Second Generation Scholarship Form DEADLINE: Oct 17,2014

Second Generation Scholarship Form

Every so often, we highlight the importance of student scholarships by introducing you to the very students they help to succeed. Today, we’re featuring Bria Hamlet ‘15, who is an Alumni Association Scholarship recipient.

Name: Bria Hamlet
Major: Health Administration & Policy Program, Track II – Health Policy
Extra Curricular Activities: Peer Health Educator, President of the Women of Color Coalition
Scholarship received: Alumni Association Scholarship

Q: Why did you decide to attend UMBC?
My decision to attend UMBC was not an easy one, as I initially had my heart set on going out of state for college. I quickly learned that UMBC was not only a great place to study, but a perfect fit for me. I love being a Retriever and making the most of every day on campus. I fell in love with our school spirit, academic strength, and comfortable community. I can honestly say I would not want to be anywhere else.

Q: What’s been the most amazing discovery you’ve made so far as a student here?
The most amazing discovery I’ve made so far as a student at UMBC is my sense of unity with my fellow students. We’re all in this together, whether it’s overcoming our hefty workloads or bonding over a power outage on campus. I feel very at home here and hope many other students feel the same.

Q: Tell us about a class or club that has really opened your mind.
I have been a Peer Health Educator through University Health Services for three semesters. I am quickly approaching my fourth and final semester, as I am aging out. This program has really shaped both my experience at UMBC, but also my career aspirations and goals. I LOVE health education. I love helping other students feel empowered to take care of themselves, but also understand risk and make informed decisions. We put a lot of time and effort into creating fun and engaging programs for our classmates; we would not show them anything we wouldn’t sit through ourselves. I take so much pride in being a part of this amazing, elite group of students and I am grateful for every moment spent with them.

Q: How important is it to you as a student to get scholarship support?
Right before I chose a college, my parents and I had the talk about making wise financial choices. While there was never any doubt that I was destined to attend college, my parents had the foresight to avoid mountains of debt through going out-of-state. My decision to attend UMBC was the smartest choice financially, but that did not mean there were not struggles. I still have loans, I still worry about how I’m going to pay for graduate school, and I wonder why it costs so much to help people grow scholastically. However, this scholarship support shows me that their are great people out there who want me, as well as other students, to [succeed] too! It’s a great feeling and I plan to pay it forward someday.

Q: What are you most proud of accomplishing in your time at UMBC?
I am very, very proud of the work I put into building my GPA this past school year. Out of 10 classes, I received A’s in eight. I have always been studious, but I hit bumps in the road that no longer made my GPA a reflection of me. I have worked hard to pull it up, and will continue to do so in my final semesters here.

Q: What would you say to the people who provided your scholarship?
Thank you so much for seeing in me a student worthy of your support and kindness. I have never received a scholarship before and I am thrilled that you changed that for me. I will try my hardest to make you proud, and represent your alma mater in the best way I possibly can.

Q: What do you hope to do after graduation?
I plan to attend graduate school to obtain my Masters in public health. Afterwards I will gain my PhD in population, family and reproductive health. My short-term goal is to become a health educator, and my long-term goal is to open up my own non-profit healthcare center. I also hope to donate back to UMBC.

Support the UMBC Alumni Scholarships today!

Every so often, we highlight the importance of student scholarships by introducing you to the very students they help to succeed. Today, we’re featuring Bria Hamlet ‘15, who is an Alumni Association Scholarship recipient.

Name: Bria Hamlet
Major: Health Administration & Policy Program, Track II – Health Policy
Extra Curricular Activities: Peer Health Educator, President of the Women of Color Coalition
Scholarship received: Alumni Association Scholarship

Q: Why did you decide to attend UMBC?
My decision to attend UMBC was not an easy one, as I initially had my heart set on going out of state for college. I quickly learned that UMBC was not only a great place to study, but a perfect fit for me. I love being a Retriever and making the most of every day on campus. I fell in love with our school spirit, academic strength, and comfortable community. I can honestly say I would not want to be anywhere else.

Q: What’s been the most amazing discovery you’ve made so far as a student here?
The most amazing discovery I’ve made so far as a student at UMBC is my sense of unity with my fellow students. We’re all in this together, whether it’s overcoming our hefty workloads or bonding over a power outage on campus. I feel very at home here and hope many other students feel the same.

Q: Tell us about a class or club that has really opened your mind.
I have been a Peer Health Educator through University Health Services for three semesters. I am quickly approaching my fourth and final semester, as I am aging out. This program has really shaped both my experience at UMBC, but also my career aspirations and goals. I LOVE health education. I love helping other students feel empowered to take care of themselves, but also understand risk and make informed decisions. We put a lot of time and effort into creating fun and engaging programs for our classmates; we would not show them anything we wouldn’t sit through ourselves. I take so much pride in being a part of this amazing, elite group of students and I am grateful for every moment spent with them.

Q: How important is it to you as a student to get scholarship support?
Right before I chose a college, my parents and I had the talk about making wise financial choices. While there was never any doubt that I was destined to attend college, my parents had the foresight to avoid mountains of debt through going out-of-state. My decision to attend UMBC was the smartest choice financially, but that did not mean there were not struggles. I still have loans, I still worry about how I’m going to pay for graduate school, and I wonder why it costs so much to help people grow scholastically. However, this scholarship support shows me that their are great people out there who want me, as well as other students, to [succeed] too! It’s a great feeling and I plan to pay it forward someday.

Q: What are you most proud of accomplishing in your time at UMBC?
I am very, very proud of the work I put into building my GPA this past school year. Out of 10 classes, I received A’s in eight. I have always been studious, but I hit bumps in the road that no longer made my GPA a reflection of me. I have worked hard to pull it up, and will continue to do so in my final semesters here.

Q: What would you say to the people who provided your scholarship?
Thank you so much for seeing in me a student worthy of your support and kindness. I have never received a scholarship before and I am thrilled that you changed that for me. I will try my hardest to make you proud, and represent your alma mater in the best way I possibly can.

Q: What do you hope to do after graduation?
I plan to attend graduate school to obtain my Masters in public health. Afterwards I will gain my PhD in population, family and reproductive health. My short-term goal is to become a health educator, and my long-term goal is to open up my own non-profit healthcare center. I also hope to donate back to UMBC.

Support the UMBC Alumni Scholarships today!

To: The UMBC Community

From: President Freeman Hrabowski

I am delighted to announce that the France-Merrick Foundation has made a $1 million gift to UMBC to fund the transformation of our Administration Building's rooftop into a "green roof." We are grateful for France-Merrick's support of our commitment to sustainability on campus.

The green roof will be an important symbol demonstrating UMBC's campus-wide dedication to sustainability practices. In addition to helping to insulate and reduce heat loss, the green roof will provide protection that extends the life of the roof.

France-Merrick's gift includes support for annual France-Merrick Sustainability Interns, who will serve as liaisons for environmental sustainability and climate change educational and awareness programs across campus. We look forward to exploring possibilities for future teaching and research opportunities reflecting UMBC's commitment to sustainability.

Our inaugural France-Merrick Sustainability Interns are Andrew Brow '16, mechanical engineering, and Devaughn Jones '18.

The following members of the campus community serve important roles as advisors for the green roof project: Joe Rexing, director, planning and construction services; John Zahor, project manager, planning and construction services; Claire Welty, director and professor, Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education; Andrew Miller, professor, geography and environmental systems; Elyse Ashburn, chief of staff, president's office; David Gleason, general counsel; and Tanvi Gadhia, environmental sustainability coordinator.

We are now in the project's design phase. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2015 and should be completed by fall 2015. We will keep the campus informed as the project develops.

For more information, please contact Greg Simmons at gsimmons@umbc.edu.

You think your home inkjet printer is causing you problems?

That’s nothing like the problems we all might have when peolple start printing assault rifles at home.

Defense Distributed, makers of the completely plastic pistol “Liberator,” and brain-child of crypto anarchist Cody Wilson, have taken us closer to that reality.

They have released the fighteningly titled Ghost Gunner. This allows people with a 3-D printer (available for sale at select home depots) to make the only part of an assault rifle you cannot readily purchase in the US: the “lower receiver.”

The ghost part of the name comes from the fact that the construction of these weapons is completely undetectable by the government due to its lack of a serial number, and also completely legal. The total cost of making the weapon comes out to about $1200, not much more expensive than buying a similar weapon through other legal channels.

With the vital lower receiver in your possession, you can use the printer (or buy the parts) to build the rest of the deadly assault weapon.

Clearly, technology like this is of great concern to advocates of stricter gun control policies. As 3D printing technology proliferates it will become less expensive, and the number of people capable of cheaply constructing their own ‘ghost’ weapons will rise.

The problem is that the regulatory process in our country is too slow to adapt to the rapid advance of technology in areas like this. A point that Wilson is aiming to prove with his new advancement.

Should the government step in before this technology becomes more widely available or more deadly?

And can it accomplish that goal without stifling innovation in other important areas? 

And we thought our inkjet printers were a source of headaches.

Kerry Kidwell-Slakl

Role at the UMBC Career Center: I help connect engineering and math majors with internships and careers.

Q: Where have you earned your college degrees?

A: Duke University, Durham, NC

A: I completed my undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering. I attended a Math/Science magnet program in high school so knew I enjoyed STEM fields and thought engineering was a good fit because I enjoyed solving challenging problems.  I picked Mechanical because I felt that it was very broad and I could in a lot of different directions with it as a professional.  I worked as a consultant in nuclear engineering after graduation and while I enjoyed the challenge of the work, I felt like I wanted to use more of my people skills.  I looked at what I did enjoy in my professional and personal life and found that I was spending a lot of time with college students.  That pointed me toward researching graduate programs in Higher Education Administration and I eventually undertook a two year Master's program at GWU with a focus on applied learning.

Q: Tell me about the job and internship process when you were in college. Were you able to find job/internship positions that were related to your major or your career interests?

A: During my undergrad, I didn't do any "traditional" commercial internships - my summer's were spent as a Teaching Assistant for STEM camps and working on a grant on Educational research for an engineering professor (we were exploring whether this crazy new piece of software called "Blackboard" would be useful and whether professors would actually use LCD projectors with computers in class - both things that we definitely take for granted now!).  Hindsight being 20-20, I probably should have paid attention to those experiences and it may have gotten me to my current career a lot faster.

The full-time job I had after graduation, I obtained using on campus resources through the Career Center.  I had my resume reviewed, attended info sessions and career fairs and eventually obtained an offer through on-campus interviewing.  I like to think that I am proof that the system can work!

Q: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

A: Hanlon's Razor: "Never assume malice when stupidity will suffice."

I don't like the word choices, but I think the essence of the quote is helpful. If we approach life with a spirit of positivity and wanting to educate others about what we know rather than a sense of negativity and paranoia, I think we are all more likely to achieve success.

Q: Why should students visit the Career Center?

A: To learn more about Information Sessions - I think these are undervalued as a way for students to meet employers and learn about possible career paths.  Employers are there because they want to meet you and if you are one of the students who takes the time to come it shows your sincere interest and commitment.

Q: What is your favorite aspect about UMBC?

A: The spirit of innovation and collaboration that permeates campus.  Everyone, students, staff and faculty, demonstrates a willingness to try new things and work together for the common good.  I think that makes us a true gem in higher education!

Q: What is one item on your bucket list?

A: Backpacking the Appalachian Trail.  I did a lot of hiking/camping when I was younger and miss it.

Q: What is one aspect of the DC/Baltimore area that you often explore?

A: Being outside - I love how it's easy to get to both the beach and the mountains from here and how many state, local and national parks we have in our backyard.

Want to connect with Kerry or any of our great Career Center team? Call our office at 410-455-2216 410-455-2216 or check out our contact us page here: http://careers.umbc.edu/aboutus/