News & Events Archive

Janine Saliba Named Clinton Scholar! (04/09/2008)
Honors student, Janine Saliba, was one of ten students nationwide named to be a William J. Clinton Scholar to study at the American University in Dubai this summer.  The scholarship was named after the nation’s 42 nd president and includes tuition for nine credit hours and housing.

Miami’s Mock Trial Team Place 3rd in Nation! (04/08/2008)
Miami’s top mock trial team finished in an impressive third place at the national championship competition in Minneapolis over the weekend of April 4-6.  Seven of the eight members of the team are also members of the University Honors Program.  One honors student, Tom Jeffcoat, was named All-American attorney.  Miami’s coach, Dr. Dan Herron, who is also an honors faculty member, was inducted into the AMTA Coaching Hall of Fame. 

Jason Young, Harrison Scholar, Wins Competition at the Association of American Geographers. (04/08/2008)
Congratulations to Jason who won the master’s/undergraduate student paper competition of the qualitative methods specialty group of the AAG.  He will be awarded a $500 prize for his paper titled “Political Space and Indigenous Power: A Case Study of the Maijuna.”

Iordan Ganev Wins Goldwater Scholarship!(04/04/2008)
Iordan Ganev, a Harrison Scholar and mathematics major, has been named a 2008 winner of the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. This national scholarship honors students who demonstrate excellence in science, mathematics or engineering.  Iordan intends to use his scholarship to conduct research in mathematical models and applications in environmental sciences.

Harrison Scholars Professor, Yildirim Dilek, Receives Major Honor (03/19/2008)
Dr. Dilek, the mentor for the upper-class Harrison Scholars, has been selected to serve on the prestigious scientific board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).  He will serve as theme leader in the field of solid earth geophysics. 

Four Honors & Scholars Students Win State Titles at Forensics Championship! (03/19/2008)
Max Kirby (dramatic interpretation), Lisa Farinella (after-dinner speaking), Elizabeth Miller (dramatic duo) and Tylor Orme (extemporaneous speaking) secured state titles at the recent Ohio Forensics Association Championship held on February 15-16 at Ohio State University.  Kudos to these outstanding students! 

Honors Students Head to National Mock Trial Championship (03/12/2008)
Four Honors students—Gus Lazares, Whitney Benson, Jared Grondin and Aly Bancroft—have secured their place at the national mock trial championship competition.  Miami University’s Collegiate Mock Trial Team competed in the Hamilton National Tournament held at the Butler County Government Services Center on March 7-9, beating out Harvard University and University of Michigan, to advance to the national championship tournament in April.  Gus Lazares was named all tournament attorney.  Congratulations, and good luck at nationals!!

Honors & Scholars and Mock Trial: A Marriage Made in.....Court? Click here to read more.

Honors students take prizes in contest! (02/12/2008)
Almost one third of the winners in the recent Miami University Human Rights and Social Justice Writing Contest were Honors students.  Susan Dirr and Jason Young won in the research paper category; Ben Everly won in the photo essay category.  Shireen Baghestani and Kyle A. Wright won in the op-ed commentary category.  Kyle also won in the category for electronic media, and Paul Morrow won for his creative writing submission.  Congratulations!

Honors student presents at national and international conferences! (01/28/2008)
Amy Bergseth received an honors grant to present a paper at the 2008 Biennial Convention of Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honors Society, entitled “Lunatic Fringes & Incessant Funding Crises.” Her presentation explored the work of D’Arcy McNickle, one of the most prominent American Indian activists of the 20th-century.   Amy also received another grant to present a paper on Spiderwoman Theatre at the 29th American Indian Workshop Conference in Tromso, Norway.  Kudos to Amy!

Four Honors students create local food guide (01/28/2008)
Along with their two faculty advisors, Charlie Stevens and Tom Klak, four honors students (Heather Hillenbrand, Whittney Barth, Ben Menker and John Obrycki) have received an honors grant to develop a guide to help local Oxford community members identify local food producers. 

Rebekah Farrar received a Freeman Award for Study in Asia (01/28/2008)
Honors student Rebekah Farrar recently received a Freeman Award for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA). The primary goal of the Freeman-ASIA Awards is to increase the number of U.S. undergraduates who study in East and Southeast Asia by providing them with the information and financial assistance they need. Farrar, of Columbus, is a senior majoring in French with a music performance minor. >>

Two H&S Alternative Spring Break Trips Planned! (01/16/2008)
The H&S staff will be leading two different alternative spring break and service trips this semester—one to Broward County, Florida to rehabilitate houses and the other to East Tennessee to construct a new nature trail.  For more information, contact Debra Stanley at stanleda@muohio.edu.

Our First Cambridge Junior Fellows! (01/15/2008 )
Heather Hillenbrand and Timothy Webster are the first students to be selected for our new Cambridge Junior Fellows Program.  This program allows students to live in Cambridge and study at the Department of Biological Anthropology at the University of Cambridge.  We wish Heather and Tim a wonderful time in England!

Brett Roeth publishes article! (01/08/2008)
Junior Honors student and architecture major, Brett Roeth recently had his article, “Paolo Soleri and a New American Social Order,” published in the fall 2007 issue of the academic journal, crit64.  This article forms the basis of his upcoming honors thesis.

Honors Student Wins Prestigious Travel Grant. (01/08/2008)
Congratulations to Eric Frey, a senior Honors student and physics major, who received an award to attend the joint meeting of the Biophysical Society and the International Biophysics Congress in Long Beach, CA in February. Recipients of this competitive award are selected based on scientific merit, with priority given to those who will present a paper at the conference. Frey will present "Fluorescence-based Calcium-ion Sensing at High Hydrostatic Pressures." Eric is one of 53 students internationally to receive the award.

NEW! Workshop Series On Life After Miami. (12/20/2007)
Honors & Scholars students are cordially invited to participate in a series of workshops on life after Miami.  The series will be offered in the spring semester and will focus on various topics such as creating an effective resume, communicating for leadership and influence, and selecting an appropriate graduate or professional school.  Workshops will be led by experts at Miami and in the community.

Harrison Scholar and geography major, Jason C. Young, receives prestigious research grant from the Rufford Foundation in the United Kingdom. (12/20/2007)
Congratulations to Jason who is currently a junior.  He will work with Dr. Michael Gilmore of the University of Oklahoma, Mr. Romero Rios Ushiñahua (president of the Federation of Maijuna Communities), and Mr. Sebastián Ríos Ochoa (president of the Sucusari Maijuna Community).  During the spring and summer of 2008, the research team plans to use participatory mapping as a tool for nature conservation in Peru.

New Policy for Study Abroad Approved (10/12/2007)
New Policy for Study Abroad Approved:  University Honors students who engage in a rigorous study abroad experience can now apply to have that experience count for either Category A or Category B credit.  For more information, see the Honors Program Blackboard site.

Honors Ambassador Program (10/12/2007)
Fifty Honors & Scholars Students Involved as Ambassadors!  Over 50 current Honors & Scholars students have volunteered to assist with a variety of recruitment efforts for the Honors & Scholars Program this year—demonstrating their desire to give back to the program and the Miami community.

NEW! Bishop Fellows Program (10/02/2007)
New Bishop Fellows Program instituted!  University Honors and Scholars students now have the opportunity to serve as peer mentors.  Students selected are trained to offer basic guidance and advice on Honors & Scholars opportunities and requirements.

Honors student wins Rotary Ambassadorial scholarship (10/02/2007)
University Honors student Shelly Alpeter has been awarded a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship. The scholarship provides funding for study abroad, and aims to promote goodwill and understanding between peoples of different nations. Throughout its history, the Ambassadorial Scholarships have awarded more than $500 million, allowing study in more than 70 countries around the world.

H&S Service Day - Help Make a Difference! (9/28/2007)
The first Honors and Scholars Service Day of 07-08 will be held on Friday afternoon, September 28, from 1-4. Students will work with the Three Valley Conservation Trust to begin cleaning up Ruder Preserve and the area around the Four Mile Creek Bridge. Interested students should contact Deb Stanley (stanleda@muohio.edu).

Honors Students Volunteer in Tanzania (09/17/2007)
University Honors student Lynn Bahret and Oxford Scholar Charlotte Sherman both volunteered as English teachers in Tanzania this past summer. The trip was sponsored by the African School Advancement Program, a student organization founded in 2004. Eight other Miami students also participated.

Harrison Professor, Yildirim Dilek, receives GSA Distinguished Service Award (09/10/2007)
The award recognizes individuals for exceptional service. Dilek has made significant contributions to GSA's publications program as co-editor and editor of the Geological Society of America Bulletin, editor of three GSA books, and currently as books acquisition editor.>>

Undergraduate Research at Miami: Summer 2007 (07/12/2007)
University Honors students take part in research projects on campus and abroad.

  • Heather Hillenbrand is spending her summer in Ireland conducting research on the effects of the Black Death on the Irish population in the 14 th century. By combining the fields of anthropology and archaeology, Heather will be identifying the direct traces of this disease on its victims while recording the burial treatment of the individuals and their burial items affected by the Black Death.
  • Christopher Collier is conducting research as an Undergraduate Summer Scholar in Dr. Hongcai Zhou’s laboratory. In collaboration with other researchers, Chris is working to synthesize metal-organic frameworks that have high hydrogen gas adsorption.
  • John Obrycki is combining elements from his two majors, environmental studies and history, in his Undergraduate Summer Scholars project, “Documenting Change in Ohio’s Century Farms.” In an effort to preserve the agricultural heritage of the Century Farms, John is interviewing families that have had working farms in that region for more than 100 years.
  • Elizabeth Cable was selected to conduct research focusing on the ecology of human-dominated landscapes in a 10-week program. This program offers 12 academic credit hours with tuition waived, a $4000 stipend, on-campus housing, and travel expenses to attend the Ecological Society of America annual meeting to its participants. She is currently working with faculty mentor Dr. Mike Vanni from the department of zoology.

Frey receives $10,000 from Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (06/07/2007)
Eric Frey, a University Honors student, was awarded $10,000 from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation for his work on a biophysics research project with faculty mentor Paul Urayama (physics). This scholarship is given in recognition of leadership skills, academic achievement, and a pioneering spirit. Eric plans to pursue a doctorate in biophysics.

French and Italian presents student awards (04/25/2007)
In a ceremony on April 25 th, the French and Italian departments recognized outstanding undergraduate students. University Honors students Sean Lair, James Phero, and Matthew Hebebrand received undergraduate Italian awards. University Honors students Sara Hathaway and Kelsey Fenn received undergraduate French awards. William Marion Miller French Scholarships were given to Honors students Mikaela Adams, Daniel Beck, Lauren Fleming, and Paul Morrow. Lastly, Shelly Alpeter, Jennifer Clark, and Janine Saliba were recognized for their outstanding scholarship and service in the French department.

Searching for Lost Miami Honors Students! (3/27/2007)
Miami began its University Honors Program in 1961 under the direction of President John Millett.  Over 200 students enrolled in the program that first year, and literally thousands of other students have joined the program since then.  Unfortunately, we do not have accurate records of students who were in the program between 1961 and 1984. 

If you were in the University Honors Program during that time, we want to know!  We want to know who you are, hear your reflections, and let you know more about our program.  >>

Honors students receive President's Distinguished Service Award (03/27/2007)
Three University Honors students--Paul Wagoner, Anne Smart and Stephanie Spoelstra--are recipients of the 2007 President's Distinguished Service Award, the highest service award offerd by Miami University.  They will be honored in a special ceremony on April 15, 3:00 pm at Kumler Chapel.

Honors alum, Megan Brophy, wins prestigious Fellowship (03/27/2007)
2006 Honors alum, Megan Brophy, wins prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship.  This award is given to approximately 40-50 students in the nation who are in their first, second or third year of medical school.  Recipients receive $4000 for support of their proposed research project. Megan began her medical research when she was an Honors student at Miami.  She  participated in our Urban Leadership Internship Program and studied under Dr. Huiyun Xiang at the Center for Injuory Research and Policy at Columbus Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health.  She is currently a first-year medical student at OSU, studying under Dr. Xiang.  Congratulations, Megan!

Students present research at state conference (03/22/2007)
Three University Honors students participating in Student Achievement in Research and Scholarship—Mary Lewis, Annemarie McCartney, and Samantha Schalk—presented their work during the annual state conference in March at Bowling Green University. This endeavor aims to prepare high-achieving, underrepresented students to become future college faculty. Below is a list of these student’s research titles and faculty mentors.

  • Mary Lewis, English literature and Black World Studies, “German Feminism: Past and Present,” Cheryl Johnson (English, Women’s Studies)
  • Annemarie McCartney, Zoology, “Growth factors involved in the regulation of neurons and glial cells in the rat spinal,” Lori Isaacson (Zoology)
  • Samantha Schalk, Creative writing and Women’s Studies, “Upham Action: Planning and Training for Public Activism,” Kathy McMahon-Klosterman (Educational Psychology)

Microbiology students receive awards and scholarships (03/06/2007)
University Honors senior Christopther Shoemaker and freshman Lisa Farinella received the Orton K. Stark microbiology department awards on March 6th. In addition to this award recognition, Honors students Michael Kerr and Kelly Haas were presented with the Dr. and Mrs. Bhattacharjee scholarships.

Goldman Prize winner to study second language acquisition of Ndau (02/08/2007)
Kathryn Fennig, a University Scholar student, was the recipient of the 2007 Joanna Jackson Goldman Memorial Prize, one of the largest undergraduate awards in the country. Kathryn will be spending the next 10 months conducting research in Mozambique, home to millions of Ndau speakers, in an effort to understand language acquisition of this African dialect by speakers of English and Portuguese. This prize is values at approximately $26,000.

Theatre Students take first place in regional competition (01/13/2007)
University Honors student, Bryan Schmidt, took home top honors in a Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) regional competition. Bryan, a senior theater major from Maineville, won first place in the O’Neill Theatre Critic’s Institute and therefore received an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. to represent the region at the KCACTF in April. This is the first time a Miami University Honors Student was selected to represent the region since 1997.

Kevin Gniazdowski, Oxford Scholar, wins writing contest! (01/03/2007)
Kevin Gniazdowski, freshman Oxford Scholar, won for his project "Necessary Chaos". Kevin competed with 30 other contestants. >>

The Harrisons are back from New Orleans (10/18/2006)
Last weekend, the first-year Harrison Scholars took learning outside of the classroom and gained valuable life-lessons through their experience in New Orleans. They saw the devastation of Katrina, helped to gut the houses of flood victims, learned about the ecology of the Louisiana swamps, ate cajun food, experienced creole culture, and yes.... even had some fun on Bourbon Street! See the photos >>

Honors student Mikaela Adams writes an award winning paper
(10/18/2006)
A paper that began as an assignment in her Honors anthropology course, "Going Indian in Oklahoma," went on to win the CSAS Undergraduate Student Paper Award. >>
Kate Ronald Wins Teaching Award (8/18/2006)
Ronald, who is a regular Honors course instructor, has been named the first recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award for Excellence in Graduate Instruction. >>
Sara Owens Receives Science Scholarship (8/17/2006)
Sara Owens, Oxford Scholar, is one of 15 outstanding students in Ohio to be awarded the Ohio Academy of Science scholarship. >>

Congratulations Rachel Chase! (8/17/2006)
Rachel Chase, Harrison Scholar, was recently appointed as the newest student trustee on Miami's board of trustees. >>
Emily Garritson receives Hollings Scholarship (8/12/2006)
Emily Garritson, junior Honors Program student, has been awarded an Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship. >>
 
 
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