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The Dialogue1 VOLUME 6, ISSUE 2 SPRING & SUMMER 2015 Melanie Adams Amber Creppon Daniel Agey II Kathryn Doughty Sonali Aggarwal Natalie Finley Carissa Brown Haven Gomez Matthew Brossart Sarah Kavanagh Geneva Clark Caitlin Oringderff SEMINAR SPOTLIGHT: AN AFRICAN ADVENTURE “This summer we decided to take the road learned about the world and myself by going on this less travelled and explored the wonders of beautiful adventure,” Sonali stated. Geneva Clark said, “Our Zimbabwe, observing its unique wildlife, and making trip to Africa was nothing like I've ever experienced. friends along the way,” said Sonali Aggarwal. Sonali My favorite part was being able to meet the people is one of the twelve Honors College students who every place we went. Whether they worked at the embarked on the first Honors Study Abroad Seminar lodge or lived in a village, they were the kindest and led by Dr. Patrick Lewis and Dr. Gene Young. This most interesting people I've ever met.” trip was designed to teach students more about the In addition to this amazing cultural natural environment, wildlife, local communities experience, the students were also able to rock climb, of Zimbabwe, and to engage in community service. sit close to rhinos, walk with lion cubs, and to free While there, the students rode out into the middle fall off a gorge 229 feet in 3 seconds. “Overall, the of the bush country and identified the flora and wildlife and scenery were gorgeous, and the fresh fauna of the area as well as visiting various schools oranges were the best I’ve ever had! I absolutely and orphanages. The 23-day trip took them from loved spending time with the children in the Bulawayo, to Limpopo, to Matopos to Hwange, to orphanages,” said Melanie Adams. Victoria Falls, where they spent a few days before heading back home. “I will never forget what I Volume 6, Issue 2 2 EIGHTH ANNUAL UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM URS Volunteers: Ms. Samantha Alper, Th e Eighth Annual URS, hosted by the Honors College Student Mrs. Kay Angrove Ambassadors and held in the CHSS Building and LSC Ballroom, was a great success, with 128 students presenting their research Dr. Tracy Bilsing in oral-media and poster sessions and nearly 250 people in Ms. Chelcy Brumlow attendance. Th is year’s URS had a record number of 64 poster presentations in a number of disciplines, including Sciences, Dr. Sybil Bucheli Criminal Justice, English, Business, Education, and more. Dr. Dr. Charles Carlson Tami Cook, professor of Biology and Director of the Center for Enhancing Undergraduate Research Experiences and Creative Ms. Douja Chamseddine Activities (EURECA), was the keynote speaker at the luncheon Dr. Paul Child (held in the LSC ballroom). She spoke about the long-term importance of being involved in undergraduate research and Dr. Madhusudan Choudhary shared information about research opportunities through Dr. Tami Cook EURECA. Ms. Dawn Fisher In addition to the Honors College, EURECA and the Colleges of Fine Arts and Mass Communication, Humanities and Social Mr. Corey Green Sciences, and Sciences sponsored the free event. Dr. Hiranya Dr. S. West Gurley Nath also provided support with his generous Assam Scholarship, awarded to the best presentation by an honors student. Dr. Maria Botero Jaramillo A total of three research scholarships of $500 each, including Ms. Hannah Johnson the Assam Scholarship, were awarded in the closing ceremony, along with four honorable mentions awards ($100 each). Th e Mr. John Jordan Assam Scholarship for Outstanding Honors Research was Ms. Berra Koskulu awarded Lindsay Hixon for her oral-media presentation (Statistics Content in Elementary Textbooks). Th e Honors College Award Dr. Santosh Kumar for Best Overall Oral-Media Presentation was awarded to Timur Dr. Patrick Lewis Slipyi (Th e Cost of American Seafood), And Th e Honors College Best Overall Poster Award went to John Pinard (Resistance Ms. Lauren McLean Selection in the Microbiome by Various Antibiotic Treatment Ms. Barbara Miles Regimens). Honorable Mention Awards went to Paige Odegard (Cartosemiotics: How Maps Infl uence Culture and Power), Mr. Clinton Morrison Amber Neal (Isolation and Characterization of Gold (III) Dr. Carroll Ferguson Resistant Mutant of Rhodobacter Sphaeroides), Luis Morales (Los Nardone Zetas Cartel and Th eir Presence in the United States), and Sarah Kavanagh (Inventory Management System using RFID). Hixon, Ms. Damilola Omotajo Pinard, Odegard, Morales, and Kavanagh are all member of the Dean John Pascarella Honors College. Dr. Todd Primm Th e Honors College Student Ambassadors, along with the Honors College staff , worked hard all year to promote the Dr. Bernadette Pruitt URS across campus. Sarah Kavanagh, Michael Semmlinger, Mr. Jeff Roberts and Heather Woitena, URS Co-chairs, dedicated themselves to speaking to student organizations, holding informational Dr. Joni Seeling meetings, organizing the event, designing the program, Ms. Lauren Smith and selecting new merchandise. As always, it is the absolute exceptional work of the honors ambassadors that made the URS Dr. Gene Young such a success. Ms. Sonja Yung Be sure to join us, either as a presenter, volunteer, Dr. Pamela Zelbst or audience member, for the Ninth Annual URS, to be held Saturday, April 23, 2016. Contact Dr. Tracy Bilsing at honors@ shsu.edu to find out more information. Spring & Summer 2015 3 let’s tALK! WISDOM BEGINS IN WONDER Socrates’ famous quote, “Wisdom Begins in Wonder” to attend the event and join the table topic conversations.” defi nes the LET’S TALK!™ dinner each spring in Among the discussion leaders were: James “Spider” the University’s Lowman Student Center Ballroom. Marks, Military and Intelligence Contributor to CNN, Fox Renowned experts covering engaging topics come News, CBS, MSNBC, and BBC; Stan Holt, founder and together for a rare evening fi lled with lively, entertaining owner of the Original Lupe Tortilla Mexican Restaurant; and challenging dinner conversation. Th e dinner is Cari Borderson, Vice President of Economic Development an exclusive opportunity to share ideas within a small for the Greater Houston Partnership; Honorable Robert group facilitated by a notable host whose passion and Eckels, President of the Texas Central High-Speed in-depth knowledge of the discussion topic inspires Railway; Dr. Mauro Ferrari, President and CEO of the guests and provides ideas long aft er the evening is Houston Methodist Research Institute; Gayle Fallon, concluded. former National Security Administration code-breaker; Since the event launched in 2008, LET’S TALK!™ has Fred McClure, CEO of George Bush Presidential Library generated more than $450,000 to fund scholarships Foundation; and Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church founding and programs for the Elliott T. Bowers Honors pastor Bill Lawson who worked with the Reverend Martin College. “It aims to provide a unique opportunity to Luther King, Jr. hear entertaining and inspiring stories from industry experts, governmental leaders, and infl uential thinkers and a wide range of fi elds including health, banking, oil and gas, transportation, and entrepreneurialism,” according to Dr. Maria Holmes, Honors Associate Dean. Th e evening connects the Honors Ambassadors with accomplished alumni and distinguished faculty members who lead a number of the discussions. “Each year special sponsors enable additional Honors students Honors College Ambassadors and Advisor Dr. Maria Holmes Volume 6, Issue 2 4 NEW ACTIVE MINDS CHAPTER AIMS TO REMOVE STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL ILLNESS Following the suicide of her son last year, Dr. Maria Active Minds that provide education and advocacy are growing. Holmes became more aware that students suffering from mental The new SHSU Active Minds Chapter is the perfect example of illness were often judged and stereotyped unfairly due to this type of relevant and helpful program.” inaccurate stigmas surrounding mental health. She and a cadre of According to Holmes, roughly 1,100 college students Honors College students began organizing a new campus group, die by suicide every year—some of the most plagued groups hoping to change that. consisting of student athletes, honors students, and military Holmes, the Associate Dean of the Honors College, veterans. Anthony Bagwell, Active Minds publicity chair and teamed up with the Student Health Center staff and student a senior physics major, said he almost become a part of these volunteers to launch an “Active Minds” chapter at SHSU, the statistics in 2011 as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder he first chapter of its kind to exist within the Texas State University developed after his experiences as a combat veteran stationed in System. Afghanistan. Active Minds is the leading nonprofit organization “I have battled my own demons, ultimately attempting that empowers students to speak openly about mental health in suicide in early 2011 instead of reaching out for help – order to educate others and encourage help-seeking. The new something all too prevalent in our society because of the stigma SHSU chapter joins with the national organization in changing associated to mental health disorders – and it was an act which the culture on campuses and in the community by providing forced me to change my perspective,” Bagwell said. “After a information, leadership opportunities and advocacy training to Marine brother of mine took his own life in late 2014, I knew the next generation. that I could no longer keep quiet—that I must share my story “Many college-aged students (one in four) experience and my experiences with those who might listen, with those who some type of mental illness. The larger problem is that they’re might benefit from knowing afraid to talk about it because of the negative stigma,” Holmes Although Holmes said her personal interest in research said. As an academic advisor, Holmes often referred students regarding mental health sparked after the passing of her son, a to the counseling center, only to find out that the students never group of Honors students in her Univ 1301 course proposed the followed through and never received assistance.