A newsletter for students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends Viewers across the state who watch the “Maryland Farm & Harvest” series on public television will get a video glimpse Tuesday, Nov. 10 into a University of Maryland Eastern Shore research project that combines expertise in agriculture and aviation science. A Maryland Public Television production team visited UMES this past June to record a segment that kicks off the third season of the show that “takes viewers around the state to see and experience what it’s like to run a 21st century farm – from technological advances and conservation challenges to age-old complications such as weather hardships.” The show airs at 7 p.m. For nearly a decade, agriculture professor Dr. Abhijit Nagchaudhuri has spearheaded a cuttingedge research project he and his colleagues can reduce to two words – “precision agriculture.”
November 6, 2015
It’s a term that describes the integration of “many advanced engineering technologies, including global positioning system receivers, geographic information system data bases, grid sampling/mapping techniques, yield monitors, variable-rate applications and remote sensing imagery,” Nagchaudhuri said. “Potentially, these advanced technologies can improve farm profitability, reduce chemical use and reduce environmental degradation.” Nagchaudhuri is UMES’ principal investigator responsible for procuring nearly $1 million in government grants to underwrite research into how unmanned aviation vehicles (UAVs) – more commonly known as drones – can be employed to make crop farming more productive, efficient and environmentally sensitive. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Maryland Space Grant Consortium have both helped underwrite the precision agriculture initiative.
MPT highlights UMES research
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Get your geek on at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s “Branching out with STEM Night” Maryland Wednesday, Nov. 11. The event is part of the Maryland Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Festival and features drones, flight simulators, Sugo-Sumo Wrestling Robots, 3-D printing, a blender bike, junk drawer robotics and more. STEM Geared to the young, as well as young-at-heart, the event takes place at 6 p.m. in the Richard A. Henson Center Ballroom on UMES’ campus. Admission is free. Festival “Events like this are ‘can’t-miss’ opportunities to spark youths’ interest in science and technology,” said Jocelyn Koller, 4-H STEM associate agent, University of Maryland Extension-1890 Program. “We are proud to bring this statewide, inaugural Maryland STEM Festival to students on the Eastern Shore.” comes Co-sponsors are: UMES; the University of Maryland Extension; the 4-H STEM program at University of Maryland Extension; Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences; Somerset County Public Schools; to shore Somerset County Recreation and Parks; and the Delmarva Discovery Center.
INSIDE
“The Maryland STEM Festival is about bringing the wonders and fun of STEM to every Maryland resident,” said Phil Rogofsky, festival director. “There will be something for each and every person to be excited about.” Founded in 2014, the Maryland STEM Festival joins a growing trend of regional STEM and science festivals in the United States. During a 10-day celebration, the festival will bring over 100 events, hosted by schools, colleges, libraries, museums, parks, businesses and other community organizations, together under one banner to recognize the economic, educational and cultural impact of STEM in Maryland. For more information, visit: www.marylandSTEMfestival.org.
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Donor Reception Faculty Campaign
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UMES Faculty Spotlight
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EPIC Pharmacy Grant Cisco Winner World Teachers’ Day
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UMES Community Connections
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Golf Basketball Season Tickets
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Pharmacy Chapter Recognized Concert Choir Salutes Veterans Gourmet Dinner
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Calendar of Events
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Circling the Oval
The Key / November 6, 2015
Donors thanked for gifts to university
UMES President Juliette B. Bell and a group of students met and thanked donors for their generous gifts to the university.
“These receptions are a way to bring together major donors who contribute to the university with students who benefit from their generosity, and also the faculty and administrators who manage donor funds. Students want to make our donors proud by sharing their stories and expressing their gratitude. It is important for donors to know that their investment in UMES is worthy of their generosity.” Veronique Diriker, director of development, UMES
Mariah Dennis gives testament to the difference donors have made in her education at UMES.
UMES supporters gathered Oct. 15 at the Richard A. Henson Center, where they heard how their generosity assists students in pursuing their career goals. Pictured from left, are: Carlton Wicker, Owen Johnson, Owanaemi Davies and Carter Boston.
UMES Division of Institutional Advancement
2015-16 Staff & Faculty Campaign
What matters is the sum of our effort. https://iaumes.givecorps.com/
THANK YOU!
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“Stories about technology, and especially about new technology, really open a window into what the future of farming and food production might look like,” MPT producer Stefanie Robey told the Daily Times in June. A focus for Nagchaudhuri and his team of graduate students is determining the precise amount of nutrients crops need. “By observing the plant” from high above a field, Nagchaudhuri said, “you can sense whether it needs nitrogen or it needs water.” Until recently, Nagchaudhuri and his team relied on a combination of remote-control model planes, fixed-wing aircraft and even a mini-helicopter to observe crops to get an overhead view of Delmarva farm fields. Rapid technology advances in the use, availability and utility of drones prompted a natural shift to that eye-in-the-sky platform. That’s where UMES’ aviation science program comes in. Instructor Chris Hartman, a licensed pilot and a doctoral candidate under Nagchaudhuri’s tutelage, is responsible for flying an eight-propeller, circular drone about the width of a frontporch pumpkin. Drones fitted with special cameras can identify low-yield or barren spots in the center of a large field not visible from the ground. Is the cause not enough water, too much water, not enough fertilizer or too much fertilizer, or perhaps disease? “We’re using the UAV to fly a couple of different camera systems, (primarily) an infra-red camera system that’s looking at crop health,” Hartman said. “So it’s going to give us some information about the scale of a field – how healthy is the crop in one section of the field versus another section of the field.” Reducing the potential of fertilizer runoff into the water table and maximizing the economics for the farmer by “applying just the right amount – that’s our goal,” Hartman said. “Agriculture is important in our area,” he said. “It’s also important all over the world. Everyone has to eat.” Pursuit of precision agriculture strategies and remote sensing projects, Nagchaudhuri said, has “benefitted from the enthusiastic involvement of students and cross-disciplinary collaboration among (UMES) faculty in engineering, engineering technology, aviation sciences, agriculture and natural sciences programs.” “Regular discussions and meetings (between) students, farm personnel, project investigators, and USDA and NASA collaborators have provided a fertile platform to advance project goals and research endeavors,” Nagchaudhuri said. Graduate student Xavier Henry earned his undergraduate degree in aviation science, but decided to pursue a master’s in agriculture sciences after being exposed to the precision agriculture project. “It’s like the perfect marriage for me,” Henry said. “It feels pretty amazing that even at a small institution like UMES, you can get involved with research that is going to count.” Given UMES’ location between the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean, Nagchaudhuri and Hartman agree that lessons learned in precision agriculture research could have application in hard-to-reach coastal regions where erosion and the loss of natural habitat are problems.
UMES People
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F A C U LT Y S P O T L I G H T Dr. Tyler S. Love (left) and Dr. Thomas Loveland, both of UMES’ Department of Technology, wrote articles that were published in the November (Vol. 75, Issue 3) edition of the “Technology and
Dr. William Talley (center) and Dr. Lisa Zheng, (right) UMES Department of Rehabilitation faculty members, were featured presenters at a mid-October workshop and seminar for residential treatment staff and administrators in the Chinese province of Jiang Su. The three-day workshop was organized by the provincial government to introduce its resident allied health care professionals to topics that could guide efforts to provide more comprehensive services to Chinese citizens with severe disabilities. The trip was sponsored by the Jiang Su province, which served as host for Talley and Zheng during their stay. The workshop, which attracted about 200 participants, included presentations on America’s history of rehabilitation programs and legislative developments that led to the current rehabilitation movement in the U.S. Zheng and Talley also participated in discussions on assessment techniques, including standardized psychological testing and vocational evaluation to formulate comprehensive treatment plans for consumers and the application of case management techniques to ensure comprehensive service delivery. The two UMES professors also toured rehabilitation facilities to get a firsthand look at current Chinese rehabilitation practices. Following the workshop, Talley and Zheng met with administrators of Su Qian University, a private institution with 30,000 students. Many of its programs, such as engineering, natural sciences, computer sciences and social and behavioral sciences, mirror those at UMES, the professors noted. Su Qian University administrators expressed interest in growing the relationship with UMES, including discussions about possibly exchanging faculty and students. Zheng also visited Yango College, a small private school with 8,000 students in southern China where she delivered a letter from UMES graduate school dean Jennifer Keane-Dawes to its administrators. Discussions were held about establishing “2+2” degree programs, and having Yango graduates and faculty study at UMES. Zheng said she answered many questions regarding studying abroad, international admission, tuition rate and student life at UMES. Yango College’s president followed up with an official letter also expressing formal interest in further discussions with UMES on student and faculty exchange opportunities.
Engineering Teacher.” Love, program coordinator and assistant professor of technology and engineering education at UMES, wrote “Innovative Strategies for More Engaging Safety Instruction.” “The recent release of the “Next Generation Science Standards” and the “Standards for Technological Literacy” call for P-12 students to use hazardous tools, machines and materials when creating solutions to realworld problems,” Love said. “This article presents innovative strategies for instructors to teach critical laboratory safety concepts in a more engaging manner.” Loveland is the coordinator of UMES’ master of education program in career and technology education located in Baltimore, Md. and a member of the journal’s editorial review board. The title of the article he co-wrote along with Pamela Klink, a career and technology education teacher at the Center of Applied Technology South in Edgewater, Md. and a graduate student at UMES, is “Vocabulary Development in Technology and Engineering Education.” “With a national focus on academic literacy in all K-12 classes, Career and Technology Education teachers need to teach reading, writing and mathematical literacy in their hands-on courses and labs,” Loveland said. “This article focuses on technical vocabulary development in CTE students with many instructional strategies to help students master advanced technical vocabulary.” Dr. Monisha Das, associate professor in UMES’ Department of Business, Management and Accounting, just returned from Expo 2015 Milano in Italy, where she
made a presentation on “Sustainability in Energy and Food.” Her next stop was Towson University, where the College National Fed Challenge team she coaches was a finalist in a six-school competition.
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School News
The Key / November 6, 2015
Pharmacy student receives grant
Entrepreneur competition yields summer internship for student
Amanda R. Lehmann, a second year student in UMES’ three-year Doctor of Pharmacy program, is the recipient of a $1,000 grant from EPIC Pharmacies. EPIC, a national network of more than 1,400 independently owned pharmacies, awards the grant to students who plan to practice in an independent pharmacy upon graduation. Lehmann, who calls Frostburg her hometown, intends to use her degree to practice “at a community pharmacy in a medically underserved, rural area where I can have a direct impact on improving patients’ health literacy and therapeutic outcomes.” She was nominated for the award by her local pharmacist, who said she is his first successful candidate for the grant. Lehmann is the president of UMES’ chapter of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association and a member of the Phi Delta Chi pharmacy fraternity. The 23 year-old, who lists tutoring classmates as one of her hobbies, would like to be a preceptor to future pharmacy school students when she enters the workforce. Fashion, shopping, Hello Kitty collecting, exercising and spending time with her cat and boyfriend—a graduate from UMES’ pharmacy program and resident at nearby Peninsula Regional Medical Center’s pharmacy—rounds out her list of interests.
Temi Okulate has his next summer internship already lined up. The junior majoring in computer science won Cisco System Inc.’s “Invitational Sales Competition” organized by the UMES Career and Professional Development Center. Okulate’s prize is a 10-week internship with the Fortune 500 tech giant. Details are still taking shape, but Okulate said he was told he could expect to be assigned to work in the Boston area, North Carolina or California. “Wherever it is, it’s a relief to know I have this great opportunity,” Okulate said. “I feel very fortunate.” Cisco has participated in past job fairs at UMES, but Dr. Theresa Queenan, the Career and Professional Development Center’s director, said the Oct. 28 competition was a first for the university. In fact, Queenan said she’s been told UMES is among the first historical black institutions to partner with Cisco in sponsoring an on-campus competition. Participants drawn from UMES’ School of Business and Technology were put through two rounds of role-playing where they were given a scenario by judges and evaluated on how effective they could be convincing a potential customers to become a Cisco client. Four juniors competed for the internship, while four seniors vied for an opportunity to secure a job offer. Okulate said he had to stretch himself to go from being focused on information technology to convincing judges he could also “sell” the Cisco brand. Okulate currently works about 20 hours a week for the university’s information technology department as a student lab technician, one of the people on-call sent to troubleshoot computer woes across campus. “Temi has been a terrific addition to the IT department,” Karen Earp said. “He’s quick, bright and talented. He has been such a huge asset that our loss is going to be great when he graduates. He is very deserving of the opportunity he has been offered to intern at Cisco.” His Cisco internship will pay him roughly 3½ times his hourly wage as a part-time student work. Okulate isn’t sure what lies ahead after graduation in 2017, so he’s hopeful the Cisco opportunity will help bring clarity to that decision heading into his senior year. If he impresses his Cisco supervisors, it could lay the groundwork for a job offer. “I really want an intense experience,” he said. “There are so many things I have to think about.”
Oct. 5 was World Teachers’ Day and UMES invited its Facebook friends to share “What teacher inspired you to succeed?”
Here is a sampling of some of the names of current UMES faculty members who got a social media shout-out. Mignon Anderson
Amy Hagenrater-Gooding
Bryant Mitchell
Kathryn Barrett-Gaines
Sheila Harleston
Brian Perez
Joyce Bell
Courtney Harned
Donna Satterlee
Maurice Clarke
Chris Harrington
Barbara Seabrook
Robert Dadson
Junior Hopwood
George Shorter
Monisha Das
Bradley Hudson
Stephan Tubene
Michele Demanche
Robert Johnson
Enrique Escobar
Lombuso Khoza
School News
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UMES office builds community connection UMES’ Office of University Engagement and Lifelong Learning has been connecting our students to our neighbors and beyond—enriching lives and making an impression. Its mission is two-fold, explains Clifton Harcum, program director for the office. “We collaborate with local institutions and agencies to offer community outreach programs. Promoting college readiness and retention by working with local schools to build a pipeline to postsecondary education is one of the office’s goals. Another of the office’s priorities is to provide service learning and civic engagement opportunities, and professional or life skills coaching for our students.” Don Taylor, left, Chesapeake Housing Mission’s executive director, is pictured Through the office, UMES students have built with a group of UMES students and Clifton Harcum, right, program coordinator for UMES’ Office of University Engagement and Lifelong Learning, who spent the day wheelchair ramps to assist the Chesapeake Housing Oct. 17 helping build a ramp for a Crisfield resident. Mission, played bingo with residents of nearby Manokin Manor nursing home, and provided weekly mentoring and organized step shows at the Garland Hayward Youth Center also in Princess Anne. Professional activities for students have included the Beyond the Limits ropes course, an excursion to the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March and a business seminar at the Warner Theater, both in Washington, D.C. “The staff and I love what we do,” Harcum said. “Having the opportunity and the ability Kalila Graham, a sophomore from to have a positive impact on the Cambridge, Md., cuts lumber for lives of so many people is hard to From left, senior Kijontray McClay, junior Dominick Copeland, a wheelchair ramp in Crisfield freshman Marcus Burrell and sophomore Owanaemi Davies put into words.” organized by the Chesapeake Housing Mission.
participated in a business development seminar at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C.
Members of Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi and Iota Phi Theta held a step show Oct. 23 at the Garland Hayward Youth Center in Princess Anne. UMES students also spoke to the youth about college preparedness. The event was sponsored by the Maryland DC Campus Compact (MDCCC) Americorps Vista program.
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The Key / November 6, 2015
Hawktoberfest
Hawk linksters are competitive force
The UMES men’s golf team overcame rainy conditions to notch its second tournament victory this fall with a team win over two MEAC rivals at the 2015 Virginia State University Trojan Fall Classic. Senior Norman Blanco led the Hawk squad with a two-day score of 150 (+6), good enough for first-place individual honors and the tourney’s most valuable player award. “It certainly feels good to accomplish my goal of winning a collegiate event,” Blanco said. “Going into the tournament, we had our minds set on coming in first place. The course was tough, but we were focused and stayed patient as a team to claim our second win of the season.” Earlier this year, UMES won its inaugural NCAA Division I team tournament at the 2015 Southwestern Athletic Conference / Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Collegiate Challenge in Alabama. UMES’ latest win over teams from Hampton and North Carolina Central sent a message that Hawk linksters will be competitive when Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play takes place this coming spring. “I am proud of our guys,” head coach Marshall Cropper said. “After day one, I challenged us to do better and they did. These guys continue to make history.” Sophomore Demarkis Cooper and junior Bryce Young joined Blanco on the all-tournament squad. Cooper and Young finished third and fourth, respectively.
Sophomore Blair Waters collected his second all-tournament award by placing second behind Blanco. The Florida native ended the event three strokes back of the top spot. Sophomore Timothy Mitchell rounded out the Hawks team total and finished 14th overall. Sophomore Christian Owens and freshman Justin Diggs competed individually and came on strong. Owens placed 13th overall and shot a personal best 81 (+9) on the final day. Diggs took part in his first collegiate event and finished in the top 10. In other golf competition news, a team of PGA golf management students bested counterparts from Penn State University for the second straight year to win the 3rd Annual Mason-Dixon Challenge, a Ryder Cup style competition between the two border-state schools with the same academic program.
Congratulations UMES Men’s Cross Country Team
2015 MEAC champs!
School News
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UMES student pharmacy chapter recognized Members of UMES’ American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists chapter attended a mid-year regional meeting in Richmond, Va. Oct. 16-18. Student pharmacists representing programs from Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia were in attendance. UMES was the recipient of the Chapter Challenge award, going to the most active chapter in the region. Mfon Ekanem, chair of Operation Diabetes, received a regional recognition award for her efforts in educating and screening patients for diabetes on the Eastern Shore. Hillary Schlerf
UMES Concert Choir salutes veterans A prelude to Veteran’s Day, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Concert Choir salutes active United States servicemen and women and veterans at its Sunday, Nov. 8 performance. The 4 p.m. concert takes place in the Ella Fitzgerald Center on UMES’ campus. The 40-member ensemble and special guest, soprano Rita McKinley-Pride of Philadelphia, Pa. are set to deliver stirring renditions of both sacred and secular favorites and excerpts from Mendelssohn’s oratorio, “Elijah.” “It is with tremendous pride that we pay tribute to those who are serving and those who have honorably and selflessly served our country – particularly those who gave the last full measure of devotion,” said Dr. Sheila McDonald Harleston, director. UMES’ choir will also share a presentation “Sights and Sounds of Jamaica,” from the group’s spring performance tour. The concert is free and open to the public. Call 410-651-6571 for more information.
accepted the 2014-2015 Region II Operation Heart award, which highlighted the chapter’s efforts in raising awareness for cardiovascular disease. UMES students were recognized for having served in leadership capacities. Third-year pharmacy student Salematou Traore organized the policy process for the region and was recognized by the American Pharmacists Association for her year of outstanding service as a regional delegate. Geoffrey Saunders and Scott Baker both served as chapter delegates, while chapter president Shannon Riggins was a member of the regional nominating committee.
UMES gourmet dinner tickets on sale Tickets are on sale for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s five-course gourmet dinner Friday, Nov. 13 in the Richard A. Henson Center Ballroom presented by students and faculty of the Hospitality and Tourism Management program. Adventuresome foodies can dine on delicacies such as a jerk alligator tips and fried quail on endive salad with blackberry vinaigrette for appetizers or roasted bison tenderloin for the entrée. Those with a more traditional palate can enjoy the cocktail reception that also includes shrimp, chicken, bruschetta and fruit appetizers along with a bourbon-apple cider pork loin carving station. A local, commemorative craft beer will be introduced during the reception. The entrée, along with the bison, includes a creole curry lobster tail. Dessert is a “decadent passion-glazed sweet potato cheesecake with raspberry sauce.” A champagne toast will be made in honor of active service men and women and veterans. Advanced tickets are required and can be purchased for $50 in person in Room 2100 of the Richard A. Henson Center, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Price includes wine selections to accompany each course. Call 410-651-6563 for more information.
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The Key / November 6, 2015
Calendar
Getting Around Campus
T H E UMES MISSION The University of Maryland Eastern Shore, the state’s historically black, 1890 land-grant institution, has its purpose and uniqueness grounded in distinctive learning, discovery and engagement opportunities in the arts and science, education, technology, engineering, agriculture, business and health professions. UMES is a student-centered, doctoral research degree-granting university known for its nationally accredited undergraduate and graduate programs, applied research and highly valued graduates. UMES provides individuals, including first-generation college students, access to a holistic learning environment that fosters multicultural diversity, academic success, and intellectual and social growth. UMES prepares graduates to address challenges in a global, knowledgebased economy while maintaining its commitment to meeting the workforce and economic development needs of the Eastern Shore, the state, the nation and the world.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Inquiries regarding the application of Federal laws and nondiscrimination policies to University programs and activities may be referred to the Office of the Equity & Compliance/Title IX Coordinator by telephone (410) 651-7848 or e-mail (titleix@umes.edu).
The KEY is published by the Office of Public Relations in the Office of the President 410-651-7580 FAX 410-651-7914 www.umes.edu Editors Gail Stephens, Assistant Director of Public Relations and Publications Manager Bill Robinson, Director of Public Relations Ashley Collier, Public Relations Assistant Design by Debi Rus, Rus Design Inc. Printed by The Hawk Copy Center Submissions to The KEY are preferred via email. All copy is subject to editing.The Key is written according to the Associated Press stylebook.