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A Publication Of The University Of Iowa Honors Program
H O N O R A B L E
MENTIONHonorable
Mention is
published four
times each
academic
year by The
University of
Iowa Honors
Program.
Four of these
are available
on-line and two
of these are a
printed version.
The newsletter
staff welcomes
comments,
suggestions,
and ideas.
Submissions
can be sent to
the editor
Dana Deuell
at dana-
deuell@uiowa.edu.
November
2001
¨ Scholarship
Application Tips
¨ Program News
And Updates
¨ Aaron Brim
Shares His Expe-
rience Taking A
Class For Honors
Credit
¨ The Septem-
ber 11 Aftermath
In This Issue
By Dana Deuell
Newsletter Editor
As of August, the Hon-
ors Program is tempo-
rarily located in the
Jefferson Building
awaiting the completion
of the Blank Honors
Center in 2003.
The Center will house
the Honors Program and
the Connie Belin and
Jacqueline N. Blank In-
ternational Center for
Gifted Education and
Talent Development,
making the UI the first
school in the nation to
offer services for aca-
demically gifted stu-
dents in kindergarten
through college in one
building. The UI hopes
that this partnership will
assist in the recruitment
and retention of top stu-
dents.
Total cost for the
building’s construction
is estimated at about
$13 million.
Over $9 million in
funding will come from
private gifts to the UI,
including a $5 million
donation made by
Myron and Jacqueline
Blank of Des Moines in
1999. Including this
gift, the Blanks have
given more than $9 mil-
lion to the UI Founda-
tion in the past two de-
cades in support of the
Belin-Blank Center.
University earnings
will provide the balance
of the project budget.
The new building will
include a basement and
six floors with a total of
58,700 square feet. It
will be connected to a
proposed Careers Cen-
ter at both the basement
and second floor levels.
Five modern, technol-
ogy-equipped class-
rooms will be used for
Honors Program semi-
nars and general educa-
tion courses. The Belin-
Blank Center will use the
classrooms on week-
ends and in the summer
months. The Center will
also contain computers
for students and areas
for studying and social-
izing.
A groundbreaking cer-
emony for the Center
was held on July 25.
Blank Honors Center
The Blank Honors Center will house the UI Honors Program and the
Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent De-
velopment. The Center will be located between Bloomington and
Market Streets, bordered on the west by the T. Anne Cleary Walkway.
(Computer-generated photo curtesy of UI News Services.)
Plans For Blank Honors Center Underway...
Honors Program Gets New Home
http://www.uiowa.edu/~honors
Each year the Honors Pro-
gram provides support to un-
dergraduates in the University
through scholarships and
grants. This year, we will be
providing more support than
ever before.
We have added new scholar-
ships for you to apply for as
well as increasing the amount
of support available to you for
research and travel. There are
two great ways to learn more
about these opportunities.
The first is to stop by the
Honors Program on the sec-
ond floor of the Jefferson
Building and talk with us. As
well as talking to us directly,
we can point you to a broad
range of printed information we
have on scholarships from in-
side and outside the University.
A second starting point is to
open up the Honors web site
and look at our scholarship
page. You will find basic in-
formation about our scholar-
ships, application forms, and
links to a variety of other schol-
arship sites.
Listed below is a brief run
down on what we have avail-
able through the Honors Pro-
gram. Applications for all of
the awards listed below are
available on-line or at 202 JB.
The deadline for the scholar-
ships is not until February 15,
2002 but I would encourage
you to begin thinking about the
application process now.
Putting together a strong
scholarship application can
take more time than you think
and letters of recommendation
can be much more effective
when a faculty member is
given the time to think about
what they will say.
Bottom line is look into it
now and find out what is re-
quired. Those slow times in
early January could be a great
time to get your application
together!
Dewey Stuit Award for
First-Year Honors Student:
This is a single award of
$1,500 for a student returning
for their sophomore year in the
College of Liberal Arts.
It is based primarily on aca-
demic merit but also requires
a brief written segment from
the applicant and a faculty let-
ter of support.
Dewey Stuit Award for
Second-Year Honors Stu-
dent: This is a single award
of $2,000 for a student return-
ing for their junior year in the
College of Liberal Arts. It is
based on academic merit and
requires a brief written seg-
ment from the applicant and a
faculty letter of support.
It is expected that the appli-
cant will have become broadly
involved in the University and/
or community in addition to
excelling in the classroom.
Rhodes Dunlap First-Year
Honors Student Awards:
Five recipients will be selected
and receive $1,000 towards ex-
penses for their sophomore
year at the University. It is
based primarily on academic
merit but also requires a brief
written segment from the ap-
plicant and a faculty letter of
support.
Rhodes Dunlap Second-
Year Honors Student
Awards:Five recipients will be
selected and receive $1,000 to-
wards expenses for their jun-
ior year at the University. It is
based on academic merit and
requires a brief written seg-
ment from the applicant and a
faculty letter of support. It is
expected that the applicant will
have become broadly involved
in the University and/or com-
munity in addition to excelling
in the classroom.
James D. Robertson Third-
Year Scholarship: This is a
single award of $1,000 to a
student returning for their se-
nior year in the College of Lib-
eral Arts. The scholarship is
based on a combination of aca-
demic merit and University
and/or community involve-
ment. The recipient must be an
Iowa High School graduate and
be majoring in a social science
discipline.
The Rhodes Dunlap Hon-
ors Program Scholarships :
These awards are for students
returning as undergraduates to
the University of Iowa and pro-
vides $3,000 for expenses in
the following year. Twenty are
awarded in Liberal Arts and
two in each of the other un-
dergraduate Colleges.
The recipients are selected
based on academic merit, uni-
versity and/or community in-
volvement, a written statement
of academic purpose, and two
letters of recommendation
from faculty members.
Students may not apply for
either the Rhodes Dunlap First-
Year or Second-Year Honors
Student Awards and the
Rhodes Dunlap Honors Pro-
gram Scholarships.
While students in their sec-
ond year at the University are
allowed to apply for the
Rhodes Dunlap Honors Pro-
gram Scholarships, there is a
greater expectation for well de-
veloped extracurricular activi-
ties with this award.
Honors Thesis Research:
These awards are available to
anyone working on their hon-
ors thesis and provide up to
$500 for expenses. Students
may request more if there is
extremely strong need. Stu-
dents may only receive the
award once.
Honors Program Travel
Grants: These awards sup-
port student travel for schol-
arly presentations. There will
be ten awards of up to $500
for expenses and they will be
provided on a first come – first
served basis.
Show Me The Money...
Scholarship Tips
By Bob Kirby
Assistant Director
November 2001
What Does It Take To
Win A Scholarship?
Honors Program Scholarships are awarded on the basis
of academic excellence, extracurricular involvement, and
community service. The following are brief biographies
of some of the students who received scholarships in
2001.
Sara Bradley was the 2001 recipient of the James D.
Robertson Scholarship. She is a psychology major from
Fayette, IA. She has been a member of The University
of Iowa Student Democrats and a UI research assistant.
Yasser Dahab was a 2001 Rhodes Dunlap recipient in
the College of Engineering. He has served as an officer
with the Golden Key International Honor Society and is
a regular contributor to Hawkeye Engineer Magazine.
Nana Diedrichs, a 2001 Rhodes Dunlap recipient, is
from Cresco, IA. She has worked as a research assis-
tant translating articles and compiling bibliographical ma-
terials. She has also volunteered with Big Brothers/Big
Sisters and the free lunch program and participated in
intramural athletics.
Marc Doobay was the 2001 recipient of the Dewey B.
Stuit First-Year Scholarship. He is from Ames, IA. He
has been a member of the Iowa Biosciences Advantage
Program and a regular volunteer at UIHC.
Jesse Elliott was the 2001 recipient of the Dewey B.
Stuit Second-Year Scholarship and the Rhodes Dunlap
Scholarship. He is a Presidential Scholar and Honors Pro-
gram student employee who also writes for The Daily
Iowan.
Dara Hickman was a 2001 Rhodes Dunlap recipient in
the College of Business. She has participated in Campus
Bible Fellowship, Campus Crusade for Christ, Hawkeye
Christian Fellowship, Intramural basketball, the Honors
Volunteer Program, Associated Residence Hall, Voices
of Soul Gospel Choir, and floor government.
Andrew Misfeldt, a 2001 Rhodes Dunlap recipient, is
from Columbia, MO. He has worked as a research as-
sistant looking at the role of amniotic fluid in prenatal
development. He has also served as a communications
officer for Mortar Board, in charge of society announce-
ments and advertising.
Are You Looking For
Additional Recognition?
In addition to administering its own scholarships, the
Honors Program also offers advice on competition for
certain national and international scholarships, including: 
· Churchill Scholarships
· Ford Foundation Scholarships
· Gates Millennium Scholarships
· Goldwater Scholarships
· Howard Hughes Fellowships
· Marshall Fellowships
· Mellon Fellowships
· Truman Scholarships
· Rhodes Scholarships
· Udall Scholarships 
Each of these programs supports a particular direction
and/or location of study. They are not forms of general
financial aid.
However, you may be exactly the kind of student one
or more of these programs is looking for.
You can learn more about them by visiting the Honors
Program and examining our notebooks.
Each is marked with the name of one of the scholar-
ships. The binder contains details about that program,
together with the application form.
The Honors Program has also included examples of
successful appli-
cations written
by students at
The Univer-
sity of
I o w a .
Reading
t h r o u g h
the binders
willgiveyou
a good
sense of
w h i c h
p r o g r a m s
might support
the kind of work
you would like to do.
If you are interested in competing
for one or more of these awards, please let us know.
They require a significant commitment of your time and
effort but students have consistently felt the experience
was worthwhile.
http://www.uiowa.edu/~honors 3
By Jesse Elliott, Council Coordinator
The Iowa City Foreign Relations Council brings distin-
guished scientists, politicians, journalists, artists, activ-
ists, and academics from all around the world to Iowa
City for mutually beneficial cultural
exchanges.
The Honors program has six
memberships in the council
and regularly sends students
to luncheons held at the
Rockwood Congrega-
tional Church--right
nexttoPhillipsHallonClinton
Avenue--where students are treated to a free meal and
lively discussion.
In the upcoming year, students will have a chance to get
personal with a Cuban writer, British journalist, and Iowa
biotech scientist who is shaping the way the world thinks
about international food production and distribution.
For more info about the Iowa City Foreign Relations
Council and how to get involved, e-mail me at jesse-
elliott@uiowa.edu.
Arts Program Enhances
Enjoyment Of The Arts
By Evan Mazunik, Arts Program Coordinator
The Arts Program aims to serve as a catalyst in the lives
of honors students for active participation in and enjoy-
ment of the arts.
By providing venues for creativity (ex. “Share Your
Groove Night”—a new monthly open mike), interactions
with artists and professors (such as pre-show discus-
sions) and free tickets, the Arts Program seeks to en-
courage artistic expression and appreciation. In other
words, everyone’s creative and here’s an opportunity to
display it. The calendar of events includes (but is not lim-
ited to) the following shows at Hancher:
¨ Nov. 17: Dionysus
¨ Jan. 25, 26: Bill T. Jones
¨ Feb. 22: Shaolin Warriors
¨ Apr. 4-6: Blast!
Other venues and events may be added to the calendar.
Check the honors web page for further updates.
If you have any suggestions, questions, comments, or
flashes of insight, please e-mail me at evan-
mazunik@uiowa.edu.
Foreign Relations
Council Promotes
Cultural Exchange
Learning Community
Schedules Activities
By Mike Brooks
Learning Community Coordinator
The Learning Community
floors in Daum will have a
righteous year of fun and
learning.
Activities, as well as the
general fun and growth of
being a 1st year student,
will keep everyone busy.
There will be a section for
the LC under my name on
the Honors web page, so check that out as it comes
along.
MOST students will be having a great time in the Hon-
ors program as well. Watch out for possible barbecues.
By Katie Krone
Volunteer Program Coordinator
Upcoming events in the Honors Volunteer Program
include the following:
Free Lunch Program On Nov. 14 and 28
11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
¨ Help prepare and serve lunch while spending time
with the homeless of Iowa City
Owl Glass Puppetry On Nov. 17
9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
¨ Make finger puppets for the puppetry center in West
Liberty
Volunteer Program
Combines Service And Fun
November 2001
By Valerie Pelak
UI senior and theatre major
September Lau’s almost year-
long journey to Kenya ex-
posed her to the uniqueness
that any foreign country has
to offer: beautiful scenery, a
rich culture, and the harsh re-
alities of poverty.
The means by which the
impoverished try to obtain
money may seem unusual and
frightening to most Americans
but are commonplace in third
world countries.
This poverty was the aspect
of the country Lau wanted to
see.
“I arrived to Kenya and I saw
these individuals whose needs
have not been met--so they will
do just about anything to get
ahead, even it is unethical and
illegal,” she said. “These
people are poor and are living
in impoverished conditions but
are so complacent, and hos-
pitable they do nothing to
change their situations.”
Lau’s trip to Kenya was part
of a program out of the Uni-
versity of Minnesota that dealt
withinternationaldevelopment
and solidarity in third world
countries.
Lau wanted a study abroad
program that would guarantee
the chance to work closely
with individuals that lived in
rural areas or were in poorer
social classes.
In Kenya, Lau lived with a
host family. Lau rarely saw
her host mother and father,
who had to work almost four-
teen hours a day at a nearby
restaurant--an unreasonable
working day in the United
States, but a seemingly normal
day in Kenya.
However, Lau did develop
strong relationships with her
two host sisters.
“They were similar in age to
me, and we became very
close,” she said. “My one sis-
ter Ann and I talked about ev-
erything. I miss her very
much.”
Lau also attended school with
other American students for
two months in a makeshift
barn--not in a normal school
building.
Later, Lau became an intern
at a citizens coalition for con-
stitutional change facility
where she counseled impov-
erished individuals from rural
and lower-class communities.
“In Kenya, the city is divided
into classes; the upper class
and the lower class, but unlike
in America, there is nothing
done to help these poorer
classes,” she said. “The coun-
try needs work, and just know-
ing that I helped in a little way
was so gratifying.”
What had originally been
planned as a four month stay
in Kenya stretched into an al-
most nine month opportunity.
When Lau’s voyage ended, it
was tough boarding the plane
for the United States.
“I must admit I was devas-
tated,” she said. “I cried for a
half an hour, but I knew that I
had to go back to my real
home.”
The shock Lau felt on the day
of her departure has continued
back at the UI.
“This past summer, I did not
wear a watch, because it was
so laid back in Kenya, Things
as simple as wearing a watch
are different and difficult for
me now,” said Lau.
Lau’s family was very sup-
portive of her journey and her
relationships with friends are
still strong after her time in
Kenya.
“The friends I had before I
left for Africa are still close to
me and we did not really grow
apart, “she said. “My family
and I are still very close, but
they are used to someone in
my family leaving for some
reason. My sister has studied
abroad various times and they
have become acclimated to
that.”
Lau has set her sights on
eventually becoming a play-
wright and writing works that
could help Americans embrace
another culture.
“ I think I see myself writing
plays or stories about politics
or societal change,” she said.
“I think Americans are too iso-
lated and narrow-minded.”
The following facts are taken from the UI Office of Study Abroad website at
http://www.uiowa.edu/~uiabroad.
¨ 705 University of Iowa students studied abroad during 1999-2000.
¨ Of the UI students who studied abroad during 1999-2000, 79% (560) were
undergraduates.
¨ Among the UI undergraduate degree candidates who studied abroad, 2%
were freshmen, 10% sophomores, 40% juniors, and 48% seniors.
¨ 49% of study abroad participants spent a semester abroad, 40% spent the
summer/short term abroad, and 11% spent an entire academic year abroad.
¨ The 560 UI undergraduates who studied abroad during 1999-2000 did so in
40 different countries.
Study Abroad Facts
A Bright Star Shines In September...
UI Student Describes Study Abroad Journey
http://www.uiowa.edu/~honors
Any course in the College of Liberal Arts can be
designated an “Honors course.”
To arrange for Honors Designation, the student and
professor should agree on a special course project,
such as a paper or outside reading that would help
enrich the course. The appropriate form should be
picked up from the Honors Program secretary, com-
pleted, and returned to Honors Center before the
first four weeks of the semester.
At the end of the semester, the student shall ask
the professor to sign the original agreement form,
and return the form to the Honors Program secretary
in the Jefferson Building.
Providing that the student has also received the
grade of “B” or higher for the course in question, the
Honors Program will inform the Registrar that the
student’s transcript should reflect Honors Designa-
tion for that course.
I am the procrastinator of all
procrastinators.
I will delay cleaning the floor
of my shower until a thick
charcoal-colored mildew
appears under my feet. I will
delay buying a new toothbrush
until somebody tells me that I
have got a bristle stuck in my
teeth.
This last spring, the story
was no different when I finally
decided to begin
my Journalistic
Reporting and
Writing Honors
Project.
It was one
questions like: which audience
prefers listening to more hip-
hop than the other? Do
Americans go clubbing more
than Brits?
The British magazine was
called Ministry Magazine, a
publication bursting of pro-
drug itinerary, flamboyant
super-club advertisements and
pictures of sweaty club goers
wearing next to nothing.
Mixer Magazine, the
American-based magazine,
was a bit more conservative,
laced with CD advertisements
and spreads showcasing the
latest in technology.
I had a big job to do and I
only had three days to do it.
The next 72 hours were
rough. Leaving the apartment
was out of the question. I felt
like I had just ratted out Don
Corleone and I had to stay
clear of his buffers.
I needed a minimum of nine
pages. It sounded easy. But
after the quantitative analysis
portion I wanted to pass out.
The constant number
crushing was turning my brain
P A Yweek before finals week and I
had not done a thing.
Near the beginning of the
semester I had a great idea for
a project. I would take two
music magazines, one
magazine from the UK, and one
magazine that was published in
the United States. Then, I
would compare the two, using
quantitative and qualitative
measures as methods of
comparison.
I wanted to be able to
distinguish an American
audience from a British
audience. I wanted to be
able to answer
into that oozy-pink slime from
Ghostbusters II that multiplied
in size if you sang the Full
House theme.
The hours flew by and it was
Monday before I knew it. By
that time thorough
proofreading was out of the
question. I had exerted every
brain function until finally I
couldn’t do it anymore. I was
officially burnt-out.
I turned in my project to
Professor Stark that afternoon.
At that moment I had never felt
so high. It was as if I was
invited to the Wonka mansion
for desert.
The project was later
approved for Honors credit and
I went off to enjoy another
luxurious summer.
P R O C R A S T I N AT I O N
D O E S N ’ T
Taking A Class For Honors Credit
Writer Aaron Brim is a jun-
ior from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
He is majoring in journalism
and English.
Aaron’s future plans include
becoming an esteemed music
reporter and critic.
November 2001
By Mike Brooks
Learning Community
Coordinator
A new school year is un-
derway, and once again
the questions start. “So,
Mike,” friends, profes-
sors, bosses, and strang-
ers on the street ask me,
“What’s your major this
month?”
I guess the thought of a
third year student with
enough credits to be a se-
nior, but not enough to
qualify for even one mi-
nor is sort of confound-
ing. My grandparents are
more to the point: “Mike,
you directionless jerk,”
Grandma says, “Make up
your mind already.”
The irony is that I have
made up my mind. I like
political science, English,
philosophy, economics,
psychology, ecology, the-
ater, sociology, music,
cooking, and some other
stuff. Will I major or even
minor in any one of these
areas? Unless it is “other
stuff,” probably not.
Instead, I am committed
to making my mind work
in as many different ways
as possible while I still
have the mental flexibility
to do so. I want to learn
how scientists think more
than I want to get an in-
depth look at what they
think. We can always read a
book once we understand its
language. What we cannot al-
ways do is be a business ma-
jor who is taught the process
of analyzing a literary text by
an English professor. Likewise
for the English major who
learns the scientific method in
biology.
As responsibilities mount and
gray matter hardens it will be
increasingly difficult to push
our minds in different direc-
tions. We need to do it now.
My method is a somewhat
extreme one that works for me
personally; most people are
more sensible than I and will
discover one or two majors to
stick with. This is great, and
probably a good move when it
comes to considering life after
graduation.
But one should remember not
to cling so fiercely to an area
of specialization that they ig-
nore other modes of thought.
The world’s phenomena are
not divided into specific sci-
ences; a good understanding of
them will require multiple per-
spectives.
Canweexaminepoliticswith-
out considering economics?
Can we produce art in a world
isolated from business? Maybe.
But I bet we would do better
by integrating the fields.
While our minds must make
conceptual boundaries for
sanity’s sake, we shouldn’t
hesitate to jump between them
when we can. If you are
dreading your General
Education Requirements,
look at them with a fresh
perspective. They are
unique chances to put on
a new thinking cap. If you
are an upperclassman with
some extra space to fill in
your schedule, consider
taking a course radically
different from ones you
have had.
Learning should be inter-
esting. If it is just about
checking off requirements
inaninflexibleprogression
you have not actively con-
sidered, it isn’t worth it.
So if you see me on the
street, please don’t ask me
what my major is. Instead
ask me what excites me.
Ask me if I have devel-
oped a unified theory of
knowledge yet, or if in-
stead I have burnt out my
brain, losing myself in in-
coherent existential
musings. While the later
maybemorelikelythanthe
former for me, it doesn’t
have to be for you.
Learning is beautiful,
there is a lot of it to do,
and it will make us a bet-
ter people and society to
stick with it.
Ask me what excites me
and I will say, “Every-
thing.”
Somewhere my
grandma is crying.
Please Don’t Ask Me
What My Major Is“A good education is
not so much
one which prepares
a man to
succeed in the
world, as one which
enables him to
sustain a failure.”
— Bernard Bell
“Education is our
passport to the
future, for tomorrow
belongs to the
people who prepare
for it today.”
— Malcolm X
“Many college
textbooks, which
were a weariness
and stumbling-block
when I studied, I
have since read a
little with pleasure
and profit.”
— Henry David
Thoreau
“It is the supreme art
of the teacher to
awaken joy in
creative expression
and knowledge.”
— Albert Einstein
“The roots of
education are bitter,
but the fruit is
sweet.”
— Aristotle
“Teachers open the
door, but you must
enter by yourself.”
— Chinese
Proverb
Words To
Live By
http://www.uiowa.edu/~honors
The University of Iowa Honors Program
202 Jefferson Building
Iowa City, IA52240
8
The University of Iowa prohibits discrimination in employment and in its educational programs and activities on the basis of race,
national origin, color, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational prefer-
ence. The University also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to University facilities. For
additional information on nondiscrimination policies, contact the Coordinator of Title IX, Section 504, and the ADA in the Office of
Affirmative Action, (319) 335-0705 (voice) or (319) 335-0697 (text), The University of Iowa, 202 Jessup Hall, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-
1316.
By Alice Fulton
Honors Program Director
All of you know of the great tragedy that happened Sep-
tember 11, and the outpouring of help to those who suffered
in New York and D.C. We all mourn with those who lost
family and friends. Some of the concrete ways you can help
if interested include giving blood (a convenient site is in the
hospital) or donations to aid organizations such as Red Cross.
Doing what we can as individuals helps each of us cope
with a difficult time. Some of you may also know that there
have been less civil responses as well: defacements of
mosques, attacks on individuals who are Moslem or who are
from the Middle East.
I am sad to say that there have even been a few incidents
here at the University of Iowa in which people flooded by
anger against those who did so much harm have turned their
anger against innocent individuals.
I appeal to you all, as outstanding students who carry influ-
ence through your actions and speech, to help the university
stay true to its ideals of community and justice. Take a mo-
ment to reach out to anyone who may feel at risk in these
times and support them with your words and actions. Speak
up if you hear someone condemning a whole group for the
actions of a few.
Take part in and tell other students about educational op-
portunities that can help us all to understand more of what
has happened. The University is a community, but commu-
nities are the dynamic consequence of all our choices. Only
as each one of us lives out our commitments to community
does this community remain a reality.
Finally, remember that the University Human Rights poli-
cies embrace and protect all members of the community.
Encourage anyone who has been ill treated to tell the Vice
President for Student Services or Public Safety, so that we
can act together to make this a community that is open and
welcoming to all.
I have always been touched by the good spirit in which our
honors students respond to calls for service, and I have great
confidence that each of you will do what you can in these
times of challenge.
A Message From The Director...
September 11: How You Can Help

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Iowa Honors Newsletter

  • 1. A Publication Of The University Of Iowa Honors Program H O N O R A B L E MENTIONHonorable Mention is published four times each academic year by The University of Iowa Honors Program. Four of these are available on-line and two of these are a printed version. The newsletter staff welcomes comments, suggestions, and ideas. Submissions can be sent to the editor Dana Deuell at dana- deuell@uiowa.edu. November 2001 ¨ Scholarship Application Tips ¨ Program News And Updates ¨ Aaron Brim Shares His Expe- rience Taking A Class For Honors Credit ¨ The Septem- ber 11 Aftermath In This Issue By Dana Deuell Newsletter Editor As of August, the Hon- ors Program is tempo- rarily located in the Jefferson Building awaiting the completion of the Blank Honors Center in 2003. The Center will house the Honors Program and the Connie Belin and Jacqueline N. Blank In- ternational Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development, making the UI the first school in the nation to offer services for aca- demically gifted stu- dents in kindergarten through college in one building. The UI hopes that this partnership will assist in the recruitment and retention of top stu- dents. Total cost for the building’s construction is estimated at about $13 million. Over $9 million in funding will come from private gifts to the UI, including a $5 million donation made by Myron and Jacqueline Blank of Des Moines in 1999. Including this gift, the Blanks have given more than $9 mil- lion to the UI Founda- tion in the past two de- cades in support of the Belin-Blank Center. University earnings will provide the balance of the project budget. The new building will include a basement and six floors with a total of 58,700 square feet. It will be connected to a proposed Careers Cen- ter at both the basement and second floor levels. Five modern, technol- ogy-equipped class- rooms will be used for Honors Program semi- nars and general educa- tion courses. The Belin- Blank Center will use the classrooms on week- ends and in the summer months. The Center will also contain computers for students and areas for studying and social- izing. A groundbreaking cer- emony for the Center was held on July 25. Blank Honors Center The Blank Honors Center will house the UI Honors Program and the Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent De- velopment. The Center will be located between Bloomington and Market Streets, bordered on the west by the T. Anne Cleary Walkway. (Computer-generated photo curtesy of UI News Services.) Plans For Blank Honors Center Underway... Honors Program Gets New Home
  • 2. http://www.uiowa.edu/~honors Each year the Honors Pro- gram provides support to un- dergraduates in the University through scholarships and grants. This year, we will be providing more support than ever before. We have added new scholar- ships for you to apply for as well as increasing the amount of support available to you for research and travel. There are two great ways to learn more about these opportunities. The first is to stop by the Honors Program on the sec- ond floor of the Jefferson Building and talk with us. As well as talking to us directly, we can point you to a broad range of printed information we have on scholarships from in- side and outside the University. A second starting point is to open up the Honors web site and look at our scholarship page. You will find basic in- formation about our scholar- ships, application forms, and links to a variety of other schol- arship sites. Listed below is a brief run down on what we have avail- able through the Honors Pro- gram. Applications for all of the awards listed below are available on-line or at 202 JB. The deadline for the scholar- ships is not until February 15, 2002 but I would encourage you to begin thinking about the application process now. Putting together a strong scholarship application can take more time than you think and letters of recommendation can be much more effective when a faculty member is given the time to think about what they will say. Bottom line is look into it now and find out what is re- quired. Those slow times in early January could be a great time to get your application together! Dewey Stuit Award for First-Year Honors Student: This is a single award of $1,500 for a student returning for their sophomore year in the College of Liberal Arts. It is based primarily on aca- demic merit but also requires a brief written segment from the applicant and a faculty let- ter of support. Dewey Stuit Award for Second-Year Honors Stu- dent: This is a single award of $2,000 for a student return- ing for their junior year in the College of Liberal Arts. It is based on academic merit and requires a brief written seg- ment from the applicant and a faculty letter of support. It is expected that the appli- cant will have become broadly involved in the University and/ or community in addition to excelling in the classroom. Rhodes Dunlap First-Year Honors Student Awards: Five recipients will be selected and receive $1,000 towards ex- penses for their sophomore year at the University. It is based primarily on academic merit but also requires a brief written segment from the ap- plicant and a faculty letter of support. Rhodes Dunlap Second- Year Honors Student Awards:Five recipients will be selected and receive $1,000 to- wards expenses for their jun- ior year at the University. It is based on academic merit and requires a brief written seg- ment from the applicant and a faculty letter of support. It is expected that the applicant will have become broadly involved in the University and/or com- munity in addition to excelling in the classroom. James D. Robertson Third- Year Scholarship: This is a single award of $1,000 to a student returning for their se- nior year in the College of Lib- eral Arts. The scholarship is based on a combination of aca- demic merit and University and/or community involve- ment. The recipient must be an Iowa High School graduate and be majoring in a social science discipline. The Rhodes Dunlap Hon- ors Program Scholarships : These awards are for students returning as undergraduates to the University of Iowa and pro- vides $3,000 for expenses in the following year. Twenty are awarded in Liberal Arts and two in each of the other un- dergraduate Colleges. The recipients are selected based on academic merit, uni- versity and/or community in- volvement, a written statement of academic purpose, and two letters of recommendation from faculty members. Students may not apply for either the Rhodes Dunlap First- Year or Second-Year Honors Student Awards and the Rhodes Dunlap Honors Pro- gram Scholarships. While students in their sec- ond year at the University are allowed to apply for the Rhodes Dunlap Honors Pro- gram Scholarships, there is a greater expectation for well de- veloped extracurricular activi- ties with this award. Honors Thesis Research: These awards are available to anyone working on their hon- ors thesis and provide up to $500 for expenses. Students may request more if there is extremely strong need. Stu- dents may only receive the award once. Honors Program Travel Grants: These awards sup- port student travel for schol- arly presentations. There will be ten awards of up to $500 for expenses and they will be provided on a first come – first served basis. Show Me The Money... Scholarship Tips By Bob Kirby Assistant Director
  • 3. November 2001 What Does It Take To Win A Scholarship? Honors Program Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic excellence, extracurricular involvement, and community service. The following are brief biographies of some of the students who received scholarships in 2001. Sara Bradley was the 2001 recipient of the James D. Robertson Scholarship. She is a psychology major from Fayette, IA. She has been a member of The University of Iowa Student Democrats and a UI research assistant. Yasser Dahab was a 2001 Rhodes Dunlap recipient in the College of Engineering. He has served as an officer with the Golden Key International Honor Society and is a regular contributor to Hawkeye Engineer Magazine. Nana Diedrichs, a 2001 Rhodes Dunlap recipient, is from Cresco, IA. She has worked as a research assis- tant translating articles and compiling bibliographical ma- terials. She has also volunteered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the free lunch program and participated in intramural athletics. Marc Doobay was the 2001 recipient of the Dewey B. Stuit First-Year Scholarship. He is from Ames, IA. He has been a member of the Iowa Biosciences Advantage Program and a regular volunteer at UIHC. Jesse Elliott was the 2001 recipient of the Dewey B. Stuit Second-Year Scholarship and the Rhodes Dunlap Scholarship. He is a Presidential Scholar and Honors Pro- gram student employee who also writes for The Daily Iowan. Dara Hickman was a 2001 Rhodes Dunlap recipient in the College of Business. She has participated in Campus Bible Fellowship, Campus Crusade for Christ, Hawkeye Christian Fellowship, Intramural basketball, the Honors Volunteer Program, Associated Residence Hall, Voices of Soul Gospel Choir, and floor government. Andrew Misfeldt, a 2001 Rhodes Dunlap recipient, is from Columbia, MO. He has worked as a research as- sistant looking at the role of amniotic fluid in prenatal development. He has also served as a communications officer for Mortar Board, in charge of society announce- ments and advertising. Are You Looking For Additional Recognition? In addition to administering its own scholarships, the Honors Program also offers advice on competition for certain national and international scholarships, including:  · Churchill Scholarships · Ford Foundation Scholarships · Gates Millennium Scholarships · Goldwater Scholarships · Howard Hughes Fellowships · Marshall Fellowships · Mellon Fellowships · Truman Scholarships · Rhodes Scholarships · Udall Scholarships  Each of these programs supports a particular direction and/or location of study. They are not forms of general financial aid. However, you may be exactly the kind of student one or more of these programs is looking for. You can learn more about them by visiting the Honors Program and examining our notebooks. Each is marked with the name of one of the scholar- ships. The binder contains details about that program, together with the application form. The Honors Program has also included examples of successful appli- cations written by students at The Univer- sity of I o w a . Reading t h r o u g h the binders willgiveyou a good sense of w h i c h p r o g r a m s might support the kind of work you would like to do. If you are interested in competing for one or more of these awards, please let us know. They require a significant commitment of your time and effort but students have consistently felt the experience was worthwhile.
  • 4. http://www.uiowa.edu/~honors 3 By Jesse Elliott, Council Coordinator The Iowa City Foreign Relations Council brings distin- guished scientists, politicians, journalists, artists, activ- ists, and academics from all around the world to Iowa City for mutually beneficial cultural exchanges. The Honors program has six memberships in the council and regularly sends students to luncheons held at the Rockwood Congrega- tional Church--right nexttoPhillipsHallonClinton Avenue--where students are treated to a free meal and lively discussion. In the upcoming year, students will have a chance to get personal with a Cuban writer, British journalist, and Iowa biotech scientist who is shaping the way the world thinks about international food production and distribution. For more info about the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council and how to get involved, e-mail me at jesse- elliott@uiowa.edu. Arts Program Enhances Enjoyment Of The Arts By Evan Mazunik, Arts Program Coordinator The Arts Program aims to serve as a catalyst in the lives of honors students for active participation in and enjoy- ment of the arts. By providing venues for creativity (ex. “Share Your Groove Night”—a new monthly open mike), interactions with artists and professors (such as pre-show discus- sions) and free tickets, the Arts Program seeks to en- courage artistic expression and appreciation. In other words, everyone’s creative and here’s an opportunity to display it. The calendar of events includes (but is not lim- ited to) the following shows at Hancher: ¨ Nov. 17: Dionysus ¨ Jan. 25, 26: Bill T. Jones ¨ Feb. 22: Shaolin Warriors ¨ Apr. 4-6: Blast! Other venues and events may be added to the calendar. Check the honors web page for further updates. If you have any suggestions, questions, comments, or flashes of insight, please e-mail me at evan- mazunik@uiowa.edu. Foreign Relations Council Promotes Cultural Exchange Learning Community Schedules Activities By Mike Brooks Learning Community Coordinator The Learning Community floors in Daum will have a righteous year of fun and learning. Activities, as well as the general fun and growth of being a 1st year student, will keep everyone busy. There will be a section for the LC under my name on the Honors web page, so check that out as it comes along. MOST students will be having a great time in the Hon- ors program as well. Watch out for possible barbecues. By Katie Krone Volunteer Program Coordinator Upcoming events in the Honors Volunteer Program include the following: Free Lunch Program On Nov. 14 and 28 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. ¨ Help prepare and serve lunch while spending time with the homeless of Iowa City Owl Glass Puppetry On Nov. 17 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ¨ Make finger puppets for the puppetry center in West Liberty Volunteer Program Combines Service And Fun
  • 5. November 2001 By Valerie Pelak UI senior and theatre major September Lau’s almost year- long journey to Kenya ex- posed her to the uniqueness that any foreign country has to offer: beautiful scenery, a rich culture, and the harsh re- alities of poverty. The means by which the impoverished try to obtain money may seem unusual and frightening to most Americans but are commonplace in third world countries. This poverty was the aspect of the country Lau wanted to see. “I arrived to Kenya and I saw these individuals whose needs have not been met--so they will do just about anything to get ahead, even it is unethical and illegal,” she said. “These people are poor and are living in impoverished conditions but are so complacent, and hos- pitable they do nothing to change their situations.” Lau’s trip to Kenya was part of a program out of the Uni- versity of Minnesota that dealt withinternationaldevelopment and solidarity in third world countries. Lau wanted a study abroad program that would guarantee the chance to work closely with individuals that lived in rural areas or were in poorer social classes. In Kenya, Lau lived with a host family. Lau rarely saw her host mother and father, who had to work almost four- teen hours a day at a nearby restaurant--an unreasonable working day in the United States, but a seemingly normal day in Kenya. However, Lau did develop strong relationships with her two host sisters. “They were similar in age to me, and we became very close,” she said. “My one sis- ter Ann and I talked about ev- erything. I miss her very much.” Lau also attended school with other American students for two months in a makeshift barn--not in a normal school building. Later, Lau became an intern at a citizens coalition for con- stitutional change facility where she counseled impov- erished individuals from rural and lower-class communities. “In Kenya, the city is divided into classes; the upper class and the lower class, but unlike in America, there is nothing done to help these poorer classes,” she said. “The coun- try needs work, and just know- ing that I helped in a little way was so gratifying.” What had originally been planned as a four month stay in Kenya stretched into an al- most nine month opportunity. When Lau’s voyage ended, it was tough boarding the plane for the United States. “I must admit I was devas- tated,” she said. “I cried for a half an hour, but I knew that I had to go back to my real home.” The shock Lau felt on the day of her departure has continued back at the UI. “This past summer, I did not wear a watch, because it was so laid back in Kenya, Things as simple as wearing a watch are different and difficult for me now,” said Lau. Lau’s family was very sup- portive of her journey and her relationships with friends are still strong after her time in Kenya. “The friends I had before I left for Africa are still close to me and we did not really grow apart, “she said. “My family and I are still very close, but they are used to someone in my family leaving for some reason. My sister has studied abroad various times and they have become acclimated to that.” Lau has set her sights on eventually becoming a play- wright and writing works that could help Americans embrace another culture. “ I think I see myself writing plays or stories about politics or societal change,” she said. “I think Americans are too iso- lated and narrow-minded.” The following facts are taken from the UI Office of Study Abroad website at http://www.uiowa.edu/~uiabroad. ¨ 705 University of Iowa students studied abroad during 1999-2000. ¨ Of the UI students who studied abroad during 1999-2000, 79% (560) were undergraduates. ¨ Among the UI undergraduate degree candidates who studied abroad, 2% were freshmen, 10% sophomores, 40% juniors, and 48% seniors. ¨ 49% of study abroad participants spent a semester abroad, 40% spent the summer/short term abroad, and 11% spent an entire academic year abroad. ¨ The 560 UI undergraduates who studied abroad during 1999-2000 did so in 40 different countries. Study Abroad Facts A Bright Star Shines In September... UI Student Describes Study Abroad Journey
  • 6. http://www.uiowa.edu/~honors Any course in the College of Liberal Arts can be designated an “Honors course.” To arrange for Honors Designation, the student and professor should agree on a special course project, such as a paper or outside reading that would help enrich the course. The appropriate form should be picked up from the Honors Program secretary, com- pleted, and returned to Honors Center before the first four weeks of the semester. At the end of the semester, the student shall ask the professor to sign the original agreement form, and return the form to the Honors Program secretary in the Jefferson Building. Providing that the student has also received the grade of “B” or higher for the course in question, the Honors Program will inform the Registrar that the student’s transcript should reflect Honors Designa- tion for that course. I am the procrastinator of all procrastinators. I will delay cleaning the floor of my shower until a thick charcoal-colored mildew appears under my feet. I will delay buying a new toothbrush until somebody tells me that I have got a bristle stuck in my teeth. This last spring, the story was no different when I finally decided to begin my Journalistic Reporting and Writing Honors Project. It was one questions like: which audience prefers listening to more hip- hop than the other? Do Americans go clubbing more than Brits? The British magazine was called Ministry Magazine, a publication bursting of pro- drug itinerary, flamboyant super-club advertisements and pictures of sweaty club goers wearing next to nothing. Mixer Magazine, the American-based magazine, was a bit more conservative, laced with CD advertisements and spreads showcasing the latest in technology. I had a big job to do and I only had three days to do it. The next 72 hours were rough. Leaving the apartment was out of the question. I felt like I had just ratted out Don Corleone and I had to stay clear of his buffers. I needed a minimum of nine pages. It sounded easy. But after the quantitative analysis portion I wanted to pass out. The constant number crushing was turning my brain P A Yweek before finals week and I had not done a thing. Near the beginning of the semester I had a great idea for a project. I would take two music magazines, one magazine from the UK, and one magazine that was published in the United States. Then, I would compare the two, using quantitative and qualitative measures as methods of comparison. I wanted to be able to distinguish an American audience from a British audience. I wanted to be able to answer into that oozy-pink slime from Ghostbusters II that multiplied in size if you sang the Full House theme. The hours flew by and it was Monday before I knew it. By that time thorough proofreading was out of the question. I had exerted every brain function until finally I couldn’t do it anymore. I was officially burnt-out. I turned in my project to Professor Stark that afternoon. At that moment I had never felt so high. It was as if I was invited to the Wonka mansion for desert. The project was later approved for Honors credit and I went off to enjoy another luxurious summer. P R O C R A S T I N AT I O N D O E S N ’ T Taking A Class For Honors Credit Writer Aaron Brim is a jun- ior from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He is majoring in journalism and English. Aaron’s future plans include becoming an esteemed music reporter and critic.
  • 7. November 2001 By Mike Brooks Learning Community Coordinator A new school year is un- derway, and once again the questions start. “So, Mike,” friends, profes- sors, bosses, and strang- ers on the street ask me, “What’s your major this month?” I guess the thought of a third year student with enough credits to be a se- nior, but not enough to qualify for even one mi- nor is sort of confound- ing. My grandparents are more to the point: “Mike, you directionless jerk,” Grandma says, “Make up your mind already.” The irony is that I have made up my mind. I like political science, English, philosophy, economics, psychology, ecology, the- ater, sociology, music, cooking, and some other stuff. Will I major or even minor in any one of these areas? Unless it is “other stuff,” probably not. Instead, I am committed to making my mind work in as many different ways as possible while I still have the mental flexibility to do so. I want to learn how scientists think more than I want to get an in- depth look at what they think. We can always read a book once we understand its language. What we cannot al- ways do is be a business ma- jor who is taught the process of analyzing a literary text by an English professor. Likewise for the English major who learns the scientific method in biology. As responsibilities mount and gray matter hardens it will be increasingly difficult to push our minds in different direc- tions. We need to do it now. My method is a somewhat extreme one that works for me personally; most people are more sensible than I and will discover one or two majors to stick with. This is great, and probably a good move when it comes to considering life after graduation. But one should remember not to cling so fiercely to an area of specialization that they ig- nore other modes of thought. The world’s phenomena are not divided into specific sci- ences; a good understanding of them will require multiple per- spectives. Canweexaminepoliticswith- out considering economics? Can we produce art in a world isolated from business? Maybe. But I bet we would do better by integrating the fields. While our minds must make conceptual boundaries for sanity’s sake, we shouldn’t hesitate to jump between them when we can. If you are dreading your General Education Requirements, look at them with a fresh perspective. They are unique chances to put on a new thinking cap. If you are an upperclassman with some extra space to fill in your schedule, consider taking a course radically different from ones you have had. Learning should be inter- esting. If it is just about checking off requirements inaninflexibleprogression you have not actively con- sidered, it isn’t worth it. So if you see me on the street, please don’t ask me what my major is. Instead ask me what excites me. Ask me if I have devel- oped a unified theory of knowledge yet, or if in- stead I have burnt out my brain, losing myself in in- coherent existential musings. While the later maybemorelikelythanthe former for me, it doesn’t have to be for you. Learning is beautiful, there is a lot of it to do, and it will make us a bet- ter people and society to stick with it. Ask me what excites me and I will say, “Every- thing.” Somewhere my grandma is crying. Please Don’t Ask Me What My Major Is“A good education is not so much one which prepares a man to succeed in the world, as one which enables him to sustain a failure.” — Bernard Bell “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” — Malcolm X “Many college textbooks, which were a weariness and stumbling-block when I studied, I have since read a little with pleasure and profit.” — Henry David Thoreau “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” — Albert Einstein “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.” — Aristotle “Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.” — Chinese Proverb Words To Live By
  • 8. http://www.uiowa.edu/~honors The University of Iowa Honors Program 202 Jefferson Building Iowa City, IA52240 8 The University of Iowa prohibits discrimination in employment and in its educational programs and activities on the basis of race, national origin, color, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational prefer- ence. The University also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to University facilities. For additional information on nondiscrimination policies, contact the Coordinator of Title IX, Section 504, and the ADA in the Office of Affirmative Action, (319) 335-0705 (voice) or (319) 335-0697 (text), The University of Iowa, 202 Jessup Hall, Iowa City, Iowa 52242- 1316. By Alice Fulton Honors Program Director All of you know of the great tragedy that happened Sep- tember 11, and the outpouring of help to those who suffered in New York and D.C. We all mourn with those who lost family and friends. Some of the concrete ways you can help if interested include giving blood (a convenient site is in the hospital) or donations to aid organizations such as Red Cross. Doing what we can as individuals helps each of us cope with a difficult time. Some of you may also know that there have been less civil responses as well: defacements of mosques, attacks on individuals who are Moslem or who are from the Middle East. I am sad to say that there have even been a few incidents here at the University of Iowa in which people flooded by anger against those who did so much harm have turned their anger against innocent individuals. I appeal to you all, as outstanding students who carry influ- ence through your actions and speech, to help the university stay true to its ideals of community and justice. Take a mo- ment to reach out to anyone who may feel at risk in these times and support them with your words and actions. Speak up if you hear someone condemning a whole group for the actions of a few. Take part in and tell other students about educational op- portunities that can help us all to understand more of what has happened. The University is a community, but commu- nities are the dynamic consequence of all our choices. Only as each one of us lives out our commitments to community does this community remain a reality. Finally, remember that the University Human Rights poli- cies embrace and protect all members of the community. Encourage anyone who has been ill treated to tell the Vice President for Student Services or Public Safety, so that we can act together to make this a community that is open and welcoming to all. I have always been touched by the good spirit in which our honors students respond to calls for service, and I have great confidence that each of you will do what you can in these times of challenge. A Message From The Director... September 11: How You Can Help