Students, organizations eligible for Alumni Enrichment Awards

Alumni Enrichment Awards totaling $30,000 were presented this year by the University of Delaware Alumni Association to 15 undergraduates, four graduate students and six registered student organizations.

Allowing students and registered student organizations to participate in academic activities that enrich their educational experience at UD, the awards provide up to $2,000 per individual and up to $2,500 per registered student organization. The opportunities may include, but are not limited to, academic competitions, leadership conferences, educational sessions or other academic endeavors.

Among this year's recipients, for example, senior Kirsten Shae Johnson of Dover, Del., served as an intern for CNN's Beijing Bureau chief Jaime FlorCruz over eight weeks in the summer. This internship provided her with hands-on journalism experience as she researched background material for staff reporters, accompanied reporters on regular interviews and translated interviews.

Doctoral student Michael Higgins of Elkton, Md., who is researching how brain injuries can be prevented in sports accidents, received an award
to complete testing and data collections at the Southern Impact Research Center in Knoxville, Tenn.

With a grant, members of UD's student chapter of the Hospitality, Financial and Technology Professionals were able to attend
a hospitality technology exhibition and conference over the summer in Chicago. The Women's Club Lacrosse Team received a grant to send 25 team members to the national championship tournament in St. Louis.

Other undergraduate recipients and their programs include: Dan Frees, 2002 Presidential Classroom Intern program in Washington, D.C.; Jennifer Koppenhaver, a summer research project in Guatamala, studying human migration; Joshua Templet, a national campaign training seminar and trade show provided knowledge of political campaign management; Laura Callihan and Lindsay Scanlon, experience in geologic mapping with GPS, laser range finders and supporting software at Albion College's geology field camp; Margaret Franchi, Tufts University's introduction to veterinary medicine; Meredith Gaudio, Winter 2002 Study Abroad program at UD's London Center; Michelle Guobadia, travel to internship at the Undergraduate Fraternity Institute; Rana Sachdev, Amnesty International research intern in New York City; Rebecca Reidel, summer research project at the British Museum; Richard Gaschnig, summer geological field study with the University of Nevada; Stacie Konrad, Winter 2002 Study Abroad program in business administration in Europe; Bryan Townsend, United Nations summit meeting in Johannesburg; and Lacinda Jene Barrow, internship with the Bureau of Cuban Affairs in Washington, D.C.

Alumni Enrichment Awards to undergraduates totaled $19,816.

The six student organizations funded received a total of $6,484. In addition to the women's lacrosse club and the hospitality club, registered student organizations that received awards include Circle K, Kappa Alpha Theta, Model Organization of American States and Theta Chi.

Graduate students received Alumni Enrichment Awards totaling $3,700. In addition to Higgins, other recipients included Christopher Elliott, who attended a National Science Teachers Association conference; Jennifer Devaney, who researched the nutritional status of UD cheerleaders; and Scott Stackhouse, who researched using neuromuscular electrical stimulation cerebral palsy at the Shriners Hospital for Children.