Yichong Li:
“The Serving Spirit:  Experience Economy and Performing Arts in Japanese Customer Services.”
Advisor:  Dr. Susan Clare Scott

Monika Lemke:
“A Comparative Study of the Origins, Iconographical Meanings, and Designs of Chinese and Japanese Gardens.”
Advisor:  Dr. Susan Clare Scott

The History Senior Capstone is an opportunity for every History major to become a practicing historian.  Students complete an intensive semester-long writing project consisting of original research based on the analysis of primary sources, such as letters, diaries, newspapers, diplomatic correspondence, contemporary literature, and other documents.  They frame their hypotheses in the context of previous scholarship and have their conclusions tested and challenged in an oral defense before faculty members and student peers.  Papers are approximately thirty pages in length. Although faculty from the entire department may offer guidance and supervision, formal oversight in Fall 2012 occurred in the research seminars led by Dr. Donna Evergates and Dr. Stephen Feeley.  As usual, authors of top papers, those eligible for Departmental Honors, were invited to edit their papers for oral presentation at the annual Phi Alpha Theta History Honors Conference, which took place this year on March 23, 2014 at Shepherd University.  All the students who presented (indicated with *) received very favorable feedback from the commentators.

Nathan Adamczyk:
“Operation Sea Lion: Factual and Counter-factual Examinations”

Charles Arnett:
"Confederate Marylanders: for Maryland and Liberty”

Rebecca Arthur:
“Aspirations in a Rural Maryland Diary: Dr. John Jacob Weaver, 1887-1904”*

Gabriela Branda:
“Tudor Religious Persecution: Writers’ Changing Perceptions during the Tudor Era”

Christen Brown:
“The Historical Context of Shifting Adaptations of Victor Hugo's The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont's Beauty and the Beast”

Ashley Conroy:
“US Propaganda during the Cuban Missile Crisis: A Study of Television News Broadcasts”

Kelsey Dickman:
“‘For Men Love What They Cannot Have and Hate What They Cannot Control:’ The Fall of Anne Boleyn”*

Jerry Wayne Dixon III:
“The Korean War: Remembering a ‘Forgotten War’”

James Maxwell Ebert:
“Wham! Sock! Pow! The Influence of Captain America and the Falcon on Progressive Racial Thought during the Civil Rights Era "*

Forest Fleischer:
“The Male Perspective of the Women of the French Revolution”

Robert Gunther:
“Interpretations of Holocaust Memory and Testimonies”

Jacob P. Hale:
“Montgomery and Operation Market Garden”

Matthew Hixson:
“Teddie: A Study of Theodore Roosevelt and his Childhood”

Zach Jones:
“Newspapers and the Negro Leagues: Professional Baseball and its Effects on Segregation in the United States”

William Kirby:
“‘Desiring His Lordship’: Cecil Calvert and the Loss of the Province of Maryland”*

Veronica Lathroum:
“Cataloged Expressions: Collections of Life and Death Masks, with Particular Attention to the McComas Collection and Affiliated Collections”*

Katie Little:
“The Forgotten Founding Father: Charles Carroll of Carrollton”

Sean McCarthy:
“Changing Interpretations of General James Longstreet” (spring 2013)

Andrew Mummert:
“Definitions of Freedom: African Americans’ Search for Opportunity, 1840-1890”

Gregory Nolen:
“U.S. Foreign Policy and the 1956 Hungarian Revolution: Why Didn’t the U.S Intervene?”*

Laura Shinn:
“Baltimore City: The Road to Decline and an Attempt at Recovery”

Bryan Verkouteren:
“James Shepherd Pike: Republicanism and the Soul of the South”

Turning in final grade reports on May 21 marks more than the end of the spring term for faculty members Drs. Ron Miller, BoAnn Bohman and Herb Phelps. Having decided to retire, these teaching scholars were cited at the final faculty meeting and will be recognized at Commencement.

Associate professor Ron Miller who joined the faculty in 1987 is credited for moving the Theatre Department forward, creating new courses, redesigning the major and evaluating the department both internally and externally, always with a focus on students. He served as department chair from 1990-2000 and developed an entire program in the growing field of interactive and community-based theater, making McDaniel one of the few liberal arts colleges nationally to offer a specialization and a minor in this area.

Miller has directed dozens of theatre productions including “Criminals in Love,” “Hay Fever,” “Escape from Happiness,” and “The House of Bernarda Alba.” Additionally, he led and presented at conferences, institutes and workshops nationally and internationally, from the Hudson Valley to Cuba and Peru, and taught in Budapest at McDaniel-Europe. Miller is also recognized regionally for organizing Maryland Playback Ensemble. This interactive theatre methodology educates students to develop advanced skills in story structure and style, and in the community-based practices of “listening with heart” and building a sense of community with a new audience.

The Board of Trustees voted in April to honor Miller with emeritus status.

Also retiring are two graduate program coordinators and professors, Dr. BoAnn Bohman and Dr. Herbert Phelps.

Two retiring faculty members, Education lecturer BoAnn Bohman, middle, and Educational Administration program coordinator Herb Phelps, right, meet with a student.

Bohman, a career administrator and teacher in Maryland Public Schools, joined the college in 1987 as adjunct faculty teaching part-time in the graduate program in Educational Administration. Her courses include “The Role of the Supervisor,” “The Role of the Principal,” and curricular design and trends. Bohman also participated on the panel charged to realign course work around the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium standards as well as provide expertise during national accreditation of McDaniel’s teacher education programs.

In 2004 following her full-time retirement as Carroll County Public Schools’ supervisor and director of elementary schools, curriculum and staff development, Bohman accepted the tenure-track position as assistant professor and part-time program coordinator of Educational Administration. She was responsible for advising nearly 240 students in the master’s program and additional students in the teacher certification program.

Phelps earned his master’s degree here in 1974. His career trajectory as an educator in Pennsylvania began as a high school math teacher to assistant principal with assignments in both middle and high schools, to assistant superintendent and ultimately, in 1993, to school superintendent of the Bermudian Springs School District (Pa.) where he served until 1997. Phelps taught part-time in the college’s Educational Administration program beginning in 1976.

Phelps returned to the college in 1999 as the coordinator of administrative interns and developed and managed this growing program until moving into the position of coordinator of Educational Administration. During his “second” career at McDaniel, Phelps has taught more than 100 graduate courses. His network of educational administrators throughout this region has afforded graduate students ample opportunity for internships and extended the program’s stellar reputation.

In 1994 Phelps received the Joseph R. Bailer award given annually to graduates of the college who have made significant contributions to the field of education.

Shane Edmond:
“Cournot and the Development of Game Theory”

Chuck Kronmiller:
“Adam Smith’s Invisible Hand:  A Modern Perspective”

Hein Le:
“Current Status of Ricardo’s Discussion of the Impact of Machines on Living Standards”

Dan Odegaard:
“Tragedy of the Commons?  The Analysis of Coase and Ostrom”

Michael Orevba:
“The Contract of the Commons: Common Resources and Transactions Costs”

George Pashalishvili:
“Jevons v. Hotelling on the Matter of Exhaustible Resources”

Jake Weicht:
“A Revisiting of the Monetary Allegory of “The Wizard of Oz”

Nate Bell:
“Convergence of IFRS and GAAP – Revenue Recognition”

Megan Loudon:
“IFRS Around the World:  The Impact of Cultural Differences”

Le Huong Hoang:
“GAAP & IFRS Convergence; Revenue Recognition”

Chuck Kronmiller:
“Inventory Evaluation: GAAP vs. IFRS”

Michael Parks:
“Asset Valuation Undr Mark-to-Market Accounting”

Laura Nichols:
“IFRS and LIFO: Do We Really Need It?

Stephen Wetherhold:
“Mark-to-Market Accounting”

Ashley Meister:
“IFRS: How Big is the Risk?”

The capstone project for each of the students listed next was (individually performed):

“A Financial Analysis of a Buy, Hold, or Short Decision of an Individual Stock for an Investment Firm”

• Anna Beaudrey
• Luis Calderon
• Patrick Christopher
• Markia Davis
• Danielle Decolli
• Nicholas Deluca
• Sophie Diven
• Shane Edmond
• Timothy McLister
• Daniel Odegaard
• Shannon Savoia
• Samuel Wertz
• Christian Wingate

The capstone project for each of the students listed next was (individually performed):

“Current United States Economic Performance and Near-Term Prospects”

• David Bell
• Tierra Bennett
• Patrick Keefer
• Joshua Matukonis
• Joseph McFillin
• Ashley Meister
• Daniel Odegaard
• Michael Parks
• George Pashalishvili
• Stephen Wetherhold

The purpose of the Undergraduate Senior Capstone experience in Foreign Languages is to help students develop research skills and/or professional working skills in the language field of their major. The capstone project is a paper or a translation that reflects both the student's interest within the language and the course she or he is taking to fulfill the Senior Capstone in the major.

French

Fall 2012 French Senior Capstone: “Paris”

• Eddie Blankenship, “Paris: ville centrale de la langue française” (Dr. Martine Motard-Noar)
• Eddy Lingue, “Paris: de la bête à la beauté” (Dr. Martine Motard-Noar)
• Allison Schmitz, “L’évolution de la mode à Paris entre la Belle Epoque et la deuxième guerre Mondiale” (Dr. Martine Motard-Noar)
• Mara Seibert, “L’image de Paris dans le cinéma français et dans le cinéma américain” (Dr. Martine Motard-Noar)
• Allison Spencer, “Truffaut, Godard et Paris” (Dr. Martine Motard-Noar)

Fall 2013 French Senior Capstone: “Colonial Desire”

• Edward Blankenship, “Le Désir colonial dans la BD francophone” (Dr. Silvia Baage)
• Ramatullah Deme, “L'Aventure coloniale de Georges Méliès” (Dr. Silvia Baage)
• Paula Senff, “Les Femmes tahitiennes: une fantaisie de Paul Gauguin” (Dr. Silvia Baage)

French Departmental Honors Translations

• Eddie Blankenship, Translation into English of Sylvie Gracia’s 2002 short story, titled L’Ongle rose (Dr. Martine Motard-Noar)
• Allison Schmitz, Translation into English of folk tales published in a youth book by Pierre Gripari, titled Les Contes de la Folie Méricourt  (Dr. Martine Motard-Noar)                                                  
• Mara Seibert, Translation into English of a book on the current condition of women in Burkina Faso. The book, written by a woman, Monique Ilboudo, is titled Droit de cité: Etre femme au Burkina Faso (Dr. Martine Motard-Noar)
• Paula Senff, Translation in English of several academic articles on the topic of « Développement durable et économie environnementale régionale » or sustainable development and regional economic issues (Dr. Martine Motard-Noar)

Spanish

Fall 2012 Spanish Senior Capstone: "Voces de los márgenes en la cultura latina/latinoamericana"

• Rebecca Shuford, "El Poder Femenino en Autobiografía de un esclavo por Juan Francisco Manzano." (Dr. Amy McNichols)
• Anne Mathews, "La verdad sobre la corrupción religiosa representada en Aves sin nido." (Dr. Amy McNichols)
• Sara Bankard, "Un Análisis de la verdad en el testimonio, como ilustrado en la Autobiografía de un esclavo por Juan Francisco Manzano y Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl por Harriet Jacobs" (Dr. Amy McNichols)

Fall 2011 Spanish Senior Capstone: “La migración en el cine hispano contemporáneo”

“Through their course work and research, students in the senior seminar “La migración en el cine hispano contemporáneo” gained an appreciation of the social theories regarding migration, examined myriad examples of how films from different nations in the Hispanic world represent this phenomenon, and were able to understand both the commonalities and the differences of the migration experience in Spain and Latin America.”  –Dr. Thomas Deveny

• Rachel Hoffman, “El próximo oriente: Cómo ser extranjero en su propio país”  (Dr. Tom Deveny)
• Eric Spioch, “La vista brutal, pero cómica del tráfico humano de En la puta vida”  (Dr. Tom Deveny)
• Ana Ward, Untitled.

Departmental Honors Research in Spanish

• Eric Spioch, “El poder combinado de la España medieval: el vínculo entre la religión y el estado bajo los reinos cristianos y musulmanes” (Dr. Tom Deveny)

All students majoring in Biology now take a Senior Colloquium course in the spring of their senior year.  Students either select a literature review topic or conduct a research project either on or off campus and choose a McDaniel mentor to help them with their project.  Each student prepares a scientific poster for a Biology Senior Poster session held from 4:00-6:00pm in Eaton Hall on Monday April 15th.   In addition, each student will prepare a Senior Thesis paper about this work that is due later in the term.  Students that are candidates for Honors in Biology will also prepare a 15 minute oral presentation about their work that will be presented on several Friday afternoons as a part of our Colloquium course.

1. Kristen Bickford
Transformation and gene knock-out of the putative mRNA decapping enzyme DDB_G0283315 in Dictyostelium discoideum.
Research - Mentor Dr. Susan Parrish

2. Juliana Broussard
The background matching capabilities of Henkel’s leaf-tailed gecko, Uroplatus henkeli, on high contrast checkerboard patterns.
Research – Mentor Dr. Randall Morrison
Honors in Biology Candidate

3. Kerry Campbell
The role of S100A1 and the PI3-K/AKT in Alzheimer’s disease pathology.
Off Campus Research – Mentor Dr. Randall Morrison

4. Patricia Chilinski
Assessing the correlation between differences in sequence of Toll-like receptors and resistance to pathogens in various types of livestock.
Literature – Mentor Dr. Ralene Mitschler

5. Megan Cook
The role of surface interactions in insulin amyloid fibril formation.
Research – Mentor Dr. Cheng Huang
Honors in Biology Candidate

6. Alec Farrell
Phytoremediation on hard metals, inorganic, and organic pollutants in plants, trees, and other hyperaccumulators located in marine and terrestrial contaminated environments.
Literature – Dr. Brett McMillan

7. Carolina Gomez
The positive contribution of wild yams Dioscorea villosa to the female reproductive system.
Literature – Dr. Brett McMillan

8. Aerielle Harris
Factors that affect gigantism in deep sea invertebrates.
Literature – Dr. Molly Jacobs

9. Rebekah James
Exploring Ebola glycoprotein monoclonal epitopes.
Off Campus Research – Mentor Dr. Susan Parrish
Honors in Biology Candidate

10. Christen Johnson
Detection method variation of human malaria infections.
Literature – Mentor Dr. Ralene Mitschler

11. Melissa Jones
Restoration efforts for the American chestnut Castanea dentate following introduction of the Cryphonectria parasitica blight fungus.
Literature – Mentor Dr. Brett McMillan

12. Robert Kapp
Environmental factors important to recirculating aquaponic systems and the physiologic factors driving them.
Literature – Mentor Dr. Brett McMillan

13. William Neutzling
Potency of Cry toxins and development of Bacillus thuringiensis resistance in the agricultural pests Heliothis virescens and Helicoverpa armigera.
Literature – Mentor Dr. Brett McMillan

14. Catherine O’Keeffe
Creation of a genetic knock-out of the Dictyostelium discoideum DDB_G0278957 gene, encoding a putative mRNA Nudix decapping enzyme.
Research – Mentor Dr. Susan Parrish
Honors in Biology Candidate

15. Maria Osso
The effect of a BRAF kinase inhibitor, PLX-4032, on primary and established melanoma cell lines.
Off Campus Research – Mentor Dr. Cheng Huang

16. Ashlynn Parker
Cardiovascular response to high-intensity aerobic and anaerobic exercise.
Research – Mentor Dr. Randall Morrison
Honors in Biology Candidate

17. Luke Schmidt, Maria Alicia Carrillo-Sepulveda, Kenia Nunes, Kathryn Spitler and R Clinton Webb
Toll-like recptor-2 mediates augmented vascular contractility in diabetes.
Off Campus Research – Mentor Dr. Susan Parrish
Honors in Biology Candidate

18. Rebecca Shuford
Developing an animal model for insulin injection mediated amyloid deposits.
Research – Mentor Dr. Randall Morrison
Honors in Biology Candidate

19. Blair Undem
Parainfluenza-3 respiratory viral infection-induced increase in reflex cough and bronchoconstriction.
Off Campus Research – Mentor Dr. Susan Parrish
Honors in Biology Candidate

20. Carolina Marques dos Santos Vieira
Acquistion, consolidation and retrieval of olfactory and courtship memory in Drosophila melanogaster using conditional training.
Literature – Mentor Dr. Susan Parrish

21. Ethan Wilson
The effects of ebb and flood tides on zooplankton distribution in estuarine environments of the Chesapeake Bay.
Research – Mentor Dr. Molly Jacobs
Honors in Biology Candidate

22. Zach Woods
Malaria vaccines: a near impossibility.
Literature – Mentor Dr. Ralene Mitschler

McDaniel College is among the best private liberal arts colleges nationwide making college more accessible and affordable for those with the greatest financial need, according to a report released by the New America Foundation. 

The report singles out McDaniel as one of the colleges making extraordinary efforts to recruit, enroll, and financially assist low-income students.

While the study found that low-income students pay high net prices at most private colleges, McDaniel is one of the few, and only in Maryland, commended for its support of deserving high-need students.

The Foundation’s analysis considers data for the 2010-2011 academic year, the share of undergraduates receiving federal Pell Grants, as well as the average net price paid by students whose families earn $30,000 or less. According to the report, 28 percent of McDaniel students received Pell Grants and the average net price for low-income students was below $10,000. 

“Access is a hallmark of the college and we continue to attract the best and brightest students regardless of their financial circumstances,” said McDaniel College president Roger N. Casey.

Image courtesy New America Foundation

The students in professor Sara Raley’s Jan Term Honors class took their LGBT service-learning projects in directions that hadn’t even occurred to their professor –  and that makes Raley smile with pride. 

“The neat thing about this class is that different issues spoke to different students,” Raley, assistant director of the Honors Program and a Sociology professor, says about the “Serving LGBT Communities” honors course she designed and offered for the first time over Jan Term and spring semester.

Aware that the coursework would be more than was feasible in the three-week Jan Term, Raley added two credits and extended the class through spring semester. Students learned about issues over Jan Term and then conceived and implemented their service projects through spring semester.

For many of the students – all in the college’s Honors Program – the class was an introduction to issues they really hadn’t thought about. Most were familiar with marriage equality since it has been in the headlines, but issues beyond that were new to them.

They caught up in no time as they designed their projects. Sophomore Emma Wingerd, a Chemistry-Exercise Science major from Pittsburgh, knew her project would relate in some way to athletics. The women’s basketball star took on inappropriate comments she’s heard around the gymnasium – and decided to produce a video that could be used with peer mentors and during first-year orientation.

“I wanted to make a change – to show that ‘that’s gay’ isn’t a cool thing to say,” says Wingerd, who recruited Green Terror athletes to be in her video and to empower athletes to step up and make a change. 

The project, she says, was truly eye-opening.

“Hey, I’m a science kid – making a video is outside the realm of my comfort zone,” Wingerd says. “Finding my voice has been a big thing for me. But that’s what the liberal arts are all about.”

Sophomore Matt Peterson was nervous too as he began his project, but the Biochemistry major was determined to make a difference volunteering on Trevor’s Space, a suicide prevention website and hotline to help LGBT teens.

“I had never had a lot of interaction with the LGBT community,” says Peterson from Littleton, Colo., who found his footing and was able to help. “Most memorable was a female to male transgender person who asked, ‘why can’t I stop harming myself?’

“I was really struck by how very different that is from how I see myself.”

Similarly, each of Peterson’s classmates took on a project that would make a difference. Sophomore Alexa Riland of Bridgeton, N.J., organized a call-in day to state legislators in support of Maryland Senate Bill 449 known as the Fairness for all Marylanders Act, that opposes discrimination in work and housing against transgender people. The Environmental Studies major set up the call-in table in Ensor Lounge that resulted in 32 calls during the three-hour session.

Senior Clara Burgess, a Sociology major from Chevy Chase, Md., arranged for her sister’s girlfriend to come to campus and give a talk on campus during Allies Week about intersex issues.

Both Julia Jacobs, a sophomore Biology major from Stevensville, Md., and Mike Bucci, a sophomore from Columbia, Md., triple majoring in Accounting Economics, Business Administration and Economics, produced brochures addressing LGBT issues among high school students. Bucci made his brochure easily printable for use by guidance counselors. Jacobs hopes her brochure, “Sexual Diversity at McDaniel” is adapted and used in McDaniel Admissions to help with the many questions LGBT prospective students have.

Other students followed their interests – sophomore Cicely Hazell, an Art History and French major from Georgetown, Texas, started a blog about LGBT identity in Art History, including one post exploring the question of whether the “Mona Lisa” was a da Vinci self portrait. 

Junior Emily Sanders, a Psychology major from Danbury, Conn., enhanced the Allies website with a Resource Hub, including general resources, scholarly work, student work, safe sex and Allies history. Garrett Schey, asophomore Biology major from Ellicott City, Md., investigated laws and legal precedent on the rights of LGBT individuals in the workforce and Biology major Candice Lyle, a junior from Baltimore, is creating a website that will pull LGBT-related events together into one calendar.

Although she has some ideas for changes when she again offers the course, Raley’s goals were met.

“I wanted them to be able to reflect on the ideas we discussed – and to move the conversation beyond the classroom,” Raley says, explaining that these honors students are very much self directed. “The movement is thriving and there is lots of opportunity to promote equality.”

By the time professor Robert Lemieux’s Organizational Communication students finished presenting their consulting reports to representatives of Gunner’s Grille of Taneytown, Md., and The Arc of Carroll County, new ideas and partnerships were already underway.

“It is great to have a fresh set of eyes on the organization, and I thought their recommendations were spot on,” said Don Rowe, executive director of The Arc, who was already planning collaboration with Gunner’s Grille owner Brooke Hagerty.

The two businesses were among four – also including Brightview Westminster Ridge and Montessori School of Westminster – selected by Lemieux, a Communication professor, for his students to consult with on their internal and external communication practices. The consultation project was a collaboration with the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce as a result of Lemieux’s meeting with Chamber president Mike McMullin. Lemieux notes that the Chamber is interested in continuing the collaboration in the future.

Lemieux designed the class so that the student consultants understand the development and application of theory to organizational communication problems and increase their understanding of research methods used to evaluate organizations and their communication practices.

The students conducted on-site field studies and prepared written and oral presentations of their findings.

Senior Jordan Scott, a Communication major from Moorestown, N.J., partnered with Théodora DeBrouwer, an international student from Facultés Universitaires Saint-Louis in Brussels, Belgium, to examine internal and external communications at Gunner’s Grille and make recommendations for expansion of the business.

“Thank you for this opportunity,” Scott said. “This let us see how businesses are run out there in the real world.”

Scott and DeBrouwer applied the Communication principles and research skills they learned in class to develop recommendations to improve business at the 2-year-old restaurant, which is doing well at a location that has seen eight restaurants in the 15 years since a 25-year-old restaurant closed at the site.

Using metaphors, students described aspects of each business as Brain, Culture, Family, Organism, and more.

“Brooke Hagerty is the brain,” Scott said of the enthusiastic owner who says, “This is my dream job.”

The duo recommended partnerships with other businesses – and in fact, that conversation had already begun with Arc director Don Rowe before the two leaders left the classroom. Other recommendations included collaboration with visitors to Gettysburg or nearby golf courses offering a free beverage to golfers who scored a birdie or hole in one, reciprocal promotions on websites and increasing visibility through posting maps and travel time on the website.

The team of senior Ashley Hopkins of Baltimore and juniors Laura Dudley of Olney, Md., and John Kelly of West Chester, Pa., had equally innovative recommendations to increase the visibility of The Arc, calling its 350 employees passionate about helping Arc’s clients and also in need of company email addresses. Suggesting Arc management place the logo on its 37 buses, sponsor local community events and utilize the blackboard at Harry’s restaurant on Westminster’s Main Street, the team also recommended aesthetic improvements to its existing building on Krider’s Church Road in Westminster and a celebration of the plans for a new building.

They even came up with the name, “Blueprint Renovation Party,” which prompted their professor’s approval.

“Now I would go to something called ‘Blueprint Renovation Party,’” Lemieux said.

The class reconvenes on May 8, for presentations of Brightview Westminster Ridge and Montessori School of Westminster.

It’s easy to see why Stephanie Madsen is rated among the top 20 Psychology professors at Maryland colleges and universities. Behold her office: children’s bedtime storybooks litter her desk and floor, and she’s planned milk and cookies for students in her afternoon seminar as they analyze the bedtime stories from the perspective of attachment theory.

“The books, the cookies, all help translate theory into real life situations,” Madsen says, sharing credit with colleagues in the Psychology department for being passionate and dedicated to their students. “It’s a strong department, and I am really proud to be part of this team.

“We want to get our students thinking and to engage them in research.”

Madsen is known among students for classes that go beyond the theoretical, textbook concepts of the subject. She infuses reality into her classroom with activities such as bringing children and parents into her classroom or sending her students to complete service-learning projects in the community to provide immediate confrontation with values, knowledge and the real world.

As department chair since 2008, Madsen leads the team that includes a behavioral neuroscientist as well as cognitive, social, behavioral and counseling psychologists. Madsen, director of the college’s Honors Program and a professor since 2001, extends the department’s expertise as a developmental psychologist.

Among the most popular majors at McDaniel, Psychology leads graduates to a diversity of careers.

“Our graduates tell us that they feel well prepared to take on graduate level studies – and they often go on to earn Ph.D.’s,” says Madsen, who notes that McDaniel alumna Jennifer McCabe, a professor at Goucher College, is also among the top 20 Psychology professors honored by Online Schools Maryland. “Psychology majors go on to do all kinds of things – life coaching, speech pathology, teaching, and careers in business.”

A magna cum laude graduate of Carleton College in 1996 with a master’s and doctorate in child psychology from the University of Minnesota, Madsen is the author of more than 15 major journal articles and cited by Wall Street Journal and National Public Radio for her work on adolescent romantic relationships. As director of McDaniel’s Honors Program, she inspires students to take leadership roles on campus.

Beyond the classroom, Madsen’s students are her research collaborators, her co-authors on published academic papers, and her protégés. When she presents papers at invited academic conferences such as the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence or the annual meeting of The Society of Research in Child Development, her student co-authors are by her side.

More than 25 honors for academic achievement and leadership were awarded to juniors, sophomores and first-year students during the April 28 Spring Awards ceremony held in Englar Dining Hall. Students were also named to two prestigious leadership honor societies, Omicron Delta Kappa and Trumpeters.

• Spring Awards Listing 2013 (.pdf)

Celebrating 20 years since it was established is the Millard Milburn Rice Non-Fiction Writing Prize. A writer, historian and banker, Rice was awarded an honorary bachelor’s degree in humanities on his 100th birthday in 1994. He did not graduate with his class due to serving in the Army and was ever grateful for his years spend on the Hill.

Awards were also presented to outstanding students across the academic disciplines, including Art, Biology, Chemistry, Communication, Mathematics, Physics, and Sociology.

Omicron Delta Kappa is a national leadership honor society which recognizes achievement in one of the following areas: scholarship, athletics, community service, social/religious activities, campus government, mass media, and the creative and performing arts. The Trumpeters is a McDaniel leadership honor society that recognizes exemplary qualities of leadership, integrity, and sincerity.

Four members of the Class of 2014 were also recognized for their induction into McDaniel’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.

Jasmine McCormick with Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Debora Johnson-Ross

Phi Beta Kappa members Ashlynn Parker (far left) and Brittany Nicholls (far right) flank members newly inducted as juniors Jason Stein, Meghan Schatz, Alan Lyons, Andrew Keogh

Jasmine McCormick and Rebecca Kaler with Beth Gerl, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Kenneth Rankins with Beth Gerl, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Maria Moreno with Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Debora Johnson-Ross

Rebecca Goodnow with Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Debora Johnson-Ross

Joseph Wright, Deanna Dicello, Emma Duesterhaus, Phoebe McHale, Masha Paul, Joseph Rollins, Daniel Scott, Jason Stein (Omicron Delta Kappa inductees)
 

With spring’s arrival, students find the library courtyard — a perfect outdoor retreat for contemplation, study and socializing — much improved and with furnishings thanks to a gift from Ethan and Debbie Seidel.

“The couple’s generosity is just one more example of their continued investment in this College and its mission to change students’ lives,” said President Roger Casey at a brief dedication ceremony held April 27 and attended by College trustees.

Debbie and Ethan Seidel with President Roger Casey

Debbie, a vice president at T. Rowe Price and 1984 alumna, has worked to strengthen college ties as a member of the past three class reunion committees and has helped raise the sights of other philanthropists as a member of the Major Gifts Committee.

Ethan, McDaniel’s vice-president of administration and finance and a professor in the Economics and Business Administration department, has been twice selected by his students for the Distinguished Teaching Award and was one of 20 economists nationwide to receive in 1982 the Leavey Award for Excellence in Free Enterprise Education. In 2009, Board Chair Marty Hill and his wife, Kelly W. Hill, established an endowed chair in Ethan’s honor.

As an administrator, Ethan oversees a $58-million operating budget, recent campus construction exceeding $50 million, management of the College’s endowment and operations including campus planning, improvements and maintenance, human resources, for-profit rentals and contractual agreements and the WMC Development Corporation.

“We hope this great couple will find a few moments to relax in this soothing space when their many good works at McDaniel bring them to campus at the same time,” added Casey.

Ethan and Debbie Seidel with President Roger Casey and Board Chair Marty Hill

Katie Corson of Ocean View, N.J. accomplished her collegiate track goal when she broke the 60-second barrier in the 400 m May 5 at the 2013 Centennial Conference (CC) women's track and field championships.

Corson knocked a quarter second off her already collegiate-best 1:00.25 at the May 4 prelims to take down the program record by 1.17 seconds and earn a silver medal with her time of 58.57 seconds. The previous mark had stood for 15 years (Kerry Wilson at the CC championship meet).

It was the second record that Corson took over the weekend. Following her 400 prelim race, she teamed with Jasmine McCormick of Antioch, Calif, Emily Gross of Red Lion, Pa., and Chloe Allen-Gorman of Portland, Ore., to take down the 4x800-meter record with a time of 10:03.29.

In other sports, three members of the McDaniel women's lacrosse team have been named to the All-Centennial Conference (CC) team, released on May 6. Paige Messersmith of Phoenix, Md., was named to the first team while Danielle Entrot of Ellicott City, Md., was tabbed to the second team. Kate Keim of Moorestown, N.J., earned honorable mention accolades.

McDaniel will host a 2013 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Region softball championship tournament first-round game on May 8. The third-seeded Green Terror (23-17) will take on sixth-seeded Stevenson (22-21) at 4:30 p.m. May 8. The winner of that game will face the winner of another first-round game between No. 2 seed Frostburg (29-12) and No. 7 Catholic (20-20) on May 11. No. 4 Centenary (20-13) and No. 5 Alfred (23-17) face off in another first-round game while No. 1 Alvernia (34-9) hosts No. 8 Marywood (18-15) in the final first-round game on May 8.

A pair of McDaniel men's golfers highlighted the All-Centennial Conference (CC) team after top performances at the 2013 championship. James Lillie of Garret Park, Md., earned the conference's top honor, being named Player of the Year after winning the tournament with a tournament-record score of 219. Among his three rounds was a single-round tournament-record score of 68. He became the eighth player in program history to claim the individual crown.

Alex Kane of Danvers, Mass., was named Rookie of the Year by virtue of his third-place finish at the tournament. Kane turned in the best round of any freshman in the field with his 54-hole total 229 that included a one-over par 73 on Friday to lead the field after 18 holes.

Head coach Scott Moyer was also tabbed Coach of the Year in the voting of his peers after guiding the Green Terror to its seventh CC title.

On the women's side, Morgan Koopman (Finksburg, Md./McDonogh) was the lone all-conference selection, earning the nod for the fourth straight year. The senior finished tied for the lead after 36 holes with a score of 161 but fell on the first hole of the sudden-victory playoff to finish runner-up for the third time. Koopman is just the fifth CC golfer – and third Green Terror golfer – to earn all-conference accolades four times.

• More sports at McDaniel Athletics

Read on for a list of events on the Hill in the coming weeks.

Art on View, Senior Capstone Exhibition Two, "Everything but the Kitchen Sink," May 7-17, opening reception 7-9 p.m. May 7, Rice Gallery, Peterson Hall. Gallery hours: 410.857.2595. Some work in this exhibition explores adult content and is intended for mature audiences only.

Public Speaking Contest, 6 p.m. May 9, Decker Auditorium, Lewis Hall.

VideoPalooza, senior capstone films, “Cell Phone Cinema” class film, 7 p.m. May 9, Decker Auditorium, Lewis Hall.

Jazz Night, directed by Bo Eckard, 8 p.m. May 9, Decker Center Forum.

College Band Concert, directed by Linda Kirkpatrick, 7 p.m. May 10, WMC Alumni Hall.

Sunday Brunch on the Hill*, campus dining hall, special menu and live music, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. May 12, Englar Dining Hall.

Gospel Choir Concert, directed by Eric Byrd, 3 p.m. May 12, WMC Alumni Hall.

Masterworks Chorale of Carroll County*, directed by Margaret Boudreaux, 7 p.m. May 19, Baker Memorial Chapel.

ROTC Commissioning, 10 a.m. May 24, Baker Memorial Chapel.

Senior Investiture and Honors Convocation, 7:30 p.m. May 24, Gill Center.

Commencement, 2 p.m. May 25, Gill Center. Entrance by ticket only.

Common Ground on the Hill*, Deer Creek Fiddlers’ Convention, 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m. June 8, Carroll County Farm Museum.

Common Ground on the Hill*, Traditions Weeks, June 30-July 5 and July 7-12, McDaniel College campus. Music festival*, July 13-14, Carroll County Farm Museum.

* indicates a fee, otherwise all published events are free and open to the public.

More than 100 alumni, friends and family members of Leroy Merritt ’52, gathered on May 4 during Reunion Weekend for the naming ceremony of Academic Hall, in memory of Merritt whose passed away in 2010.

Enhancing student life at McDaniel College, the alma mater he loved, inspired Merritt to help fund the construction of the Merritt Fitness Center dedicated in 2007, and later to pledge a $5 million challenge grant, intended to motivate alumni and friends to fund renovations to student residence halls and additional athletic facilities. That challenge grant was recently fulfilled.

“My father was a man of few words, but he was an avid learner who valued education,” said his son Robb Merritt. “He was extremely intelligent, a voracious reader and hard-working. It’s fitting that two buildings on this campus now bear his name.”

Sheila and Robb Merritt (Leroy’s daughter-in-law and son, president of Merritt Properties)

Centered on the top of the College’s scenic and historic hill, Merritt Hall still reflects the student life of its namesake. “Just a hundred yards from here once stood Old Main (near Baker Memorial Chapel) where Leroy lived in one of the residential wings, known as Ward Hall,” said President Roger Casey.

“On the opposite side of Merritt Hall is the spectacular view of the Catoctin mountains that serve as a backdrop to Hoffa Field in Gill Stadium where Leroy played football.  Just north of the field, we can see the two-storied glass front of the Merritt Fitness Center that provides our students a break from their studies for exercise and recreation. And just behind these athletic facilities are our popular apartment-style student residences we call North Village.

“His [Merritt’s] gifts to the College promote learning that extends beyond the classroom. It furthers our long-standing tradition of life-long friendships forged on the Hill – a tradition that certainly Leroy knew firsthand.” Casey added.

The three-story academic building was first dedicated in 2005 and is home to the departments of Education and Psychology, Graduate and Professional Studies, and Student Academic Support Services.

A framed article about Leroy Merritt was presented as a gift to the Merritt family and a duplicate hangs in the building’s lobby in recognition of his gift.

Victor McTeer, a retired trial lawyer and one of the first African-American graduates of the College, has been named to the McDaniel College Board of Trustees at its annual meeting held on the Westminster campus April 27.

In 1969, McTeer became one of the first African-American graduates of Western Maryland College (now McDaniel) where he was named to the 1968 Associated Press Small College All-America Football team. In the summer of 1969, at the age of 20, McTeer volunteered to spend a summer as a member of the College’s Student Opportunities Service to live and work with black former sharecroppers at “Freedom City” in rural Washington County, Miss. Thereafter, McTeer determined that he would become a Mississippi lawyer who would fight for victims of historic discrimination in the Mississippi Delta.

After graduating in 1972 from Rutgers School of Law, Newark, N.J., McTeer returned to the Delta and began work as an activist lawyer. His first case went all the way to the United States Supreme Court. In 1976, after successfully acquiring lower federal court injunctions barring a school district from firing two qualified women from teaching because they bore children out of wedlock as teenagers, McTeer successfully defended the decisions in argument before the nation’s highest court. In 1985, his clients won a first-ever federal jury verdict of $535,000 against the Ku Klux Klan for injuries sustained by five black women after Klansmen shot them on the streets of Chattanooga, Tenn.

The battle for civil rights, however, is only a part of McTeer’s legal legacy. McTeer was hired by plaintiffs and defendants in some of the largest and most controversial decisions, settlements and jury verdicts in the United States in cases involving civil rights, product liability, medical negligence, bad-faith claims against insurers, defamation, insurance defense and corporate commercial disputes. He would become one of the first African-American lawyers to handle state bonds as well as handle corporate, insurance defense and commercial litigation before trial juries in Mississippi. He was a member of the Mississippi legal team that gained the first-ever money settlement from tobacco companies for cigarette-related illness. He was selected for that team in part because, years earlier he joined the plaintiff legal team that handled the Mississippi case immortalized by John Grisham in his book “The Runaway Jury.”

In a career that lasted almost 40 years, civil rights icon, Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer, the Attorney General of the state of Mississippi, as well as countless individual and corporate plaintiffs and defendants have all been McTeer clients. Moreover, McTeer and his family have made charitable gifts, including scholarships and grants to benefit poor and deserving people in the state of Mississippi. He has given financial gifts to a number of educational institutions including McDaniel College, where he has donated an endowed scholarship in his name and the name of his longtime friend, confidant and mentor, McDaniel Professor of Religious Studies Emeritus, the Rev. Ira G. Zepp Jr.

McTeer has received awards for his legal work and philanthropy from diverse groups and institutions including Operation PUSH of Chicago, Ill. (1984); the Mississippi State Chapter of the NAACP (1984); the Thurgood Marshall College Fund for professional excellence (2008); the Dr. James Herbert White Preeminence Award for Philanthropy (2000); the Mississippi Association of Justice, formerly the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, Lifetime Achievement Award  (2010); and, the Mississippi Center for Justice, which in 2010 named McTeer and his wife, Mercidees McTeer, “Champions of Justice,” for their service in law, education and philanthropy. In 1995, McTeer became the second person to be awarded the Mississippi Chief Justice Award annually given to a member of the Mississippi Bar by the Mississippi Supreme Court for a lifetime of public service to the people of the State of Mississippi.

In 2008, McTeer finally left the practice of law to join his wife, Mercidees, in retirement. Now living in Key West, Fla., McTeer maintains a home in Greenville, Miss. — the site of his award winning photography business. He still finds the time to sail his 42-foot sailboat, “Salvation,” in Key West and elsewhere or simply to travel around the world. Their daughter, Heather, now a college educator and attorney, is the former — and the first black and/or female — mayor of Greenville, Miss.; and son, Marcus, is CEO of Blue Delta LLC, a computer consulting firm for educational institutions.

A diverse mix of topics and research characterizes the Environmental Studies capstone projects presented by 20 seniors at 4-6 p.m. May 7 in the 1st- and 2nd-floor atria of Eaton Hall.

Paula Senff and Gordon Lyons collaborated with Operation Wallacea and traveled to Kaledupa, Indonesia, and the Iwokrama rainforest in Guyana, respectively. Deanna Campbell and Katie Caulfield remained in the U.S. but did their research in the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington state and in New York City. Closer to home, a couple of projects focused on the environmental literacy and green habits of McDaniel students.

Senff (pictured below) of Bochum, Germany, studied the impact of fish fences. Lyons of Westminster, Md., looked at bat biodiversity in terms of sustainable development. Campbell of Hampstead, Md., explored local adaptation of the colonial sea squirt, Botrylloides violaceus, among harbors off the coast of Washington. Caulfield of Fort Washington, Pa., investigated how a re-use organization, “Build It Green!,” benefits the surrounding community.

“I learned a lot about myself, including a strong sense of independence, all the while learning how to live in close proximity with others,” says Lyons, who had a great experience in the Iwokrama forest of central Guyana with local villagers as guides and hopes to promote deep ecotourism that continues to benefit indigenous peoples, not exploit them. “I have a better appreciation for the importance of field work, as well as a better understanding of how difficult it can be.”
 
Several students collaborated with Environmental Studies professors Mona Becker and Scott Hardy on their research projects. The work mapping sinkhole density that James Porteous of Miami, Fla., completed for his senior seminar began as a research project with Becker in January 2013.

“Karst features can represent a potential geologic hazard since they may result in the formation of sinkholes as the underlying bedrock is dissolved away and the overlying sediment collapses into the opening,” Becker says. “By mapping the density of karst features and sinkholes, home owners and county planners will have a better sense of the potential of sinkhole development within areas of Carroll County."

Senior Deanna Campbell (right) sits with Biology Professor Molly Jacobs

Two students – Kerri Morrison of Glen Burnie, Md., and Ben Munyon of Middletown, Md. – collaborated with Hardy on his investigation of the institutional variables impacting payments for environmental services policies.

“Institutional analysis is a research tool that allows scholars to empirically and theoretically examine the effectiveness of collaborative management strategies for addressing common pool resource dilemmas,” Hardy says of Morrison’s project in the U.S. and Munyon’s in Ecuador.

The following students are listed with the titles of their posters, which will be on display from 4 p.m. May 7 until May 9. Students will be available with their posters from 4-6 p.m. May 7 in the 1st- and 2nd-floor atria in Eaton Hall. 

1. Thomas Baker of Arnold, Md.
Calculating the Photovoltaic Potential of a Small-Scale Community using      GIS Mapping

2. Paul Balladarsch of Hampstead, Md.
Two Towns:  Local Residents key in Preparation and Recovery

3. Jake Butler of Smithsburg, Md.
An Analysis of the Impacts of Development on the Incorporated Areas of Westminster, Maryland’s Stormwater Management System

4. Joseph Buttrum of Eldersburg, Md.
Lithium-ion Batteries: Are They Truly the Future for Portable Power Source

5. Deanna Campbell of Hampstead, Md.
No Evidence for Local Adaptation of Botrylloides violaceus Populations in the San Juan Islands

6. Marcus Carter of Greenbelt, Md.
Measuring the Effectiveness of Residential Energy Incentives in Prince Georges County Maryland

7. Rachel Cash of Washington, D.C.
The Role of Local Government in Community Gardens in Washington, DC

8. Katie Caulfield of Fort Washington, Pa.
Build it Green! NYC, a Non-Profit Reuse Outlet; Helping the Community and Creating a Process

9. Sean Lamarre of Woodbine, Md.
Erosion Control Devices on the Severn River

10. Gordon S. Lyons of Westminster, Md.
Establishing Bat (Chiroptera) Biodiversity Standards in the Iwokrama Forest for Sustainable Development

11. Roger McGuinn of Warrenton, Va.
Acorns and Horns: Oak Production and Hunter Success

12. Kerri Morrison of Glen Burnie, Md.
Institutional Dimensions of Farmland Conservation: An Application of the Institutional Analysis and Development Framework to the Conservation Reserve Program

13. Ben Munyan of Middletown, Md.
Applying Ostrom’s IAD Framework to the Yasuni-ITT Initiative

14. James Porteous of Miami, Fla.
The Distribution and Density of Karst Topography in Carroll County, Maryland

15. Ana Salverda of Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
Comparative Analysis of Recycling Programs in Elementary Schools

16. Paula Senff of Bochum, Germany
The Ecological and Socio-Economic Impact of Fsh Fences in Kaledupa

17. James Ways of Westminster, Md.
Water Usage Among McDaniel College Students

18. Autum Wenderoth of Westminster, Md.
Urban Park Usage among McDaniel College Students

19. Joseph Wright of Westminster, Md.
Retrieving Reality-McDaniel College Student’s Perception of “Environmentally Friendly” Presidents: Nixon to Obama

20. James Young of Fairfax Station, Va.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation: A Study Using the Governmental Impacts Framework

McDaniel College’s Center for Experience and Opportunity is your one-stop shop for experiential learning. What combination of experiences and opportunities will deepen your classroom learning, connect you to local and global communities, and support your career exploration and aspirations? We can help you chart that course—your course toward personal and professional development. Interested in choosing a major, learning about volunteer opportunities, finding a job on campus, engaging in a student-faculty research project, applying for a competitive scholarship, securing an internship, or setting up a job shadowing experience? Our staff can help."

Sara Krome, Associate Director of Community Outreach and Initiatives, provides an overview of McDaniel's community engagement through the year at the Third Annual Community Engagement Lunch and Showcase.

Most students majoring in Psychology elect to complete a senior capstone seminar. These seminars require students to read primary sources, lead and participate in class discussions, and write and present a substantial literature review on the topic of their choice. This year Drs. Mazeroff and Rhodes taught the capstone seminars on the topics of Clinical Issues and Controversies in Psychology, respectively. Students may instead opt to complete a yearlong original research project under the supervision of a faculty member.  These projects are presented to the department and the campus community in the final weeks of the semester.

Under the supervision of Dr. Paul Mazeroff:

• Cate Brooks-Kenny - Should the Mentally Ill Be Forced to take Psychiatric Medications?
• Eliza Blatchford -  Are We Over-Diagnosing Trauma Disorders?
• Dwight Carmon - Are the Mentally Ill a Danger to the General Population?
• Jonathan Lightner -  Is Sexual Addiction a Real Disorder?
• James McGrady - Are Freud’s Ideas Still Relevant?
• Annie McShea - Should Psychologists Participate in the Interrogation of Prisoners?
• Alyssa Zell - Do Alternative Therapies Have a Place in Treating Mental Illness?
• Lisa Starr - Should Substance Abuse be Considered a Disease?
• Janel Cubbage - Should Psychologists Be Able To Prescribe Psychiatric Medication?
• Autumn Lemke-Rochon - Is Autism Over-Diagnosed?
• Joy Neal -Should Aging Be Treated As A Disease?
• AJ Kiersky - Should Psychologists Participate In The Interrogation Of Prisoners?
• Jennifer Rohan -  Should Substance Abuse Be Considered A Disease?
• Conar Densmore -  Are People Who Meet Criteria For Antisocial Personality Disorder Mentally Ill Or Just Bad?
• Michael Sacks - Should Electroconvulsive Therapy Still Be Used?
• Chris Steinheimer - What Is The Relationship Between Brain Trauma And Violence?
• Allie Shreves - Is There A Link Between Mental Illness And Violence?

Under the supervision of Dr. Madeline Rhodes:

• Maria Brooks - Art Therapy and its Effect on Traumatic Memory
• Ashley Chase - Maternal Mental Health and Childrearing
• Eric Evans - Medicating Children with ADHD: Does it Aid the Student?
• Torin Grosso – The Psychology of Consciousness: Bridging the Gap Between Spirituality and Science
• Melissa Jameson - Sex Addiction is a Real Diagnosis: A Comparative Review of Sex, Addiction, Drug Addiction, and Alcoholism
• Christine Jubinsky - The Cause of Psychological Disorders: Nature or Nurture
• Jane Lee - Mental Health in Correctional Facilities
• Maura Livingstone – Social Anxiety and Social and Emotional Cognitions and Behaviors
• Jaina Maultsby - Youth Sports: Positive and Negative Influences on Participants'
• Psychological Well-Being and Behavior
• Meg O’Connor - Is Excessive Internet Use an Addiction?
• Rachael Rybak - Does Biofeedback Help with Anxiety and Depression?
• Hannah Schiffman - Time-of-Day Effects on Cognitive Performance
• Emily Smiley -  An Exploration of Strategies Employed by Women in Leadership
• Michelle Spera - Nature vs. Nurture and the Effect on Childhood Intelligence
• Fatmata Timbo - The Parent-Child Relationship as a Possible Key Contributor to the Development of Obesity

Honors capstone under the supervision of Dr. Jack Arnal:

Rachel Hoffman - The Effects of Images and Speech Pattern Used for Presenting a Foreign Language

Honors capstone under the supervision of Dr. Wendy Morris:

Tyler Justice - Lie to Me: An Analysis of Deception Detection Techniques in Law Enforcement

Honors capstone under the supervision of Dr. Madeline Rhodes:

Laura Barbour* - Effects of Anti-epileptic Drugs on Anxiety, Memory, Reproductive Behavior, and Androgen Levels of Male Rats

* Laura is completing a student-designed major in Neuroscience

More than 200 guests at the annual Scholarship Luncheon held on campus April 28 celebrated the special connection between scholarship winners and the generous donors who fund the College’s 331 endowed and annual scholarships, which contribute about $1.8 million to the $30 million in academic scholarships and need-based aid that supports 90 percent of McDaniel students. Seven new scholarship funds were also announced.

In welcoming scholarship donors and students, President Roger Casey announced the largest bequest for scholarships in the college’s history, a $975,000 gift from the estate of Philip Henry Dorsey, class of 1891, representing the partial distribution of The Dorsey Trust valued at about $6.7 million that eventually will be earmarked for scholarships too.

Casey also highlighted some recent achievements that honor donors’ investment in McDaniel students.

“Earlier this year, we were praised again when McDaniel was included in the newest edition of the revised ‘Colleges That Change Lives,’” Casey said. “Its author boldly raved, ‘If you’re looking for a college free from pretense and full of genuine care, put McDaniel at the top of your list.’”

Four student speakers represented the more than 300 recipients of endowed and annual scholarships. Erin Giles, a sophomore majoring in Communication, is the recipient of the Class of 1963 Scholarship.

Giles, vice-president of the Student Alumni Council, a peer mentor, student ambassador and co-editor of the yearbook, spoke about the difference McDaniel is making in her life, and the fact that it would not have been possible without the scholarship.

“I can genuinely say that my life has changed for the better, in more ways than I can count, since coming to McDaniel,” Giles said. “None of this would have been possible without the generous donations into my Class of 1963 Scholarship.”

Mathematics and Computer Science double major Wes Weicht is a senior and the recipient of the Austin E. Penn Endowed Scholarship.

“Standing here as a senior I can say that … I am proud of who I am, I am confident, and I am a part of the McDaniel Family,” said Weicht,  a member of the Math Club, the Commuter Student Association and the Math Honor Society, Kappa Mu Epsilon. “I would not be standing her etoday, a changed man, a proud member of McDaniel College, if it wasn’t for every single one of you that made this financially possible for me.”

Only through scholarships was junior English major Teal Koch, recipient of the D.M. Keel Scholarship, able to consider McDaniel.

“Last spring, I had the pleasure of studying abroad in the beautiful country of Costa Rica,” said Koch, who is president of McDaniel’s chapter of Phi Mu national sorority, a parent preview guide and peer mentor. “My three-month stay was covered entirely by my financial aid and grants. I climbed up mountains, went on a run through the rain forest and jumped off of a 30-foot waterfall.

“All of these memories were made possible by the generosity of my donors.”

Dwight Carmon, a senior majoring in Psychology, is a resident assistant, peer mentor and member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity.

“When I walked through ‘red square’ (Memorial Plaza) my junior year of high school after visiting for a weekend, I knew I could see myself here. However, I also knew it was financially out of reach,” Carmon, recipient of the Eva L. Lewis Memorial Scholarship, said. “You have no idea how great it felt for my family and I to receive financial support in order for me to pursue one of my biggest aspirations.

“I am the first in my family to attend college so I am working to set an example for my younger brothers and I thank those contributors for helping me do just that.”

New endowed and annual scholarships are:

The Jack and Barbara Fringer Endowed Scholarship Fund (see photo at top), established by Jack Fringer, Class of 1960, and his wife Barbara, Class of 1961, to benefit a military dependent with sophomore, junior or senior status, or a veteran of military service, with a preference given to those minoring in education.

Michael Converso, Erin Giles, President Roger Casey
The Michelangelo Francis Converso Scholarship Fund

The Michelangelo Francis Converso Scholarship Fund, which was established by Mr. Converso’s son Michael, Class of 1950. This scholarship is awarded annually to a deserving student who is a member of the College’s orchestra, plays a string instrument and maintains a GPA of 3.0.

Michael Snyder, Erin Giles, President Roger Casey
The Eleanor Louise Schmidt Tate ’35 Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Eleanor Louise Schmidt Tate ’35 Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to celebrate the life of Eleanor Tate and to also honor her career as a nutritionist and her passion for traveling around the world. This scholarship will support a student majoring in exercise science and physical education or a student who desires to expand their global knowledge by studying abroad.

Marvin Milstein, Susan Milstein, Erin Giles, President Roger Casey
The Susan and Marvin Milstein Annual Scholarship

The Susan and Marvin Milstein Annual Scholarship was established by faculty member Susan Milstein and her husband Marvin to honor Susan’s time on the Hill and her devotion to her students. The scholarship is awarded to a junior with a GPA of 3.0 or higher majoring in Accounting, Economics or Business Administration who excels in this major.

The William M. and Sandra G. Rogers Scholarship Fund was established by Sandra Gordon Rogers, Class of 1975 and her husband William. The scholarship is awarded annually to a first generation college student with sophomore, junior or senior standing who strives for academic success while remaining a participating member of the college or local community as demonstrated through employment, community service or similar activity.

The James Breuer Target Endowed Scholarship Fund, which was established in honor of Jim Breuer for his service as chair and member of the Board of Trustees of Target Community and Educational Services.

The Donna May Grewell Cornwell ’62 Scholarship Fund, which was established by William J. Cornwell as a tribute to his wife to honor her love for teaching young children, and her warmly remembered educational and social experiences on the Hill.

The major in theatre arts prepares students for careers in the professional theatre, for graduate studies in theatre and applied theatre, and for a variety of other vocations which demand the interpersonal, creative, and interpretive skills developed by theatre majors.

Majors are encouraged to begin their studies with the three core courses in Acting, Group Process in Interactive Theatre and Stagecraft. Subsequently, they will choose an intermediate course in two of these areas, and then pursue advanced work in one focus area, culminating in a relevant laboratory course, a senior laboratory course, and a capstone course (either Directing or Drama Workshop). In addition, they will take two intermediate courses in ‘texts and traditions’ and, in their junior year, complete the major requirement in writing.

This year, McDaniel College Theatre presented “The Sleep of Reason,” from March 6-March 9 at 7:30p.m. in WMC Alumni Hall. The pictures above showcase the set design from this production. Directed by Ira Domser, the play is set in Spain in 1823. Senior Ro-z Edelston created the sets.  “The Sleep of Reason” is an imaginative fantasy examining the final years of Francisco Goya. The play focuses on the punishment for those King Ferdinand deems his enemies.

Students formally present a report and presentation from an internship or independent research project that is centered on a specific environmental problem. Class lectures and discussion focus on techniques and strategies to formalize a research proposal, conduct a literature review, create and administer a written survey, carry out personal interviews, write and revise a formal research paper, and present an academic poster. This course is required of all majors.

Projects being completed by this group are unique because of their diversity. We have students who have collaborated with Operation Wallacea and conducted field research overseas (Paula Senff and Gordon Lyons), students who stayed in the U.S., but traveled a great distance to collect data (Deana Campbell and Katie Caulfield), and even a couple of projects focused on the environmental literacy and green habits of McDaniel students (Autumn Wenderoth and Joe Wright).

Both Dr. Becker and Dr. Hardy have invited students to assist with ongoing research projects. For example, the work that James Porteous is completing for his senior seminar began as a research project with Dr. Becker in January 2013.

“James is mapping the density of karst features in Carroll County, Maryland. Karst features can represent a potential geologic hazard since they may result in the formation of sinkholes as the underlying bedrock is dissolved away and the overlying sediment collapses into the opening,” said Dr. Becker. “By mapping the density of karst features and sinkholes, home owners and county planners will have a better sense of the potential of sinkhole development within areas of Carroll County."

Two students – Kerri Morrison and Ben Munyon – have collaborated with Dr. Hardy on an ongoing project. Two years ago Dr. Hardy started to investigate the institutional variables impacting payments for environmental services policies. ‘Institutional analysis’ is a research tool that allows scholars to empirically and theoretically examine the effectiveness of collaborative management strategies for addressing common pool resource dilemmas.

“Kerri is taking an institutional approach to analyze the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The CRP offers farmers financial incentives to take marginal cropland out of production and convert it into conservation cover, such as riparian buffer strips along streams, native grasslands, or vegetative windbreaks. Ben will be taking a similar approach to analyze the Yasumi-ITT Initiative in Ecuador. This is a collaborative partnership made up of indigenous landowners, nongovernmental organizations, and government representatives who are seeking innovative means to fund forest protection in one of the most important and biologically diverse places on earth.” Dr. Scott Hardy

Environmental Studies Capstone Experience

The culminating experience of the social work major is field education. Field education requires two semesters of an internship experience under the supervision of a Masters Level professional social worker. Students work two full days a week “in the field” accumulating a minimum of 415 hours of field experience. Students are also required to take a 2-credit seminar course both semesters in which all coursework, and assignments are designed to compliment their experiential learning. Students; learning goals are measured by their individual field instructors, a self-report, and the seminar professor. Each student works in a different social service agency serving individuals, families, groups and communities in a variety of organizations ranging from child welfare settings to continual care facilities. Students have the opportunity to work across difference in both urban and rural areas. It is through this capstone experience that students have the opportunity to apply classroom learning from the major curriculum itself as well as their selected liberal arts courses to better understand and improve the quality of life for those in need of social work services.

Names of seniors and their assigned Field Placements

Victoria Bacon:
Family and Children’s Services (serves victims and offenders of domestic violence.

Margaret Fennelly:
The Arc of Baltimore (serves children and youth in treatment foster care as well as both foster families and biological parents).

Olivia Gaw:
Change Inc. (serves adults with developmental disabilities).

Sarah Kernan:
The Carroll County Department of Social Services  Foster Care and Adoption Division (serves children, foster and adoptive families and biological parents)

Siobhan Matias:
The Silver Oak Academy (serves male juvenile offenders from 12-18)

Jessica Nanny:
Carroll County Youth Services Bureau (serves children and their families)

Melissa Pennington:
Carroll County Hospital Behavioral Health Unit  (serves inpatient and outpatient adolescents and adults with acute and chronic mental illness).

Anna Marie Rawa:
The Human Services Program Opportunity Works  (This student was selected as Maryland Cash Fellow from a statewide pool of applicants. She has also been certified as a VITA volunteer through the program).

Kelsey Warthen:
Carroll Lutherans village (serves older adults)

*Cathy Orzolek-Kronner is the field liaison between all students and their agencies.

Most students begin to think about the population they would like to serve through field education during the fall semester of their junior year while they are enrolled in Methods of Social Work Research. Most of the time the student’s research in this class pertains to this population of interest and prepares them with more in-depth knowledge and a greater sense of competency when they work with this population or social problem the following year.  Two students are selected each year to complete a Honor’s project based on research from this class as well as their application and research proposal for conducting a Honors project.  The faculty member with the most expertise in each of these areas typically volunteers to be the faculty supervisor of the project throughout the year.

This year, Kelsey Warthen is working with Michelle Young and exploring sibling adjustment to living with a sibling who has autism  Michelle and Kelsey have been collecting data through co-facilitating non-clinical sibling groups through the Howard County Society for Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. A final analysis and summary of the findings will be completed and disseminated to identified constituencies by the end of the semester.

Cathy Orzolek-Kronner is overseeing Maggie Fennelly’s research with foster mothers and their racially different foster chld/ren to better understand  the issues that can emerge based on racial and ethnic differences. Maggie has identified 6-8 foster mothers that she has been conducting qualitative interviews with. She too will code, analyze  and disseminated her data through a written report  that will be given to both the Arc of Baltimore as well as the Social Work Department at McDaniel College.

The culminating experience for Education minors at McDaniel College is the 16-week final full-time professional semester internship in PK-12 schools.  Depending on their certification choices, candidates teach in elementary, middle, or high schools under the mentorship of a classroom teacher in the assigned Professional Development School and the College Supervisor from McDaniel College.

During the final professional semester, candidates are required to engage in a portfolio process centered on a unit plan, which the candidate has developed and taught to students.  In a reporting session similar to an interview, candidates reflect on their unit plan and discuss: the alignment of unit and lesson plan outcomes with state and national curriculum goals; instructional strategies employed; assessment measures utilized and the student results achieved; strategies used to address the needs of individual students; and the technology used to impact student learning.  Additionally, candidates complete a service project which supports the school’s School Improvement Plan goals for the academic year.

Azat, B. (2013) Unit Plan - Grade 9: Prepositional Phrases and Sentence Patterns.  Service Project: Mr. Azat’s After School Improv Workshops, Francis Scott Key High.  Unpublished UG.  McDaniel College, Westminster, MD.

Crawford, K. (2013) Unit Plan - Grade 5: Poetry.  Service Project: Literacy Day, Eldersburg Elementary.  Unpublished UG.  McDaniel College, Westminster, MD.

Earp, N. (2013) Unit Plan - Grade 4: Inventors.  Service Project: Green School Project, Cranberry Station Elementary.  Unpublished UG.  McDaniel College, Westminster, MD.

Eveler, B. (2013) Unit Plan - Grades K-5: Heart Health.  Service Project: Burpee Challenge, Spring Garden Elementary.  Unpublished UG.  McDaniel College, Westminster, MD.

Fine, A. (2013) Unit Plan - Grade 1: Fantasy vs. Reality.  Service Project: Green School Project, Cranberry Station Elementary.  Unpublished UG.  McDaniel College, Westminster, MD.

Griffin, M. (2013) Unit Plan – Grade2:  Measurement.  Service Project: “Read Like A Champion” – Readers Theater Night, Elmer Wolfe Elementary. Unpublished UG.  McDaniel College, Westminster, MD.

Griffith, G. (2013) Unit Plan – Grade 7:  Title:  The Outsiders.  Service Project: MSA Tutoring, Northwest Middle.  Unpublished UG.  McDaniel College, Westminster, MD.

Hague, J. (2013) Unit Plan – Grade 10: The Simple Sentence and Its Parts.  Service Project: Maverick Shakespeare Players, Manchester Valley High.  Unpublished UG.  McDaniel College, Westminster, MD.

Haslbeck, C. (2013) Unit Plan – Grade 6:  Poetry.  Service Project: Diversity Day, New Windsor Middle.  Unpublished UG.  McDaniel College, Westminster, MD.

Kirchhoff, S. (2013) Unit Plan - Grade 2: Maps.  Service Project: Multicultural Day, Eldersburg Elementary.  Unpublished UG.  McDaniel College, Westminster, MD.

Kron, D. (2013) Unit Plan - Grade 8: American Government.  Service Project: Student Mentoring, Northwest Middle.  Unpublished UG.  McDaniel College, Westminster, MD.

Lathe, C. (2013) Unit Plan – Grade 10: Orwell’s 1984 and Our Today.  Service Project: Tutoring for English High School Assessments, South Carroll High.  Unpublished UG.  McDaniel College, Westminster, MD.

Wooley, C. (2013) Unit Plan – Grade 12: Hand-Building Coil Pottery.  Service Project: Decorative Art Panels for the Weight Room, Francis Scott Key High.  Unpublished UG.  McDaniel College, Westminster, MD.

In the Sociology capstone, students transform their research results from the Methods class into a poster that is accessible to a lay audience.  Students work as a collaborative group, guiding each other in presenting and explaining their research results and their significance.  Students also critique sociological research studies so that they understand their own research within the context of strengths and weaknesses of published studies.

Dr. Lauren Dundes oversees all of the Capstones that are a product of what students do in Dr. Debra Lemke’s Methods class; research in the Methods class is based on a dataset collected from students on campus:

Sociology Capstone Projects

1. Amy Bare
2. Claude Boyd
3. Lauren Brown
4. Clara Burgess
5. William “Skippy” Burgess
6. Courtney DePiano
7. Tyler Lloyd
8. Brian Mauck
9. Juliana “Julie” Moss
10. Ja’Nairra Myers
11. Hanna Rhodes
12. Sean Searfass
13. Joanna Thornton
14. Joseph “Joe” Timpanaro
15. Helen “Perrie” White
16. Rula Zaru

The Capstone Experience for the Music Department is the Senior Recital - a public performance between 40-60 minutes on the student's major instrument. The recital includes material representative of diverse historical periods and genres, and may include ensembles in which the student also performs, and works composed by the student. Each recital is unique, reflecting the main interests of the students throughout their period of study at McDaniel.

This year’s recitals include:

• Sarah Lange – Flute
  • Instructor: Dr. Linda Kirkpatrick
• Hanna Martin – Voice
  • Instructor: Kyle Engler
• Lisa Stables – Voice
  • Instructor: Lorriana Markovic

Department Chair: Dr. Margaret Boudreaux

Communication

The Senior Capstone in Communication gives students the opportunity to generate knowledge about communication by designing and completing an independent conference-worthy research paper. During their previous classwork, students have explored how symbols are mutually shared and interpreted during face-to-face and various forms of mediated communication. They also have learned how communication researchers systematically gather data and analyze it quantitatively, qualitatively, semiotically and rhetorically. They present and defend their work formally. During oral presentations, they respond to questions from the audience.

Cinema

Josiah Guthland The Mechanism of Congo Red Binding to Amyloid Fibrils / Dr. Melanie Nilsson (Chemistry)

Dani Kesner (Biochemistry):
Prokaryotic expression and purification of Caenorhabditis elegans α-ketoacid-responsive proteins / Dr. Shane Rea (University of Texas)

Lindsey Blohm (Chemistry):
The Effects of Biosludge of Soil in Carroll County / Dr. Mona Becker (Environmental Studies)

Gesley Fisher (Biochemistry):
The Chemical Characteristics of Hydric Soils in the King Park Wetland / Dr. Mona Becker (Environmental Studies)

Kaitlin Mahoney (Exercise Chemistry):
Metabolic Responses to High Intensity Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise / Drs. McCole nd McKenzie (Exercise Science)

Eric Liggins (Biochemistry):
Biotinylation of Bovine Insulin Amyloid Fibrils / Dr. Melanie Nilsson (Chemistry)

Kate Hudson (Chemistry):
The Effects of Green Tea Polyphenols on Seizures and Behavior / Dr. Madeline Rhodes (Psychology)

Zach Watkins (Biochemistry):
Gas Chromatographic-Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Polyphenols in Wine.

The Senior Seminar Capstone experience is a rigorous, intimate (no more than 12 students) seminar designed to simulate the preparation a student scholar would undergo in preparing, delivering and defending a thesis for a conference in our discipline. The student chooses from a broad thematic area of the discipline (e.g. human rights and civil liberties, contemporary American Politics and Policies, globalization and its consequences, terrorism and political extremism, public policy (domestic and foreign, to name but a few).

Since our department requires courses in the theory and methodology of our discipline, students will have had experience with writing papers of this kind (just of a shorter length). They will be familiar with both the qualitative and quantitative methods of the discipline by their senior year. As a result, this course is truly the capstone of the work in the department. Our students have an excellent, thoroughly vetted writing sample as a result. Many use a portion of the senior seminar thesis as their writing sample for admission to graduate study.

Students produce an original, researched scholarly argument that follows the conventions of an article published in an academic journal within the discipline of English studies. The course concludes with a formal explanation of their research during a 20-minute oral presentation that is open to the public.

“All of the students agree that Senior Seminar is the most challenging and rewarding project of their McDaniel careers because of the degree to which seniors are expected to contribute original critical insights based on their evaluation and synthesis of primary texts and the extant research,” said Dr. Robert Kachur, Department Chair. “The pride each senior takes in his or her project is especially apparent during the oral presentations when the Richwine Room is packed with invited guests including parents, siblings, friends, and faculty mentors.”

McDaniel College believes that liberally educated men and women think and act critically, creatively, and humanely.  Throughout students’ tenure on The Hill, they have conducted research with professors, traveled to academic conferences and immersed themselves in theater and the arts.

McDaniel students have taken languages and learned about diverse cultures. They have identified needs near and far and offered assistance.

The following pages highlight the academic achievements of the seniors who completed Capstone Projects within their major disciplines. A capstone is the final block that is placed on top of a construction project to tie the whole structure together. At McDaniel College, Capstones are considered the culmination of a liberal arts education.

Though this culmination is a final stage for our Seniors, it is not the end.

By Living the Liberal Arts, we believe that McDaniel students are poised  to take their place in the global community, understanding their responsibilities to aid individuals and to contribute to the larger society.

Dr. Deborah Johnson Ross (with photo)
Dr. Thomas Zirpoli (with photo)

James Watson, Francis Crick, Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins would no doubt have reveled in the recent DNA Day celebration in Susan Parrish’s Genomics class. But chances are even these pioneering scientists who discovered DNA’s structure had never used Twizzlers and multi-colored gummy bears to illustrate its double-helix design.

The same cannot be said of the six seniors and one junior who each devised and shared with the class a different way to hail the inimitable blueprint of life.

Juliana Broussard of Hagerstown, Md., showed off the DNA molecule a friend crocheted. Catherine O’Keeffe of Tuckahoe, N.Y., told the story behind her cartoon of Nucleus High and its “students,” including DNA, “a serious teenager, an architect who loves blueprints and seems wrapped up in what he’s doing.”

They made DNA bracelets, twisted Twizzlers connected by toothpick-strung gummy bears, and delighted in DNA cupcakes, while DNA-themed music and video played in the background. Kirsten Bickford of Sykesville, Md., wore her “DNA” as a headband.

And Luke Schmidt of Red Lion, Pa., challenged his classmates to follow their unique DNA code, which he supplied in sealed envelopes, as they iced and decorated the brownie pops he made and brought to class.

Parrish’s former students lit up her Facebook page with envious comments when they heard this year’s class was prepping for this, the third annual DNA Day, and one sent homemade candy in the shape of the celebrated molecule.

“I work them pretty hard – they do original research in this class and it is one of our writing intensive courses,” says Parrish, a Biology professor who has a similar celebration in her fall molecular biology class with the students designing and wearing Halloween costumes that relate to the topic.

The reason for the celebration is much simpler to understand than DNA’s encoded genetic instructions.

“I think they need a day of fun,” says Parrish.

The McDaniel College Board of Trustees bestowed its prestigious Trustee Alumni Award on notable alumni Donald Rabush ’62, M.Ed.’70; Nancy Stocksdale ’56 and Barbara Thomas ’70 for outstanding accomplishments in their respective fields.

Leaders and innovators – from designing programs that link graduate education with a residential experience for developmentally disabled adults to sponsoring legislation that fosters fiscal responsibility and education to changing lives on a global scale through leadership in Habitat for Humanity – the recipients were honored at the annual trustee-faculty dinner held April 26.

Demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit by operating a campus laundry service to help pay his tuition, Donald Rabush graduated with a degree in English and served in Vietnam before returning to the Hill for a master’s degree and teaching the learning disabled in Carroll County. He went on to earn a doctorate in learning disabilities with a concentration in hearing impairments at the University of Denver before returning again to the college to teach in the Education department.

Rabush initiated the master’s degree in Human Services and Case Management in 1983 and founded TARGET, Inc. (now known as Target Community & Educational Services), a nonprofit organization to provide residential, occupational, and recreational services for adults with developmental disabilities. In 1992, in recognition of his inspired educational leadership, he was named the first to occupy the Laurence J. Adams Distinguished Chair of Special Education, the first fully funded chair in the college’s history. Many notable accolades have followed including the Alumnus of the Year in 2005, the Joseph R. Bailer Award in 1998, emeritus status as Professor of Education in 1995, as well as Special Achievement Awards in 1990 and 1987.

Maryland State Delegate Nancy Stocksdale took the skills and commitment she honed in the Home Economics management house and child development nursery school as a Home Economics major at what was then Western Maryland College, and ultimately applied them to managing a state and serving its nearly six million citizens. After 34 years mentoring and teaching generations of Maryland citizens in Baltimore County schools, she headed to Annapolis, ultimately applying the same life skills and wisdom to legislation to support all Marylanders.

Board Chair Martin K.P. Hill, Awardee Nancy Stocksdale, President Roger Casey.

Stocksdale has been applauded in the Maryland legislature as a passionate advocate for fiscal responsibility, affordable health care, education and the environment. As a delegate since 1995, she has sponsored 56 bills, several to strengthen educational opportunities for at-risk youth. She has been a tireless supporter of the Sellinger funds to independent colleges, including her own alma mater.

Barbara A. Thomas has been a global activist for more than 15 years, serving as a volunteer, board member and executive director for Habitat for Humanity in the United States, Europe and Central Asia. Empowered by her belief that safe, clean housing is a basic right for everyone, Thomas has raised community awareness, recruited volunteers of all ages, mobilized finances and building materials for the construction of scores of homes that grant shelter to families in need.

Board Chair Martin K.P. Hill, Awardee Barbara Thomas, President Roger Casey.

After earning an M.B.A. at Virginia Tech, Thomas started a business and in 1992, retired as a division manager at the aerospace and information contractor, TRW (now Esperian) in southern California. An active volunteer in the arts and social services, she became CEO fro Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, Calif., and later, after receiving the Habitat Partner Award, served in South Carolina as executive director of the Low Country Habitat for Humanity. In 2010, Thomas was named project manager for the Habitat for Humanity regional office for Europe and Central Asia (ECA) located in Bratislava, Slovakia, where she led the effort, in concert with the International Red Cross and the United Nations, to present the first ECA Housing Forum in April 2011, in Budapest, Hungary, home to McDaniel-Europe.

Currently, Thomas is challenging all college alumni to join her with McDaniel students and faculty for a study trip in May to learn about obstacles to affordable housing in Budapest, then join her in Romania for hands-on work with the Habitat for Humanity International’s Global Village Program.

Approximately $6.7 million from the estate of 1891 alumnus Philip Henry Dorsey of St. Clements Bay, Md. (St. Mary’s County), will be used to establish an endowment for scholarships. McDaniel has received a check for more than $975,000 as the first installment of the gift with much of the estate coming in the form of property.

According to McDaniel President Roger Casey, “That the family descendant of an alumnus from over 120 years ago made a commitment to transfer Mr. Dorsey’s legacy so that another century of students can attend this college is a remarkable testament about the life-changing power of a McDaniel education.”

Philip Henry Dorsey was one of 18 students to earn a bachelor’s degree from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel) in 1891. Total enrollment of the college then was 154, and the faculty included the college’s namesake William R. McDaniel, professor of mathematics and astronomy.

After graduation, Dorsey returned to St. Mary’s County, Md., where he helped to manage farmland and spent much of his life involved in the buying and selling of crops. He never married and was beloved by his nieces and nephews.

Elizabeth “Betty” Grice Helms, current trustee of the Dorsey Trust and Dorsey’s great-great niece, presents McDaniel President Roger Casey and McDaniel College Board chair Martin K. P. Hill with the first installment of the Dorsey Trust gift.

Upon his death in 1945, Dorsey’s will established a trust fund to provide scholarships for his descendants to attend Western Maryland College (now McDaniel). To date, five of his descendants have earned degrees from the college ranging from the classes of 1948 through 1962. The college has researched the Trust and its ongoing provision to fund scholarships for Dorsey’s descendants and worked with its trustees to manage the transfer of funds.

Elizabeth “Betty” Grice Helms, current trustee of the Dorsey Trust and Dorsey’s great-great niece, said, “It’s my honor to complete the wishes of ‘Uncle Phil’ and his descendants.”

As their May 9 VideoPalooza premiere draws near, Cinema seniors are pressing to complete their capstone projects – 20-30 minute digital video features they have written, directed, produced and edited as portfolios of their work. 

In fact, student film crews in search of spring footage are popping up on campus with the tulips now that winter has finally released its grip on the region. Will Haddad (pictured above) and his cameraman Scott Harlow are among them as Haddad puts the finishing touches on his psychological drama – both a thriller and a mystery – “Mono.”

VideoPalooza is free and open to the public and will feature five capstone films beginning at 7 p.m. May 9 in Decker Auditorium, Lewis Hall of Science. As a bonus VideoPalooza will also feature a ten-minute fictional short shot entirely on an iPhone in Cinema professor Jonathan Slade’s Cell Phone Cinema course. The Communication department’s annual public-speaking contest precedes the film showcase at 6 p.m.

For Haddad, the most wrenching part of the project was coming up with an idea and writing the script.

“I wanted to create a character who has some sort of problem, and then put that character in the worst possible situation for the character,” says Haddad, a Cinema major from Pasadena, Calif. “Using some of my own experience as someone who never liked being alone, I took that to the next level and invented a character named Cleo who has serious mono-phobia, fear of being alone.”

Haddad recruited student actors Liz Flores of Westminster, Md., Najee Banks of Baltimore, and Mangie Moreno of Quito, Ecuador, from “Acting for the Camera,” the class in which he serves as a teaching assistant. “I promised them screen credit – and love forever.”

Yichong Li, a senior with majors in Asian Studies and Cinema/Theatre Arts, recruited friends whom she thought would bring out the most in each of the characters she wrote and sophomore Van H. Pham as her cameraman for her film, “’Merkin,” (American) a comedy about the struggles of an Asian student arriving on a college campus in the U.S. But Li, who has much experience on the stage and is considering an acting career, cast herself in the lead role.

“The idea started from my personal experience,” says Li, an international student from Nanjing, China. “But the film is a comedy and as a comedy is exaggerated and sometimes sarcastic. It’s the fish-out-of-water scenario. It focuses on typical cultural shocks an international student might face on an American college campus, but not my personal experience at McDaniel College.”

Li agrees that the project has challenged her and that she has learned much in the process.

Cinematographer Van Pham with Yichong Li, right, as she directs actors in a scene for her senior capstone project.

“I’ve learned a lot about movie making, sure – but also about interpersonal interaction to recruit people and how to balance three majors with filming that takes hours behind the scenes for just a short scene on the screen,” says Li. “But I also learned a lot about myself, and being in control of my own vision.” 

Li and Haddad both are finding the capstone production exciting – and exhausting. Exactly the way Cinema capstone professors Jonathan Slade and Richard Brett designed the course.

“We expect it to be a rigorous independent experience demanding self discipline and self motivation,” says Slade, who alternates annually with Brett as lead professor in the Cinema capstone class. “They take everything they’ve learned and create a portfolio showcase project that they can show potential employers or graduate school.”

The students sink all their skills into the project and are responsible for recruiting their own teams – exactly, Slade says, the way it is in the real world.

“We want to prepare them to be cinematic storytellers regardless of the medium or venue,” Slade says, explaining that he wants his students to be able to tell stories in pictures and sound, whether viewed on a computer screen, cable TV, a big movie screen or something else.

Students receive a lot of criticism and feedback – all in a nurturing environment, Slade says. It is a support system Li says is typical among faculty at McDaniel.

“Since I have been here, I have learned that it is possible to do whatever you want to do and there is always a support system there to help you,” Li says. “I learned it is ok to try new things.”

Part of that support in the Cinema capstone class is the student and faculty review of “dailies,” raw film footage from a day’s shoot, and their resulting constructive criticism of students’ work.

“Someone said my film is David Lynch-ian,” Haddad says, referring to the director of such surreal and cerebral films as “Eraserhead,” “Dune,” and “Elephant Man.” “I am incredibly flattered.”   

VideoPalooza will feature:

• “Wasted” (fiction) by Patrick Callahan of Catonsville, Md.
• “Mono” (fiction) by William Haddad of Pasadena, Calif.
• “Merkin” (fiction) bt Yichong Li of Nanjing, China - Trailer on YouTube
• “The MTA Might Take A While” (fiction) by Deara Marshall of Baltimore
• Untitled documentary project by Caitlin Roetheli of San Antonio, Texas

Stay tuned to the McDaniel Cinema Facebook page for the final screening schedule.

Four students were selected from the fall and spring sections of Public Speaking to participate in the Public Speaking Contest:  sophomores Erin Giles of Lavale, Md., and Lauren Hawkins of Forest Hill, Md., Karina Bustos of Cordoba, Argentina, and senior Catherine Frondorf of Arlington, Va.

Paul Jaworski sees nothing but possibility in the degree in Religious Studies with a Business Administration minor he will receive during McDaniel’s May 25 Commencement ceremony.

The senior from Columbia, Md., is considering starting his own business as a personal concierge and also looking at a career in international business or sales. Either way, he’s sure his experience on campus and off will help pave his way.

“You need to understand what people all over the world think – and why people think what they think – to successfully conduct business internationally,” says Jaworski, who also studied the Arabic language for three semesters. “That’s how you conduct business, by appreciating and understanding the differences in people and cultures.

“Religious studies gave me the opportunity to do just that.”

Although he has always enjoyed learning about cultures and beliefs, Jaworski had his eye on an Accounting major in his first year at McDaniel. That’s not surprising since he and his brother, Keith, bought a failing lawn care business with a loan from their parents when Jaworski was only 15.

The brothers bought a big mower and built the business on service and attention to detail. After his brother left for college, Jaworski ran the business alone – and even continued during his first and second years at McDaniel before his classes and soccer claimed too much of his time. They sold the business two years ago.

“That lawn care business helped me put myself through college,” says Jaworski, adding that it also taught him invaluable lessons in business ownership.

It didn’t take Jaworski long on campus to realize that he needed to match his major to his interests. After taking the class “Religion and Critical Thought,” his choice was obvious to him. He wasn’t a Business Administration major with a minor in Religious Studies – he was the opposite.

“I’m always asking new questions and I’m not obsessed with having one answer – a lot of answers are fine with me,” says Jaworski, who collaborated with Religious Studies professor Greg Alles on research with the Islamic Society in Carroll County and went with his church Grace Community  to Uganda to help small businesses there. “Sifting through all the answers spawns all these new ideas for me.”  

These days, as graduation approaches, those ideas involve what direction to head after college.

“Not only did I learn about different cultures and beliefs, I learned how to think – how to think critically and how to think through things,” Jaworski says. “That I know will serve me well if I go for business ownership or finance or sales in international business.”

Even before first-year student Roger Isom was formally accepted into McDaniel’s inaugural class of Global Fellows, he attended the 2013 Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) held at Washington University in St. Louis April 5-7.

Each year, CGI U hosts a meeting where students, youth organizations, topic experts, and celebrities come together to discuss and develop innovative solutions to pressing global challenges. Nearly 1,200 attendees gathered earlier this month to make a difference in CGI U's five focus areas: Education, Environment and Climate Change, Peace and Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation, and Public Health.

“We all have diverse commitments that ultimately have one shared goal – turning our ideas into action,” said Isom.

An Exercise Science and Spanish major from Annapolis, Md., Isom aspires to be a strength and conditioning coach and a youth obesity prevention specialist for English- and Spanish-speaking children.

“Attending CGI U opened my eyes to the health needs of children outside of America,” he added, and now he plans to study children's health conditions in developing countries as well.

“CGI U showed me that I can do just that and because of the CGI U network that I developed, I know I am never alone.”

Isom is already volunteering at the Westminster Boys & Girls Club where he is introducing a program he calls “Fitness Buddies,” with the help of McDaniel student-athletes who lead fitness sessions, activities ranging from zumba to kickboxing to sporting games in an effort to get kids moving and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

His dream is for the Fitness Buddies program to be sustainable and he’s committed to gather the data and effectively measure the program’s outcomes to more effectively design the activities.

Isom was among 20 first-year students named to the Inaugural Class of Global Fellows at a reception held on campus April 15. Through increased international coursework, language study, study abroad, this group of students is ready to invest in their global learning over the next three years at McDaniel College.

Front row, L-R:  Soohyun (Brianna) Myung, Kamiko O'Rullian, Anna Kokubu, Nicole Ringel
Middle row, L-R:  Serra Berry, Ashley Rogers, Lindsey Cardona, Morgan Stanback, Clarissa Balint, Mariah Ligas, Leanna Jasek-Rysdahl
Back row, L-R:  Claire Lawson, Keegan Farley, Andre Carneiro, Mirna Mercado, Amy McNichols, President Roger Casey, Leigh Brownell, Shannon McLellan, Casey Kelahan, Roger Isom, Caroline Unger

The Global Fellows are:
Clarissa Balint of Mount Rainier, Md.
Serra Berry of Manchester, Md.
Leigh Brownell of Newtown, Pa.
Lindsey Cardona of Silver Spring, Md.
Andre Carneiro of Silver Spring, Md.
Keegan Farley of Hampstead, Md.
Roger Isom, Jr. of Annapolis, Md.
Leanna Jasek-Rysdahl of Turlock, Calif.
Casey Kelahan of Leesburg, Va.
Anna Kokubu of Itami, Japan
Claire Lawson of Mcminnville, Ore.
Mariah Ligas of Aldie, Va.
Shannon McClellan of Boonsboro, Md.
Mirna Mercado of Olney, Md.
Soohyun (Brianna) Myung of Glen Rock, N.J.
Kamiko O’Rullian of La Quinta, Calif.
Nicole Ringel of New Market, Md.
Ashley Rogers of Abingdon, Md.
Morgan Stanback of North Highlands, Calif.
Caroline Unger of Park Ridge, Ill.

An enthusiastic contingent of McDaniel Philosophy students connected with students and faculty from area colleges at McDaniel recently for a Philosophy symposium to hear Gettysburg College professor Steven Gimbel discuss his book, “Einstein’s Jewish Science,” and to celebrate the study of Philosophy.

Philosophy students were invited to the podium to share why they chose to study what has been called “the queen of all sciences.” Cinematographer and Communication student Van Pham’s film captures the essence of the students’ comments.

McDaniel Philosophy professor Vera Jakoby noted that a recent Wall Street Journal survey shows that Philosophy majors have one of the highest earning potentials in the humanities.

“That is not surprising since the study of philosophy stimulates creative thinkers who can take their place anywhere on the globe,” said Jakoby, who explains that she has always been fascinated by philosophy since it comes out of a deep sense of wonder about life, death, beauty, etc. “Our majors and minors are capable of not only critically analyzing information, but also of producing and refining knowledge in a reliable way.

“It promotes imagination, creativity and thinking ‘outside the box’ so that we can help solve world problems and design a humane, just and sustainable world.”

McDaniel Philosophy students – 106 with majors and minors in Philosophy in the past five years, including 26 majors and 8 minors currently – have gone into fields such as medicine, law, music, education, finance, administration, environmental sustainability, among others. Jakoby noted the college’s many successful Philosophy alumni, including Dr. Aaron Morehouse ’02, director of the Columbia Ecological Gorge Institute in Oregon; Chris Sava ’08, who started a career shortly after his graduation as an electronic components broker in Shanghai; Greg Street ’91, lead designer of World of Warcraft video game; Crystal Radford ’07, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology and education at UCLA; James Diller ’04, who recently finished his Ph.D. in Psychology at West Virginia University; Lin Sun Oo ’09, a research assistant and program coordinator at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Burma.

“Our courses are rooted in global philosophical traditions and the intersections with culture, ethics, science, religion, technology, and more,” Jakoby said, mentioning such courses as the popular class on “Violent Media,” in addition to other courses, including “Minds & Machines,” “Philosophy and Music” and new courses for fall 2013 on “Plato’s Search for Knowledge,” Asian Philosophy, “Justice” and Native American Philosophy.

More than 100 McDaniel College students teamed up with about 80 K-12 students April 11 for the 24th annual Tournament of Champions.

Organized by McDaniel’s adapted physical education class taught by Andi Hoffman, associate professor in Exercise Science and Physical Education, the event is designed for students with orthopedic, visual and behavioral needs, who attend public, private, or home schools. The children in attendance came from Carroll, Baltimore, Anne Arundel and Frederick counties, as well as central Pennsylvania.

Tournament of Champions allows these young athletes to challenge themselves individually and achieve their best scores in 16 different events, including throwing for accuracy, hula hooping, scooter races, golfing, parachute activities, among others. All events are modified to meet the individual needs of the participants.

View these photos in a larger format

Although he volunteered with Tournament of Champions in his freshman year because “a lot of the older guys on my lacrosse team said that it was a good time and it would be an excused absence from class,” senior Michael Marks of Ellicott City, Md., said he knew it was something that he would want to be involved in every year after attending the event for the first time, and, as he says, “for the right reasons.”

“Ever since I attended the event my freshman year, I have loved being able to help out the young participants,” Marks says. “During the Tournament of Champions, they are able to run and play with the endless amount of energy that every child has. But, my favorite thing about the event is actually talking with them and getting to know what they like or don’t like. I have also noticed that the McDaniel students who act as ‘Buddies’ tend to learn just as much from the young athletes, and are equally happy to have met the child.”

According to senior Anna Beaudry of Amherst, Mass., who has also been involved in the event all four years at McDaniel, “There are a million things to love about this event. You get to play games all day with the kids who love being here and you get to spend the day with your friends, teammates and peers while we all work together to create such a good day for the kids. This being my fourth year, I’ve loved being able to see kids come year after year and see how much they have learned and improved since the year before. They all remember us...”

This was the first time that sophomore Amanda Sickel of Silver Spring, Md., volunteered at Tournament of Champions and she said that her favorite part “was being able to see each of the athletes succeed at the events in their own way.” 

“I had so much fun,” exclaimed first-year student Casey Gardella of Bethesda, Md. “Playing with the little kids was awesome and you could tell how much they appreciated it. I love that you get buddies up with someone because you really get to know them through out the whole day.”

First-year students Sara Reynolds and William Fierstein both look forward to participating in the event again next year.

“The kids were so excited to be there and spend time with you,” says Reynolds of York, Pa. “They were thrilled with smiles from ear to ear. It is honestly a life changing experience to see children with disabilities overcome challenges and take on everything that was setup for them that day. The day was truly amazing and it is one I will never forget and I hope my buddy doesn't either.”

Fierstein of North Potomac, Md., added, “I felt the event has been the most rewarding thing I’ve done at McDaniel. Seeing how happy it made all of the kids in attendance really showed me that we were doing a really good thing for the community.”

Students at McDaniel College participate in a variety of spring musical performances at the college, which are free and open to the public. For more information, call 410-857-2599. Visit www.mcdaniel.edu/music for information about McDaniel’s Music department.

Here are the concert and performances to be held April 28-May 6. Check Hill Happenings for events from now through the end of May.  

The College Choir Concert is 7 p.m. April 28 in Baker Memorial Chapel. Under the direction of Margaret Boudreaux, professor and department chair of the Music department, the college choir presents “Songs of Conflict and Reconciliation” commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, specifically the Battles of Gettysburg and Antietam.

Student soloists perform, including senior Lisa Staples of Burtonsville, Md.; sophomores Matthew Butt of Marriottsville, Md., and Foster McDaniel of Hendersonville, Tenn., and freshmen Daniel Beane of Bel Air, Md.; Rachel Brown of Monkton, Md.; Erica Cichetti of Hanover, Pa.; Joshua Harding of Federalsburg, Md.; Malcolm Jones of Annapolis, Md.; Jennifer Litzinger of West Windsor, N.J.; Morgan Stanback of North Highlands, Calif., and Melissa Williams of New Windsor, Md. A student percussion ensemble comprised of senior Bernadette Jankowski of Hampstead, Md.; junior Madeline Jackowski of Cumberland, Md., and freshman Norman Lezama of Rockville, Md., accompanies the choir on a work based on Walt Whitman’s poem “Beat, Beat Drums.” Seniors Monika Lemke of Westminster, Md., and Veronica Lathroum of Linthicum Heights, Md., are featured on flute.

Other featured works are Peter Wilhousky’s arrangement of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and his lesser-known arrangement of “When Johnnie Comes Marching Home.”

Senior Lisa Staples, student conductor, conducts Oscar Peterson’s jazz anthem, “Hymn to Freedom,” accompanied by senior Charles Eron of Hanover, Pa., on piano, junior Kevin Alexander of Bethesda, Md., on bass, and McDaniel alumnus Aaron Donato of Reisterstown, Md., on drums. 

The concert also includes premieres of several short new arrangements by Boudreaux of Civil War songs, including “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching,” “Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground,” “Hard Times Come Again No More,” and “Goober Peas.”

Pianist David Kreider, music senior lecturer at McDaniel, will accompany the choir joined by McDaniel College organist Ted Dix and Nick Reider, adjunct faculty member in music, on trumpet.

A benefit recital by the members of Beta Alpha Chi is 1 p.m. May 4 in Baker Memorial Chapel. Members of Beta Alpha Chi, the music honor society at McDaniel College, perform a benefit concert that is free and open to the public, although donations will be collected to support the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

Performers are seniors Kirsten Bickford of Sykesville, Md.; Charles Eron of Hanover, Pa.; Hanna Martin of New Windsor, Md., and Lisa Staples of Burtonsville, Md.; junior Luis Ortiz of Providence, R.I., and sophomore Victoria Mansfield of Mount Airy, Md.

Among the selections they will perform are Jason Robert Brown’s “Stars and the Moon” (Martin), the folk song, “How Can I Keep from Singing?” (Martin and Staples), Benjamin Britten’s “The Last Rose of Summer” (Staples), Hindemith Sonata for Flute Movement 3, Sehr Lebhaft (Bickford and Mansfield), and some of Mozart’s piano sonatas (Mansfield).

Musical Theatre/Opera Workshop Performance is 7 p.m. May 5 in WMC Alumni Hall. The Musical Theatre/Opera Workshop class at McDaniel performs “FREDENSTEIN” or “In your face, my brother,” under the direction of Kyle Engler, senior Music lecturer. Robin Armstrong, associate professor of Music at McDaniel, serves as musicologist and narrator.

The program includes “Soave Trio” from Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte,” “One More Kiss” from Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies,” “We Can Do It” from Mel Brooks’ “The Producers,” “I Have a Song to Sing” from Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Yeoman of the Guard,” “Sensitivity” and “Love Song” from Mary Rodgers and Marshall Barer’s “Once Upon a Mattress,” among others.

The class, which is comprised of music and theatre students, includes seniors Caitlin Bennett of Bothell, Wash.; Yichong Angel Li of Nanjing, China; Hanna Martin of New Windsor, Md., and Mara Seibert of Laurel, Md., sophomore Lucas Frangou of Silver Spring, Md., and freshmen Erna Hammond of Brooklyn Park, Minn., and Melissa Williams of New Windsor, Md.

An Evening of Madrigals is 7:30 p.m. May 6 in Baker Chapel. Sophomores Matthew Butt of Marriottsville, Md.; Foster McDaniel of Hendersonville, Tenn., and Erin Morris of Crofton, Md., and freshmen Clarissa Balint of Mount Rainier, Md.; Rachel Brown of Monkton, Md.; Erna Hammond of Brooklyn Park, Minn.; Joshua Harding of Federalsburg, Md.; Malcolm Jones of Annapolis, Md.; Joanne McCoy of Bowie, Md.; Emma Richard of Denton, Md., and Melissa Williams of New Windsor, Md., make up the Madrigal Singers, under the direction of Music professor Margaret Boudreaux.

This premier vocal ensemble at McDaniel performs diverse a cappella styles covering several nations and a wide range of cultures and periods. The majority of the program consists of Renaissance music and poetry, primarily about romantic love, but other genres include vocal jazz with “Pavanne for a True Musical Prince” by Milcho Leviev and a traditional spiritual with “Steal Away” arranged by Moses Hogan. Some pieces mix time periods, such as a set of songs by modern California composer Matthew Harris based on texts by William Shakespeare, and a 17th-century piece by Henry Purcell titled “Nymphs and Shepherds,” originally a solo piece that Boudreaux has arranged for mixed voices. Another highlight is the Argentinian piece “Alma Ilanera,” which features the singers imitating instruments, as well as singing Spanish lyrics. German, Italian and French selections also will be performed and audience participation is encouraged throughout the program.

Works by graduating Art students at McDaniel College are highlighted in two Senior Capstone Exhibitions. Both exhibitions take place on campus in Rice Gallery, Peterson Hall.

Students working in digital media and graphic design are featured in “Vaguely Graphic Materials,” which runs Tuesday, April 23-Friday, May 3, with an opening reception on Tuesday, April 23, 7-9 p.m. Students showcasing their works are Catherine Brooks-Kenney of Springfield, Va.; Sarah Higby of Catonsville, Md.; Jessica Kinn of Taneytown, Md.; Julio Melendez of Hanover, Pa.; Graham Miles of Hartford, Conn.; William Paulshock of Kingsville, Md.; Colin Shorter of Odenton, Md.; and David Stout of Westminster, Md.

“Vaguely Graphic Materials” includes mixed media sculptures by Catherine Brooks-Kenney, work combining picture panels and text inspired by comic books and comic strips by Julio Melendez, drawings and digital media by Graham Miles and package designs by William Paulshock, among others.

“Everything but the Kitchen Sink” features work from students working in Studio Art. The exhibition runs Tuesday, May 7 – Friday, May 17, with an opening reception on 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, May 7. Students showcasing their works are Dani Allen of Laurel, Md.; Caitlin Bennett of Bothell, Wash.; Dara Dinisio of Parkville, Md.; Colin Donnelly of California, Md.; Elyse Hyle of Phoenix, Md.; Nicholas Turissi of Hamilton Square, N.J.; Keith Wilus of Philadelphia; Claire Woolley of Ephrata, Pa.; Sara Yost of Westminster, Md.; and Kira Young of Glen Rock, Pa. *Some work in the exhibition explores adult content and is intended for mature audiences only.

Works being displayed in “Everything but the Kitchen Sink” consist of mixed media and video by Dani Allen, old magazines, color palettes, wire hangers and thread exploring the fashion industry by Dara Dinisio, and small graphite drawings on paper, as well as a wood burnt drawing, inspired by messy rooms by Keith Wilus, among others.  

Both exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public. Rice Gallery hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from noon-4 p.m.; Thursday, noon – 8 p.m.; and Saturday, noon – 5 p.m. Call 410-857-2595 for more information.

Sophomore Caroline Brehm, softball team member from Hanover, Pa., has been named the Centennial Conference (CC) Pitcher of the Week and outdoor track & field player Carlos Hernandez of Derwood, Md., threw the hammer a distance of 37.72 meters to set a new program-best mark.

It is the third time this season that Brehm has earned the honor. Brehm threw all 14 innings in a doubleheader sweep of Gettysburg on April 21, striking out 23 batters. She allowed just one earned run and held the Bullets without a run in the first game for her sixth shutout of the season. Brehm has 262 strikeouts in 172 1/3 innings. She is 16-8 with a 1.38 ERA and holding opponents to a .177 batting average.

Carlos Hernandez, a senior from Derwood, Md., threw the hammer a distance of 37.72 meters to set a new program-best mark and lead McDaniel April 20 at the 2013 Mason-Dixon Invitational hosted by Gettysburg in men's outdoor track and field action. Hernandez's throw of 123-9 was 9 feet, 5 inches further than Dave Hose's previous program record.

• More sports at McDaniel Athletics

Student concerts and art exhibitions are featured in this listing of events on the Hill.

Art on View, Senior Capstone Exhibition One, April 23-May 3, opening reception 7-9 p.m. April 23, Rice Gallery, Peterson Hall. Note: vaguely graphic materials. Gallery hours: 410.857.2595.

Graduate School Open House, Managing Work, Life and Grad School,” 5-7 p.m. April 24, presentations at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., RSVP required: 410-857-2751 or gradadms@mcdaniel.edu.

Concert, Student Chamber Music Ensembles, directed by Linda Kirkpatrick, 7 p.m. April 25, Baker Chapel.

Admissions, Junior Visit Day, for prospective undergraduates, 1-4 p.m. April 28, WMC Alumni Hall. Appointments: 410-857-2230.

Concert, College Choir, directed by Margaret Boudreaux, 7 p.m. April 28, Baker Memorial Chapel.

Reunion Weekend, class reunions and campus-wide activities, May 3-5, online: www.mcdaniel.edu/reunionweekend or 410-857-2296.

Concert, McDaniel String Ensemble, directed by Nicholas Currie, 7 p.m. May 3, Baker Chapel.

Workshop, Musical Theatre/Opera, 7 p.m. May 5, WMC Alumni Hall.

Art on View, Senior Capstone Exhibition Two, May 7-17, opening reception 7-9 p.m. May 7, Rice Gallery, Peterson Hall. Gallery hours: 410.857.2595.

Public Speaking Contest, 6 p.m. May 9, Decker Auditorium, Lewis Hall.

VideoPalooza, senior capstone films, “Cell Phone Cinema” class film, 7 p.m. May 9, Decker Auditorium, Lewis Hall.

Jazz Night, directed by Bo Eckard, 8 p.m. May 9, Decker Center Forum.

College Band Concert, directed by Linda Kirkpatrick, 7 p.m. May 10, WMC Alumni Hall.

Sunday Brunch on the Hill*, campus dining hall, special menu and live music, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. May 12, Englar Dining Hall.

Gospel Choir Concert, directed by Eric Byrd, 3 p.m. May 12, WMC Alumni Hall.

Masterworks Chorale of Carroll County*, directed by Margaret Boudreaux, 7 p.m. May 19, Baker Memorial Chapel.

ROTC Commissioning, 10 a.m. May 24, Baker Memorial Chapel.

Senior Investiture and Honors Convocation, 7:30 p.m. May 24, Gill Center.

Commencement, 2 p.m. May 25, Gill Center. Entrance by ticket only.

* indicates a fee, otherwise all published events are free and open to the public.

(Complete benefit information is contained in the College Classified Handbook)
McDaniel College offers a comprehensive benefit package for all full-time employees.

- All regular, full-time classified staff receive annual paid vacation based on the College's fiscal year (which begins July 1 and ends June 30) as follows:

• first through fourth years of service - 10 days of vacation
• fifth through ninth years of service - 15 days of vacation
• tenth year and additional years of service - 20 days of vacation

The number of days received are pro-rated for the first year of employment and at the fifth and tenth years of continuous service.

- All regular, full-time classified staff employees are eligible for paid sick leave. Sick leave is accrued on a regular basis at the rate of ten days per year and may be accumulated to a maximum of 130 days. The purpose of this leave is to provide for allowable absences from work due to bona fide medical reasons. Paid sick leave may be used for illness, injury, routine physician's appointments, accidents, and medically necessary childbearing leave. Employees may take paid sick leave to care for a spouse, parent, child or legally adopted child of the employee.

- All regular, full-time classified staff employees are eligible for four paid personal business days in each full fiscal year of employment. Personal business days in the first year of hire and year of separation are pro-rated.

- Extended Sick Leave Coverage (Advanced Sick Leave Pay) - Sick leave may be advanced to the employee up to a maximum of 60 working days per determination. Pay back shall be made at the rate it is earned. Employees separating from employment prior to full pay-back must reimburse the College for the balance of the advance sick leave taken.

- Maternity Leave - Birth mothers who are eligible for full-time benefits may schedule six weeks of paid Maternity Leave for recovery from child bearing. In instances of documented medical necessity, additional leave is available as described in the Sick Leave policy. Up to three weeks of the paid Maternity Leave can be used immediately prior to the anticipated date of birth at the discretion of the birth mother, but maternity leave may start no later than the actual date of birth. Employees must notify their supervisor sixty days in advance of scheduling Maternity Leave to allow for adequate planning. Paid Maternity Leave is counted toward the employee’s 12 weeks of FMLA leave. Additional paid Parental Leave is available. Nothing in the Maternity Leave policy shall diminish any of the rights and benefits provided under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

- Parental Leave - In the twelve months after the birth of a child or the adoption of a child under six years of age, an employee eligible for full-time benefits who has at least one year of continuous service, and who is the primary caregiver* of the child, may schedule nine consecutive weeks of paid Parental Leave. If the primary caregiver is the birth mother, Parental Leave immediately follows the Maternity Leave. Employees must notify their supervisors sixty days in advance of scheduling Parental Leave to allow for adequate planning.

- Carefirst BC/BS group insurance is effective the first of the month following the effective date of employment and includes the choice of 3 medical plans, dental, vision and flex spending accounts.

- Life insurance (1 and 1/2 times annual base salary rounded up to the nearest $1,000, to a maximum of $100,000) is effective the first day of employment and is paid for in full by the College.

- The College offers a Long-Term Disability plan which also has a 2 year waiting period. The waiting period may be waived under special circumstances. McDaniel College pays a large part of the premium.

- The College offers three voluntary direct payment programs to regular employees through AFLAC. The Personal Cancer Protection Plan, the Personal Recovery Plus Plan and the Personal Accident Expense Plan offer financial assistance through reimbursement for expenses associated with various diseases.

- Regular TIAA/CREF retirement annuity plans are available to regular full- time administrative staff personnel upon completion of two years of continuous full-time service. Completion of the preliminary service period is not required of a new employee who was employed for two years at a non-profit employer. Participation in the plan is required of all eligible employees. The College contributes 5% of base pay. The employee may contribute an optional 1% to 5% under a salary reduction agreement, and the College matches this contribution (For example, if an employee contributes 5%, the College's total contribution is 10%).

- Supplemental retirement annuity plans (SRA) are available to regular employees immediately upon hire. The plan allows participants to make tax-sheltered contributions to a retirement account by means of a salary reduction agreement. Investment and annuity options available to supplemental account holders are the same as those
available to regular plan participants.

- After 90 days of regular, full time employment, employees and spouses can take classes here, tuition paid in full. There are tuition benefits available for eligible children (born to or legally adopted by the employee) after 2 years of regular, full time employment at McDaniel College. After 5 years of service to the college, regular full time employee's children may receive a tuition grant or participate in the tuition exchange program.

- McDaniel College provides benefits for same sex partners. Contact the Office of Human Resources regarding registration for benefits and IRS taxation information.

Additional information regarding employee benefits will be provided during orientation for new employees.

(Complete benefit information is contained in the College Faculty Handbook)
McDaniel College offers a comprehensive benefit package for all full-time employees.

- 20 days of sick leave per fiscal year

• first year of service-- twenty days
• second year of service-- forty days
• third year of service-- sixty days
• fourth year of service -- eighty days
• fifth year of service-- one-hundred days
• sixth year of service-- one-hundred twenty days maximum

- Extended Sick Leave Coverage (Advanced Sick Leave Pay) - Sick leave may be advanced to the employee up to a maximum of 60 working days per determination. Pay back shall be made at the rate it is earned. Employees separating from employment prior to full pay-back must reimburse the College for the balance of the advance sick leave taken.

- Maternity Leave - Birth mothers who are eligible for full-time benefits may schedule six weeks of paid Maternity Leave for recovery from child bearing.  In instances of documented medical necessity, additional leave is available as described in the Sick Leave policy. Up to three weeks of the paid Maternity Leave can be used immediately prior to the anticipated date of birth at the discretion of the birth mother, but maternity leave may start no later than the actual date of birth. Employees must notify their supervisor sixty days in advance of scheduling Maternity Leave to allow for adequate planning. Paid Maternity Leave is counted toward the employee’s 12 weeks of FMLA leave. Additional paid Parental Leave is available. Nothing in the Maternity Leave policy shall diminish any of the rights and benefits provided under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

- Parental Leave - In the twelve months after the birth of a child or the adoption of a child under six years of age, an employee eligible for full-time benefits who has at least one year of continuous service, and who is the primary caregiver* of the child, may schedule nine consecutive weeks of paid Parental Leave. If the primary caregiver is the birth mother, Parental Leave immediately follows the Maternity Leave. Employees must notify their supervisors sixty days in advance of scheduling Parental Leave to allow for adequate planning.

- Carefirst BC/BS group insurance is effective the first of the month following the effective date of employment and includes the choice of 3 medical plans, dental, vision and flex spending accounts.

- Life insurance (1 and 1/2 times annual base salary rounded up to the nearest $1,000, to a maximum of $100,000) is effective the first day of employment and is paid for in full by the College.

- The College offers a Long-Term Disability plan which also has a 2 year waiting period. The waiting period may be waived under special circumstances. McDaniel College pays a large part of the premium.

- The College offers three voluntary direct payment programs to regular employees through AFLAC. The Personal Cancer Protection Plan, the Personal Recovery Plus Plan and the Personal Accident Expense Plan offer financial assistance through reimbursement for expenses associated with various diseases.

- Regular TIAA/CREF retirement annuity plans are available to regular full- time administrative staff personnel upon completion of two years of continuous full-time service. Completion of the preliminary service period is not required of a new employee who was employed for two years at a non-profit employer. Participation in the plan is required of all eligible employees. The College contributes 5% of base pay. The employee may contribute an optional 1% to 5% under a salary reduction agreement, and the College matches this contribution (For example, if an employee contributes 5%, the College's total contribution is 10%).

- Supplemental retirement annuity plans (SRA) are available to regular employees immediately upon hire. The plan allows participants to make tax-sheltered contributions to a retirement account by means of a salary reduction agreement. Investment and annuity options available to supplemental account holders are the same as those available to regular plan participants.

- After 90 days of regular, full time employment, employees and spouses can take classes here, tuition paid in full. There are tuition benefits available for eligible children (born to or legally adopted by the employee) after 2 years of regular, full time employment at McDaniel College. After 5 years of service to the college, regular full time employee's children may receive a tuition grant or participate in the tuition exchange program.

- McDaniel College provides benefits for same sex partners. Contact the Office of Human Resources regarding registration for benefits and IRS taxation information.

Additional information regarding employee benefits will be provided during orientation for new employees.

(Complete benefit information is contained in the College Administrative Handbook)
McDaniel College offers a comprehensive benefit package for all full-time employees.

- 20 days vacation per fiscal year. Leave benefits are pro-rated for the first year of service. We also provide paid holiday leave which includes the standard holidays (Labor Day, 4th of July, etc.) as well as the weekdays between Christmas and New Year's Day.

- 20 days of sick leave per fiscal year

• first year of service-- twenty days
• second year of service-- forty days
• third year of service-- sixty days
• fourth year of service -- eighty days
• fifth year of service-- one-hundred days
• sixth year of service-- one-hundred twenty days maximum

- Extended Sick Leave Coverage (Advanced Sick Leave Pay) - Sick leave may be advanced to the employee up to a maximum of 60 working days per determination. Pay back shall be made at the rate it is earned. Employees separating from employment prior to full pay-back must reimburse the College for the balance of the advance sick leave taken.

- Maternity Leave - Birth mothers who are eligible for full-time benefits may schedule six weeks of paid Maternity Leave for recovery from child bearing. In instances of documented medical necessity, additional leave is available as described in the Sick Leave policy. Up to three weeks of the paid Maternity Leave can be used immediately prior to the anticipated date of birth at the discretion of the birth mother, but maternity leave may start no later than the actual date of birth. Employees must notify their supervisor sixty days in advance of scheduling Maternity Leave to allow for adequate planning. Paid Maternity Leave is counted toward the employee’s 12 weeks of FMLA leave. Additional paid Parental Leave is available. Nothing in the Maternity Leave policy shall diminish any of the rights and benefits provided under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

- Parental Leave - In the twelve months after the birth of a child or the adoption of a child under six years of age, an employee eligible for full-time benefits who has at least one year of continuous service, and who is the primary caregiver* of the child, may schedule nine consecutive weeks of paid Parental Leave. If the primary caregiver is the birth mother, Parental Leave immediately follows the Maternity Leave. Employees must notify their supervisors sixty days in advance of scheduling Parental Leave to allow for adequate planning.

- Carefirst BC/BS group insurance is effective the first of the month following the effective date of employment and includes the choice of 3 medical plans, dental, vision and flex spending accounts.

- Life insurance (1 and 1/2 times annual base salary rounded up to the nearest $1,000, to a maximum of $100,000) is effective the first day of employment and is paid for in full by the College.

- The College offers a Long-Term Disability plan which also has a 2 year waiting period. The waiting period may be waived under special circumstances. McDaniel College pays a large part of the premium.

- The College offers three voluntary direct payment programs to regular employees through AFLAC. The Personal Cancer Protection Plan, the Personal Recovery Plus Plan and the Personal Accident Expense Plan offer financial assistance through reimbursement for expenses associated with various diseases.

- Regular TIAA/CREF retirement annuity plans are available to regular full- time administrative staff personnel upon completion of two years of continuous full-time service. Completion of the preliminary service period is not required of a new employee who was employed for two years at a non-profit employer. Participation in the plan is required of all eligible employees. The College contributes 5% of base pay. The employee may contribute an optional 1% to 5% under a salary reduction agreement, and the College matches this contribution (For example, if an employee contributes 5%, the College's total contribution is 10%).

- Supplemental retirement annuity plans (SRA) are available to regular employees immediately upon hire.  The plan allows participants to make tax-sheltered contributions to a retirement account by means of a salary reduction agreement. Investment and annuity options available to supplemental account holders are the same as those available to regular plan participants.

- After 90 days of regular, full time employment, employees and spouses can take classes here, tuition paid in full. There are tuition benefits available for eligible children (born to or legally adopted by the employee) after 2 years of regular, full time employment at McDaniel College. After 5 years of service to the college, regular full time employee's children may receive a tuition grant or participate in the tuition exchange program.

- McDaniel College provides benefits for same sex partners. Contact the Office of Human Resources regarding registration for benefits and IRS taxation information.

Additional information regarding employee benefits will be provided during orientation for new employees.

McDaniel College is an AA/EOE institution and welcomes applications from diverse candidates and candidates who support diversity.

McDaniel has been a proud member of the 40 Colleges That Change Lives since the first edition of the book was published in 1996. Students like you are often attracted to the CTCL message and the McDaniel approach to  personalized attention, flexible academic programs, and dynamic out of classroom experiences.  Several students who found McDaniel through CTCL agreed to share their McDaniel experiences --  check out the videos below to see if McDaniel sounds like the right place for you.

Morgan Stanback

Noah Patton

Leanna Jasek-Rysdahl

Foster McDaniel

Caitlin Roetheli

Iraq war veteran Josh Hisle found peace and acceptance at Common Ground on the Hill on McDaniel’s campus – and now has teamed with founder Walt Michael to open the summer arts, music and cultural experience to more veterans dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other issues.

Hisle and Michael are at first glance an unlikely duo. Hisle has seen two combat tours as a Marine in Iraq, and Michael, artist-in-residence at McDaniel, has spent decades since his 1968 graduation from the college helping people from all races, cultures, and beliefs find common ground through music and the arts.

But they share a love and talent for music – each is a composer, musician and performer. Hisle’s guitar – dubbed by his comrades “the vet” – saw combat action with him. Michael’s guitar was never far from his reach as he worked for civil rights and cultural understanding in Appalachia, the Deep South and now through Common Ground on the Hill.

Perhaps destiny brought the two of them together. After the Marines, Hisle got a call about musicians Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young from Mike Cerre, an ABC/Nightline correspondent who was embedded with the Marines in Iraq and had done a story about Hisle and his combat music. Hisle became fast friends with members of the popular group. He performed with them at Sundance and toured the nation with Stephen Stills.

It was on this journey five years ago that Hisle met Michael, who booked him to teach and perform at Common Ground’s summer traditions weeks.

“I went the first time and was blown away. I could not believe that this place could be real,” says Hisle, who walked away from his job and joined the Marines as the twin towers in New York City were crumbling on 9/11. “At Common Ground people were loving, learning and growing. I myself was so in love, I re-booked as fast as I could.”

When Michael saw the effects on both sides of having a combat veteran participate in Common Ground, he knew he had to find a way to offer the program to more veterans.  Hisle agreed. The Common Ground Veterans Initiative evolved.

“At every step along the way, Common Ground has evolved naturally,” Michael says of the traditional, roots-based music and arts organization he started 19 years ago to explore cultural diversity in search of common ground. “The experience made a difference to Josh – and it had an impact on everyone else as well.”

In 2012, the first group of 10 veterans came to one of two summer traditions weeks on McDaniel’s campus in Westminster, Md. Their experience mirrored Hisle’s – and inspired both Hisle and Michael to raise funds to finance more scholarships for veterans. The Veterans Initiative was recently featured on HuffPost Live during reunion interviews with Cerre, Hisle and other vets on the 10th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. 

“We can’t have another generation of wounded warriors out there in the shadows,” Michael says, explaining that his goal is to become a national organization offering the arts to veterans. “We’ve seen that vets can have a re-awakening through the arts – and we are going to keep doing this.”

Hisle, who lives in Ohio with his son, Holland, and wife, Margot, realized the full impact as he watched veterans, some of them his buddies from the Marines, during last year’s program.

“Everyone’s shoulders dropped – finally they are not worried about anything,” says Hisle. “It is an automatic stress reliever – you are surrounded by art, music and overly kind people.”

• Watch Josh Hisle’s music videos here
• Learn more about the Common Ground Veterans Initiative here

Ethan Harden has trouble identifying the best part of his internship with Sen. Joseph Getty of Baltimore and Carroll counties in the Maryland State Legislature. The senior Political Science and International Studies major wrote media releases, testified for a bill the senator is sponsoring, worked in the caucus room researching and feeding information to the senators on the floor of the Senate and more.

Harden says he values every part of the experience, which gave him a much better understanding of how state government works.

“Senator Getty assigned research and writing projects rather than having me stuff envelopes all day. I actually got to participate in the function of state government,” says Harden of Gaither, Md., explaining that he sees making positive change not only as a career but as a lifestyle as well. “Once you understand how the system works, you have a greater possibility of making meaningful change.”

Getty, who represents District 5, notes that Harden assisted with all of the major issues of the 2013 legislative session.

“Ethan’s work was exceedingly valuable in one of the most contentious legislative sessions on record,” Getty says. “He researched and prepared floor materials about the bill to repeal the death penalty in Maryland. He worked with the Senate Republican Caucus on the strategy for the floor debate in opposition to Governor O’Malley’s gun control bill and gas-tax hike. He also testified before the Senate Finance Committee on a bill to support waiters and waitresses who are confronted with table walk-offs in a restaurant.”

The experience is even more valuable, says Harden’s advisor, Political Science professor Herb Smith, because it took place in a state legislature, which have been dubbed “the laboratories of democracy.”

“Annapolis internships provide McDaniel students with the invaluable opportunity to observe and sometimes even participate, via testimony before a committee or writing press releases, in the experiments themselves,” Smith says, giving a shout out to the Carroll County delegation that has historically gone above and beyond in accepting McDaniel students for the internship program.

“This is about as ‘real world’ as it gets in ‘Free State’ government, and we are truly blessed to have this opportunity for our students.”

Harden worked much of the time with McDaniel class of 2001 grad Amanda Boyd Miller, the senator’s chief of staff, who rates her internship at the Md. General Assembly with then-delegate Getty as one of the greatest learning experiences of her college years.

“Not only was my internship a great opportunity for me to network in Annapolis, it allowed me to see the legislative process first hand,” says Miller. “I believe it was my internship that ultimately led me to seek a profession within the state legislature after I graduated.”

For his part, Harden will long remember being in the caucus room spending a fast 2-3 minutes researching a specific aspect of gun control before sending it to the Senate caucus leader, and then the thrill of actually hearing it read on the Senate floor.

He will also take with him the experience of testifying before the Senate Finance Committee about a bill prohibiting employers from garnishing the tips of servers if parties skip out without paying their bills. Currently, employers are not permitted to dock wages for unpaid bills – but the law does not specify that tips cannot be garnished.

Harden works part time as a bartender and used an unfortunate experience one New Year’s Eve as an example in his testimony.

“People say they’re going for a smoke break and sometimes they don’t come back,” he says. “One New Year’s Eve, a party walked out on my girlfriend’s table leaving an unpaid $170 bill, which she had to pay out of her tips. She made no money for working until 1 a.m. on New Year’s.”

The bill, Senate Bill 553 sponsored by Senator Getty, passed April 8 on the final day of the 2013 legislative session and will become law on Oct. 1.

As much as his time in Annapolis – four days a week in January and two days a week this semester – meant to him, Harden doesn’t have his eye on public office. Instead, he would like to work for an organization, agency or business where he can apply his understanding of public policy.

“An understanding of public policy creates a better understanding of issues in almost any field,” says Harden, who continues to consider options for career or graduate school after his May graduation.

For insider’s view of what happened during the recent legislative session:
Maryland State Senators Edward Kasemeyer '67 and Joseph Getty discuss the important issues of the Maryland legislative session at “So What Just Happened: A Report from Annapolis,” sponsored by the Political Science department, at 7-8:30 p.m. April 17, on campus in 108 Hill Hall.

McDaniel’s senior Biology and Biochemistry majors showcase their senior capstone research April 15-19 in Eaton Hall in a poster session that includes projects reflecting such topics as creating a genetic knock-out of an amoeba gene, the effects of various insulin injection methods on blood glucose control in diabetes, the background matching capabilities of Henkel’s leaf-tailed gecko, and studies related to Alzheimer’s disease, pollution, Ebola virus, and cardiovascular response to exercise.

Biology and Biochemistry students will discuss their projects at 4-6 p.m. April 15 on the first and second floors of Eaton Hall. The poster session is free and open to the public.

Kirsten Bickford of Sykesville, Md., and Catherine O’Keeffe of Tuckahoe, N.Y., working with mentor assistant Biology professor Susan Parrish, were able to remove a gene from the genome of the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum, also known as slime mold. The students’ 10 weeks of summer research was supported by The Mayetta Hawkins Boyer Student-Faculty Research Fund and The Richard Singer Student Research Fund.  

“Since a gene encodes a protein, when you remove a specific gene, the protein encoded by that gene cannot be made,” says Parrish. “You can then look at what happens to the organism when this gene is removed to determine the function of the protein under normal circumstances.”

Students at McDaniel collaborate with their professors on more than 300 research projects a year across all disciplines – and students are frequently co-authors of professional papers even before they receive their degrees.

“We are a college that is actively engaged in research,” says Parrish, who received a Student-Faculty Collaborative Summer Research award to support her summer work with students. 

In Biology professor Randall Morrison’s lab – the college’s greenhouse in Lewis Hall of Science – senior Juliana Broussard of Hagerstown, Md., studied the background matching capabilities of male and female Henkel’s leaf-tailed geckos on high contrast checkerboard patterns.

“We are really excited about these results,” says Morrison, who plans to follow up on the study with wild-caught lizards this summer in Madagascar. “Julie found that the lizards seem to have fixed patterns – a banded pattern in females and a spotted pattern in males – but as the background contrast increases (smaller checkerboard pattern) the lizards increase their contrast. The light areas get lighter and the dark areas get darker which allows them to blend in to the background better.”

Senior Luke Schmidt of Red Lion, Pa., was one of 23 students selected for the Student Training and Research Program (STAR) to participate in a nationwide research project at the Georgia Health Sciences University (GHSU).

“A hallmark of diabetes is vascular dysfunction and two major conditions characteristic of diabetes include high blood pressure and high glucose,” Schmidt says, adding he worked in the vascular physiology lab with people from all over the world. “I chose to investigate the role of high glucose and the activation of TLR2 (a toll-like receptor) in vascular function. It was a great opportunity to learn about different cultures while getting some research done.”

The 22 students showcasing their research at the poster session and the titles of their projects are:

1. Kristen Bickford of Sykesville, Md.
   Transformation and gene knock-out of the putative mRNA decapping enzyme DDB_G0283315 in Dictyostelium discoideum.
2. Juliana Broussard of Hagerstown, Md.
   The background matching capabilities of Henkel’s leaf-tailed gecko, Uroplatus henkeli, on high contrast checkerboard patterns.  
3. Kerry Campbell of Gaithersburg, Md.
   The role of S100A1 and the PI3-K/AKT in Alzheimer’s disease pathology.
4. Patricia Chilinski of West Hartford, Conn.
   Assessing the correlation between differences in sequence of Toll-like receptors and resistance to pathogens in various types of livestock.
5. Megan Cook of Monkton, Md.
   The role of surface interactions in insulin amyloid fibril formation.
6. Alec Farrell of Westlake Village, Calif.
   Phytoremediation on hard metals, inorganic, and organic pollutants in plants, trees, and other hyperaccumulators located in marine and terrestrial contaminated environments.
7. Carolina Gomez of Silver Spring, Md.
   The positive contribution of wild yams Dioscorea villosa to the female reproductive system.
8. Aerielle Harris of Owings Mills, Md.
   Factors that affect gigantism in deep sea invertebrates.
9. Rebekah James of Mount Airy, Md.
   Exploring Ebola glycoprotein monoclonal epitopes.
10. Christen Johnson of Baltimore, Md.
    Detection method variation of human malaria infections.
11. Melissa Jones of Hanover, Pa.
    Restoration efforts for the American chestnut Castanea dentate following introduction of the Cryphonectria parasitica blight fungus.
12. Robert Kapp of Westminster, Md.
    Environmental factors important to recirculating aquaponic systems and the physiologic factors driving them.
13. William Neutzling of Crofton, Md.
    Potency of Cry toxins and development of Bacillus thuringiensis resistance in the agricultural pests Heliothis virescens and Helicoverpa armigera.
14. Catherine O’Keeffe of Tuckahoe, N.Y.
    Creation of a genetic knock-out of the Dictyostelium discoideum DDB_G0278957 gene, encoding a putative mRNA Nudix decapping enzyme.
15. Maria Osso of Eldersburg, Md.
    The effect of a BRAF kinase inhibitor, PLX-4032, on primary and established melanoma cell lines.
16. Ashlynn Parker of Monkton, Md.
    Cardiovascular response to high-intensity aerobic and anaerobic exercise.
17. Luke Schmidt of Red Lion, Pa. (with Maria Alicia Carrillo-Sepulveda, Kenia Nunes, Kathryn Spitler and R Clinton Webb)
    Toll-like recptor-2 mediates augmented vascular contractility in diabetes.
18. Rebecca Shuford of Monrovia, Md.
    Developing an animal model for insulin injection mediated amyloid deposits.
19. Blair Undem of Bel Air, Md.
    Parainfluenza-3 respiratory viral infection-induced increase in reflex cough and bronchoconstriction.
20. Carolina Marques dos Santos Vieira of Ourem, Portugal
    Acquistion, consolidation and retrieval of olfactory and courtship memory in Drosophila melanogaster using conditional training.
21. Ethan Wilson of White Hall, Md.
    The effects of ebb and flood tides on zooplankton distribution in estuarine environments of the Chesapeake Bay.
22. Zach Woods of Reisterstown, Md.
    Malaria vaccines: a near impossibility.

Alumnae Janet Zengel Messer ‘70 and her twin sister Janice Zengel ’70 were inducted with 26 seniors and four juniors into the McDaniel College chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at an April 7 ceremony held on campus.  Both Zengel sisters graduated with high honors in Biology and as members of Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society and as members of the Argonauts, the College’s original honor society found in 1935 and superseded by the formation of a Phi Beta Kappa chapter in 1980.

The Greek initials for the Society’s motto is, “Love of learning is the guide of life,” and an invitation to membership is a reflection of outstanding achievement.

Janice earned a Ph.D. in Genetics at the University of Madison (Wisconsin) in 1976 and did post-doctoral research at Stanford University and the Baylor College of Medicine. For six years she served as research associate in the department of Biology at the University of Rochester, spending a year as visiting professor in the department of Microbiology at the University of Copenhagen.

In 1985 she was named Senior Research Associate at Rochester. In 1994, she returned to Maryland to become Senior Research Scientist in the department of Biological Sciences at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where she has served with distinction for almost 20 years. Janice recently moved to Pittsburgh but continues to commute to Baltimore for occasional lectures and advising.

She received grants from the National Science Foundation and the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, which have resulted in 45 peer-reviewed articles published in scientific journals, and she has advised 19 doctoral students and 13 master’s candidates through their research and theses. Her mentoring of a number of minority students enrolled in the Meyerhoff program at UMBC earned her accolades and recognition as Mentor of the Year in 2004.

Her sister, Janet, earned a Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Miami in 1973 and immediately became a Research Associate Professor at the University of Miami of Medicine for five years, which was followed by a two-year appointment as Associate Research Scientist at Emory University School of Medicine.

In 1980, Janet headed back south to Gainesville, Fla., to joint positions as Research Biologist with the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Adjunct Associate Professor in the departments of Neuroscience and Neurosurgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine. In all these research positions, she also taught courses, tutored medical students, and helped develop medical school curriculum. She also published numerous papers in significant scientific journals including the Journal of General Physiology, Science and the Journal of Neurophysiology.

In 1998, Janet and her husband, Joe Messer, formed Global Power Resources, Inc, providing engineering and mechanical service to the industrial and power generation sectors for clients throughout the world, including Canada, Germany, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Sweden, and the Netherlands, as well as the United States. They currently live in St. Augustine, Fla.

Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest academic honor society. It has chapters at 280 colleges and universities, and over 600,000 members.

Back row left to right: Casey Dunn, Rachel Hoffman, Christie Debelius, Clara Burgess, Sarah Bankard, Emily Schaefer, Caitlin Roetheli, Michael Orevba, Kerri Morrison, Anne Mathews, Alexandra Zimbicki, Rula Zaru, Jake Zamostny, Jonathan Wixen.
Front row left to right: Andrew Keogh, Alan Lyons, Meghan Schatz, Jason Stein, Sarah Holbrook, Katherine Jones, Veronica Lathroum, Hien Le, Mara Seibert, Rebecca Shuford, Morgan Thomas, Blair Undem, Luke Schmidt, Kira Young.

Students inducted into the Delta of Maryland Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa are:

• Charles William Arnett, Jr. of Damascus, Md.
• Sarah Elizabeth Bankard of Lutherville, Md.
• Clara Wyche Burgess of Chevy Chase, Md.
• Christie Brooke Debelius of Hampstead, Md.
• Casey Joseph Dunn of Eldersburg, Md.
• Rachel Ariana Hoffman of Mount Airy, Md.
• Sarah Elizabeth Holbrook of Winchester, Va.
• Katherine Helen Jones of Hampstead, Md.
• Andrew Michael Keogh* of Baltimore, Md.
• Veronica Ann Lathroum of Linthicum Heights, Md.
• Hien Thi Phuong Le of Hanoi, Vietnam
• Alan Montgomery Lyons* of Westminster, Md.
• Hanna Elizabeth Martin of New Windsor, Md.
• Anne Michelle Mathews of Frostburg, Md.
• Kerri Elizabeth Morrison of Glen Burnie, Md.
• Michael Adedoyin Orevba of Chevy Chase, Md.
• Caitlin Leigh Roetheli of San Antonio, Texas
• Emily Jan Schaefer of Hampstead, Md.
• Meghan Gordon Schatz* of Parkton, Md.
• Luke Robert Schmidt of Red Lion, Pa.
• Mara Kathleen Seibert of Laurel, Md.
• Rebecca Anne Shuford of Monrovia, Md.
• Jason Reuben Stein* of Rockville, Md.
• Morgan Elizabeth Thomas of Hughesville, Md.
• Blair Elizabeth Undem of Bel Air, Md.
• Jonathan Benjamin Wixen of Calabasas, Calif.
• Kira Ann Young of Glen Rock, Pa.
• Jake Alexander Zamostny of Mount Airy, Md.
• Rula Saleem Zaru of Mount Airy, Md.
• Alexandra Zimbicki of Pittsburgh, Pa.

*Inducted as juniors, Class of 2014

When the Pa. School Library Association named Southern York County school district’s library system number one in a state with 500 school districts, professor Mona Kerby had four reasons to be proud – four of the district’s five librarians are graduates of McDaniel’s School Librarianship master’s program.

McDaniel grads Anne Bozievich, Norma Conley, Kayse Corrieri and Wendy Fitzgerald with colleague Lynn Clements earned the outstanding district school library award for their innovative programs and integration across the curriculum to meet the diverse needs of all learners in the district. Each of the five schools in the district has a full-time librarian and the librarians say their success is buoyed by generous budgets and the total support of the district’s administration.

District assistant superintendent Sandra Lemmon lauded the librarians’ accomplishment.

“They are five extra talented, knowledgeable individuals who have the passion to look beyond the walls of the library,” Lemmon says. “We need to just get out of their way and let them do what they know how to do best.”

The librarians are constantly evaluating and re-evaluating their programs – developing offerings that will engage learners at every level. With the district goal of helping students become critical thinkers actively involved in gaining and sharing knowledge, the libraries offer book clubs, fairs, Skype sessions with authors and student-generated reviews to encourage reading. Scavenger hunts and other activities exercise research skills, and students and teachers have 24/7 access to many library resources, including e-books and educational video games.

Favorites at Southern Middle School, says librarian Norma Conley, are the Anime Club, which meets after school to share manga, learn about Japanese culture and spark creative expression, and the historical fiction project, which helps students relate to the time period they are studying in social studies by fostering a better understanding of what it was like to live in that time period.

Across all grade levels students learn how to find information.   

“Basically we teach our students how to use the resources available to them,” says Bozievich, librarian in Friendship Elementary, one of the district’s three elementary schools. “We can’t teach them everything they need or want to know, but we can expose them to where to find the information.”

Although the librarians each have their own library, they consider in their planning the kindergarten through 12th grade program, according to Fitzgerald, librarian at Shrewsbury Elementary.

“All of us think about the other levels,” says Corrieri, librarian at Susquehannock High School, whose husband Steve was recently named McDaniel men’s soccer coach. “When planning our programs we look at what the students are coming to us with and what they need to go to the next level.”

Everyone is constantly learning and growing in their field, according to Fitzgerald, librarian at Shrewsbury Elementary. And that doesn’t surprise their mentor and former professor at McDaniel.

“Norma, Wendy, Anne, and Kayse were outstanding students during their graduate classes, so it is no surprise that they are outstanding school librarians,” says Kerby. “They love to learn, they love books, and they love their students. 

“Their dedication, tenacity, and intelligence means that they know how to teach their students to love books and seek knowledge, to live a life well-examined. I am honored to have been their teacher.”

McDaniel College’s Department of Political Science and International Studies hosted a full-day conference with Washington-based thought leaders on “Political Change and Security in North Africa.”

CNA Strategic Studies, a federally funded research and development center for the Navy and Marine Corps, co-sponsored the conference, which revolved around efforts to revamp U.S. security interests in North Africa.

According to Anouar Boukhars, assistant professor, who helped coordinate the conference, “The countries of North Africa have experienced considerable political and social upheaval over the past two years. At the same time, violent extremist networks and criminal organizations have grown and are expanding their operations throughout the region.”

Eric Thompson, vice president and director at CNA Strategic Studies, Ambassador Janet Sanderson, Anouar Boukhars, assistant professor of Political Science and International Studies at McDaniel College, Christianna Nichols Leahy, chair of Political Science and International Studies at McDaniel College, and Sarah Vogler, program assistant at CNA Strategic Studies.The goal of the conference was to examine challenges that confront the states of North Africa, the United States, and the international community, and look at policy options for the future.

Representatives from foreign embassies, the U.S. Department of State and international organizations joined students, faculty and community members for panel discussions on “Responses and Strategies of Regimes and Political Parties,” “Security Threats” and “Prospects for Regional Cooperation.”

Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson, former deputy assistant secretary of state (SAS) for Near East Affairs (2009–2011) delivered the keynote address.

Ambassador Janet Sanderson speaks with McDaniel first-year students Caroline Unger of Park Ridge, Ill., and Cecelia Cellini of Westminster, Md.

“If you students want a career where you really can make a difference. If you want a career where you can reinvent yourself every couple of years. Think about the State Department,” she remarked. “It’s a tough job and I spent 34 years in it and I never got to have a tour in Paris or London. But I got to see things happen before they made CNN.”

Other experts who participated in various panels included:

• Marina Ottaway (Woodrow Wilson Center)
• Jason Ullner (Office of Maghreb Affairs, U.S. Department of State)
• Monica Marks (Rhodes Scholar, Tunisia)
• Fernando Reinares (Real Instituto Elcano, Madrid)
• Fred Wehrey (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)
• Patrick Worman (Bureau of Counterterrorism, U.S. Department of State)
• Laurence Ammour (Institute for Political Science in Bordeaux, France)
• Glynn Torres-Spelliscy (St. Petersburg College & Association of the Bar of the City of New York)
• Lahcen Achy (Carnegie Middle East Center, Beirut)
• Leonard Kate Wiehagen (Morocco Desk Officer, U.S. Department of State)

McDaniel College Theatre Arts students present “Intimate Portraits,” an original ensemble-devised work, at 7:30 p.m. April 17-20 in WMC Alumni Hall. Performances are free and open to the public.

“Intimate Portraits” has been created by students in the “Devised Theatre” course under the direction of Gené Fouché, a part-time Theatre Arts faculty member. The course is a collaborative, group-oriented approach to theatre making and uses various creation techniques, including composition, viewpoints, improvisation, found text, adaptation and group writing.

This play utilizes non-linear storytelling, which Fouché said, “unleashes the artists’ creativity and allows us to explore ideas through song, movement and other non-narrative ways.”

Students researched ancestral traditions and looked at these beliefs from a global, cultural and family perspective. The play is a collage of the topics that the students found most interesting.

Although titled “Intimate Portraits,” according to Fouché, “this is not an autobiographical piece.” She said, “We’ve gathered stories from the community, done a great deal of individual research and framed our findings in creative and, hopefully, interesting ways.”

Creators include senior Shelley Hierstetter of Mount Airy, Md., juniors Kelsey Gondek of Avondale, Pa., Elizabeth Maxman of New York, Megan McCargish of Reisterstown, Md., and Elena Waller of Oakland, Calif., sophomores Sarah Hull of Keedysville, Md., Louisa Jenkins of Baltimore, Joshua Meltzer of Woodbury, Minn., and Adrian Rowe of Edgewood, Md., and freshmen Brittany Ensor of Finksburg, Md., Cole Harris of Timonium, Md., Jennifer Litzinger of West Windsor, N.J., and Pia Moreno of Quito, Ecuador.

For more information, call 410-857-2448.

The annual Kathryn E. Wentz Juried Undergraduate Exhibition at McDaniel College highlights the best artwork by students. The exhibition runs April 9-19, with an opening reception 7-9 p.m. April 9, in Rice Gallery, Peterson Hall.

All students in the college’s department of Art and Art History are invited to submit up to five pieces of art that they have done while studying at McDaniel for inclusion in the exhibition.

Juror for the exhibition is award-winning artist René Trevino, exhibitions coordinator at School 33 Art Center in Baltimore, who will announce the eight award winners for Best in Show, First, Second, and Third places, three honorable mentions, and a Foundations Award that is open to work done in Drawing One (Perceptual Drawing and Design) during the opening reception.

Trevino’s artwork examines his identity as an underrepresented minority and has been exhibited in solo and group shows throughout the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., area, including the Baltimore Museum of Art, in addition to the Wadsworth Athenaeum in Hartford, Conn., Goliath Visual Space and White Box in New York, and Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Mass.

The exhibition and reception are both free and open to the public. Rice Gallery hours are noon-4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday; noon-8 p.m. Thursday and noon-5 p.m. Saturday. Call 410-857-2595 for more information.

Senior Morgan Koopman of Finksburg, Md., carded matching rounds of 84 in women's golf action to lead McDaniel to a second-place finish April 6-7 at the Gettysburg Spring Invitational and the Green Terror’s two starting pitchers key a doubleheader sweep of Muhlenberg April 6 in Centennial Conference baseball action.

Koopman posted a combined score of 168 to finish second overall in the field of 40 golfers. As a team, the Green Terror fired a two-round score of 736, following up a Saturday round of 371 with a Sunday score of 365. Gettysburg won the event with a 701 (349-352) behind individual champion Kara McNulty, who posted a score of 160 (78-82).

McDaniel got a pair of complete-game efforts from its two starting pitchers to key a doubleheader sweep April 6 of Muhlenberg in Centennial Conference (CC) baseball action.

Junior James Chiorello of East Windsor, N.J., went the distance in game one, fanning nine for the Green Terror (15-9, 4-2 CC) in a 2-1 victory. Senior Zach Jones of Frederick, Md., matched Chiorello with a complete-game effort, striking out four in a 3-0 shutout.

• More sports at McDaniel Athletics

Read on for a round-up of events on the Hill in the coming weeks.

Art on View, Wentz Juried Undergraduate Exhibit, April 9-19, opening reception 7-9 p.m. April 9, Rice Gallery, Peterson Hall. Gallery hours: 410.857.2595.

Concert, Student Jazz Guitar Ensemble, directed by Tim Jenkins, 7 p.m. April 9, Baker Chapel.

Sunday Brunch on the Hill*, campus dining hall, special menu and live music, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. April 14, Englar Dining Hall.

Children’s Chorus of Carroll County, directed by Diane Jones, 3 p.m. April 14, Baker Memorial Chapel.

ROTC President’s Review, 1 p.m. April 16, Baker Memorial Chapel.

Book Talk, McDaniel professor Mona Kerby discusses books and writing, 4:30 p.m. April 16, Richwine Room, Hoover Library.

Maryland State Senators Edward Kasemeyer '67 and Joseph Getty discuss the important issues of the Maryland legislative session at “So What Just Happened: A Report from Annapolis,” sponsored by the Political Science department, 7-8:30 p.m. April 17, 108 Hill Hall.

On Stage, “Intimate Portraits,” developed by McDaniel’s Devised Theatre class, directed by Gené Fouché, 7:30 p.m. April 17-20, WMC Alumni Hall. Box office: 410-857-2448.

Admissions, Junior Visit Day, for prospective undergraduates, 1-4 p.m. April 22, WMC Alumni Hall. Appointments: 410-857-2230.

Art on View, Senior Capstone Exhibition One, April 23-May 3, opening reception 7-9 p.m. April 23, Rice Gallery, Peterson Hall. Note: vaguely graphic materials. Gallery hours: 410.857.2595.

Graduate School Open House, Managing Work, Life and Grad School,” 5-7 p.m. April 24, presentations at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., RSVP required: 410-857-2751 or gradadms@mcdaniel.edu.

Concert, Student Chamber Music Ensembles, directed by Linda Kirkpatrick, 7 p.m. April 25, Baker Chapel.

Admissions, Junior Visit Day, for prospective undergraduates, 1-4 p.m. April 28, WMC Alumni Hall. Appointments: 410-857-2230.

Concert, College Choir, directed by Margaret Boudreaux, 7 p.m. April 28, Baker Memorial Chapel.

Reunion Weekend, class reunions and campus-wide activities, May 3-5, online: www.mcdaniel.edu/reunionweekend or 410-857-2296.

Concert, McDaniel String Ensemble, directed by Nicholas Currie, 7 p.m. May 3, Baker Chapel.

Workshop, Musical Theatre/Opera, 7 p.m. May 5, WMC Alumni Hall.

* indicates a fee, otherwise all published events are free and open to the public.

Owings Mills HS Graduation
Tuesday, May 28
410-887-1588

Carroll Community Graduation
Wednesday, May 29
410-386-8442

Franklin HS Graduation
Wednesday, May 29
410-887-1119

Little People’s Graduation (#1)
Thursday, May 30
410-848-0834

Little People’s Graduation (#2)
Friday, May 31
410-848-0834

Christian Love Baptist
Friday, May 31- Sunday, June 2     

Alexandria Harmonizers
Friday, May 31 – Sunday, June 2 

Liberty HS Graduation
Wednesday, June 5
410-751-3560

Winters Mill HS Graduation
Thursday, June 6
410-386-1500

Manchester Valley Graduation
Thursday, June 6
410-386-1673  

Francis Scott Key Graduation
Friday, June 7
410-751-3320

Century HS Graduation
Friday, June 7
410-386-4400

North Carroll HS Graduation
Saturday, June 8
410-751-3450

Westminster HS Graduation
Saturday, June 8
410-751-3630

South Carroll HS Graduation
Sunday, June 9
410-751-3575

Arch Bishop Curley Choir
Sunday, June 9 – Saturday, June 15            

Cape Cod School
Monday, June 10 – Friday, June 14             

Campbell Tennis (Adults)
Friday, June 14 – Sunday, June 16
rftennis46@yahoo.com  

Green Terror Swim Camp
Sunday, June 16 – Thursday, June 20
http://www.mcdanielathletics.com/information/camps-clinics/index

Summer Science Academy at McDaniel
Sunday, June 16 – Friday, June 21
http://www.mcdaniel.edu/ssa

MD State Boychoir
Sunday, June 16 – Saturday, June 22   

All American LAX (Boys)
Sunday, June 16-Wednesday, June 19
http://www.allamericalacrossecamps.com/

Becky Martin Basketball
Wednesday, June 19 – Friday, June 21 (Day Camp)
http://www.mcdanielathletics.com/information/camps-clinics/index

King of the Hill (#1)
Thursday, June 20-Saturday, June 22
http://kohlacrosse.com/

King of the Hill (#2)
Sunday, June 23-Tuesday, June 25
http://kohlacrosse.com/

Summer Science Academy at McDaniel
Sunday, June 23 – Friday, June 28
http://www.mcdaniel.edu/ssa

McDaniel Music Camp
Sunday, June 23 – Saturday, June 29
http://www.mcdaniel.edu/undergraduate/the-mcdaniel-plan/departments/music/summer-music-camp/

Green Terror Basketball
Monday, June 24 – Friday, June 28 (Day Camp)
http://www.mcdanielathletics.com/information/camps-clinics/index

Green Terror Swim
Monday, June 24 – Friday, June 28 (Day Camp)
http://www.mcdanielathletics.com/information/camps-clinics/index

Kick/Punt Camp
Wednesday, June 26 – Thursday, June 27
https://www.footballcamps.com/default.asp?page=00

Sports International Football
Thursday, June 27-Sunday, June 30
https://www.footballcamps.com/default.asp?page=00

Christian Life Church
Thursday, June 27 – Sunday, June 30  

Common Ground (Week 1)
Sunday, June 30 – Saturday, July 6
http://www.commongroundonthehill.org/index.html

Summer Science Academy at McDaniel
Sunday, July 7 – Friday, July 12
http://www.mcdaniel.edu/ssa

Common Ground (Week 2)
Sunday, July 7 – Sunday, July 14
http://www.commongroundonthehill.org/index.html

Soccer Academy
Sunday, July 7 – Thursday, July 11
http://www.soccer-academy.com/

Green Terror Volleyball
Monday, July 8 – Thursday, July 11
http://www.mcdanielathletics.com/information/camps-clinics/index

Green Terror Softball
Monday, July 8-Thursday, July 11 (Day Camp)
http://www.mcdanielathletics.com/information/camps-clinics/index

Nike Field Hockey
Friday, July 12 – Monday, July 15
http://www.ussportscamps.com/fieldhockey?gclid=CIrvr47FmrYCFSbNOgodUyEAMQ

Parent Preview
Sunday, July 14-Monday, July 15
http://mcdaniel.orgsync.com/org/parentpreview/home

McDaniel Orchestra Camp
Sunday, July 14 - Saturday, July 20
http://www.mcdaniel.edu/undergraduate/the-mcdaniel-plan/departments/music/music-lessons-camps/

Parent Preview
Friday, July 19-Saturday, July 20
http://mcdaniel.orgsync.com/org/parentpreview/home

Point Guard College
Tuesday, July 16 – Saturday, July 20 (Staff July 15)
http://www.pgcbasketball.com/

Green Terror Passing Academy
Tuesday, July 16 – Friday, July 19
http://www.mcdanielathletics.com/information/camps-clinics/index

National Kicking
Friday, July 19 - Sunday, July 21
http://www.kickpunt.com/

Campbell Tennis
Saturday, July 20-Sunday, July 21
rftennis46@yahoo.com

McDaniel Piano / Chamber Studies
Saturday, July 20-Saturday, July 27
http://www.mcdaniel.edu/undergraduate/the-mcdaniel-plan/departments/music/music-lessons-camps/

Sports International (QB Camp)
Sunday, July 21-Tuesday, July 23(Staff July 20)
https://www.footballcamps.com/default.asp?page=00

F.S. Soccer
Sunday, July 21-Friday, July 26
http://www.fssoccer.com/

Nike LAX Camp
Monday, July 22 – Thursday, July 25
http://www.ussportscamps.com/lacrosse/

USA Triathlon Skill Dev Camp
Wed., July 24-Friday, July 26
http://www.usatriathlon.org/elite-international/junior-elite/camps/schedule.aspx

National Cheerleaders
Wednesday, July 24 - Saturday, July 27
http://nca.varsity.com/

McDowell Family Reunion
Friday, July 26-Sunday, July 28  

Green Terror Basketball
Sunday, July 28 – Tuesday, July 30
http://www.mcdanielathletics.com/information/camps-clinics/index

Green Terror Soccer (Ladies)
Sunday, July 28-Wednesday, July 31
http://www.mcdanielathletics.com/information/camps-clinics/index

Green Terror Football Team Camp
Monday, July 29-Friday, August 2
http://www.mcdanielathletics.com/information/camps-clinics/index

Point Guard College
Tuesday, July 30 – Saturday, August 3
http://www.pgcbasketball.com/

Green Terror Men’s Soccer
Wed., July 31 – Sat., August 3
http://www.mcdanielathletics.com/information/camps-clinics/index

Providence Baptist
Friday, August 2 – Sunday, August 4  

Green Terror Basketball
Monday, August 5 – Friday, August 9 (Day Camp)
http://www.mcdanielathletics.com/information/camps-clinics/index

1. I will be living in a residence hall on campus and am wondering whether I should bring a computer to school.
2. Can I bring a mobile device, such as an iPad or eReader?
3. How about gaming systems and other wireless devices?
4. Wireless Printers on campus?
5. What kind of computer should I bring?
6. Should I bring a laptop or a desktop computer?
7. I will be living off campus, but I want to buy a computer to have at home. Do the same recommendations you made for the resident student apply to me?
8. Can I buy a computer through the school?
9. What kind of software should I have on my computer?
10. Where can I buy software?
11. Can I connect to the campus network from a computer in my room?
12. Is wireless network access available on campus?
13. What computing lab facilities are available on campus?
14. How do I get a college e-mail account?
15. Will my friends at other schools be able to find my McDaniel College e-mail address?
16. What software is available for e-mail on the computer lab machines?
17. How can I get more information about computing at McDaniel College?

1. I will be living in a residence hall on campus and am wondering whether I should bring a computer to school.
You will find having a computer in your room is very convenient, but if you are unable to bring a computer to school, you will be able to use the general-access computer labs on campus. Please see #11 for additional information.

2. Can I bring a mobile device, such as an iPad or eReader?
Yes. We do support wireless Internet connection on most mobile devices.

3. How about gaming systems and other wireless devices?
We do support internet connection for all known gaming systems, such as XBOX, Playstation, Nintendo Wii, as well as wireless handheld gaming devices (i.e. Nintendo DS/DSI/DSI XL, PSP, Playstation Vita, etc.). We also support miscellaneous devices such as the Roku Box. To check if your device is supported, you may email Max Groft at mgroft@mcdaniel.edu.

4. Wireless Printers on campus?
We now support wireless printers on our network. It is the student’s responsibility to configure their computer to be able to use their printer. Please know that if you do decide to configure your printer on the network, all others using the McDaniel Internet will be able to see your printer, and be able to print to it. We recommend that you turn off your printer when not in use to prevent this. You do not have to use this option, as all printers come with cables to connect to your computer to print.

NOTE: GAMING DEVICES AND WIRELESS PRINTERS MUST BE REGISTERED ON THE MCDANIEL COLLEGE NETWORK IN ORDER TO BE USED ON THE NETWORK. DIRECTIONS FOR HOW TO DO THIS WILL BE AVAILABLE WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE COLLEGE IN THE FALL.

5. What kind of computer should I bring?
You may bring either a Windows machine or a Macintosh. Wireless Ethernet is available in all residence halls, as well as the majority of campus buildings and facilities. Your laptop/desktop must have a wireless Internet card to access the Internet. However, if your computer does not include a wireless card feature, you may either connect to the Internet using an Ethernet cable (no more than 50 ft.), or purchase a compatible wireless card that will externally attach to your computer, usually by USB.

If you bring a Windows machine, we recommend a computer that is running Windows 7. If you purchase a new Windows computer, please see below for additional information on recommended computer configuration. If you bring a Macintosh computer, we recommend a computer that is running System 10.5 or above. Please see additional information below if you decide to buy a new Mac.

**Recommendations for Buying a New Windows Computer**

Recommended Minimum Computer Configuration for Windows7 Desktops or Laptops

• 1 GHz or faster 32-bit or 64-bit processor
• 1 GB RAM (for 32-bit systems) or 2 GB RAM (for 64-bit systems)
• 20 GB available hard disk space
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Recommended Minimum Computer Configuration for Windows Vista Desktops or Laptops

• 1 GHz or faster 32-bit or 64 bit processor
• 1 GB RAM
• 20 GB available hard disk space
• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM and 128 MB of graphics memory

Recommended Minimum Computer Configuration for Windows XP Desktops or Laptops

• Pentium 233 MHz processor or faster
• 64 MB of RAM (128 is recommended)
• 1.5 GB of available hard disk space

Recommended minimum configuration for a new Macintosh computer:

• Mac OS X Leopard (10.5) or later
• 512 MB RAM or greater
• 20 GB hard disk space or greater

Wherever you choose to buy your computer, be sure to ask about educational pricing. Depending on your budget, we also recommend that you consider purchasing a warranty on your machine to protect your investment.

6. Should I bring a laptop or a desktop computer?
Computer technology pricing has come a long way from where it has been. Today, you can purchase either a laptop or a desktop computer reasonably cheap, and even the most inexpensive computer can meet your most basic needs (web browsing, word processing, etc.). It is up to you whether a desktop or a laptop is most convenient for you. Most students on campus choose to bring a laptop for the convenience of portability, while others like desktop computer models as they tend to come with higher specifications for lesser money than a laptop of similar specifications. You may even chose to bring one of each.  

To protect your equipment, we recommend that you:

• Lock your room when you are gone.
• Purchase a cable lock for your laptop so you can secure the laptop to a piece of furniture.
• Ask the Campus Safety Office at McDaniel College to engrave your laptop with identification information.
• Ask your parents to check their homeowners insurance to make sure that your laptop and other personal belongings in your room are covered in case of theft.

7. I will be living off campus, but I want to buy a computer to have at home. Do the same recommendations you made for the resident student apply to me?
Yes, but make sure you buy a computer with the appropriate hardware if you want to connect to the Internet from home. Check with your Internet Service Provider to see what system requirements are needed to do so.

8. Can I buy a computer through the school?
We currently do not directly sell computers through the College or College Bookstore.

Dell offers discounts for McDaniel College students. To find out more, visit https://app.dell.com/consumer/enroll/giftcard/signup.cfm. After you receive your information regarding your McDaniel email address from the College, you will be able to apply your student discount when purchasing your new Dell computer.

For students interested in buying a Macintosh we recommend that you go to the Apple education store web site (www.apple.com) to find information on purchases for current college students. You may also call Apple at 1-800-676-2775.

9. What kind of software should I have on my computer?
It is up to the user to decide what software they will need. McDaniel College does not require students to have specific software installed on the machine, as it is your personal machine. If you do need to use a program that you do not own, you may use one of our many computer labs on campus, as they have a wide variety of software (i.e. Office, Photoshop, etc.).

10. Where can I buy software?
If you are purchasing a new machine and want additional software, you may want to buy the software at the same time, if available. McDaniel College students with a current student ID may go to http://www.campusEstore.com for academic pricing on software.

11. Can I connect to the campus network from a computer in my room?
Absolutely! All residence halls have access to wireless Internet. Most recent computers that have been purchased within the last several years (mostly laptops) come with built-in wireless capability. If not, you may choose to either use the Ethernet port on your computer with a 25 ft. Ethernet cable, or purchase a wireless adapter that will plug into your computer (usually USB) to access the Internet. Most retail stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, BestBuy, etc. carry these devices.

12. Is wireless network access available on campus?
All resident halls have wifi access as well as the majority of campus buildings and facilities.

13. What computing lab facilities are available on campus?
See: http://www2.mcdaniel.edu/it/ctandcomputerlabs/computerlabs.html

We have nine computing labs on campus. All have access to the Internet.

• Charlson Lab in Hoover Library (24-hour access during regular semester) – 25 dual boot iMacs (Mac & Windows 7)
• The Academic Hall Computer Lab in Academic Hall 101 – 26 dual boot iMacs (Mac & Windows 7)
• The Writing Center in Hill Hall – 19 dual boot iMacs (Mac & Windows 7)
• The Windows Lab in Lewis B5 – 23 Windows 7 computers
• The Graphics Lab in Peterson – 18 27”iMacs
• The Foreign Languages Lab in Baker – 24 Macbook Air computers
• The Math/Computer Science Lab in Lewis – 19 iMacs (Mac only)
• The Physics Lab in Lewis – 16 Windows 7 computers

Hours for these labs are posted on McDaniel’s web site.

14. How do I get a college e-mail account?
All McDaniel undergraduate students are required to have and regularly use their mcdaniel.edu email accounts. This account will be used for official communication from the College and for your Blackboard account. You should have received a letter from the College with your email account user ID and McDaniel ID number. If you did not receive this information, please contact Victoria Dinterman at (410)-857-2790.

15. Will my friends at other schools be able to find my McDaniel College e-mail address?
It will be available on our web site unless you indicated otherwise when you activated your account.

16. What software is available for e-mail on the computer lab machines?
Once you activate your mcdaniel.edu e-mail account you may access web e-mail on our web site. You may choose to login two different ways:

From McDaniel Homepage>Login>Email for Students>McDaniel College Student Email Login>(use provided username, do not include @mcdaniel.edu, and your password)

From Gmail.com- type in your username, followed by @connections.mcdaniel.edu (example: abc123@connections.mcdaniel.edu), and your McDaniel password.

17. How can I get more information about computing at McDaniel College?
Donni Folendorf in Information Technology will be happy to answer any questions. You may call her at 410-857-2537 or send e-mail to dfolendorf@mcdaniel.edu.

Academic Hall, dedicated in 2005 and home to the departments of Education and Psychology, Graduate and Professional Studies, and Student Academic Support Services, will be officially named Merritt Hall in memory of Leroy Merritt, Class of 1952, at a campus ceremony on 11 am, Saturday, May 4 during Reunion Weekend.

Enhancing student life at our College, the alma mater he loved, inspired Mr. Merritt to help fund the construction of the Merritt Fitness Center dedicated in 2007, and later to pledge $5 million, intended to motivate alumni and friends to fund renovations to student residence halls and additional athletic facilities as part of the Carpe Diem Campaign for McDaniel.

Sadly, Mr. Merritt passed away January 25, 2010, but his legacy lives on and the Board of Trustees approved the naming of this building in his memory.

• To learn more, read this article from the Spring 2008 edition of The Hill magazine.

Dr. Jeff Groff, assistant professor of Physics at Shepherd University and 2001 alumnus of McDaniel, is the 2013 recipient of the College Scholar Alumni Award in recognition of his leadership for change in both local and global communities.

Groff credited his experiences in the Honors Program and at McDaniel as the reason he was back on campus to accept the award.

“The Honors Program and McDaniel gave me a love of learning, an intellectual curiosity even outside of my field, and lifelong friends,” Groff said as he accepted the award at the March 23 Honors Lecture also featuring Robert Siegler, Teresa Heinz professor of cognitive psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, speaking about “The Development of Numerical Understanding.”

Recognition as an agent of positive change “reminds me of how much more I can do,” said Groff, flanked by screens showing the famous images of Earth as a miniscule pale blue dot taken from 3.7 million miles away by Voyager I as it left our solar system.

Groff explained to a packed audience in McDaniel Lounge, the picture of Earth is one of 60 shots, know as the “family portraits,” Voyager I took on Feb. 14, 1990, requested by astronomer Carl Sagan and comprising the final photographs taken by either of the two Voyager spacecraft that continue, 36 years after their 1977 launch, to send back data from the far reaches of space.

“This is both a picture and a lesson,” Groff said. “I see it as a chance to ponder the scale of the picture – and to recheck my priorities.” 

Groff, who graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude with departmental honors in Physics and a minor in Chemistry, earned a master’s and Ph.D. in Applied Science with a specialization in computational biophysics from the College of William & Mary.

During his years at McDaniel, he made his mark on the Green Terror track and field team, earning Centennial Conference medals in the decathlon (2000 and 2001) and in the discus throw (1999). Groff still holds his place in athletic record books as an All-Time Top 10 Performer in two events:  in the 55-meter event (second place) and in the 60-meter (first place). His outstanding performance and athletic record earned you the Steve Robert Wilson ’75 Memorial Award presented at Honors Convocation.

He has received grants totaling over $78,000, including a prestigious NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium Innovation Grant and a NASA West Virginia Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NASA WV EPSCoR) Innovation Grant, in part, to purchase lab equipment for developing new hands-on laboratory exercises that use physical principles to study biological phenomena and systems.

His mentorship of students engaged in research has resulted in three publications in Shepard’s research journal, and currently, he is co-author, with one of his undergraduate research students, of an article for submission to a peer-reviewed international publication.

Groff promotes renewable energy and environmental sustainability and has forged connections with Shepherd’s Environmental Studies faculty to use electronic sensors coupled to digital electronics for environmental monitoring and remote sensing applications. Along with a colleague, he ventured as far west as Nevada with students during a two-week summer trip to study the geological, environmental, and cultural anthropology of the Greater Colorado Plateau. He now brags that he can name all the principle strata of the Grand Canyon from Kaibab to the ancient Vishnu Schist.

He is married to Amanda Lofton, class of 2002, and they have a baby daughter, Evelyn.

The Political Science and International Studies department hosts "Political Change and Security in North Africa" 8:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. April 8 in Decker Auditorium (Lewis Hall of Science). Co-sponsored by CNA Strategic Studies, the full-day conference is free and open to the public.

According to Anouar Boukhars, assistant professor, "The countries of North Africa have experienced considerable political and social upheaval over the past two years. At the same time, violent extremist networks and criminal organizations have grown and are expanding their operations throughout the region. The goal of this conference is to explore the range and scale of challenges that confront the states of North Africa, the United States, and the international community, and to identify policy options for the future."

Janet A. Sanderson, former deputy assistant secretary of state (SAS) for Near East Affairs (2009—2011) will deliver the keynote address. Panel discussions will revolve around efforts to revamp U.S. security interests in North Africa.

• For the full schedule click here

Undergraduate Summer Session 2013

Registration for all students (including degree and non-degree seeking) begins Monday, April 1, online and at the Registrar’s Office.

Regular Courses

Session I: May 28 – June 28

Art History 1113-01: History of Western Art I
Gretchen McKay, Associate Professor of Art History
Online Course
 

Session II: June 3 – July 5

English 2265-02: Special Topic: American Literature
Christopher Love
MTWTH   09:45AM – 11:45AM

History 2267-01: Special Topic: Russia in Revolution  
Jakub Zejmis
MWF 5:15PM – 8:15PM

History 2269-01: Special Topic: Taiji Martial Arts in China
Qin Fang
MWF 5:15PM – 8:15PM

Music History / Literature 1152-01: Diversity – Meaning Pop Music
Robin Armstrong, Professor of Music
Online Course

Psychology 2209-01: Developmental Psychology
Sarah Lippy, Adjunct Lecturer in Psychology
MTWTh 11:00 a.m. – 1:15 p.m., Academic Hall 300

Psychology 3306-01: Adolescent Development
Stephanie Madsen, Associate Professor of Psychology
MTWTh 9:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Academic Hall G17

Religion 1104-01: Introduction to Religious Studies
Jill Krebs, Lecturer in Philosophy
Online Course

Sophomore Interdisciplinary Studies 2010-01: South Park and Contemporary Issues
Sara Raley, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Joshua Baron, Lecturer in Philosophy
Online Course

Sociology 2412-01: Wealth, Power and Privilege
Deb Lemke, Professor of Sociology
Online Course

Spanish 1101-01: Elementary Spanish I
Guillermo Gonzalez, Adjunct Lecturer in Spanish
MTWTh 12:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m., Baker Memorial Chapel 100
 

Session III: July 8 – August 9

English 2265-01: Tenement House Literature
Joshua Ambrose, Director of the Writing Center
Online Course

English 2272-OL: Popular Romance Fiction
Kathleen Miller, Adjunct Lecturer in English
Online Course

Gerontology 1101-01: Introduction to Aging Studies
Diane Martin, Visiting Assistant Professor Gerontology
Online Course

General Science 1104: Mastering Calculations in Science—2 crs.
Marilyn Smith, Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Online Course

General Science 1106-01: Understanding the Universe
Apollo Mian, Professor of Physics
Online Course

General Science 1111-01: Introductory Astronomy
Apollo Mian, Professor of Physics
Online Course

Philosophy 1101: Introduction to Philosophy
Joshua Baron, Lecturer in Philosophy
Online Course

Philosophy 2265: Philosophy – Violent Media
Joshua Baron, Lecturer in Philosophy
Online Course

Sociology 1104-01: Introduction to Sociology
Linda Semu, Associate Professor of Sociology
Online Course

Except where noted, courses are 4 credit hours.

Special Opportunities

Independent Study courses provide opportunity for individual study under the direction of a faculty member. Independent Study is arranged by the sponsoring faculty member and the student, and students complete a form available in the Registrar's Office.

Student Internships are available through cooperative programs with government, business, industry, institutions, and individuals.  Internships are coordinated through the Office of Career Services and may be arranged directly through the academic departments or programs of the College.  Credit bearing internships must be sponsored by a member of the faculty, and students complete a form available in the Registrar's Office.

Common Ground on the Hill (June 30 - July 12, 2013), now celebrating its 19th year, is built around an international community of musicians, artists, dancers, poets, and scholars that assemble each year during July for Common Ground's Tradition Weeks.  Students of all ages may enroll, whether for non-credit or credit.  Common Ground courses are academically rigorous, while allowing students to acquire new skills and perspectives in a friendly, encouraging environment.   For information on tuition and fees for Common Ground and to enroll, see www.commongroundonthehill.org or contact 410-857-2771 or commongroundonthehill@gmail.com.

Expenses

1. Tuition: $392.50/credit hour

• 4 credit hour course: $1,570
• 2 credit hour course: $785
• .5 credit hour course $196

Courses are available to Auditors at one half the tuition.  Senior citizens are charged $25 per credit hour.

2. Housing (Session I and II only): approximately $145/week, standard double room

• Residence hall, 5 weeks: approximately $725
• Other options available

3. Meals: $126/week to $170/week

• Five weeks, 14 meals/week: $630
• Five weeks, 20 meals/week: $850

Registration for all students (including degree and non-degree seeking) begins Monday, April 1, online and at the Registrar’s Office.

Matthew C. Winner, a library media specialist at Longfellow Elementary School in Howard County and a 2009 graduate of McDaniel’s master’s in School Librarianship program, has been named a “Mover & Shaker” in the library industry by the national publication, Library Journal.

In its March 15 issue, Library Journal named 50 outstanding professionals committed to providing excellent service to meet the needs of the people they serve. Winner was selected because of his commitment to librarianship and use of technology in engaging and innovative ways.

Library Journal lauded Winner’s work with video games on the Nintendo Wii, as programmatic and instructional tools. Students in grades pre-kindergarten through fifth grade visit the library each week during Library Media classes to participate in engaging activities and research projects that extend the curriculum learned in the general classroom and challenge them to grow as effective and responsible users of information.

While the library’s collections hosts a myriad of student favorites, perhaps no section is frequented more regularly than that of the graphic novels, a collection Winner has worked meticulously to develop and support. The library also hosts an annual Book Swap, along with a book fair and quarterly evening book clubs for students in grades three to five and their parents.

Winner is co-authoring a book on using the Wii to support math instruction and the Common Core State Standards. He is also the co-founder of the Level Up Book Club, an online book club for teachers, librarians and professionals exploring the concepts of game-based learning and gamification.

“Each member of this year’s Movers & Shakers class embodies service to their community and a passion for advancing libraries and their profession,” said Mike Kelley, Library Journal Editor-in-Chief.

• Read more about Winner and all of the inductees
• More information about the M.S. in School Librarianship

The 2013 Movers & Shakers were selected by the editors of Library Journal, the profession’s leading trade magazine. In its 137th year of publication, Library Journal is the oldest and most respected publication covering the library field. Considered to be the “bible” of the library world, LJ is read by more than 100,000 library directors, administrators, and staff in public, academic, and special libraries. Library Journal is a publication of Media Source Inc., which also owns School Library Journal, The Horn Book Magazine and Junior Library Guild.

F2013 First Year Seminar Classes

Basics of a Visual Language

Course Code: FYS-1142-01
Faculty: Cecily Whitworth
Description: This course is an introduction into the grammar and structure of American Sign Language (ASL) and the premise that sign came before speech in the development of language. Historical and cultural significance of a signed language to the Deaf community around the world, will be emphasized along with a student?s ability to communicate using signs, pictures, or icons instead of the spoken word. Material covered will be a resource for those interested in ASL/Deaf Studies, linguistics, semiotics, anthropology, philosophy, psychology, and/or sociology. The course includes a language laboratory, which is an integral component of the course; and, a cultural experience involving the Deaf community. This course is taught in ASL except for the Flex Days when presentations are made in spoken English.

Music and Words As a Quest

Course Code: FYS-1148-01
Faculty: Margaret Boudreaux
Description: This course explores the meaning of a variety of works chosen from drama, literature, poetry, and music. This course emphasizes skills of analysis and appreciation to allow students to understand each of these works as reflecting the world view of its time and also to appreciate it as a universal expression of humanitys search for meaning.

From Chaos to Compromise

Course Code: FYS-1108-01
Faculty: Gretchen McKay
Description: Are you prepared to take on a role from history? Have you ever wanted to go back in time and influence the past? In this course, students will determine the outcomes of decisive moments in history by taking on a historical role during a specific era. Students run the class in the form of debates, based on their reading of important primary texts. Students will offer arguments in order to persuade their classmates on such topics as: Should Socrates die? Should Athenian citizens restore their democracy or be ruled by tyranny? Are the Crusades just and necessary? Should India rule itself independently? If you are persuasive in your arguments, you will meet your objectives and be victorious!

Mark to Message: Drawing Now

Course Code: FYS-1196-01
Faculty: Steven Pearson
Description: A Studio course in drawing combining practices that will develop an understanding of perceptual drawing techniques with a working knowledge of traditional, modern, and contemporary art theory. Different media will be explored, and student's definition of drawing will be expanded. Note: This course can be used instead of ART 1101 Perceptual Drawing for the Art major or minor.

College Life in Cinema

Course Code: FYS-1193-01
Faculty: Jonathan Slade
Description: This FYS course will introduce students to life in a liberal arts setting through a rigorous study of films dealing with college life, and the cinematic tools and assumptions these films utilize in order to tell their stories.

Malaria: Human Scourge

Course Code: FYS-1173-01
Faculty: Ralene Mitschler
Description: What is malaria and what causes it? How serious a disease is it? How much impact has the parasitic disease had on the human species? These questions and others will be tackled by first year students within the first year seminar course format of critical thinking and reading, writing and oral presentation. Students will learn to discuss serious human disease from multiple perspectives while adapting to their first college seminar course.

Biodiversity

Course Code: FYS-1165-01
Faculty: Randall Morrison
Description: A study of global biodiversity losses caused by human activity. We will study biodiversity ?hot spots? where biodiversity levels and biodiversity losses are also high and the root social causes that are involved in these losses. There will be an emphasis on solutions such as sustainable development that have been proposed for conserving the Earth?s remaining biodiversity.

Medical Careers 101

Course Code: FYS-1191-01
Faculty: Melanie Nilsson
Description: This course is designed for students who enjoy science and are interested in pursuing a career in medicine. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of medical careers through homework assignments, class presentations, guest speakers, and volunteer work. The careers explored will span Diagnosing and Treating Professions (e.g. Physician, Optometrist, etc), Medical Research, Technicians, Rehabilitation Specialists, Geriatric Care, and more. Furthermore, through the analysis of medically-related case studies, students will gain scientific knowledge and skills that are necessary to be successful in medical careers.

Technology in Education

Course Code: FYS-1114-01
Faculty: Margaret Trader
Description: From computers to iPods, technology has changed the face of education. This course explores the role of technology in elementary, secondary, and higher education classrooms. Students will share personal observations, review data on technology use, availability, and impact in schools, and will demonstrate various technological applications in the learning environment. This course allows students to explore a career in education.

Horror in Fiction and Film

Course Code: FYS-1159-01
Faculty: Robert Kachur
Description: In this course students will examine horror in fiction and film, investigating together why it fascinates so many of us, and analyzing what kind of messages it conveys about the world we live in. In addition to reading and viewing these works for enjoyment, we will analyze them, attempting to understand how they reflect the authors' anxieties about a whole range of concerns: sexuality, the unconscious mind, scientific discoveries, unjust laws, and others.

From Chaos to Compromise

Course Code: FYS-1108-02
Faculty: William Spence
Description: Are you prepared to take on a role from history? Have you ever wanted to go back in time and influence the past? In this course, students will determine the outcomes of decisive moments in history by taking on a historical role during a specific era. Students run the class in the form of debates, based on their reading of important primary texts. Students will offer arguments in order to persuade their classmates on such topics as: Should Socrates die? Should Athenian citizens restore their democracy or be ruled by tyranny? Are the Crusades just and necessary? Should India rule itself independently? If you are persuasive in your arguments, you will meet your objectives and be victorious!

Journalism in the 21st Century

Course Code: FYS-1160-01
Faculty: Lisa Breslin
Description: Interested in what makes the news media tick? In this class you'll get an up front and personal look at more than a dozen journalists who visit the classroom and field your questions and comments. Last year's lineup included news reporters, editors, sports columnists, bureau chiefs, and photographers from the Baltimore Sun, Washington Post & Carroll County Times, among others. Plus, from TV news, the news director for a Baltimore station, a prize-winning investigative reporter, and an anchor for a Fox News station. And that's not all. You'll also read a collection of unforgettable newspaper articles by a former Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for the New York Times. By the end of the semester, you'll know why this course is called the "real" story of journalism.

Gender, Literature, Culture

Course Code: FYS-1149-01
Faculty: Rebecca Carpenter
Description: Be a man! That's not very ladylike! We've all heard statements like these, but what do they really mean? What is "masculinity," what is "femininity," and how have these concepts changed over time? This course will examine the social construction of masculinity and femininity over the last century or so. We will read literature and examine cultural artifacts from early twentieth century Boy Scout manuals to contemporary magazine advertisements, and from a sex manual to popular movies and books in an attempt to chart some of the changes in the social construction of gender over the course of the twentieth century. How much have things changed? Have books, movies, television, advertisements helped advance new gender roles, or have they reinforced traditional ones?

America's Game Baseball

Course Code: FYS-1150-01
Faculty: David Seibert
Description: This course will investigate the colorful history of baseball: the origins and evolution of the game, the professionalism that grew out of it, and the big business that was built upon it.

Sustainable Living

Course Code: FYS-1184-01
Faculty: Scott Hardy
Description: This course will introduce students to the implications of and approaches to sustainability: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Through discussion, lecture, readings, and field trips, students will address the questions of what resources need to be shared, ethics and methods of equitable distribution, and the scientific and social accounting of those resources. Students will also explore emerging fields of endeavor that tend toward sustainability, including smart growth, environmental and natural building, green business, ecotourism, wildlife conservation, and international agreements.

Contemporary China

Course Code: FYS-1179-01
Faculty: Qin Fang
Description: This course will investigate the rapid changes of modern China through the city of Wuhu (a three-hour drive from Shanghai) in China from the seventeenth century to the present. We will examine the stories and myths of three local products, Tiehua (iron pictures, a folk art form hammered out of wrought iron resembling Chinese brush painting), fried melon seeds (a local product for the national market), and Chery cars (the least expensive car in China), to understand rapid changes of China as well as its society and culture. We will locate primary sources, analyze materials, and formulate historical questions through the use of the library, essay, in-class discussion, video making, and field trips. After thousands of years of unhurried evolution, China has undergone huge transformation, creating opportunity for millions within mere decades. Yet being one of the fastest-growing economies, will China become a threat to the rest of the world? Students will gain a deep understanding of modern China in the world and prospects for the future as well as the ways in which a historian explores the world in which we live.

Russia Yesterday and Today

Course Code: FYS-1136-01
Faculty: Jakub Zejmis
Description: This course will investigate the dramatic and controversial history of Russia from earliest times to the present. Students will consider basic questions about Russian history, society, culture, and politics. Aside from reading historical documents, students will read novels, listen to music, and watch films. They will gain a deeper understanding of Russia146s place in the world and prospects for the future.

Scientific Revolutions

Course Code: FYS-1147-01
Faculty: Spencer Hamblen
Description: Until the eighteenth century, most Western scientists believed that any item that could be burned must contain phlogiston, a colorless, odorless, and massless substance that was consumed by fire. Today, this theory is nearly forgotten. How was this theory disproved? Who decided to challenge the existence of phlogiston, and how did they do so? How was the rejection of this popular idea received? This course will explore how new scientific ideas are introduced, and how they come to be accepted (the Germ Theory of Disease, the Theory of Relativity, Calculus, and Plate Tectonics) or rejected (Spontaneous Generation, Alchemy, and Cold Fusion).

Close Encounters - Merging Wor

Course Code: FYS-1129-01
Faculty: Vera Jakoby
Description: How do we encounter humans, animals and nature in this world? How are these encounters influenced by our concepts of god/gods, ultimate truth, evil, last judgment, etc? These are some of the questions that will set the parameters for an examination of philosophical ideas from a wide variety of cultures and traditions including Native American, Greek, Roman, Christian, Islam, etc. Philosophers throughout the ages analyzed the interconnections between the way we view the world and concepts of a world beyond. Their analysis can help us understand how our belief systems shape our perception of ourselves, others and the world.

A World of Light and Color

Course Code: FYS-1115-01
Faculty: Vasilis Pagonis
Description: Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue or the sunset red? Or why water is clear but snow is white? Or how we know so much about distant stars without actually visiting them? If so, this is the perfect course for you! This course embraces a hands-on guided discovery method of instruction and not traditional lectures. This means you will be performing many simple experiments that involve lenses, mirrors, light boxes, filters, and lasers in class as you explore a world of light and color. Instead of learning about science, you will have the opportunity to be a scientist!

Psychology and the Law

Course Code: FYS-1157-01
Faculty: Wendy Morris
Description: Why do people confess to crimes they did not commit? Why is eye witness testimony sometimes inaccurate? Are there valid techniques for detecting lies? What factors influence jury decisions beyond the mere evidence of a case? This course will use psychological theories and experiments to answer these and other questions relevant to human behavior and erroneous decision making within the legal context.

Drugs and the Mind

Course Code: FYS-1151-01
Faculty: Paul Mazeroff
Description: The earliest historical and literary evidence reveals that drug use has been an integral part of human experience for thousands of years. This course will explore a wide array of dimensions associated with psychotropic drugs. It will draw on a variety of disciplines, such as history, the law, biochemistry, art and music, sociology and, of course, psychology. Students will learn how drugs work, and examine a variety of psychotropics to include legal and illegal drugs, as well as medications used to treat psychiatric disorders. Guest speakers in areas such as law enforcement, victim impact and treatment provide a broader perspective to the class. Student projects focus on topical issues in substance abuse policy and treatment, and well as cultural aspects of drugs to include their role in music, film, and literature.

Religion and the Earth

Course Code: FYS-1186-01
Faculty: Jill Krebs
Description: In what ways might contemporary understandings of "nature" be informed by world religious traditions? How do religious groups understand the environment and their relation to it, and how do these ideas translate into action or inaction? What resources might world religions, indigenous traditions, and ecospirituality movements offer for environmental ethics? This course investigates some intersections of religion and ecology, taking a global and historical approach to examining religious and cultural impacts on environmental attitudes. Using a comparative perspective and pulling from theological, philosophical, and sociological writings, it also considers the contributions of eco-justice, ecofeminist, deep ecology, and environmental anti-racism movements.

The Greatest Novel Ever

Course Code: FYS-1198-01
Faculty: Thomas Deveny
Description: None:

Reality TV: What's Behind It

Course Code: FYS-1162-01
Faculty: Michelle Young
Description: This course will examine the growing phenomena of the last decade that is known as "Reality TV." Students will explore the underlying themes present in these kinds of programs that are rooted in group dynamics, organizational behavior and sociocultural norms. Students will examine these themes through various theoretical frameworks including Cultivation Theory, Gender Theory and Social Learning Theory. The impact of this genre on psychological and social development of individuals and families will also be explored. As this is a First-year seminar course, students will be challenged in the areas of critical thinking, effective writing, analytic reading, and oral communication. In addition, this course will serve as an introduction to various literacy and learning skills on campus including accessing and retrieving information from the library and utilizing on-campus activities to increase one's understanding of areas taught during lecture.

Acting on Stage and Off

Course Code: FYS-1113-01
Faculty: Elizabeth van den Berg
Description: An introduction to acting combining practical exercises with study of contemporary texts on acting. Emphasis is placed on scene analysis and scene work, as well as written exercises in performance analysis and acting theory.

Grp Proc in Interactive Thea

Course Code: FYS-1119-01
Faculty: Gene' Fouche
Description: This course is an investigation into group dynamics within the theatrical process. We will learn and use techniques drawn from dramatic play, sociodrama, transformations play and mythodrama. Students will have the opportunity to work independently, in small groups and in the large group to create and present original work. The first-year edition of the course emphasizes issues concerned with cultural change and personal identity. The transition from high school to college often presents the opportunity and sometimes the necessity to create new roles more appropriate to an adult identity. We will use dramatic processes to explore this dynamic, working playfully, sensitively and thoughtfully.

Why Was Socrates Tried

Course Code: FYS-1197-01
Faculty: Thomas Falkner
Description: None.

Senior Laura Barbour’s plate is full – she’s finishing her capstone in anti-epileptic drugs, wrapping up coursework in her self-designed Neuroscience major and thinking about entrance exams and applications for medical school. Still, she carved time out of her busy schedule to compete in March in the 2013 World Mounted Games in New Zealand and help the U.S. team finish sixth, its best ever in a foreign country.

Barbour, who’s from Boonsboro, Md., fell in love with riding when she first sat on a pony at the age of 3. Six years later, she joined the U.S. Pony Club (USPC) where she was introduced to mounted games, a sport with teams of five riders who perform a series of relay races involving jousting, galloping dismounts and vaults, leaning off the side of the ponies to grab equipment and galloping hand-offs.

“This year was the first time I qualified to ride on the U.S. world team competing at the 2013 World Mounted Games team championships at the Horse of the Year show in New Zealand,” she says of the competition on borrowed ponies against teams from 10 other countries. “It has been a great honor to be on this team, and it’s been the trip of a lifetime.”

Barbour competed in mounted games in Australia in 2009 and 2011 and at the Royal Welsh Show in 2011 and in France in 2012. Tryouts are in Kentucky and coach Clive Jones picks who makes the team.

“I love Mounted Games because it's a very exciting and team-oriented sport,” says Barbour, who talks proudly about her two horses: Cookie Monster, an American paint pony for mounted-games practice, and Dirty Dancing, a thoroughbred mare for events and foxhunting. “IMGA (International Mounted Games Association) is like a big family and I have friends all over the world thanks to the competitions I have ridden in.”

Now it’s back to campus for the home stretch to graduation. The research project she’s been working on with Psychology professor and neuroscientist Madeline Rhodes, “Enzyme-Altering Anti-Epileptic Drugs Influence Affective and learning and Memory Processes of Male Rats,” took a first place in Biological Sciences at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Chemical and Biological Sciences.

Barbour and Rhodes have presented the behavioral data from the research on how a class of anti-epileptic drugs affect learning and memory in male rats at conferences in Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Now the chemical data is being analyzed, and the student-professor team has plans to publish the paper once all aspects of the study are complete.

For more information about mounted games, go to:

• IMGA at www.mounted-games.org
• USMGA at www.usmga.us
• MGAA is www.mountedgames.org
• The website for the world competition is www.wtc2013.co.nz

McDaniel College will award more than 600 bachelor’s and master’s degrees during its 143rd Commencement ceremony at 2 p.m. May 25 on campus in Gill Center. Admission to the ceremony is by ticket only.

Honorary degrees will be awarded to Washington Insiders Judy Woodruff, PBS NewsHour senior correspondent, her husband Al Hunt, Bloomberg News executive editor, and McDaniel Trustee and alumna Christine Royer ’48, vice president (ret.) of Barnard College.

Woodruff, a graduate of Duke University, has covered politics and other news for more than three decades at CNN, NBC and PBS and regularly co-anchors the PBS NewsHour.

Hunt, a graduate of Wake Forest University, directs coverage of Bloomberg’s Washington bureau of 250 reporters and editors and hosts Bloomberg’s political news TV program, “Political Capital with Al Hunt.”

Royer, also Barnard’s former director of Admissions and English professor, is a passionate advocate for liberal arts education and for access and equity in higher education.

Student awards include the Argonaut Award, which is presented yearly to the graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade point average, and the Edith Farr Ridington Phi Beta Kappa Writing Award for the best honors paper.

In addition, two graduate awards are The B. Jill Brooks Hodge Professional Development Award, which is given to a graduate student who has demonstrated academic excellence with a strong compassion for individuals with special needs and an interest in serving the deaf or disabled, and The Joan Develin Coley Award for Excellence in Education awarded to a graduate student with the best record in the study of literacy theory and practice.

In conjunction with Commencement, several events are held on Friday, May 24.

Graduating McDaniel seniors who are members of the College’s Army ROTC program will be commissioned as second lieutenants into the U.S. Army at 10 a.m. May 24 in Baker Memorial Chapel. McDaniel has had an Army ROTC program since 1919.

Senior Investiture and Honors Convocation is 7:30 p.m. May 24 in Gill Center. A Commencement party will follow for parents, students, faculty and staff in the Decker College Center Forum.

• Click here for more information on the weekend’s activities, or call 410-857-2247. 

Baltimore Sun Media Group’s “b” has named Jessica Watson ’05 one of 10 Baltimoreans under 30 to watch, but with the designer’s travel schedule that won’t be easy.

This is the year Watson, CEO and founder of the design/marketing firm JWatson Creative, is working remotely – four weeks at a time in a city that’s new to her. So far, she’s been to South Beach, Fla., and Atlanta, and now is back in Baltimore preparing to go to New Orleans in April. She rents an apartment and lives like a local, attending social and networking events, checking out co-working spaces, enjoying local shops and cafes, and participating in volunteer activities.

“The results have been a new burst of creative energy that I can immediately see in my work, amazing experiences with new friends I hope to stay connected with, and a sense of adventure like no other,” says Watson, who travels with her MacBook Pro, a set of small design inspiration books, a couple of paper sample books and Pantone color guides.

“That’s the bare essentials of what I need to design. Other than that, I have challenged myself to seek design and creative inspiration, and fresh ideas, from my immediate surroundings.”

Watson is moving westward, planning to make a stop in Southern California, head up the Pacific Coast highway to Portland and Seattle, travel the northern part of the U.S. and eventually land back in Baltimore. She makes a point of going to networking events, social activities and volunteer work because she never knows just where she’ll meet a potential client.

Most of her clients are in the Baltimore/D.C./Virginia area but she has always had clients outside of the area too. Watson doesn’t recruit clients in her destination cities before heading their way, but she does actively seek new and interesting things to do, and that always leads to something more.

“In South Beach I did a sunset kayak in Coral Gables, I sailed the Gulf Stream (with some pretty sizeable waves!) and I did a police-escorted bike ride up the main roads of the beach. It was amazing. I met such great people and many of us are still connected online,” says Watson, who graduated from McDaniel with a degree in Communication and minors in Business Administration and Graphic Design. “In Atlanta, I volunteered to pull up an invasive plant at a nature reserve, I attended a seminar with Atlanta Web Design Group, and I fell in love with the Georgia Aquarium and Botanical Garden.”

In addition to founding JWatson Creative, Watson serves as a manager for B’more Creatives, which supports women in creative professions, and she is active in the Tyanna Foundation for breast cancer research and awareness.

Never far from her heart is the artist, the Jessica Watson who turned her dorm room into a studio and gallery. On campus, Watson used art as a way to escape from the stresses of college life, as well as a way to connect with others – and earn a little income. In her sophomore year, she opened her dorm room Escape Art Gallery, the first of its kind at McDaniel, where students and faculty flocked to buy her brightly colored canvases right off the walls. In her junior and senior years, she organized an “interactive art show” where visitors could escape the mundane and learn to create their own unique masterpieces.

These days, she travels with a small set of acrylics – just in case.

“I grab small canvases on the go so when the mood strikes I can let my inner artist truly shine,” she says. “And I’m never without my camera or at least my iPhone because I have seen some beautiful scenes with my eyes that I love capturing on camera.”

Jessica Watson is truly someone to watch…if you can find her.

• Read about Watson (she’s photo number 10) in “b” online

Hayoung Kim, a senior from Rockville, Md., has been named a 2013 Newman Civic Fellow, one of 181 student leaders nationwide who demonstrates an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities. She was nominated for the honor by McDaniel president Roger N. Casey.

Students named Newman Civic Fellows make the most of their college experiences to better understand themselves, the root causes of social issues, and effective mechanisms for creating lasting change.

“These students represent the next generation of public problem solvers and civic leaders. They serve as national examples of the role that higher education can—and does—play in building stronger communities,” notes Campus Compact President Maureen Curley. 

A political science and international studies major, Hayoung Kim has traveled abroad to China, Tibet, South Korea, Macedonia and Nicaragua, where she participated in international study programs and volunteer work. This includes studying at the Preparing Global Leaders Institute, where she joined other young leaders being trained in conflict resolution and prevention. These experiences have fueled her heart with passion addressing conflict issues not just for the United States, but also for the world, motivating her tireless dedication and passion to foster diplomacy through understanding and tolerance of different communities.

Besides her two years of leadership experience with the McDaniel College Student Government Association and Global Fellows Program, she has also interned in Washington, D.C., at the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Justice. These experiences have given her insight into both the history at the root of global conflict in local communities abroad and different leadership perspectives of political leaders, and will enable her to achieve her goal of becoming a leader in conflict resolution for the United States.

Furthermore, Hayoung Kim is an entrepreneur having started her own company, Bridge Education Abroad Institute, Inc., making study abroad opportunities available to more students.

About the company, she said, “From empowering students to exposing them to different political cultures, Bridge Education Abroad Institute provides unique experiences for its participants. We provide opportunities for students to strengthen their leadership and diplomatic skills. Bridge Education Abroad Institute will support students worldwide to broaden their horizons in this quickly changing world. Students from all over the world will get together to discuss relevant issues and exchange cultural values. We believe this cultural exchange between students is a critical step in solving many arising problems around the world.”

Newman Civic Fellow awards are made in memory of Dr. Frank Newman, a founder of Campus Compact, who dedicated his life to creating systemic change through education reform. At the core of Dr. Newman’s leadership was a belief in the power of individuals to make a difference and in the power of connection with others. Frank Newman had a tremendous impact on American education and its role in the development of citizens who want to make a difference.  This class of Newman Civic Fellows embodies this spirit and dedication.

The Newman Civic Fellows Awards are made possible through the generous support of the KPMG Foundation.

Click here for a full list of 2013 Newman Civic Fellows.

Less than a decade after her graduation from McDaniel, Jennifer Kraeer ’05 was honored with the German Embassy Teacher of Excellence Award for single-handedly initiating, developing and implementing a German language program for Dorchester County, Md., schools.

After graduating from McDaniel in 2005 with majors in German and History, Kraeer returned to her home on the Eastern Shore and landed a job teaching Special Education. Kraeer’s love of the German language, which took root in Foreign Language professor Mohamed Esa’s class, remained with her, but Dorchester schools did not have a German program.

And that seemed strange to Kraeer since Dorchester County has a partnership with Dueren County in Germany. In fact, students from the two Dorchester high schools participate in an exchange program with two high schools in Germany – Gymnasium Kreuzau and Gymnasium Wirteltor.

“We were sending students to Germany as exchange students but they had no prior experience with the language,” Kraeer says, explaining that she based her case for German in the schools on her belief that the exchange experience would be much more meaningful for the Maryland students as well as host families if they had some foundation in the German language.

The Dorchester County school board approved the course in German I that Kraeer developed and wrote. It was first offered in 2010-2011 at North Dorchester High School and Cambridge-South Dorchester High School. Now in its third year, the program has been extended by Kraeer to include German II and III.

It doesn’t surprise her mentor, professor Esa.

“Jennifer is one of the best and most dedicated students I have ever had,” he says. “She always wanted to start a program at her school, and I have always encouraged her to try that. Now she single handedly started a program on her own.”

Kraeer couldn’t be more pleased with the honor – but more importantly with the fact that exchange students no longer go from Dorchester County without some understanding of the German language.

“I was very surprised and touched to receive this honor. It has been very inspiring to learn the incredible things that world language teachers are doing across the country,” she says.

Six senior Art students are the featured artists in McDaniel’s student honors exhibition, “smARTies,” opening March 26 in Rice Gallery, Peterson Hall. The exhibition runs through April 5, with an opening reception 7-9 p.m. March 26. Some work in the exhibition explores adult content and is intended for mature audiences only.

Students showcasing their works are Dani Allen of Laurel, Md.; Caitlin Bennett of Bothell, Wash.; Dara Dinisio of Parkville, Md.; Elyse Hyle of Phoenix, Md.; Claire Woolley of Ephrata, Pa.; and Kira Young of Glen Rock, Pa. 

The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public. Rice Gallery hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from noon-4 p.m., Thursday, noon-8 p.m., and Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Call 410-857-2595 for more information.

About the Artists:

Dani Allen works with mixed media and video. She said that her work, “explores the construction of sexual identity through examining sexual fantasy and a woman’s relationship to her body.” She added, “I use my own life experiences and sexual identity as material in order to open a dialogue about the boundaries imposed on personal sexuality and how to test those boundaries.”

Caitlin Bennett exhibits ink drawings, photographs and mixed media sculpture.

Art by Dara Dinisio.

Dara Dinisio uses old magazines, color pallets, wire hangers and thread to explore the fashion industry. She said, “I incorporate the idea of expectations on an individual. You can see the attempt to hide underneath your clothes, but inevitably, you are wearing characteristics of yourself and the rapidly progressive fashion industry for everyone to see and judge.”

Art by Elyse Hyle.

Elyse Hyle looks at childhood and adulthood hardships and the striking similarity in the emotions that they elicit. Many of her works depict childhood toys and some are interactive encouraging viewers to play. According to Hyle, “As adults, we look back at our childhood as a carefree wondrous time, but in reality, childhood was just as hard for us as adulthood is today. As children, we were just better at letting the stresses of life go and focus on the things that made us happier.”

Claire Woolley displays drawings, sculpture and photography. According to Woolley, “my body of work focuses on human insecurities. People are drawn to chairs to sit down, to get out of the line of attention. I want my work to express that sometimes it can be just as comfortable to stand, be proud, and don’t be so quick to take a seat.”

Art by Kira Young.

Kira Young creates drawings and paintings utilizing acrylic, watercolor and ink media that “experiment with the notions of contradiction and rebellion,” she said. “Ultimately, I am exploring how beauty and spontaneity can be found in the imperfections and the contradictions, as well as in carefully controlled and manipulated artworks.”

Robert Siegler, Teresa Heinz professor of cognitive psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, will speak at McDaniel College’s annual Honors Program lecture at 7:30 p.m. March 28 in McDaniel Lounge.

Siegler’s talk, “The Development of Numerical Understanding,” is free and open to the public.

A well-known psychologist and prominent math education expert, Siegler has done significant research on children’s thinking, particularly their mathematical and scientific thinking, such as the development of early number sense and learning fractions.

He has served on the National Math Panel and is involved in improving math education. In addition, he has published more than 200 articles and chapters, written nine books and edited five others. His books have been translated into numerous languages, including Japanese, Chinese, Korean, German and French.

The lecture is sponsored by McDaniel’s Honors Program, which was established in 1986 as a four-year program to provide a more challenging education for academically talented students. Students in the program become part of a community of scholars and are selected on the basis of academic records, test scores and leadership potential.

Baltimore poet, essayist and translator Lia Purpura will give the annual Bothe Poetry Reading at 7:30 p.m. April 2 in McDaniel Lounge.

A 2012 Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship recipient, Purpura is the author of “Rough Likeness,” “King Baby,” “On Looking,” “Increase,” “Stone Sky Lifting,” “The Brighter the Veil,” and “Poems of Grzegorz Musial: Berliner Tagebuch and Taste of Ash.” Her poems and essays have also appeared in many magazines and anthologies.

She has received a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Fellowship, Fulbright Fellowship, three Pushcart Prizes and a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.

Purpura is a graduate of Oberlin College and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She serves as writer in residence at the UMBC and teaches in the Master of Fine Arts program at the Rainier Writing Workshop in Tacoma, Wash. For more information about Lia Purpura, visit her website at http://liapurpura.com.

The Bothe lecture brings a visiting writer to McDaniel’s campus for one day to meet with student writers and to give a public reading and lecture. B. Christopher Bothe, a member of the class of 1972, was a poet, award-winning journalist, and printer who died in 1984. Bothe’s family and friends developed the lecture in his memory in 1987.

From his vantage point inside legendary 30 Rockefeller Center, MSNBC news anchor Thomas Roberts ’94 relishes the opportunity to explore society’s most pressing social justice issues during his live, hour-long program weekdays at 11 a.m.

“We’re having a deeper conversation about social justice in this country and really shining a bright light in dark corners, whether it’s equal pay for women, LGBT rights or immigration reform,” he says. “I feel proud that we get to display those conversations on the show.”

In 2006 while working at CNN Headline News in Atlanta, Roberts was among the first national news anchors to make public that he is gay. On Sept. 29, 2012, Roberts became the first cable news anchor to marry his same-sex partner, Patrick Abner, on their 12th anniversary as a couple.

Roberts will be back at McDaniel for a SmartTALK conversation with President Roger Casey at 7 p.m. March 27 in WMC Alumni Hall. Learn how his liberal arts education launched his career, how he successfully shattered the “glass closet” in broadcast journalism, and how he works to encourage struggling LGBT youths that “It gets better.”