Finalists and alternates from left to right, top to bottom: Jake Hansen, Kylie Luse, Yesenia Navarro-Aguirre, Philip Palios, Anika Patel, Caleb Perez, Nicole Shermer, Tammy Tarhini
Continuing in the 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 tradition of producing globally-minded students, five undergraduates and bachelor鈥檚 alumni have been selected for the 2018-19 Fulbright Student program. In addition, 10 graduate/professional students and alumni were named finalists. Three undergraduates and two graduate students were also selected as alternates. Acceptance to the Fulbright program is competitive, and recipients are selected based on academic and professional achievement, as well as record of service and leadership potential in one鈥檚 chosen field.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for United States students to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide. This year鈥檚 undergraduates will teach English, conduct research and pursue graduate studies across the globe
This year鈥檚 undergraduate Fulbright finalists are:
Jake Hansen,听’18 // Major:Russian Language, Literature, and Culture // Fulbright: English Teaching Assistantship in Russia
Yesenia Navarro-Aguirre, ’17 // Major: Human Evolutionary Biology; Anthropology of Globalization 听// Fulbright: Public Health research in Peru
Philip Palios, ’18 // Major:Culture, Literature, and the Arts (黑料吃瓜网 Bothell) //听Fulbright:Studying at鈥� University of Glasgow in the UK
Tammy Tarhini, ’17 // Major: Human Evolutionary鈥� Biology; Anthropology of Globalization // Fulbright: Germany, English Teaching 鈥ˋssistantship
This year鈥檚 undergraduate Fulbright听alternate finalists are:
Kylie Luse, ’17 // Major:Psychology; Spanish鈥� // Fulbright:Alternate to Spain for English Teaching Assistantship
Anika Patel, ’17 // Major: Biochemistry and 鈥↖nterdisciplinary Honors 听// Fulbright: Alternate to鈥� Thailand for English Teaching Assistantship
Nicole Shermer, ’16 // Major: International鈥� Studies // Fulbright: Alternate to Peru for Economic Development research
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for this impressive group of undergraduates as well as those who reached the semifinalist stage. .
The Fulbright US Student Program application process is supported by the , a UAA program. OMSFA collaborates closely with the , and in supporting Fulbright applicants at all three campuses. OMSFA also works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards.
Note: This story was updated to reflect one graduate student declining the award to accept a different award. February 19, 2019.
Jasmine Graham (bioengineering, ’18) represented the 黑料吃瓜网 and state of Washington at this year’s Posters on the Hill.听 Joining 46 other undergraduate researchers from around the country, Graham, along with her peers, presented their research to congress and advocated for continued funding of undergraduate research. Jasmine takes us through her preparation and whirlwind two days in the nation’s capital.
Jasmine Graham presents her research to congress members at Posters on the Hill.
Getting ready to present my research to congress
Jasmine Graham discusses the importance of undergraduate research with Senator Maria Cantwell.
February-April: I鈥檓 accepted to 鈥� a conference in Washington D.C. hosted by the (CUR) 鈥� where I鈥檒l be the sole representative from the 黑料吃瓜网 and Washington state. Delighted, I tell my mentors and parents about this amazing opportunity and register for the conference. With the help of a travel agent, I book my 黑料吃瓜网-sponsored flights and hotel.
The conference鈥檚 purpose is to show that undergraduate research is important and should continue to be funded. I tune in to CUR鈥檚 advocacy webinar to learn how to discuss the impact of undergraduate research with congress members and their staff. I plan my elevator pitch to include a mention of the NSF funding I received for my capstone and the ways research helped me define and pursue my career goals. I practice my poster and pitch for with mentor, who helps me to frame my research developing a dental acidity indicator. The conference鈥檚 attendees include government staff from a variety of non-science backgrounds, so I take out technical jargon. To establish common ground between my research and their dental experiences, I will discuss how my research aims to help prevent cavities by identifying at-risk teeth earlier and allowing targeted preventive treatment.
Arriving in Washington D.C.
April 17: I arrive in Washington D.C. at 7 a.m. and check into my hotel early to take a nap. At the CUR office, I meet the other student presenters and connect with Amber, a presenter from Mississippi. As we walk through the National Museum of American History, we chat about our shared goals of pursuing graduate school and becoming leaders in our field. We agree it鈥檚 inspiring to be at a conference with so many like-minded young scientists. After more sight-seeing, the evening formally wraps up with an orientation dinner at the American Chemical Society, who is a sponsor of Posters on the Hill. After appreciating the lit-up monuments on the National Mall, I head to the hotel to prepare for tomorrow鈥檚 meetings.
Meeting Washington鈥檚 state senators
Jasmine Graham shared her research with Senator Patty Murray.
April 18: My morning starts with coffee 鈥� and senators! Both Senators and hold weekly coffees with their constituents 鈥� a.k.a. voters. To sign up, you just need to email the senators鈥� offices in advance. The coffees are informal discussions in which the senator and their staff chat with each visitor, answer questions and give updates on Senate debates.
Senator Patty Murray is a ranking member of the education committee and wrote the Higher Education Act, which sets standards for the accessibility, affordability and accountability of colleges. Several faculty members from Washington colleges are at Senator Murray鈥檚 coffee to advocate for undergraduate research funding. I jump into the discussion to share how undergraduate research helped make me competitive for grad school and solidified my career goals. The faculty agree and add that their students also learn skills not taught in classrooms, prepare for their careers and build support networks through research. Senator Murray comments that it鈥檚 great to hear about students benefiting from undergraduate research, and these stories will give her fuel for when she supports research funding. Senator Cantwell鈥檚 coffee proceeds similarly, with the senator responding to people鈥檚 concerns in a lively and insightful manner.
Getting the V.I.P. treatment
April 18: One perk of visiting your senator鈥檚 office is touring the U.S. Capitol with an intern, which includes riding an underground train to the Capitol building, giving you a behind-the-scenes peek of capitol history. Another perk is a Senate Gallery ticket, where I watch the senators popping into the chamber to vote for the NASA administrator nominee. I get a sense of the incredible amount of American history in the past and in the making.
I am paired with the 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Federal Relations Associate McKinzie Strait, who’s based in Washington D.C. Before this conference, I didn鈥檛 know that the 黑料吃瓜网 has full-time staff in D.C., and am thankful that we do. McKinzie helped schedule all the day鈥檚 meetings, accompanies me to my one-on-one talks with US representatives鈥� staff, and easily navigates our way through the maze of representatives鈥� offices. I reiterate the importance of funding undergraduate research to Rep. Rick Larsen鈥檚 legislative assistant and Rep. Pramila Jayapal鈥檚 congressional fellow. I especially connect with Rep. Pramila Jayapal鈥檚 congressional fellow over our research experiences. Her additional roles as a research mentor and STEM outreach leader are special to me, since I want to take on the same roles in my career.
Advocating to congress for undergraduate research
April 18: It is finally time to see all 47 students and their posters at the evening CUR reception. Though I don鈥檛 get any technical questions from the congressional and funding agency staff attending, I do appreciate the enthusiasm they show about my research after I share my poster鈥檚 story with them. With a variety of compelling projects in areas from biotech to the social sciences, the poster session fosters continued support on Capitol Hill for undergraduate research. Undergraduate research has been such an impactful part of my time at 黑料吃瓜网, and I鈥檓 proud to advocate for future undergraduates to have similar experiences.
April 19: I catch my flights back to Seattle and get right back into classes and lab work. The photos taken at the senators鈥� constituent coffees arrive by email, and I send thank you notes to the congressional offices.
Jasmine Graham visits the National Museum of American History.
黑料吃瓜网 Jasmine Y. Graham An experienced undergraduate researcher, Jasmine Graham published a first-author paper on her dental research in 鈥淟asers in Dentistry鈥� earlier this year. In addition to her experience at Posters on the Hill, she has presented at conferences in San Francisco and Seattle. Her exceptional promise as a researcher has earned her a Levinson Emerging Scholars Award, a Mary Gates Research Award and a National Science Foundation award for a summer research experience for undergraduates. In addition to her lab work, Graham is an active member of the 黑料吃瓜网 community, serving as a Dawg Daze leader welcoming first-year students to campus, outreach leader for the 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Biomedical Engineering Society and an听Undergraduate Research Leader听for the 黑料吃瓜网 Undergraduate Research Program.听Next fall, she will start a Ph.D. program in bioengineering at U.C. Berkeley.
Learn more about Undergraduate Research at the 黑料吃瓜网.
The Undergraduate Research Program facilitates research experiences for undergraduates with 黑料吃瓜网 faculty members across the disciplines. URP maintains a听listing of current 黑料吃瓜网 research opportunities听and national programs.听The Undergraduate Research Program works to ensure that all 黑料吃瓜网 students have access to undergraduate research opportunities by creating initiatives that expand research opportunities; providing a public forum for students to present their work; and helping听faculty integrate undergraduates into the knowledge-making process.
Janice DeCosmo, associate vice provost and associate dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs Photo: Photo by Bryan Nakata
Janice DeCosmo, associate vice provost for undergraduate research, associate dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, and affiliate faculty member in the has been elected president of the national nonprofit听听(CUR).
A longtime proponent of undergraduate research, DeCosmo was the first director of the 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 and has been involved in or running the Undergraduate Research Symposium since its inception in 1997. Her work has been instrumental in developing a national model in undergraduate research at the 黑料吃瓜网. In 2016-17, more than 8,400 undergraduates participated in undergraduate research. In the recent 2018 Undergraduate Research Symposium, more than 1,250 students presented their work.
鈥淥ur Undergraduate Research Program 鈥� its size, breadth and excellence,” says 黑料吃瓜网 President Ana Mari Cauce, “is one of the crown jewels of our Husky Experience.鈥�
鈥淢y early experiences with undergraduate research were as a graduate student,鈥� says DeCosmo, 鈥渨here myself and my peers found ourselves mentoring first-generation college students who were struggling with coursework and finding their way at a large university. As the students learned our protocols and became part of our teams, we saw them blossom and gain new confidence; their grades also improved. That experience stayed with me, and later I jumped at the chance to develop a grant-funded undergraduate research initiative.鈥�
DeCosmo says the community and network of CUR members helped bring ideas and collegial support as the 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Undergraduate Research Program developed and matured.
For nearly two decades, DeCosmo has been an active CUR member. Her diverse volunteer experiences within CUR include service on program review and nominations vetting committees, undergraduate research programs division chair, two terms on the governing board for the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, and a term on CUR鈥檚 executive board. A prolific writer and presenter on undergraduate research scholarship, DeCosmo serves as issue editor for CUR鈥檚 flagship journal,听听(SPUR).
鈥淚 am humbled to be president-elect of [CUR],鈥� says DeComo, 鈥渁nd I look forward to advancing opportunity for students in all disciplines and types of institutions to have the chance to develop their creativity, critical thinking, and communications skills 鈥� so essential to their future success in work and life 鈥� through research.鈥�
DeCosmo earned a BS in physics from the University of Iowa in 1979 and a Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences from the 黑料吃瓜网 in 1991, specializing in atmosphere-ocean interaction. She oversees the 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Center for Experiential Learning and Diversity, which includes undergraduate research, service learning, leadership, and scholarship programs. She represents the 黑料吃瓜网 on statewide higher education policy groups that oversee new academic programs and the transfer process for students from Washington鈥檚 two-year colleges to four-year institutions. DeCosmo was director for 10听years of the Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium, a NASA-funded effort to support innovative education and research initiatives across the state.
黑料吃瓜网 Undergraduate Research Program
The facilitates research experiences for undergraduates with 黑料吃瓜网 faculty members across the disciplines. Its signature event is the annual , which happens each May. This year, more than 1,250 students presented their research. The Undergraduate Research Program is an Undergraduate Academic Affairs program, housed in the Center for Experiential Learning and Diversity.
黑料吃瓜网
The is one of the world鈥檚 preeminent public universities. Our impact on individuals, our region and the world is profound 鈥� whether we are launching young people into a boundless future or confronting the grand challenges of our time through undaunted research and scholarship. Ranked No. 13 in the world on the听, the 黑料吃瓜网 educates more than 54,000 students annually.
Council on Undergraduate Research
The听听supports faculty development for high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship. More than 700 institutions and nearly 13,000 individuals belong to CUR. CUR believes that the best way to capture student interest and create enthusiasm for a discipline is through research in close collaboration with faculty members.
Udall scholars Ashley Lewis (left) and Alishia Orloff (right).
Juniors Ashley Lewis and Alishia Orloff will join 50 students from around the country as Udall Scholars. A competitive award, the review committee selected this year鈥檚 scholars from 437 nominees based on the student鈥檚 commitment to careers in the environment, Native health care or tribal policy, as well as their leadership potential, public service and academic achievement.
The scholarship provides each student with up to $7,000 for use on tuition, room, board or supplies. The Udall Foundation also hosts a five-day orientation in Tucson, Arizona. There, scholars will meet each other and program alumni, complete a case study and interact with community leaders in environmental fields, tribal health care and governance.
For both Lewis and Orloff, this scholarship aligns closely with their career goals.
Ashley Lewis
Udall Scholar Ashley Lewis
Hometown: Elma, WA Graduation: 2019 (projected) Major: Aquatic and Fishery Sciences; Communications
“Being named a Udall scholar for the second time provides more opportunity to strengthen tribal nations and to protect resources of the Pacific Northwest, I couldn’t be more proud to be among a group of people that are committed to changing our world.”
Business owner and outdoor enthusiast Ashley Lewis is eager to protect the outdoors she loves so much. As a female Native American fishing guide, she is eager to show the world that leaders come in all forms. Through her fishing business, she has become a leading voice in the community: as a brand ambassador for Shimano, and as a contributor to ESPN鈥檚 show 鈥淭he Outdoor Line.鈥� Connections to her community are strong. As an active member of the Quinault Indian Nation, Lewis is dedicated to working with her tribe to advocate for our natural resources. She also volunteers with The Fallen Outdoors, where she supports American Army Veterans鈥� rehabilitation through connecting with nature.
The combination of her passion for the outdoors, with her drive to protect our Northwest environments, prompted her to return to college. She is currently pursuing her bachelor鈥檚 degree, with the long-term goal of earning a master鈥檚 in aquatic and fishery sciences. Professionally, she plans to work in public policy, where she can help strengthen Pacific Northwest fisheries, and show that investing in outdoor spaces benefits the larger community. 听听听
Alishia Orloff
Udall Scholar Alishia Orloff
Hometown: Tacoma, WA Graduation: 2019 (projected) Major: Environmental Science and Resource Management
An active researcher, Alishia Orloff has a strong interest in terrestrial and riparian environments. Fascinated by the interdisciplinary processes that drive our environments, Orloff is dedicated to continuously learning more about these complex ecosystems. Throughout her research, Orloff has partnered with the University of Minnesota Duluth, Ojibwe Resource Management and the Tulalip Tribes. Orloff believes the management of natural resources affects each person鈥檚 daily life. She views helping people understand the source of these resources is crucial to protecting the environment. Recognizing the importance of community involvement, she currently volunteers as a Students Expressing Environmental Dedication (SEED) executive, where she promotes sustainability on campus, and as a native plant nursery volunteer, where she cultivates native plants.
In the future, Orloff aspires to earn a doctoral degree and become a leading researcher at an organization that proactively engages the community to preserve our natural resources.
鈥淭he Udall award serves as a recognition of my stewardship in the environment with a specific focus in traditional ecological knowledge thus far. Through this award, I can more vigorously develop a stronger connection to protecting our natural resources and serving the communities that are impacted. I am greatly appreciative of this opportunity to collaborate with other great stewards from around the nation and work together to broaden our understanding and exposure of environmental and social issues.鈥�
Learn more about scholarship opportunities at 黑料吃瓜网
The Udall Scholarship application process is supported by the (OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards.
黑料吃瓜网 students鈥� dedication to community-based service and activism will be recognized at the on May 23 from 1:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Husky Union Building (HUB) on the 黑料吃瓜网 Seattle campus. The annual event showcases 黑料吃瓜网 undergraduate and graduate students who develop their leadership skills while committing their time and talent to serving their communities. On campus and off, 黑料吃瓜网 students are expanding definitions of service and leadership and blurring the boundaries between classroom and community. This year鈥檚 theme 鈥� Explore. Ignite. Impact. 鈥� encapsulates how 黑料吃瓜网 undergraduates are engaged with leadership, service and activism. In 2016-17, more than 5,500 students engaged in academic service-learning, volunteering an astounding 495,152 hours.
This year鈥檚 Spring Celebration features culminating presentations from nearly 200 participants, including students in the and Undergraduate Community Based Internship (UCBI), , Jumpstart, and Ellis Civic Fellowship programs; as well as breakout sessions from students in the , social sciences and . To cap off the celebration, we鈥檒l hear from members of and about their community-based work. The entire 黑料吃瓜网 community and network of community partners are welcome to attend.
In offering their valuable skills and time, students support the work of numerous organizations while simultaneously growing their own capacity for leadership and reflecting on the value of service.
Heaven Tesfamarium, a junior in medical anthropology and political science, stays connected to her Eritrean roots by organizing young people in the region and across the country through the Young People鈥檚 Front for Democracy and Justice (YPFDJ). Heaven is leading her peers in YPFDJ to listen to the needs of youth serving organizations in Eritrea, and mobilize resources from the U.S. to address the community鈥檚 articulated needs. Ultimately interested in a global health career, she also volunteers as a nurse鈥檚 assistant at the Bryant Elementary health room. Through her service and leadership activities, she is finding ways to address global and local health concerns.
A service-learning class during her first year at the 黑料吃瓜网 introduced Jessica Lo, a senior in biochemistry and neurobiology, to a community member with traumatic brain injury (TBI). That interpersonal connection ignited her academic curiosity about the condition, and inspired her to find ways to help individuals with TBI. Over the last two years, Jessica founded the 黑料吃瓜网 chapter of 鈥� a national organization connecting those with TBI to university students and community resources. In addition to her work with Synapse, and her research studying how to regrow brain cells, Jessica supports folks with TBI and other chronic illnesses through a Undergraduate Community Based Internship with Full Life Care.
Public health and neurobiology double major Ruweida Ahmed鈥檚 project focuses on youth tutoring in Rainier Vista. Her focus is to increase parents鈥� engagement with their child鈥檚 education. Through her work, she helps her students increase their reading level, strengthen their math skills and grow their confidence. Over the course of the year, she鈥檚 proudly watched her students continually push themselves to better understand their classwork.
and Ruby Linsao Scholar Eya Lazaro is passionate about education for all. As an immigrant to the U.S., education didn鈥檛 feel like a realistic option for her. Yet, she persevered and is now a junior at the 黑料吃瓜网 majoring in early childhood and family studies. Grateful for the opportunities given to her, she is dedicated to giving back to her community and inspiring the next generation of Pacific Islanders to attend college. Through her involvement with the and Jumpstart, Lazaro is reaching out to marginalized communities to help them find paths to higher education. Along with the Sisterhood of Pi Nu Lota, she is organizing an event to highlight the Pasifika culture and its values through early literacy.
The Spring Celebration of Service and Leadership is planned and coordinated by programs in , , and the .
Schedule overview
All events take place on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 and are in the HUB Ballroom, unless otherwise noted.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Digital Storytelling and Global Citizenship
1:30-3:20 p.m. in HUB 250
Ellis Civic Fellowship Capstone
2:00-3:00 p.m. in HUB 214
Exploring Internships in the Social Sciences: Story Share and Panel Discussion
2:00-5:00 p.m. in HUB 145
School of Medicine Service-Learning and Advocacy Groups
6:00-7:30 p.m. in HUB 250
On Friday, May 18, more than 1,200 黑料吃瓜网 undergraduates and visiting undrgraduates student scholars will participate in the 21st Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium 鈥� an event that is one of the largest of its kind in the nation.
The Symposium runs from 11 a.m.鈥�6 p.m. on the 黑料吃瓜网 Seattle campus. Students will present their research in poster, oral and performing arts sessions in Mary Gates Hall and Johnson Hall, and in a visual arts and design showcase in Odegaard Undergraduate Library (see event details below). 黑料吃瓜网 President Ana Mari Cauce is scheduled to provide opening remarks at 11 a.m. in Mary Gates Hall.
Through undergraduate research, students contribute to groundbreaking work and gain the experience necessary to one day lead innovative research themselves. 黑料吃瓜网 undergraduates are getting involved in research in increasing numbers 鈥� more than 8,400 students participated in research in 2016鈥�17.听More than 1,000 faculty, post-doc, research staff and graduate student mentors supported this year鈥檚 Symposium presenters through their research, helping students develop subject area knowledge, transferable skills and an entrepreneurial perspective that will prepare them for future employment, education and civic engagement.
Students will share their research on topics as diverse and broad as better diagnosis of pediatric concussions; improving regional climate prediction; innovations in pain management; predicting tooth decay; gratitude in relation to adolescent mental health; the complexity of the canoe in Samoan culture; forensic anthropology; and much, much more.
The titles of students鈥� presentations gives more detail about the range and complexity of their projects. A small sampling of titles include:
BrainNet: First Three-Person Brain-to-Brain Communication System
Star Formation in Low Metallicity Environments
Curation: A Performance
My Work as an Artist and Designer on the DFL鈥檚 3D Game, Hug the Line
Forensic Anthropology and Human Rights in Latin America
The Symposium is open to selected undergraduates from other institutions, and we are thrilled to welcome presenters from听22 other institutions in addition to听, the Seattle Colleges, Montana State University, Washington State University and the University of Victoria听(complete list below).
What: The 21st Annual Research Symposium at the 黑料吃瓜网
Who: More than 1,200 inspiring undergraduates at 黑料吃瓜网 presenting ground-breaking research and selected undergraduates from other institutions
When: Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:00 a.m.颅鈥�6:00 p.m.
Where: Mary Gates Hall, select rooms in Johnson Hall, and Odegaard Undergraduate Library
Plan ahead: See event schedule and search the Online Proceedings at听
The Goldwater Foundation honored four 黑料吃瓜网 students this year. Selected from 1,280 nominees from across the country, Nelson Lui, Kimberly Ruth and Tyler Valentine were named Goldwater Scholars. Andrew Luo earned an honorable mention.
Goldwater Scholarships are granted to sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise and plan to pursue research careers in math, engineering or the natural sciences.听 .
Major: Earth and Space Sciences Expected graduation: 2019
Learn more about scholarship opportunities at 黑料吃瓜网 The听Goldwater Scholarship听application process is supported by the听听(OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards.
Dr. Lovenoor Aulk presents his data to UAA staff at the 30-year anniversary celebration of Freshman Interest Groups. According to his team’s study, FIGS increase the graduation rates for undergraduate students, especially those in the underrepresented demographic. Photo by Bryan Nakata.
Among this year鈥檚 milestones for Undergraduate Academic Affairs is the 30th anniversary of , formerly known as Freshman Interest Groups. To mark the occasion, hosted an event marked by lively conversations between attendees led by FIG leaders, a faculty panel discussion and a presentation of a recent study that demonstrates the FIG program鈥檚 impact on undergraduate student persistence through to graduation.
First Year Programs created FIGs in 1987 as a way for students to find a smaller, more connected community within the large university. In FIGs, a cluster of courses are linked with peer instructors, who are typically upperclassmen who help guide the new students through the university setting. These 2-credit general studies courses have continued expanding since its inception, starting as four clusters and growing to more than 150 today: 黑料吃瓜网 48% of first-year students enroll in a FIG.
For the anniversary, new data was released on FIGs by the , which demonstrated just how integral FIGs have been for the 黑料吃瓜网. was led by , a Ph.D. student in informatics science, and looked at an estimated 58,000 students between 1998 and 2018.
Results of the research showed that students who participated in FIGs have a higher chance of re-enrollment compared to their counterparts: 94% of students who participated in FIGs re-enrolled the following quarter, 3% higher than those not in FIGs.
This trend was also reflected in graduation rates; those who participated in the FIG program saw a 6% increase in the likelihood of graduating within 6 years. The greatest impact was shown with underrepresented student demographics.
鈥淲hen looking at underrepresented students, the differences are huge,鈥� Aulk said at the event while presenting his team鈥檚 findings. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a 14% difference in graduation rates 鈥� [that鈥檚] double digits.鈥�
Archive photo of students gathering for their FIGs, circa 1997. Photo Courtesy First Year Programs at the 黑料吃瓜网.
For the 黑料吃瓜网, which is already the national average for six-year graduation rates, the impact FIGs have for underrepresented students is increasing in importance. Students from this demographic graduate at lower rates than their peers, and FIGs increase their chances greatly. In addition, since 2006 the enrollment of underrepresented and international students rose by 6% and 13%, respectively. This means that more students of color are coming to the school and will look to the program to help them navigate their first quarter.
For both international and minority students, it can be especially challenging to connect with others during their first year. Nearly half of students in the study said that FIGs succeeded most by helping them make friends and find community.
“There was a different energy because they were walking in [to class] together,” said panelist Dr. Andrea Carroll, senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry. “You can see that community feeling… that’s huge.”
On the other side, the program is an opportunity for older students to practice teaching skills and make valuable connections. One such student, Alyssa Eckroth, enjoyed teaching her FIG so much that she is already preparing for another one next fall.
鈥淚 had one student come up to me and say 鈥榯his is the best class I鈥檝e ever taken,鈥� Eckroth said. 鈥淚t made my heart feel warm.鈥�
Whether the focus is on graduation rates, peer-led courses or student experience, the FIG program has positively shaped our university 鈥� and will continue to do so in years to come.
鈥淔irst Year Programs鈥� mission is really to think about strategic programming for all undergraduate students: freshman, transfer, first generation, low income and international students,鈥� LeAnne Wiles, director of First Year Programs said at the event. 鈥淭o think about how they can strategically plug into the university and aim to have a smoother transition while they鈥檙e here.鈥�
The FIG program is one way 鈥� and a successful one at that 鈥� to achieve that smooth transition for new students.
Varsha Govindaraju鈥檚 year as a Luce Scholar was a rollercoaster. As the sole scholar in Cambodia, she navigated a new culture, lived in a developing nation and adapted to a challenging work environment. At the same time, it was thrilling. She solidified her beliefs and goals; taught Indian dance to a group of Khmer teachers and parents; learned Khmer; formed a group of like-minded friends; became the proud owner of a motorbike and reconnected with family in India.
Varsha (鈥�15, anthropology and law, societies and justice) spent her first two months in Cambodia studying the Khmer language in Siem Reap. As the only student in her class, and one of two non-Khmer students in the entire language school, Varsha noticed people staring at her. Constantly. She asked her language teacher why.
My Khmer teacher told me that people are staring because they are trying to understand me or something about me, and it鈥檚 not normally considered rude. She also said it might be because I鈥檓 Indian and have dark skin.
This explanation helped her understand why making friends in Siem Reap was difficult. According to past Luce Scholars, studying Khmer in cafes would pique people鈥檚 interest, prompting them to strike up a conversation. Varsha was met with more stares.
After two months of acclimating to Cambodian life in the smaller city of Siem Reap, Varsha was excited to move to the capital Phnom Penh. There, she would start her work placement at the Cambodian Women鈥檚 Crisis Center.
Gallery: Life in Siem Reap
Working to address gender-based violence in Cambodia
As an undergraduate, Varsha worked with victims of gender-based violence through (Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Activists). Because of this experience and her interest in learning about domestic violence in other cultures, the Luce Program placed Varsha at the Cambodian Women鈥檚 Crisis Center.
Designed for emerging leaders with little to no experience in Asia, the provides stipends, language training and individualized job placements in countries throughout Asia. The year begins with an orientation, and Luce Scholars have several opportunities to meet throughout the year.
Working for the Cambodian Women鈥檚 Crisis Center (CWCC) is where I had to adapt the most. After working at several jobs that emphasized productivity and efficiency, I became immersed in a professional culture that valued face-to-face communication and relationships above all. My email savvy was no longer helpful, as in-person communication was where the real work got done. In our office converted from a Khmer house, I found myself walking up the narrow stairs to talk about a specific project and often ended up learning or making progress on something entirely different. I鈥檝e come to value the relationships I built with my coworkers and the importance of learning directly from them.
At the Cambodian Women鈥檚 Crisis Center, Varsha wrote grants and rewrote English documents to be more effective fundraising tools. While Varsha recognized the importance of this work, she was eager to get out into the field and work with local communities.
Through various outreach programs, I traveled to villages outside Phnom Penh and Kampong Thom, to meet and chat with men who are abusers in their communities as they receive anger management training. Meeting these men was initially incredibly uncomfortable, as one even showed up drunk to the training. However, their commitment to changing their behavior was stunning. I met wives who spoke frankly in women鈥檚 support groups about their husbands still beating them, and yet they still managed to host events in their village to help other women. These conversations, while difficult due to my limited Khmer abilities, have given me direct insight into rural domestic violence issues and how CWCC can help. My Khmer language training gives me the opportunity to not only understand what people are saying, but laugh with them, cry with them, and show I care enough to try and communicate.
For UN Women鈥檚 Day, CWCC hosted a march through a rural village near Kampong Thom, involving the community to stop cycles of domestic violence.
A changing perspective
Going into her Luce year, Varsha was considering a career in international law. However, over the course of her work in Cambodia, she came to believe that locals are the best equipped people to help their communities. As a foreigner, she could never have the same innate understanding of the culture. To that end, Varsha is now in law school at the 黑料吃瓜网, on a , with the goal of being a public defender.
Moving to Cambodia, leaving the traditional path to move abroad for a year has been about investing in myself. I鈥檓 the first to say that being in a developing country from a privileged background can be a difficult adjustment, and it鈥檚 not for a lot of people if they don鈥檛 hold the right mindset. If you let every time you vomit, see bugs and run into trash on the streets define your experience in the country, you鈥檙e going to have an awful time. But, if you take it as an opportunity to understand poverty, development, and recognize the privileges your home country brings you, you鈥檒l leave forever changed.
Gallery: Life in Phnom Penh, traveling through Asia and making friends
Learn more about scholarship opportunities at 黑料吃瓜网
The Luce Scholars Program application process is supported by the (OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards. The 黑料吃瓜网 campus application process for students interested in (and other scholarships supporting graduate studies, research, and community engagement around the world) will get started this spring for 2019-20 awards. Learn more through the program.
黑料吃瓜网 seniors Tobi Du and Caleb Huffman will join approximately 125 scholars from around the world as part of the Yenching Academy of Peking University鈥檚 2018-19 cohort. A U.S. News & World Report poll ranked Peking University the fifth best global university in Asia, and second-best university in China. The opportunity to join is highly competitive. In 2017, only 4 out of 124 Yenching Academy Scholars from the states studied at public research universities in the United States.
Launched by China鈥檚 Peking University in 2014, the Academy aims to build bridges between China and the rest of the world by educating the next generation of leaders and innovators. As Yenching Scholars, students design their own research in humanities or social sciences, take language classes and study China鈥檚 past, present and future. The 1-2 year program culminates with students earning a master鈥檚 degree in China studies. In addition to covering the costs of tuition, the award includes round trip air travel from the student鈥檚 home country, housing on campus and living costs.
“Undergraduate education at the 黑料吃瓜网 aspires to prepare students for cross-cultural leadership, scholarship and impact in the world,鈥� explains Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. 鈥淲e are so proud of Tobi and Caleb for this recognition of their accomplishments-to-date as well as the promise of their future work and impact in the world.鈥�
This opportunity for a focused look into China鈥檚 role in the world closely aligns with both Du鈥檚 and Huffman鈥檚 academic interests and future career goals.
Tobi Du
Major: Political science (departmental honors) Expected graduation: June 鈥�18
A Taiwanese-American student studying political science with a focus on international security, Du plans to pursue a career in diplomacy and policymaking as a foreign service officer with the U.S. Department of State. While at Yenching Academy, Du seeks to study the role of China in global politics, envisioning a close diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and China as critical to the international community. 鈥淸The Yenching Academy] will strengthen my personal and professional development by honing my cultural adaptability and personal resilience, and provide a basis for future intensive international assignments,鈥� says Du. 鈥淭he regional expertise that I will gain from this program is invaluable to my potential career as a diplomat.鈥�
To deepen her knowledge about East Asia, the Sammamish native served as a project leader in her Korean Peninsula and World Politics course and studied the construction of Japanese identity in Tokyo via an Honors Program study abroad class. She is currently writing her honors research thesis about how North Korean domestic political changes and Kim Jong-un鈥檚 external and internal threat perceptions have affected the country鈥檚 accelerating nuclear and ballistic missile agenda.
Beyond her studies, Du is focused on giving back to the community. She serves as volunteer director for the 黑料吃瓜网 Foundation鈥檚 Senior Class Gift Council and is a lead of a local Family Readiness Group, connecting families of soldiers with information from their commanders.
Caleb Huffman
Majors: Political science, communication (college honors) Expected graduation: June 2018
Originally from Onalaska, WA, Huffman鈥檚 eagerness to build bridges between cultures prompted him to take advantage of any and all foreign-service-related opportunities. As a freshman, he was selected as a Gilman Scholar to study human migration in Rome and Amsterdam. He next served as a Husky Presidential Ambassador, traveling to Tsinghua University in Beijing and went on to earn a fellowship with the U.S.-China Initiative Student Fellows program at Georgetown. There, he attended conferences with senior U.S. and Chinese diplomats in Washington D.C. and Beijing. Most recently, he served as a delegate as part of the Forum for American/Chinese Exchange at Stanford, attending conferences at Stanford and Peking University. Huffman believes that the U.S.-China relationship will be a critical, and perhaps, the most important bilateral relationship of his lifetime. He is eager to improve his Mandarin skills and gain a better understanding of Chinese law, history and culture.
鈥淪tudying China鈥檚 legal system at Yenching Academy will be my foundational study of a legal system (my master鈥檚 degree will be in Chinese law and society), the first of many ventures examining legal systems around the world. I aim to be a leader, one who sees a vision of what could be with an ability to understand what is, while always working to persuade others to change what is because of what could be.鈥�
Huffman鈥檚 interest in cross-cultural leadership and international policy led him to double major in political science and communication. His future plans include pursuing a degree in international law, with the aim of holding an influential role in American foreign relation鈥檚 peace-building efforts.
Learn more about scholarship opportunities at 黑料吃瓜网 The Yenching Academy application process is supported by the听听(OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards. The听听(and other scholarships supporting graduate studies around the world) will get started this spring for 2019-20 awards. Watch for updates about OMSFA鈥檚 Global Fellowships Prep program.
