one another, playing outside, and talking about our dreams and goals.” —Anisha Hegde ’14
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Anisha Hegde ’14 – Roosevelt Institute Campus Network Healthcare Senior Fellow; Roosevelt@UGA Executive Director; Student Government Association; Butterfly Dreams Farm; Athens-Clarke County Mentor Program; Genetic Alliance; Cachamsi; Child Family Health International; Jain Foundation; El Hogar Temporal “Over the past four years, the Foundation Fellowship has enabled me go beyond the classroom, learning from diverse communities and joining in with them as they pursue betterment and equity. Locally, I have mentored a grade school student through the Clarke County Mentor Program. My mentee and I have spent countless hours reading out loud to one another, playing outside, and talking about our dreams and goals. Over the years, I have also become close to her family, who has shared with me the difficulties faced by immigrant families. I have also volunteered at Butterfly Dreams Farms, helping out with therapeutic horseback riding lessons for children with developmental disabilities. “Witnessing the persistence of my mentee’s family and the children at Butterfly Dreams in the face of systemic obstacles encouraged me to deepen my involvement with the Roosevelt Institute at UGA, a nonpartisan policy organization. Student leaders and faculty mentors in the organization patiently guided me through the policy writing process as I sought to improve preventive pediatrics access in Athens. I applied these skills while interning for Genetic Alliance in Washington, DC and serving as Executive Director for Roosevelt at UGA and Healthcare Senior Fellow for the Roosevelt Institute Campus Network. I collaborated on a clearinghouse for prenatal testing, mentored students keen on learning about policy, and organized conferences and forums to bring together change agents in our communities. In these roles, I saw the energy and commitment that my generation brings to leveraging local narratives on issues ranging from newborn health to government responsibility to create national impact. “The Fellowship has not only encouraged me to be present where my feet are locally and nationally but also contributed to funding my international travels. I changed diapers, cooked meals, and taught science lessons at a temporary home while taking intensive Spanish classes in Guatemala. I provided translation from Marathi to English while learning about genetic testing in India. I organized health fairs while shadowing doctors in Ecuador. Simultaneously applying my current skill sets and exploring career options for the future, I have met people tirelessly carrying out good works in resource-poor settings. These encounters have convinced me to seek a medical education in order to more fully partner in their efforts, investing in the wellbeing of individuals as a vehicle to assuring them of their intrinsic value.”
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Smitha Ganeshan ’14 – Roosevelt@UGA Director of Health and Environmental Center; Roosevelt Scholars Teaching Assistant; Athens Nurses Clinic Volunteer; Athens Health Network; UGA College of Public Health Undergraduate Researcher; Hospital Regional de Loreto; World Health Organization; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Department of Health and Human Services “The University of Georgia and the Foundation Fellowship have taught me to contribute meaningfully as a member of local, national, and international communities. Learning and serving in Athens-Clarke County – a microcosm of the broader health disparities and policy failures seen across the United States – has helped me understand the nuances of our health industry and the various issues that contribute to high healthcare costs and poor health outcomes. From working in a free clinic for uninsured patients in Athens to interning for the World Health Organization in India, I have explored my interests at the nexus of health policy, medicine, and public health and given back in a sustainable way. “At UGA, I’ve had the freedom to implement my ideas to strengthen our community. To improve healthcare for uninsured patients in Athens, I developed a policy proposal through the Roosevelt Institute, a student-run public policy think tank, calling for the Athens-Clarke County unified government to submit an application for a population-based health professional shortage area (HPSA) designation, which identifies communities around the country with severe healthcare access issues and unlocks millions of federal dollars to augment primary care services. I collected the necessary data and drafted an HPSA application on behalf of the city. The designation would help pave the way toward a robust local health system, but it will not restructure the framework of our country’s health system. I am eager to pursue technical training to develop solutions on a wider scale. “Apart from pursuing policy research through the Roosevelt Institute, I have served as the organization’s director of the Health and Environmental Policy Center, conference organizer for our national conference Bridging the Gap, and teaching assistant for the Roosevelt Institute Scholars Course, a three-hour research intensive in which students conduct policy research for Honors credit. Co-teaching this course was one of the most meaningful experiences of my undergraduate career. I introduced students to the world of policy development and formed relationships with some of
the most intelligent and hardworking students at UGA as they tackled issues ranging from sex trafficking to the education achievement gap in Athens. “Over the past four years, I have delved into the world of sustainable policy development on campus, in Athens, and around the world. This semester as an intern at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and this summer as an intern in the Office of Health Policy at the Department of Health and Human Services, I have the opportunity to apply what I have learned to bridge the gap between research and implementation. Moving forward in my personal and professional life, I will carry the spirit of service and civic engagement that this university has instilled in me.” Kishore Vedala ’14 – MATHCOUNTS Outreach Coach, Competition Coordinator; Vibha Academic Bowl Outreach Co-Founder; Athens Tutorial Program Tutor and Mentor; IMPACT Spring Break Co-Site Leader “Mentoring and educating have been prominent features of my college experience. Being in Athens-Clarke County, one of the poorest counties in the nation, it didn’t sit right with me knowing I’d had a relatively easy road to college coming from suburban Alpharetta while so many other kids didn’t get that opportunity. I joined MATHCOUNTS Outreach as a coach my freshman year, serving as a math tutor and mentor. I continued my role as a coach the next two years while also serving as the competition coordinator for MATHCOUNTS Outreach’s major competition that we organize each year, getting more than 100 students to participate from the middle schools where we coach. What made the competition so great was that many of these students didn’t have the chance to participate in ‘official’ MATHCOUNTS tournaments, so it was great to provide them with an opportunity to enrich themselves. “The desire to provide an alternative, engaging educational experience to children led me to co-found the organization Vibha Academic Bowl Outreach. The name of the organization stems from the national organization Vibha, which funds grassroots educational efforts for underprivileged children domestically and internationally. In Athens, we reach out to local middle schools and after-school programs with the hope of starting or facilitating academic bowl programs. We use game-based learning and activities to help students engage with the material. Over the past year, we have grown to encompass five middle schools or after-school programs and more than 40 active members. With
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many freshmen and sophomores in the pipeline, the organization is on track to continue to thrive going forward. “My work with MATHCOUNTS Outreach, Vibha, and the Athens Tutorial Program gradually developed my passion to increase the quality and equality of education. I decided to pursue this further by serving as a site leader for an IMPACT spring break trip this year. I had enjoyed my IMPACT winter break experience in 2012, so this was an obvious choice for my last year as a Foundation Fellow. Spring break 2014 was the first time IMPACT was doing an education advocacy trip, and I jumped at the opportunity. My co-site leader and I led a group of 20 UGA students to Charlotte, North Carolina to do service learning in a public middle school, elementary school, and charter school for underserved students. One of the greatest problems we saw was that many students fall through the cracks of the education system because they don’t get the individual attention they need, whether at home or at school. This is why community outreach is so important. Just a few minutes of our time a day could save a child from falling through the cracks.” Yuliya Bila ’14 – AIESEC Local Committee President; Georgia Political Review; Center for International Trade and Security; International Rescue Committee; U.S. Department of State “The University of Georgia is a surprisingly internationally focused institution. Through my work with the UGA chapter of AIESEC, the world’s largest student-run nonprofit organization, I participated in the expansion of our university’s global reach. During my year as the local committee president, AIESEC matched 48 UGA students with international internships in more than 20 countries ranging from Bahrain and Brazil to China and Hungary. These internships were created by student leaders in other AIESEC countries through the partnerships they built with local companies, nonprofits, language schools, and other organizations. The UGA students who took the plunge and went abroad through AIESEC didn’t just travel – they were immersed in a foreign culture, living and working alongside local residents to impact their respective communities. “To complete the international exchange cycle, AIESECers from UGA worked with businesses in Athens and Atlanta (Home Depot, PGI, Coca-Cola,
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Valor Homes, ElectroLux) to give two recent graduates from Morocco and South Africa the chance to expand their horizons by working in long-term, professional internships here. Both of the interns we brought into our community had never been on an airplane before coming to work in Georgia. One of them had never left his home country. AIESECers from The University of Georgia took care of them every step of the way. We helped them find a place to live, get a driver’s license, buy groceries, and acclimate to their new environment. We invited them to our events, celebrated their birthdays, took them home for Thanksgiving, and had going away celebrations before they left. They in turn taught us about their lives back home. We learned how to correctly drink Moroccan tea and hold a proper outdoor barbeque. We learned about their countries’ histories and perceptions of Americans. We heard their stories about road trips to Botswana and the struggle to find work as a computer scientist in Casablanca. “At the helm of such an operation, I discovered much about myself, my leadership style, and my future aspirations. The executive team of vice presidents that I coached and managed will always be a part of my extended family. Together we experienced the most challenging and most exhilarating moments of our college careers. They inspired me every day with their thirst to create a positive impact on the world and develop as innovative, compassionate, and savvy global leaders.”
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FELLOWS AS ENTREPRENEURS
The spirit of entrepreneurship flourishes at The University of Georgia. With support from Honors Program staff and faculty members across campus, Foundation Fellows are encouraged to be creative, take risks, and improve the world in innovative ways. Clara Nibbelink ’14 – Co-Creator of Lady Parts Improv All-Woman Improvisation Comedy Troupe
When I joined SHARKwiNG Sketch Comedy and Improv Athens in the second semester of my junior year, I felt such relief – as if I’d finally found what I was supposed to be doing. Both troupes gave me something akin to bravery. SHARKwiNG was like a shot of electricity to the heart – Wait, I thought, I can just do this? I can be funny with a group of funny people and create the most absurd, wonderful things with them, and that is work?” —Clara Nibbelink ’14
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“Along with several other female comedians and improvisers, I started an all-woman improv troupe at UGA called Lady Parts Improv. We had noticed a dearth of women in comedic spaces around Athens and in popular culture in general, and we asked ourselves (a) why that was and (b) what we could do to change it. We created Lady Parts as a way to provide a safe space for women to learn about improvisation and comedy with the hopes that we’d create a new and interesting community of comedians and women and that we’d start to funnel more experienced, confident, and talented women into improv, comedy, and the world in general. We like to characterize Lady Parts as a ‘safe space to fail,’ which, in the worlds of comedy and women, where the pressure to be perfect is astronomical, is hugely important. “When I joined SHARKwiNG Sketch Comedy and Improv Athens in the second semester of my junior year, I felt such relief – as if I’d finally found what I was supposed to be doing. Both troupes gave me something akin to bravery. SHARKwiNG was like a shot of electricity to the heart – Wait, I thought, I can just do this? I can be funny with a group of funny people and create the most absurd, wonderful things with them, and that is work? Improv Athens gave me a similar feeling, but it was more about risk-taking and realizing that I had the courage to get up there and play with my fellow improvisers. The lessons I learned in comedy from these two groups were so amazing and valuable, and they applied directly to my life – having the courage to do something, anything, even if it’s not perfect (and it never is), to have fun, to trust your collaborators and go to them for help and support, and to live life always with a little bit of humor. Mostly, it made me able to let go of perfection and to be a little more brave – you win, even when you fail. “I quickly began to see the connections between comedy and what I was studying in women’s studies and mass media arts. If we could take all the courage we were learning in comedy and share it with one another in a space in which we felt comfortable and creatively free, that would be the most amazing experience. Luckily for me, I was surrounded by funny and fierce women (and equally funny and supportive men) in my comedic communities who were willing to try the experiment. Thus Lady Parts began. “Creating an Honors interdisciplinary major in women and media production, with classes drawn primarily from mass media arts and women’s studies and secondarily from theater and geography helped me to articulate the connections I saw between the narratives and characters we create in our arts and entertainment culture to theories of social justice and the politics of sexism, racism, and classism. Production classes in Grady College gave me the tools to become a storyteller myself in media and film. “Lady Parts Improv has been featured in The Red and Black, Ampersand, and has performed at several venues in Athens and Atlanta. We’ve been invited to speak and teach with organizations around Athens and the UGA campus, including the Women’s Studies Student Organization and the Girl Scouts of America. This semester Jennifer Smith – my faculty advisor in mass
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media arts and our faculty mentor for Lady Parts – is making a full-length documentary on Lady Parts. “Starting Lady Parts with all of these brave, interesting, and hilarious women, drawing from their courage, and finding I have my own has been the proudest achievement of my UGA career. It is a remarkable experience to watch young girls grow into themselves and discover that they are funny and they do have the guts to perform in front of people and they can do it off the top of their head again and again – and to know that I am part of that. I hope to take the lessons from Lady Parts with me as I go out into the world of professional improv, sketch, and film/TV production and continue to expand on them my whole life as a funny girl who just wants to hang out and do good work with other funny girls.” Osama Hashmi ’14 – Co-Creator of ‘Vitamin C’ Healthcare Communication App “My passion since the beginning of college has been in healthcare, specifically in understanding what affects quality of care outside of the hospital. In high school, I worked with physicians, nurses, and therapists who felt restricted in delivering quality healthcare not because of the limits of their education but because of the environments surrounding their patients. Coming into college, I knew that this was an area of medicine and a question that I wanted to pursue academically through a master’s in public health. “As a sophomore, I was selected for an internship with Susan Waltman and the Greater New York Hospital Association. There I witnessed the tremendous pressure on hospitals and healthcare providers to keep their patients healthy outside of the clinic. Although this was a much-needed change in the delivery of healthcare, many providers were unprepared to effectively manage and track their patient populations. Moreover, the research we found was dated, and the methods used to manage patient data were costly and difficult to implement on a large scale. “In May of 2013, I was supported by the Foundation Fellowship to attend an event called Startup Weekend in Atlanta to see if I could build a solution for this problem. We began making mockups of apps that could improve the way we interact with our healthcare providers. Just seeing the excitement of the mentors and the participants made me want to pursue this idea further. That summer, I went to Stanford University to research the intersection of technology
and medicine under one of the leaders in developing these sorts of systems, Dr. Mary Goldstein. “Coming back to Athens, I contacted a local software development group and met a software developer, Jordan Burke, who was passionate about healthcare. We decided to co-found a company to improve patient communication. I also reached out to one of my high school friends in New York, Tri Cao, for his skills in business and finance. With my passion for improving healthcare, Jordan’s passion for usable technology, and Tri’s passion for sustainable businesses, we formed Vitamin C. The goal of Vitamin C is to structure communication so that neither the doctor nor the patient feels overburdened with information. It takes the principles that I’ve learned over the past three years in patient motivation and engagement and makes them accessible to any doctor or healthcare organization looking to improve their patients’ compliance. “After forming our team, I reached out to some of my current mentors in healthcare to get their insight.
This led to valuable introductions to healthcare organizations in Athens, and we are currently working to implement our technology to be used right here with patients in Athens. At the same time, I am reaching out to rural hospitals in Georgia because those hospitals have a critical need for coordinating and communicating services so that their emergency rooms aren’t overburdened (four have already closed in the past year due to the high cost of uncompensated ER care). “Above all else, I am grateful to the Foundation Fellowship and the numerous professors and mentors who have supported me in this journey. It’s extremely cool to have a chance to truly impact the medical field as a student, and the lessons I have learned over the past few years I am sure to carry with me throughout my career.”
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LISA ANN COOLE AWARD
The Lisa Ann Coole Award was established in 1999 to honor the memory of an extraordinary young woman and to inspire Foundation Fellows to translate into their lives the compassion, joy, courage, and excellence that defined Lisa’s presence in the Fellowship, at UGA, and in her communities both in Georgia and in Illinois. Lisa was a model Foundation Fellow. She graduated from The University of Georgia magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in biology in 1997. She was a 19-time All-American swimmer, won two NCAA titles, and was selected as the 1997 NCAA Woman of the Year. Lisa had just completed her first year of veterinary medicine at the University of Illinois-Champaign when she died as a result of injuries received in an automobile accident. In 1999, she was inducted into the UGA Athletic Association Circle of Honor, the highest tribute paid to former Bulldog athletes and coaches.
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This Year’s Recipient – Jesse Chan, Accounting (BBA, MAcc) As one fourth-year Fellow eloquently states, the Lisa Ann Coole Award “was basically made for Jesse Chan, and all of us knew it from the day we were lucky enough to join a Fellowship class with him in it.” Jesse’s approach to life, according to his classmates, “is to welcome people and to make them feel comfortable and happy and loved (even when our requests are unreasonable or our timing is terrible). Even before fall semester has started, Jesse knows all the names and majors and hopes and dreams of the incoming Fellows and Ramseys, and more than that, he already has inside jokes with all of them. Jesse’s dedication to serving us goes from the little things – giving us great tips on how to cash in on Frequent Flyer Miles – to the huge, like providing us support and encouragement in a time of need, like for example when we have gotten no sleep and have a paper to write and really just want to take a nap on top of a giant Scottish cliff.” Another Fellow describes Jesse as “dependable, joyous and accomplished. He’s always the person pushing for class bonding, and he’s the one who will drive around town giving people rides without thinking twice about the inconvenience it poses to him. Whether he’s helping us with car troubles and airline woes, finding the best hotel deals for us as we travel the globe, or cheering us on through a bad week, Jesse is one of the most encouraging souls I know. He embodies each of the values associated with the Lisa Ann Coole Award, and I cannot think of a person more deserving of the recognition.” Reminiscing about the Oxford Maymester after their first year at UGA, one of the graduating seniors notes: “I’m sure he doesn’t even remember this, but on the night before our first paper was due for our International Conflict class at Oxford, I was hopelessly behind and struggling to stay awake. Even though Jesse wasn’t taking the class, he stayed up with me and made me tea on the hour every hour until I finished. I feel unbelievably blessed to call myself his friend.”
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Previous Award Recipients 2013 Sara De La Torre Berรณn
2005 Krisda Chaiyachati
2012 Hank Schwartz
2004 Vanessa Reynolds
2011 Mir Inaamullah & Alex Squires
2003 Chris Gibson
2010 Betsy Allen
2002 Cathy Lee & Tina Rakkit
2009 Elizabeth Godbey
2001 Laquesha Sanders & Kyle Wingfield
2008 Anant Mandawat
2000 Bronson Lee
2007 Helen Smith
1999 Lacy Feldman & Torre Mills
2006 Chloe Thompson
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Yuliya Bila
Sara Thomas Black
Major(s): International Affairs, Russian, Spanish
Major(s): Anthropology, Ecology
Hometown: Canton, GA
Hometown: Mountain Brook, AL
Research: The Price of a Poppy: Central Asia and the Heroin Problem; Russia’s Climatic Dreams and Nightmares; The Dual Mission of Defense and Diplomacy; Russian Pride; Arms Trade Treaty: Weapons Proliferators, Rejoice!; Youth for Peace: A Balkan Example; The Wounds of a People: Genocide Recognition in Armenia and Ukraine; “No Pasa Nada” and Spanish Survival; Cyber Warfare in the 21st Century; The Implications of an Eastward Shift in Real Power in the European Union; Young Spaniards and the Euro Debt Crisis Travel-Study and Internships: Romania; Russia; South Africa; Spain; Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA Campus/Community Activities: AIESEC Local Committee President, Vice President of Logistics; Georgia Political Review Assistant Senior Editor; Honors Teaching Assistant; Roosevelt Institute Research Assistant Honors and Awards: Carnegie Junior Research Fellow, AIESEC European Congress Award, Lanier International Study Scholarship, Thunderbird School of Management Award, U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholar (Russian), Blue Key Honor Society, Honors International Scholarship, Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude with Highest Honors
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Research: Intersections of Climate and Immigrant Justice in Georgia: A Participant Action Research Project; And Justice for All: Solidarity, Scale, and Integrational Organizing in the Climate and Immigrant Justice Movements in Georgia Travel-Study and Internships: Costa Rica; England; South Africa; Washington, DC; Hudson, New York City, Staatsburg, NY Campus/Community Activities: Sierra Student Coalition Director, Trainer, Logistics Coordinator; Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club Executive Committee Member; Southern Energy Network Georgia Organizer; Real Food Challenge Grassroots Leader, Campaigns Core Member Honors and Awards: Morris and Stewart K. Udall Foundation Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Palladia Honor Society, magna cum laude with Honors
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Jesse Yuen-Fu Chan
Smitha Ganeshan
Major(s): Accounting (BBA, MAcc)
Major(s): Anthropology, Biology
Hometown: Hendersonville, TN
Hometown: Johns Creek, GA
Research: Ranking of Accounting Programs and Journals: A Google Scholar Citation Perspective; Increasing Georgian Household Participation in the Banking System Travel-Study and Internships: Ecuador; England; South Africa; South Korea; Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; National Harbor, MD; New York, NY; Salt Lake City, UT Campus/Community Activities: Corsair Society Management Consulting Student Lead; UGA MATHCOUNTS Outreach Treasurer, Tutor; University of Georgia Economics Society Vice President, Treasurer; Honors Teaching Assistant Honors and Awards: Roosevelt Scholar, Leonard Leadership Scholar, Deer Run Fellow, Deloitte Academic Award, Moore Stephens Tiller Award, Federation of Schools of Accountancy Outstanding Student Award, 2012 PwC xTax Competition (1st Place), 2012 Terry MBA Case Challenge (1st Place), 2012 Terry Business Case Competition (1st Place), 2010 PwC xTax Competition (1st Place), Beta Alpha Psi, Corsair Society, magna cum laude with High Honors
Research: Improving Access to Primary Care; 10 Ideas: Healthcare; Improving Access to Primary Care for Low-Income Patients in Athens-Clarke County; The Role of Strength in Coping with Stigma and Stress Among Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents; HIV/AIDS Needs Assessment in Northeast Georgia, District 10 Travel-Study and Internships: Costa Rica; England; India; Nicaragua; Peru; South Africa; Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; New York, NY Campus/Community Activities: UGA Visitors Center Tour Leader; Honors Program Student Ambassador; Journal for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (JURO) Chief Discipline Editor for Policy and Social Science Research; Athens Nurses Clinic Volunteer; Athens Health Network Intern; Roosevelt Institute Healthcare and Environmental Policy Center Director, Roosevelt Scholars Teaching Assistant; Lunchbox Garden Project Grants Officer; Student Government Association Freshman Forum Executive Board; Srivani Dance Academy Indian Classical Dancer Honors and Awards: Harry S. Truman Scholar, Phi Kappa Phi Marcus L. Urann Fellow, Richard B. Russell Leadership Award, Blue Key Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership and Service Honor Society, UGA Amazing Student, Dean William Tate Honor Society, College of Public Health Student for Impact, Palladia Honor Society, Sphinx Society, Presidential Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, First Honor Graduate, summa cum laude with Highest Honors
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Joseph Elliott Gerber
Philip Joseph Grayeski
Major(s): International Affairs, Global Studies Certificate
Major(s): Chemistry, Genetics
Minor(s): French Hometown: Lincolnshire, IL Research: Presocratic Cosmological Implications; Means, Aggression, and Cooperation of State and Non-State Actors Travel-Study and Internships: Costa Rica; England; France; India; South Africa; Washington, DC; New York, NY; Pine Ridge, SD Campus/Community Activities: UGA Navigators Treasurer; International Justice Mission at UGA CoPresident, Education Coordinator; UGA Delta Prize Selection Committee Member; RĂŠseau MCM Paris Training and Outreach Volunteer; AFEV Paris Tutor, Mentor; Lakeland Church Native Works Mission Trip Co-Leader, Volunteer Honors and Awards: Phi Beta Kappa, Dean William Tate Honor Society, magna cum laude with Honors
Hometown: Bridgewater, NJ Research: Cell Cycle Gating of the Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Pathway; Development of Albumin-Based Nanoparticles Capable of Modifying the Tumor Microenvironment; Nonviral Gene Delivery to Melanoma Combining Selective Cellular Uptake and Tumour-Specific Transcription; Genetic Manipulation of Caldicellulosiruptor bescii for Biomass Utilizations; Improved Growth Media and Culture Techniques for Genetic Analysis and Assessment of Biomass Utilization by Caldicellulosiruptor bescii Travel-Study and Internships: Costa Rica; England; France; Germany; Peru; South Africa; Washington, DC; Boston, MA; New York, NY Campus/Community Activities: Sigma Phi Epsilon UGA Vice President of Programming; Whatever It Takes at UGA Co-Founder, Co-Executive Director; Oconee County Recreational Basketball League Head Coach; Oconee County Basketball Academy Co-Director; Science Learning Center Building Steering Committee Member Honors and Awards: Barry M. Goldwater Scholar, Peter Ellis Van Doren Scholar, Blue Key Honor Society, Alan Jaworski Award, NEG-ACS Undergraduate Chemistry Student Award, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Beta Kappa, UGA Amazing Student, Presidential Scholar, summa cum laude with Highest Honors
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Osama Shariq Hashmi
Anisha Ramchandra Hegde
Major(s): Biology (BS), Health Policy & Management (MPH)
Major(s): Comparative Literature, Genetics
Hometown: Augusta, GA Research: Developing Mental Health Systems in Rural Communities; Analysis of the Legal Needs of Primary Care Physicians; Creating a Healthcare Workforce for Rural Georgia; Reforming Primary Care Reimbursement in the United States Travel-Study and Internships: South Africa; Taiwan; Palo Alto, CA; Washington, DC; New York, NY Campus/Community Activities: Roosevelt Institute Executive Director, Local Center Director; Muslim Student Association at UGA Member; Vitamin C Founder; Athens Health Network Intern; Georgia Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council Member; Honors Teaching Assistant; Thomas Lay After-School Program Mentor Honors and Awards: UGA Next Top Entrepreneur 2014, Outstanding Healthcare Management Student Class of 2014, TIE Business Plan Competition Finalist, 2013 Atlanta Startup Weekend Best Peer-Voted Startup, CURO Summer Research Fellow, Dean William Tate Honor Society, Dean’s List, magna cum laude with High Honors
Hometown: Snellville, GA Research: Aberrant Firing of Replication Origins Potentially Explains Intragenic Nonrecurrent Rearrangements Within Genes; Revisiting Emergency Response and Preparedness; Medical Characteristics of Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy; Increasing Breastfeeding Rates in Athens-Clarke County; Detection of Dysferlin Gene Mutations in Patients with LimbGirdle Muscular Dystrophy in the Indian Population Travel-Study and Internships: Costa Rica; Ecuador; England; Guatemala; India; South Africa; Washington, DC; New York City, Poughkeepsie, NY Campus/Community Activities: Roosevelt Institute Campus Network Healthcare Senior Fellow, Young Invincibles’ Healthcare Toolkit Advisory Board, Beyond the Spill Team Member, Roosevelt@UGA Executive Director; SGA Director of Academic Affairs, Freshman Board, Resolution 23-12 Co-Sponsor, Smoking Ban Implementation Committee, Senatorial Campaign Manager; Delta Prize Selection Committee; Butterfly Dreams Farm Volunteer; Athens-Clarke County Mentor Program; JURO Humanities Editor; Honors Program Student Ambassador; Xenophile Copy Editor; Great Strides Atlanta Volunteer; Wesley Foundation and the Episcopal Center Restoration Dancer; Red & Black News Writer; Medicine in Literature Book Club Honors and Awards: EXCEL Award for Excellence in Education and Leadership (2011, 2012), Phi Beta Kappa, Blue Key Honor Society, Palladia Honor Society, Dean’s List, Presidential Scholar, summa cum laude with Highest Honors
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Paul Alexander Kirschenbauer Major(s): Economics, German, Music Business Certificate Minor(s): Statistics Hometown: Chattanooga, TN Research: Closing the Gap: Income Inequality, Technology, and Education in the U.S.; Bioinformatics: Gene Expression in B-Cell Leukemia Patients; Manufacturer-Supplier Stock Pricing Relationships Travel-Study and Internships: Costa Rica; England; Germany; Italy; South Africa; San Diego, CA; Washington, DC; Orlando, FL; New York, NY; Chattanooga, TN Campus/Community Activities: Whatever It Takes at UGA Tutor; Nuçi’s Space Jam Fundraiser Organizer; Breast Fest Festival Team Member; AATG Foundation Emissary to Germany Honors and Awards: Terry College of Business Outstanding Achievement in Music Business Award, Halle Foundation Fellow, David Abshire Fellow, Phi Beta Kappa, Dean’s List, Phi Kappa Phi, magna cum laude with Honors
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Marianne Morris Ligon Major(s): Cellular Biology, Microbiology Minor(s): Anthropology Hometown: Clemson, SC Research: In Vitro Tools for Identifying SFB Signals that Stimulate Th17 Development in the Gut; Characterization of the TneapComplex in the CRISPR-Cas Viral Defense System of Prokaryotes; A Fluorescence-Based RNAi Library Screen for Mutants in Fatty Acid Uptake in African Trypanosomes Travel-Study and Internships: England; India; Nicaragua; South Africa; New York, NY Campus/Community Activities: Journal for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (JURO) Operations Manager, Natural Sciences Discipline Editor; UGA Habitat for Humanity Vice President of Projects, Ambassador, 5K Event Chair; Volunteer UGA Director of Development, Network Coordinator, Day of Service Site Leader; Ramsey Alternative Spring Break Volunteer; Honors Teaching Assistant Honors and Awards: Barry M. Goldwater Scholar, Washington University in St. Louis MSTP Distinguished Young Scholar Award, Honors International Scholar, Blue Key Honor Society, Phi Beta Kappa, CURO Summer Research Fellow, CURO Honors Scholar, Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Medical Honor Society, Pre-Medical Cohen Award, Cellular Biology Grace Thomas Award, Presidential Scholar, First Honor Graduate, summa cum laude with Highest Honors
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David Richman Millard
Clara Marina Nibbelink
Major(s): Computer Science, Mathematics
Major(s): Geography, Women and Media Production
Hometown: Athens, GA
Hometown: Athens, GA
Research: Long Term Variability in Young Nearby Stars; The Mathematics of the Tor Network; The Mathematics of Robotic Art
Research: Feminist sketch comedy creative thesis project: The Best Movie of the Summer. Period.
Travel-Study and Internships: Costa Rica; England; Germany; South Africa; Washington, DC; New York, NY; Redmond, WA
Travel-Study and Internships: Costa Rica; Ecuador; England; South Africa; Flagstaff, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ; Washington, DC; New York, NY
Campus/Community Activities: Free IT Athens Staff Member; UGA MATHCOUNTS Outreach President, Volunteer Coordinator; Dean’s Student Advisory Board
Campus/Community Activities: Lady Parts Improv CoFounder; Improv Athens Member; SHARKwiNG Sketch Comedy Member; African-American Choral Ensemble Member; GED Tutor; Atlanta Workshop Players Camp Counselor; UGA Costa Rica Student Ambassador; Filmmaker for The Cottage Sexual Assault Center-Cedar Shoals High School Partnership; Filmmaker for UGA Costa Rica; Cedar Shoals High School Girls vs. World Event Coordinator
Honors and Awards: Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Blue Key Honor Society, University Award of Excellence, UGA Amazing Student, Pandora Outstanding Senior Leader Award, Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, Dean’s List, Presidential Scholar, summa cum laude with Highest Honors
Honors and Awards: Phi Beta Kappa, Merle C. Prunty, Jr. Scholarship, summa cum laude with Honors
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Rachel Claire Sellers
Blake Elizabeth Shessel
Major(s): Geology
Major(s): Biology
Hometown: Cumming, GA
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Research: Carbonate Petrography and Paleoclimate; Clay Mineralogy XRD; Isotopic and Petrographic Evidence for Quaternary Long-Term Climate Change from a Stalagmite from the Serra do Courel of Spain
Research: Association Between Equine Pulmonary Silicosis and Osteoporosis; Effects of Myelograms on Horses with CVSM; A Study of the Theological Basis for Animal Ethics; Enrichment Study of Sepia pharaonis (Pharaoh Cuttlefish)
Travel-Study and Internships: CaĂąon City, Denver, CO; Washington, DC; New York, NY; Western United States (Interdisciplinary Field Program)
Travel-Study and Internships: Costa Rica; England; South Africa; Davis, CA; Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA
Campus/Community Activities: UGA MATHCOUNTS Outreach Executive Board Member, Tournament Coordinator, Head Coach, Program Coach; Bear Hollow Zoo Docent; Gwinnett Medical Center Hospital Volunteer; Geology Club at UGA President, Secretary, Public Relations Officer; Society for Economic Geologists UGA Chapter President; Geology 4010 Field Assistant
Campus/Community Activities: Team United Leadership; Pre-Vet Club Member; UGA Club Equestrian Team; UGA Colic Team Member; Chastain Horse Park Therapeutic Riding Program Volunteer; Horses for Heroes Volunteer; Media and Communications Intern for BB&T Atlanta Open; Georgia Aquarium Intern; Powers Ferry Animal Hospital Veterinary Assistant
Honors and Awards: Newmont Field School Scholarship, magna cum laude with Honors
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Honors and Awards: Intercollegiate Horse Show Association 2012 7th Place at Nationals, magna cum laude with High Honors
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Jeremiah Hudson Stevens
Matthew Telford Tyler
Major(s): Agriscience, Environmental Systems
Major(s): Political Science (BA/MA)
Hometown: Rocky Face, GA
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Travel-Study and Internships: Costa Rica; Ecuador; England; Guatemala; South Africa; Washington, DC; New York, NY Campus/Community Activities: Navigators at UGA Bible Study Leader; UGA Plant Sciences Farm Worker; FODEMI Microfinance Intern Honors and Awards: Phi Kappa Phi, National Merit Scholar, United States Senate Youth Program Scholarship, magna cum laude with High Honors
Research: Relationships Among Subject Knowledge, Subject Efficacy, Background, and Pupil Achievement in Primary School Mathematics in Hong Kong; Newspapers, Industrialization, and State-Level Progressive Education Reform 1896-1911; PartySwitchers in the Georgia Legislature; Moderate, Southern Democrats in U.S. House Elections; Interest Groups and Education Centralization in the Progressive Era Travel-Study and Internships: China; England; France; Ghana; Italy; South Africa; Sarasota, FL; Chicago, IL; Cedar Mountain, NC Campus/Community Activities: UGA Students for Environmental Action President, Vice President, Community Service Chair; Lunchbox Garden Project Executive Board; Phi Kappa Literary Society President, First Vice President, Treasurer, Historian, Censor; Education Law Consortium Research Associate; Green River Preserve Counselor; Honors Teaching Assistant; Duke University TIP Residential Counselor Honors and Awards: James Madison Graduate Fellow, Morris and Stewart K. Udall Foundation Scholarship Honorable Mention, Freeman Asia Scholar (Hong Kong), SPIA Study Abroad Scholarship, Honors International Scholar, Dean William Tate Honor Society, Sustainable UGA Outstanding Undergraduate, First Honor Graduate, summa cum laude with Highest Honors
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Kishore Pavan Vedala
Major(s): English (BA/MA), International Affairs
Major(s): Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Economics
Hometown: St. Simons Island, GA
Hometown: Alpharetta, GA
Research: A Critical Examination of Anglicanism in the Life of Laurence Sterne and Its Importance Within Tristam Shandy; Crossing the Threshold: British Integration Policy Through Haifa Zangana’s Women on a Journey Between Baghdad and London Travel-Study and Internships: Costa Rica; England; France; Ghana; Slovakia; South Africa; Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; New York, NY Campus/Community Activities: Roosevelt Institute Senior Fellow for Defense and Diplomacy, Roosevelt Scholars Teaching Assistant, Center Director for Defense, Diplomacy, and Economic Development; Demosthenian Literary Society Associate Justice, Alumni Relations Chair, Deputy Historian; Georgia Political Review Associate Editor; Feds Feed Families Food Drive Committee Chair; Wesley Foundation Women’s Small Group Leader; Cejocep International School Student Teacher; Honors Program Student Ambassador Honors and Awards: Phi Beta Kappa, Blue Key Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa, Tucker M. Dorsey Award, Rotary Student Service Award, Roosevelt Scholar, Palladia Honor Society, Sphinx Society, Dean’s List, Presidential Scholar, summa cum laude with Highest Honors
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Research: Analyzing the Kinetic and Thermodynamic Properties of O-Man Initiated Glycan Binding Alpha-Dystroglycan and Laminin-2; Effect of Telemedicine on Pediatric Development in Low-Income Families; Predictability of Student MCAT Scores Based on High School SAT Scores Travel-Study and Internships: Bolivia; England; India; Italy; Washington, DC; Charlotte, NC; New York, NY Campus/Community Activities: Vibha Academic Bowl Outreach Co-Founder, President; IMPACT UGA Site Leader; UGA MATHCOUNTS Outreach Executive Board Member, Head Competition Coordinator; AIESEC UGA Vice President of Business Development; UGA Asura Dance Team Manager, Treasurer; Athens Tutorial Program Tutor; Bhagavatula Charitable Trust Service Volunteer Honors and Awards: Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Medical Honor Society, Presidential Scholar, summa cum laude with Highest Honors
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Cameron Saeed Zahedi Major(s): Economics, Mathematics, Physics Hometown: Alpharetta, GA Research: Addressing Students’ Math Deficiencies in Introductory Physics with Online Tutorials; Using Inherent Thermal Energy Storage Capacity of District Energy Systems to Optimize Energy Demand and Consumption Travel-Study and Internships: Costa Rica; South Africa; Tajikistan; San Francisco, CA; Boston, MA Campus/Community Activities: UGA Club Sports Executive Committee Member; UGA MATHCOUNTS Outreach Head Coach; CURO Teaching Assistant; Honors Teaching Assistant; UGA Men’s Rugby Club Team Player, President, Match Secretary Honors and Awards: Charles H. Wheatley Award for Excellence in Physics at the Senior Level, John G. Hollingsworth Award, Linville L. Hendren Memorial Scholarship for Outstanding Proficiency in Physics, U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship (Persian) Runner-Up, Honors International Scholarship, USA Rugby National Collegiate Academic Honor Roll, Dean’s List, Presidential Scholar, summa cum laude with Highest Honors
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Joshua Andrew Chang Gwinnett School of Math, Science and Technology Duluth, GA Biology, Genetics, Microbiology
Savannah Elyse Colbert A.N. McCallum HS Austin, TX Public Relations
Maria Gardner Cox Episcopal HS Peachtree City, GA English, Mass Media Arts
Megan Elizabeth Ernst Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School Atlanta, GA Journalism, Political Science, Master of Public Administration
Parker Timothy Evans Franklin HS Franklin, TN Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eilidh Geddes Dunwoody HS Dunwoody, GA Economics, Mathematics
Sophia Helene Giberga St. Scholastica Academy Covington, LA Economics, Political Science
Allison Nicole Koch John F. Kennedy Senior HS Cedar Rapids, IA Anthropology, Latin American & Caribbean Studies
Ronald Jackson Kurtz Duluth HS Duluth, GA Political Science, Master of Public Administration
Michael Tyler Land Pickens HS Jasper, GA Cellular Biology, Genetics, Spanish
Kameel Mir George Walton Comprehensive HS Marietta, GA English, International Affairs
Sarah Aneese Mirza Grand Island Senior HS Grand Island, NE Human Geography, Spanish
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Davis Reynolds Parker Huntsville HS Huntsville, AL Economics, Political Science
Camir Neville Ricketts Herbert Morrison Technical HS Montego Bay, Jamaica Microbiology
James Alexander Rowell Lowndes HS Valdosta, GA Economics, International Affairs, Political Science
John Henry Tab Thompson A. C. Flora HS Columbia, SC Economics, Political Science
Megan Frances White Northview HS Johns Creek, GA Economics, International Affairs
Avery Elizabeth Wiens The Lovett School Atlanta, GA Chemistry, Mathematics
Grace Maastricht Siemietkowski Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School Washington, DC French, Political Science
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Caroline Grace Coleman William R. Boone HS Orlando, FL Economics
Lauren Wesley Dennison Kings HS Maineville, OH Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Genetics
Alexandra Rae Edquist Alpharetta HS Alpharetta, GA Economics
Seth Isaac Euster The Weber School Dunwoody, GA History, Political Science BA/MA
Lee Handly Folk Ensworth HS Nashville, TN Finance, Mathematics
Kirstie Dolores Hostetter Houston HS Collierville, TN Environmental Economics & Management
Caleb Alexander Ingram Richmond Hill HS Richmond Hill, GA Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Genetics
Jacob Randall Kennedy Lee County HS Albany, GA Anthropology
Shaun Henry Kleber Henry W. Grady HS Atlanta, GA Economics, International Affairs, Political Science
Torre Elisabeth Lavelle Mount de Sales Academy Macon, GA Ecology, Environmental Economics & Management
Christopher Thomas Lewitzke Grayslake North HS Third Lake, IL Marketing, Public Relations
Katherine Ann Lovejoy Myers Park HS Charlotte, NC Economics, International Affairs
Kelsey Jane Lowrey Chamblee HS Dunwoody, GA German, Linguistics
Sandip Kaur Minhas Richmond Hill HS Richmond Hill, GA Genetics
Caroline Elizabeth Moore Socastee HS Myrtle Beach, SC Advertising, MA Journalism & Mass Communication
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Meredith Marie Flood Paker James Madison Memorial HS Madison, WI Economics
Eytan Aaron Palte The Weber School Atlanta, GA International Affairs
Rand Warren Pope Brookwood HS Barwick, GA Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Spanish
Hannah Mary Reiss Decatur HS Decatur, GA Genetics
Giovanni Righi Collins Hill HS Lawrenceville, GA Ecology, Economics
Leighton Michele Rowell North Springs Charter HS Sandy Springs, GA History, Romance Languages
Madison Grace Snelling Henry Clay HS Lexington, KY International Affairs, Religion
Minhyuk Michael Song Brookwood HS Lawrenceville, GA Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Statistics
Karishma Sriram Athens Academy Athens, GA Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
John Bradley Stroud Glynn Academy St. Simons Island, GA Economics, Mathematics
Kevin Hongyi Sun Johns Creek HS Johns Creek, GA Economics, Mathematics, Statistics
Treva Chung-Kwan Tam Blessed Trinity Catholic HS Roswell, GA Advertising, Sociology
Bert Ferguson Thompson, Jr. Stratford Academy Macon, GA History, International Affairs
Laron-Chenee Heidi Tracey Brookwood HS Lawrenceville, GA International Affairs
Kathleen Elizabeth Wilson Monsignor Kelly Catholic HS Beaumont, TX Economics, International Affairs
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Jonathan Paul Adelman Pace Academy Marietta, GA Economics, Mathematics
Tristan Paul Bagala Vandebilt Catholic HS Lockport, LA International Business, Management, Political Science
Catherine Mahala Callaway Woodward Academy Johns Creek, GA Cognitive Science, Latin
Laura Agatha Courchesne Rumson Fair Haven Regional HS Fair Haven, NJ Cognitive Science, Economics
Jonah Stephen Driggers Glynn Academy St. Simons Island, GA Geography
Nathan Andrew Farr Webb School of Knoxville Knoxville, TN Chemistry
Carver Lowell Harris Goodhue Clarke Central HS Athens, GA Anthropology
Shuchi Goyal Northview HS Johns Creek, GA Marketing
Glenn Anderson Jacoby George Walton Academy Social Circle, GA Ecology
Susan Margaret Jones North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Hickory, NC Animal Science
Hammad Ahmed Khalid Peachtree Ridge HS Duluth, GA Biology, Master of Public Health
Charles Edward Leasure IV Malvern Preparatory School Devon, PA Business, Engineering
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Bruce Li Milton HS Milton, GA Computer Science, Economics
Krystal Lo Alan C. Pope HS Marietta, GA Economics
Vijeth Mudalegundi South Forsyth HS Cumming, GA Economics
Trang Xuan Nguyen James Madison Memorial HS Madison, WI Communication Studies
Morrison Robert Nolan Gwinnet School of Math, Science and Technology Stone Mountain, GA Chemistry, Geology
Justin Samuel Payan Woodward Academy Douglasville, GA Cognitive Science, Mathematics
Gabrielle Antoinette Pierre American International School of Kingston Kingston, Jamaica Environmental Engineering
Elijah Hunter Scott Lakeside HS Martinez, GA Economics, International Affairs
Jason Patrick Terry Druid Hills HS Atlanta, GA Political Science, International Affairs
Luke Tellis Thompson A.C. Flora HS Columbia, SC Biology, Economics
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Kerri Ellen Andre Fort Walton Beach HS Destin, FL Biology
Michael Logan Campbell Camden County HS Saint Marys, GA Economics, Political Science
Lorin Janae Crear Chattahoochee HS Johns Creek, GA Biology, Spanish
Thomas Andrew Desoutter The Westminster Schools Dunwoody, GA History, Political Science
Madison Caroline Dill Dunwoody HS Dunwoody, GA Biology
Kalvis Erik Golde Pace Academy Atlanta, GA Undecided
John Miles Hall Cape Elizabeth HS Cape Elizabeth, ME Finance, International Business
Mallory Jessica Harris Dunwoody HS Atlanta, GA Mathematics, Neuroscience
Rachel Ann Kelley Campbell HS Marietta, GA International Affairs, World Language Education
Joshua Edward Kenway The City of London School London, United Kingdom Undecided
Mallika Madhusudan The Westminster Schools Atlanta, GA Economics, Mathematics
Emily Kathleen Maloney Wheeler HS Marietta, GA Cognitive Science
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Samia Montese McEachin Mills E. Godwin HS Glen Allen, VA Exercise and Sport Science
Reilly Ayres Megee Cab Calloway School of The Arts Newark, DE Advertising
Sierra K. Runnels Baton Rouge Magnet HS Baton Rouge, LA International Affairs
Mollie Rose Simon Chamblee HS Atlanta, GA Journalism
Samuel Jackson Tingle Alcoa HS Louisville, TN Cognitive Science
Matthias Stephen Wilder Campbell HS Powder Springs, GA Computer Science
Elizabeth Francina Wilkes North Springs Charter HS Atlanta, GA Ecology, Geography
Victoria Ayse Yonter Marshfield HS Marshfield, MO Economics, Mathematics
Lilian Lin Zhu West HS Coralville, IA Cognitive Science, Spanish
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Yuliya Bila
Junior Research Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington, DC
Sara Black
Intern, Broad River Pastures, Elberton, Georgia
Jesse Chan
Business Analyst, McKinsey & Company, Atlanta, Georgia
Smitha Ganeshan
Harvard University Medical School
Joseph Gerber
Resource Exchange International, Horn of Africa
Phil Grayeski
Master’s Degree in Bioscience Enterprise, University of Cambridge; Combined MD/PhD, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Osama Hashmi
Medical College of Georgia/Georgia Regents University; Chief Product Officer, Vitamin C
Anisha Hegde
University of Virginia School of Medicine; Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, University of Virginia
Paul Kirschenbauer
Finance Analyst, Volkswagen, Herndon, Virginia
Marianne Ligon
Combined MD/PhD in Immunology, Washington University
David Millard
Software Development Engineer, Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington
Clara Nibbelink
Upright Citizens Brigade, New York, New York
Rachel Sellers
Master’s in Geology, University of Utah
Blake Shessel
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Jeremiah Stevens
Resource Exchange International, Horn of Africa
Matthew Tyler
James Madison Graduate Fellow, Master’s in Social Studies Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
Jacqueline Van De Velde
Yale University Law School
Kishore Vedala
Medical College of Georgia/Georgia Regents University
Cameron Zahedi
Information Technology Leadership Program Intern, GE Oil & Gas, San Ramon, CA; Master’s in Economics, University of Georgia
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F oundation F E L L O W S A L U M N I Class of 1977 John Ernest Graves Robert Richardson Rice Joseph Allan Tucker, Jr. Class of 1978 Michael Thomas Bohannon Audrey Shields Crumbley Class of 1979 William Ball John Weldon Harbin Harold Bobby Lowery Class of 1980 Sara Shlaer Bryan Jay Whitfield Class of 1981 Cornelia Isabella Bargmann Class of 1982 Fred Holtz III Peter Lumpkin Patrick Michael Brian Terry Catherine Leigh Touchton Class of 1983 William Mark Faucette Frank J. Hanna Betsy Lyons McCabe Judson Durward Watson III Class of 1984 Stephen Robert Ellis Denise Lamberski Fisher Sara Voyles Haddow Liebel Jessica Bruce Hunt Charles William McDaniel Robert Brad Mock Kevin Brett Polston Leslie Williams Wade Class of 1985 Charles Victor Bancroft Frank Eugene Glover, Jr. Shannon Terrell Harvey Margaret Crowder Lawrence Marjorie Dixon Mitchell Tab Eugene Thompson
Christopher Lamar Vickery Sharon Anderson White Class of 1986 Grace Elizabeth Hale Andrew Madison Martin Stephen William Smith Mark Edward White Class of 1987 Rebecca Elizabeth Biron Bruce Edward Bowers Anne Davison Dolaher Kirsten Jarabek Franklin John Edward Fowler, Jr. Mary Ruth Hannon Noel Langston Hurley Elizabeth Ford Lehman Robert Marcus Reiner Margaret Ruth Sparks Class of 1988 Cathy Luxenberg Barnard Thomas Christopher Cisewski Sharon Blair Enoch Linda Leith Giambalvo India Frances Lane Neil Chandler Thom John Eugene Worth
Class of 1989 Lisa Caucci Amy Lee Copeland Kimberlee Walkenspaw Curley Julie Kathleen Earnhart Nancy Letostak Glasser Susan Golden James Leah Deneen Lowman Adena Elder Potter Kyle Wayne Sager Andrew William Stith Courtney Cook Wiswall Class of 1990 Maitreya Badami Felton Jenkins III Gwen Renee Kaminsky Mark David Sheftall John Carlyle Shelton Alicia Elsbeth Stallings Class of 1991 Susan Shackelford Dawes Elizabeth Hebert Day James Ansley Granade III Paul Harvey Matthews John Phillip Piedrahita Marc Lane Silverboard Lougene Williams III
Class of 1992 Robert Geoffrey Dillard Chris Gunter Anne Marie Hargaden Robert Kirk Harris Martin Allie Hollingsworth Robin Ann Kundra Laura Jane Calhoon Lyttle Andrew McSwain Millians Charles Andrew Mitchell Christina Stewart Payton Class of 1993 Jennifer Cathey Arbitter Christine Darden Brennan Michael Herman Burer Albert Vernon Dixon III David Michael Hettesheimer Peter James McBrayer Mia Noerenberg Miller Christen Wheeler Mitchell Nevada Waugh Reed Spencer Allen Rice Thad Andrew Riddle Philip Rodney Webb H. Thomas Willman III Class of 1994 Sonja Victoria Batten Stephen Spratlin Bullock
I come back for Fellows Interview Weekend because it’s the singlemost energizing and inspiring thing I do. It’s also one of the most humbling. I always walk away from the weekend with renewed faith in the future of our world, knowing it’s in the hands of the students I just met and spent time with. It’s also a very small way for me to give back to the program and the university that mean so much to me. I hope that I help make a difference in the Fellowship by my input into the selection process. But perhaps more than that, I hope that I make a difference to the students who are considering UGA. I endeavor to help them understand that UGA and the Fellowship are truly magical – a place and a program that will support them as they make their dreams come true.”
Kimberlee Ann Curley, FF Alumna ’89 Head of Cross Sell for Wells Fargo Insurance
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F oundation F E L L O W S A L U M N I
I come back for Interview Weekend to marvel at the talents and interests of the latest crop of Ramseys/potential Fellows and to catch up with other alumni and staff. As far as my contribution, I feel I lend a fairly unique perspective (especially as I become one of the ‘older’ alumni... sigh) on life after UGA and the Fellowship (and post-schooling) in general.”
Heather Ripley, FF Alumna ’06 Associate, Alston & Bird LLP (NYC)
Anne Kissel Harper Pamela Ann Hungerbuhler Michael Paul Jones, Jr. Eric Marvin Overby Brett Jerry Pellock Caroline Placey Jennifer Tracie Calvert Rosser Jennifer Marie Rubin Laura Anne Shepherd Katherine Anne Smith Julie Lynne Steiner Class of 1995 Harold Dean Green, Jr. Scott Allen Haggard Joshua Eric Kight Molly Megan McCarthy Darren Howard Pillsbury Laura Barbas Rhoden Andrew Rhea Schretter Amanda Wojtalik-Courter Class of 1996 Keith Robert Blackwell Thomas Andrew Bryan Robert Compton Cartwright Timothy Paul George Bomee Jung James Benjamin Kay IV Bradley Scott Malcom Michael Justin Shoemake Robert Matthew Sutherland Stephen Jefferson Tate Robert Thomas Trammell, Jr.
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Class of 1997 Ryan Paul Bartlett Christie Mew Jan Leilani Cooksey Lisa Ann Coole William Stephen Steiner Andrew Abell Wade Class of 1998 Jay Chugh Adrian John Daigle Brandon Edward Kremer Robyn Andree Painter Vijaya Rangan Palaniswamy Beth Alison Shapiro Catherine Allison Evans Webb Class of 1999 Leona Nichole Council Jane Huang Ellen Sutherland Irby Laura Lacy Feldman McCurdy Torré Deshun Mills Class of 2000 Melissa Bugbee Buchanan Dhruti Jerry Contractor Matthew Scott Eckman Bronson Hurst Lee Michael Eugene Morris Tiffany Celena EarleySpadoni Ethan James Sims Holly Gooding Tran
Class of 2001 Laura Ann Adang Dustin Joseph Calhoun Christopher Macdonald Caruso Semil P. Choksi Fruzsina Csaszar Di Ruggiero Corey Scott Gill Amita Ramesh Hazariwala Kathryn Jessica Hull Robert Gardner Linn Thomas John Ludlam Francis Joseph Martin Amy Mulkey McGowan Joseph Adams Perry-Parrish Laquesha Shantelle Sanders Andrew Clark Thompson Kyle Burton Wingfield Class of 2002 Divya Balakrishnan Laramie Elizabeth Duncan Amy Elizabeth Early Eric Jonas Gapud Julie Dotterweich Gunby Allyson Elizabeth Harper Alyssa Lillian Holmgren Rachel Kassel Marc Paul Lindsay Caitlin Christine Martell Cathy A. Lee-Miller Lorina Naci Kameko Lanilaura Nichols Kathryn Stepp Nicolai Mary Catherine Plunkett
Tina Rakkhit Suzanne Elizabeth Scoggins Steven Christopher Smith Lakshmi Swamy Andrew John Sucre Andrew Wright Emory Paul Wright Class of 2003 John Anthony Asalone Maria Anderson Booth Marshall Martin Chalmers Timothy Tianyi Chen Adam Steven Cureton Brian Matthew Dunham Christopher James Gibson Jennifer Gibson Gill Leah Rose Givens Eirin K. Kallestad Dmitry Sergeevich Kolychev Tanya Marie Martin Meredith Neal McCarthy Robin Elizabeth McGill Jeffrey Daniel Pugh Robert Province Quinn Kimberly Council Sheridan Jennifer Srygley Sucre Chung “Gemma” Suh Buudoan Vinh “Doannie” Tran Melanie Monroe Venable Joseph Brendan Wolpin Class of 2004 Ellen Downs Beaulieu John Carnes Boggan Virginia Barton Bowen Amanda Morgan Casto William Cullen Conly Blake Linton Doughty Corrin Nicole Drakulich Deepti Gupta-Patel Vanessa Reynolds Hale Sarah Nicole Hemmings Bliss Immanuel Khaw David Alan Kross Daniel Michael Ludlam Evan James Magers
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F oundation F E L L O W S A L U M N I Megan Jean McKee Kunal Mitra Jane Adaeze Okpala Julie Walsh Orlemanski Satya Hiru Patel Nathan Willis Ratledge Daniel Winfield Reed Travis Daniel Reeves Randolph Lines Starr Carson Wayne Strickland Manoj “Sachin” Varghese Josh Alan Weddle Charles Elliott Willson Class of 2005 Raechel Keay Anglin Benjamin Samuel Bain Allison Cathleen Carter Krisda Chaiyachati Eugenia Gina Chu Charles Philip Ciaccio, Jr. Renee Claire Contreras Matthew Tyler Crim Kacie Schoen Darden John Thomas DeGenova Jeremy Paul Johnson Kathryn Elizabeth Kay Ivy Nguyen Le Ashley Marie Lott Thomas Michael Mittenzwei Brendan Francis Murphy Sarah Ellen Sattelmeyer Allison Michelle Scott Amy Nicole Sexauer Matthew Buckley Smith Adam Martin Sparks Jeanette Eva Thurber Charles Thompson Tuggle III Katherine Helen Vyborny Leslie S. Wolcott Tuquyen Mach Yee Anne Martin Zimmerman Class of 2006 Jennifer Andrea Bartmess Jason Michael Brown Simon Flax Ferrari Daniel Joseph Gough Warren Brandon Holton
Jana Dopson Illston Chloe Thompson Kelley Melissa Cabinian Kinnebrew Joseph Robert LeCates Jenny Page Linton William Michael Lynch Patrick Joseph Maher Beth Grams Margalis Lisa Last Moore Brian Patrick Quinif Katherine Leigh Morgan Ragland Heather Michaela Ripley Rebekah Lee Rogers Laura Emiko Soltis Robert Christopher Staley Matthew James Stewart Nathan Joseph Stibrich David Carson Turner Sara Pilzer Weiss Class of 2007 Mary Alvarez-Hall William Brooks Andrews Franklin “BJ” Ard John Christopher Binford Yves Wolfgang Laurent Bouillet Priya Chandan Lesley Marie Graybeal Anna Vivian Harrison
John Floyd Howell Douglas Michael Jackson Joseph Edgar Lariscy IV Michael James Levengood Robert Bradley Lindell Andrew Campbell McKown Erin Alicia Mordecai Yannick Beale Morgan Amulya Nagarur Jayanthi L. Narain Corrine Allison Novell Caelin Cubenas Potts Sarah Brown Puryear Helen Caples Smith Zachery Philip Smith Jake Everett Turrentine Katrin Usifo Class of 2008 Lynzi Jacqueline Archibald Maria Alejandra Baetti Sarah Ritchey Bellamy Benjamin Tyler Cobb Anureet Cheema Copeland Katherine Elizabeth Folkman Adele Handy Goodloe Matthew Wood Grayson Shannon Snead Hiller Donald Ray Johnson, Jr. Joseph Robert Kapurch
Peter Tomlinson Klein Mindy Cara Lipsitz Anant Mandawat William Giles Mann Jordan Elizabeth Myers Bryan Scott Overcarsh Adam Podowitz-Thomas Tyler Blalock Pratt Deep Jayendrakumar Shah Gabriel Rehman Skaukat George Valentinov Vulov Rachel Elizabeth Whitaker Elam Class of 2009 Craig Chike Akoh Payton McCurry Bradford Kevin Kyong Chang Chuan “CiCi” Cheng Christopher John Chiego Rebecca Yeong Ae Corey Colleen Helen Cotton Jordan Allen Dalton Christina Lynn Faust William “Beau” Gilmore Elizabeth Anne Godbey Nithya Natrajan Hall Clare JoAnna Hatfield Chadwick Parker Hume Brittany Lee McCall Caitlin McLaughlin Poe Kevin Christopher Poe
I come back for Fellows Interview Weekend to do my part to recruit the best and brightest to the program. It certainly doesn’t hurt me that the reputation of the Fellowship is always growing. But in large part, I hope sharing concrete opportunities of the Fellowship can help incoming students make an informed decision. I chose the Ramsey Scholarship on a gut instinct and am constantly reminded how lucky I am to have made that choice. I hope sharing my story helps a new class of students actively and consciously choose UGA as the best place to achieve their own goals.”
Shannon Hiller, FF Alumna ’08 MPA Candidate, Woodrow Wilson School for International Affairs, Princeton University
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F oundation F E L L O W S A L U M N I
I come back for the Fellows Interview Weekend because it was the first taste I had of the Fellowship and I want to extend the warm welcome I received to the incoming students. Coming from New York, interested in a less popular field of study, I was not sure what to expect when I came to Athens for my own Interview Weekend. There was nothing to worry about. My feelings of belonging, both socially and academically, only increased as my time at UGA went on. I want to share my fantastic experience with the Fellowship to inspire the future Fellows to take advantage of the wonderful opportunity that they have received.”
Lisa Last, FF Alumna ’06 Wildlife Disease Diagnostician, Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study
Elizabeth Anne Riggle Paul Andrew Ruddle II Milner Owens Staub Marlee Jean Waxelbaum Sana Hashmi Zahiruddin Class of 2010 Elisabeth Lundsberg Allen Thomas Matthew Bailey Amanda Nicole Brouillette Sarah Marie Caruana Kevin Peter Copp Amy Patricia Davis David Dawei Fu Peter Carswell Horn David Martin Howcroft Connor Lawson McCarthy Sharon Aileen Marie McCoy Laura Elizabeth McDonald Joshua Ivan McLaurin Zoe Eva Fadul Meroney Allon Mordel Virginia Susan Newman Cleveland Alcides Piggott, Jr. Kelsey Jones Pratt Lucas Llanso Puente Jennifer Ann Taylor Lila Elisabeth Tedesco Robert Barton Thrasher Jasmaine Denice Williams
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Class of 2011 Stephanie Lee Chapman Katherine Sara Cuadrado Ryan Michael Friday Lucy Fu Katherine Geales Goodwin Claire Underwood Hailey Marcus Jamel Hines Mir Mohamed Inaamullah Anne Helene Karam Matthew Henry Levenson Xiaofeng “Phoeny” Li John Benjamin Marshall Aaron Bartow Marshburn Calley Aileen Mersmann Phillip Charles Mote Muktha Sundar Natrajan Rachel Hannah Pocock Sabrina Ann Ragaller Robert Nalls Rosenbleeth Robert Darnell Sinyard III Alexander David Squires Tracy Jane Yang Sheena Shiyi Zhang Class of 2012 Victoria Suzanne Akin Juliet Elizabeth Allan Jaime Elizabeth Ayers Juan Carlos CardozaOquendo Patrick Joseph Fitzmaurice
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Dana Lynn Higgins Hillary Dolores Kingsley Logan Hunter Krusac Morgann Ashley Lyles Tatum Danielle Mortimer Luke Hensley Mosley Saptarsi Mukhopadyay Bryn Elise Murphy Jacob Hunter Rooney Henry Louis Schwartz Matthew Richard Sellers Anuj Atul Shukla William Harry Stephenson Hemali Prakash Vin Thomas Matthew Ward David Michael Zweig Class of 2013 Sara De La Torre Berón Megan Unger Caudill Camille Parker Gregory Bethany Cotten McCain Ryan Patrick McLynn Todd Warren Pierson Derek Anthony Ponticelli Reuben Arthur Reynolds Matthew Wyatt Saltz Waring “Buck” Trible III Lance William White Addison Von Wright Brittany Anne Young
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THE RAMSEY HONORS SCHOLARSHIP
The Ramsey service trip has consistently been a highlight of my spring semester. A studentled and student-driven activity, the trip gives us the opportunity to choose service that we feel is most meaningful. Bonding with the other Ramsey Scholars through both service and excursions has caused the group as a whole to become more closely knit; it has transformed some people who were only acquaintances into close friends.” —Stephen Lago ’14
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The Ramsey Honors Scholarship was created by the trustees of The University of Georgia Foundation in 2000 and is named for the University’s most generous individual benefactor, the late Bernard Ramsey (BS ’37), longtime chairman of the board of Merrill Lynch. Ramsey Scholars are selected through the Foundation Fellows application process. The program welcomed seven new students in 20132014, bringing the total number of Ramsey Scholars to 27. In-state Ramsey Scholars receive a $5,536 annual stipend along with the Zell Miller Scholarship (currently $8,590 per year), while out-of-state students receive a $9,090 stipend and an out-of-state tuition waiver (currently worth $18,210 per year). First-year Ramseys also receive a housing supplement of $546. An additional $3,000 is available to each Ramsey Scholar for travel-study. The average SAT score for the incoming class was 1527 (math + verbal only). Their high school grade point average was 4.14 on a 4.0 scale, which indicates extra points for Advanced Placement classes. The Ramsey Scholars also have impressive high school academic and extracurricular credentials. Students enjoy Ramsey community events throughout the year, including a weekend retreat in the mountains of North Georgia, book discussions and seminars with premier faculty, kayaking down the Broad River, the Ramsey graduation banquet, and a spring break service trip (past destinations have included Miami, New Orleans, Asheville, and Charleston). Stephen Lago ’14 “The Ramsey service trip has consistently been a highlight of my spring semester. A student-led and student-driven activity, the trip gives us the opportunity to choose service that we feel is most meaningful. Bonding with the other Ramsey Scholars through both service and excursions has caused the group as a whole to become more closely knit; it has transformed some people who were only acquaintances into close friends. “I have opted to join the Ramsey alternative spring break all four years, as well as helped with planning and organizing the trip whenever possible. The spring break trips have always done a tremendous job of balancing the work and the fun. The service itself has ranged from strenuous labor making a trail for the North Carolina Arboretum, to the educational and unusual job of surveying oyster populations off the coast of South Carolina, to the more mundane but necessary work of volunteering at the South Florida Food Bank. “Thanks to continued and generous support from the Foundation, the program has only grown larger in the four years since it was initiated, allowing us to stay longer, travel farther, and accomplish more. As much as it pains me to be done with these trips personally now that I’ve graduated, I’m very excited to see how the program will expand and improve with a new generation of Ramseys.”
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The Ramsey Honors Scholarship provides a $3,000 travel-study grant, which was utilized by the following students this year: Cody Baetz Oxford, England Moira Fennell Cannes, France Katie Googe Valencia, Spain Heather Huynh Cortona, Italy Stephen Lago San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA Megan Murphy Cortona, Italy
Ramsey Scholars who received travel grants to participate in this year’s spring service trip to Asheville, NC to work on three different service projects – Asheville GreenWorks, the North Carolina Arboretum, and Big Brothers/ Big Sisters: Cody Baetz, Victoria DeLeo, Jacob Eden, Moira Fennell, Berta Franzluebbers, Erin Hollander, Heather Huynh, Thomas Johnston, Carmen Kraus, Stephen Lago, Swayamdipto Misra, Megan Murphy, Tuan Nguyen, Mihir Patel, Pranay Udutha
Julie Saxton Italy
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R A M S E Y S C H O L A R S – T R AV E L- S T U DY
Ramsey Scholars Describe the Impact of Their Travel-Study Experiences
The summer after freshman year, I spent Maymester in Morocco, where I chased Arabic and intercultural discourse across the country. A family in Marrakech provided me a home away from home, and I taught newly learned swing steps to my homestay sisters in exchange for belly dancing lessons. I still miss the couscous served every Friday, and I brought green tea back with me. My prized Frisbee from two happy semesters playing ultimate on the Myers quad somehow found its way into the Sahara Desert, where I can only imagine it still lies today.” —Mariana Satterly ’14
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Mariana Satterly ’14 “I came to The University of Georgia with four goals: throw some disc, sing in an a cappella group, learn to swing dance, and travel as much as possible. I’ve been able to pursue each of these goals to its completion, a fact of which I’m very proud, and their intersection has proved rather incredible. “The summer after freshman year, I spent Maymester in Morocco, where I chased Arabic and intercultural discourse across the country. A family in Marrakech provided me a home away from home, and I taught newly learned swing steps to my homestay sisters in exchange for belly dancing lessons. I still miss the couscous served every Friday, and I brought green tea back with me. My prized Frisbee from two happy semesters playing ultimate on the Myers quad somehow found its way into the Sahara Desert, where I can only imagine it still lies today. “I brought a new disc with me to Montana the following summer, where I fulfilled a two-month internship at MPG Ranch, a conservation property nestled in the Bitterroot Valley. There I served as a jack-of-all-trades intern, aiding vegetation surveys and field crews as MPG rehabilitated logged forests and dewatered riparian areas. My final project was a report articulating the feasibility of operating MPG as a nonprofit, a task that introduced me to environmental law and the economics of small businesses. Before I headed home, I rafted in white waters and lazy rivers, swing danced to the tunes of a bluegrass band, and in the mountains lost another disc. “The semester following Montana, I studied at Oxford University in England. Under professors deemed world experts in their fields, I took courses in biblical literature, environmental economics, and British modernism. I sang three times a week with the Keble College Chapel Choir and made new friends over field days in the University Parks. I discovered that the British love lindy hopping, and I discovered that I had fulfilled to an overwhelming degree my goals from freshman year. “I cannot imagine what my undergraduate education would have looked like without expanding my literature surveys in England or without adding relevant legal studies to my economic emphasis in public policy. I’ve lost and regained more Frisbees than I thought possible, I’ve sung at the Morton Theatre in Athens and cathedrals in England, and I have danced from Fez to Rome and back again. Talk about success.” Katie Googe ’17 “The summer before my first year at UGA, I participated in the inaugural Washington-Oxford Transatlantic Shakespeare program. Sponsored by UGA and supervised by a graduate student and two professors (one from UGA and one from Oxford), this program was an incredible experience on both sides of the Atlantic and an excellent introduction to college life. The program lasted eight weeks – four in Washington, DC
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and four in Oxford, England. Each half also had a distinct purpose in furthering our understanding of Shakespeare’s life and works. “In Washington, we did research at the Folger Shakespeare Library, the premiere Shakespeare library in the world. We participated in workshops with Folger faculty on how to teach Shakespeare; had classes, readings, and excursions with Dr. Fran Teague from UGA; and saw three plays performed by companies in the DC area. Each of us conducted research on a topic of our choosing and presented our findings as a final project. My research was on gender and performance, specifically the history of women playing male roles. “In Oxford, we worked with Dr. Elisabeth Dutton of Trinity College, attending several productions in London and Stratford and responding to them through essays. We also presented an abridged performance of Pericles as our final project, using the UGA Oxford house as a performance space. Our large classes were dedicated to examining performance techniques and learning about the history of performance, while in our tutorials we analyzed the performances we had seen. Through the program we developed a more complex and nuanced understanding of Shakespeare from many different angles. “This past spring I participated in UGA en España’s spring semester in Valencia. We started in Madrid, exploring the Spanish capital for a few days before traveling to Valencia. There we took classes from the professors at the University of Valencia. I attended events put on by the international relations department of the university, participated in a conversation exchange with a Spanish student, and was a teaching assistant for an English professor’s upper-level English language class. “My main goals for the program were to improve my Spanish, finish requirements for my Romance languages major, and try out life abroad. It was a valuable and safe way to learn how to live in a new country, culture, and language. My experience as a TA in Valencia was especially influential. I want to teach English language and literature at the university level as a career, and this was my first experience in the environment in which I want to work.”
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Moira Fennell ’17 “I spent four weeks in Cannes, France on UGA’s Grady in Cannes Maymester program. In the first two weeks, I attended the Cannes International Film Festival, where I networked with professionals from the film industry and watched premieres of movies, such as Foxcatcher and How to Train Your Dragon 2, that would be out in America later this year. In the second two weeks, I honed my writing skills in Dr. Nate Kohn’s class as I learned how to craft an interesting and well-supported film review, and I gained a better understanding of the intricacies of the business deals made behind the camera in Dr. Jen Smith’s class on the business of film. Our professors’ insights and encouragement were invaluable in the classroom and in our navigation of the festival. They dedicated themselves to helping us experience as much as possible. As a mass media arts and economics double major, I benefited immensely from exploring the film market in Cannes and talking to producers, distributors, and marketers. It was an incredible experience that taught me so much and connected me with people who may be able to help me break into the industry once I graduate.” Heather Huynh ’17 “The UGA Science Maymester in Cortona program was one of the best experiences of my life. I delved into Italian culture while taking two classes – Introduction to Italian Art and Biology for Medicine. The classes increased my awareness of the historical and religious significance of Italian art and inspired a newfound interest in infectious diseases. As part of the art history course, we traveled to Siena, Florence, and Rome on the weekends. Additionally, we had three free days in the middle of the trip, which I used to travel to Sorrento, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast with other students. In the future, I’d like to pursue research opportunities in infectious diseases on campus as well as return to Italy one day. And since I threw a coin in the Trevi Fountain in Rome, I’d say there’s a pretty good chance of that!”
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R A M S E Y S cholars – C I V I C E N G A G E M E N T
Graduating Ramseys Highlight Their Service and Leadership Experiences
These experiences have led me to appreciate other cultures, not only in other countries but also in different regions of our own. I will apply these experiences to crafting policies that address the diverse cultures within the U.S. to be more effective in improving public health.” —Pranay Udutha ’14
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Pranay Udutha ’14 – Vibha Academic Bowl Outreach Founding Officer; Child Family Health International Medical Volunteer; Ramsey Spring Break Organizer and Volunteer; Student Government Association Senator, University Council Member; Residence Hall Association Executive Officer; Student Alumni Council; Thomas Lay After-School Program Mentor; Roosevelt Institute National Security Act Policy Fellow; Honors Program Student Council; UGA MATHCOUNTS Outreach Coach; UGA Miracle Fundraising Committee; Volunteer UGA Network Coordinator for Education and Mentoring “In Athens I’ve been involved in several volunteer organizations, but one of the most important ones has been the most recent. Last year, a few friends and I wanted to start an academic bowl organization and link it to Vibha, a service organization we had been part of when we were much younger. I felt this could link all of my contacts, networking skills, and leadership experience with other organizations on campus. Over the past year, I’ve watched our meetings expand from ten members to more than 40, and I’ve been to several schools and seen our coaches work with the students. It has been a pleasure to create such a service opportunity for UGA students and to build the academic potential of Athens-Clarke County students. “This past summer I traveled to the Galápagos Islands with the support of the Honors International Scholarship Program to volunteer in the Galápagos National Park. From feeding and cleaning baby tortoises to swimming with their enormous relatives in the ocean, my mind was blown on a daily basis. I spent the next four weeks on the Ecuadorian mainland, volunteering in community clinics and major hospitals. I learned about the strategies they use to deal with health disparities and was impressed by their expertise in improvising treatments with much less than what we have in the U.S. I also took time to help cook at a community kitchen, where I learned a little bit about how their culture handled public health issues such as teenage pregnancy. Through my conversations with strangers on long bus rides and hikes across the Andes, I gained insights into their universal healthcare system. As a future policy maker, I hope to apply my travels to improving the healthcare system in America. “As a Ramsey Scholar, I was fortunate to have helped coordinate our first Ramsey spring break. With the support of the UGA Foundation, all four years of Ramseys have planned each trip. My freshman year we drove to New Orleans and helped rebuild houses damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Through my travels, I have seen abject conditions in other corners of the world, but I was shocked to see this in America – six years after the disaster. Working with families to rebuild their homes showed me how aid had not been delivered effectively; it responded to the immediate symptoms in more noticed areas while ignoring the underlying issues that kept the rest of New Orleans from recovering. I used this experience in my research on USAID’s
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redevelopment efforts after Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, and I later discussed my experience and research with Dr. Rob Jenkins, the executive director of USAID who was responsible for much of the work I was analyzing and critiquing. “Subsequent Ramsey spring breaks have taken me to Charleston, Miami, and Asheville. We’ve worked in community centers and also in the outdoors volunteering in the Everglades, on the Appalachian Trail, and on the Carolina coast. Planning the trips ourselves and traveling together created bonds between Ramseys of all ages. While organizing an impromptu assembly line at food banks to sort goods and indulging my personal quest to wrestle a ’gator, we grew a lot closer. This kind of community is what makes the scholarship more than just funding. “These experiences have led me to appreciate other cultures, not only in other countries but also in different regions of our own. I will apply these experiences to crafting policies that address the diverse cultures within the U.S. to be more effective in improving public health.”
Amanda Holder ’14 – Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Curriculum Developer; Whatever It Takes at UGA After-School Program Site Coordinator; Teach For America Campus Campaign Coordinator; Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Summer Camp Fitness, Nutrition, and Wellness Coordinator; UGA Ramsey Center Group Fitness Instructor, Biggest Loser Trainer; Honors Teaching Assistant “Every child has the right to an excellent education. I am pursuing a career in educational leadership so that I can improve students’ access to compelling instruction and curriculum and opportunities to achieve at high levels. The UGA Honors Program’s combined bachelor’s/ master’s degree program has helped me prepare for this career by providing the opportunity to pursue an MEd in educational administration and policy in conjunction with a BS in psychology. Through graduate coursework I have cultivated an understanding of how to develop effective curriculum, promote a positive and healthy culture within a school environment, and motivate students in the classroom. I have also become deeply involved in the Athens-Clarke County community.
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“As a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor, I believe that educators have a responsibility to teach students to nurture both their minds and their bodies. This past summer I was contracted by Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services to develop and implement a fitness, nutrition, and wellness curriculum for approximately 450 six-to-twelve-year-olds at five summer camp sites. Can you imagine trying to get a group of 40 third graders to exercise outside during a Georgia summer? This experience was an endeavor in creativity and patience, and while I did manage to teach the kids how to locate their quadriceps and execute perfect pushups, they taught me a lot more. “I fell in love with the kids of Athens that summer, especially the kids at East Athens Community Center (EACC). Through the Whatever It Takes at UGA student organization, I continued to work with students in East Athens by running the after-school program at EACC. Tutoring, mentoring, and getting to know the students fueled my passion for expanding and improving schooling in our country. I look forward to meeting all of my future students and discovering the different ways that we can impact each other’s lives.” Emily Backus ’14 & Catherine Backus ’14 – Creators of ‘The Skipperdees’ Americana Music Group “One of the best aspects of doing The Skipperdees
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has been the connections we’ve made in the Athens community, from our monthly performances for the folks at Jessie B. Denney Tower to a summer reunion during AthFest, from townies at the Go Bar to babies at the Farmer’s Market. I know so many more artists and consumers than if we’d kept to the confines of UGA. Many folks whom I first considered heroes and mentors (Kyshona Armstrong, Hope For Agoldensummer, Caroline Herring, to name a few) are now friends. “I think one of the reasons our music resonates with such a wide range of folks is that we give a lot of ourselves in the writing and performance of each song. Every time we play a show, I relive the hurts of my parents’ divorce, the loneliness of long-term depression. I am proud of what Catherine and I have created. It is timeless in its honesty and has elicited strong reactions from frat boys and old hippies alike. “I’ve learned that audiences deserve to have a wide variety of perspectives presented and that those of us who have achieved a modicum of success in the local scene have to do our best to help out unique newer acts. Teaching just one audience member that two young women can be good at writing and singing songs is our most important goal. If we’ve prepared hundreds of ears to be more receptive to the next nontraditional act that comes along, The Skipperdees will have been a success.”
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R A MSE Y SCHOL AR S – UNDERGR ADUATE RESE ARCH
Ramseys Describe Their Undergraduate Research Experiences
The pilot study I conducted last spring yielded some exciting results that indicated that Amaranthus palmeri has the potential to be a hyperaccumulator. I hope to identify new species of plants to use as bioremediation to decontaminate toxic soils.” —Carmen Kraus ’15
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Carmen Kraus ’15 – Ecology “In spring 2014, I continued my work with Eric Goolsby, a PhD student in Dr. Rich Shefferson’s lab, on heavy metal hyperaccumulation in plants. These plants can collect and store heavy metals at concentrations that are toxic to most other plants. I am working to set up an experiment for fall semester to determine whether species in the genus Amaranthus are hyperaccumulators. I will also test whether exposure to herbicides impacts their ability to take up heavy metals. The pilot study I conducted last spring yielded some exciting results that indicated that Amaranthus palmeri has the potential to be a hyperaccumulator. I hope to identify new species of plants to use as bioremediation to decontaminate toxic soils. “In summer 2013, I worked at Blandy Experimental Farm, a University of Virginia research station, thanks to a Research Experience for Undergraduates grant from the National Science Foundation. I proposed and conducted an experiment to examine effects of food resources and density-dependent mortality and reproduction on the population size of the dogbane beetle, a specialist herbivore of the dogbane plant. Despite the fact that the beetle has few predators, making it an ideal system to study these processes, few researchers have studied the dogbane system. I built, stocked, and monitored 40 beetle cages in an early successional field. I presented a talk and poster of this research at UGA’s CURO Symposium in March 2014, and I presented a poster at the national annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America in Sacramento, California in August 2014 with National Science Foundation travel grant funding. I also plan to publish my research with my mentor, Dr. Kyle Haynes, and a collaborator from Cornell University, Dr. Anurag Agrawal.” Tuan Nguyen ’15 – Biochemistry & Molecular Biology “Since my first year at UGA, I’ve been learning computational techniques to study the structures of protein kinase from an evolutionary perspective in the hope of uncovering new mechanisms for drug targeting. The experience has been enriching from several perspectives. Besides broad exposure to my research field, I’ve been exposed to diverse research cultures and the politics in biological sciences. I’ve also learned how to manage my own project and think deeply about a research problem given the resources in the lab. Thanks to my experience in Dr. Kannan’s lab, I’ve had the opportunity to learn more about my field off campus during the summers of 2013 and 2014. “In summer 2013 in Dr. Susan Taylor’s lab at UC San Diego, I worked on a protein kinase crystallization project of the catalytic spine’s A70F mutant to determine its structure. It was awesome to learn how the protein structures that I analyze daily at UGA are being solved in a wet lab environment.
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“During summer 2014, I worked on a more translational aspect of protein kinase structures. In particular, I learned more experimental techniques to characterize recurrent mutations in patients that occur on the protein kinase domain of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor. Understanding how protein works is analogous to the parable of ‘The Blind Man and the Elephant.’ We can’t exactly see these proteins in motion. While everyone tries to get a ‘feel’ for different parts of the protein and its functions, we should take a step back to appreciate the full picture and arrive at a deeper truth.” Lauren Dennison ’16 – Biochemistry & Molecular Biology “As a freshman I studied abroad in Cortona, Italy via the science Maymester, where I took a human biochemistry class and an art history class. I can honestly say I have never enjoyed two classes more! The classes were designed to promote participation, so instead of taking tests, we put together debates and presentations that stimulated thought-provoking conversations. Through the program I got to know the head of the biochemistry department, Dr. Stephen Hajduk, and am now conducting research on African sleeping sickness in his lab. “African sleeping sickness is a vector-borne parasitic disease that is the result of infection by certain subspecies of African trypanosomes. One subspecies, Trypanosoma brucei brucei, is nonlethal to humans due to the innate immune molecule Trypanosome Lytic Factor (TLF). My project is looking into how TLF is able to kill trypanosomes with such high efficiency without harming mammalian cells. This spring I presented a poster at the CURO Symposium, and my research mentor and I hope to submit our findings for publication. “This summer I will be participating in the NYU Summer Undergraduate Research Program, where I will shadow a physician and work in the lab of Dr. William Carroll, director of the NYU Cancer Institute and the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Program at NYU Medical Center. I plan to pursue a dual MD/ PhD degree to conduct cancer research, so I could not be more excited for this opportunity to participate in clinical research!” Mihir Patel ’16 – Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Sciences “Research has been an indispensable part of my time at UGA. For the past two years, I’ve been involved in research on ovarian cancer under the supervision of Dr. Mandi Murph in the College of Pharmacy. My work has 112
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focused on the effects that mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) and RGS10 (regulator of G-protein signaling 10) have on ovarian cancer cell growth and proliferation. If down regulation of either or both of these protein complexes is successful in curbing cancer growth, a new treatment centering on such down regulation may be developed. “Last summer, I conducted paid research with Dr. Lin Mei at Georgia Regents University. This research was largely neuroscience based and focused on the schizophrenia related protein TMEM108 (transmembrane protein 108). We used animal models to determine the site-specific expression of TMEM108 in the brains of mice at various times throughout their lives. “This summer, I’m interning with the U.S. Department of Agriculture at the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory. Although my research is only in the early phases, it will most likely focus on the Newcastle Disease virus and avian influenza. For me, research is about satisfying my desire to discover new aspects of the world we live in.” Erin Hollander ’17 – Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Genetics “In the summer of 2013, I conducted research in the lab of Dr. Steve Stice through UGA’s Young Scholars Program, a competitive initiative designed to match high school students with university laboratories for paid summer research. Over the six weeks, I attempted to differentiate human neural progenitor cells and human mesenchymal stem cells into oligodendrocytes. Harm to oligodendrocytes is indicated in conditions such as Alzheimer’s and cerebral palsy. If stem cells could be efficiently differentiated into oligodendrocytes, new therapies might be developed to replace damaged oligodendrocytes and cure these debilitating conditions. Unfortunately, stem cells are highly finicky; the cells failed to differentiate in the end. But learning to deal with that failure and put it past you is one of the most valuable – and frustrating – lessons a researcher must learn. “After entering UGA as a freshman, I was accepted into the Terns lab for the spring of 2014. The Terns lab researches the CRISPR-Cas system, a recently discovered immune system of bacteria and archaea that allow the microorganisms to incorporate segments of DNA from foreign invaders into their own genome. These segments are then used to recognize and destroy the invaders. Relatively little is known about the Cas proteins that function in the system, however. My Honors Schol
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project was to engineer mutant strains of S. thermophilus that had each Cas protein knocked out, then test each to determine how missing each protein affects the overall system. I successfully created mutants missing two out of four proteins and determine their basic function, but the other two have eluded me. I plan to continue with my research in the fall and likely will stay in the Terns lab throughout my undergraduate career. “In addition to laboratory research, I was an active member in the Roosevelt Institute, a national youth think tank organization. As someone planning to pursue a biomedical engineering degree, the dual potential and danger of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the regulation surrounding them is of great interest to me. With the Institute’s help, I crafted a policy around decreasing the cost of regulation for public health GMOs such as Golden Rice. These GMOs are meant only to increase nutrition or fill a need, and not for profit. I presented my research at the 2014 CURO Symposium and was published in the Roosevelt southern regional journal. This experience
has been invaluable to me, as I had never considered policy an interest of mine before. I was accepted into the Roosevelt Scholars class for fall 2014. “During this time, I also applied and was accepted into DAAD RISE. This program places students from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada in summer research internships around Germany. I spent 14 weeks in Germany – two in Berlin, in a German intensive language course the scholarship program provided, and 12 in Lübeck, conducting research in the lab of Dr. Georg Sczakiel. This was a wonderful opportunity for me, not only because of the travel and cultural experience, but because the lab worked with the human RNA interference pathway. This system is quite similar to the CRISPR-Cas system of my home lab, yet there are also striking differences between them. Working with the system allowed me to observe the similarities and differences at a molecular level, and I hope this knowledge will aid me in unraveling the CRISPR-Cas system.”
Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) 2014 Symposium Presenters Lauren Dennison ’16
Mechanism of Mammalian Resistance to Trypanosome Lytic Factor
Victoria DeLeo ’14
Intron Loss in the ABCB1 Gene
Erin Hollander ’17
Increasing Nutrition Through Genetically Modified Organisms
Thomas Johnston ’16
Influence of Maternal Presence, Age, and Sex on Social Learning
Carmen Kraus ’15
Density Dependent Regulation of Survival and Reproduction in Dogbane Beetles and Underlying Host-Plant Interactions
Swayamdipto Misra ’16
Generation of Transgenic Plants Carrying Promoter: Reporter-Gene Constructs to Investigate Transcriptional Expression of GAUT Genes in Arabidopsis
Tuan Nguyen ’15
Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Flanking C-Terminal Tail: Structure and Function
Mariana Satterly ’14
Issues of Economic Efficiency in the Domestic Conservation Easement System
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RAMSEY SCHOLARS – INTERNSHIPS
Before my internship, I understood the job of a community pharmacist in broad terms, but now that I walk in their shoes, my respect and appreciation for their role has only grown.” —Abigail Shell ’15
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Abigail Shell ’15 – Kroger Pharmacy “Although I came to UGA as a journalism major, one chemistry class was all it took for me to realize that my passion lies in the sciences and ultimately in medicine. After two years of undergraduate study, I applied and was accepted to UGA’s College of Pharmacy and am now ready to tackle my second year in the program. My internship experiences over the past year have been directly related to the field of pharmacy. I spent the last three weeks of the 2014 spring semester completing an Intermediate Pharmacy Practice Experience at the Kroger Pharmacy in Jefferson, Georgia. Designed by the College of Pharmacy to teach practical applications of information learned in the classroom, the IPPE gave me a look into the everyday concerns and responsibilities of a retail pharmacist. I spoke with doctors’ offices and insurance companies, filled prescriptions, counseled patients, and developed rapport with patients and staff. “I am now employed as a Pharmacy Intern at this Kroger and am working toward completing the mandatory 500 intern hours required for licensure by the Georgia Board of Pharmacy. Fulfillment of this requirement is only the most tangible of the benefits I have and continue to reap from this experience. Before my internship, I understood the job of a community pharmacist in broad terms, but now that I walk in their shoes, my respect and appreciation for their role has only grown. Although I believe my career still lies in the realm of clinical/hospital pharmacy, the interpersonal training and multitasking skills I’ve gained will aid in my journey to reach the top of my chosen profession.” Kathleen Wilson ’16 – Carl Vinson Institute of Government, Feminist Majority Foundation “During fall semester of 2013, I participated in the Roosevelt Scholars policy course, in which students take an in-depth look at the policy research, development, and implementation process. Through the course, I researched female literacy initiatives in Afghanistan, a country where the majority of women are illiterate. In the spring, I interned with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government as an International Center Fellow. In this position, I continued to build upon my knowledge of international women’s rights issues as I researched the causes and effects of child marriages in Syrian refugee camps and investigated current and potential policies to address these issues. This summer, with funding and support from the Honors in Washington program, I am interning at the Feminist Majority Foundation in Washington, DC. I am researching the commodity procurement process for birth control in Afghanistan with the hopes that this research can be presented to the American Overseas Relief Fund and USAID and influence policies that improve access to birth control for Afghan women. These experiences have made me more knowledgeable about women’s rights and international policy and prepared me to pursue a career in international women’s rights policy.”
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Following my second year at UGA, I spent the summer as an actuarial intern for Humana in Louisville, Kentucky. My career plan is to be an actuary, and this was a great opportunity to experience exactly what an actuary does. I felt valued while working at Humana, and they provided us with many chances to network and develop professionally. I continued to work as an actuarial intern part-time during the school year remotely and returned to Louisville the following summer.” —Cody Baetz ’15, Humana
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Ramsey Scholars Internships 2013-2014 Catherine Backus
Music Therapist, Athens YMCA, Athens, GA
Emily Backus
Student Teacher, Whitehead Road Elementary School, Athens, GA; Student Teacher, Oconee County Middle School, Watkinsville, GA; Sales/Marketing Strategist, Sandrock Recordings, Caryville, TN
Cody Baetz
Clinical Analytics Intern and Corporate Actuarial Intern, Humana, Louisville, KY
Melissa Cousins
Intern, John Paul Jewelers, Columbus, GA
Victoria DeLeo
Research and Development Automation Group Intern, Dow AgroSciences, Indianapolis, IN
Moira Fennell
Intern, Empire Magazine, London, UK
Amanda Holder
Site Coordinator, East Athens Community Center, Athens, GA; Campus Campaign Coordinator, Teach for America, Athens, GA
Erin Hollander
Summer Research Scientist, DAAD RISE, Universitat zu LĂźbeck, LĂźbeck, Germany
Heather Huynh
Software Development Lifecycle Intern, Hewlett-Packard, Alpharetta, GA
Stephen Lago
Production Intern, UGA Performing Arts Center, Athens, GA
Rachel Paleg
Summer Intern, Kiwakkuki-Women Against AIDS in Kilimanjaro, Moshi, Tanzania; Child Development Center Intern, Camp Adventure Child and Youth Services, Pearl Harbor, HI
Abigail Shell
Pharmacy Intern, Hospital Garrahan, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Pharmacy Intern, Kroger Pharmacy, Jefferson, GA
Pranay Udutha
Intern, Child and Family Health International, Quito, Ecuador
Kathleen Wilson
Summer Intern, Feminist Majority Foundation, Washington, DC; International Center Fellow, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, Athens, GA
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Catherine Jane Backus
Emily Elizabeth Backus
Major(s): Music Therapy
Major(s): Music Education
Hometown: Oak Ridge, TN Travel-Study and Internships: France; Switzerland; Hendersonville, NC; Tour of 20 U.S. Cities/11 States Campus/Community Activities: Music Therapy Student Association President; Athens YMCA Music Therapist; Extra Special People, Inc. Summer Camp Counselor, ESPerform! Program Music Director; The Skipperdees Performer, Songwriter, Recording Artist; Four Seasons Hospice Music Therapy Intern; UGA Wind Ensemble; UGA Symphonic Band; UGA Wind Symphony; UGA Symphony Orchestra; UGA Philharmonia; UGA Opera Orchestra; UGA Brass Quintet Honors and Awards: SER-AMTA Regional Conference Student Presenter, Flagpole Music Awards Nominee, summa cum laude
Hometown: Oak Ridge, TN Travel-Study and Internships: France; Switzerland; Tour of 20 U.S. Cities/11 States Campus/Community Activities: Volunteer performances for Poverty Is Real, Extra Special People, Inc., and Jessie B. Denney Tower; Athens Folk Music and Dance Society; National Association for Music Education; UGA Band Festivals Percussion Assistant; Middle School and High School Summer Percussion Instructor; Professional Association of Georgia Educators; The Skipperdees Performer, Songwriter, Recording Artist; UGA Wind Ensemble; UGA Symphonic Band; UGA Wind Symphony; UGA Symphony Orchestra; UGA Philharmonia; UGA Opera Orchestra; UGA Percussion Ensemble Honors and Awards: Flagpole Music Awards Nominee, summa cum laude
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Victoria Lynn DeLeo
Amanda Jane Holder
Major(s): Applied Biotechnology, Genetics
Major(s): Psychology (BS), Educational Administration & Policy (MEd)
Hometown: Davie, FL Research: Intron Loss in the ABCB1 Gene Across Grass Subfamilies; Physical Mapping of the Wheat D Genome; Genetics of Invasive Species Exchanged Between the Southeastern U.S. and China, Taiwan and Hong Kong; Viticulture and Enology in the Mediterranean Travel-Study and Internships: China; England; Italy; Indianapolis, IN; Manhattan, KS Campus/Community Activities: Learning Ally Volunteer; Campus Kitchens Volunteer; UGA iGEM Team Member; Clarke County School District Young Scientist Fair Judge Honors and Awards: Barry M. Goldwater Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa, Outstanding Senior in Applied Biotechnology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Research Initiative Grant Recipient (2011, 2014), summa cum laude with Highest Honors
Minor(s): Geography Hometown: Sag Harbor, NY Travel-Study and Internships: Fiji; New Zealand Campus/Community Activities: Whatever It Takes at UGA After-School Program Site Coordinator; Teach For America Campus Campaign Coordinator; AthensClarke County Leisure Services Summer Camp Fitness, Nutrition, and Wellness Coordinator; UGA Ramsey Center Group Fitness Instructor, Biggest Loser Trainer; Honors Teaching Assistant Honors and Awards: East Athens Community Center STAR Volunteer of the Year, cum laude with High Honors
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Stephen Edward Lago
Mariana Lynne Satterly
Major(s): Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Computer Science
Major(s): Economics, English
Hometown: St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada Research: Disease Progression and Immune Response of T. cruzi Parasites in a Mouse Model; Computational Methods to Analyze Pathway Hole Assignment and Genome Ordering in E. coli Travel-Study and Internships: Ecuador; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA Campus/Community Activities: Honors Program Student Council President, Service Committee Member; Advocating Safe Alternatives for Peers President; UGA Men’s Rugby Club Team Player; UGA Performing Arts Crew Member, Production Intern; UGA Cellular Biology Department Undergraduate Grader; Ramsey Alternative Spring Break Leader; UGA Catholic Center Volunteer Honors and Awards: Phi Beta Kappa, Dean’s List, summa cum laude with Honors
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Minor(s): French Hometown: Athens, GA Research: Issues of Economic Efficiency in the Domestic Conservation Easement System; Nonprofit Feasibility in Montana Travel-Study and Internships: England; Morocco; Florence, MT Campus/Community Activities: Journal of Undergraduate Research Opportunities (JURO) Executive Editor; Student Government Association Policy Board, All-Campus Allocations Committee; Thomas Lay After-School Program Head Mentor, Public Relations Officer; Athens Swing Night Member; Honors Program Student Ambassador; UGA Intramural Ultimate Frisbee Player; With Someone Else’s Money a cappella Singer; Keble College Chapel Choir (Oxford); UGA at Oxford Program Representative, Office Staff; Watson-Brown Foundation Junior Board of Trustees; Demosthenian Literary Society Honors and Awards: magna cum laude with Honors
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Pranay Kumar Udutha Major(s): Biology, International Affairs Hometown: Acworth, GA Research: The Exploration of Gallate as an Inhibitor of Protein Glycation; Additive and Synergistic Effects of Protein Glycation Inhibitors; Effect of Exercise on Progression of Multiple Sclerosis; Establishing Sickle Cell Disease Screening Programs in Urban Africa; Restructuring USAID: A Case Study on Haiti; Interbasin Water Transfer Policy in Georgia Travel-Study and Internships: Costa Rica; Ecuador; Switzerland; Atlanta, GA; Philadelphia, PA Campus/Community Activities: Student Government Association Senator, University Council Member; Residence Hall Association Executive Officer, Myers Hall President; Bilingual Directory of Services Publishing Committee; SPIA Ambassador; Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Ambassador; Honors Medicine in Literature Book Discussion Group Leader; Alpha Epsilon Delta Executive Board; Delta Prize Selection Committee; Student Alumni Council; Ramsey Student Advisory Council; Vibha Academic Bowl Mentoring Program Founding Executive Board; Thomas Lay After-School Program Mentor; Turner Volunteer; Roosevelt Institute National Security Act Policy Fellow, Local Center Policy Committee; Honors Program Student Council Programming Committee Chair; UGA MATHCOUNTS Outreach Coach; UGA Miracle Fundraising Committee; Volunteer UGA Network Coordinator for Education and Mentoring Honors and Awards: Honors International Scholar, AED Pre-Medical Honor Society, CURO Distinction, Black Belt Tae Kwon Do, Brown Belt Yoshukai Karate, Phi Beta Kappa, Presidential Scholar, summa cum laude with Highest Honors
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Cody James Baetz South Forsyth HS Cumming, GA Economics, Mathematics, Statistics
Carmen Orpinas Kraus Cedar Shoals HS Athens, GA Ecology, Scientific Illustration
C lass
Melissa Carlene Cousins Northside HS Midland, GA Art
Berta Maria Franzluebbers Oconee County HS Watkinsville, GA Linguistics, Physics
Rachel Hana Paleg Albert Einstein Senior HS Silver Spring, MD Geography
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Tuan Anh Nguyen Douglas County HS Douglasville, GA Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Mathematics
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Samuel Thomas Johnston Mountain Brook HS Birmingham, AL Spanish, Statistics
Mihir B. Patel Lakeside HS Martinez, GA Biology, Psychology
Abigail Taylor Shell East Coweta HS Sharpsburg, GA Pharmacy
Swayamdipto Misra Lakeside HS Martinez, GA Cellular Biology, Economics
Juliana Jianquan Saxton Lassiter HS Marietta, GA Music, Psychology
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Prentiss Rachel Autry Baconton Community Charter HS Hinsonton, GA Biology
Jacob Aaron Eden Americus Sumter HS Americus, GA Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erin Elizabeth Hollander Cedar Shoals HS Athens, GA Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Genetics
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Moira Elizabeth Fennell Suncoast Community HS Palm Beach Gardens, FL Economics, Mass Media Arts
Heather Kimberly Huynh Gwinnett School of Math, Science and Technology Loganville, GA Chemistry, Computer Science
Katie Michele Googe Clarke Central HS Athens, GA Comparative Literature, Romance Languages
Megan Nicole Murphy Grovetown HS Grovetown, GA Biology, Psychology
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123
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Jenny Elizabeth Alpaugh Clarke Central HS Athens, GA Journalism
Malcolm Alexander Barnard Johns Creek HS Johns Creek, GA Ecology
Evan Knox Cedar Shoals HS Athens, GA Physics, Psychology
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Davis Jarratt Coleman William R. Boone HS Orlando, FL Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Isabel Bailey Palmer North Atlanta HS Atlanta, GA Economics, International Affairs
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Shreya Ganeshan Northview HS Johns Creek, GA Economics, International Affairs
Timothy Allen Ruiter Thomas Jefferson HS Science & Technology Centreville, VA Biochemical Engineering
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Emily Christine Giambalvo Easley HS Easley, SC Marketing
Zoe Irene Schneider Henry W. Grady HS Atlanta, GA Biology
Annual Report
RAMSEY SCHOLARS NEWEST ALUMNI – CLASS OF 2014 Catherine Backus
Music Therapy Intern, Four Seasons Hospice, Flat Rock, North Carolina
Emily Backus
Music Teacher, Montgomery Elementary School, Atlanta, Georgia
Victoria DeLeo
Harvest Internship, Martinelli Winery & Vineyards, Windsor, California
Amanda Holder
Earth Science Teacher, Mariana Bracetti Academy Charter School, Teach for America, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Stephen Lago
Software Developer, Epic Systems Corporation, Madison, Wisconsin
Mariana Satterly
Grant Writing Intern, Harvestworks Digital Media Arts Center, New York, New York
Pranay Udutha
International Affairs Research and Policy, Washington, DC
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Class of 2004 Ladson Gaddy-Dubac Andrew Ely Guthrie Virginia Wood Pate Daniel Anthony del Portal Samuel Winters Richwine III Rachel Elizabeth Wahlig
Every year I come back for Interview Weekend, I’m reminded of how incredible my own experience was and how great it is to still be in touch with such awesome people.” Jeff Elrod, Ramsey Scholar Alumnus ’08 Senior Solutions Engineer at Pardot, a salesforce.com Company
Class of 2005 Katherine Elizabeth Bugg Andrew G. Crowley Lawrence Robert Ficek Matthew Eric Hickman Ngozi Christie Ogbuehi James Christoper Tarr Brian William Teplica Class of 2006 Staci Hutsell Cannon Elizabeth Kate Davidson
Joseph Tristan Knight
Class of 2011
John Thompson Matthews
Jonathan William Arogeti
James Lucas McFadden
Jason Daniel Berkowitz
Noah Reuben Mink
Christopher Jordan Floyd
Gregory James O’Connell
Haylee Nicole Humes
Molly Beatrice Pittman
Mark Paul Johnson
Blake William Shealy
Jung Woong Kim
Karen Christina Wong
Nicole Elizabeth Nation Erika Parker New
Class of 2009
Griffin Daniel Rice
Nneka Alicia Arinze
Joseph Cataquiz Rimando
Charles Dillingham May
Shannon Chen
Stephen Bradford Thompson
Jonathan Brown Chestnut
Andrew George Watts
Class of 2007
Nisha Gupta
Laura Ann Wynn
Jarrett Horne Jackson Molly Beth Martin
Mary Beth Bereznak Jonathan Andrew Charles Brian Lee Claggett Kelly Katherine Eaton Hope Carrell Ham Maggie McQueen Hodges Brian Louis Levy Daniel Suresh Mathews Lamar Houston Moree Rebecca Joyce Rahn Lauren Elizabeth Sillery Teerawit “Tim” Supakorndej Andrew Jay Vesper Class of 2008 Matt Charles Agan Brent Lewis Allen Jeffrey Elrod James Tristan Gordy
Jeremiah Doug Johnson Jeremy Howard Jones
Class of 2012
Lindsay Beth Jones
Samantha Colleen Gray
Elizabeth Alexandra Katz
Aisha Mahmood Haley
Madison Moore Pool
Tiffany Ying Hu
Peter Samuel Shoun
Whitney Marie Ising
Joseph Dempsey Turrentine
John Bradley Otwell Anna Catherine Savelle
Class of 2010
Ryan Oliver Sheets
Alexander Linton Brown
Catherine Lois Shonts
Peyton Clark Edwards
Sheila Vedala
Carole Noelle House William Daniel Jordan III
Class of 2013
Halina Maladtsova
Glenn Ryan Branscomb
Nicholas Anthony Passarello
Frank Logan Butler IV
Lauren Elizabeth Pinson
Trevor Hunter Hohorst
Emily Frances Reed
Yiran Emily Peng
Caitlin Gail Robinson
Alexander Collins Vey
Zao “Michael” Yang
Annie Ming Huang
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