In Touch / UMD Incentive Awards Program / Spring 2019

IN TOUCH The Official Newsletter of the Incentive Awards Program SPRING 2019

SETTING THE VISION

Class of 2008 Establishes Scholarship for Graduating Seniors

n cohort 4 The

(2008)

cohort 4 NOW

SETTING THE VISION

Class of ’08 Establishes Scholarship for Graduating Seniors

T

he 10th reunion of the Incentive Awards Program’s Class of 2008 was as much about the graduates celebrating their future as helping the newest generation prepare for theirs.

The program’s fourth cohort hosted an evening meet and greet with IAP seniors last February at the College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, where the older group announced a new scholarship to support a graduating senior entering the workforce or graduate school. The Visionary Award, funded by the class of 2008, is intended to assist an IAP senior with expenses such as a professional wardrobe and entrance exams.

Cohort 4 stands out as the only one to graduate every incoming student. Members attribute their success to the “strong bonds and love” that they share, which “transcend both time and experiences,” said Darian Senn-Carter ’08.

They hope to continue paying forward the gifts they were given and building relationships between older and younger IAP scholars.

“We plan to make this an annual commitment, and we are especially interested in growing the scholarship to include active participation from other alumni to have a bigger impact,” said Shiron Lindsay ’08.

“The idea of a scholarship stems from our goal to support a student who embodies the qualities of our class,” Bridget Blount ’08 said. “We also wanted graduates to understand that the benefits of IAP do not end at graduation.”

Allexxus Farley-Thomas ’18 (pictured at right), the first Visionary Award winner, is now pursuing a master of architecture in the College of Architecture, Art and Planning at Cornell University.

“I want to be an architect to incite change and make a difference in my community,” she said. “Receiving the Visionary Award from Cohort 4 was an honor as well as an affirmation to keep going.”

Allexxus Farley-Thomas ’18 in the architecture studio at Cornell University.

2



IN TOUCH SPRING 2019

LIVING A DREAM ABROAD Recent Graduate Moves to Japan to Teach English

By Ashley Hall ’15

In July 2017, I moved to Japan to start my new career. I live 400 miles north of Tokyo in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, and work at the Hirosaki Board of Education as an assistant language teacher. I visit seven different junior high schools, located on the side of Mt. Iwaki, and teach English with other Japanese teachers. Due to their remote location, the schools I visit are very small, and classes vary from five kids to a maximum of 20.

At first, I thought I would feel alienated or be seen as a “strange foreigner” whom no one would talk to because of my elementary level of Japanese. Fortunately, that was not the case. The teachers and my students are very nice and eager to learn and practice English. They are always excited to talk with me and happy to see a foreigner so interested in their culture. They often give me small gifts and new foods to try. They always encourage me to do my best, and help me with my Japanese studies; they even teach me the local dialect so I can communicate better with my neighbors.

I’ve been told that my students enjoy and are inspired by my own stories of how I was able to achieve my lifelong goal of living in Japan. Many of them want to travel abroad and speak to people in English. I remember all of the people who helped me in life so I want to help my students achieve their goals.

Overall, I love my job and have adapted to my new life. I would not be where I am today without all of the love and support from my family, friends and, of course, teachers. And I can't thank IAP enough for its part in helping me achieve this wonderful opportunity.

Hirosaki is famous for its rich art history, architecture, cherry blossoms and apples. Apple trees and farms are everywhere. Even my schools have their own apple farms! All of the people here are so kind, and the food is simply amazing! I am recognized as a cultural ambassador and participate in traditional Japanese festivals and cultural activities like calligraphy and Taiko.

DONOR THANKS Special thanks to Alison ’69 and Arnold ’69 Richman for hosting a Baltimore luncheon in support of the Incentive Awards Program. To date, invited guests have contributed nearly $225,000 to support current use and endowed scholarships.

SPRING 2019 IN TOUCH



3

STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS From internships and research to study abroad and more, IAP students welcome experiences that enhance their classroom learning and maximize their professional profiles. A new feature of InTouch, Student Spotlights focuses on their pursuits and achievements.

PRIMED FOR THE FUTURE

STOCK REPORT

I’Shea Boyd ’20 Major: Computer Engineering

Olatunji (Tunji) Onigbanjo ’19 Major: Finance

“Last summer, I interned in the Amazon Future Engineer Program. I had the opportunity to live in Phoenix, Ariz. I also participated in an Alexa skills hackathon, which provided support to Seattle Children’s Hospital. While working at Amazon, I discovered my ability to manage complex technical projects and gained confidence in my software developing skills.

For my internship project, I collaborated with a team to create a service that allows a third-party Amazon seller to update their catalogs programmatically.

Working at Amazon increased my desire to join other innovative thinkers who work hard to bring positive change to our world.”

During the summer of 2018, Tunji worked for J.P. Morgan financial services in Newark, Del. Tunji learned new skills in trading and finance, shadowed the vice president of regulatory reporting to learn about trading regulations, and lived on his own. He says, “I gained a lot of knowledge and had a fulfilling experience that will shape my future career in finance.”

Tunji accepted a full-time position in the analytics department within the financial product analytics and sales program at Bloomberg LP. He will relocate to New York City this fall.

HAVING THEIR SWAY Jasmine Braxton ’19 (@jazzz_men) Spent the day at Annapolis representing the University of Maryland, College Park and the Incentive Awards Program (@UMD_IAP) w/@presidentloh FEBRUARY 7, 2019 — 4:03 PM

Pictured, from left: Brian Spates ’22, Jasmine Braxton ’19, Jenniffer Alberti ’21, Daniel Millman ’84, Olatunji Onigbanjo ’19

4



IN TOUCH SPRING 2019

Wallace D. Loh (@presidentloh) Thanks to, and proud of, @UMD_IAP students for coming to meet with elected officials and alumni in Annapolis. You advocated well for student support and #UMD FEBRUARY 7, 2019 — 6:13 PM

FAST-TRACKING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL UMD offers accelerated programs for ambitious students who want to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years or less. By incorporating graduate courses into their undergraduate curriculum, students complete an advanced degree in a fraction of the time and cost. Here are three IAP seniors who took this route.

BROADCASTING IAP Miguel Turcios ’20 was a guest on El Zol, a commercial FM radio station that broadcasts a Spanish tropical music format. Together with Cynthia Martinez, director of brand marketing at the University of Maryland, he discussed the program, its value, application procedures and his medical school aspirations.

He also spoke about how younger students can prepare themselves for a better future. The recorded interview aired in December.

Katherine Medina ’19 Major: Accounting, Minor in Asian American Studies “After being an audit intern at the Federal Reserve’s Office of Inspector General, I became interested in auditing because of its importance and impact in our world. I want to expand my knowledge in this area and decided to do so through the Plus One Program for a master’s in accounting.”

Jahi Jones ’19 Major: Accounting and Supply Chain Management “Today, companies are using data to make useful predictions to further their organizations. I believe a master’s degree in business analytics from the Robert H. Smith School of Business will allow me to develop a niche that will provide me with the tools that I can use throughout my professional career.”

GROWING IN PRIDE AND PERSPECTIVE Matilda Saines ’20 is a scholar in the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, which prepares undergraduates from underrepresented backgrounds to enter graduate school. Through the program, Matilda travelled to Ghana for nine days in August. The students visited major cities such as Accra, Tema, Kumasi and Cape Coast. In every city, they explored cultural geographical aspects, spoke with the locals and participated in service activities such as painting a school. Matilda says, “Going to Ghana helped me to strengthen my pride in my African ancestry, and it opened my eyes to unfamiliar history and another way of life.”

Jasmine Braxton ’19 Major: Criminology and Criminal Justice, African American Studies “As a first-generation student from Baltimore City, criminal justice, housing and educational policies made it difficult for my family to live a stable life. My coursework thus far as a criminal justice and African American studies major exposed me to the impact public policies can have on the well-being of families and communities. I knew the joint bachelor of arts/ master’s in public policy program in the School of Public Policy was right for me because it provides the resources and mentorship to improve my quantitative and analytical skills needed to deal with issues raised by inequality.”

SPRING 2019 IN TOUCH



5

AN UNLIKELY PAIRING OF TALENTS At a very young age, Tyasia Velines ’16 developed a passion for computers, gadgets, singing and art. So while attending a Baltimore City middle school focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), Tyasia also performed in school musical productions. Then they went on to attend Baltimore School for the Arts.

As a theatre major, Tyasia worked parttime during their senior year as an IT assistant and, after graduating, continued in that role during the day.

In the evenings and on weekends, they worked at Round House Theatre, in Bethesda, Md.

Tyasia Velines ’16 (center) from the production “Mack, Beth” at Keegan Theatre.

Above photo by Cameron Whitman. Inset photo by Teresa Castracane.

MUSICAL JOURNEY LEADS BACK TO ITS FIRST NOTE

Since graduating, Tyasia has worked and collaborated with various theaters, collectives and independent playwrights in the D.C. metro area. Last fall, they had the opportunity to create and record sounds for a full production and were hired as an IT coordinator at Maryland. “These are two different paths I have been walking on my whole life,” Tyasia says.

Carlos Howard’s ’16 musical ambitions took root at Northwestern High School in Prince George’s County, where he was a member of multiple choirs. But his love for classical music—and an unexpected career path— developed when he arrived at Maryland in 2010 to pursue a bachelor of music in voice performance.

“I was exposed to a whole new world,” Howard says. “It felt like the right place for me to be.”

He was part of the University of Maryland Chamber Singers and the Opera Chorus in the Maryland Opera Studio. Eventually, the administrative aspect of the performing arts captured his attention.

marketing and public relations department, Howard returned to the University of Maryland.

He now works as a marketing communications coordinator in the College of Arts and Humanities, supporting the performing arts at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.

“Marketers rarely have the opportunity to be a part of the art they’re promoting. Being a part of the performing arts and being able to promote it gives me a unique and valuable perspective, and now I am back to where it all started,” Howard says. “I'm extremely grateful for my Maryland education and am thrilled to serve the university.”

“It really energized me and inspired me to challenge myself in new ways. I was given a series of great opportunities to explore the field within the School of Music,” he says.

“By my final year, I was employed full time by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra as part of its marketing team.”

After working for a professional choir, Seraphic Fire, in Miami, for which he established its first

6



IN TOUCH SPRING 2019

Carlos (third row, second from right) with the University of Maryland Chamber Singers.

CLASS NOTES Ima (Bassey) Ibidapo ’05 is an adjunct professor at Morgan State University teaching political science.

She also manages clients as an immigration attorney.

Essence Jordan ’05 is a police officer with the Pentagon Force Protection Agency. She also has a successful home-based business and is training to become a certified transformation coach.

James Brockington ’06 is the assessment specialist for secondary schools for the Baltimore City Public School System.

Ja-Neé (Jackson) Spencer ’06 is the owner of Peaceful Minds Health Services, a mental health service provider with office space in the Westport/Brooklyn neighborhood of south Baltimore.

Latoya Felder ’07 is a doctoral student in marriage and family therapy at Northcentral University and a family services specialist at the Center for Urban Families, where she does intensive case management to help couples stay together.

Ashley (Lawrence) Brooks ’11 got married last August. She has been a kindergarten teacher in Baltimore City for four years.

Robyne Rivers '11 successfully defended her dissertation and graduated with a Doctor of Psychology from Argosy University last October.

She has a post-doctoral position at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she administers various assessments, provides individual therapy, and does crisis intervention/ management for undergraduate and graduate students, among several other duties.

Anna Kalmykov ’08 is pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University.

Bridget Blount ’08 is the integrated data system director with the nonprofit Baltimore’s Promise.

Korede Oladapo ’09 is an IT technician for S&P Global (formerly known as McGraw Hill Financial).

Dominic Smith ’09 works for the U.S. Department of Defense and lives in southern Virginia. He also started a real estate investing company.

Randal (Brewer) Williams ’09 welcomed baby Steven Levi Williams, weighing 7 pounds 10 ounces, on Oct. 28, 2018. She and her husband, Steve, “are very in love and very tired!”

Randal completed a master’s degree in information technology from Towson University last May. Keiyonna Brooks ’10 earned a master of science in digital forensics and cyber investigation from University of Maryland University College. She is currently working on a security+ certification.

Lamara Johnson ’12 earned a master of education in school counseling from Bowie State University and works at Annapolis Road Academy Alternative High School in Bowie, Md. Kimberly Jordan ’12, a preschool teacher at the Bryn Mawr School, received the prestigious “37–45” award during its Founder’s Day Celebration to honor her service.

Djuan Short ’12 is a clinical coordinator (STEP social worker) for the School District of Philadelphia, at West Philadelphia High School. In her spare time, she is training to be a yoga teacher/yoga therapist.

James Bowman ’13 is a senior development accountant for the Corporate Office Properties Trust company in Columbia. He plans to start an MBA program in the fall.

Juan Peralta ’13 is a consultant at Accenture in Arlington, Va. He married Kaylynn Smoot last October.

Tamicka Smithson ’13 is working toward a master’s degree in clinical counseling psychology from Capella Online. She is a claims specialist with the Metropolitan Police Department and a fellow in its Police for Tomorrow Fellowship Program, and has a nonprofit organization that offers scholarships to college-bound Baltimore City high school seniors.

Victoria Gold ’14 received a master of health care administration and MBA from University of Maryland University College.

Rhonda (Roach) ’14 and Hamza Idris ’15 welcomed a baby girl, Amirah, to their family last June.

Davian Morgan ’14 completed the first semester of a doctoral program in leadership and learning in organizations at Vanderbilt University.

He teaches third grade at Ingenuity Prep Public Charter School and founded a nonprofit organization, Hopeful HoriSONS, to support AfricanAmerican boys living in low-income neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. Catherine Sayikanmi ’14 is pursuing a master of public health at the University of Pennsylvania.

Kendra Browne ’15 graduated with a master of science in speech language pathology from Howard University and is a speech language pathologist at three schools in the Kemp Mill/Takoma Park areas of Maryland.

Lenaya Stewart ’15 was recently promoted to program manager in the Office of Extended Studies at the University of Maryland.

Candace Cooke ’16 is a Literacy Lab interventionist and tutor adviser at Garrison Elementary School in Washington, D.C. Gerard Dailey ’16 is a District Court commissioner at the Maryland Judiciary. He determines the eligibility for pretrial release and sets the conditions for defendants who have been arrested.

Alecia Frye ’16, a second-year law student at Syracuse University, was accepted into the Advocacy Honor Society, made the Trial and Appellate teams and works as a student attorney.

Joshua Trowell ’16 presented two research abstracts about the epidemiology of Hepatitis C and fatty liver disease in San Francisco last November.

He is pursuing a master of public health at the University of Liverpool.

Esther Ekanem ’17 is a systems engineer at Northrop Grumman.

Josue Mendoza ’17 completed an eight-month-long police academy with the Prince George’s County Police Department. He joined the Bureau of Patrol as a patrol officer.

SPRING 2019 IN TOUCH



7

INCENTIVE AWARDS PROGRAM SUZANNE G. AND MURRAY A. VALENSTEIN BALTIMORE INCENTIVE AWARDS PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY INCENTIVE AWARDS

1103 Cole Field House 4090 Union Drive College Park, MD 20742

To learn more about or to support the Incentive Awards Program, please contact Jacqueline W. Lee, director, at jwl@umd.edu or 301.405.9024.

facebook.com/UMIAP twitter.com/UMD_IAP instagram.com/UMD_IAP Check out our new site: umincentiveawards.umd.edu

CLASS NOTES William Ramirez ’17 is an order engineer at Flowserve, one of the nation’s largest suppliers of industrial and environmental machinery.

Jasmine Thomas ’17 is earning a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Kaila Williams ’17 is an operations coordinator at Under Armour for the Armour Box subscription service and coaches track and field at Western High School, her alma mater. She will begin a master of physical therapy degree program at Temple University this fall.

Jordan Dantzler ’18 is a technology analyst for Accenture in Arlington, Va.

Juan Herrera ’18 is a news assistant for WMAL Radio in Washington, D.C. Chukwuma Odigwe ’18 works on drone research as a systems engineer for the Federal Aviation Administration.

Ladeja Robinson ’18 is a manufacturing engineer at Northrop Grumman.

Zalandria Spann ’18 is a tax accountant at Ernst & Young.

Yonas Woldeab ’18 is a firstyear student at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.

SAV E T H E D AT E 19TH ANNUAL S WEDNESDAY, M

PRING RECEPTIO

AY 8, 4-6 P.M.

| UNIVERSITY HO

N

USE