Several BSOS Students Earn High Honors

6 April, 2012

Christopher Riley, a sophomore majoring in Environmental Science and Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology concentration) and minoring in Geographic Information Systems, has been selected as a 2012 Hollings Scholar by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Chris is also a member of the University Honors College, and a graduate of James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Spring, MD.

The Hollings Scholarship Program provides awardees with a scholarship of $8,000 for up to two years, and a 10-week, full-time paid research internship during the summer after junior year at a NOAA research facility. The award also includes travel funds to attend a mandatory NOAA Scholarship Program orientation, conferences where students present a paper or poster, and a housing subsidy for scholars who do not reside at home during the summer internship. Congratulations Christopher!
 
 
The College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences (CMNS) Post Doctoral Association recently held a Post Doctoral Poster Symposium at which UMD postdoctoral researchers presented posters and discussed their research. A post doctoral student in Psychology, Sandra J. E. Langeslag, tied for third place with her poster: "Functional Connectivity Between Parietal and Frontal Brain Regions and Intelligence in Young Children: The Generation R Study". This recognition carries with it a travel grant of $100 to help defray the expenses of Sandra's research-related travel. Congratulations Sandra!
 

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has just released their list of Graduate Research Fellowship recipients: 
https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/AwardeeList.do?method=loadAwardeeList 
Katherine Ann Rice, who plans to enter the PhD program in Developmental Psychology, is one of this year's recipients.  Katherine is one of only 15 students from University of Maryland to receive this highly sought after Fellowship.Congratulations Katherine! 
 

Junior Brock McIntosh, a double major in sociology and history, has been named a 2012 Truman Scholar by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. A remarkable scholar who also serves on active duty with the U.S. Army National Guard while promoting peace efforts, McIntosh embodies the ideal recipient of the award, which was designed to recognize leadership, intellectual ability and potential to make a difference. 

After graduating from high school, McIntosh enlisted. In 2008, he was deployed to Afghanistan for 10 months, serving as a military police officer in “Operation Enduring Freedom.” Since returning from his tour of duty in 2009, McIntosh has become an effective advocate of non-violence conflict resolution, frequently speaking on the topic across the country. He is currently the youngest board member of the Iraq Veterans Against the War and its only active-duty member.

At UMD, McIntosh has interned at the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights and Win Without War’s Center for International Policy. McIntosh also is the recipient of numerous military honors and awards, including the Army Achievement Medal, and was awarded the University of Maryland President’s Transfer Scholarship.
Each year, Truman Scholarships of up to $30,000 for graduate study are presented to college juniors across the country. Recipients must have outstanding leadership potential and communication skills, be in the top quarter of their class and be committed to careers in government or the not-for-profit sector. Scholars also receive priority admission and supplemental financial aid at some premier graduate institutions, leadership training, career and graduate school counseling, and special internship opportunities within the federal government.