HONORS
SCHOLARS
PROGRAM
PERIPLUS
Volume 4,
Issue II,
Fall 2010
A circumnavigation; a voyage or journey round a coastline;
an epic journey, an odyssey
IN THIS ISSUE
pg. 2 Honors Students Teach For America
pg. 3 NCHC in Kansas
City
pg. 4 Freshman Spotlight
pg. 5 Senior Spotlight
pg. 6 Inside Honors Alumni News
pg. 7 Fall Graduates
Sanctuary
Sanctuary, a literary magazine edited by the University of Alabama Birmingham and sponsored
by the Southern Regional
Honors Council accepted
the creative works of five
honors students. Their
works are listed below.
Danielle Bibb’s short
story, “Featherweight.”
Rachel Kiliany’s photo,
“From a Child’s Perspective.”
Miklos Mattyasovszky’s
essay, “On Looking Into
the Shenandoah Valley.”
Laura Newberry’s short
story, “The Story of an
Egg.”
Christine Stark’s poem
“Side Tracked” and short
fiction piece, “Claimed.”
Hometown Tourist
Emma Powers gives her unique perspective on the Honors Fall Lyceum
trip to Washington, D.C.
By Emma Powers ’13
The problem with living so close to
any well-known landscape is that you
never actually visit it yourself. I’m a
D.C. person who’s never been near the
White House or Capitol, never gone to
lunch in Dupont Circle. My Washington
was actually pretty limited.
The Monuments by Moonlight Tour
revealed places that were all new to me.
When the honors group got to the Lincoln Memorial, its front steps and lawn
were still roped off from where speakers
had gathered at the ‘One Nation March’
earlier in the day. On each block, trodden
down papers looked up from the ground,
imploring us to “create green jobs” as
they settled further into the pebbled
grooves of the concrete.
Here at least is a part of D.C. I can
claim to have known before now—the
incredibly unifying nature of political
fervor. The constant surge of marches
and rallies, protests and parades, injects
a certain tireless vigor into the city that
I find unique. Even when I was small,
I loved the pure energy of the endless
crowd. It can turn a hundred thousand
into a community.
After my delayed introduction to the
traditional sight-seeing spots of our nation’s capital, we walked to the Eastern
Market. I have no idea how this place
had eluded me. The farmer’s market’s
history bustles busily along at the tiptop
of Capitol Hill, unnoticed from below.
The red-bricked architecture of the
building looked like an old factory
someone had tried to dress up for the
holidays. Local farmers and vendors
lay out fresh cuts of meat, fish, flowers,
and pull bakery goods out of ovens to
cool. The businesses there have managed to successfully compete against the
grocery chains
popping up all
around the area
without closing
the Market’s
doors for even
one day in 137
years.
It’s not such
a bad thing to
be a tourist in
your own home
city. The trip
allowed me to
see D.C. with Emma Powers at the
new eyes.
Eastern Market
Pg. 2
“It has been an incredible experience to work closely with a professor on my honors thesis” Garrison Libby ’11
Honors Students Teach For America
The Adventures of Mr. Henley
Teach For America corps members commit to
teach for two years in low-income communities, then
go on as alumni to lead efforts to change the face of
public education. The program recruits recent college
graduates from all backgrounds and career interests
to join their organization. They provide the training
and ongoing support necessary to ensure their teachers’ success.
Three honors graduates from UNCW have become
involved with this program. Monica Lorenzo taught
high school Biology in the Bronx and now continues
her work for Teach for America in NYC, aiding the
development and support programs for new teachers.
Brian DesRoches is currently teaching second grade
at a Baltimore city public school. William Henley
offers his take on the Teach for America experience
below.
Mr. Henley’s class focuses on a test.
my life. There are days when I come home and feel
like an utter failure because I know my kiddos didn’t
learn anything. Other days I come home knowing
my students truly learned a new concept. It’s a roller
coaster. Teaching is HARD WORK. I should have taken a
The roughest day so far happened Tuesday when a
victory lap at UNCW and stayed for a fifth year. student brought a gun to school and we discovered it
Free time has become a thing of the past. I teach
in my room. It was infuriating (and
9th grade English at Greenville-Weston
“Watching a concept
still is) that my children don’t even
High School in the heart of the Delta:
have a safe place to live, yet alone
finally click for them
Greenville, Mississippi. is the most rewarding go to school. It was a pretty stressI have three different blocks, each
experience I have ever ful day, so my principals made me
consisting of over 35 students. Every
take a day off. I needed it. class is a new adventure. The kids are
had.”
One of my kids came up to me
what make it all worthwhile. Overall,
the next morning and said, “I’m
my kiddos are truly bright and very capable. Watchglad you’re back, Mr. Henley. Our sub didn’t teach us
ing a concept finally click for them is the most reanything.” I almost cried. warding experience I have ever had. I do have some children who like to make classCheck out my blog!
room management a little difficult. I lovingly refer to
http://learningontheriver.teachforus.org/ them as my “children of the corn.”
Out of my 110 kids, there are probably about 2025 of them that haven’t realized the importance of
Students interested in joining Teach for America
English. I’m diligently working on that though. can find more information on the UNCW Career CenWe have a goal to improve by 3 points on the readter website:
ing and English ACT this year. I’m constantly pushwww.uncw.edu/stuaff/career/jobsearch
ing my children to aim for a 21 or better on the ACT,
as well as the Teach for America website:
a score that is considered college-ready. In Mississipwww.teachforamerica.org/
pi, the average ACT score is 18. In the Delta, it is a
16. Down here, the need is great and the time is short.
Far and beyond, this is the most challenging task I
have ever taken on. I have never been so humbled in
Pg. 3
“The small class sizes are my favorite part about the honors program” Tate Devin ’14
NCHC: Kansas City Conference
Students and professors present at the National Collegiate Honors Council
By Christine Stark ’13
Peruvian Connection, The Cashew, Christopher Elbow, and The
Flying Saucer were only a few of
the names that called to me from
signs adorning shop windows in
Kansas City. I explored them all
on an adventure called “City as
Text” during the National Collegiate Honors Council conference in Kansas City, Missouri.
Seven UNCW representatives attended the conference. Dr. Atwill
and Dr. Bruce led the trip and made
several presentations about the
Honors Scholars Program. Brittney
Knotts and Christopher Anstine
gave a presentation about their
honors mentor experience. Matt
Okoneski and Colin Nolan presented posters about their honors
projects, involving climate change
and virus cloning respectively. I
was there to gather information
about print media. None of us expected to be so enthralled by the
city and the way in which it was expertly woven into the conference.
Upon my arrival at the hotel,
the conference pushed me directly back into the city. Students
received maps and assigned districts to explore with students from
schools around the country. It was
an amazing way to be introduced
to new people and a new place simultaneously. Kansas City has a
long-standing history with jazz,
and themes of improvisation were
incorporated into several sessions
during the conference. These
sessions culminated in a
night of blues and comedy
at the Historic Midland
Theatre. When Samantha
Fish, blues diva, took the
Matt Okoneski, Christine Stark, Brittney Knotts, and
Chris Anstine on the last day of the conference. They stage, her voice was so alhad just attended the closing session where filmogra- luring that I never wantpher Seth Kramer presented his latest documentary ed to leave Kansas City.
The New Recruits.
The conference also offered me
the chance to interact with students
and faculty from other schools who
shared my same interests. I was
able to meet people from Massachusetts, California, Pennsylvania,
Texas and many other states in the
span of four days. I met many of
them in formal session settings
and our conversations spilled over
into dinner in the city. Our group
of UNCW students even teamed
up with a group of students from
L.A. to explore the best-rated
haunted house in the country.
I recommend that students submit paper or presentation ideas
to both the regional and national
councils for consideration. Conferences present a unique opportunity to learn and share within a
larger honors community, an opportunity that I won’t soon forget.
Dr. Kate Bruce
was chosen by the
NCHC Board of
Directors as part of
the inaugural class of
National Collegiate
Honors Council
Fellows.
Pg. 4
“My favorite honors class is Dr. Boren’s Rise of the Gothic, it is so engaging” Eric Van Gorder ’14
Coming a
Meet two honors freshmen who are ju
and a graduating senior with
Sara Bentil-Owusu starts her first
year from a unique background.
Laura Keaton and her magma-roasted
marshmallow atop a volcano in
Guatemala.
Colors of a Day of the Dead celebration in Guatemala.
A Freshman from Afar
From West Africa to Wilmington, one student presents a global perspective
By Sarah Bentil-Owusu ’14
I was born in Ghana, West Africa, in the small town
of Dunkwa. However, I was actually raised in two
different towns, Takoradi and Accra, where my family was living when we decided to move to America.
Growing up, I became fluent in Fante, the language
my family spoke. There were four other main languages throughout the country. Twi was the language of my
elementary school, but since both languages were similar, it wasn’t too hard to pick up both of them. I also
learned to speak French for a brief period at school.
Some of the foods that I enjoyed from Ghana are
fufu, which is a boiled cassava, yams and plantains mix
that is mashed and then eaten with soup; kenke, which
is a complicated corn mix; and various types of soups
eaten with rice, rice balls or any kind of starch. Some
of the soups were peanut butter, goat, and palm nut.
One of my favorite activities was visiting the
market with my mother. The biggest markets were
the busiest places in the city. They were very open,
with vendors occupying every space imaginable
and screaming to buy from their various products, many of which came from different countries.
I was 10 when I first moved to the U.S. and it was
quite an experience eating fast food and seeing snow
for the first time. Experiencing two different cultures
helped me keep an open-minded view when I started
at UNCW. My goal is to enter the pre-med track and
become a physician so I can go back to give medical aid in my country and other countries in Africa.
Bridging the Gap
This student found her passion through a bridge year
By Laura Keaton ’14
After graduating from high school, I took a year off to participate in a bridge year program called
Global Citizen Year. I travelled to Guatemala and lived with a host family while I volunteered in
schools, teaching English to children ages 3 to 16. I plan to major in Spanish and have been taking advantage of opportunities within the UNCW and Wilmington communities to expand my skills.
Currently, I work as an interpreter for the Interfaith Refugee Ministry here in Wilmington, translating for Spanish-speaking refugees at appointments as they settle into life in the U.S. I am also about to begin work as a research assistant to Dr. Graciela Espinosa. She is studying romantic experiences, sexual attitudes and psychological adjustment among middle school and high school students living in Puebla, Mexico.
My other passions include writing, editing, and fashion—my guilty pleasure! I intern with Boutiika,
an online search engine for NYC boutiques, helping maintain the social networking sites, updating Twitter and Facebook with new sales and in-store events, as well as write the weekly newsletter.
Pg. 5
“The atmosphere of the honors office provides a great place to study for exams” Lauren Phillips ’13
and Going
ust beginning their journey at UNCW,
h excitement on the horizon.
Photo by Laura Keaton.
Leah Pursel and her son at Sigma Theta
Tau nursing honor’s society induction.
Pursel celebrates with a fellow officer after being elected as director of Breakthrough to Nursing.
Nursing Student Inspires Many
This student uses her leadership role to better the community
By Leah K. Pursel ’10
The University of North Carolina WilmingAs president, I also lead the gift drive for Operation
ton has granted me invaluable opportunities to imChristmas Child, a yearly event sponsored by Samariprove myself and serve the community. I will altan’s Purse. This year we collected over one hundred
ways remember the day I received my acceptance
shoeboxes filled with Christmas joy for needy children.
letter into the School of Nursing and that first day
Last spring I convinced the ANS leadership to hold
meeting my instructors. Those moments helped
a health fair in hopes of educating the student populamold me into a more disciplined and eager student.
tion about available resources. After months of planLast fall was my first term as the
ning and a lot of hard work, this event
president of ANS. I proposed that “I entered nursing
was a success. The Red Cross was
we adopt a local family that had fall- school with the hopes of able to join us for the health fair, and
en on hard times. My fellow officers
they collected over 65 units of blood.
agreed and found a single parent becoming a great leader
I was recently elected to the
whose daughter has leukemia. This
North Carolina Association of
and learning how to
twelve-year-old girl has been receivNursing Students as the Breakinitiate
positive
change.”
ing bone marrow treatments at Duke Unithrough to Nursing director. As diversity and has been confined to a hospital
rector, I will travel to local schools
bed for months. ANS raised money to assist this family.
and educate students about what it means to be a
The Association of Nursing Students has never
nurse. I will also reach out to those that have the dream
before adopted a family. The inspiration for this ento be at the bedside, but may not have the means.
deavor came from working with burdened families
I entered nursing school with the hopes of becomin the hospital—I always wanted to be able to do
ing a great leader and learning how to initiate positive
more to help. With the support of ANS officers and
change. In light of this desire to lead, I will return to
members, we were able to bring immense joy to
school to earn my MSN and eventually my Doctorate.
a family troubled by disease and uncertainty. This
I am currently interested in maternal-child care; I feel
has become my most meaningful accomplishment
that I can positively influence the course of a brand new
and will forever hold a special place in my heart.
life and make the transition into motherhood slightly
ANS has also been involved in several community
easier. My first job as a new nurse will be on the labor
walks to raise money for organizations that educate and
and delivery unit and I could not be more excited. impact those afflicted by disease. These walks include
Juvenile Diabetes, Walk for Those Who Can’t, Breast
Cancer, The Heart Walk, and the Walk for Babies.
Pg. 6
“I’ve really enjoyed living in the Honors House.... it’s a great group of people” Andrew Schofield ’14
Inside Honors
A look at Program Manager Bo Dean
By Miklos Mattyasovszky ’13
Bo Dean, Honors Scholars Program Manager, had
an unorthodox way of applying for his position with
the UNCW Honors Scholars Program.
“I put my application on Kate’s desk and said, ‘I
want to work for you,’” said Dean. He had heard
about Dr. Bruce’s reputation for creating a studentcentered environment.
The four-year Honors Program was under seven
years old when Dr. Kate Bruce, the Program Director, granted him an interview. Dean was hired, and
has since evolved into what many consider the face of
the Honors Program. He remains in constant contact
with students via e-mail, imploring them to fill out
surveys, sign up for volunteer opportunities, and come
to professor-student teas. These e-mails are a constant
reminder that the higher-ups—at least those on the
second floor of the library in the southeastern corner—
are looking out for them and their success.
“It’s so y’all always feel like somebody’s trying to
get to you, trying to send you information,” said Dean.
Dean himself attended a two-year college after high
school where a professor took special interest in him
and encouraged him to transfer to University of North
Carolina Chapel Hill. At UNC he made his first con-
Bo Dean and his honors collegues:
Dr. Kate Bruce, Dr. Bill Atwill, and Carole Reynolds
tact with an honors program, as well as his first experience with “cutting-edge research.”
After studying secondary education, Dean moved
to Wilmington where he found a position in the Honors Scholars Program.
“This is what I wanted, to be involved with high
ability students who are engaged in their learning,”
said Dean.
Dean says the most important part of his job is
helping with recruitment. His mission is to bring the
best and brightest high school applicants to UNCW.
“You belong in Honors,” he tells students, “because
you have achieved and shown that you’re mature
enough.”
Dean says that the Honors Program is student centered. “When you graduate, you should say, ‘it was all
about me, about my success, and they did everything
that they did in order to help me be successful.’”
Alumni News
Once an honors scholar, always an honors scholar
Patricia Brown (B.A. film studies, creative writing
’10) is currently living in the Baltimore/DC area and
working in the financial planning and wealth management industry.
Sarah Fann (B.S. marine biology, statistics ’10) is
currently completing a Fulbright fellowship in Townsville, Queensland, Australia where she works as a
statistics consultant for three laboratories at James
Cook University. She also spends time scuba diving, volunteering for other laboratories, and exploring
Australian cities and culture. Upon her return to the
U.S. she hopes to begin a Ph.D. program at Stanford
or the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Edye Strickland Kornegay (B.S. biology ’07) completed a bird banding internship at Point Reyes Bird
Observatory Palomarin Field Station in Bolinas, CA;
started a master’s program in Zoology at NC State
University in Fall 2008; and got married in August
2009. She is currently working on her master’s
thesis, which involves the study of species-habitat
relationships for birds in Guanica State Forest, Puerto
Rico.
Amy Metheny (B.A. film studies, B.S. biology ’10)
is attending the American Institute of Massage in
Richmond, VA, where she will continue her education
to become a certified massage therapist.
Pg. 7
“The Honors Program is very engaging and helped my transition into college” Sophia Aravidis ’14
Congratulations Fall 2010 Graduates!
University Honors with Honors in... Accountancy: Mark Schiavone
Biology: Amanda Korzep, Michelle
Pavlick, Caroline Toney, Casey Turner Elementary Education: Anna Strole English: Laura Challender Environmental
Studies: Maria Duffer, Alicia Farrow Film Studies: Sarah Bryan Marketing: Heather Hurley, Paul Rasp Marine
Biology: Christina Davis Political Science: Emily Stewart
Honors in... Biology: Elizabeth Freeman, Brittany Pace
Chemistry: Jonathan Rindner Mathematics: Adrian Coles
Nursing: Merri Gray Jones, Leah Pursel Physics: Zachary Williams Psychology: Vala Burton, Margie Hernandez Meija,
Justin Raines, Katherine Rios
1. Laura Challender with
her advisor Dr. Ashe
2. Bo Dean and Sarah Bryan
3. Sarah Bentil-Owusu, Sophia
Aravidis, Elyse Head, and
Whitney Polk
4. Emma Bogdan and Emily
Vallery with Chancellor DePaolo
Periplus Staff
Christine Stark - Editor
Tiffany Strickland - Editor
Bill Atwill - Advisor
Photos by honors students
The Honors Scholars
Program
UNCW
Note from the Editors:
This semester, the Honors Program
launched a new Media Board. We are
proud to have been a part of this project from its creation and are excited to
embrace the increased staff size as well
as the endeavors to come. A new honors
publication, the Second Story Journal,
is set to release twice a year. The journal
will include photos, poetry, short stories,
creative nonfiction, scholarly essays and
research papers. Submissions are to be
sent to Dr. Atwill at atwillw@uncw.edu.
We urge interested students to submit or
to be a part of the selection process.
601 South College Road
Wilmington NC, 28403
Tiffany Strickland ’11
tls2184@uncw.edu
www.uncw.edu/honors
910-962-4181
Christine Stark ’13
cms8657@uncw.edu
In Your Corner: Kate Bruce
It’s my 12th year in Honors and it has
given me:
12 Classes of unique first year scholars;
11 Spring Honors Medallioning ceremonies (12 for Fall!) ;
10 Days in the Amazon and Galapagos
with remarkable honors student travelers;
9 Exceptional Faculty Honors Council
members each year;
8 Fall Lyceum trips;
7 Years of CSURF;
6 Creative and dedicated Honors Mentors;
5 Incredible colleagues (Bill, Bo, Carole,
John and Martha);
4 Teaching in honors publications;
3 “Double Honors” graduates (two honors
projects);
2 Engaged honors student organizations;
And the best job of all at UNCW!
Give the Gift of Honors to Future Honors Students!
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