Periplus Fall 2016

Periplus

A publication of the UNCW Honors College

VOL. 11 ISSUE 3 Fall 2016

Science for Society.........2 Hometown Honors.......3 Cover Story.................4 - 5 Alumni Feature..............6 Fall Graduates..................7

(From left: Dr. Kate Bruce, Ashley deMey, Jin-Si Over, Suzanne Zeid, Juliet Taylor, and Chancellor Sartarelli.)

Jolly Good Fellows First Cohort of Mentoring Program Graduates Holly McGrory Class of 2017

I

f the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics team calls themselves the Final Five, then I hereby proclaim these graduates the Core Four of the Wilmington Fellows Program. On December 4th, 2016, professors and honors scholars congregated in the Clocktower Lounge of University Center to eat breakfast and celebrate a historic moment for the Honors College. Wilmington Fellows are students who dedicate themselves to academic leadership in addition to scholarly research.

Whether in the lab, the sands of Hawaii, or attending conferences, these women are the first to complete this new mentoring program. (Continued on page 4...)

Science for Social Good NIKKI KROUSHL Class of 2019

M

ary Jaskowiak is a senior in the Honors College with a major in environmental science and a minor in biology. She began her research journey early on, during the spring semester of her freshman year, taking the HON 191: Research and Discovery class. Because of her early interest in water quality, she interviewed Dr. Lawrence Cahoon of the Department of Biology and Marine Biology. One of Dr. Cahoon’s interests at the time was the use of optical brighteners, which are found in laundry detergents, as source trackers for human waste in water. Mary told him that she was interested in the project and began a DIS the next fall.

Two and a half years later, Mary just defended and passed her Honors thesis on this topic.

Optical brighteners—which fluoresce and thus are easily trackable—are found in waste water from washing machines, which is disposed of in the same way as waste water from toilets. Find optical brighteners in natural water, and there is a good chance that you’ll find human waste as well. The real problem was separating the brighteners from other, natural fluorescents in water, but Mary was able to develop a process using solid phase extraction to successfully pinpoint optical brighteners in natural waters.

Mary’s research has not only academic appeal (she’s presented in poster sessions at UNCW, the National Collegiate Honors Council’s national conference, and other regional showcases), but also the potential for commercialization and social good. Mary and Dr. Cahoon are currently working on improving the methods and adapting them to be performed in the field. The finished product will be cheap, simple to use, and ideal for underprivileged communities to use in testing their water sources.

2

Mary hard at work in the lab. (Photo Courtesy of CSURF.)

This potential led Mary to compete in and win the Institute for Emerging Issues’ Discovery Forum pitching competition. She will attend a leadership conference at NCSU in the spring and compete with other winners for the chance to win $10,000 to develop and commercialize her kit in order to enact positive social change.

“It was a long process,” she said, “but it’s had good results.”

For more information, be sure to visit Mary’s CSURF profile at http://uncw.edu/csurf/ MaryJaskowiak.html

Honors in the Hometown IRELAND HEADRICK Class of 2020

A

s freshman in the Honors College at UNCW, I’ve been wondering lately how many millions of people in the U.S. have attended some college, if only for a little while. A quick Google search estimates that 59 percent of Americans over age 25 have had at least some university experience, and when you multiply that by an adult population of 210 million, that’s roughly 124 million people. It’s strange to think this past semester of school is a common bond for me and a hundred million of my closest friends.

The core of who I am hasn’t changed in the last four months, but looking back, I can see little seeds of artistic, emotional, and intellectual growth being planted; with every assignment in my Honors Public Speaking class and every discussion in our Honors First Year Seminar, I found myself being constantly challenged to learn, grow, and improve. Living off campus makes it difficult to create a new network of friends, but the opportunity for relationship building is still present-- it just has to be intentional.

Of the new friends I’ve made this semester, two girls I met in my freshman seminar also live at home. Paris and Olivia Backston-- who are, incidentally, the only identical twins in the Honors College are within a three-mile radius of campus, and they commute every day via bike or shuttle from home.

Before coming into this epochal semester at UNCW, we were all jonesing for a “traditional” college experience, or four years of living, eating, studying, and socializing within our new communities. But at least for us, that’s not how the chips fell. We elected not to live in a dorm or a suite or an apartment, not to move in with interesting strangers we met on a community Facebook page, not to love or loathe every breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Wag or Hawk’s. We live at home, we commute to class, and we are exceptionally purposeful in the clubs we join and the people we hang out with, because we just don’t have the on-campus access that most freshmen do.

For Paris and Olivia, meeting people through work, volleyball, and their family’s decision to host international students, compensated for living off-

campus. For me, regular home-cooked meals, a familiar social and physical landscape, and an almost fulltime job keep me confident in my decision. When it’s time to buckle down and study, it’s nice to know ahead of time where to go for a beautiful pocket of peace and quiet. I can’t count the number of times I’ve driven to the New Hanover County arboretum to study across from the red Japanese-inspired bridge, amidst the miniature yellow roses. Or the times I’ve sat in Sunday’s Cafe on Wrightsville Beach, laptop open, watching the swell of the ocean out the window and sipping the best chai latte in the city. I didn’t have to search these places out; they were already a part of my everyday lifestyle.

But to have the opportunity to meet and make friends at UNCW, within and outside of the honors program, and introduce them to a side of Wilmington they may not have stumbled upon otherwise? In and of itself, it’s a magical thing. To be continually indthe city I will always consider home, and to share the beauty of that city with new friends, is an opportunity I ordinarily wouldn’t have as a college freshman. And I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Photo Courtesy of Ireland Headrick

3

Jolly Good Fellows Continued from Front Page

Introduced by Dr. Kate Bruce Director of the Honors College

Ashley deMey

Ashley came from Virginia to study at UNCW. She has been focused on becoming a veterinarian even before she came to UNCW. A look at her resume underscores her love of animals and her clear dedication to the field. In high school she spent her senior year shadowing at a veterinary practice, and she has been employed at the Leland Veterinary Hospital since her sophomore year.

She will continue to work there upon graduation, and is waiting to hear about NCSU veterinary school for next fall.

Not only has Ashley worked at the vet office, she also has contributed to many types of volunteer work involving animals. As an officer in the PreVet Med Association club at UNCW she received a Distinguished Engagement Award from the Office of Student Leadership on campus. Ashley was a presenter at two conferences while an undergraduate- traveling to the national collegiate honors council meetings in Chicago and Seattle. She has been recognized as a UNCW Undergraduate Research Scholar.   Jin-Si came to us from Jin-Si Over Geneseo, New York, to focus on marine science and geology. Her dad is a geology professor there and Jin Si has been going to conferences and conducting research for years with her dad, even before coming to UNCW. Thus no surprise that during her freshman year she began research with her oceanography professor, Andrea Hawkes, who ultimately became her honors project supervisor. Based on her exceptional freshman record, she was asked to join the inaugural fellows class in her sophomore year. That same year, she applied for and received the NOAA Hollings Scholarship and spent last summer in Hawaii on internship. Jin Si was also accepted to the NSF REU program for her sophomore summer. She gave a talk at the state honors conference last year on her experiences in undergrad research and was really effective inspiring other students across the state about different research opportunities.

4

Juliet came to us from Lavalette, New Jersey, to study environmental studies and conservation. She had already conducted a summer research project in high school.

Her passion for the environment was evident in honors freshman seminar. Instead of combining environmental studies with another science, as she originally thought she would, she has combined it with English. She conducted one of our few Interdisciplinary Honors projects, guided

by Kate Maddalena in English.

Juliet completed all her honors and UNCW requirements in 3 years, graduating in July this past summer. She has been using her training in English and environmental studies to work with the City of Raleigh since May, and will begin graduate school this spring.

She has been accepted to Duke University in the graduate program in Bioethics and Science Policy- an innovative program that emphasizes science and society. She is also an active volunteer for the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, using experiential learning with children and families help make them aware of the environment. She served on the SHAC and became our first SGA Honors Senator, and later Junior class president. Juliet also served as Student Vice President of Phi Kappa Phi.

Juliet Taylor

Suzanne Zeid

  Suzanne came to UNCW from Apex, NC, and has focused on developing her skills in the area of Analytics. Suzanne made an early impression on Dr. Cara Sidman in HAHS who recommended her for the fellows program. Suzanne conducted research with Dr. Sidman during her sophomore year. She combined this with an office assistant position in CHHS which also allowed her to use her statistical skills to assist with analyses and presentations.

Suzanne spent a semester in Quito, Ecuador, in a full immersion program. In addition to classes, Suzanne had a chance to travel to the Galapagos and spend time with her host family. She has combined her love of animals with her knowledge of information systems and data analytics to work with Dr. Stephen Hill to develop a statistical model to improve pet adoption practices. She presented this research at the recent SNCURCS conference.

Photos From Fellows Breakfast

5

Alumni News Name: Martyn Knowles, MD

Year of Graduation: 2003, B.S. in Biology Location Now: Raleigh, NC What have you been up to since graduation?

After leaving UNCW, I went to medical school at Wake Forest University. After graduation, I moved to Dallas, TX and completed General Surgery Residency and Vascular and Endovascular Fellowship and stayed on as an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern. In 2015, we moved back to North Carolina and I started at UNC Rex Healthcare as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of North Carolina. School seems to never end and I will be starting an MBA at UNC in February. During all this training, I was married in 2012 and we have two boys.

Honors Supervisor: Dr. Stephen Kinsey (Photo courtesy of Dr. Knowles) Thinking back on your time at UNCW, what are 1 or 2 things related to Honors that stand out to you?

Classes the prepared the students for life, not tests. Classes such as those with Bob Weedon DVM; Animals in Society or the Animal-Human Relationship were an amazing addition to college teaching.

Name: Heather Page

Year of Graduation: 2012, B.S. in Marine Biology; Environmental Science Location Now: San Diego, CA What career path are you currently pursuing?

I am currently a PhD candidate at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (La Jolla, CA).

Honors Supervisor: Dr. Martin Posey Thinking back on your time at UNCW, what are 1 or 2 things related to Honors that stand out to you?

My fondest memories are the times I spent doing my honors thesis and working at the Center for Marine Science. I also enjoyed being part of HSA and orgaining a charity dodge ball tournament during my time as President of the organization.

6

Congratulations, Fall Graduates!

University Honors with honors in...Accounting

Mikaela Palma. Biology Ashley deMey, William Fetzner, Zachary Johannesson, Niki Winters. Economics Matthew Murphy. Geology Jin-Si Over.

Interdisciplinary Juliet Taylor, Suzanne Zeid. Marine Biology Paul Willeboordse. Math Aysha Khan.

Nursing Crystal Tomburo. Psychology Sarah Krichbaum. Spanish Athena Martin.

Departmental Honors with honors in...Anthropology Amanda Payne. Biology Geoffrey Carpenter.

History Graciela Lopez Arriaga , Caroline Wine. Interdisciplinary Samantha Athey. Marine Biology Samantha Farquhar. Math Natalie Robertson. Nursing Jaime Lewis. Physics William Fox. Psychology Michaela Simpson, Emma Twait. Statistics Taylor Harbold. Theatre McKenzie Kirkman.

7

Periplus Staff

From the Editor:

Holly McGrory - Editor-in-Chief Caroline Orth - Assistant Editor It’s amazing to see our Honors Nikki Kroushl - Assistant Editor Program transform before my very Logan Prochaska- Assistant Editor Feautred Writers: Ireland Headrick Nikki Kroushl Masthead Photography: Ireland Headrick

UNCW Honors College 601 South College Road Wilmington, NC 28403 www.uncw.edu/honors 910.962.4181

eyes. Watching the first cohort of Wilmington Fellows get their medallions makes me so excited to receive mine. From our alumni to our incoming scholars, we all inspire each other to reach for our highest goals.

As we approach the new year, I will strive to emulate the way featured Seahawks combined their passions with giving back to their community.

Holly McGrory Class of ‘17

In Your Corner: I also want to congratulate our students on another terrific semester.

Plus it is exciting to see where our seniors are taking their next steps and to hear from alums about their accomplishments and full lives. It makes us so proud to know you all!

Best wishes for happy holidays and a successful new year!

Katherine Bruce, Director UNCW Honors College

Give the Gift of Honors to Future Honors Students!

Name__________________________________________________________________________________ Home Address___________________________________________________________________________ City__________________________________________ State____________ Zip______________________ Home Phone: (______)______________________ Work Phone: (_______)_________________________ Email_________________________________________________________________________________ _______ I would like my gift to go to the Levy-Bruce Honors Scholars Endowed Scholarship

(scholarship for new Honors students) _______ I would like my gift to go to the William D. Atwill Honors Scholarship in Athletics

(scholarship for new Honors Varsity Athletes) _______ I would like my gift to go to the Honors Scholars Trust Fund (programming) _______ I would like my gift to go to support UNCW Undergraduate Research _______ I would like my gift to go to _______________________________________________________ Please make checks payable to UNCW and mail to: Advancement Services, UNC Wilmington, 601 S. College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403-5905 I would like to pledge $_________ to be paid in installments of $__________ to be billed: _____ Annually _____ Semi-Annually _____ Quarterly _____ Monthly _____ My first payment is enclosed. _____ Visa _____MC _____AmEx Card # ___________________________ 3 Dig.Sec. Code________ Exp. Date ___________ Signature: _______________________________________________ If you or your spouse work for a matching gift company, you could double or triple your gift.

Please obtain a matching gift form from your employer and mail with this form to UNCW. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Advancement Services: (910) 962-3626 MAKE YOUR GIFT ONLINE: www.uncw.edu/giveonline