A Newsletter from The Honors College
Director's Message - 1, 2
Member Report - 3, 4
Alumni Highlight - 5, 8
Assistant Director Feature - 9, 10
Fall '22 Grads & Rewind - 11, 14
Important Dates & Fliers - 15, 22
Welcome back Honors College students! We hope you were able to get some well-deserved rest after an incredibly busy fall semester. The Honors College is here to help as you get back into the swing of things.
One way we are here to support you is through our many events this semester. On the academic side, join us for the Faculty Fellows talk in February. We are so lucky to have Drs. Ciraulo and Kreiner present their fascinating research. The HCSA is hosting social events throughout the semester. You can join them in February for a Game Night. Also, don’t forget that every Wednesday (that we do not have any other event) we host Social Nights from 5:30 - 8 p.m. at the Achauer House with pizza, studying, and games with other Honors College students. Check out the last few pages of the newsletter for more event information.
My best wishes for a great start to the spring semester!
Your Honors Director, Jennifer Varriale Carson, Ph.D.
Jennifer Varriale Carson
My best wishes for a great start to the spring semester!"
We are happy to announce our newsletter is now being sent to our alumni! We hope this is the start of building an Honors College alumni community and will keep you apprised of what is new in our college.
Interested in getting involved in our program? Attend our Faculty Fellows lecture on Feb. 8th, stop by the Achauer House for a tour, or consider a gift. Currently, the Honors College is looking to establish small scholarships for our students and we need your help! Prefer to donate time? Consider participating in one of our professional development nights (next one: March 1st), where students have the opportunity to network with high achieving alums like yourself.
If you are an alum and would like to engage with any of our events, or visit the lovely Achauer House, please let us know. You can reach us at thehonorscollege@ucmo edu with any inquiries.
This year, The Honors College has experienced it's biggest batch of new students post-COVID. Here are the facts!
The following numbers are from the start of summer through the end of fall 2022. In this time, we accepted 113 applications (some current students, others incoming freshman this fall and some incoming freshman for the fall of 2023). We welcomed 20 graduates into Mule Nation, and have 226 currently enrolled Honors College students. We hope to see this growth continue in the next academic year.
QUICK LOOK:
Incoming freshman accepted: 95
Current students accepted: 18
Total applicants accepted: 113
Graduates: 20
Current student total: 226
Bella Hadden, a spring 2022 UCM graduate, has started her career in an amazing way - as a NICU nurse for Children's Mercy Hospital.
Bella took many steps throughout her undergraduate career to prepare for her dream position.
Along with her involvement in The Honors College, Bella was a student athlete, playing on the Jennies golf team throughout her time at UCM. She was an active member of the Student Nursing Organization and a learning assistant for a human physiology lab.
On top of these engagements, Bella worked diligently as a nursing associate in a float pool at KU Med, gaining valuable experience in her field.
With such a rigorous schedule, Bella had to be diligent to maintain her responsibilities. However, she also worked to prioritize her values stating,
"I love being active and spending time around my friends! It can be easy to overbook yourself with your job or school, but it’s most important to schedule time for yourself and the people closest to you."
Following the completion of her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bella immediately launched into her work in the NICU department at Children's Mercy Hospital. While working the night shift, she has been progressing in her training to be a bedside nurse and has grown to love the NICU.
"The best part about working at Children’s Mercy is the variety. The NICU is 84 beds and the only Level 4 unit in the region. Our patients range from micro preemies to patients who stay over a year while they grow big enough for the surgeries they need. Every shift is different, and it’s not in every NICU that you can get out a play mat and play peek-a-boo with your patient!"
As a bedside nurse, Bella explains that her role has the most interaction with patients. She states, "We are with patient's families for 12 hours at a time and are always there to offer support and answer questions. Building trust and rapport with the patient’s family has a huge impact on their mental health during their NICU stay. It is vital for the family to know that they can step away from the bedside and their baby will be safe with us."
Bella's ambition and busy schedule did not stop with graduation. After finishing her night shifts, she spends mornings working on a MBA with a emphasis in Healthcare Administration.
Bella told us, "Never tell yourself no. I read this somewhere a few years ago and it truly changed my life. Apply for the scholarship, apply for that job, ask the person you think is too important to meet with you. Let them be the one to tell you no, and you will be surprised how often you get a yes."
Bella's time in The Honors College was eventful, as COVID-19 interrupted her honors project. Along with her mentor, Dr. Parker Stuart, she was able to adapt her project through the start of the pandemic.
"Dr. Stuart and I researched common misconceptions in the understanding of the cardiovascular system. We proposed a learning progression for nursing students to minimize the development of such misconceptions.
We created an exam testing for these misconceptions to be taken by pre-nursing and nursing students at different stages of their program. But COVID-19 came to the U.S. the week we started collecting data, and my work transitioned to a robust literature review."
"NEVER TELL YOURSELF NO."
While Bella's project did not go according to plan, it was still an impactful experience
"Learning how to efficiently find relevant, peer-reviewed research articles helped with all of my classes. The value of research does not go away after graduation either! I continue to use those skills regularly as a nurse."
Looking back, Bella noted, "Being an Honors College graduate having completed an in-depth research project helped my resume stand out during my interview process "
We will leave you with Bella's favorite quote.
“Do one thing every day that scares you. ”
-Eleanor RooseveltBella, you truly exemplify the Honors College spirit of fearlessly working toward your goals and taking opportunities to learn throughout life. We are so proud and thankful of your service to our community You are doing wonderful things, and we wish you the best as you continue in your education and career!
Join
Dr. Goldstein is an Associate Professor of History with a specialization in modern Germany. His research focuses on the communist dictatorship of East Germany and his classes center on 20th century European history ("mostly wars but also sometimes ABBA" according to him).
As an experienced mentor of two honors projects, Dr. Goldstein has always supported the exploration of students' passions through undergraduate research. Dr. Goldstein has also been a devoted member of our Honors College Advisory Board, assisting in influential program decisions.
In addition to his involvement with our program, Dr. Goldstein is highly involved outside of the classroom. He is currently the faculty sponsor for UCM's History Club and a chairperson for the Academic Program Review Committee.
"Dr. Goldstein embodies our program's values and is going to make an incredible impact on our students. Welcome to the team!" - The HC
What do you hope to bring to HC students?
"I’m here to help students in their intellectual journey, providing guidance and offering help when needed. But I also want to help them feel like they are part of The Honors College community - they have a place here."
What was your college experience with Honors?
"I probably owe my career to my experiences in the HC at the University of Maryland! The seminars, thesis, and community there all ignited my curiosity and challenged me to grow, helping this shy student break out of his shell."
What do you do in your free time?
My wife (who teaches at UCM in the WGS program) and I love all things British: the English Premier League, Great British Bake Off, and Masterpiece Theatre. I also have a soft spot for terrible reality TV, a good book, and hockey "
What is a fun fact about you?
"My cat, Margo, likes crashing my video lectures, to the delight of my students. When I mentioned her name during an in-person lecture, they broke into applause. To be outshone by your pet is a humbling experience, but I don’t blame them!"
Our assistant to assist with Goldstein is y your journey nailing down finding a men need any add advising alon way, Dr. Gold dedicated to s your success.
“My grandfather used to say, 'A day without learning is a day wasted.' It’s a saying that has kept me curious about the world!" - Dr. Goldstein
Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and minor in Computer Science
Project: CyberCentral
Mentor: Dr Belinda Copus
Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English and minors in Technical Writing and Marketing
Project: The Butterfly Effect
Mentor: Dr. Jenny Molberg
Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology PreDental and minor in Business Administration
Project: A Comparison of Effective Strategies to Teach Basic Dental Hygiene to Children and Undergraduates
Mentor: Dr. Parker Stuart
Graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing
Project: COVID-19 and Mental Health
Mentor: Dr. Sarah Hoffmann
This semester, our graduate dinner was attended by all of our graduates, many loved ones, and great support from our UCM family.
"In this room, we have the type of individuals who will leave this world a better place." -
Dr. CarsonOur special guest, Provost Phil Bridgmon, opened our speaking program with words on the importance of turning intelligence into wisdom. Our HC Director, Dr. Jennifer Varriale Carson, regaled us with anecdotes of our graduates and thank-yous to all who helped them on their journey. Director of the Alumni Foundation, Ms. Courtney Goddard, welcomed our students to Mule Nation, and expressed our shared excitement about the possibilities our graduates have laid before them.
Finally, we heard from our student speaker, Kyler Simoncic. Kyler is a former Honors College student worker, and thus has a unique view of our program. He shared insights about his college experience and thanked his family, friends, mentor, and former coworkers for their support.
Thank you to our incredible graduates! Our program exists to support your passions and growth, and you never fail to impress us. We look forward to seeing al that you accomplish To our marvelous faculty, staff, and administrators, we appreciate your hard work an support of our program and students.
"I’ve found that many details from my time here will fade, but how I have been treated, and my interactions with passionate faculty and the new friends I have m will always remain."
-
Kyler Simoncic
The Honors College had a busy fall! Through the dedication of the Achauer House, HCSA Game Night, Professional Development Night, and more - our new office was filled with wonderful students, faculty, administrators, and families.
This semester, our staff was able to engage with students on a new level. Having our own space to host events, both indoor and outdoor, allowed us to connect with people, recruit students, and make the historic house a staple of our program.
We started housing our honors courses in the Achauer House and had new technology installed in our classroom, making the space more equipped. After this spectacular fall, we cannot wait to see what spring will bring!
January
18: HCSA Roller Skating Night
February
8: Faculty Fellows Lecture Series
15: Game Night with HCSA
March
1: Professional Development Night
13: Honors Student Enrollment Opens!
22: HCSA Bowling Night
April
19: HCSA Paint & Sip Night
May
3: Honors Graduate Dinner
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