Honors

The

Volume II, Number 1

Distinction

clemson.edu/cuhonors

Inside: The Best of the Best Honors Students Earn Top Awards No Borders, No Limits A New Day Dawns for RiSE

Honors College Major Fellowship Winners and Finalists

20062013
200607
Christen Smith Rhodes Scholarship Finalist Robert Clarke Goldwater Scholarship Winner Christopher Pollock Goldwater Scholarship Winner Bradley Collins Goldwater Scholarship Honorable Mention Chelsea Reighard Truman Scholarship Finalist Matthew Allen Fulbright Scholarship Winner Stephen Gosnell National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSFGRF) Winner Rebekah Moore NSFGRF Winner Michael Murphy NSFGRF Winner Donald Mackay NSFGRF Winner Kara Kopf NSFGRF Winner Christy Leigh Herran NSFGRF Winner Yvon Feaster NSFGRF Winner Bradley Collins NSFGRF Winner Jacqualyn Blizzard NSFGRF Winner Jose Alfaro NSFGRF Winner Dominic Triana NSFGRF Honorable Mention James Hodges NSFGRF Honorable Mention Samuel Bryfczynski NSFGRF Honorable Mention Wesley Salandro NSFGRF Honorable Mention Sandy Kawano NSFGRF Honorable Mention Hattie Duplechain Fulbright Scholarship Winner Joel Clingempeel Goldwater Scholarship Honorable Mention Julie Robinson Goldwater Scholarship Honorable Mention Sarah Cisewski NSFGRF Winner Benjamin Cousins NSFGRF Winner Allison Foreman Godwin NSFGRF Winner William Dylan Hale NSFGRF Winner Austen Hayes NSFGRF Winner Kevin Keith NSFGRF Winner Brynna Laughlin NSFGRF Winner Ryan Need NSFGRF Winner Daniel Showers NSFGRF Winner Muriel Steele NSFGRF Winner Laura Wiles NSFGRF Winner Brian Bowers NSFGRF Honorable Mention Cheryl Howell NSFGRF Honorable Mention Amanda King NSFGRF Honorable Mention Andrew Lisicki NSFGRF Honorable Mention Andrew Ouzts NSFGRF Honorable Mention Christie Sampson NSFGRF Honorable Mention Patrick Johnson Astronaut Scholarship Winner Lauren Harroff Fulbright Scholarship Winner Lauren Hock Fulbright Scholarship Winner Tom Kudlacz Fulbright Scholarship Winner Brett Mills Fulbright Scholarship Winner

200708
Chelsea Reighard Rhodes Scholarship Finalist Shannon Edd Goldwater Scholarship Winner Julee Alaina Floyd Goldwater Scholarship Winner Bradley Collins Goldwater Scholarship Honorable Mention Brett Ellis Fulbright Scholarship Winner Robert Clarke NSFGRF Winner Russell Hedden NSFGRF Winner Alexandra Foguth NSFGRF Winner Holly Tuten NSFGRF Winner

201011
Brian Bowers Goldwater Scholarship Winner William Dylan Hale Goldwater Scholarship Winner Laura Wiles Goldwater Scholarship Honorable Mention Toni Bloodworth NSFGRF Winner Michael Esposito NSFGRF Winner James Grayson NSFGRF Winner Jennifer Ann Johnson NSFGRF Winner Kristina Kesel NSFGRF Winner Laila Roudsari NSFGRF Winner Kemper Talley NSFGRF Winner Daniella Triebwasser NSFGRF Winner Natasha Bell NSFGRF Honorable Mention Sarah Cisewski NSFGRF Honorable Mention Jaclyn Ellerie NSFGRF Honorable Mention Michael Juang NSFGRF Honorable Mention Elizabeth Lange NSFGRF Honorable Mention William Martin NSFGRF Honorable Mention Wesley Salandro NSFGRF Honorable Mention Christie Sampson NSFGRF Honorable Mention Jacklyn Wilkinson NSFGRF Honorable Mention Patrick Johnson Astronaut Scholarship Winner

200809
James Hodges Goldwater Scholarship Winner Michael Juang Goldwater Scholarship Winner Jennifer Moffitt Goldwater Scholarship Winner Kemper Talley Goldwater Scholarship Honorable Mention Ab Watkins Fulbright Scholarship Winner Laura Datko NSFGRF Winner Julee Alaina Floyd NSFGRF Winner Mary Kate Watson NSFGRF Winner

201213
Kate Gasparro Truman Finalist Julie Robinson Goldwater Scholarship Winner Scott Cole Goldwater Scholarship Winner Brendan Roberts Goldwater Scholarship Honorable Mention Cheryl Howell NSFGRF Winner Nadine Luedicke NSFGRF Winner Hobey Tam NSFGRF Winner Louis Hill NSFGRF Honorable Mention Andrew Lisicki NSFGRF Honorable Mention Andrew Ouzts NSFGRF Honorable Mention Samuel Pollard NSFGRF Honorable Mention Eric Riddell NSFGRF Honorable Mention Graham Yennie Astronaut Scholarship Winner Dorothy Behre Fulbright Scholarship Winner Julieanne Garner Fulbright Scholarship Winner

200910
Andrew Sayce Marshall Scholarship Finalist Benjamin Cousins Goldwater Scholarship Winner Ann Guggisberg Goldwater Scholarship Winner Kemper Talley Goldwater Scholarship Winner Chelsea Woodworth Goldwater Scholarship Winner Jeffrey Plumblee NSFGRF Winner Suzanne Sawicki Parks NSFGRF Winner

201112
Miles Atkinson Boren Scholarship Winner Miles Atkinson Critical Languages Scholarship Winner Marc Andre Schaeuble Goldwater Scholarship Winner Benjamin Ujcich Goldwater Scholarship Winner

Honors
The
Table of Contents
Features
2 From the Director 4 Honors Students Garner Top University Awards 6 Clemson Debate Team Earns National Championship
by Crystal Bennett

Volume II, Number 1

Distinction
by Haley Sulka 13

clemson.edu/cuhonors

14 Published Author Has Bright Future 16 Engineering Student Works To Build a Sustainable Future
by Ben Arnson 14

18 Bringing the Real World to Students

by Taylor Luckie 15

8 The Best of the Best 10 No Borders, No Limits

by Kara Robertson 16

20 Pearce Center Programs Expand Skills and Experience

by Michaela Reinhart 14

11 Clemson Researchers and Students Assist SCDOT 12 Collaborative Program Takes Students to Reggio Emilia, Italy
by Dolores A. Stegelin, Ph.D.

22 A New Day Dawns for RiSE 24 Listening In

The Honors Distinction is published by the Calhoun Honors College. For information, please email cuhonors-l@clemson.edu or call 864-656-4762.

From the Director

Stats of the 2013-14 Freshman Honors Class
Total Number: 291 Average SAT: 1436 Average ACT: 33 Average high school class rank: Top 3.1 percent Men: 51 percent Women: 49 percent Majors: All five colleges included Residency: South Carolina 55 percent The remainder come from Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Singapore, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

Clemson honors education is based on three pillars educational opportunities in the classroom; programs fostering intellectual and cultural engagement; and a strong sense of community among honors students, staff and faculty. The honors classroom experience features top professors interacting with outstanding students in small classes. We put a premium on sparking the students intellectual curiosity and on teaching by discussion, group activities and research. We offer courses in virtually every discipline on campus, as well as over 20 specialized honors seminars every semester.

Outside the classroom, we encourage students to expand continually their intellectual and cultural horizons. We offer free tickets to campus concerts, plays and other performances. We sponsor lectures in a wide range of disciplines, offer Pizza and Politics discussion events, and provide our students with countless opportunities to get to know interesting, important and influential people from every walk of life. We encourage our students to study and travel abroad and to take advantage of internship opportunities both close to home and around the world. All of these formal and informal activities are supported by a strong honors community. Many of our students live in Holmes Hall, the Honors College living and learning community, and all of our students can

take advantage of the Honors Activities Center, which is open 24/7 for studying, relaxing and engaging in honors activities. The honors faculty and staff are always available to advise and mentor students, and we support a number of formal and informal peer mentoring programs. All of this adds up to the Clemson Honors College experience an education built on and extending the extraordinary strengths of Clemson as a university and a community. Thanks for being a part of the Calhoun Honors College!
William Lasser, Ph.D. Alumni Distinguished Professor Director, Calhoun Honors College

Clemson Honors

Honors Students Garner Top University Awards T

hree outstanding students were honored at Clemson Universitys 2013 spring commencement ceremonies. Elizabeth Johnson of Galena, Ohio, received the Norris Medal, and Douglas Morte of Sumter and Kelsey Derrick of Greenville received Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards. All are members of the Calhoun Honors College. The Norris Medal is given to the graduating student who is judged to be the best all-around by the University Scholarships and Awards Committee. A graduate of the Calhoun Honors College has been named the Norris medalist for each of the last 10 years. This years recipient received her degree in financial management. Johnson was

A graduate of the Calhoun Honors College has last 10 years.

been named the Norris medalist for each of the

a National Scholar and a Thomas F. Chapman Leadership Scholar. She has received several awards from her department and the College of Business and Behavioral Science, including the Wallace Dabney Trevillian Merit Award, which is given to the outstanding senior in the college. Johnson is a member of several honor societies, including Beta Gamma Sigma business honor society, Omicron Delta Kappa, Blue Key, Alpha Lambda Delta and Mortar Board. She also is a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority and the Sertoma Collegiate Club. As a Sertoma Collegiate Club member, she was involved in several community service projects to benefit Camp Sertoma, Helping Hands and the Clemson Child Development Center. She also traveled with other fraternity and sorority members to the Dominican Republic over winter break to help build homes. She founded a student ambassador program for the College of Business and Behavioral Science, which recruited and trained 21 students to speak at events and interact with donors, alumni and prospective students.

The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award is given in recognition of the recipients influence for good, excellence in maintaining high ideals of living and service to others. The award, named in honor of the first president of the New York Southern Society, was established by an agreement between the society and Clemson University. More than half of Clemsons Sullivan Award winners have been Calhoun Honors College students. Morte graduated with a degree in biochemistry. He received several scholarships, including a Palmetto Fellowship, a Presidential Scholarship and an Air Force ROTC Scholarship. He held several leadership positions in Clemsons Air Force ROTC and received many awards, including the Air Force ROTC Commendation Award. He also received two American Legion Scholastic Achievement Awards. Morte is a member of Scabbard and Blade National Honor Society; the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences Deans Student Advisory Board; Alpha Lambda Delta and Alpha Sigma Lambda honor societies; and Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. He volunteered to work with children through Big Brothers Big Sisters, Helping Hands, Boy Scouts and Camp Arrowhead, a camp for mentally challenged children. Derrick received her degree in genetics. She was a Palmetto Fellow and received a Trustee Scholarship and a National SMART Grant. She is a member of Sigma Alpha Lambda, Alpha Epsilon Delta and Alpha Lambda Delta honor societies; the National Society of Collegiate Scholars; and the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences Deans Student Advisory Board. She is also a member of the Clemson College Republicans and the Genetics and Biochemistry Club. Last year, she held an internship at the Greenwood Genetics Center. She participated in many community service efforts during her time at Clemson, including a medical service trip to Panama and Costa Rica.

Cultural and Intellectual Engagement

EUREKA! Before honors students Clemson careers officially begin, they can get a jumpstart on undergraduate research through EUREKA!, a five-week residential program that combines beginning the transition to college life and working closely with top Clemson faculty on a research project. DIXON GLOBAL POLICY SCHOLARS. Honors students may apply to participate in the Dixon Global Policy Scholars (GPS) program as early as the spring of the first year. Dixon GPS provides extensive opportunities for students to develop a deeper understanding of global politics and international policies through study abroad, specialized seminars and dedicated mentoring. ADVISING FOR NATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS. The Calhoun Honors College is Clemsons clearinghouse for major national fellowships and scholarships such as the Rhodes, Truman, Marshall, Goldwater and National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowships. The Honors College experience, both in and out of class, supports students interested in these opportunities to excel at the national and international levels. FREE TICKETS TO BROOKS CENTER PERFORMANCES. Honors provides a limited number of tickets to theater, musical, lecture and dance performances at Clemsons Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, which hosts student performances, national touring companies and international ensembles. Recent performances have included Avenue Q, Spamalot, Guys and Dolls, Rent, Nordwest Deutsche Philharmonic and Dallas Brass.
Two Honors College graduates proudly show off the Calhoun Honors College Medallion.

Clemson Honors

Clemson Debate Team Ear National Championship

by Crystal Bennett

Several members of the national award-winning debate team were members of the Calhoun Honors College, including Gabrielle Norris, Cameron Eagles and Jenny Tumas.

s a group of 15 Clemson students found out, debate is more than just making your point and proving that youre right. Debate is academic. Its research-based. And its hard, rewarding work. In its first year, Clemsons debate team won the National Education Debate Associations (NEDA) national tournament. Quite a feat for a group of students who in August didnt know what debate was. At its simplest form, debate is making a point from a perspective you believe to be true. But a debate team doesnt really get to choose a side. They must research and debate for and against a given subject. You have to defend the other side whether you believe in it or not. The world is not black and white; theres plenty of gray, said Jenny Tumas, a junior double major in communications studies and political science. In our careers were not always going to agree with others, but if you can see the merit in someones opinion understand that gray area thats when you become an effective communicator. Communications studies faculty member and team coach Lindsey Dixon agrees.

rns

Essentially these students think critically for a hobby, she said. And they work hard at it. At least six hours a week are spent in meetings and practice sessions, and that doesnt include the hours students spend researching topics and reading and studying each others research. And thats on top of their regular classes. My students just worked so hard. I have been involved with debate for the past five years and I can say without a doubt that these students are some of the most dedicated,

I can say without a doubt that these students are some of the most dedicated, passionate debate team adviser Lindsey Dixon. and talented I have ever come across, said

passionate and talented I have ever come across, said Dixon, who herself exudes passion for debate and critical thinking. While this is the first time this team has competed, debate isnt new to Clemson. In fact its the oldest intercollegiate activity at the University, although changes in the last decade meant the team had a much different purpose. Debate really creates a much more engaged student. We research diverse topics for weeks at a time, and in the end

that creates a much more engaged, knowledgeable citizen. And thats really what we want, Dixon said. Team members credit Dixon for inspiring them and keeping their focus on their Clemson team first, their team partners second and themselves third. I tend to be pretty argumentative, but my debate partner, Cameron Eagles, really showed me that you dont have to be pushy to be an effective debater, Tumas said. Hes a laid-back partner and approaches debate more as a conversation. In a couple of years these team members will take these skills into their careers, but since the majority of this group are freshmen, they still have time to craft their debate and research skills. Since theyve already won the national tournament, expectations for their success are high. Its my understanding that throughout NEDA history, a single debate program has never constituted a new team, hosted the national tournament and won that tournament in the same year until now, said Karyn Ogata Jones, chair of the communication studies department. These accomplishments speak volumes to the leadership and talents of our program director (Dixon) and the quality and dedication of students we have here at Clemson University.

Clemson Honors

The Best of the Best

Prof. Kowalkski received the 2009 Douglas W. Bradbury Award for outstanding contributions to the Calhoun Honors College. She also has received other top teaching and advising awards at Clemson, including the Phil Prince Award for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching, the National Scholars Program Award of Distinction and the College of Business and Behavioral Science Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.

obin M. Kowalski, Ph.D., or Dr. K as she is known to her students, has long been regarded as one of the top teachers at Clemson. Recently The Princeton Review named her one of the

top 300 professors in the U.S. Kowalski regularly teaches the honors section of PSYC 201 Introduction to Psychology, and she also has taught the honors section of PSYC 353 Social Psychology. Each semester she supervises H498, allowing honors students to work on a Creative Inquiry team. Typically, about half of her team is composed of honors students. Dr. K also works with many honors psychology majors in PSYC 490 and H491 to complete their honors theses. Dr. K earned a bachelors in psychology from Furman University, a masters in psychology from Wake Forest University and a Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of North Carolina.

Why do you like working with honors students?

Kowalski: I enjoy the entire experience of working with honors students, but probably my favorite thing is the one-on-one time I get with them. Thats one reason I like supervising honors theses. As much as I would like to believe that students will remember what I taught them in class 10 years from now, thats probably less likely than that they will remember the type of relationship I had with them. Thats why mentoring is so important to me. Working with honors students is one of the primary ways in which I feel I can effectively mentor students. Additionally, honors students are so motivated that our interactions are much more collaborative than just teacher-student. That makes the common goal that we are working toward much more of a joint endeavor. Its quite an honor to work with honors students. Lindsey Sporrer enrolled in my H201 class her first semester in college. She was an exceptionally bright student who offered such great insights into discussions that we had in class. As the semester continued, I learned that Lindseys mother was dying of Lou Gherigs disease. Although we talked on a regular basis about this, Lindseys academic performance never faltered. Her mother died the last week of classes that semester. Yet, Lindsey still took her final and not only made an A but had one of the highest averages in the class. More than that, though, the class wanted to show their support for her. They got her a card and wrote notes to her on it. I read the card and was so moved by the impact that this one student had had on an entire class of students in an entire semester. I understood, though, because she had had the same impact on me. The following semester and every semester after until she graduated (except when she studied abroad), Lindsey worked on my H498 research team. She was such a strong contributor to the team. I actually had Lindsey and another honors student, Erin Hunter, help me with the revision of a textbook. They even met with the publishers marketing representative. I sat there at lunch in awe as Lindsey offered all sorts of marketing suggestions not only for this book but for other books that Wiley was publishing. For all of my involvement with Lindsey, she wasnt even a psychology major. She was a business major getting a minor in psychology. I think Lindsey learned by working with me and other team members. But, to be honest, we are the ones who learned from her. Not just intellectually, but by her example as well. I think thats what makes a student a good honors student. Certainly they are expected to excel academically, but they also need to be involved in campus activities where they can set life examples for others. Lindsey did just that. I have shared Lindseys story with countless people to this day (she graduated a few years ago), and I can tell you that she continues to influence people, as an ideal honors student would be expected to do.

Academic Engagement
HONORS COURSES. In addition to smaller honors sections of courses taught throughout the University, the Calhoun Honors College works closely with top Clemson faculty to develop new courses that address the changing world, as well as student interests. Recent honors seminars have focused on the 2012 presidential elections, Harry Potter and the heros journey, the legacy of the Titanic, sustainable energy and education policy. PRIORITY REGISTRATION. Honors students have priority access to the Universitys courseregistration system and register for classes along with seniors during the earliest days of preregistration. This allows honors students to fit one or more honors courses into their class schedules and to register for specialized and advanced courses appropriate to their courses of study.

Why should prospective Clemson students apply to the Calhoun Honors College?
Kowalski: The Honors College experience is very unique because of smaller class sizes, unique opportunities and the chance to really get to know faculty. I always think of the Honors College as literally like a small college within a much larger one. The same benefits that would come from attending a smaller college can be found from enrolling in the honors college.

EXTENDED LIBRARY PRIVILEGES. Calhoun Honors College students are allowed to check out library materials for an extended period of time. Also, honors students may check out certain materials that normally are not allowed to leave the library. Under the Universitys library loan policy, honors students are treated the same as graduate students.

What advice do you have for current honors students to be successful, both at and after Clemson?
Kowalski: While they are students, honors students need to avail themselves of all of the opportunities they have at their disposal. Take advantage of Creative Inquiry teams. Do an honors thesis. Spend time with faculty. These are all opportunities that will help lay a foundation for their future. Once they graduate, they will have established relationships with faculty and peers that will last a lifetime.

Clemson Honors

No Borders, No Li
by Kara Robertson 16 Honors Communication Studies major Charlotte, N.C.

reating a water storage and purification system, developing solar food hydrators, designing a playground that can generate electricity. All of these tasks have something in common and no, they are not from a science fiction novel. These projects are international initiatives that Clemsons chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) has led in the past few years. We work on a wide range of projects, said Chris Hapstack, vice president of EWB. Hapstack has been involved with Engineers Without Borders for three years and has spent his junior year in a leadership position for the program. I have enjoyed the hands-on work with EWB, but now Im more on the administrative side of things. Engineers Without Borders is a national organization with more than 250 chapters at nearly 200 campuses nationwide. Over the course of the semester, we design engineeringbased community improvement projects for developing countries, Hapstack said. Then, during the winter and summer, a group of students travels to that country to build the device we have been working on. Currently, the members of EWB are focused on an initiative to test water sources.

The Nicaraguan community that EWB is aiding, called La Pintada, does not have enough clean water to provide for the people of the town. We want to implement water testing to help people find clean water sources and prevent them from getting sick, said Hapstack. Last year, Hapstack was part of an EWB group that traveled to Nicaragua. I had never been to a developing country before. It was very eye-opening, he said. Hapstack and his team built a playground in La Pintada for a local school. After completing the task, the school saw record-high attendance numbers. We worked on the project all semester, so it was cool to see everything come together, he said. But EWB is not limited to engineering majors. Our membership is larger than ever, and we are seeing more members from other majors, said Hapstack. Our incoming president is actually a language and international health major. Hapstack is excited about the programs expansion and encourages all students to get involved. Engineers Without Borders allows members to be as involved as they want you can travel and do some really intense work, or you can be a part of project teams that are less time consuming. There are a lot of ways to help.

10

Clemson Researchers and Students Assist SCDOT

imits
With graduation approaching, Hapstack plans to join the workforce and eventually go to business school. However, Hapstack is confident that the time spent crunching numbers for engineering has given him a huge advantage. My experience with the engineering program has provided me with a lot of technical know-how that is necessary for any industrial company, he said. Id love to work internationally for a company, but later I might want to shift into a project management role. Either way, EWB has opened a lot of doors. Hapstack is also involved in other extracurricular activities at Clemson. He is president of the leadership honors society Omicron Delta Kappa, a member of Clemson Blue Key, and a part of the Calhoun Honors College and the National Scholars Program. But despite his heavy commitment to other activities, EWB has been a key part of his time at Clemson. You have classes, lectures even group projects but it doesnt mean as much until you do something that has real-world application, said Hapstack. And thats exactly what EWB has given me.

he South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has turned to Clemson University water quality researchers to help ensure that it meets future federal requirements to limit the discharge of pollutants from construction sites. Researchers in Clemsons School of Agricultural, Forest and Environmental Sciences (SAFES) will measure the turbidity or clarity of stormwater runoff at active SCDOT construction sites and investigate the effectiveness of its stormwater runoff protocols. They then will help design improved passive sediment-control solutions, including high-tech polymers, clarifying agents and coagulants, and engineer recommendations for creating outlets that withdraw surface water resulting from draining basins or impoundments during the construction process. Suspended solids from construction site runoff have been shown to cause significant environmental impact, including transporting heavy metals, toxic substances and biological pollutants to nearby waters, leading to poor water quality and fish kills. This research will not only help the SCDOT meet or exceed future federal guidelines, but it will also result in improved overall water quality for South Carolinians, said Charles Privette, associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Clemson. As part of the research project, a Creative Inquiry team of undergraduate students will establish and operate an erosion-prevention and sediment-control facility on the Clemson campus. It will allow researchers to conduct controlled field experiments into the effectiveness of commonly used stormwater runoff and sediment-control practices on SCDOT construction projects and help improve those practices. The three-year study is funded by a $498,000 federal grant. Creative Inquiry is a unique program that gives Clemson University undergraduate students the opportunity to work on research projects that span disciplines and multiple semesters. Students work in teams with faculty mentors, take ownership of their projects and take the risks necessary to solve problems and get answers. Creative Inquiry participants develop critical thinking skills, learn to solve problems and hone their communication and presentation skills. The program is open to honors and non-honors students.

11

Clemson Honors

The Student Perspective

Undergraduates, graduate students and young professionals participate in this three-week experience. Here are some quotes from students who have participated in the study-abroad experience.

After spending three incredible weeks in Reggio Emilia, Italy, observing the teaching methods and culture, I have discovered there are many differences between the growth and development of infants and toddlers attending ReggioApproach schools and infants and toddlers attending American schools.
Madeline M., Clemson

The teachers in Reggio Emilia use the environment to show how one can use space to produce the best results for the childs learning. Physically, the way the teachers place structures, activities and objects is meant to enhance the childs problem-solving and discovery skills. Every detail is taken into consideration when decorating a room, such as the colors in the room, the furniture shapes and the arrangement of all the objects on tables or shelves. They use the concept of light to showcase the childrens work through weavings or collages by placing the works in the windows so the sunlight shines through them. Along with paying attention to detail, they make the rooms very personal by using the students names around the room, and when sending a message to a student, the teachers make a little box with the childs name on it.
Katherine C., Clemson

Reggio Emili
by Dolores A. Stegelin, Ph.D.

Collaborative Program Takes Students to

n the summer of 2007, the first S.C. Collaborative Study-Abroad Experience to Reggio Emilia, Italy, was initiated with 12 students from Clemson, the University of South Carolina and the College of Charleston. Six years later, this Maymester cultural immersion trip is providing a meaningful and memorable experience for undergraduate and graduate education majors. To date, more than 120 S.C. students and a dozen faculty members have participated. While most of the students have come from S.C. colleges and universities, students from universities in other states also have participated. The program is open to Clemsons honors and non-honors students.

Goals of the Study-Abroad Experience

This study-abroad experience was developed with these goals: Provide a cultural immersion experience in Italy that includes living with Italian host families, traveling in groups and individuals in northern Italy and exploring the cultural differences between schools in Italy and the U.S. Introduce students to the schools of northern Italy including preschools implementing the Reggio Emilia Approach and give them the opportunity to shadow and observe the students and teachers Engage students in beginning Italian language lessons and in workshops with community agencies such as the Malaguzzi Center, the ReMida Recycling Center and the University of Reggio Emilia that broaden the students understanding of early education, creative curricula and innovative instructional strategies

12

ia, Italy
Encourage students to expand their professional and personal horizons through new peer relationships and job exploration Enhance professional development that contributes to students becoming more employable in the U.S. because of their cultural diversity experiences, Italian language background and direct experience with the Reggio Emilia Approach Provide selected topics in-depth for undergraduate or graduate credits of three or six hours Out-of-Class Opportunities
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR INTELLECTUAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Honors students may apply for Educational Enrichment Travel Grants during summer and winter breaks to support internships, volunteer work and study-travel. Students attending or presenting at conferences in their disciplines may request Conference Travel Funds to register for and travel to the meetings. Once students begin Departmental Honors, they may request a Departmental Honors Research Grant for supplies, travel and other resources necessary to complete their research. SUPPORT FOR STUDY ABROAD. The Honors College offers a wide range of opportunities to study and serve around the world. Honors students may study for five weeks at the Clemson University Brussels Center in Belgium. The Duckenfield Scholars Program sends honors students to study at Oxford University in the summer. Students may also apply for Educational Enrichment Travel Grants to support foreign work and service during summer breaks.

Participating Colleges and Universities

Clemson University provides leadership for this study-abroad trip in collaboration with the University of South Carolina and the College of Charleston. Other colleges that have participated include Furman University, Bob Jones University, USC-Beaufort, The Citadel and Benedict College. The trip is open to all institutions of higher education in South Carolina, including two-year colleges. Faculty members who have participated include the following: Clemson University Dee Stegelin, Judy Wright, Sarah Mathews, M. Deanna Ramey and Sandy Linder; University of South Carolina-Columbia Beth Powers-Costello, Meir Muller, Amber Fallucca and Kelly Stanton; College of Charleston Candace Jaruszewicz; Presbyterian College Julie Smart; Greenville Tech Lenna Young; and Bob Jones University Julie Hartman.

13

Clemson Honors

Published Author Has Bright Future

by Haley Sulka 13 Psychology Bluffton, S.C.

ecent Clemson graduate Raven Magwood believes that dedication, determination and discipline are the sources to her success. She holds a calm and quiet demeanor in the classroom, but that just barely taps the surface of who this young woman is and what she has done in only 19 years. This Greenville natives notoriety began on a gymnastics mat. It took six strenuous hours of practice per day to win the 2004 U.S. Association of Independent Gymnastics Clubs Inc. Championship at age 11. By 12, she had published her first book and entered high school. Magwood was always looking for more of a challenge, so she took college courses and graduated early.

14

At 16, she followed in her parents footsteps to Clemson University, although she had received letters from many Ivy League schools. Magwood entered Clemsons Calhoun Honors College and began premed, but a conversation with her mother altered her career path. She asked me if someone would pay me to do anything, what would I do? I told her that I would speak and write, Magwood said. With her parents support, she changed her major to communication studies. By this time, her motivational speaking was gaining a lot of attention. I got a little taste of being important as a speaker and touching peoples lives, and I liked that, Magwood said. Her speeches revolve around the 3 Ds in an effort to inspire others toward reaching their potential. Her determination, discipline and dedication to succeed are almost tangible. As she has gotten older, Magwood has found that her motivation relies less on her supportive parents and more so on herself. What helps her most is setting small, short-term goals that build up to a big, long-term goal. Whats Magwoods ultimate goal? To make an impact on others lives while becoming a notable businesswoman. Halfway through college, Magwood made a bold decision to take time off to host her own television show, The Raven Magwood Show, which aired Saturday mornings on My 40. She interviewed celebrities, including Alveda King (Martin Luther King Jr.s niece), actress Porscha Coleman and former Clemson football player Stanley Hunter. After a year and a half of filming, Magwood decided it was best to go back to Clemson and finish her degree before jumping into a full-blown career. While completing her Clemson study, Magwood attended classes during the week and spent most of her weekends traveling the country to speak and promote her third and latest book, The 7 Practices of Exceptional Student Athletes. During her travels, Magwood always seemed to run into famous people. I signed a copy of my book for Michelle Obama. I felt like I should have had her sign it for me, she said.

Her most recent accomplishment was creating the Student Athlete Pledge, which encourages student-athletes to reach their potential both in athletics and in the classroom. She is planning a fundraiser to support the pledge. Beyond all of the straight As and busy weekends, Magwood still made room for playing on an intramural flag football team and hanging out with her friends. My college experience has been different, but I wouldnt trade it for anything, she said. Magwood has accomplished more by age 19 than some will accomplish in a lifetime, but she says that this is just the beginning. Magwood graduated from Clemson in December 2012, finishing college in just four semesters. She plans to continue

Whats Magwoods ultimate goal? To make a notable businesswoman.

an impact on others lives while becoming

speaking and writing. Moreover, one of her current aspirations is to make a name for herself in the movie industry. She is currently writing a screenplay that is to be completed in the near future. If there is a $100 million movie release, I want them to say that Raven Magwood wrote it, she said. This young woman is bursting with ambition. Not only do her speeches inspire, but so do her presence and life story. Her advice to others is simple: Its key to set goals. When times get tough for me, my goals show me what Im working so hard for and where I want to be. She has reached all of her goals thus far, so it will be fun to follow her in the coming years, as she is adamant to capture even more of her dreams. Even though she has a gentle nature and humble spirit, Magwood is much more than meets the eye. As she keeps determination, discipline and dedication close at hand, she will be ready to hit the ground running.
15

Clemson Honors

by Ben Arnson 14 Honors Biochemistry major Rock Hill, S.C.

Engineering Student Works To Build a

Sustainable Future
H
onors senior Ross Beppler spent the summer of his sophomore year researching and reforming renewable energy policy in Washington, D.C. His leadership roles and involvement in the Calhoun Honors College helped translate his experiences in the classroom to the national stage as Ross worked closely with engineers and politicians to improve the current energy policies in the U.S. I have always been interested in renewable and sustainable energy, but I did not know what I wanted to do with that, said Beppler, an electrical engineering major from Johns Creek, Ga. When I took the honors sustainability course, it versed me in some of the issues facing renewable energy and energy efficiency. The course introduced me to the idea of energy efficiency and sparked my interest in the field. Beppler enjoyed the honors sustainability class so much that he joined a Creative Inquiry project with Leidy Klotz, Ph.D. It was a really great course. Part of it involved learning the material, and part was project-based. Prof. Klotz is a really cool guy, and I enjoyed working with him, Beppler said. When he told the class about his Creative Inquiry project, I was excited about the chance to learn more about renewable energy. Klotz and Beppler worked closely beginning Bepplers sophomore year to examine energy efficiency in buildings. Even though Prof. Klotz is an assistant civil engineering professor, and I am studying electrical engineering, I was able to get an idea of energy efficiency from another perspective, which is when my interest in energy policy started, Beppler said. Their Creative Inquiry project, Examining the Effects of Status Quo Bias on Building Efficiencies, focused on how peoples biases affect their energy decisions. After two semesters of research, Prof. Klotz ultimately recommended Beppler for a summer internship in Washington, D.C., through the Washington Internships for Students of Engineering (WISE). Beppler was a part of a smaller professional organization called the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Within IEEE, Beppler worked with the policy division to advise on science and technology policy issues. He was responsible for representing IEEE members to legislators who come up with the energy policies. I saw a different side of things in D.C. It was cool to see the connection between government and industry, Beppler said. I spent my time meeting with officials from the Department of Energy and researching energy policies, he said. Bepplers final requirement was a paper outlining his research and recommendations to the current energy policy. I never realized the politics behind energy policy, and Im thankful for the opportunity to get a taste of politics and the D.C. experience.

16

Bepplers undergraduate research and internship have made a lasting impact on him. This experience has changed my whole career path. I want to work in energy policy rather than working for an engineering firm. During his time at Clemson, Beppler has taken full advantage of the opportunities presented to him by the Calhoun Honors College. The door is always open, and their goal is for you to succeed. Most importantly, the Honors College wants all of its students to be happy, Beppler said. He tells prospective students to look for schools that have the most to offer. Clemsons Honors College immediately provided me with a network of people that I can talk to and have something in common with, he said. The smaller honors community within Clemson is able to provide personalized attention to all honors students to ensure they succeed and reach their full potential. Beppler completed his undergraduate research and summer internship, but he continues to look for new ways to get involved and fill leadership roles around campus. Recently, he joined Student Government and serves as the director of research and development. I get to do a little bit of everything, he said. People come to me with questions, and it is my job to figure them out. Bepplers duties include researching what works well for other schools and trying to implement that at Clemson. The ultimate goal is to be a top 20 public university. I get to see what we do well and what we can improve on,

Beppler said. I have to represent the student feedback to the administration to get funding for projects and events. The Calhoun Honors College wants to see its students pursue their dreams and passions much like Beppler has done. The faculty and staff are dedicated to their students and are always more than happy to help and work with honors students. The small size of honors classes fosters interaction between students and faculty that form mentoring relationships like the one between Beppler and Prof. Klotz. This provides a small-college feel at a large university for honors students. The door is always open in the HOnors College, and

their goal is for you to succeed. Most importantly, the Beppler said.

Honors College wants all of its students to be happy,

Education is not the only priority in the Honors College. Beppler likes to remind students that they should have a life outside of the classroom. He gives back to the community by coaching a youth soccer team through the YMCA. Those two hours a week at soccer practice are so much fun and get my mind off of my school work. And the kids are so much fun, Beppler said. Im so glad I chose to come to the Honors College at Clemson. They genuinely want you to be happy and do what you are passionate about.

17

Clemson Honors

Bringing the Real World TO STUDENTS

by Taylor Luckie 15 Honors Genetics major Fort Mill, S.C.

rofessor Vladimir Matic is not your typical college professor. He draws on his experience as the assistant federal minister for foreign affairs of the former Yugoslavia in order to provide unique insight, teaching courses on international relations and foreign policy. He is able to connect teaching with practice, which provides a valuable perspective for students. Born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Matic received degrees in legal institutions and government and in law from the University of Belgrade. He joined the foreign service, with assignments in Ethiopia and Washington, D.C. Within the Ministry of Foreign Service, Matic was responsible for the activities of hundreds of diplomats, as well as providing advice to the government and the president. With the rise of

autocratic rule under Slobodan Milosevic and the subsequent ethnic cleansing, Matic was faced with a moral dilemma and realized he could no longer support the regime. After resigning his position in the ministry in 1993, Matic spent several years traveling and lecturing. In 1996, he delivered an address at the Strom Thurmond Institute, and he was subsequently asked by the chair of Clemsons Department of Political Science to develop a course focusing on the disintegration of Yugoslavia and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. He accepted, beginning his relationship with Clemson University. His close interaction with the American political system has allowed him to develop a unique program for students to see firsthand how foreign policy is created and implemented during a Spring Break trip to Washington, D.C. The courses Prof. Matic enjoys most are the honors courses because these students do not necessarily need the course for their major; they are just thoroughly interested in the topic. They always do the readings and even ask for more readings, Matic observed. When we have discussions, everyone has something to say. This is what motivates an instructor. Matics experience, background and perspective also make for an engaging class experience for his students. Recent honors graduate and 2013 Fulbright Scholar Dorothy Behre had a study experience with Prof. Matic that led her to alter her career plans. During my freshman year, the Honors Border Crossings Seminar with Prof. Matic was not only intensely informative and fun, the program
During a study-abroad experience, Matic showed students his hometown of Belgrade, Serbia.

18

also paid for my airfare to Beijing, where I studied Chinese for six weeks during the summer after my freshman year, she said. Being able to study abroad during my first summer as a Clemson student was a pivotal experience for me. It inspired me to double major in Chinese and become president of Clemsons Chinese Language Club. My time in China also intensified my interest in foreign policy and global affairs, and

and concepts they have learned, as well as their imagination, to connect it all. Through these simulations, students can fully understand why progress is slow in relations between foreign countries. Although teaching was not Matics original career path, he has come to love the job. He enjoys working with highly motivated students and likes to spot those with great potential. Matic has even

In small classes, which are typical of honors courses, Matic is able to facilitate simulations of foreign policy decision-making with his students.

this made me realize that the world is vast and complex, but also interconnected in beautifully fascinating ways. In small classes, which are typical of honors courses, Matic is able to facilitate simulations of foreign policy decisionmaking with his students, who use theories

organized yearly summer study-abroad programs in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia, which immerse the students in local culture and allows them to obtain college credit at the same time. Their enthusiasm and success are my reward, Matic said.
19

Clemson Honors

Pearce Center Progra and Experience

20

ams Expand Skills

by Michaela Reinhart 14 Honors Genetics and Biochemistry major Charlotte, N.C.

he Calhoun Honors College collaborated with the Pearce Center for Professional Communication and the Writing Center to launch the Writing Fellows Program in 2012 with the goal of strengthening honors students writing and presentation skills. Several honors seminars have embedded Writing Fellows, upperclass students who work one-on-one with students in the classes to review and offer suggestions for revisions to their projects. In its pilot year, the Writing Fellows were assigned to specific honors courses to work with their peers in developing and implementing arguments for the students class papers. The collaboration among the students and the Writing Fellows provides an environment in which students can openly exchange ideas and challenge each other to think beyond the classroom. The Writing Fellows Program is unlike anything Ive done at Clemson, said Writing Fellow Haley Nieman, an honors communication studies major from Canal Winchester, Ohio. We have amazing leadership, and I love spending time speaking with students to improve their writing process and academic papers. Students always seem nervous at first but usually leave the meeting smiling and excited to revise their papers. Entering its second year, the Writing Fellows Program has built bridges between students and faculty to foster an intellectually stimulating environment and will expand this environment to the Writing Center next year. The Pearce Center also offers an internship program for students interested in publishing and communications. The program offers professional development for students as accompaniment to their academics to give students the

tools they need to succeed upon graduation. The interns are presently working on Decipher magazine, which features the Creative Inquiry projects in which Clemson students are involved in addition to their usual studies. The interns lead the entire project, from interviewing faculty and writing the articles to designing the magazines layout, which provides many opportunities to explore the various aspects of publishing and professional communications. The collaboration among the students and the Writing Fellows provides an environment in which students can openly exchange ideas and

challenge each other to think beyond the classroom. Honors student Jessica Heron likes the benefits. My internship has provided me with opportunities to work with faculty, students and other clients on projects such as the Decipher articles and layouts, as well as fliers for various speaker series, Jessica said. I believe this internship has provided me with a competitive edge that will make me more valuable to future employers. Both the Writing Fellows Program and the internship program in the Pearce Center allow students to delve into the professional world before completing their education. They gain hands-on experience in working with their peers, faculty and clients to improve their communications skills and develop novel ideas. These two programs furnish honors students with new competencies that will aid them in whatever professional environment they choose.

21

Clemson Honors

A New Day Dawns fo

M
ore than half of the Calhoun Honors Colleges students major in one of the disciplines in the College of Engineering and Science (CES). Beginning in the fall of 2013, these students have another location to enhance their out-of-class learning. CES is introducing the re-imagined Residents in Science and Engineering (RiSE) living-learning community (LLC) for incoming CES freshmen. The program is a partnership between University Housing and Dining and CES. RiSE was created in 2005 as an outgrowth of the Universitys First Class LLC. Both U.S.News & World Report and the National Study of Living-Learning Programs have recognized Clemson for outstanding LLCs. The new RiSE concept builds on Clemsons established national reputation. In 2012, the RiSE program included 260 students housed in two of the Shoebox residence halls: Geer and Sanders. In the fall of 2013, RiSE expanded to include 396 students, which reflects growing interest in this unique residential community. RiSE is now the largest LLC on campus, doubling in size since the program was created. RiSE administrators experimented with a number of different staff models to support students. The optimum structure includes the RiSE coordinator, faculty director, a graduate assistant, a team of 12 tutors and 18 resident assistants. This structure leads to higher exam grades in clustered courses, higher retention rates than non-RiSE students and a lower percentage of students on academic probation. The CES Academic Advising Center is also located in Lever Hall, which provides convenient access to academic advisers, another benefit of this community. The RiSE program faculty director is selected from within CES. This faculty member provides programing and mentoring for residents. All of these new features are part of the innovative vision for RiSE that goes beyond traditional tutoring services and programming. The RiSE experience

The Honors Community

HONORS ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES CENTER. While honors enrichment activities take place across campus, the Honors Academic Activities Center serves as the hub of the honors community. Many honors courses are taught in the center; honors staff hold drop-in advising hours there; and all honors students may access the space in the lower level of Holmes Hall 24/7 to meet, study and relax with friends. HOLMES HALL. Nearly 300 honors students live in Holmes Hall, a five-story residence hall devoted to honors students. This nationally recognized livinglearning community includes specialized programs developed by honors resident advisers and a faculty-in-residence who lives in the building, offering dedicated mentoring to residents and planning intellectually enriching activities. HONORS MENTORS. New honors students are paired with honors mentors, older students who provide peer guidance on being successful at Clemson, both in and out of the classroom.

22

or RiSE
is built upon four learning curriculum cornerstones: academic preparedness, professional development, interpersonal development and community engagement. Randy Collins, associate dean of undergraduate and international studies in CES, is a program advocate. I am so excited about the expansion of our RiSE program and that we can accommodate nearly 50 percent more students who want to live and learn in this unique environment.The opportunity created by the partnership between the college and housing, which will enable our advising center and faculty to have offices in the dorm itself, is awesome. And, the technology-enhanced SCALEUP classroom in the same facility is amazing. Our students, faculty and advising staff will all mutually benefit from this unique living-learning community. I am looking forward to watching the impact of this expanded program on our students. Its a great time to be a Clemson engineering and science freshman. University Housing and Dining invested nearly a million dollars in the renovation of Lever Hall in the summer of 2013. Updates include a classroom where RiSE students take their clustered engineering courses, a new student lounge and offices for academic advisers and RiSE staff. Eric Pernotto, assistant director of academic initiatives in University Housing, believes the program is a great opportunity for students. As a result of our re-imagining of this community, RiSE will become one of the most intentional living and learning experiences for our students. Intentional describes the careful effort we employ to make sure that interactions between our staff and RiSE students are meaningful and contribute to student learning and success, Pernotto said. Clemson will be among the first universities that will have a completely integrated advising center, faculty and staff offices, conference room, classroom and lounge space maximizing total use of the residence hall for our LLC. We expect that a greater ease of access to resources will result in a positive, productive residence life experience.

23

Clemson Honors

Listening In
C
lemson students are taking full advantage of the Universitys Social Media Listening Center (SMLC), with impressive results. The SMLC won the 2012 Innovision Award for Innovation in Education and has allowed students to hone their research skills while assisting in University projects. The SMLC is an interdisciplinary research lab and teaching facility that opened in early 2012. The SMLC was envisioned by Jim Bottum, chief information officer and vice provost for computing and information technology at Clemson. Barbara Weaver is the CCIT lead on implementing the SMLC. The center brings together faculty, staff, students and external partners to support undergraduate student research, faculty research and outreach through social media listening. The center enables students to monitor thousands of online conversations about organizations, brands, products and services on a global scale in real time, said SMLC faculty leader Jason Thatcher. The cross-disciplinary nature of the SMLC fosters unique collaborations across the University. Sophomore Kaci Bennett was an incoming language and international trade major who took advantage of the Honors College EUREKA! program and the SMLC last summer by working on a project visualizing social conversations around the congressional elections. She spent five weeks in the SMLC helping to strategize ways to effectively search and visualize around the election. With some help from graduate assistant Jim Burleson and Dustin Atkins of Clemson Computing and Information Technology, she drilled into the congressional race in Floridas 22nd Congressional District and found that absent geocoding, it is difficult to capture the full conversation about the race. The team also learned that while political scientists often say all politics are local, denizens of the social Web view local politics through the lens of the national race. In the fall of last year, the SMLC was a key collaborator with 7 On Your Side (WSPA-TV) in offering enhanced coverage and analysis during the nationwide elections. During the election coverage, Thatcher said Clemson students used the social media listening and engagement suite powered by the salesforce.com Marketing Cloud to analyze which candidate, topic or issue was generating the most mentions across the social Web. Viewers were also able to see Clemson faculty and students from other disciplines during the live webcast, including experts from the Universitys political science and communication studies departments. The SMLC has six large display screens that faculty and students monitor, similar to a small network operations center. Salesforce Radian6 provides the platform to listen, discover, measure and engage in conversations across the Web by capturing more than 150 million sources of social media conversations, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, blogs and other online communities. The Radian6 summary dashboard provides a graphic display of social media content to convey sentiment, share of voice, trend information, geo-location data and more. The SMLC is a collaborative initiative between Clemson Computing and Information Technology, the Clemson University CyberInstitute, the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities, and the College of Business and Behavioral Sciences (where the center is housed).

24

Support Honors Student

Learning and Development!

Gifts to the Calhoun Honors College Foundation account ensure that Clemsons Honors College will continue to offer a wide range of enrichment opportunities, including the following: Educational Enrichment Grants for research, service and internships around the world Departmental Honors Research and Conference Travel Funds, which provide equipment, supplies and professional travel opportunities for advanced students Honors Center programs, workshops and mentoring hosted in Holmes Hall You may use the giving coupon and business reply envelope included in this magazine to make your gift or you may make a secure gift online at cualumni.clemson.edu/give/ calhounhonorscollege. Donations made to the Clemson University Foundation for the Calhoun Honors College are tax deductible. Gifts of $100 or more qualify you for membership in a Clemson Fund annual gift club.

Calhoun Honors College 105 Tillman Hall Box 345106 Clemson, SC 29634-5106

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Clemson University

Visit Clemson
To schedule a campus tour, contact the Class of 1944 Visitors Center at clemson.edu/visitors.

Visit Honors
The Calhoun Honors College coordinates meetings with prospective students through the Honors Ambassador program. For information on scheduling a visit, go to clemson.edu/cuhonors.

Apply to Honors
Before completing the online Calhoun Honors College application, applicants must first submit the online Clemson University Undergraduate Admissions application. All Calhoun Honors College application materials MUST be submitted using our Web-based application system. Full details, including deadlines for both priority and non-priority admissions notification, can be found at clemson.edu/cuhonors.

Contact Us!
Calhoun Honors College 105 Tillman Hall Box 345106 Clemson, SC 29634-5106 Telephone: 864-656-4762 Email: cuhonors-l@clemson.edu Wesite: clemson.edu/cuhonors