2024 Chellgren Center Alumni Newsletter

F R O M

T H E C H E L L G R E N E N D O W E D C H A I R

What a year this has been! In October, the 2023-24 Class of Chellgren Fellows traveled to Washington, D.C. on what was a historic day for all of us. As with the 2022-2023 Cohort, after the trip, I witnessed this group of students go from individuals to a supportive cohort helping each other grow and achieve their goals. My goal as Endowed Chair and Director remains to provide students with access to a variety of resources and support services designed to help them achieve their academic and personal goals.

In February, we surprised the students with a zoom with Mr. and Mrs. Chellgren. The students were in awe, and for days, they quoted him to us. It was the best class meeting - he instills that we have an obligation and responsibility to give back.

"Someone once told me, you can give with your head, your heart or your wallet. The wallet is sometimes easiest but give with your head, your heart, give your energy and part of yourself to make the organization better and impact them in a positive way."

- Paul W. Chellgren with the 17th class of Chellgren Fellows, Feb. 28, 2024

Mr. Paul Chellgren believes that by investing in these students, a better future will be created for them, for our Commonwealth of Kentucky, for our nation, and the world. With this newsletter, we highlight the accomplishments and the experiences of Fellows, and how they are realizing Mr. Chellgren’s vision for the Center.

Isabel

C. Escobar, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Chellgren Endowed Chair and Director of the Chellgren Center for Undergraduate Excellence

ANNUAL NETWORKING DINNER

Chellgren Fellows, alumni, staff, faculty and friends gathered on October 11 for the Center’s annual networking dinner. Alongside food and fellowship, Dr. Escobar recognized the newly appointed Chellgren Endowed Professors and Faculty Fellows

2023-26

Endowed Professors

Dr. Claire Clark, Medicine

Dr. Jennifer Cramer, Arts & Sciences

Dr. Sarah D’Orazio, Medicine

Dr. Rebekah Radtke, Design

Dr Leon Sachs, Arts & Sciences

2023-24

Faculty Fellows

Dr. Amanda Ellis, Public Health

Dr. Jennifer Osterhage, Arts & Sciences

Dr. Lydia Pelot-Hobbs, Arts & Sciences

THE CHELLOWS GO TO WASHINGTON

On October 25, the 2023 class of Chellows traveled to Washington, D.C. for a day of enrichment. After a 6:10 a.m. flight out of Lexington, the students heard from Tara Yglesias, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation on how to prepare to apply for competitive awards. During a tour of Capitol Hill, the students met with Tiffany Ge, Deputy Chief of Staff to Senator Mitch McConnell and member of the inaugural class of Chellows. It was an exciting day on the Hill, as the group also got to tour Congressman Andy Barr’s office and hear from him on his way to vote for Speaker of the House.

Students had free time in the afternoon to explore the National Mall, National Archives and Smithsonian Museums. At dinner, the group was joined by seven Chellgren alumni to learn about opportunities in D.C. and life after college. A huge thank you to Trevor McNary (class of 2013), Eli Bradshaw (class of 2018), Nicole Blackstone (class of 2018), Shiza Arshad (class of 2014), Claire Kellen (class of 2015), Michael Hamilton (class of 2017), and Faham Hossain (class of 2022) for joining us for dinner. The group then headed to the airport for a 9:00 p.m. flight back to Lexington.

NATIONALLY COMPETITIVE AWARDS

The Office of Nationally Competitive Awards assists all UK students and alumni in applying for external scholarships, fellowships, and other high impact opportunities. We are proud to highlight some of UK’s extraordinary recipients for 2024. Follow us on Instagram for more spotlights: @competitiveawards.

Mechanical engineering and physics major Asa O’Neal was awarded a 2024 Goldwater Scholarship, which recognizes outstanding students planning careers in STEM research. This summer, Asa will intern at NASA and plans to pursue a Ph.D. researching spacecraft propulsion technologies.

Recent mathematical economics graduate Shria Holla was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship to study Hindi in Jaipur, India this summer. Upon her return, she will serve as a research assistant at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Psychology, sociology and philosophy major Rachel Hwang received a Fulbright Canada-MITACS Globalink Research Internship to conduct research this summer with Dr. Jared Wesley, professor of political science at University of Alberta.

Agricultural and medical biotechnology major Ellen Williams was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship to study Bahasa Indonesia this summer in Malang, Indonesia.

Political science and environmental and sustainability studies major Anna Stockstill was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship to study Chinese this summer in Taiwan.

Biology major Emalie Mullane will participate this summer in the Cancer Undergraduate Research Experience at the University of Oklahoma/OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center.

Biomedical engineering major Harrison Yang was awarded a 2024 Goldwater Scholarship. He plans to pursue a career in cancer immunology research.

English major Ella Brown-Terry received a Fulbright Canada-MITACS Globalink Research Internship for the summer to study the native Icelanders of Manitoba with Dr. Andrew McGillivray at the University of Winnipeg.

THANK YOU to the incredible supporters who helped make our second time participating in One Day for UK (the university’s annual fundraising day) a huge success! We raised $11,673 this year to support student travel and won three campus-wide challenges: the 7 a.m. Power Hour, 1865th gift, and Facebook “likes” challenge.

JOIN US ON LINKEDIN!

Connect with more than 240 Chellows (like McKaylee and Joy, left) in our LinkedIn alumni group! Use the QR code below or search “Chellgren Fellows Alumni” on LinkedIn.

R IN REVIEW

Five Chellows presented research at Posters at the Capitol on March 7. Clockwise from top left: Chase Eastham, Rachel Hwang, Shria Holla, Tiffany Clark and Maria Natalia Arenas Flores

Chellows from the class of 2023 traveled to Covington for the solar eclipse on April 8. Lynn’s clever travel snacks included MoonPies, Cosmic Brownies and Orbit gum.

Once a Chellow, always a Chellow! Members of the graduating class of 2024 were recognized at our annual end of year reception on April 16.

CHELLOW SPOTLIGHTS

Recent social work graduate Kotomi Yokokura received the 2024 Singletary Outstanding Senior Award and the 2024 Sullivan Medallion, UK’s highest honor for humanitarian efforts.

Recent computer science and computer engineering graduate Jackson Huse received the 2024 Singletary Outstanding Senior Award.

Electrical engineering and theatre major Hersch Nathan will intern in robotics this summer at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, N.M.

Mechanical engineering major Devin Bester will participate this summer in the Promoting Research Opportunities in Engineering Labs (PROPEL) program at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Biology major Elizabeth Elliott was selected for the Beckman Scholars Program, a 15-month mentored research experience for exceptional undergraduate students. She will investigate the effect of ion channel misexpression on membrane potential and relationship to temperature and extracellular ion concentration within fly models in the lab of biology professor Robin Cooper, Ph.D.

2023-24

CHELLGREN STUDENT FELLOWS

Angel Aguilar

Anaya Ali

Sawyer Arbogast

Maria Arenas Florez

Kiara Baker

Devin Bester

Alexander Branch

Angie Bushroe

Bailey Darbro

Leila Dawson

Elizabeth Elliott

Beaux Hardin

Malena Hughes

JOIN US ON LINKEDIN!

Abigail Humphrey

Anna Melchers

Lordina Mensah

Brady Moore

Leah Moylan

Emalie Mellane

Hersch Nathan

Brayden Nichols

Joy Ntakarutimana

Carlee O’Neal

Charles Petty III

Siena Pilati

Hollings Ruml

Samuel Smith

Amica Snow

Lauren Spencer

Sophia Tseng

Anamei Walli

Olivia Walton

Caleb West

Drew White