The Omicron Delta Kappa
Spring 2015
LEADER
“To Recognize Leaders Among Leaders”
OMICRON DELTA KAPPA DRIVE-IN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
EDWARD ST. JOHN LEARNING AND TEACHING CENTER
By Renuka Tripu, Sigma Circle Public Relations Coordinator
By Julia Wainger, Sigma Circle Member
he cold never bothered us anyway! Despite the snowstorm, the Sigma Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa had the honor to host the regional Drive-In Conference for 2015. Drive-In conferences bring together
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hanks to Edward St. John, a Class of 1961 Maryland alumnus and founder of St. John Properties, a commercial real estate company, students will soon have access to a high tech classroom facility intended for collaborative learning. St. John generously do-
Former ODK Sigma Circle officer and current national board member, Jesse Chen, delivers the keynote at the ODK Drive-In
Artist's rendering of the interior of the Edward St. John Learning and Teaching Center
circles from various universities in a region for a day of collaboration and networking. Faculty advisors, officers, and students from regional circles are invited to attend the all-
nated the ten million dollar naming gift, jump-starting construction that will finish in December 2016. To make room for the 95,800 square feet project, Shriver Hall and part of
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Teaching Center continued on page 3
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IN THIS ISSUE OF THE LEADER... • • • • • •
OMICRON DELTA KAPPA DRIVE-IN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE EDWARD ST. JOHN LEARNING AND TEACHING CENTER FALL 2014 FALL INDUCTEES SPRING 2015 ODK CLASS 2014 DONORS DOING BUSINESS IN CHINA WITH STUDY ABROAD
• • • • • • •
ODK ONLINE SILENT AUCTION SIGMA CIRCLE’S LEADER OF THE YEAR: CARA HAMEL CATCHING UP WITH ODK SCHOLARSHIP WINNER, CHRIS RILEY ODK INTRODUCES NEW STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD “LIGHT UP THE MALL” FUNDRAISER STEWARD OF THE FOUNTAIN ALUMNI UPDATES
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE SIGMA CIRCLE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
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The Omicron Delta Kappa
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Message from the President Greetings ODKers am so excited for all the awesome things we have going on this semester! We have a great calendar of events planned. On April 19th the Sigma Circle will participate in the ODK National Day of Service by doing bamboo removal and stream cleanup in College Park. We are also excited to host our annu-
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The Omicron Delta Kappa
LEADER OMICRON DELTA KAPPA SIGMA CIRCLE 2014-2015 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
KHALIL PETTUS
RENUKA TRIPU
President
Public Relations Coordinator
CARA HAMEL
ALEX WILSON
Vice President
Membership Coordinator
TONY BELTON
PRANEET PUPPALA
Communications Coordinator
Webmaster & Social Media
EMILY FRAIK
BROOKE SUPPLE
Philanthropy & Community Service Coordinator
Faculty Secretary
ALEX BROSEKER
Faculty Advisor
SUE BRIGGS Events Coordinator
SARAH NIEZELSKI Historian
SIGMA CIRCLE OF OMICRON DELTA KAPPA University of Maryland 2108 Mitchell Building College Park, MD 20742 www.odk.umd.edu
al “Fun at the Fountain” on Maryland Day. Finally, we will continue our ODK Mentoring Initiative, pairing current ODK members with dedicated freshmen. Earlier this semester, the Sigma Circle was proud to host the ODK Drive-In Conference. The conference was a great opportunity to showcase the Sigma Circle to the other neighboring circles in the region! Being elected as President of the Sigma Circle has been one of the greatest honors of my undergraduate career. Nothing makes me more proud than being able to work alongside Maryland’s best and brightest “leaders among leaders.” As the academic year comes to an end, I’m amazed at post-graduation plans of some of our current Sigma Circle members. After graduation, Sigma Circle members will go on to pursue the job of their dreams on Wall Street, go to Medical School, and go study at the University of Oxford as a prestigious Rhodes Scholar!
This spring we will induct 45 new members (including 40 undergraduates) to the Sigma Circle! I’m very excited for the newest crop of student leaders we’ve selected to represent the Sigma Circle. As I write this letter, it saddens me that this will be my last welcome address as President of the Sigma Circle. With elections upcoming, I’m excited for our underclassmen members to take on leadership opportunities within the Sigma Circle. It has been my absolute honor and pleasure to serve as President of the Sigma Circle. The other officers and I are looking forward to serving out the final months of our term. I hope to see you at one of the many events we have planned this semester! Many Thanks, Khalil Pettus ODK Sigma Circle President
Leadership Conference from page 1 day conference. On February 21st, the Sigma Circle hosted the conference in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union and welcomed circles from Virginia Commonwealth University, Washington & Lee University, Virginia Military Institute, Miami University of Ohio, University of Maryland Baltimore County, and the University of Richmond. Although our day had to end early due to the snow, the program was filled with collaboration and new ideas to improve each circle. The first portion of the day included introductions and a speech from Keynote Speaker, Jesse Chen. Jesse is a 2008 alumnus of the Sigma Circle, served as its Vice President his
Printed on recycled paper with soy ink.
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senior year, and is now on the National Board of Directors for ODK . Currently, he is the founder and CEO of Powerline, a platform that provides community activists a way to mobilize action in their communities. He gave an empowering talk on “new power” which detailed how power has shifted from being held by few, to being peer-driven and in the hands of many, in large part thanks to advances in technology and social media. Groups then engaged in leadership roundtables, where members of different circles discussed how ODK operates at their respective Continued on page 4
The Omicron Delta Kappa
LEADER
Message from the Faculty Secretary Greetings from College Park! hat a crazy winter we have had on campus!! In College Park, we always seem to be on the dreaded snow/sleet/rain/ice line which has resulted in lots of delayed openings. We are definitely ready for spring!! Speaking of bad weather… On a snowy Saturday in February we were honored to host the ODK Regional Drive-In Conference with about 50 students and faculty advisors from Circles around the region. Coordinated by the ODK National Office, the event featured a keynote speech by Sigma Circle alum Jesse Chen, roundtable discussions among leaders, and StrengthsQuest facilitation by Sigma Circle Voting Faculty members Ramsey Jabaji and Daniel Ostick. Despite the slippery drive home, a great time was had by all. The Drive-In was followed on Sunday by our selection meeting. Our officers dubbed it an “ODKrazy” weekend! We had an-
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Teaching Center from page 1 Holzapfel Hall are being demolished. The mall entrance of Holzapfel will remain in order to preserve the design of McKeldin Mall. In their place will be a 114 million dollar building with LEED Silver certification and many interactive classrooms. In fact, this is the first building constructed for the sole purpose of creating classrooms in 50 years. The classrooms ranging in size from 42 seats to 328 seats, will feature emerging learning technolo-
other enormous applicant pool this spring. President Khalil Pettus ran a smooth, efficient selection process. We had 259 undergraduate and graduate applicants. From that pool, the General Body selected 40 undergrads, two graduate students, and three faculty and staff for induction into Sigma Circle. It was a marathon event, but all voting occurred online which made it a more comfortable six hour meeting! Tapping was in early March and we are planning for induction on Sunday, April 12 at 3:00 pm in the Chapel. We are honored the ODK Executive Director Tara Singer will be joining us for this spring’s induction. In addition, our Vice President and brand new Colonel J. Logan Schutz ODK Leader of the Year Cara Hamel, led the Sigma Circle through the second year of our mentoring program “TMT: Terps Mentoring Terps.” ODK mentors were paired with freshmen mentees at a kick-off event in early March and continue to offer guidance and support all spring! As in years past, we have selected our ODK Top Ten Freshmen and Sophomore Leader of the Year. These individuals will be announced at the University Awards Banquet on Sunday, April 26th. We had a record
number of applications this spring and were able to select truly the “leaders among leaders” for these awards. Thanks to ODK Vice President Cara Hamel for running another effective selection process. As the spring semester moves along, I hope you will mark your calendars to join us on Saturday, April 25th from 10:00 am-4:00 pm for Maryland Day 2015. Thanks to Sigma Circle members Susan and Bob Goldberg, we will have more red and black floating turtles in the fountain. Come out and see us for Fun at the Fountain! As always, please keep us informed of any changes to your contact information and provide us with updates about your lives. Visit www.odk.umd.edu to update us electronically. If you are willing and able, please support our activities and events by making a gift to the Sigma Circle. See the enclosed envelope for more information. Enjoy the remainder of the spring and we hope to see you at Maryland Day!
gies. The merging of lecture-style learning with modern day advanced technology will offer students a new way to learn and retain material. This will be particularly beneficial to freshmen and sophomore students, who take a course-load with many large lectures. Additionally, the building will boast nine 24-seat general chemistry labs and will contain a study and lounge space as well as a small café. The building will also house a faculty development suite and the
Academy of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which was launched in 2013. This Academy is the latest project in the University’s efforts to lead the nation in entrepreneurial learning, and includes “fearless ideas” experiential learning courses that engage students to invent and problem-solve individually and in teams. Currently housed in Symons Hall, the Academy provides various rooms for students on a
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Brooke L. Supple ODK Faculty Secretary
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The Omicron Delta Kappa
Leadership Conference from page 2 universities and discussed topics such as member engagement, member selection, and circle leadership. It was interesting to see the different ways students conducted their member selection. Many schools did not have a “tapping” process to inform new members of their acceptance into their local ODK circle the way Sigma Circle does. Instead they had other dedicated ceremonies to invite new members into the circle. Some of
Teaching Center from page 3 reservation basis for spreading out and getting work done. Examples of these rooms include “The Mediascape”, a room for preparing group presentations, and “The Ideation room”, a room completely covered in whiteboard paint where students can develop ideas and projects. The Academy will certainly benefit and be able to expand even further
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these chapters were fairly new, and had original and innovative ideas which made the collaboration very informative. We continued the day with a working lunch where we discussed more ideas for managing our circles, and went over our StrengthsQuest results. StrenthsQuest is a leadership tool focused on identifying and constantly improving our personal strengths. We identified others in the room with similar strengths, collaborated with those with different
strengths, and came together as a group to understand how to translate our personal strengths to our organizations as a whole. Lastly, as we wished our new friends a safe trip home, we ended the day with a trip to our iconic ODK Fountain...in the middle of the snowstorm! It was a very fitting end to an exciting ODK Drive-In, and the Sigma Circle is excited to learn even more at the next one.
as an excellent resource for innovative thinking with the cutting-edge technology the Edward St. John Center will bring. Construction of the Edward St. John Center has resulted in the closure of the eastbound lane of Campus Drive as well as the parking previously available by Symons Hall. The closed segment is expected to reopen with the opening of the center in December 2016, but this is also
dependent on the construction of the purple line of the Washington D.C. Metro. According to The Diamondback, Facilities Management of the University held a forum with affected University staff, who were accommodating, as they understood the importance of a building that emphasized the importance of education. The results will be well worth the inconvenience.
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The Omicron Delta Kappa
LEADER
CONGRATULATIONS FALL 2014 INDUCTEES! This past fall, the Sigma Circle inducted 57 new members into its ranks. The Fall 2014 class was a talented group with outstanding achievements in all five areas of campus life. Congratulations are in order for these new accomplished Omicron Delta Kappa members:
Liya Ai Jeremy Bennie Nicole Blahut Alexandra Broseker Mackenzie Burnett Helen Cheung Connie Chou Kayla Coutts Josef Danczuk Lilybelle Davis Margaret Doyle Samuel Gaffigan Robert Goldberg Rebecca Haas Amanda Hemmer Nicholas Henninger Darian Hoagland Malina Howard Eseigboria Ikheloa
Zoe King Vishnupriya Krishnan Te-Hsuan Lee Winston Liu Samantha Mauceri Karen Mawdsley Charlotte McCafferty Catherine McGrath Yash Mehta Andrew Mills Travis Moxley Meghan Murphy Daniel Ostick Sydney Perlotto Allison Peters Kevin Pineault Scott Roberts Patrick Ronk Sarah Sexton
Lauren Shaw Ashmi Sheth Kathryn Shniderman Zara Simpson Sree Sinha Abigail Stephens Ross Stern Kelsey Sutton Katherine Sylvester Ashlei Tobin-Robertson Colleen Toohey Austin Trupp Camila Uechi Kenneth Ulman Julia Wainger Lindsey Weilminster Charmaine Wilson-Jones Sarahann Yeh
INTRODUCING THE SPRING 2015 ODK CLASS: On February 22, the current members of the Sigma Circle met to select the Spring 2015 induction class. From among the many highly qualified applicants, 45 new members were selected. Congratulations, Sigma Circle Spring 2015 Inductees!
Raaheela Ahmed Matthew Angelico Avan Antia Sumouni Basu Austin Boroshok Hannah Breakstone Tammy Bronstein Elizabeth Brown Dina Broydo Marco Carralero Nathan Chai Emily Cheung Sagar Doshi Sheryl Ehrman Julie Etheridge Christopher Frye
Brian Guerinot Ori Gutin Megan Hadley Michael Jones Darpan Kayastha Amy Liang Swaitha Maripuri Annika McGinnis Ian Moritz Bilal Naved Katherine Powers Linda Powers Beena Raghavendran Jason Rubin Brandon Schatt Michael Schwab 5
Emily Schweich Ross Seidman Eileen Ser M. Brogan Sheehey Zachary Siegel Paige Smith Lenaya Stewart Leah Sukri Anthony Trinh Lauren Trollinger Sanah Vohra Norman Wereley Christina Winkler Iowis Zhu
The Omicron Delta Kappa
LEADER
We are so grateful for all of our alumni and friends who support the Sigma Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa. Thank you for all of your continued involvement and support! Steward of the Fountain Society Drury G. Bagwell, Jr. Kyle Clark Beardsley Stuart Bowers Devin H. Ellis Gordon R. England Michael J. Freiman Bob Goldberg and Susan Wachs Goldberg Barry P. Gossett Marc and Wendy Greenberg Rick Jaklitsch
Phil Livingston Paul and Lisa Mandell Deven C. McGraw Ann and Jeff Mowrey Dawn K. Nichols James M. Osteen Caroline Carrick Pisano Philip R. Rever Phil Schneider Mark Sobel
Marc Solomon Lee Thornton Joseph D. Tydings Joel Willcher Wayne and Gail Willoughby Bruce J. Winter ODK Executive Officer Class of 2012-2013
Please join us in welcoming the newest Steward of the Fountain Society Members, Robert and Calliopi Ratcliff
Alden Gross
2014 Honor Roll of Donors Founders Circle (Gifts of $1,000 or more) Richard Jaklitsch Jeffrey and Ann Mowrey Devin Ellis Julia Young Eric W. K. Young
Drury G. Bagwell, Jr. Walt Disney Company Foundation Dawn Nichols Jason and Joana Ward Stuart Bowers
Barry Gossett Philip Rever John Dorsey
Jeffrey Hathaway Dick and Lyn Stimpson
Linda Clement Brian and Susan Bayly
Leaders Circle (Gifts of $500 or more) Michael and Ann Freiman Deven McGraw
Supporters Circle (Gifts of $100 or more) James Bond Myron and Barbara Dutterer Edmund and Brooke Kenny Elizabeth Kenny Christine Kenny Michele Barone Hunn Lt Col Stephen L. Bennett, USAF (Ret.) Keren Shefet Michael Fontz Zimri Diaz
Rachel Eng Jennifer Bain Karen De Matteo Betsy Thomas Stephen Dubnoff Robert B. Schaftel Richard Koffenberger Pedro Wasmer Neal Bellet John Martin, Jr.
John Ford Jared Goldberg Rebecca Weir Sue Briggs Nancy Solomon Elizabeth Nuss Paul and Diane Barrett Marc and Draga Dubick
William Scott Stephen Kallmyer Ryan Dietrich Ronald Mace Lance Billingsley John Prevar James Beard
Daniel King Walter Beam George Callcott John Hagedorn COL. Edward M. Rider, USA, Ret. Carl and Beryl Tretter
Renee Winters Robert Lemken Ralph Conlin James Brown, III Edward Dovel
Matthew and Kathleen Zanger Amanda Fitzgerald Katherine Rennenkampf AnnMarie Walton
Members Circle (Gifts of $50 or more) Jack Kaufman Timmy Ruppersberger Rachel McGrain Lorraine Diprima Angelica Eng Valerie Eisenstein Jane McCarl
Other Contributors to Sigma Circle Philip Aronson Jason and Carly Cohen Ernesto Cuesta Adrian Remsberg, Jr. The Honorable Joseph V. Colaianni
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DOING BUSINESS IN CHINA WITH STUDY ABROAD By Alex Wilson, Sigma Circle Membership Chair n Carroll County, Maryland, my family has lived on the same farm for five generations; we certainly know the area well. Just twenty years ago, it would have been a great surprise if any of my ancestors from this small farm town made it to the West Coast, as that would have taken them far from the animals, fields, and home. But, with the world becoming smaller than ever before, and my privilege to attend a university that highly encourages its students to study abroad, I traveled to China this winter to be the first person from my family to make it to Asia. During the January term, I had the opportunity to complete a shortterm study abroad to Beijing, Hong Kong and Guangzhou through the Smith School of Business and the Quest Program. This was my second time abroad with the University of Maryland, as I went to Dubai last spring, and, yet, this experience was so much different. Dubai is a sophisticated, booming metropolis that could be taken for any large city in the US, because English is one of its official languages. Beijing, on the other hand, has no English, is twice the size of New York City, and cherishes a three-thousand year history that dared me to try to connect with a cul-
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Alex Wilson travelled to China to learn more about a different culture and country
ture far different from my own. The two week trip was loaded with experiences I thought I might never have. I hiked along the Great Wall, ferried across the Hong Kong harbor, stood in awe at the Forbidden City, and sang karaoke in front of a lot of other people. I saw people bungee jump 750 feet from Macau tower, horse races at Hong Kong’s famous track, and even managed to make it to a Chinese Pizza Hut (which is far superior to our American version). In addition to pure sightseeing, the structured program was also full of fantastic visits. The group watched from the tower as the third largest port in the world opened for business, saw the trading floor of Goldman Sachs’ Hong Kong office, and had a presentation from the CEO of MGM’s Asian Business in Macau. The learning experience
was very in-depth for such a short time, and when our group returned, we were tasked with creating a business plan for a product built in China and sold in the United States. Drawing on all we had learned regarding finance, shipping and logistics, production and the legal environment for American companies in China, teams presented ideas from 3-D printed hot plates for dorm rooms to cultured pearl farming. When I was little, our local Chinese restaurant had a large painting of the Great Wall of China; it was my introduction to the country. Fifteen years later, I was able to go back to the owner of that restaurant and show him that after all of those years of imagining his homeland and the Great Wall, I had finally made it there. In understanding the importance of studying abroad, and why the University of Maryland has chosen such a great outlet for students, I was able to connect with people I had known for many years in a brand new way because of the experience I had. I hope anyone who reads this can have the same eye-opening experience, whether it is through traveling across an ocean, a state line, or even one farm town over.
ODK ONLINE SILENT AUCTION by Dawn Nichols, ODK Voting Alumna an you help? What can you donate? How can you give in an effort to make ODK one of the most memorable college experiences? Let’s join together to contribute to this online auction to help pay for the induction banquet and the cords and stoles at graduation. Let’s make joining ODK and graduating with ODK our alum charge by contributing to the banquet fees and the robe expenses through money raised
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in a fun online auction (no fancy dress or babysitter needed)! What can you donate to the cause? Do you have a special job where you could create a unique behind the scenes tour to offer? Can you offer a one of a kind opportunity? A beach house? A lake house? A signed something? A free service? Taking all donations from all leaders among leaders from all years! How can you contribute to this auction?
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Please email Dawn Nichols at dawnandjoe@verizon.net with your suggestion/donation. All items will be available on line to members of the Sigma Circle and their families only! What a special event for our circle to give to the future members of the circle and create an online auction tradition. Items will be collected through this summer BUT don’t wait…email your item today!
The Omicron Delta Kappa
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COL. J. LOGAN SCHUTZ LEADER OF THE YEAR: CARA HAMEL By Renuka Tripu, Public Relations Coordinator n four short years, Cara Hamel has done more for this University than most people can imagine. Her accomplishments are so varied and impactful that she was elected by her peers to be the Col. J. Logan Schutz Omicron Delta Kappa Leader of the Year for the Sigma Circle. Cara will go on to compete for National ODK Leader of the Year. A senior fire protection engineering major, Cara has succeeded within her field and also way beyond it. Her involvement in the engineering school is no small feat - she was President of FLEXUS, a women in engineering program, as well as President of the Fire Protection Engineer’s Honor Society. As if that was not enough, she also brought her enthusiasm in welcoming new students to the University as an Orientation Advisor. Excelling in the position, she became a student coordinator for the Orientation Program the following year. Cara continues to excel as a leader as the Vice President of the Sigma Circle, and UMD could not be luckier to keep her for a little longer as she will be continuing her studies in graduate school here next year. We caught up with Cara to gain some insight into her experiences and advice as a successful leader.
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What does winning the Colonel J. Logan Schutz Sigma Circle Leader of the Year mean to you? First of all, I am extremely humbled to be chosen by my fellow ODKers for this award. I am constantly impressed by the group of leaders that makes up the Sigma Circle, and I am extremely proud to be a representative of this amazing chapter.
What is one of your proudest accomplishments in your last four years? One of my proudest accomplishments took place at the beginning of
this semester, when I successfully put on a career fair for the Fire Protection Engineering Department. Starting in August of 2014, I recruited over 35 companies who hire fire protection engineering (FPE) students, and coordinated their registration for the event, their payment for the event, and was responsible for coordinating the day-of proceedings. It’s my proudest accomplishment because my team was able to in-
worthwhile, and even further, gets these people to love doing it! I saw this when I was student coordinator for the Orientation Office. I barely had to do any work other than provide resources for my staff members because they loved what they were doing, and consequently had very genuine, passionate work styles.
What advice would you give to budding leaders? The advice I would give to a budding leader is to learn when to say "no." One thing I do regret is over-extending myself at times, and kicking myself for this when I wanted to devote more time to the activities and organizations that I really loved. Be picky with where your time goes, and fully commit to the projects you have picked.
What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as a leader?
Leader of the Year Cara Hamel
crease company attendance by over 50% from last year's event. This means that dozens more students could use the career fair as an outlet for finding a job or internship. I have been so ecstatic to hear my peers talking about the interviews and job offers they have received as a result of the career fair, and although I wasn't looking for a job myself at the fair, everyone else seemed to be very happy with the event!
What do you think comprises a good leader? I think a good leader is someone who can get people to work towards something productive and
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I am continuously learning and being shaped as a leader, and one way I ensure I continue to develop is to look around to my peers. I have learned so much from my fellow ODKers, whether it is seeing how another officer carries himself at one of our 8:00am officer meetings, or being a participant in an event that an ODKer is coordinating.
What are your plans for the future? I am very excited to be starting graduate school here at University of Maryland in fire protection engineering in June 2015. My hope is to eventually obtain a PhD in mechanical engineering before starting on my path towards becoming a university professor in engineering.
The Omicron Delta Kappa
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CATCHING UP WITH ODK SCHOLARSHIP WINNER, CHRIS RILEY By Cara Hamel, Sigma Circle Vice President here have been many ODKers who have made a lasting mark on the Sigma Circle, and Christopher Riley is definitely one of them. The Sigma Circle Vice President (2013-2014) was not only the Omicron Delta Kappa Sigma Circle Col. J. Logan Schutz Leader of the Year, but also represented the Sigma Circle when he won the national-level Pillar I (Scholarship) leader of the year award. His work as an undergraduate-researcher while at UMD prepared him well for his current graduate program at The Ohio State University, where Chris is continuing his studies in entomology. He is currently conducting research that seeks to better understand how native and exotic tree species differ in their ability to support arthropod biodiversity, resist damage induced by biotic and abiotic stressors, and provision ecosystem services within the urban forest. His work at Ohio State is fulfilling and he is working hard to graduate with his PhD within the next five years, but he also finds time to enjoy himself. This past fall, for instance, Chris participat-
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Grad student Chris Riley is now at OSU but remains a Terp at heart
ed in an event called the Cycle Tavern, where he travelled from bar to bar with fellow graduate students and faculty on a “carriage-like 16 person bicycle.” Although he is extremely busy, we are glad to hear he can find a few minutes to step out of the lab and be the fun-loving person we know him to be! Chris has been able to fully devote his time to his graduate program and research due to the funding he is receiving through various fellowships, including one of the most prestigious fellowships given at OSU and a
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. In addition to these fellowships, Chris was the recipient of one of the ODK Foundation Scholarships, which are awarded annually by the ODK National headquarters to ODK members who are entering graduate school. According to Chris, “this scholarship has been very helpful in enabling me to stretch my graduate student salary further by allowing me to buy textbooks, software, and other supplies needed for my coursework and research.” Although Chris is loving OSU, there are some things he will always miss about UMD, especially being an undergrad at such an amazing institution. In his own words, “there are too many things I miss about UMD!” As the University of Maryland has made its big switch to the Big Ten Conference, Chris finds himself at odds with his undergraduate and graduate self. When asked who he cheers for at Big Ten sporting events, he says, “I just about always cheer for the Terps, unless, of course, it’s the College Football Championship Game …”
ODK HEADQUARTERS INTRODUCES NEW STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD By Sarah Niezelski, Sigma Circle Historian he Omicron Delta Kappa Student Advisory Board is a new committee of student members and recent graduates that regularly discusses challenges and opportunities for ODK circles and the organization as a whole. I am serving as the representative from the Sigma Circle, and I am thrilled to be a part of this effort. The Student Advisory Board was created to build an even stronger connection between individual circles and national leadership by providing student insights to the
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ODK Board of Directors on a variety of topics. Another notable benefit of this committee is the strengthened relationships between the circles. Previously, the main sources of interactions between circles were National Conventions and Drive-Ins. Now, we have regularly facilitated conversations between circles across the country. We are able to share best practices, concerns, and new ideas. This improved sense of community is a valuable positive externality of the
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board. The board members serve for a two-year period and responsibilities include participating in online discussions and conference calls. So far, we have discussed the Young Alumni Initiative, how we can enhance the value of ODK membership, and how ODK at the national level can best support the circles. As the board continues to develop and address new topics, we expect to have a visible impact that benefits student, alumni, and ODK leadership!
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“LIGHT UP THE MALL” FUNDRAISER By Emily Fraik, Community Service Coordinator n December 3rd, 2014, the Sigma Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa held our first “Light Up the Mall” fundraising event. This event was planned as a philanthropic activity to raise money for a campus organization in need, the UMD Campus Pantry. The UMD Campus Pantry is an on-campus organization that works to establish food security for students, faculty, and staff. Their focus is on bettering the College Park community and alleviating the hardships faced on our campus. Our Sigma Circle decided to hold our fall fundraising event to shine a light on this worthy cause, as well as support the UMD Campus Pantry in their mission. Our “Light Up the Mall” event was a success in raising money for the UMD Campus Pantry through the sale of luminaria bags, hot chocolate, and cookies. As ODK members, we are committed to serving as leaders on campus and one of the most im-
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The ODK Fountain is surrounded by lights at the ODK Light Up the Mall event last fall
portant aspects of that leadership role is to constantly give back and better the community. The Sigma Circle of ODK is dedicated to improving the lives of everyone on our campus and
in our community, and we are honored to have been able to support the UMD Campus Pantry in their mission of food security for the College Park Community.
ODK STEWARD OF THE FOUNTAIN By James Bond, Voting Faculty Member ttending the University of Maryland was transformative for me, as it is for many students. My undergraduate success is due in large part to two things: fantastic, caring mentors, and supportive, positive friends. Nowhere is this more emblematic than in Omicron Delta Kappa. Joining ODK was an accomplishment I did not foresee when coming to Maryland, but I did want to leave a mark on this campus. As a scholarship recipient, I felt it necessary to give back to the school that invested in me. When I was inducted into ODK, my eyes were opened to other strong student leaders who felt the same way I did about making a commitment to changing
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the campus, and the world, for the better. Their ways of doing this varied given their strengths, but their love for Maryland was a constant. We are the Sigma Circle, but I think of James Bond ’01 ODK as a circle of friends. My reason for becoming a Steward is to demonstrate my appreciation to an organization that has given me so much in terms of support and encouragement from the people that make up the organization. My hope is that my contribution will con-
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tinue to do this for future ODK members. In my current work, I strive to create a community of character, by promoting integrity, character, and ethics within the Terrapin community. Omicron Delta Kappa shares in this mission by only accepting members who demonstrate unquestioned character in their actions. This resonates with me on a personal level. In my years as a staff member, I love to see the tradition of great students with great hearts doing great things to make a greater campus. I wish ODK and its members nothing but continued success and am proud to contribute to it as a Steward.
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ODK Alumni Updates Thanks to all of you who keep us informed of your activities. If we haven't heard from you recently, drop us a note. You may use the form on the back of the newsletter or submit online at www.odk.umd.edu. Please forgive us if the information below is a little dated. It is very difficult to have up-to-date news when we only publish our newsletter twice a year. But, here is what we have and we hope you enjoy reading about your friends. Will Johnson ’63, is a clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychology at The Citadel. He is a Fellow in the American Psychological Association and the Society for Behavioral Medicine, and a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology. He continues his research on eating behavior and obesity, and his clinical work in forensic psychology. Will has published over
70 articles, books and book chapters, and has presented over 100 papers at national and international conferences. He was a nationally ranked age-group triathlete for over 10 years. Will coached lacrosse at the University of Rochester and The Citadel, and he enjoys watching Terp games. Larry Kirsch ’79, and his wife Kathy, will become “empty nesters” this year and hope to enjoy the opportunity it provides. Larry continues with strategic planning for clients, some of which involves market research and marketing plans. But, after 20 years, he did decide to step away from teaching graduate students at the University of Phoenix and retire from the evening requirements of the University.
The John Fraser ’79 Family
Bob Rossomondo ’77 and wife Lisa
Dr. Mark Sobel ’82, wife Mary Grace, and children Jay and Grace
Sabina Mazzanti Baker ’78 and husband Joe
Paula and Joe Yost ’78
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The Omicron Delta Kappa
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Cathy Barham Campbell ’84, is thoroughly enjoying her role as General Manager for the Medicare business at Blue Shield of California. But Cathy and husband Dan get back to College Park often to visit son Danny, who is a junior in the Smith School of Business, which makes him a third generation Terp!!!
Cathy Barham ’84, Dan and Danny Campbell
Pat Cornell ’86 and Toby Hom
The Burman Berger ’85 Family
The Stuart Ritter ’89 Family Ron ’85 and Caryn Williams ’84, Son Evan, daughter Arleen
Michele Barone Hunn ’85, Richard, Melissa, Rachel and Josh
Clyde Taber ’84 and family
Nathan Berger ’85, is living in Floyds Knobs, Indiana with his wife, Michelle, and daughters, Elana (12) and Abby (8). He is dual board certified in emergency and family medicine and is an attending emergency medicine and tactical physician in Louisville, Kentucky. Nathan is looking forward to the Terps taking on Indiana in a growing Big 10 rivalry!
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Dr. Sherita Hill Golden ’90, husband Chris and son Andrew
Dr. Sherita Hill Golden ’90, was recently promoted to Professor of Medicine at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
The Omicron Delta Kappa
Dana Neilsen ’90 and Dan Rice ’91 with sons
The Paul Carlson ’93 Family
LEADER James E. Rzepkowski ’93, was appointed, in February 2015, to be the Assistant Secretary for the Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning at the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation. Within the Division are four offices that implement the mission of the Division: Workforce Development, Adult Education & Literacy, Correctional Education, and Workforce Information & Performance. Prior to his appointment, he served eight years as the Corporate Director of Workforce Development at Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, LLC (CENG), headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.
Mike ’91 and Rhonda Smith ’92 and son Davis
Michael Martirano ’92, was sworn in as the 30th state superintendent of schools for the State of West Virginia in September 2014. He is responsible for the education of 281,000 students living in 55 counties in West Virginia. Martirano served as an educator in Maryland for 30 years and he ended his career in Maryland by serving as superintendent of schools for St. Mary's County for 10 years.
The George Stathis ’92 Family
Dr. Ken Brown ’94 and family (except for the kid in the middle)
Penina Riebman Scharf ’95, is teaching pre-school across the street from her home (which makes commuting very easy) in Newton, Massachusetts.
Dawn Nichols ’92, is hard at work on the first ever ODK online silent auction…but she needs your help! What can you donate to the cause? Do you have a special behind the scenes tour? A unique opportunity? A beach house? A lake house? Some sports tickets? A signed something? A free service to offer? Taking all donations from all leaders among leaders from all years! Please email Dawn Nichols at dawnandjoe@verizon.net. Dawn Nichols ’92, husband Joe Schultz, daughters Emma and Eva
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Lisa and Paul Mandell ’95 and their children
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LEADER and their sons Micah (4) and Hirsch (18 months) live in North Potomac, MD; they recently visited campus and Matthew relished the opportunity to show his sons their father's name engraved on the ODK Fountain. Shawn O’Brien ’06, and husband, John ’06, welcomed their first child, Patrick O’Brien, on August 11, 2014.
Hillary Cherry ’97 and Doug ’95 Mintz with children
Jason Ward ’01 and Joana Chang ’01 at their wedding
Remy Shaffer Gomes ’00, husband Casey, and children Bailey and Eliana
Heather Praml ’99, recently opened her own private counseling practice, Counseling & Academic Services, LLC in Morris County, NJ, specializing in helping children and their families with a variety of mental health needs, including Selective Mutism, anxiety, social/peer relationships, transitions, self-esteem, parenting and family issues, stress management, educational/school issues and study skills. Dr. Kyle Beardsley ’01, his wife Jessica and daughter Esther have moved into a new home in Chapel Hill, NC, where Kyle is teaching and doing research as an Associate Professor in Political Science at Duke University.
Dr. Joana Chang ’01 and Jason Ward ’01, were married on May 11, 2014 and honeymooned in Namibia. Following a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, Joana moved back to the DC area to be with Jason. Abby Adler ’03, is completing her third year as a Psychology Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. She and her husband, Brian Mandel ’03, are expecting their first child in 2015! Matthew Ratz ’05, was recently named the Adult Day Program Administrator for CHI Centers, Inc., a community-based support services provider for adults with developmental disabilities. In this position, Matthew will support staff and steer programmatic strategy to ensure that over 200 adults with disabilities are able to access appropriate employment and sufficiently-independent living that respect their skills and dignity. He and his wife Naomi '06
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Benjamin W. Green ’09, began working with the U.S. Department of State/Bureau of Diplomatic Security's Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) in February and graduated with a M.A. in Security Studies from Georgetown's top ranked School of Foreign Service (SFS) this past August. He got married to his longtime girlfriend and fellow Terp, Natalia Senatore ’09, in November. The wedding was held at the beautiful Morais Vineyards in Culpeper, VA surrounded by friends and family on an amazing fall day. Megan Harvey ’09, graduated from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in June 2014 with a Master’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Engineering Management. Jennifer Hiscock ’11, and husband, Joshua ’03, currently a doctoral candidate, were married on July 26, 2014 at the University of Maryland, Memorial Chapel. The reception was held at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center and the couple is happily residing in College Park, Maryland.
The Omicron Delta Kappa
LEADER
FACULTY UPDATES Sapienza Barone and Brodie Remington have left Maryland and moved to West New York, New Jersey, where Brodie has accepted a job as Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken.
Drs. Gretchen Metzelaars and Susan Jones were married in New York City on October 24, 2014 after a 22 year “engagement” [Congratulations to two terrific teachers and mentors]! Gretchen served as Chair of the 2014 convention of the American College Personnel Association.
Marsha Guenzler-Stevens and husband Randy
Bob and Kathy Beardsley
Dr. Kathy Beardsley did finally retire from the University of Maryland, but continuing her official connection, she was elected to serve on the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Board of Visitors. Also, National Alpha Lambda Delta Freshman Honor Society named one of the national scholarships in her honor.
Dr. Marsha Guenzler-Stevens and her husband, Randy, traveled to South Africa and had lunch with Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu. She also did a “TED talk” on the theme “Learning to Love the Questions.”
Brooke and Matt Supple with daughters Stirling and Campbell
Dr. Brooke Supple was recently honored as the 2015 Outstanding Woman of the Year at the University of Maryland recognizing her commitment to work-life integration on campus.
Get involved today by donating to ODK! Your support helps ODK provide educational and leadership development programs throughout the year. There are programs you can support directly and ways you can make an impact through ODK. For more information on the Steward of the Fountain program, or to learn about giving funds in ODK, please contact Assistant Director for Student Affairs Development Ed Kenny at 301.314.4900 or sagiving@umd.edu.
You can make a gift to ODK today! Use the enclosed envelope or go to www.odk.umd.edu.
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