Robert Wardlow, ’11, Wins Goldwater Scholarship

Robert Wardlow ’12, biochemistry and molecular biology, was among the 275 sophomores and juniors selected this year to receive a Goldwater scholarship. Competition for the scholarships is intense: colleges and universities across the country are only allowed to nominate up to four of their top science and engineering students. Nearly 1,100 students were nominated this year. The scholarships cover the cost of tuition, fees, books and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500. Albert Zhou, a junior majoring in biochemistry, received an honorable mention.

Joby Taylor, Shriver Center, in White House “Champions of Change” Video

The White House has posted a new Peace Corps feature on the “Champions of Change” video site highlighting the reflections of UMBC Shriver Peaceworker Program Director Joby Taylor. In the video, Taylor discusses the importance of integrating service into daily life. His Peace Corps experience taught him that volunteering is not an extra activity you might pursue. Rather it is “a way of being in the world.” Watch Joby’s video and learn more about his experience at whitehouse.gov.

Amy Froide, History, Wins Bing Summer Fellowship

Amy Froide, associate professor of history, was awarded the Bing summer fellowship at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California.

Terry Bouton, History, Wins Mellon Summer Fellowship

Terry Bouton, associate professor of history, was awarded the Mellon summer fellowship at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California.

Piotr Gwiazda, English, Featured on PEN American Center Website

Translations of Grzegorz Wroblewski’s “Kopenhaga,” by Piotr Gwiazda, associate professor of English, are featured on the PEN American Center website.

Stephanie Pully ’12, Environmental Science and History, Receives Award for Civic Engagement

Stephanie Pully ’12, environmental science and history, has been named the first recipient of the new Student Award for Civic Engagement at the 2011 Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Conference. Pully, a service-learning intern with the Shriver Center, has requested that her monetary award, sponsored by the Brotman Financial Group, be given to the College Gardens Youth Program, where she previously served as a volunteer. College Gardens is an after school tutoring and enrichment program for local students that promotes collaboration, teamwork and artistic expression. The conference—first hosted at UMBC by Lori Hardesty and the Shriver Living Learning Center—is being held this year at Stevenson University, and is coordinated through the efforts of the Baltimore Collegetown Network, the Maryland Campus Compact and the Shriver Center at UMBC. After graduation in May 2012, Pully plans to work in a youth- or teaching-focused career in environmental science.

Ellen Handler Spitz, Honors College, to Lead Conference

On Saturday, April 9, Ellen Handler Spitz, Honors College professor of visual arts, will lead a conference at APS, a local chapter of the Division of Psychoanalysis of the American Psychological Association, entitled “Art on the Mind: Creativity, Trauma, and the Psychoanalytic Endeavor.”

At the conference, Spitz will share her reflections on the intricate links that art forges between our internal experience and external realities. The goals of the conference are to help attendees discern some of the means by which art exposes hidden inner wishes and fears, better understand how to psychologically interpret visual Imagery and reflect more meaningfully on the healing power of the arts.

For more information on the conference, visit the APS homepage.

“Kal” at TEDxWarwick and Humor Event

Famed political cartoonist and UMBC artist-in-residence Kevin “Kal” Kallaugher spoke to a standing-room-only crowd at TEDxWarwick on March 5. His presentation video, “The Magic and Power of Caricature” is now online, along with 10 other informative and inspiring talks. See also the event photos on UMBC’s Flickr page.

Kal will also spoke at the Palo Alto Institute’s “Secrets to a Funnier You: The Art and Science of Being Funny” on April 1. The host institution notes that “even though we all know humor is fundamental to our well-being, we don’t always give it the attention it deserves.” Kal and the other speakers offered new perspectives on the importance of humor in daily life.

Three Winter Titles Propel UMBC Into Third Place in America East Commissioner’s Cup Standings

After winning three America East championships during the winter season, UMBC has leapt into third place in the America East Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner’s Cup standings. The Commissioner’s Cup annually recognizes the strongest athletic program in America East as determined by a scoring system which rewards schools for success both during the regular season and at championship competition in the conference’s 20 sports.

UMBC, which was tied for sixth place following the fall season, now ranks third with 187 points. Boston University, which has won five straight Commissioner’s Cups, is in the lead with 284 points and holds a 63-point advantage over Albany, which has 221 points following the six winter championships. New Hampshire (183) is in fourth place, just four points behind UMBC, followed by Stony Brook (178), Binghamton (170), Maine (134), Vermont (131) and Hartford (130).

The Retrievers earned the second-most points (101) of any school during the winter behind the Terriers’ 148. UMBC swept the men’s and women’s swimming and diving title for the third time in the last five years and also earned the most points of any school in women’s basketball (49), winning its first-ever America East regular-season crown and reaching the semifinals of the league championship for the first time since 2007.

Chris Geddes Honored by State Legislators

Chris Geddes, professor of chemistry and biochemistry and director of UMBC’s Institute of Fluorescence, was recognized on March 16 in the Maryland House of Delegates. A resolution was read detailing Geddes’ contributions to education, biotechnology and innovation.