Truman Scholarship Information Session (9/24)

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships ($30,000) for graduate study to persons who demonstrate outstanding potential for and who plan to pursue a career in public service. Approximately 55 awards are made nationally each year, with one award given per state and certain territories. In 2014, 24 awardees were students at public universities.

The Truman Scholarship is a prestigious award for which juniors with a record of public service and demonstrated interest in government and politics compete. The Foundation defines public service as employment in government at any level, uniformed services, public interest organizations, nongovernmental research and/or education organizations, public and private schools, and public-service orientated nonprofit organizations such as those whose primary purposes are to help needy or disadvantaged persons or to protect the environment. Most Truman Scholars seek law degrees or master’s and doctoral degrees in public administration, public policy, public health, international relations, government, economics, social services, education, urban planning, conservation and environmental protection.  However, all majors are eligible. For example, some Scholars have pursued medical, physical science or even business degrees – but these Scholars were able to clearly demonstrate how these degrees would further their careers in public service.

In an effort to increase UMBC’s applicant pool, Tara Yglesias, Deputy Executive Director of the Foundation, will speak with students and faculty on Wednesday, September 24, at 12 noon in room 107 of the Physics Building. 

Please bring this opportunity to the attention of those students who might be eligible to compete this year and of those who might be interested in the future.  If they cannot make the presentation on September 24, they should contact UMBC’s faculty representative, Art Johnson, at ajohnson@umbc.edu or 5-2195. Students should have a strong GPA of at least 3.7.  To apply, students must be nominated by their institution and complete an application, including a policy brief. Dr. Johnson and others will work with each nominee throughout the application process.

The UMBC deadline for expressing interest in applying is October 20 but students are encouraged to speak with Dr. Johnson before then. UMBC applicants must complete their applications no later than January 28, 2015.

Those faculty who are interested in learning more about this competition and UMBC’s application process are encouraged to contact Dr. Johnson and/or attend the presentation on September 24.

Most people may not think of Aging as an important topic to study but it is a HUGE part of societal demographics and trends. If you're an Aging Studies major looking for an opportunity to enhance your academic career, then you should consider UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH!!!

There's nothing like getting an chance to ask questions you've always wondered about and dig for answers. Research in this field could open up doors for travel, grants, internships, and more!!

You can take on a project and make it your own, fostering relationships and gaining professional development skills while you're at it! Not to mention, it would look great on your resume.       

If you're interested, check out the link provided for more information! OR Come out to one of the Undergraduate Research Workshops to learn more about getting started! ( P.S. : There's one this week on Friday, September 5, during free hour (12 p.m.) in Engineering 023)

Are you an Africana Studies major, looking to do something more with your academic experience?

Well, you might want to consider conducting undergraduate research! Everyone has questions, and most people want answers. Doing research in your field can allow you to ask any relevant question and actively seek to gain more knowledge about it. You can take on a project and make it your own, fostering relationships and gaining professional development skills while you're at it! Not to mention, it would look great on your resume.

Opportunities for travel, internships, and grants are readily available if you're interested. Check out the link for more information!

The Women’s Center and Student Life’s Mosaic Center will be hosting several designated safe space sessions to talk about the recent events in Ferguson. These are not intended to be open discussions or debates. Rather, these opportunities are meant to provide intentional healing and supportive space for UMBC community members to process and share their thoughts, emotions, and reactions as related to racism, institutionalized violence, and anti-Blackness.

Added dates: 

• Monday, September 8 from 12-1 pm in the Women's Center
• Friday, September 19 from 2:30-3:30 pm in the Mosaic Center

Faculty, staff, and students are welcome to attend any/all of the community safe spaces scheduled for the following times:

• Wednesday, August 21st from 12-1pm in the Mosaic Center 
• Friday, August 22nd from 12-1pm in the Women’s Center
• Wednesday, August 27th from 12-1pm in the Mosaic Center
• Thursday, August 28th from 12-1pm in the Women’s Center

Contact womens.center@umbc.edu or mosaic@umbc.edu for further information.

The Baltimore Camera Club: 130 Years of Photographic Education and Excellence 

Baltimore Camera Club trophy

Want to learn more about past activities of The Baltimore Camera Club? Have a look at the issues of the Baltimore Camera Club’s publication, Focal Point, dating from the late 1970s into the 1990s.  Or maybe you want to see the types of works that members produced -- well we have that too! The collection contains a number of member-created photographs, including prints by some of the their most famous members, like Edward Bafford and A. Aubrey Bodine, who was also a photographer at the Baltimore Sun for fifty years.

A. Aubrey Bodine self portrait

Feel free to grab a seat by the display of antique cameras in our reading room and spend some time exploring the long and interesting history of The Baltimore Camera Club.  Whether you want to bone up on your history before attending a meeting or just want to learn about the oldest photographic society in the nation, UMBC’s Special Collections department has something for you. 

RPM, Laverne L. Bodaire

More information about the Baltimore Camera Club’s meetings and current activities can be found on their website, www.baltimorecameraclub.org.

Written by former Special Collections Student Assistant Kathleen Foster

Register now for this small hands-on workshop for students.

Learn the necessary steps to conduct your own undergraduate research 
on-campus or as part of an Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU).
Talk with students at the Summer Undergraduate Research Fest to find out about the types of research projects you can conduct. Prepare for your next steps before the fall semester begins.

University Center 312

Registration is free. Space is limited, RSVP required.

RSVP: http://umbc.edu/SummerSTEM/wksp-research