Plans: Elementary Education
B.A., Psychology with certification in Early Childhood Education
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Rockville, Maryland

Student athlete Allie Alton has been a star not only with the Women's Rugby Club, but also in her academics as a Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar and a member of the Honors College. She worked as a student teacher at Van Bokkelen Elementary School in Anne Arundel County, where she taught kindergarten and second grade classes. She also worked as a campus tour guide for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation and as a tutor for psychology students at the Learning Resources Center (LRC). Additionally, she volunteered with the US Against MS Swim Team, which uses aquatherapy and exercise to assist people with multiple sclerosis. Allie looks forward to teaching at the elementary school level.

“UMBC has challenged me to reach new heights and has given me the preparation and opportunities I needed to reach my full potential. My professors and mentors have been an invaluable resource, providing me with advice and opportunities, and the friends I have met here have shaped the person I've become today.”

Plans: M.D., Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
B.S., Biological Sciences
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

Despite countless awards and recognition for his chemistry research, Adam Mayer says it was his teaching experience at UMBC that proved most beneficial. Being a chemistry tutor for three years and a teacher’s assistant (TA) for two helped Adam hone his leadership and communication skills. “Being able to guide a class of up to 35 students through complex biology topics has increased my confidence and illustrated the impact I can have on others,” he says. “These skills will be invaluable in my future career as a physician.” But Adam’s experience at UMBC doesn’t stop at biology. In what little spare time available, he directed a full length documentary that recounted his grandparents’ Holocaust survival story in the context of modern anti-Semitism and denial. This ambition led to two different research projects that Adam presented during this year’s annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (URCAD). Adam’s work in biology has also extended well beyond the campus, including being selected to present at multiple local and national research conferences.

“UMBC has definitely prepared me for my future career by showing me—both through interactions with professors as well as the Honors College program—the importance of always challenging myself and striving to attain deeper knowledge of an interdisciplinary manner.”

Plans: Operations Analyst, Morgan Stanley; Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Malaysia
B.A., Gender and Women’s Studies
Magna Cum Laude
Hometown: Bowie, Maryland

Alexandra Mills has been an exceptional student and leader at UMBC. A member of both the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program and the UMBC Honors College, she is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, and the recipient of the 2013 Jo Ann E. Argersinger Academic Achievement Award in gender and women’s studies. Alexandra also has prepared herself for a future career in public policy. She attended the 2012 Junior Summer Institute at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School and Studied Abroad at the School of International Training in Mali. She was awarded a graduate school fellowship through the Public Policy and International Affairs Program, but will first be heading to Malaysia as part of the Fulbright program.

“One of the main reasons why I chose to attend UMBC is that I knew this was a place where my potential would be cultivated by caring staff and faculty members. As a first generation college student, it was very important to have unlimited access to resources and opportunities that would help me develop into the best student I could possibly be.”

Plans: M.D./Ph.D. in Oncology, Medical University of South Carolina
B.S., Biological Sciences
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina

Brandon Young’s unique experience at UMBC not only provided him with many opportunities to get involved in undergraduate research and extracurricular activities, but also offered an academic rigor integral to successfully pursuing an advanced degree. Brandon is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and president of Men Achieving Leadership Excellence and Success. He has interned with Nobel Laureate Dr. Thomas A. Steitz at Yale University and placed first two years in a row for Chemical and Biological Sciences at the UMBC Undergraduate Research Symposium. Brandon is a Meyerhoff Scholar, HHMI Scholar and a member of the UMBC Track and Field 3.0 club.

“UMBC has provided me with unique opportunities to get involved with research and extracurricular activities while providing me with academic rigor that will prepare me in attaining my advanced degree.”

Plans: Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications Broadcast and Digital Journalism Program
B.A., Visual Arts with concentration in Photography; B.A., Media and Communication Studies
Cum Laude
Hometown: Lanham, Maryland

Linehan Artist Scholar Christina Animashaun's senior Undergraduate Research Award project was a daring one: she painted herself gray, wore only black and white clothing, and walked the streets of Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City. Her interactions, captured with audio and photography, provided the raw material for her finished performance art piece, which explored the dynamics between artist and observer. Her work has been featured in Bartleby, UMBC's creative magazine, and in group exhibition at UMBC's Hallspace Gallery. She interned with Maryland State Delegate Mary Washington and with UMBC's Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture, and served as a senior orientation peer advisor for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Christina gained additional experience as a photographer and visual marketing designer for Bmore Proud in 2011 and 2012. She graduates as a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

“UMBC is a collective of individuals who are both intellectually compulsive and possess true sincerity and kindness for their peers. During my four years at UMBC, whether in the Linehan Scholars Program or at Open Mic Nights every other Thursday night, I have met people who truly exemplify UMBC as a place where we are not limited in our pursuits.”

Plans: Peace Corps Volunteer for Public Health and Food Security; or AmeriCorps FEMA Corps Team Leader in Vicksburg, Miss.
B.S., Emergency Health Services Management; Certificate in Public Administration
Magna Cum Laude
Hometown: Natick, Massachusetts

In many ways, reaching the summit of Mt. Crested Butte in Colorado was symbolic of Christopher Tingley’s experience at UMBC—and his life. An accident nearly 15 years ago that left him burned and scarred had also shaped his future, motivating Chris to pursue a career in emergency health services and dedicate his life to helping others. While studying at UMBC Chris never lost sight of his passion to help those in need and in his free time volunteered as a firefighter, emergency medical technician (EMT) and a Health Leads Baltimore advocate. He was also selected as an international operations intern for the American Red Cross. However, Chris’ defining moment at UMBC came from an opportunity to travel to Colorado with fellow burn survivors and climb one of its most popular landmarks. “It was important for me to be there with other burn survivors and support them,” said Chris. “I wanted to reassure them that life goes on.”

“UMBC has provided me with opportunities that not only enriched my academic career, but also allowed me to grow as an individual. The support and encouragement of my mentors in Emergency Health Services and Political Science were instrumental in steering me towards a career in international disaster response.”

Plans: Staff position in state or national politics; or Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.)
B.A., Political Science; B.A., Media and Communication Studies
Magna Cum Laude
Hometown: Pasadena, Maryland

In his junior year, Collin Wojciechowski represented nearly 180,000 University System of Maryland (USM) students as the sole student representative on the Board of Regents. Wojciechowski advocated against “doomsday” budget cuts and tuition increases and successfully lobbied to overhaul the USM policy for assessing student fees, making students an active part of the discussion. Wojciechowski is a Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar, Honors College Scholar and Phi Beta Kappa member. He interned both as government relations assistant in the Maryland General Assembly’s Office of the Democratic Whip and as Walter Sondheim Nonprofit Leadership Intern at the Greater Baltimore Urban League, where he authored a 10-year strategic plan for a new college access program. He also worked as a Governor’s Summer Intern with the Maryland Foreclosure Prevention Division. Wojciechowski has been highly active on campus as well, serving as opinion editor for The Retriever Weekly and SGA director of government and community affairs. In addition to his two majors, he has minors in history and public policy, presented research at the annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (URCAD) and the Chesapeake American Studies Association Conference, and was named a Harry S. Truman Scholar finalist.

“This is a place where I found everyone's door was truly always open, and that professors knew who I was and took an active interest in what I was doing. That personal support helped make me who I am today. Internships, research opportunities, representing Dr. Hrabowski before the state legislature—these are things I never dreamed I would have the chance to do and they were all made possible because someone here believed in me, encouraged me and gave me a chance.”

Plans: Ph.D. Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
B.S. Biology
Magna Cum Laude
Hometown: Berlin, Maryland

Danielle Adekunle dreams of one day being a professor with her own lab. A MARC U*STAR/Meyerhoff Scholar, Adekunle says that UMBC not only prepared her to achieve her goals but that her experiences at UMBC were an integral part of making an academic research career her goal. In addition to working with a number of faculty on campus, Adekunle took part in an internship program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Participating in the MIT summer research program in biology was one of the highlights her undergraduate career.

“UMBC’s research community is as rich and diverse as the student body. Undergraduates conducting research is celebrated at UMBC and the amount of encouragement and support for student research, coupled with the strong sense of community, has helped me in gaining admission to graduate school and preparing for graduate studies.”

Plans: Dance professionally and teach dance in the Baltimore-Washington region
B.A., Dance; Certificate in Education
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Frederick, Maryland

Recipient of a study abroad grant, Linehan Artist Scholar Franki Trout enjoyed a year in London at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance, where she received a certificate in Labanotation, a system for analyzing human movement. At UMBC, Franki managed an outreach program for the Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture for a site-specific dance work at the Joseph Beuys Sculpture Park, and worked for the Office of Residential Life. As a Dance major, she appeared on stage in 20 productions and choreographed for five concerts, earning her the department's Outstanding Senior in Choreography and Outstanding Junior awards. Her work has been featured three times at UMBC's Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (URCAD). In April 2013, she was invited to participate in the Maryland State Department of Education's Teachers of Promise Institute.

“The Dance Department at UMBC has given me the skills and confidence to begin a career in the ever demanding and competitive dance world. Through countless hours spent in the studio with professional instructors and teachers, I feel I have developed my artistic voice and can trust my instincts to make meaningful dance work.”

Plans: Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Slovakia
B.A., English; B.A., Media and Communication Studies
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Bethesda, Maryland

A member of the English Honors program, Hannah served as the creative nonfiction editor for UMBC's literary publication, Bartleby, and as a production assistant at The Retriever Weekly. An Undergraduate Research Award led to her project "The Culture in Linguistics: How Language Colors Childhood Imagination," which examined the relationship between language and perception, specifically the roles imagination and artistic creation play for bilingual children. From the Department of English, she received the 2013 Robert G. Shedd Award, given annually to a UMBC English major for Excellence in English, and from Media and Communication Studies, she received the 2013 Outstanding Contribution Award. Hannah has been on the Dean's List from 2009 to 2013 and has served as a tutor at The Writing Center.

“There are so many opportunities for involvement at UMBC, and I've been able to learn different skills and life lessons from a diverse group of people. The faculty is very supportive and I'm eternally grateful to the English department, especially Dr. DiCuirci, for all the encouragement I've received. I've learned how to engage with different people to achieve both commons goals and personal goals, and my growth in these past four years is truly immeasurable.”

Plans: Postdoctoral research at Brown University
Ph.D., Computer Science
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Timonium, Maryland

James MacGlashan received his undergraduate degree at UMBC in 2007, working under Dr. Marie desJardins in computer science and continued at UMBC for his graduate research study in the area of artificial intelligence. He has published in various academic publications, including Intelligent User Interfaces Conference, SIAM International Conference on Data Mining, and the Florida Artificial Intelligence Research Society Conference. “The best part of research is the moment when everything comes together,” he says, “and you realize that you created something novel, even if only something small, that adds to the vastness of existing human knowledge.” MacGlashan’s activities were not just confined to scholarship, though, as he taught problem solving and computer programming, introduction to computer science and introduction to Unix. “My favorite thing about teaching is when the students get excited about being able to produce something and start throwing out ideas and trying ideas,” he says. “It provides a fun, interactive experience that reminds you why you are in the field.”

“My graduate experience at UMBC developed skills well beyond knowledge of the field, such as how to stay organized, how to devise useful experiments, how to give presentations in front of an audience of experts, and how to write an academic paper.”

Plans: Ph.D., Computer Science, UMBC
B.S., Computer Science; Minor, Mathematics
Magna Cum Laude
Hometown: Hanover, Maryland

John Winder took advantage of the opportunity to become broadly educated. He enrolled in courses in philosophy and art history alongside the requirements for his major and minor, computer science and mathematics. He received a UMBC undergraduate research award and had his research published in UMBC Review. Demonstrating the depth and breadth of his scholarship, he received the Malcolm C. Braly Award for Creative Writing in Poetry. He was a UMBC Nominee for a Marshall Scholarship, recipient of the T. Rowe Price Associates Scholarship, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the UMBC Honors College. He also served as a research assistant in MAPLE lab and a computer science intern at SAIC. In his research at UMBC, he investigated the history of shadows in art. He wrote a program that enhanced, abstracted and analyzed digital images of paintings to understand how to use chiaroscuro to convey symbolic meaning.

“UMBC has given me two invaluable gifts: academic prosperity and educational diversity. UMBC's wealth of opportunities and its community of professors promote undergraduate scholarship, as well as challenge their students. I was never limited to one academic path, and my education was neither passive nor limited to the classroom; it was active and expansive and allowed me to excel as a student.”

Plans: Designer, ADG Creative
B.A., Graphic Design; Certificate in Media and Communications
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Rockville, Maryland

Katherine Broadhurst used her time at UMBC to excel by challenging her perception of the limits of design and to gain work experience – a successful combination, as she has earned a position as a full time designer at ADG Creative, a local advertising agency in Columbia, Md. A graphic design student and Linehan Artist Scholar, Katherine also has a minor in art history. Her photography has been printed in publications including the May issue of Rohous magazine, and the book My Cool Shed by Jane Field-Lewis. She has worked as a design consultant for the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., and managed the rebranding of Enviresponsible Shelters, Inc. as a front-end developer and designer.

“Upon entering my collegiate experience, I struggled with self confidence, believing that I was only capable of the few facets of life and design that I had already experienced. Little did I know college would challenge me in new and unseen ways; shaping me into a stronger, more confident person.”

Plans: Veterinary School, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
M.S., Applied Molecular Biology
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Millersville, Maryland

To Kelly Cyr, being a service-learning intern at the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) has shaped her time at UMBC and helped her grow, personally and professionally. Kelly first got involved with BARCS in 2009 while living on the Shriver Living Learning Community Floor and it quickly became one of the biggest parts of her life on campus. By the following year, Kelly was training fellow volunteer students and transporting them to and from the shelter using the Shriver center van. During this time, Kelly also began working with the Shriver Center while advancing toward her degree in applied molecular biology (AMB). “The AMB program has taught me a lot about molecular biology and research, which I hope to use during my time in veterinary school and throughout my career,” she says. Kelly was a recipient of the France-Merrick Scholarship.

“Being the service-learning intern at BARCS has been a huge part of my time at UMBC and has helped me grow as a person. I am happy to know that when I graduate I'll be leaving a strong connection between UMBC and BARCS.”

Plans: Teach secondary science in the Maryland public school system
M.A.T., Education
Cum Laude
Hometown: Pensacola, Florida

After being laid off due to downsizing, Lauren realized she was tired of life as an industrial chemist. She wanted a career that would make a larger impact on the lives of others, so she returned to her undergraduate mentor for some career advice. Twelve months later, Lauren has graduated from the Master's in Art of Teaching Program and plans to use her wealth of knowledge in chemistry to teach secondary science in Maryland public schools. Through the year long program, Lauren was the first UMBC student to intern with Carroll County public schools – an internship so successful the school system offered her a contract to return in 2013-14 to teach chemistry full time. Lauren says one of her most memorable experiences at UMBC came from her time as an undergraduate coordinator in Student Affairs where she had the pleasure of meeting many different co-workers from diverse backgrounds, many of whom are close friends today.

“After being laid off due to downsizing from my position as an industrial chemist I realized I wanted to make a career change to something that would make a difference in the lives of people.”

Plans: M.A., Management of Aging Services, UMBC; Play semi-professional soccer
B.A., Psychology; B.A., Sociology
Magna Cum Laude
Hometown: Great Malvern, England

Liam, a student athlete and a double major in Psychology and Sociology, has been a champion both on the soccer field and in the classroom. A five-time recipient of President's List honors for academic achievement, he plans to return to UMBC for a master's degree while maintaining his athletic pursuits. In 2010 and 2012, he was the captain of the UMBC Men's Soccer Team—America East Champions both years—and in 2012 was named the fifth Retriever ever to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America Division I Men's Soccer First Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Among his numerous awards are Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2012 and ECAC 1st Team All-Star in the same year. He was named America East Conference (AEC) 2012 Defender of the Year and AEC Fall Scholar-Athlete in 2011 and 2012.

“UMBC has helped me grow as a student, an athlete and, most importantly, a person. The university gave me the opportunity to pursue my passion on the sports field, while simultaneously helping me discover my calling in academia and the community. I will be forever grateful.”

Plans: Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Cornell University
B.S., Chemical Engineering
Magna Cum Laude
Hometown: Silver Spring, Maryland

Lilian Johnson used her talents as a scholar and a leader when she helped revive the UMBC chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and was subsequently elected as president. In that role she helped plan and run a number of engineering outreach events, both on and off campus. She was a Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society member and was admitted to Phi Beta Kappa. While at UMBC, Lilian spent one summer in the Polymer Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) located in Gaithersburg, Md. and another summer at the University of Akron REU in Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering. She hopes to one day teach and mentor students.

“UMBC has done many things to prepare me for the future, but what I really appreciate most is its community of people. The faculty, staff and students enjoy working together and are very involved. I am always excited to talk about UMBC and explain how we achieve our goals with the encouragement of the campus community.”

Plans: M.D., University of Maryland, School of Medicine
B.S., Biology
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: North Potomac, Maryland

Through her wonderful experience at UMBC, Maithri Kondapaka says she has come further than she ever imagined. “I think what makes UMBC so special is its commitment to students,” she says. “I have been presented with many opportunities and I have always found guidance when I needed it.” And she has definitely taken advantage of all those opportunities. Maithri is a recipient of the Premier Scholarship Award, and a member of the Honors College, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. She has interned at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and was a volunteer at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in 2010 and 2012. The defining experience of her undergraduate career, however, was working as a member of the Lindahl-Zengel lab.

“In the past four years I have come farther than I had ever imagined. I found the UMBC environment to be challenging, encouraging and inspiring, and I have been presented with many opportunities.”

Plans: M.F.A., University of Southern California
B.A., Visual Arts; B.A., Theatre
Cum Laude
Hometown: Germantown, Maryland

It's not often that an undergraduate student has the opportunity to have her work highlighted on the stage of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. But, Mallorie Ortega's theatre set construction and light operation were a significant feature of UMBC's production of Las Meninas that graced the stage of the Terrace Theater in 2011. A Linehan Artist Scholar with a double major in Theatre and Visual Arts, Mallorie received recognition with the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Stage Manager Achievement Award, Theatre Department Honors in Achievement in Design and Production, a Linehan Summer Research and Study Grant, and was a finalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship Award. She was the associate projection designer for the Department of Theatre's 2013 production of Shakespeare's Two Gentlemen of Verona, assistant projection designer for the Contemporary American Theatre Festival, production manager for the Musical Theatre Club, and Lead Woolie for UMBC's Welcome Week.

“The amazing faculty who believed in me and supported my artistic endeavors were always willing to help me learn and expand my knowledge of the arts. They helped me believe that I could achieve my dreams and were the best resources to help me along the journey toward my career.”

Plans: M.A., Education Studies, Johns Hopkins University; Teach For America Corps Member in Baltimore, Md.
B.A., Political Science
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Olney, Maryland

Micaela found her passion for education policy and service through studying abroad in Costa Rica and in competitive internships she secured with a little help and “tough love” from UMBC mentors. Micaela is a scholar several times over: a Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar, Robert E. McNair Scholar, Honors College member and Shattuck Family Entrepreneurial Scholar, and has been recognized by the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. From the Department of Political Science, she has received the Outstanding Scholar Award, as well as the Louis Cantori Award. Micaela participated in both the Baltimore Collegetown LeaderShape Program and Harvard Kennedy School Public Policy and Leadership Conference. In 2012 she received the Zainab Damji Memorial Scholarship for academically accomplished students pursuing careers in education who have demonstrated leadership, service and courage.

“My time at UMBC has been one of challenges, obstacles and rewards. I never would have been able to study abroad had it not been for the support and guidance I received from my mentors and multiple scholarship donors. UMBC provided me the keys to so many opportunities and for that I am forever grateful.”

Plans: Planning a career in information technology
B.S., Information Systems
Hometown: Chalfont, Pennsylvania

Michael McGee is one talented UMBC student athlete. He is a four-year Division 1 Swim Team Member, three time America East Conference Champion team (2010, 2011 and 2013) member, and has participated in the 2013 AEC Championship campaign with wins over the Naval Academy, East Carolina University and Old Dominion. But what sets Michael apart is his deeper understanding of how success in the pool can impact his academic career. “Being a collegiate athlete in a competitive school like UMBC has greatly prepared me for the real world,” he says. “I've had to use a number of skills to deal with time constraints, the pressure of athletics, and a difficult major.” Michael is currently Interning at Under Armour and hopes to obtain a full time position with the company, working in IT.

“This school has taught me that nothing comes easy, and you have work hard for the the things you want. I've formed great connections through my years at UMBC and those connections will greatly help me advance in my future career.”

Plans: M.S., Computer Science, UMBC
B.S. Computer Science
Magna Cum Laude
Hometown: Bel Air, Maryland

According to Morgan, the best part of UMBC is the culture, where she feels it’s cool to be smart and everyone is proud of their diverse experiences. That’s why it’s no surprise her positive attitude and excellent academics landed her one of the coolest internships around: Google. Morgan took advantage of this rare opportunity and spent the following two summers developing technical skills, meeting new people, and exploring many new areas. Morgan is thankful for UMBC’s access to a plethora of resources for both academic and professional success. “Faculty and peer mentors have given me valuable advice, such as course suggestions and internship recommendations,” she says. Morgan is a Center for Women in Technology (CWIT) Scholar and member of the Honors College. She has received an Undergraduate Research Award and was STEM Editor for the UMBC Review. Morgan was a recipient of the Dresher Family Scholarship.

“My favorite part of UMBC is the culture, where it's cool to be smart and everyone is proud of their diverse experiences. The past four years have inspired me to continue my education and teach the younger generation about opportunities in my field.”

Plans: Applying to Ph.D. programs
M.A., TESOL
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Novosibirsk, Western Siberia, Russia

Olga Kopiatina came to UMBC as part of the Fulbright program and has taken advantage of the opportunities available to her here. With the guidance of her mentors in the education department, John Nelson, Sarah Shin and Ronald Schwartz, she has been published in the International Education Studies journal and presented at Maryland Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (MD TESOL). She has also been a leader among international students and actively participated in campus musical groups.

“The M.A. TESOL program at UMBC has excellent professors and resources to provide a high-quality education in such areas as English, instructional systems development, linguistics, theories of second language learning, and human learning and cognition. I thought I enjoyed research in education more than actually teaching, but after experiencing this program I am now fully committed to both.”

Plans: Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Ph.D., Gerontology
Cum Laude
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Susan Hannum is a promising cancer researcher, but you won’t find her in a lab coat. Under the mentorship of dissertation chair Robert Rubinstein, Hannum is principal investigator for “Chronic Illness Narratives: Conceptualizations of a Cancer Diagnosis among Chronically Ill Older Adults,” funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. She has completed fellowships with both the National Cancer Institute (2012) and Grantmakers in Aging (2011). Hannum received a “Professors-in-Training” teaching fellowship in 2010 and has taught as an adjunct professor at both CCBC and Howard Community College while completing her Ph.D. Among her numerous honors, Hannum has been a member of Sigma Phi Omega, the Gerontology Honor Society, since 2008.

“Throughout my time at UMBC, I was instilled with the ideals of determination, hard work and a strong sense that we do not travel our paths alone. I believe very deeply that my sense of who I am was shaped early on in my undergraduate years as a rower on UMBC's crew team and then reinforced through my course work and studies with so many wonderful and inspiring people.”

Plans: Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Nepal
B.A., Asian Studies; Minors: Geography, Chinese Language and Culture, History
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Washington D.C.

Yasmin Radbod took advantage of the opportunities available to her at UMBC to prepare for a future career in nonprofit work. She has interned at Amnesty International and The Vegetarian Resource Group, and created UMBC’s vegetarian student organization. She created Baltimore VegFest, an annual city-wide vegan festival that is now in its third year, and an Alternative Spring Break Trip called “Through the Eyes of a Refugee” that is now in its fourth year. She founded UMBC Shambala to raise money for orphans through The Shambala Foundation in Tibet, which is where she spent her winter break. She has served in the SGA as the Director of Service, Volunteerism and Awareness, and is currently the director of the Department of Environmental Affairs. Yasmin studied abroad in Nanjing, China and received the Gilman Scholarship.

“UMBC allowed me to be put into practice my goals and visions and I’ve grown into the person I am today because of it.”

Plans: Work for Department of Defense
B.S., Computer Science; Minor, Music
Hometown: Ellicott City, Maryland

As a Center for Women in Information Technology (CWIT) scholar, Alex excelled as a leader during a time of organizational change and expansion. He helped form the group’s student council, was the vice president for the last three years, and played an integral role in forming the newly recognized Student Board and the new CyberScholars program. He has represented UMBC and CWIT at many programs and high schools – most recently, when the CyberScholars program was announced at the CyberTech Conference in Baltimore in fall 2012. He was an Inductee and Vice President of Omicron Delta Kappa, National Leadership Honor Society at UMBC. Along with the executive board, helped to rebuild the ODK Chapter at UMBC. Most recently, he represented UMBC at an ODK conference at the University of Richmond to discuss leadership and service. He studied abroad in Västerås, Sweden at one of UMBC’s partner schools, Mälardalen Högskola. Markowski says the study abroad was particularly meaningful to him because, while had lived overseas for nine years, it was his first time traveling abroad alone, “something of which I was very proud to have accomplished during college.” Not only was he an excellent computer scientist, he was also a cellist in the UMBC orchestra.

“I love to surround myself with amazing people; I find that I grow both professionally and personally, when I do. I know that UMBC, with its size, had given me the ability and resources to be able to not just stand out, but also make a difference in my community.”

M.A. in Museum Studies and Intangible Cultural Heritage at George Washington University
B.A., Cultural Anthropology; B.A., Ancient Studies
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Catonsville/Baltimore, MD

During her undergraduate studies, Caitlin Smith has become deeply immersed in the museum world. A Humanities Scholar, she interned with the Walters Art Museum, as well as Maryland Traditions, a Maryland State Arts Council program that seeks to discover, share and sustain our living traditions. Along with Maryland Traditions Program Coordinator Michelle Stefano and colleagues, Caitlin worked to establish a U.S. chapter of the Association for Critical Heritage Studies that launched in February at a meeting hosted by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Smith is a member of the Honors College and Phi Beta Kappa, and received the Department of Ancient Studies’ Outstanding Senior Award. She has participated in interdisciplinary seminars in Turkey (2011) and Rome/Sorrento (2012) through UMBC and presented research on interpretation in the museum setting at the annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (URCAD).

“The UMBC faculty has always been supportive in helping me figure how what it is I want to do and how best to achieve it. The relationships I've developed with my professors have been incredibly important, especially as I've been working at internships and preparing for graduate school. Some of the most valuable lessons I've learned have been from those one-on-one meetings and more casual conversations.”

Plans: M.D./Ph.D., New York University School of Medicine
B.S., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Odenton, Maryland

Brian Brown attended UMBC as a Meyerhoff Scholar. He was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Societies. He won UMBC Undergraduate Research Awards for 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 and received an Honorable Mention, Goldwater Scholarship. He was selected to attend the 63rd Annual Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting. He says that being able to go from the classroom to the lab bench after only a year at UMBC was something he never would have imagined himself doing four years ago. If it weren't for the Shriver Center, he says, and other priceless resources around campus, his rewarding experience at UMBC would not have been possible.

“The amount of support I've received over the years at UMBC is incredible. From my second family in the Meyerhoff Scholars Program to everyone in the Seley-Radtke lab, people have gone above and beyond to make sure I have the resources I need to do well at UMBC and beyond. By mentoring, tutoring and advising younger students, I hope to continue the cycle of success for which UMBC is so well known.”

Plans: Applying to jobs to practice feminism
B.A., Gender and Women's Studies, Psychology and Sociology; Minor, Critical Sexualities studies
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Rocky Ridge, Maryland

To Kevin Triplett, self-advocacy has been the most important lesson learned during his time at UMBC. After his mother passed away during his sophomore year, balancing his personal life struggles with rigorous college curricula became increasingly difficult. However, with the help and encouragement of friends and loved ones, he decided to take charge of his life and continue to pursue his dream of achieving a college education. “After losing my mother my sophomore year, building a relationship with my sister who was fully supportive of my education was really important to me,” said Kevin. Now, Kevin finds himself at the end of a difficult journey, having graduated with a perfect GPA and eagerly awaiting the next challenge in his life. Kevin is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Kappa Delta and Psi Chi, has published works in Bartleby and UMBC Review, and presented at the 2013 annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (URCAD).

“Being able to network and learn from many different people has made me appreciate the diversity of UMBC and has helped build a foundation to better understand myself. I've had the privilege of working in the Humanities Scholar Program, Reslife, the Office of Student Life, and in two different academic departments, which has really prepared me for my future beyond UMBC.”