Tessa Angell
What did you apply to Mellon Scholars Program?
Because I was looking to have a more challenging academic experience at Hope.
What have you found most challenging about it?
Working independently- it's easier to have someone tell you what to do/how to do it- but can be a challenge
to create original, independent research.
How do you think your experience in the program has contributed to your experience at Hope College?
It has helped me be a better writer and researcher and these skills have translated to my other classes as
well.
What are your most significant accomplishments as a Mellon Scholar (i.e., projects, presentations, grants)?
Grant for independent summer research, summer 2011
Presenting my sophomore seminar research at CUR, spring 2011
What do you expect to do beyond your time at Hope College?
Seek employment, or perhaps teach in English or work abroad.
What advice would you give to a student who is considering the program?
You will learn valuable academic and presentation skills and will see the fruits of your labor!
Athina Alvarez
Why did you apply to Mellon Scholars Program?
I applied to the Mellon Scholars Program at the end of my Freshman year and my main goal was to become
a part of a group of scholars that would help me better my research and presentation skills. I saw the
Mellon Scholars Program as an opportunity to express my passion for Art History, French, Studio Art, and
Design all at once; something that I had not been able to do in regular classes. Seeing as most of my time is
spent with students and faculty who all belong to my fields of study, I was excited at the thought of being
able to learn more about the other departments and what they have to offer.
What have you found most challenging about it?
The most challenging part of the Program was the very first semester. I hadn't quite yet figured out how to
manage my time, how to organize my thoughts, how to present with confidence, or even how to bring forth
research that could be my own and unique in content and argument. I had my doubts about whether or not I
should even be a part of the program. Luckily, as time progressed, I realized that the skills I was working
hard to obtain would be useful not only for my Hope College career, but also for the real world and future
studies.
How do you think your experience in the program has contributed to your experience at Hope College?
Being a part of this Program truly broadened my horizons in all sense of the term. I was able to assist
numerous interdisciplinary events, constructively debate material with my peers, formulate my own
arguments, and work successfully as a team. The particular Mellon Scholars class of 2013 was remarkable
in terms of its genuine and gifted members and it was enlightening and refreshing to be around students
outside of my discipline. The Program has also made me participate more in Hope events, become more
active in the Hope community and it has made me want to do as much as possible to meet new people,
understand their viewpoints, and discover all that I can while at Hope.
What are your most significant accomplishments as a Mellon Scholar (i.e., projects, presentations, grants)?
As a Mellon Scholar, I have already experienced many great things. Besides presenting at venues such as
CUR, I also plan on presenting at the Holland Museum, Michigan Academy of Arts and Letters, as well as
Calvin College. I've been able to research original topics that interest me and that have no limitations. I've
designed two websites so far for digital projects, which gave me the opportunity to also put my Design
skills to use. Mellon also opened up numerous opportunities for me and I was glad to work on numerous
Design internships under the supervision of one of my mentors, Professor Stephanie Milanowski, on
launching a new consumable product, creating the Hope College Concert Series posters and Revue
Magazine advertisements, creating the HEI Annual Report and promotional posters, starting the Annual
Report for the Downs Syndrome Association of West Michigan, creating banners for various events, and I
have even begun designing possibilities for the Mellon Scholars brand. In the realm of Studio Art, I was
pleased to see that two of my large photographs made it into the DePree Gallery this past semester and that
another one of my photographs was chosen as the cover of the CUR Abstracts book for 2012. Overall,
Mellon Scholars has been a wonderful way to express all of my areas of interest and it has opened endless
doors to unforgettable opportunities.
What do you expect to do beyond your time at Hope College?
I plan on graduating from Hope with a triple major in French, Art History, and Studio Art. I plan to go to
Grad School for Photography and Design and to take on various internships for art restoration. My ideal
career is in the realm of art restoration in museums or small workshops in Europe. I also plan on being a
freelance photographer and designer. If time allows it, I would also be very interested in working as a
translator or photo-journalist.
What advice would you give to a student who is considering the program?
To any student considering the program, I would recommend to never think twice or doubt the Program's
benefits. It truly prepares you intellectually and it helps you find your own personality and voice. Mellon
allows you to step out of the ordinary mold and to research what interests you, all while offering you a
glimpse at all of the disciplines of Hope College.
Madalyn Muncy
Why did you apply to Mellon Scholars Program?
I applied to to the Mellon Scholars Program for a number of reasons. I knew that it would greatly enhance
my research skills, allow me to meet other students with similar research interests, as well as put me in a
position where I could work one-on-one with faculty members on my very own research projects.
However, the main reason I applied was the opportunity to discover my own research interests and develop
skills in new media that would be helpful to me in either graduate school or in a future career.
What have you found most challenging about it?
Mellon is a very challenging program, particularly in the first semester; however, what I continue to find
most challenging is the fact that I have other research papers and projects that I have to pursue as part of
my other classes. This past semester, all I wanted to do was work on my Mellon project because I enjoyed
what I was researching so much. Not only is it difficult to balance several major research projects (time
management is essential!), but because Mellon allows me so much "creative license" so to speak, I usually
would much rather throw all my energies into the project I have the greatest interest in.
How do you think your experience in the program has contributed to your experience at Hope College?
I definitely believe that the Mellon Program has opened a lot of doors for me at Hope. Last summer, I was a
part of the Summer Fellows Program where I was paid to research and create a documentary about the
campus racial climate at Hope. This documentary allowed me to make so many connections with others,
and as I continue to show it to audiences around the college, I am in awe of the discussions and questions
that my peers have raised over something that I worked so hard on. In addition, I have made so many
connections with professors that I probably would never have met or got to know otherwise.
What are your most significant accomplishments as a Mellon Scholar (i.e., projects, presentations, grants)?
Two specific instances stick out to me:
1. My May term summer grant project which I completed alongside Profs. Cole and Green and fellow
Mellon Scholar Tess Angell. This project includes a website and 30-minute documentary entitled, "A Hope
for Reconciliation: Building a More Inclusive College Community." The documentary has been viewed in
classrooms, showcases, as well as seminars for staff members.
2. My fall 2011 research project which I worked on with Professor Dykstra. As part of her American
Women Writers class, I wanted to work on a biography type project involving archives. I actually got to
research a woman named Ruth Keppel, who nobody has ever done research on before. Stepping into her
world at the Holland Museum Archives was the greatest research experience I have had.
What do you expect to do beyond your time at Hope College?
Right now that's an interesting question and one that I have been pondering as a second-semester junior.
Often graduate school for a Master's in library science has enticed me, but now that I'm spending a
semester in Washington, DC I continue to come back to law school as a possible option. Hopefully I figure
it out quite soon! Either way, I hope to put what I've learned in the Mellon program to work, whether in
graduate school or in a career.
What advice would you give to a student who is considering the program?
My ultimate advice would be stick with it. There were so many times where I considered quitting and now
that I'm in my junior year, I am so glad I didn't. In addition, take advantage of your professors. Stop by
Prof. Pannapacker or Heath's office and sit down with them. They are valuable resources that want you to
succeed. I remember Prof. Heath looking at my first research paper five times before I turned it in. They
really do care about how you're doing and feeling, so don't be intimidated. I recommend this program for
those who are really willing to work hard and discover what it means to do research and the kinds of
interesting things you're able to do within the humanities.
Katie Callam
Why did you apply to Mellon Scholars Program?
I applied to the Mellon program because I was intrigued by the application of technology to serious
scholarship. I was interested in both the opportunity to collaborate with faculty and in having a chance to
conduct independent research in the arts and humanities.
What have you found most challenging about it?
I have been challenged to find ways to present music history research using digital technology, as this has
not yet become common practice in the field of musicology.
How do you think your experience in the program has contributed to your experience at Hope College?
Being a part of the Mellon program has been a very rewarding part of my Hope experience. I have
especially enjoyed working with a diverse group of faculty from many arts and humanities disciplines. I am
also grateful for the opportunity to conduct independent research, as it has helped me to become a more
well-rounded scholar. My work with the Mellon program will certainly benefit me in graduate school and
beyond.
What are your most significant accomplishments as a Mellon Scholar (i.e., projects, presentations, grants)?
I presented my sophomore Mellon research project at the 2011 Hope Celebration of Undergraduate
Research. I received a 2011 summer research grant through the Mellon program to study composer Clara
Schumann's piano trio; I will present this research at the 2012 Hope CUR and the 2012 NCUR conference.
I am also a recipient of the 2011-2012 Earhart Emerging Scholars Award from the Michigan Colleges
Foundation.
What do you expect to do beyond your time at Hope College?
After graduating from Hope, I plan to attend graduate school to study musicology.
What advice would you give to a student who is considering the program?
I would encourage a student considering the Mellon program to give it a try. It involves a lot of hard work,
but presents numerous scholarly opportunities. Even if a Mellon scholar decides not to become a professor
or "professional" scholar, experiences from the Mellon program will be useful in further education and
beyond. Students will benefit from collaboration with the faculty involved with the Mellon program, as
they are some of Hope's finest.
Daniel Owens
What did you apply to Mellon Scholars Program?
As a history major, I viewed the program as a unique opportunity to develop my research skills while
cultivating strong relationships with professors across the disciplines. I was also intrigued by Mellon’s
emphasis on using digital technology to share scholarly work.
What have you found most challenging about it?
For me, the first tutorial was the most challenging aspect of the program to date. I had never conducted
“scholarly research”, that is, written a paper that makes an argument. Thus, nearly all the techniques and
skills addressed during the semester were new to me.
How do you think your experience in the program has contributed to your experience at Hope College?
Through my participation in the Mellon Scholars Program, I have acquired a firm foundation of critical
thinking, research, and writing skills. Further, Mellon has provided me with an array of opportunities to
engage with professors from a variety of disciplines. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning from their
different perspectives and look forward to maintaining these relationships even after I graduate from Hope.
What are your most significant accomplishments as a Mellon Scholar (i.e., projects, presentations, grants)?
Presenting my paper on Thabo Mbeki’s “African Renaissance” at the 2011 Arts and Humanities
Colloquium was probably the academic highlight of my sophomore year. It was my first opportunity to
present in a scholarly forum and prepared me well for my presentations this spring at Notre Dame, NCUR,
and the International Studies Association Annual Convention in San Diego.
What do you expect to do beyond your time at Hope College?
I plan to pursue a Masters degree in International Relations or African Studies. Ultimately, I hope to work
for an international organization on issues broadly related to conflict resolution in Africa.
What advice would you give to a student who is considering the program?
Take full advantage of the opportunities you have to work one-on-one with professors. They are a wealth of
knowledge and will be a great asset for you both in your research and in your development as a person.