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NSPA Semesterly Communiqué
Spring 2021 Volume II: Issue III
News from the Head
Spring 2021 marks the end of a full year under COVID19 restrictions. The rebirth of spring brings the hope that the shaking of our ND snow globe will soon be at an end. Like most academic endeavors, the world of national scholarship competitions coped with conditions the best they could. Few competitions were canceled and if the awards involved travel, virtual equivalents were offered. Although virtual interactions can never fully substitute for immersive learning that accompanies travel, the broader mission of developing the next generation of national leaders compelled finding ways to provide our brightest students with the best experiences possible.
Covid19 challenged me and my NSPA team this semester to identify ways to promote national scholarships across campus to student groups that normally we do not reach. We had a number of firsts. I presented to students in the Indians into Medicine (INMED) program. What a wonderful experience meeting so many students dedicated to making sure our indigenous populations have accessible health care. I provided a workshop through our Graduate School to masters and doctoral students about funded opportunities to do research. My NSPA students and I started to host a monthly webinar about types of national scholarships.
I am happy to report that we had a very successful year. UND had its first-ever DAAD-RISE Scholar, Sydney Menne. Patricia (Trece) Hopp became UND’s 8th NOAA Hollings Scholar. The last Hollings scholar was in 2015. Nathan Foster was our first BOREN scholar since 2003 and Francis Eby became the second BOREN alternate in our University’s history. Cheyden Paulson became our 13th CLS scholar. Merrick McMahon is the third UND student to win a Udall Scholarship and the first to win it for interests in Native Health care.
Whether one wins an award or not, however, the benefits of applying flow to all of our applicants. Everything from learning how to organize their time, think deeply about their professional goals, and how to communicate their purpose in a personal statement. This semester we looked at the value of applying for national scholarships. Thank you to Dr. Zerr who leads our Goldwater campus committee for his words of wisdom. Thank you to Mr. Mitchell, our UND alumnus, for his insights on the value of applying for one of the most prestigious scholarships, the Rhodes.
We say goodbye to the NSPA students graduating this semester and leaving UND for wonderful opportunities that advance their careers. May we look back on 2021 with a profound appreciation for what can be done in spite of overwhelming challenge.
Yee Han Chu Ph.D. MSSW
Academic Support and Fellowship Opportunities Coordinator
Table of Contents
Faculty Spotlight: Ryan Zerr
The Rhodes with Robert Mitchell
Tips and Tricks of the Trade
Survey Says
Goodbyes
Closing Comments
Book Party 2.0
On May 7, 2021, NSPA will host our second Book Party. It was started last year in order to celebrate the students who submitted national scholarship applications. The idea of a book party is simple: you pick a book that means a lot to you and present it. Then, those in attendance can look at all the books listed and pick the one they want to bring home.
These are the books presented and why:
Cecelia Castleberry: Resident Evil Vol. 2: Caliban Cove by S.D Perry
This book made reading fun for me; it had a strong female protagonist and elements of sci-fi sprinkled throughout. It was also cool to see a female author write gruesome horror and inspired me as a writer to make my own pieces just as gruesome.
Cale Gressman: Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
It impacted me in the sense that if Viktor Frankl could come out of a concentration camp and look up at the sky and thank God for allowing him to survive, then I can survive whatever is going on in my life.
Patricia Hopp: Beyond Katrina: A Meditation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast by Natasha Threthewey
This book helps me realize that there is and should be a place for social sciences within atmospheric sciences. It helped me understand that my true aspiration is to work within the intersection between atmospheric science and the social sciences.
Mary Martin: The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu
This book gave me a perspective on human suffering and to find compassion for others. This book reminded me that everyone is on their own search for joy and that the most simple things can ultimately bring us joy.
Sydney Menne: Letters from an Astrophysicist by Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Reading this book, I realized how many unanswered questions there are about the universe and how Astrophysics can help uncover those mysteries. It helped me get a better perspective of the field I am now in and know that it is really what I want to spend my life studying!
Michelle Nguyen: Causal Inference the Mixtape by Scott Cunningham
I have not completed it but so far it gave me greater insight on the journey to get a Ph.D. in my field of interest. The professor started out wanting to become a poet. His story shows how perseverance and attitude can truly change your trajectory and your career aspirations.
Kincaid Rowbotham: House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
As a postmodernist's satire on epistemology, this book was word salad while I was reading through it. I only realized after going through the references within this book what this complex novel required the reader to go through to understand it. Thanks to this book I acquired the skill to feel stupid, yet remain determined to understand concepts. This has assisted me significantly in research where I need to understand advanced topics. The largest gap in learning isn't between being a novice to master, it is instead from doing nothing to trying.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Ryan Zerr
* In an email interview conducted by NSPA’s Kincaid Rowbotham, Professor Ryan Zerr shares his insights on the scholarship application process for the Goldwater.
1. Hey, so what is your name and position(s) here at UND?
Ryan Zerr, Professor of Mathematics and Associate Dean in the College of Arts & Sciences.
2. What is the Goldwater, what's your role in the process for it?
The Goldwater Scholarship is for students in their second or third years who intend to pursue careers that involve research in STEM disciplines – the natural sciences, engineering, and math. I, along with other STEM faculty colleagues from across campus, review students’ applications, work with students to strengthen their applications and make recommendations about which applicants will represent UND as part of the national Goldwater competition.
3. What is your motivation for helping students apply for national scholarships like the Goldwater?
Perhaps the least surprising reason is that I want to help UND students realize their potential and be recognized for their excellent work. A second reason – which matches perfectly with the theme of this newsletter – is that I believe the process of applying is an excellent learning experience for students. The application process requires careful thought about one’s work, including how it fits into the context of other work and into one’s educational plans. That type of reflective process is almost always a worthwhile exercise, and so whether someone receives a Goldwater Scholarship or not, the fact of applying is well worth it.
4. Any words of advice for students interested in National Scholarships?
Get involved in activities outside of class as soon as possible. The obvious ones for scholarships like the Goldwater are research experiences, but anything that helps a student make connections with others, develop skills like time management, organization, and leadership, are all great ways to make the most of one’s time in college.
5. Why Should Students apply to the Goldwater?
Beyond the financial reason to apply, the Goldwater is a highly competitive national scholarship, and therefore winning would be an incredible achievement. So even just from a resume-building standpoint, the reward is certainly worth the effort and the time it takes to apply. But also, returning again to the point about the value of the process, the act of applying has inherent value as an educational and reflective activity. Since this latter point is about a benefit that’s not contingent on winning, it may be the most important reason to consider going through the application process.
6. What are some resources for Students on Campus who are interested in applying (Goldwater or other National Scholarships?)
The primary resource is Dr. Yee Han Chu, UND’s Academic Support and Fellowship Opportunities Coordinator. Dr. Chu does a remarkable job working with students who are interested in national competitive scholarships, and discussing possibilities with her is a must for anyone who might be considering an application. She can also help explore which might be the right options. Although a bit less specific to the scholarship application process, while developing application materials it might be useful to consult with the UND Writing Center to help polish application essays or personal statements. And of course, faculty advisors or research mentors can be important resources – particularly as it relates to how best to frame the work one has done in the lab or classroom.
The Rhodes with Robert Mitchell
Introduction
Summer is the best time to prepare your fall scholarship applications. The most prestigious scholarships are due in early fall. One of these is the U.S. Rhodes Scholarship. The application is available each year in early July and is due at 11:59 PM U.S. Eastern Time on the first Wednesday of October.
The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest (first awarded in 1902) and perhaps most prestigious international scholarship program, enabling outstanding young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford.
Mary Martin, a NSPA student, interviews Mr. Robert Mitchell, a UND Rhodes alumnus who double majored in political science and sociology with a minor in German while he studied at UND. Learn about Mr. Mitchell's experience studying at Oxford and its impact on his subsequent studies at Yale Law School and other professional pursuits. Oxford offers a very distinctive teaching approach in its non-research courses. "The tutorial system at Oxford is based on a 1:1 or 1:2 experience with the equivalent of a full professor. You go in and meet with your tutor once a week..."
Tips and Tricks of the Trade
How Do I Prepare?
Pursue a challenging curriculum.
Take advantage of elective courses, internships, and independent study to broaden your knowledge, experience, and point of view.
Lead, don't follow.
Find opportunities to propose and implement positive changes in your academic department, campus organizations, and community.
Think globally.
Make study abroad an integral part of your academic program. Learn a new language. Gain first-hand knowledge of countries and cultures from students in the International Student Office. Understand how your interests and concerns fit into the world at large.
Be informed and form opinions.
Keep up-to-date with current events by reading national and international newspapers and journals on a regular basis. Actively inform and cultivate your opinions on major issues. Develop connections between your field and the world around you.
Know the field.
Who are the leaders in your field? Keep up with the latest research developments, publications, and conference proceedings through faculty, journals, books, and the World Wide Web. Are you able to intelligently and thoroughly discuss the latest developments in your area of interest?
Find Faculty.
Get to know your department faculty well. Their knowledge, advice, and contacts will be very valuable in your academic career. Map out long-term plans with your adviser. Incorporate exceptional academic, extracurricular, and service-learning experiences into your coursework.
Find the scholarship campus representative.
Dr. Yee Han Chu is your advocate! She offers a one-stop-shop for information about resources, applications, deadlines, and advice to guide you through the process. Each prestigious scholarship has specific criteria -- one or more scholarships may fit your interests and experience better than others.
https://www.wtamu.edu/student-support/scholarships/nationally-competitive-scholarships/ncs.html
Survey Says
We surveyed this year's cohort of students applying for national scholarships to identify the benefits from applying for prestigious scholarships. 17 students responded. The top THREE reasons for applying were (and in no particular order): 1) Expanded my knowledge of the field and the world; 2) Learned how to write effective personal statements; and 3) Clarified my career goals and objectives.
Goodbyes
Closing Comments
Made it
- Cale Gressman, Editor-in-Chief
NSPA and Yee Han Chu
Email: yee.chu@und.edu
Website: https://und.edu/academics/national-scholarships/
Location: Columbia Hall, Room B307 501 North Columbia Road, Stop 7187 Grand Forks, ND 58202-7187
Phone: (701)777-4436
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/undnscholarships?hc_ref=ARQUaLmyxrED3RY_Gz2MWk9BCz1f0RHuEuPsTT23i6Jqv75t8-NxnwwyVuQPMQIO4R8&fref=nf&__xts__[0]=68.ARCtFDnclkrDl4n4sjUxCGdtrUFdG7Ifgnv12TtJbx0iPW09_dggyTqtzi54SzS1KIuzB9EWaFRnfOec5Vdi36w9iJkt63ohKAEW5rVneNmVb8lVdcHlDpWZukwGC5DSPj5LZ5x73tViPUsIqlmGhHKVguh3cwK_z1nd4xKbNQ6F8sdZgLNYXuA1Oc_s6EclolHGn1ZAo_NHmN5wyvMWQX_CbR9s_S5qtwC2GmIimep-0Z1Uqy5NfShsRjI0BPCj_3r_lHbzWh1aUXwVi3uZ1-yVXX5GWelrOcO449gJY22icujFADE