THIRTY-SIX UA STUDENTS RECEIVE PRESTIGIOUS STATE AWARD
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - For a ninth consecutive year, the University of Arkansas set a record for the number of students that received State Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF), totaling 36 this year compared to last year's record of 31.
Awards range up to $2,900 for the student and $1,000 for the faculty mentor. Undergraduate students who are planning a research or artistic project for the coming year with a 3.0 GPA from any discipline are eligible to apply. Those selected from the University of Arkansas this year included students from anthropology, astronomy, biochemistry, chemistry, engineering, English, horticulture, international relations, microbiology, political science, psychology and others. The grant period begins this month.
"State Undergraduate Research Fellowships were created in 1992 with a start up grant from the National Science Foundation," said Colis Geren, dean of the UA Graduate School and longtime member of the state SURF committee. "We were the first ever statewide undergraduate research program. The fellowship was intended to foster active student/mentor relationships and to encourage undergraduate research. We received two years of funding from NSF, now the funding comes from the state. It has been a wildly successful program."
A faculty mentor nominates a student who then submits a five-page project/research proposal along with additional letters of recommendation. According to Suzanne McCray, director of the Office of Post-Graduate Fellowships, the University of Arkansas really began to encourage students to apply for the grant in 1994.
"Each year more undergraduates become involved in research at the University of Arkansas," McCray said. "The success our students have enjoyed in the SURF program is one result of that involvement, and the faculty support has been unstinting. Faculty members, like Mark Cory who is mentoring three SURF recipients this year, encourage students to get involved early, and they do.
"These SURF researchers have gone on to be Rhodes, Marshall, Barry Goldwater (math, science and engineering), Morris Udall (environmental studies), and Fulbright, National Science Foundation Fellows, and they have gone on to prestigious graduate, medical and law school programs. The SURF program has really provided critical support to the students of this state, helping to make them nationally competitive."
SURF began on the University of Arkansas campus in 1992 with a total of six winners in 1993. The grant goes through Henderson State University, and the annual Arkansas Undergraduate Research Conference is held at Henderson's campus where most of the UA SURF recipients present their research.
To find out more information on this year's conference April 19-20, 2002, visit www.hsu.edu/dept/unr/index.html. A journal of student papers are published from those proceedings.
For more information about these UA students, their proposals and their faculty mentors, visit www.uark.edu/admin/fellows.
SURF Fellowship recipients are as follows, dating back to 1994:
|
2001-2002 |
|||
|
DEPARTMENT |
MENTOR |
STUDENT |
HOMETOWN |
|
Anthropology |
George Sabo III |
Edward Tennant |
Springdale |
|
Anthropology |
Joann D'Alisera |
Rachel Driver |
Fayetteville |
|
Astronomy |
Claud Lacy |
Ben Hood |
Benton |
|
Biochemistry |
Roger E. Koeppe II |
Erin Scherer |
Little Rock |
|
Biology |
Kenneth Korth |
Sara Doege |
Fayetteville |
|
Biology |
Cynthia Sagers |
Heather Cook |
Hot Springs |
|
Biotechnology (ENG) |
James Mac Stewart |
Bill Hendrix |
Prairie Grove |
|
Chemistry |
Charles Wilkins |
Charles Surber |
Pinellass Park, Fl. |
|
Chemistry |
Ingrid Fritsch |
Ellen Pennington |
Conway |
|
Chemistry |
Wesley Stites |
Kristina Partrick |
Fort Smith |
|
Computer Science |
Amy Apon |
Brent Shores |
Russellville |
|
Earth Science |
Steven Boss |
John Gates |
Mena |
|
Embryology |
Claudia Bailey |
Laura Huber |
Mountain Home |
|
English |
Dorothy Stephens |
Meredith Leach |
Fayetteville |
|
English |
Sidney Burris |
Bryan Charles Hembree |
Eureka Springs |
|
European Studies |
Mark Cory |
Kathleen Blankenship |
Fayetteville |
|
European Studies |
Mark Cory |
Shauna Copeland |
Danville |
|
European Studies |
Mark Cory |
John Hulsey |
Pangburn |
|
Genetics (Agri) |
Ines Pinto |
Cynthia Thomson |
Fayetteville |
|
Geography |
Fiona Davidson |
Jessica Nichols Brooks |
Conway |
|
Geology |
Doy Zachry |
Jo Ann Teas |
Fayetteville |
|
History |
Henry Tsai |
Camille Edmison |
Perryville |
|
History |
Lynda Coon |
David Williams |
Hot Springs |
|
Horticulture |
Jon T. Lindstrom |
Meagan Love |
Rogers |
|
INEG |
Richard Cassady |
Kellie Schnieder |
Fayetteville |
|
Mathematics |
Luca Capogna |
Diana Dunn |
Douglasville, Ga. |
|
Microbiology |
David McNabb |
Robin Reed |
Foreman |
|
Physics |
Reeta Vyas |
Brian Sawyer |
Pine Bluff |
|
Political Science |
Conrad Waligorski |
Sara Finan |
Chesterfield, Mo. |
|
Political Science |
Janine Parry |
Carolyn Fiddler |
Warsaw, Va. |
|
Political Science |
William Schrekchise |
Tai Tomasi |
Fayetteville |
|
Political Science |
Stephen Sheppard |
James Boeving |
Springfield, Mo. |
|
Psychology |
Denise Beike |
Karen Naufel |
Broken Arrow, Okla. |
|
Psychology |
Eric Knowles |
Christine Rufener |
Hartford, Wis. |
|
Psychology |
Jeffery Lohr |
Travis Byram |
Fayetteville |
|
Sociolinguistics (Educ) |
Barbara Shadden |
Amanda Melton |
North Little Rock |
|
2000-2001 |
|||
|
DEPARTMENT |
MENTOR |
STUDENT |
HOMETOWN |
|
German |
Todd Hanlin |
Andrea Baer |
Little Rock |
|
Psychology |
Eric Knowles |
Melissa Brannan |
Huntsville |
|
Landscape Architecture |
Karen Crocker |
Janet Coleman |
Fayetteville |
|
Chemistry |
Roger Koeppe |
Elizabeth Dunn |
Douglasville, Ga. |
|
Art |
Marilyn Nelson |
Amjad Faur |
Fayetteville |
|
Anthropology/Zoology |
Peter Ungar |
Erica Findley |
Prarie Village, Kan. |
|
Political Science |
Janine Parry |
Autumn Floyd |
Berryville |
|
Poultry Science |
Mark Parcells |
Lynne Gardner |
Rudy |
|
Electrical Engineering |
Alan Mantooth |
Chris Gathercole |
Fort Smith |
|
Environmental Science |
David Stahle |
Richard Griffin |
Marion |
|
Microbiology |
Matt McIntosh |
Tiffany Hargis |
Springdale |
|
Chemistry |
Ralph Henry |
Stephen Harrison |
Hot Springs |
|
Microbiology |
Mack Ivey |
Caroline Hart |
Lansing, Kan. |
|
Business Economics |
Norma Mendoza |
Daniel Hazman |
Fort Smith |
|
Psychology |
Denise Beike |
Melissa Huitt |
Newport |
|
German |
Donald Kelley |
John Hulsey |
Heber Springs |
|
Anthropology |
JoAnn D'Alisera |
Shireen Husain |
El Segundo, Calif. |
|
Microbiology |
Mack Ivey |
Zach King |
Hot Springs National Park |
|
Doug Rhoads |
Kevin Lollar |
Hazen |
|
|
English |
Mohja Kahf |
Rebecca Longstreth |
Laurel, Md. |
|
Communications |
Myria Allen |
Daniel McQueen |
Little Rock |
|
Chemistry |
Neil Allison |
Traci Means |
Russellville |
|
Electrical Engineering / |
|||
|
Physics |
William Oliver |
David New |
Fayetteville |
|
English |
Joseph Candido |
Phyllis Nichols |
Fayetteville |
|
Physics |
Mark Filipkowski |
David Norris |
Little Rock |
|
Mathematics/Physics |
Rajendra Gupta |
Brian Sawyer |
Pine Bluff |
|
Comp. Scien. / |
|||
|
Comp. Engineering |
Doug Blank |
Eric Skaug |
Jonesboro |
|
Journalism |
Louise Montgomery |
Susan Smith |
Kirby |
|
International Relations |
Jeff Ryan |
Erin Stone |
Houston, Texas |
|
Microbiology |
R.D. Evans |
Nicholas Willis |
Maumelle |
|
1999-2000 |
|||
|
DEPARTMENT |
MENTOR |
STUDENT |
|
|
International Relations |
Sidney Burris |
Angie Maxwell |
|
|
English |
Robert Cochran |
Blaine Waide |
|
|
Political Science |
Patrick Conge |
Erica Edwards |
|
|
Anthropology |
Mark Cory |
Marlie McGovern |
|
|
Chemistry |
Jeannine Durdik |
Eric Goodspeed |
|
|
Microbiology |
Gisela Erf |
Brant Ward |
|
|
Biology |
William Etges |
Christina Veenstra |
|
|
Chemistry |
Ingrid Fritsch |
Stephanie Evans |
|
|
Mathematics |
Chaim Goodman-Strauss |
Adam L. DeLisse |
|
|
Sociology |
Lori Holyfield |
Robyn White |
|
|
Biology |
D. Mack Ivey |
James Edward Cassat |
|
|
Chemistry |
Mike Johnson |
Shoreh Kooshesh |
|
|
Political Science |
Brinck Kerr |
Nickolas Zane Wilson |
|
|
Chemistry |
Roger Koeppe II |
Nicole Reed |
|
|
Psychology |
James Lampinen |
Jamie Marie Huffman |
|
|
Art |
Marilyn Nelson |
Karen Vaughan Dick |
|
|
Physics |
William Oliver III |
Laura Fields |
|
|
German |
Judith Ricker |
Rebecca L. King |
|
|
Physics |
Gay Stewart |
Steven Sandh |
|
|
Chemistry |
Wes Stites |
Anna Terry |
|
|
History |
Henry Tsai |
Clarissa C. Smith |
|
|
Biology |
J. McClintock Turbeville |
Amir Saif Khan |
|
|
Chemistry |
Charles Wilkins |
Gregory G. Polkowski, II |
|
|
Psychology |
Kenneth Witte |
Jimmie Rhinehart |
|
|
1998-1999 |
|||
|
DEPARTMENT |
MENTOR |
STUDENT |
|
|
Communications |
Patricia Amason |
Alev Akyuz |
|
|
Economics |
Craig Schulman |
Jean Biondi |
|
|
Biology |
Clint Turbeville |
Brandon Chism |
|
|
Political Science |
Conrad Waligorski |
Nate Davis |
|
|
Jeffrey Ryan |
Elizabeth Evans |
||
|
Anthropology |
Jerry Rose |
Kelly Gilbride |
|
|
Microbiology |
Michael Johnson |
John Hettiarchchy |
|
|
History |
Tom Kennedy |
Joanna Jansen |
|
|
Political Science |
Janine Parry |
Kezia Johnson |
|
|
German |
Todd Hanlin |
Jeremy Lehrman |
|
|
Physics |
Paul Thibado |
Brent Ragar |
|
|
Mathematics |
Serge Tabachnikov |
Jason Reed |
|
|
Political Science |
Will Miller |
Thomas Riner |
|
|
Luis Restrepo |
Jennifer Runkles |
||
|
Biology |
Mack Ivey |
Sarah Shepardson |
|
|
|
Claudia Bailey |
Rebecca Simmons |
|
|
|
Jeannine Durdick |
Matthew Sparks |
|
|
Anthropology |
Jerry Rose |
Paulette Steeves |
|
|
History |
Lynda Coon |
Suzanne Stillman |
|
|
Mathematics |
Vladimir Rerakh |
Tracey Szabo |
|
|
Psychology |
James Lampinen |
Sandra Tilley |
|
|
Biology |
Jeannine Durdick |
Charles Tindell |
|
|
Chemistry |
Donald Bobbitt |
Jonathan Townley |
|
|
Anthropology |
Peter Ungar |
Brandon Wheeler |
|
|
1997-1998 |
|||
|
DEPARTMENT |
MENTOR |
STUDENT |
|
|
Chemistry |
Neil Allison |
Jamie Leigh Wilson |
|
|
English |
Robert Cochran |
Sarah Mazer |
|
|
Humanities |
Mark Cory |
Scott D. Stephens |
|
|
Biology |
Jeannine Durdick |
Renee Peldun |
|
|
Mathematics |
Chaim Goodman-Strauss |
Adam Delisse |
|
|
Psychology |
Mark Hilsenroth |
Ryan Baldrachi |
|
|
|
Mark Hilsenroth |
Jill Clemence |
|
|
Anthropology |
Michael Hoffman |
Eleanor Johnson Hill |
|
|
Biology |
Mack Ivey Thomas |
Bradley Raper |
|
|
Food Science |
Michael Johnson |
John Hettiarachchy |
|
|
Mathematics |
Dmitry Khavinson |
Jason Reed |
|
|
Chemistry |
Roger Koeppe |
Amy Young |
|
|
Foreign Languages |
Daniel Levine |
Jeff Conway |
|
|
Chemistry |
Matthias McIntosh |
Tracey Humphrey |
|
|
Political Science |
Steven M. Neuse |
Anna Falkner |
|
|
Chemistry |
David Paul |
Jonathan Norman |
|
|
Biology |
Doug Rhoads |
Ildiko Stone |
|
|
Foreign Languages |
Judith Ricker |
Karla A. Barker |
|
|
1996-1997 |
|||
|
DEPARTMENT |
MENTOR |
STUDENT |
|
|
English |
Chuck Adams |
Jennifer Novak |
|
|
Chemistry |
Neil Allison |
Keith Stanger |
|
|
Communication |
Patricia Amason |
Melissa Delay |
|
|
English |
Sidney Burris |
Lindsay Willimams |
|
|
Geology |
Ralph Davis |
Demetra Salisbury |
|
|
Microbiology |
Jeannine Durdick |
Tim McGarity |
|
|
Botany |
R.D. Evans |
Julie Spears |
|
|
Chemistry |
Gary Felton |
Ruth Plymale |
|
|
Microbiology |
Mack Ivey |
Michael Cassat |
|
|
Michael Johnson |
John Hettiarachchy |
||
|
English |
Susan Marren |
Carrie Carr |
|
|
Political Science |
Steven Neuse |
Tamara Ward |
|
|
Mathematics |
John Ryan |
Robert Quinn |
|
|
Political Science |
Robert Savage |
Kelly Gruesbeck |
|
|
Chemistry |
Derek Sears |
Anne Taunton |
|
|
Anthropology |
Pete Ungar |
Rebeccah Lamascus |
|
|
1995-1996 |
|||
|
DEPARTMENT |
MENTOR |
STUDENT |
|
|
Anthropology |
Jerome Rose |
Sarah K. Moore |
|
|
Mary Jo Schneider |
Sadie Moore |
||
|
Biology |
Jeannine Durdick |
Morgan Sauer |
|
|
Mack Ivey |
Janette Myers |
||
|
Chemistry |
Ingrid Fritsch-Faules |
Tracey Jackson |
|
|
Roger Koeppe |
Joseph Lindquist |
||
|
Kenneth Turnbull |
Damon Armitage |
||
|
English |
Sidney Burris |
Chris Lee |
|
|
Sidney Burris |
Celisa Steele |
||
|
Foreign Languages |
Judith Ricker |
Chad Keiffer |
|
|
Geology |
Ralph K. Davis |
Demetra Salisbury |
|
|
Political Science |
Steven Neuse |
Eric Carter |
|
|
|
Jeffrey Ryan |
Sunshine Ward |
|
|
Psychology |
Walter Danforth |
Susan Clemons |
|
|
Sociology |
Betty Guhman |
Candace Benhan |
|
|
1994-1995 |
|||
|
DEPARTMENT |
MENTOR |
STUDENT |
|
|
Chemistry |
Wesley Stites |
Bao Dang |
|
|
Biology |
Bill Durham |
Eli Loots |
|
|
Susan Foster |
Joseph Thies |
||
|
Chemistry |
Roger Koeppe |
Nam Le |
|
|
History |
Henry Tsai |
Brian Schoen |
|
|
English |
Charles Adams |
Tanya Threlkeld |
Contacts
Suzanne McCray, Director, Office of Post-Graduate Fellowships 501-575-4747, smccray@uark.edu
Jay Nickel, Assistant Manager of Media Relations 501-575-7943, jnickel@uark.edu