Clemson Honors Fall 2013 Newsletter

Fall 2012

TheMedallionCongratulations 2013 Honors Graduates

The Calhoun Honors College graduated 244 students at the spring and summer commencements. Departmental Honors was awarded to 110 gradu-ates who completed faculty mentored research. The average GPR of graduates was 3.81, and 33 earned a perfect 4.0 GPR. Three Honors graduates received Clemson’s top awards at the spring commencement. Liz Johnson, a financial management major from Galena, Ohio, received the Norris Medal, awarded to the best all-around graduating senior. This is the tenth consecutive year that the Norris has been awarded to an Honors students. Douglas Morte, a biochemistry major from Sum-ter, S.C., and Kelsey Derrick, a genetics major from Greenville, S.C., received the Algernon Sydney Sul-livan Awards, which recognize leadership and service.

From the Director’s Desk We’re excited to share with you our Fall 2013 newsletter. Over the past few months, we graduated a marvelous class of seniors, welcomed the best freshman class in our his-tory, and watched in awe as our students won prestigious national and international awards, traveled to distant lands, published their re-search in top journals, and enriched the intel-lectual life of the university. We are very proud of our students and alumni, and grateful for the extraordinary work of the Honors faculty and staff. Our students’ success depends on a number of key partnerships across the University com-munity. Here are just a few:

• Faculty Every day, professors from every Col-lege share their time, talent, and expertise with Honors students. They teach Honors courses, mentor our students individually and in groups, lead Creative Inquiry groups, and serve on Honors College committees. We welcome new faculty every year, and benefit from their energy and their ideas.

• Key University Programs and Officers We work with the College Deans, Associate Deans, and Department Chairs to offer a wide array of Honors classes and to launch new programs. We collaborate with Clemson Housing to provide a wonderful living-learning community in Holmes Hall. And we are growing a key part-nership with the Office of Global Engagement to enhance Honors students’ knowledge of and exposure to global issues.

• Alumni and Parents Our success depends on our alumni and parents for contributions of time and money and for spreading the word about our reputation for academic excellence. We were delighted to see so many of you at Family Weekend in September, and we look forward to many more opportunities to connect and re-connect.

We thank everyone who works together with us to provide the unique educational ex-perience that is the Calhoun Honors College, and we hope you enjoy reading about what we have accomplished together.

Bill Lasser, Ph.D.Executive Director

Calhoun Honors College

Fall 2013

Summer StoriesHonors students traveled the world to volunteer, work, and conduct research in summer 2013. Read about more on page 2.

Medha Vyavahare volunteered at an orphanage in India

Jansen Nash, Davis Reed, and Micah Vasko worked in Morocco to set up a medical clinic and distribute food

Jocelyn Tisch worked at clinics in Panama and Costa Rica

Paul Welsh interned as a process engineer with Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson

Summer StoriesHonors students challenge themselves even after spring exams end. Students intern, volunteer, and teach around the globe each summer. In 2013 the Honors College awarded more than $130,000 in Educational Enrichment Travel Grants to students participating in off campus experi-

Paige Pribonic interned with the State Department at the

U.S. Embassy in Madrid

ences. In addition to the experiences below, Honors stu-dents worked and volnteered in Morocco, Costa Rica, Peru, Greece, China, Nicaragua, the Amazon, Romania, Brussels, Liberia, Scotland, Wales, Singapore, Uganda, Japan, Thai-land, and Tajikistan.

Zeyu Zhang volunteered in Tanzania with GIVE (Growth International Volunteer Ex-cursion) to help build a school and tutor

Caleb Cohen unloads roof panels while working in the Republic of Congo on the electrical and computer systems of a hospital

Lisa Watkins interned with the Environmental Protection Agency in Denver

John Jeffcoat interned at a news station in Venezuela

Brittany Avin conducted biochemistry research at

Emory University

Turner Cotterman completed a public policy internship in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Michael LeMahieu was recog-nized at the final faculty meeting of 2013 with the Douglas W. Bradbury Award, given to a faculty member who has made outstanding contributions to the Calhoun Honors College. Dr. LeMahieu’s involvement with Honors dates to his earliest days at Clemson, teaching numerous Honors seminars, serving on the Honors admissions committee, and the Duckenfield Scholar selection committee. Follow-ing are excerpts from his nomination letters:

From a student nominator “His passion for his work is visible in the enthusiasm he always displays, even at 8 a.m. It is positively contagious and motivates me not only to perform my best for my aca-demic record but also to work diligently so I don’t disappoint him.”

From a faculty nomination “He respects students’ ideas and perceptions, placing them deftly within a wider intellectual and historical context but never himself acts too much the authority -- even though his authority hovers over the proceeds. … I have never met anyone other than Dr. LeMahieu who com-mands such a high degree the skills, energy, and intelligence necessary for success in teaching, scholarship, and administration.”

2013 Bradbury Award Winner

Honors hosted nearly 300 family members and guests during a September 6 reception in Holmes Hall during Clemson’s Family Week-end. Families met with Honors staff, learned about student opportunities and enjoyed the amenities of the living-learning community in Holmes.

Family Weekend

Dixon GPS in EuropeGPS students visit Brandenburg Gate

The 2013 Dixon Global Policy Scholars participated in a Maymester to Berlin, Germany and Strasbourg, France. Stu-dents met with policy-makers, diplomats, and journalists with connections to the European Union. In addition, scholars im-mersed themselves in European culture while touring sites such as the Holocaust Memorial, the Reichstag, and the Stras-bourg Cathedral to name a few.

The following are excerpts from students’ blogs written during the study abroad:

• Taylor Shields wrote“The EU parlia-ment was incredible. When first exploring Europe, I was fascinated by all of the beautiful, old architecture. Seeing all the history here really helps you to have an appreciation of what our generation is doing to make our mark in the human timeline.

Kara Jolly wrote “All of the people that I met and all of the places that I saw on this trip helped broad-en my understanding and perspective of how the world works, especially within the European Union.”

Honors director William Lasser with Norris Medalist Liz Johnson and Bradbury recipient Michael LeMahieu

The 2013 Dixon Global Policy Scholars participated in a Maymester to Berlin, Germany, and Strasbourg, France. Students met with policy-makers, diplo-mats, and journalists with connections to the European Union. In addition, scholars immersed themselves in Euro-pean culture while touring sites such as the Holocaust Memorial, the Reichstag, and the Strasbourg Cathedral to name a few.

Following are excerpts from student blogs published during this study abroad experience:

Taylor Shields: “The EU parliament was incredible. When first exploring Europe, I was fascinated by all of the beautiful architec-ture. Seeing all the history here really helps you to have an appreciation of what our generation is doing to make our mark in the human timeline.

Kara Jolly: “All of the people I met and all of the places I saw on this trip helped broaden my understanding and perspective of how the world works, especially within the European Union.”

ACCOUNTANCY AND FINANCE EMILY LYERLY • VIRGINIA REED • BHAVISHA PATEL AGRICULTURE, FOREST, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES NATHANIEL WEAVER, “Liklihood of Turtle Mortality during Attempted Road Crossing” ANIMAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCES JOSHUA INMAN, “Isolation and Purification of Bioactive Macromolecules of Cownose Ray Mucus for Therapeutic Agents” ARCHITECTURE MARISSA DiLORETO, “Characteristics of a Healthy Walkable Community” • ALEXANDER DARSINOS “Solving Architectural Disconnect” BIOENGINEERING MELISSA DUNPHY “Applying Bioengineering Principles to Anthropological Research: Bone Decomposition” • ANTHONY DYER “Effects of Various Carbon Sources on the Formation of Inclusion Bodies in E. Coli” • JOHNIE HODGE “DEP Manipulation of Cells and Microparticles” • KATHERINE LUFFY “Periorbital Implant for the Treatment of Cytomegalovirus” • KEVIN LYBRAND “Incorporation of Gold Nanorods into PLGA Thin Films” • EVEN SKJERVOLD “Development of a Pericular Implant for Extended Delivery of Antiviral Drugs against Human Cytomegalovirus” • BENJAMIN STONER “Targeted Nanoparticles to Deliver Drugs through Controlled Release Kinetics to Bone Tissue” • JACKSON TURBEVILLE “Exploration of Bias Impacting Sub-major Concentration Decision within Bioengineering” • ALISON LAMB “The Impact of Obesity on Joint Replacements” BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES KATHERINE BARTZ “The Impact of Mobile Devices on the Dissemination and Interpretation of Clinical Laboratory Data” • LEXANDRA COCCA “Use of scanning alanine mutagenesis to produce DNA binding mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mei5” • KELSEY DERRICK, “Impact of Wireless Devices on Dissemination of Clinical Laboratory Data” • SARAH DUSENBURY “Analysis of Biofilm Communities for Legionella pneumophila” • MATTHEW FLOYD “Isolation and Characterization of Polysaccharides from Environmental Microbes” • ELIZABETH KELLY “Inquiring Minds: Engaging Students with Hands-on Science and Math Activities” • ERIC RICE “The Role of Diet in the Evolution of Male Morphologies in Sailfish (Poecilia latipinna)” • WILLIAM SMITH “Mixed Community Microbial Electrosynthesis” • AARON COLLINS “Assessing allelic variation in the melanocortin 4 receptor gene in poeciliid fishes” • ELENA GARIFALLOU “Sleep and Emotions” • ALEC GIBSON “The Effects of Embryonic Arsenic Exposure on Skeletal Muscle Development and Myogenic Gene Expression” • SCOTT MILLER “Effects of Ocean Acidification and Disease on Aggression and Den Sharing Behavior of Juvenile Caribbean Spiny Lobsters, Panulirus argus” • JEREMY SULLIVAN • COURTNEY WARD “Molecular Analysis of the Ligand-binding Specificity and Signal Transduction Ability of the mc4r gene in Poeciliid Fishes” CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING HANNA AUCOIN “The Effect of Cross-Linker Density on the Release of

For the recordMonovalent And Divalent Cations from Poly(HEMA) based Hydrogels” • ERIC BOHAC “Emissions Life Cycle Assessment for the Production of Biodiesel from Rendered Lipids in the U.S.” • YANINA BREAKIRON “Gold Nanoparticle Synthesis and Surface Modification for Drug Delivery Applications” • ALEXANDRA KLEVEN “Gel Permeation Chromatography and MALDI-MS Analyses for the Determination of Molecular Weight of Kraft Lignin” • BEN MURPHY “Coefficient of Restitution and Elastic Modulus of Electroconductive Hydrogels of Aniline and Pyrrolein” CHEMISTRY ERIC DREW “Evaluation of Nanostructured Vanadium (V) Oxide in Catalytic Oxidations” • MEREDITH MCSWAIN “Synthesis of a Series of Amino Acid Derivatized Polydiacetylene Liposomes” • MEGAN SIBLEY “Bidentate N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands for cis-Chelating Transition Metal Complexes” • DAVID JEFFCOAT COMMUNICATION STUDIES TERRELL FREY “Leading Online: An Integration of Technology into the Situational Leadership Model” COMPUTING GREGORY SMITH “Semantic Analysis and Metadata Management of Large Sensor Networks” ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING ALAN BARTOW “A Novel Continuum Trunk Robot Based on Contractor Muscles” • BROWN FARINHOLT “Internet Democracy Support for West Africa” • BENJAMIN JONES, “Internet Freedom Project: Obtaining Service Usage Data without Storing Personally Identifiable Information” • EDWARD SULLIVAN “Avoiding Entropy-Based DDoS Detection” • PAUL DAVID “Development of a Software-Defined Radio Time-Division Multiplexing Protocol” ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AND EARTH SCIENCE JONATHAN BALDWIN “Quantifying Radial Borehole Deformation During Well Tests” • OLIVIA JENKINS “Use of Models to Predict Effects of Low Impact Development In Urban Watersheds” FOOD, NUTRITION AND PACKAGING SCIENCES MARGUERITE DUNN “Listeria Transfer in Fresh Produce through Ice” GENETICS, BIOCHEMISTRY AND LIFE SCIENCE STUDIES HUNTER BALDUF “Characterization of E. coli Mismatched Uracil DNA Glycosylase by Genetic Analysis” • MELISSA BEYER “Evaluation of the Gene TBX1 for mutations that may cause ear tufts in Araucana Chickens” • CHINA COX • JACQUELYN EVANS “Investigation of DLA alleles in breeds with pancreatic acinar atrophy” • LAUREN FREDERIC “Isolation and Characterization of Entamoeba Histolytica Hexokinase” • KATIE GRAY “Investigation into the Regulation and Inhibition of Trypanosoma brucei Hexokinase” • DOUGLAS MORTE “Cloning of the Rad51 Gene in Trypanosoma brucei” • ANDREW PUNCHEON “Investigation of Auxin Localization During Nodulation in Medicago Truncatula” • BRETT TOMASHITIS, “Characterization of GIM5 in Glycosomal Biogenesis in Trypansoma brucei” • CODY-AARON GATHERS, “Investigation into the Inhibition and Regulation of Human Glucokinase by Trypanosoma brucei” GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS JOSHUA BOLAND • HANNAH BORDNER HISTORY ELIZABETH DeVOS, “Union and Disunion in the South Carolina Upcountry” • CAITLIN HILL “Shining Light on ‘Dark Age’ Britain; Comparing

Below is a select listing of the departmental Honors graduates from May and August 2013 commencements.

Executive DirectorDr. Bill Lasser

[email protected]

Associate DirectorsRicki Shine

[email protected] Williams

[email protected]

Assistant DirectorsKatie Bower

[email protected] Irvin

[email protected]

Office ManagerLynn Reeves

[email protected]

Admissions CoordinatorSusan Falendysz

[email protected]

Administrative AssistantWini Del Winkler

[email protected]

Graduate AssistantsMiriam Bernard

[email protected] Bethany [email protected] Muhlhahn

[email protected]

Mail105 Tillman Hall

Box 345106Clemson, SC 29634-5106

Phone(864) 656-4762

Fax(864) 656-1472

Web site www.clemson.edu/cuhonors

on Facebookwww.facebook.com/

ClemsonCalhounHonorsCollege

on Twitter@ClemsonHonors

Donatewww.clemson.edu/

cuhonors/support.html

Calhoun Honors College Staff

and Contrasting The Archaeological and Textual Records of England, 450 AD – 950AD” INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING ROBERT IVANOV “Portfolio Optimization: A Stochastic Approach to Modern Portfolio Theory” • MICHELLE JAHN “Comparing Nurses’ Roles in Medication Management and Post-Health IT Implementation” • CAITLIN McCRORY “An Investigation of the Study Cycle” • KYLE LASSITER “Improving Volunteer Productivity and Retention During Humanitarian Relief Efforts” LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE CARLIN BARTLETT “Community of Opportunity” MANAGEMENT KATHERINE COWARD • CATHERINE KNOTTS MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES JOEL CLINGEMPEEL “L-functions for Siegel Modular Forms” MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DANIEL NEAL “Design of Nozzle Jetting Apparatus for Tubular Construct Fabrication” • NORMAN BARRETT “Investigation of Subsurface Damage in Machining Nickel-based Superalloys” • NICHOLAS DeANGELIS “Modeling and Analysis of Building Energy Use with eQUEST Software” • CHRISTIAN GAETA “The Effect of Airborne Particle Concentration on Mesler Bubble Formation” ROSS GORMAN “An Analog Model of the Circulatory System Following the Glenn Procedure” • ELIZABETH JONES “Empirical Modeling of Direct Electric Current Effect on Machining Cutting Force” • DAVID SPENCER “An Experimental Study of Foam as a Cooling Agent: A Comparison to Water” • JAMES WILBANKS “Particle and Microbe Concentration using Ferromicrofluidics” • GRAHAM YENNIE “Sound Transmission Characteristics ofHoneycomb Sandwich Panels Via Finite Element Analysis” NURSING LAUREN BOYNTON “A Pilot Study: Delirium in the Intensive Care Unit: Utilizing the Zeo Wireless Sleep Monitor for Assessment” • JOELLEN SPICER “The Potential of Promotoras in Guatemala and ORT” • SARAH TURMAN “Pilot Study Determining Delirium in the Intensive Care Unit: Utilizing the Zeo for Assessment” • GRACE WIELICKI “The Potential of Promotoras in Guatemala and ORT” PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY RYAN CARACCIOLO “Clemson University Foucault Pendulum” • BENJAMIN SCHROEDER “T1 and T2 Quantum Coherence and Quantum Computation” • SCOTT LINDAUER “The Effect of Angular Momentum on a Hydrogen-like Atom’s Interaction with the Stern-Gerlach Apparatus” POLITICAL SCIENCE KRISTIN BENDER “The Effect of Media Framing on American Opinions of the Economic Threat of China” • CAMERON EAGLES “The Effect of Teacher Traits in Education” • ISMAEL HERNANDEZ-CRUZ “The Third-Party Solution: Would Discontent with the Current Political System Support the Creation of a Third Party?” • MASON TURNER “Oil Wealth, Corruption and Civil War: A Case Study Approach” • PERRY AUSTIN “Who Shares Your Values? The Effect of Religious Cues and Imagery in Campaign Advertisements on Candidate Perception” PSYCHOLOGY JACK GRAHAM “Cardiovascular Emotional Dampening: Assessing the Relationship Between Elevated Blood Pressure, Perception of Affect, and the Utilization of Social Support Networks” • TAYLOR BOLT “Active Perception and the Input-Output Picture” • RONALD RICHARD SCHRAM “Is Cardiovascular Emotional Dampening Associated with Poor Sleep Quality?” PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCES EMILY MARTIN “The Effects of Emotional Well-being on Pain and Functional Recovery from Total Knee Replacement Surgery” SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY ASHLEY DUQUETTE “Intercultural Education in Theory and Practice in Spain: A Qualitative Study of Teacher Experiences” TEACHER EDUCATION JULIANNE GARNER • EMILY MARTIN “The Effects of Emotional Well-being on Pain and Functional Recovery from Total Knee Replacement Surgery” SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY ASHLEY DUQUETTE “Intercultural Education in Theory and Practice in Spain: A Qualitative Study of Teacher Experiences” STUDENTS WITH DEPARTMENTAL HONORS IN TWO DISCIPLINES SALLY LIN Honors Thesis (Finance): “Analysis of Hertz’s Acquisition of Dollar Trifty” Honors Thesis (Biochemistry): “Screening Hoechst-Analogs in Efficacy in Trypanosoma Brucei” • KATHRYN MERCER Honors Thesis (Animal Science): “Effect of Fescue Toxicosis on Fetal Muscular Development in Ovis aries”Honors Thesis (Genetics): “Identification of a Genetic Variant Causing an Aberrant Coat Color in Cryptic Merle Collies (Canis lupus familiaris)” • WILLIAM McALPINE, “Hexokinase 2 Mediates Social Behavior of African Trypanosomes in Response to Environmental Stimuli” • MELISSA McKEITHAN, “The Role of the Mei5-Swi5 Complex in Homologous Recombination” • MIKAYLA SPITLER • LINDSEY WEED, “Testing the Multimeric Strand Hypothesis of Major Ampullate Silk Protein Self-Assembly

Below is a select listing of the departmental Honors graduates from May and August 2013 commencements.

EUREKA!Emily McMacken 2013 Eureka Class

Erica Porter and Daniel Taylor

Madison Grider and Kyle Walker

Ben Hardaway Rachel Osiason

Several dozen Honors freshmen participated in the 2013 EUREKA! program, which introduces students to academia at Clemson through research projects and other scholarly activities. In addition to conducting research, EUREKA! students form strong relationships with faculty and peers through off-campus activities such as whitewater rafting and a visit to the Georgia Aquarium.

Carter Wertz

2012-2013 MAJOR SCHOLARSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP WINNERS, HONORABLE MENTIONS AND FINALISTS

Astronaut Scholarship Winner Graham Yennie, Mechanical Engineering

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Winners Julie Robinson, Chemical Engineering; Scott Cole, Bioengineering; Honorable Mention Brendan Roberts, Physics

Fulbright Scholarship Winners Dorothy Behre, English; Julieanne Garner, Secondary Education-History

National Science Foundation Graduate Research FellowshipWinners Cheryl Howell, Biochemistry, Ph.D.; Nadine Luedicke, Bioengineering; Hobey Tam, Bioengineering, Ph.D.

Honorable Mentions Louis Hill, M.S. Biosystems Engineering; Andrew Lisicki, M.S. Civil Engineering; Andrew Ouzts, M.S. Computer Science; Samuel Pollard, Bioengineering; Eric Riddell, Biological Sciences, Ph.D.

Truman Scholarship Finalist Kate Gasparro, Civil Engineering

Honors welcomed our strongest freshmen class with the Honors Blitz showcasing campus resourc-es and opportunities, Honors Networking Night during which students met others in their majors, and a viewing and discussion of the film Nicky’s Family, which tells the story of an Englishman who rescued hundreds of Czech children during WWII. One of those survivors, now in his 80’s, led a discussion after the film.

Honors Blitz Nicky’s Family Honors Networking Night2013 Honors Freshmen

Total291

Average SAT 1436

Average ACT 33

Average class rank

Top 3.1 %

Honors alumniStay connected to Honors and learn how you can

support current Honors students!

Like Honors on Facebook atfacebook.com/ClemsonCalhounHonorsCollege

Follow Honors on Twitter@ClemsonHonors

Connect with Honors on LinkedIn attinyurl.com/CHCLinkedIn

Update your Clemson Alumni record attinyurl.com/HonorsAlumniUpdate

Make a gift at www.clemson.edu/cuhonors/support.html.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!Sunseet Bahl 1983James Barker 1970

Jason Bodycott 2005Virginia Carner (Ginger)

Kathryn CarterHerbert Cooper, Jr. 1963

John Crane 1981Michael Davis 1996Linda Dayhuff 1983

Sam Drew, Jr. Martha Duckenfield 1981

Laura McVey Regina O’Toole

John PetersSteven Olson

Sharon Reilly-MarosyJohn Runnion 1984James Russel 2004

Robert ShumerJanet Wright

Peace Congregtional Church UCCLockheed Martin Corp.

We are grateful to these donors for gifts to the Calhoun Honors College Foundation account over the past year. Donations support a wide range of enrichment opportunities, including Educational Enrichment Travel Grants for research, service and internships around the world; Departmental Honors Research and Conference Travel Grants, which provide equip-ment, supplies, and professional travel opportunities for advanced students; and Honors Center programs, workshops and mentoring hosted in Holmes Hall.

Nancy Dunlap Paula Eversole

Kenneth Feryus 1979Keith Frick 1992Macon Garrick

David Hammatt 1966Rebecca Hamor

June Kastel Patrick Kelly

Vance Mattison 1982George McLead 1951

105 Tillman HallBox 345106Clemson, SC 29634-5106

Support Honors at Clemson

• Educational Enrichment Travel Grants for research, service and internships around the world;

• Departmental Honors Research and Conference Travel Grants, which provide equipment, supplies, and professional travel opportunities for advanced students; and

• Honors Center programs, workshops and mentoring hosted in Holmes Hall.

Honors recently launched these three groups to support students planning careers in law, medicine, and health fields. These stu-dent-led initiatives will connect current Honors students to alumni and professionals for mentoring on being successful in gradu-ate school and in their careers. Gifts to Honors will support these groups, along with:

Make a gift to the Honors College Foundation at www.clemson.edu/cuhonors/support.html

Donations for the Calhoun Honors College are tax deductible