FEBRUARY 2012

Scholars going mobileJunior alumni create apps for UMD students

[senior editor DEVIN MILLER]

There are some chores that can make a student’s life stressful, like figuring out what to eat for dinner or where to buy books for class.

Now, with the help of Col-lege Park Scholars alumni who have “been there,” and the new mobile and web applications they’ve created, these two tasks have gotten a bit easier.

TerpMeals—created by the same team that won a Booz Allen competition—and Books@UMD are two apps that have recently been re-leased to Maryland students. The Scholars alumni who built these apps said they used what they learned and the connections they made in Scholars to their advantage.

Created by Science, Tech-nology, and Society (STS) junior alumni Eric Rosenberg, Andrés Amador, Brandon Gudenius, and Andrew Gork-hali, TerpMeals is an Android application that allows stu-dents to find out the lunch

or dinner value meal before they set foot in the Diner.

“We ate every single meal at the Diner and there were some meals we never wanted to miss because they were so good and some meals we would do whatever we could to avoid,” said Rosenberg, a junior computer science major from Springfield, N.J., who’s a fan of the country fried steak value meal.

The team introduced the app during the last two weeks of the fall semester. Today, there are about 150 TerpMeals users. Meanwhile, the group already has a new application in the works called TerpBus, which they hope to release by the end of spring semester. The app will allow students to find out when the next bus will arrive at their stop without having to text NextBus.

Science and Global Change (SGC) junior alum-nus Matthew Ellis, 20, is working on the business side of application development with Books@UMD. A web

application originally created for Yale University by student Sean Haufler, Books@UMD helps students compare new and used book prices at Am-azon.com and the University of Maryland Bookstore.

Ellis, an accounting and marketing major, heard about the web application during the middle of the fall semester and thought it would be a useful tool for students. “All of my peers used to complain about high prices and having to search for their books,” Ellis said. “When I heard about this opportunity, I thought it was a great idea to have all of the information in one place, making it easier and more affordable.”

Books@UMD was up and running by mid-January, and has sold more than $7,000 in books.

Both the creators of Terp-Meals and Books@UMD were able to use their experience in Scholars and apply it to the app-creation

(1) Andrés Amador, (2) Eric Rosenberg, (3) Brandon Gudenius, and (4) Andrew Gorkhali worked together on the TerpMeals app. (5) Matthew Ellis is the business partner who brought Books@UMD to campus. (Photo illustration by Sibia Sarangan)

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tarting out: Profile of junior alumnus Brett Morris

potlight: International Studies

n focus: Profile of Scholarsalumnus Matt Suettinger

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Community News letter ISSUE 1

2Demystifying the Scholars practicum

process. “The fact that I had gotten to know my profes-sors and classmates so well enabled me to network very easily,” Ellis said.

Rosenberg found a similar advantage. “Scholars made it really easy for us to seek ideas and feedback by pro-viding us with access to a large group of students who all have such diverse cultural and aca-demic backgrounds,” he said.

In some classrooms, students are learning first-hand about the expansion of application technology. Journalism assistant profes-sor Ronald Yaros teaches “Information 3.0: Exploring Technological Tools,” an I-Series course that incorpo-rates an app that connects students to the class twitter account, blogs, and assign-ments.

According to Yaros,

technological mobility has opened up several new ca-reer paths for students. “One to two years ago we saw a significant jump,” he said. “Today, we have local TV sta-tions that are advertising for those who specifically focus on mobile content produc-tion and distribution.”

By trying their hand at mobile and web application development, Scholars are

not only helping their peers, but also gaining

invaluable experience with technology.

STS Director Betsy Men-delsohn believes that app-creation by and for students enables the developers to create applications that solve an information need, and points the way to a bright, innovative future. “I think this is a significant trend that reveals an entrepreneurial and self-motivated streak in students,” she said.

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FEBRUARY 2012

[senior editor GRAHAM BENNIE]

Now that it’s spring semester, many first-year students in College Park Scholars will (or should) begin to think about their practicum.

These second-semester Scholars might ask questions like, “What is the practi-cum?”; “What should I do for my practicum?”; or “What am I even supposed to do for my practicum?” While answers to these questions depend on the student’s program, interests and goals, there are some general things to consider.

The Scholars practicum is an umbrella term describ-ing the capstone Scholars experience. It begins with a proposal, presented by students describing the who, what, when, where and why of their practicum project. Once a student’s proposal is approved by his or her pro-gram’s faculty, the next step is to complete the work.

“The practicum is really an opportunity for students to have an experience out-side of the classroom with the help and support of their Scholars faculty,” said David Eubanks, associate director of College Park Scholars.

Traditionally, the practi-

cum takes the form of an internship, research or service-learning project. Examples include interning at a local hospital, conduct-ing research alongside a Scholars faculty member or volunteering as a high school tutor. Each Scholars pro-gram has its own practicum specifications, such as what projects are acceptable, how many hours are required and various complementary as-signments.

“Our students create and run a workshop for other Arts Scholars during the spring semester, perform service for one of our community partners or pursue an inde-pendent study

Steffi Yen presents her research at the 2011 Scholars Academic Showcase. (Photo courtesy Steffi Yen)

The Android mobile app Terp-Meals was de-signed by Science, Technology and Society alumni and launched in fall 2011. The group plans to launch TerpBus this semester.

[assistant editor DEAN ESSNER]

When College Park Scholars junior alumnus Brett Morris started collect-ing data at the University of Maryland Observatory last summer, he didn’t know that he’d make history. But with the support of faculty and staff, the astronomy and physics major was able to achieve something extraordinary.

Morris, who earned his Science, Discovery and the Universe (SDU) cita-

tion in 2011, made the observatory’s first-ever detection of an extrasolar planet or exoplanet—a planet outside the solar system. While the exoplanet, which orbits star HD189733, had been previously discovered, Morris—along with Elizabeth Warner, and SDU alum-nae Steffi Yen and Harley Katz—de-tected it through observations of small but regular decreases in the star’s light. Morris clapped his hand over his mouth in surprise upon the discovery. “[Yen and I] were

starting out: junior alumnus Brett MorrisUnearthing the universe

Steps for success

Science, Discovery and the Universe alumnus Brett Morris works at the University of Maryland Observa-tory. (Photo by Kimberly Davis)

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or research project,” said Harold Burgess, Arts pro-gram director. “Each of these approaches provides opportunities for students to develop through leadership, management, creativity and communication skills.”

The final step of the practicum is the synthe-sis of the entire Scholars experience. Media, Self and Society Scholars must keep a journal for the duration of their practicum, reflecting on what they learn and how it ties into their original goals for the project.

Many other Scholars pro-grams require their students to participate in the Academ-ic Showcase. Held every May, the Showcase is a chance for Scholars to present their practicum to other students, faculty, staff and members of the University community.

Burgess said that the val-ue of the Scholars practicum lies largely in the hands of the student. “If you put 10 percent in, you are going to get 10 percent out.” Burgess said. “This means that you should really go after some-thing that you are interested in and passionate about.”

If you’re still unsure about how to translate passion into a practicum, don’t be afraid to reach out for advice. Follow the example of Steffi Yen, a junior double majoring

in astronomy and physics. Two years ago, Yen was a

first-year Scholar in the Sci-ence, Discovery and the Uni-verse (SDU) program with, like many, not a clue about what to do for her practicum. Then she did something she now advises all Scholars struggling with their practi-cum project to do—she met with her program’s faculty, namely Neal Miller, SDU faculty co-director.

“Dr. Miller asked me what I was planning on doing for my practicum and I told him I didn’t know,” Yen said. “He told me that he might have a job available doing research with him that summer if I was interested.” With her “biggest dream” of becom-ing an astronaut in mind, she went home and emailed him right away.

Since then, Yen has researched galaxy evolution in clusters, the crossover be-tween blue and red spectrum galaxies known as “green val-ley galaxies,” and traveled to Seattle with Miller to present their research at the Ameri-can Astronomical Society meeting. She now knows that astronomy is what she wants to pursue.

“I think that’s what the practicum does for you,” Yen said. “It allows you to explore a field and see if it’s right for you.”

mid-conversation when my code spit out the plot that showed I had detected exoplanet HD189733b, and I think I scared her by my reaction,” Morris said.

Morris’s groundbreaking discovery is a keen example of how a talented, passion-ate student, when given guid-ance from faculty and access to the university’s top-tier resources, can produce re-sults that exceed the grasp of most scientists in the field today. Morris, who is origi-nally from Dix Hills, N.Y., has gained valuable experience during his time at Maryland.

So far, he has worked with Maryland astronomy profes-sor Chris Reynolds, visual-izing some of Reynolds’ data on accretion disks around black holes, and help-ing him make the science visible through computer simulations. Morris has also worked with associate professor Derek Richardson, whose project involved con-tact binary asteroids splitting apart. But Morris’ exoplanet discovery is what sets him apart from his peers.

“Exoplanets are among the more exciting and popu-

lar areas of astronomical research, and advances are rapid thanks to new satellite observatories,” said assis-tant research professor Neal Miller, SDU co-director. “And Brett’s use of the University of Maryland’s campus obser-vatory is truly amazing.”

Morris, a junior, sees his time at Maryland and in College Park Scholars as a pivotal launching point into the astronomical realm. “SDU helped give me a com-fortable introduction to the department of astronomy,” Morris said. “The first pro-fessors I met were Dr. Miller and [co-director] Dr. Peel, and they are both friendly, approachable faculty who helped me get my bearings.”

After graduating in 2013, Morris said he wants to continue pressing toward his dream of conducting as-tronomical field work, a feat that is becoming closer and closer to reality with each new development in his work.

“I’ve been pursuing astronomy for as long as I can remember,” Morris said. “And I can say that my time at Maryland has allowed me to hit the ground running.”

FEBRUARY 20122MORRIS cont’d from

Junior Brett Morris works with a telescope at the University of Maryland Observatory. (Photo by Kimberly Davis)

Steffi Yen (center) receives the Nancy and Ira Shapiro Excellence in Under-graduate Research Award at the Scholars Awards Ceremony in September 2011. Pictured with Yen are (l. to r.) SDU co-director Alan Peel, Nancy Shapiro, SDU co-director Neal Miller, and SDU program associate Paul Romani. (Photo by Sibia Sarangan)

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We’ve all heard it before: it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Although the saying may not always hold true, it’s no secret that networking is a vital aspect of the job hunt. Know-ing the importance of making connections, the College Park Scholars Alumni Club hosted “Career Jumpstart” as a way for participating Scholars to get first-hand experience, with alumni leading the way.

The event was held on Feb. 8 in the Cambridge Community Center. During the evening, Schol-ars had the opportunity to speak with alumni, including lawyers, research analysts, non-profit organization representatives, teachers, a software engineer and a gallery director, among others. About 50 Scholars registered for the weeknight event.

Angela Wang, vice president of the Scholars Alumni Club, said she was pleased with the diverse group of alumni. “It helped to open up students’ eyes to see, ‘I will have the same degree that he or she has, but I never thought about pursuing that career,’” Wang said.

Through mock “speed” inter-views and résumé workshops, Scholars were taught useful tips that could help them stand out in today’s job market. The University Career Center also paid a visit, informing students about the Spring Career and Internship Fair that took place in late February.

For younger students such as freshman Science, Discovery,

and the Universe Scholar Thomas Landis, the event was a great way to prepare for the intern-ship application process. “I was given pointers on my résumé that would make it more concise,” the mechanical engineering major said. “Mock interviews were also beneficial in giving me practice in answering challenging ques-tions while trying to make a good impression.”

Alumna Emily Guskin, who received her citation from Media, Self, and Society in 2004, spoke with students about her experi-ence as a research analyst at the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism. “I was particularly impressed with the caliber and maturity of the students I spoke with,” Guskin said. “Although many of them are just starting out their academic careers, they carried themselves with a high level of professional-ism that shows me they will do fine in the business world.”

Building a bridge between current and former Scholars is an important goal for the alumni club. By networking with alumni, Scholars have role models to whom they can relate. “The Scholars’ name is pretty well known when you’re applying for jobs,” Wang said. “It’s really im-portant to network and see where everyone has gone and what your Scholars citation can do.”

— Devin Miller and Dean Essner

The current generation of college students has grown up in a time of intense international activity. The global society that we live in is now defined by an intricate web of connections. Illustrated by the creation of the Internet and the social media explosion, it is obvious that these connections affect our daily lives: understanding them is crucial to understanding today’s global society.

The International Studies (IS) program, one of the four founding programs of College Park Scholars, aims to give its students this understanding.

“We want our students to develop reflexive critical and analytical thinking skills,” said Carmen DeAnna, IS assistant director. “We want them to learn how to think; we want them to de-velop the ability to challenge their beliefs, as well as to be leaders.”

According to DeAnna, the IS curriculum focuses on research, writing, discussion and experi-ence. Researching and writing about topics leads students to formulate their opinions and views clearly. Discussion spurs students to communicate these views effectively, and students are able to challenge each other to think differently or from a differ-ent perspective.

Experience, such as partici-

pating in study abroad or a Model United Nations (Model U.N.) con-ference, is the culmination of the program and it is the opportunity for students to use their critical and analytical thinking skills out-side of a classroom setting.

Earlier this month, a group of delegates from the IS Model U.N. program were able to gain this experience by traveling to Boston to participate in the annual Har-vard Model U.N. conference.

Model U.N. delegates are responsible for acting as lead-ers, representing a nation. This requires students to research and develop strategies for working with other delegates. The goal of each conference is to resolve an issue that takes the wants and needs of as many nations as pos-sible into consideration.

Sophomore Sandra Shaker, an IS Scholar double majoring in government and politics and his-tory, with a minor in Spanish, has attended this conference the past two years. Shaker, 19, from Ha-nover, Md., said she participated in Model U.N. in high school. Con-tinuing with it in Scholars seemed like a good way to hone in on her career choices, she said.

“The ability to participate in and practice networking with people is such a huge thing,” said Shaker, who wants to work in an embassy or as a foreign services

officer someday. “This was my second year at the conference and I was able to put myself out there. Those are skills and connections that I will be able to use to my advantage in the future.”

Representing the small na-tion of Belize this year, Shaker also learned that leadership roles come in various forms. “...Even though I was repre-senting a small country, that didn’t mean I had to limit my participation or my ability to act as a leader,” said Shaker. “There is always a way [to take on that leadership role]. Don’t pass up the opportunity to be a leader.”

— Graham Bennie

Scholars get ‘jump-start’ on networkingAlumni Club hosts career event

At Career Jumpstart, hosted by the Scholars Alumni Club, a Scholar (left) talks to an alumna during mock “speed” interviewing. (Photo by Sibia Sarangan)

spotlight: Model U.N. offers glimpse of international stage

IS students participate in various active-learning experiences. IS Scholars visit the Embassy of Sweden in 2011. (Photo courtesy International Studies)

International Studies

The competition for scholarships is steadily growing, as is the cost of higher education. College students are paying more for tuition, housing, books and food and Scholars may want to find ways to defray the costs. Finding scholarship dollars can be a great way to do this.

In this interview, we talked with Sarah Bauder, director of Financial Aid at the Uni-versity of Maryland, and Chris Long, presi-dent and chief operating officer of Cappex.com and MeritAid.com, two websites that specialize in college-related opportunities. Together we compiled a list of tasks that, if completed, increase the odds of earning a

coveted, tuition-reducing scholarship:

1. Fill out your FAFSA—the Free Federal Application for Student Aid.

The FAFSA is an essential part of the financial aid process and should be done every year. This application, once completed, helps the federal government decide if an undergraduate or graduate student is eligible for aid in the form of grants or loans. “Many donors are now tying their scholar-ship funds to the FAFSA being filed but not to the need of the student,” Bauder said.

2. Start searching for scholarships early.According to Bauder, most scholarship

applications are submitted between Novem-ber and March and then awarded between May and June, so there is a small window of opportunity to apply.

3. Look into applications for local schol-arships.

Nation-wide scholarships are extremely competitive. It can be better to start small, and try for something more community-oriented. “While the winners of the national scholarships come from a small, elite pool of applicants with 4.0

in focus: Alumnus Matt Suettinger[associate editor Sydney Carter]

A global mindset requires someone not only to consider how a person from a different culture thinks, but also attempts to understand why he or she thinks that particular way. At least, that’s what International Studies (IS) alumnus Matt Suettinger believes.

The 31-year-old University of Maryland graduate, who earned his Scholars citation in 2000, said that a key aspect of leadership is empathy—putting yourself in someone else’s shoes to figure out the “why.” “Rather than expecting them to adapt to your style, understand that they have something dif-ferent,” said Suettinger, a native of North Potomac, Md. “Try to understand why they have that type of opinion, why they have that particular mindset towards problem solving, and then use that to find common ground.”

Finding common ground has always been one of Suettinger’s key traits, from his time in College Park Scholars to his current position as director for global sales strategy at the Corporate Executive Board, a company that advises companies on how to conquer business challenges. Suettinger depends on that common ground and global mindset to guide executives in managing and improving sales strategies on an international scale.

“From a personality perspective, Matt has always been able to relate to people across all backgrounds and cultures,” said close friend Neil Steinberg, an alumnus of the former American Cultures Scholars program.

It’s that ability to relate, Suettinger said, that set him on the path toward a level of global understanding that was cultivated in Scholars and culminated in a capstone project that is still fresh in his memory more than 10 years later—representing Algeria on the IS Model U.N. team.

In preparation for the competition, Suettinger said he learned how to go beyond researching another country. “What I can remember that really stuck with me was, “How do I under-stand and come up with a way to successfully operate in this constantly evolving, global economy that we all interact with,” said Suettinger, who finished his bachelor’s degrees in interna-tional business and Chinese in 2003.

Since then, he has earned two master’s degrees—one in finance from The College of William and Mary, and one in inter-national development and management from the Thunderbird

School of Global Management.Suettinger said his time in Scholars also helped him gain

more information about the field of international studies. “The Scholars program is good because it gives more insight than you would get outside of your traditional coursework,” he said.

For current IS students, Suettinger said he hopes they don’t make the same mistake he did by not diving into all of the op-portunities the programs—and Scholars—have to offer.

“Set some type of a goal, an expectation, that you’re looking to get out of your involvement with College Park Scholars,” Suettinger said. “Then figure out a way to achieve that goal.”

8 scholarship tips for Scholars

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International Studies alumnus Matt Suettinger visits India. He earned his citation in 2000. (Photo courtesy Matt Suettinger)

International Studies provides global perspective

FEBRUARY 2012 6

THANK YOU TO...

College Park ScholarsUndergraduate StudiesCollege Park Scholars Alumni AssociationUM Office of Parent & Family Affairs

CONTACT

Questions, comments, ideas, or suggestions?

Please email us Like us on FacebookFollow us on Twitter

GRAHAM BENNIE, senior editor, Science and Global Change DEVIN MILLER, senior editor, Media, Self and Society alumnaSYDNEY CARTER, associate editor, Arts alumnaDEAN ESSNER, assistant editor, ArtsSIBIA SARANGAN, multimedia specialist, Public Leadership

BRENT HERNANDEZ, assistant director KIMBERLY DAVIS, communications director

GPAs,” Long said, “local scholarships offered by non-profit organizations typically reward students for other attributes such as volun-teering and leadership, or accomplishments toward a specific career path.”

4. Research merit aid scholarships of-fered here at Maryland.

The best scholarships can be in your own “backyard.” By searching “Merit Scholar-ships” on the Undergraduate Admissions page, you can access a detailed list dedi-cated to University of Maryland scholar-ships. You can also check out the National Scholarships Office for those highly competi-tive, prestigious awards. In addition, talk with a financial aid advisor at the Office of Student Financial Aid who can help students find what scholarships are attainable based on their academic achievements.

5. Use free scholarship search websites.While Maryland scholarships offer out-

standing opportunities, it never hurts to look elsewhere, too. Websites like Cappex.com, MeritAid.com and fastweb.com specialize

in providing reliable scholarship information that relates to a variety of academic endeav-ors. “The best scholarship sites will provide you both the local scholarships and merit aid options, and they never charge money for searches,” Long said.

6. Take ownership of your education.“Students should be applying for their

scholarships, not the parents,” Bauder said. No one knows you better than yourself, so take the reigns and apply. That doesn’t mean that your parents shouldn’t have a hand in the process. Sometimes, cor-porations and companies offer scholar-ships to the children of their employees. Check with your parents to see if there are any opportunities for you.

7. When selecting scholarships, find out the terms of the award.

Some scholarships are long term, while others may be one-time awards. If it is a long term award there could be a minimum GPA required to maintain it. Find out what guidelines are attached to

a scholarship before you apply or commit.

8. Keep your grades up.“Many departments have their own schol-

arship funds for returning students,” Bauder said. “They want to award those funds to their brightest and best students. It’s a com-petitive market, so study hard.”

— Dean Essner

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Searching for scholarships online is a great way to start looking for ways to offset the cost of higher education. (Photo by Graham Bennie)

Given a recent security incident in the Cambridge community, let’s remind ourselves of the first of our community living principles: Be Safe. A refresher might be in order to prevent “tailgaters” from entering the building after you’ve swiped into the door, or onto the elevator. Also, remember to lock your door when you leave your room unattended or have gone to bed. Finally, program into your cell phone one of the following numbers, and use it should you be suspicious of activity on your hall:

Cambridge/Centreville Halls: 301.314.CENTCumberland/Chestertown/Bel Air Halls: 301.314.CUMB

Be Safe, Be Civil, Be Cooperative, Be InvolvedPrinciples to live by:

If you have an interest in providing financial support to College Park Scholars, please contact Greig Stewart.

FEBRUARY 2012 NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTORS