Class of 2024 Archives - �鶹ӰԺ University

Student’s research explores mysteries of forgotten meteorite fragment ‘rediscovered’ at �鶹ӰԺ

Communications — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 20:20:43 +0000

Hal M. DeLong ’24 graduated from �鶹ӰԺ University in June with a double major in geosciences and German. He did his Chandler Senior Experience research on the human, geological, and cosmic story of an iron meteorite from Namibia that is in the Geosciences Department’s collection. Marcia Bjornerud, the Walter Schober Professor of Environmental Studies and professor of geosciences, found the meteorite fragment in a locked box in a sub-basement beneath old Stephenson Hall a week before the building was torn down in 1998 to make way for Steitz Hall of Science. There is a partially legible label on the meteorite that reads, “German Southwest Africa,” which was the colonial name of Namibia until 1919. In his report below, DeLong explores how the fragment came to be at �鶹ӰԺ and the stories it can tell.

—

Some 70,000 years ago, a great streak of light tore across the sky, the end of its path marked with a flash: a massive explosion miles above the desert landscape of southwest Africa. This violent spectacle threw chunks of metal, with an aggregate weight 26 tons, still smoldering, even partly molten, across a vast swath of the desert.

Though it’s unknown if this incredible event was witnessed by early human eyes, the pieces it left certainly did make themselves known to a number of groups: the Nama people, colonial-era explorers, and modern geoscientists, to name a few. This was the beginning of the earthly story for what today is known as the Gibeon Meteorite, which exploded in the skies over what today is Namibia all those thousands of years ago.

And somehow, a small piece of this meteorite ended up at �鶹ӰԺ University, only to be forgotten about and nearly lost forever. Just how did it end up here—and what stories lie hidden in this little piece of cosmic metal?

Before delving into these mysteries, it’s worth explaining how I came to realize there was something special about �鶹ӰԺ’s Gibeon fragment. Our paths first crossed during Winter Term of 2023, during a session of History of Earth and Life with Professor Marcia Bjornerud. On this particular day, we discussed how different stages in the development of the solar system are recorded in different types of meteorites, all the while passing around hand samples of the different types to literally get a feel for them. Every rock we see, ever rock we touch, tells a story—and as budding geoscientists, my peers and I are taught well to “read” rocks to interpret those stories that are hidden within.

The meteorite samples we passed around, with ages of around four and a half billion years, tell stories that are key in understanding how Earth came to be: most stony meteorites are samples of the primordial matter from which the solar system formed, older than the planets themselves; iron meteorites are a bit younger, born in the hearts of massive bodies large and long-lived enough for the metallic elements within to sink to their cores (much like Earth with its metallic core)—though unlike Earth, these bodies too were ripped apart, sending pieces of their metallic hearts adrift through the vacuum of space. Many of these bodies are still out in space, dancing in the voids between planets as asteroids.

The small fragment of the meteorite landed in storage at �鶹ӰԺ University.

Others, though, end up on crash courses with the larger bodies that outlived them, and some of these tear through Earth’s atmosphere as meteors. Hurtling in from space, most meteors experience violent ends when they strike Earth’s surface or, in the case of the Gibeon, explode while still airborne. Once they hit the ground, these messengers from the early solar system are deemed meteorites: keepers of geologic stories older than any found on Earth.

When the meteorite fragment reached me, I felt not only awe of these hidden stories, but also surprise. One side of the sample had a spectacular cross-hatched pattern on it, reflecting the crystallization of molten iron-nickel alloy deep in the interior of an ancient ill-fated planet. This was the side to look at for those stories of deep time we were to explore in that course. But I flipped it over before sending it on to the next person, and was greeted with another surprise in the form of a damaged label sticker:

“MUKEROP/ (Amalia-Goamus)/ Ger. S. W. Africa, Off./ Finest Oct., F’d 19[XX], [X]OO[X…]”

I wasn’t expecting this little record-keeper to bear signs of a literally legible story. But this is where my other major comes into play. Being a student of German as well as geoscience, I have learned much about the German Empire’s colonial exploits in Africa, from the “Scramble for Africa” in the 1880s through Germany’s forced ceding of its colonies at the conclusion of World War I. I recognized instantly that this piece, in having its place of discovery named, doubtlessly had some sort of ties to German colonialism in Namibia (once known as German Southwest Africa). But how did this chunk of cosmic metal make its way from a former German colony to a university some 8,000 miles away?

A damaged label provides clues to the meteorite fragment.

I pondered this as Professor Bjornerud told us a story about how she rediscovered the meteorite samples we handled. In 1998, prior to the construction of Steitz Hall, the building then at that site, Stephenson Hall—the long-time home of the Geology Department—had to be emptied and demolished. Moving everything in the department, including a century’s worth of rocks, books, and equipment, was a formidable task. Just a week prior to the wrecking machines’ arrival, however, a forgotten subbasement under Stephenson was found hidden behind a display case, filled to the ceiling with crates of more rock samples.

Professor Bjornerud, then still fairly new to �鶹ӰԺ, knew that it would be impossible to save everything, and decided to focus on identifying and rescuing unique or noteworthy samples. In searching through the basement, a further odd discovery was made: a locked metal box. With a few hits from a rock hammer, the box was opened, and inside was a collection of meteorites. Had that box not been cracked in time, had that basement not been rediscovered in time, these time-traveling artifacts would have been lost forever. To think that all that separated billions of years of storytelling from being lost to us was a matter of days…

This fascinating story again begged the same question: how did this meteorite end up here? And beyond that, how and why was it forgotten about? How many other stories might be hidden within the patterns dancing on the surface of this little piece of metal?

These were the questions I sought to uncover in my senior capstone project, using research resources here at �鶹ӰԺ. Though my majors may seem to be largely discrete fields of study, this is not so. Earlier in my junior year, I wasn’t quite sure if I could find an interdisciplinary capstone project involving German and geoscience. In first meeting this meteorite, I knew I’d found at least one solid connection.

Study Geosciences at �鶹ӰԺ

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These connections only grew in number with the more scholarly research I’d uncovered online. Using resources including the Mudd Library’s online scholarly search tools, I discovered that German-speaking scientists made fundamental contributions to the study of meteorites. In fact, it was a German scientist, Ernst Chladni, who in 1794, was the first in modern Western science to suggest that meteorites had an extraterrestrial origin. Another German scientist, E. Wiechert, was in 1897 the first to suggest that iron-nickel meteorites originated in the cores of ancient planetoids, a bold statement considering this predated the confirmation of Earth having a metallic core by some three decades.

Beyond connections such as these, my work on the meteorite’s “biography” was also united by the analytical approaches of my two disciplines. In the German department, an approach commonly used in classes is New Historicism, which entails interpreting works or artifacts of any medium as texts that in association with each other also speak to the cultural contexts they are developed within. In the Geosciences Department, similarly, we see rocks as complex texts. Professor Bjornerud calls this “reading the rocks”—learning the ways in which various events and processes leave their signatures in rock. I realized that my two majors, as dissimilar as they seem, ultimately employ quite similar methods of analysis. By bringing both together in a reading of this meteorite and texts surrounding the larger Gibeon Meteorite, I’ve been able to compile a much more holistic version of the story than would otherwise have been possible.

That brings us back to the �鶹ӰԺ connections. What do known documents say about how a piece of the Gibeon meteorite ended up here?

Though a definitive answer was ultimately not uncovered during my project (though one may exist out there somewhere!), the deep dives I took into �鶹ӰԺ’s archives, with the help of archivist Claire Cannell, did suggest a likely chain of events. The incomplete label no longer lists a full year (19[XX]), but based on tiny flecks of ink that remain, it can be reasonably interpreted that the third number is a 1. Based on when the German colony of German Southwest Africa existed, that narrows it down slightly further to 1910 to about 1918. The names “Mukerop (Amalia-Goamus)” on the label indicates it was found on one of the neighboring colonial-era farmsteads of Amalia and Goamus, near where a sacred rock formation known as the Mukurob, or Mukerop, stood. Though not part of the meteorite itself and unrelated beyond the name, the Mukurob also had its place as an important piece of geological history in Namibia. Several variations of myths surround the former sandstone finger jutting into the sky, fittingly named “God’s Finger” in the language of the local Nama people. One such story states that once the formation fell, the reign of white colonial control in the country would come to an end. And it did—only about a year after the Mukurob fell following heavy rains in 1988, Namibia achieved independence from South Africa.

The Gibeon meteorite, found in the same region, has also been an important part of Nama culture. For centuries Nama artisans have used meteoritic iron to craft spearheads and other objects and the meteorite fragments are considered national treasures with strict legal protections. Today, even searching for remaining meteorite pieces is illegal. These regulations represent a reaction to exploitation during colonial times, when settlers (largely white Europeans, especially Germans pre-WWI) collected literal tons of Gibeon material to be shipped back to Europe. This fostered a substantial amount of geologic research to be done, but at a great cost: the plundering of resources, including minerals and meteorites, was part of a larger humanitarian crisis that culminated with the genocide of the native Nama and Herero under German rule from 1904 to 1908.

… But back to �鶹ӰԺ.

I spent many hours in the Mudd Library’s archives, with guidance from Cannell, poring over the entire documented history they have on the Geology (and since 2019, Geoscience) Department at �鶹ӰԺ. Going through about 100 years’ worth of documents is no small task. Where does one even start? Armed with a trusty notebook and pencil, I went through folder by folder, box by box, taking notes on each document that might yield clues as to how this meteorite piece got to �鶹ӰԺ. That brought me to this most likely chain of events:

“Going through about 100 years’ worth of documents is no small task. Where does one even start? Armed with a trusty notebook and pencil, I went through folder by folder, box by box, taking notes on each document that might yield clues as to how this meteorite piece got to �鶹ӰԺ.”
– Hal M. Delong ’24

In the 1940s, several students in the geology department were destined to go on to adventurous international careers in mineral exploration. Among these students was Harry Abendroth ’49, a protégé of Professor William (Bill) Read (1941-81), an avid researcher and collector of North American meteorites. The locked box from the Stephenson Hall subbasement included several other meteorites—all from North America—and notes written by Read. But the sole Namibian sample is a definite outlier. A possible clue to how it ended up in his collection appears in an article in The Lawrentian from Jan. 20, 1956. The article describes a visit from alumnus Abendroth in late 1955, in which he gave a presentation to students and faculty of the Geology Department: “Abendroth recently returned from several years of field work on chrome deposits in the Transvaal [South Africa]. … The geologist illustrated his remarks with colored slides showing methods of mapping and diamond drilling, as well as with pictures of rock types encountered and general views of the terrain. A suite of specimens, also used to illustrate the lecture, was left by Abendroth to be added to the �鶹ӰԺ minerals collection.”

Although the article does not mention the specific nature of these specimens, it’s entirely likely that the Gibeon fragment was among them. Given the geographic proximity of South Africa to Namibia and Abendroth’s interest in metals, it’s possible that the Gibeon sample may have been picked up somewhere along his travels in southern Africa and given as a gift to his old mentor, Professor Read, during this visit.

Reading the rocks doesn’t always mean reading word-for-word. Sometimes, reasonable interpretations have to be made in the face of some uncertainty. While there is no means to verify the story beyond any doubt, we now have a general sense of the journey that this ancient metallic globetrotter (and space-trotter!) took from the depths of the solar system to southern Africa to a �鶹ӰԺ subbasement and back into the classroom.

There is history that is yet to be written, too. In the interest of repatriating this piece, given that it was collected during colonial times under ethically dubious circumstances, I contacted the National Earth Science Museum in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, to see if they would be interested in receiving this piece. They said yes! The next leg of its journey is now on the horizon, returning it to the land it rightfully belongs to after all this time.

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�鶹ӰԺ senior Paola Saldana Galvan secures fellowship with Foreign Agricultural Service

Communications — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 20:39:37 +0000

Senior Paola Saldana Galvan cultivated a passion for international relations through her years at �鶹ӰԺ University, culminating in securing a fellowship with the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

After graduation, the FAS will support Saldana Galvan through her graduate studies, after which she will work for them full-time.

“Throughout the time, I’ll be having internships and mentorship opportunities with Foreign Service officers, learning more about American agriculture and diplomacy,” Saldana Galvan said.

Much of her work, Saldana Galvan said, will be in international USDA business, trade policy, and food security initiatives. She will be able to help connect American agricultural businesses and farmers with opportunities to grow abroad.

The international relations major from Chicago, Illinois, is passionate about travel, the world, and political science. A clarinet player for more than 10 years, her journey to �鶹ӰԺ began with music.

Saldana Galvan said she first encountered �鶹ӰԺ at the Merit School of Music in Chicago. Two �鶹ӰԺ alumni have worked at and led Merit since 1993: Duffie Adelson ‘73, a longtime employee and former president (2007-2015), helped shape much of the programming and the future of the school, and Charles Grode ‘91 took over as president and executive director in 2015.

“I knew that �鶹ӰԺ had a really good conservatory and that I wanted to keep playing clarinet while I was studying,” Saldana Galvan said.

The world-class conservatory, smaller class sizes, and travel opportunities at �鶹ӰԺ all appealed to Saldana Galvan. She considered pursuing the dual degree program to follow her love of the clarinet but ultimately found her passion is with international relations.

On her first visit to �鶹ӰԺ, Saldana Galvan visited Jason Brozek’s Intro to International Relations class. She found Brozek, Stephen Edward Scarff Professor of International Affairs and associate professor of government, a captivating instructor and was immersed in the topic.

After class, she was able to sit down with Brozek and talk about �鶹ӰԺ and the Appleton community, which ultimately supported her decision to attend.

“It (international relations) was not something I had previously heard of or considered studying,” Saldana Galvan said. “I ended up choosing international relations because I was interested in being able to travel and learn more about the world…and just immerse myself in that learning.”

Saldana Galvan had the opportunity to do just that over spring break when she embarked on a trip to The Gambia as part of the interdisciplinary course Field Experience in Development. Led by Brozek and Claudena Skran, Edwin & Ruth West Professor of Economics and Social Science and professor of government, the trip allowed students to conduct research abroad and give back to a local community.

While on the trip, Saldana Galvan learned more about The Gambian agricultural sector, how the Gambian government, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) work together, and food security and nutrition initiatives in the country. She was able to speak to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Green-Up Gambia, an environmental NGO.

“It was a really transformative experience for me,” Saldana Galvan said. “It helped me learn a lot about what makes up the agricultural sector in other places, and how this knowledge can apply to my future career and how closely international travel and opportunities in new and exciting places align to my values.”

Saldana Galvan’s passion for international relations extends beyond the classroom to her involvement as president of the Model United Nations organization on campus. As part of the group, participants meet up with other “delegates” representing a certain country and work together to solve global problems.

Model UN also participates in annual conferences. At the start of Spring Term, they traveled to New York City for a conference. As part of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) committee, one of the topics she worked on was the displacement of children.

“Even though it’s a simulation, it’s still something that’s educational, and it feels meaningful while you’re there,” Saldana Galvan said. “It’s a really good opportunity to grow some of our diplomatic skills and make connections with organizations like the U.N. and learn more about how they work.”

As a first-generation student, Saldana Galvan said while she was fortunate to meet a lot of people from different departments across campus, she appreciated the help from �鶹ӰԺ in connecting her to campus.

“I think that �鶹ӰԺ does a really good job of connecting you with opportunities and mentors and advisors and connecting you with people in the right places to be able to get what you need out of your education,” Saldana Galvan said.

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Commencement 2024: 15 things to know as �鶹ӰԺ prepares to celebrate its graduates

Communications — Fri, 31 May 2024 00:47:57 +0000

Let the celebrations begin.

�鶹ӰԺ University will hold its Commencement at 10 a.m. June 9 on Main Hall Green. It will conclude a weekend of festivities, all honoring the accomplishments of the Class of 2024. Here are 15 things to know as you prepare for the weekend.

1: Graduates, this is for you: 341 graduates are set to walk the Commencement stage on June 9. Of those, 272 will receive Bachelor of Arts degrees, 29 will receive Bachelor of Music degrees, 27 will receive Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Music Dual Degrees, and 13 will receive Bachelor of Musical Arts degrees. They then join an alumni community more than 22,000 strong.

Pawo Choyning Dorji ’06

2: Commencement speaker: Pawo Choyning Dorji ’06, a Bhutanese filmmaker, will address the graduates and others in attendance. Dorji’s debut film, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, drew international acclaim, earning major awards at film festivals and receiving a 2022 Oscar nomination in the Best International Feature Film category. It was filmed in a remote school in the Himalayas, 14,500 feet above sea level and a 14-day trek from the nearest motorable road. Dorji followed that with the release in 2023 of The Monk and the Gun, a satire also filmed in Bhutan. It won awards at multiple film festivals and was shortlisted for a 2024 Oscar. Variety magazine selected it as the fifth best film of 2023 in its annual best films of the year feature. Dorji will receive an honorary doctorate degree at Commencement.

James Gandre ’81

3: Baccalaureate speaker: James Gandre ’81, president of Manhattan School of Music in New York City, will deliver an address to graduates and their families at the Baccalaureate Service in Memorial Chapel on June 8. He has served as president of Manhattan School of Music since 2013. He was in various leadership positions at the school from 1985 to 2000 before taking on leadership roles at Roosevelt University in Chicago and the Chicago College of Performing Arts. He then returned to Manhattan School of Music as its president. A tenor vocalist, Gandre also is an accomplished performer. He will receive an honorary doctorate degree at Commencement.

Monique Johnson ’24

4: Senior class speaker: Monique Johnson ’24, a government major from Brooklyn, New York, will address her classmates as the 2024 senior class speaker. Among the youngest members of the graduating class, Johnson arrived at �鶹ӰԺ as a Posse Scholar in the fall of 2020 at the age of 16. She has embraced the �鶹ӰԺ experience every step of the way, leading and/or participating in �鶹ӰԺ University Community Council (LUCC), the Beta Psi Nu sorority, Black Student Union (BSU), African and Caribbean Union (ACU), and the LU Cheer Team. She also served for two and a half years as a Community Advisor in Residential Education. She plans to pursue law school.

5: Thank you to faculty retirees: Five retiring members of the �鶹ӰԺ faculty will be honored during Commencement. Psychology professor Beth Haines, anthropology professor Peter Peregrine, and three music faculty in the Conservatory—John Daniel, Matthew Michelic, and Steven Jordheim—will bid farewell at the close of the 2023-24 academic year. Haines, Peregrine, Daniel, and Michelic will be at Commencement to receive their citations and honors for their exemplary work through the years.

6: Faculty awards: The annual faculty awards have long been a part of Commencement. Honorees will be announced for the Faculty Award for Scholarly Achievement, Excellence in Teaching, and Excellence in Teaching by Early-Career Faculty.

7: The processional: President Laurie A. Carter will lead the processional, joined by Board of Trustees Chair Cory Nettles ’92 and faculty marshal Celia Barnes, associate professor of English. Carter and Nettles will address graduates and guests during Commencement.

8: All that music: Look for music during Commencement from the �鶹ӰԺ University Graduation Band, led by Andrew Mast, associate dean of the Conservatory, Kimberly-Clark Professor of Music, and director of bands.

9: Sign language: There will be an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter at the ceremony.

10: Livestream: If you can’t be there in person, you can check out a livestream of Commencement. .

11: Senior art: As is tradition, the annual Senior Art Exhibition will be on display throughout Commencement weekend in Wriston Art Center Galleries. It will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 7-8 and noon-4 p.m. June 9.

12: Grads in concert: The annual Commencement Concert will be held 7:30 p.m. June 7 in Memorial Chapel. It features members of the 2024 graduating class.

13: Cookout on Main Hall Green: Graduates, their families, and the �鶹ӰԺ community are invited to join President Carter for a cookout from noon to 1:30 p.m. June 8 on Main Hall Green. The cookout also will be an opportunity for graduates and their guests to meet Dorji.

14: Baccalaureate Service: This annual multi-faith celebration will be held at 2:30 p.m. June 8 in Memorial Chapel. James Gandre ’81 will be the guest speaker.

15: Post-Commencement celebration: The recessional following Commencement will take graduates through the �鶹ӰԺ Arch and east along College Avenue. They will then gather with family, friends, and other supporters on the patio and green space in front of Mudd Library. The arch is now part of tradition at �鶹ӰԺ. Incoming students process through the arch on their way to the President’s Welcome during Welcome Week, signaling their arrival as undergraduates. Graduates then go through the arch following Commencement, signaling the close of their undergraduate studies and the beginning of a new chapter as �鶹ӰԺ alumni.

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Senior Eli Elder finds his path by blending mathematics, music in B.M.A. degree

Communications — Fri, 24 May 2024 13:39:24 +0000

Senior Eli Elder was working to solve the equation of what school would allow him to study within a traditional college setting and a world-class conservatory. He found there was only one answer.

Elder, of Highland Park, Illinois, chose to study at �鶹ӰԺ University primarily because of the Bachelor of Musical Arts (B.M.A.) degree, first introduced as a degree option in 2019. The program offers students a 50-50 split between music studies and their choice of another field in the liberal arts landscape. �鶹ӰԺ now has four degree options: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Music Dual Degree, and the B.M.A.

Elder’s field of choice was mathematics.

“(The B.M.A. program) allows me to study music and math in a really easy way that’s built into the fabric of the program,” Elder said. “I don’t have to jump through hoops to be able to study both.”

Although Elder had first intended to choose physics as his cognate, he said he was swayed by his math prerequisites. The professors and the classes were interesting to him, and he chose math as his concentration.

Even within the world of math, Elder has ample opportunity to embrace the liberal arts education at �鶹ӰԺ.

“I’ve taken a lot of math classes, but I’ve also been able to take stats classes, computer science, poetry, pretty much whatever I want to,” Elder said.

Meanwhile, within the Conservatory, Elder’s focus is in jazz and contemporary improvisation with a concentration in jazz saxophone. The B.M.A. program allows students to audition for the Conservatory with a non-classical repertoire, creating an adaptable and modern path forward as a musician.

Learn more about Conservatory of Music

Integrate intellectual and musical virtuosity in a supportive community that will empower you to find your musical path.

Elder has been able to work with musicians and artists from across all genres and disciplines.

“The community, everyone is just so nice to each other, and there’s so many opportunities to collaborate with all different types of musicians, all different types of instruments,” Elder said, “and everyone’s just so willing and excited to.”

Elder also took his interests abroad with the Budapest Semesters in Mathematics Education. While in Budapest, he was able to learn about the Hungarian pedagogy of mathematics and how it’s applied in middle schools and high schools.

One of the most prominent things he learned, Elder said, was the spiral curriculum. Instead of taking one subject each year, like most schools in America, Hungarian schools will touch on each subject, then circle back every year with more rigorous lessons.

Elder also learned about their inquiry-based and discovery-based learning. Instead of teachers lecturing and students taking notes, the class solves problems together, and their results allow them to fully understand the theorems.

For Elder, the trip was an eye-opening experience.

“The support that �鶹ӰԺ gave me in applying, finding the program, getting funding was very, very helpful, and it was a life-changing experience for me,” Elder said.

Study mathematics at �鶹ӰԺ

Choose from a major in mathematics (with the option of a statistics track) or a major in mathematics-economics.

Following graduation, Elder plans to pursue his passion for mathematics and education by attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison to earn his master’s in curriculum and instruction for secondary mathematics.

He has also been equipped by his liberal arts education to bring the arts to the classroom—even the math classroom.

“Implementing the arts is definitely a great way to further education,” Elder said. “How can we relate these ideas? So, implementing (the arts) both on the student and educator side.”

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Monique Johnson named 2024 senior class speaker for �鶹ӰԺ’s June 9 Commencement

Communications — Wed, 22 May 2024 15:39:31 +0000

Monique Johnson, a government major from Brooklyn, New York, with plans to pursue law school after graduation, has been named the senior class speaker for �鶹ӰԺ University’s June 9 Commencement.

Among the youngest members of the 2024 graduating class, Johnson arrived at �鶹ӰԺ as a Posse Scholar in the fall of 2020 at the age of 16—she doubled up her sophomore and junior years of high school. With the COVID-19 pandemic in full effect, it was a lot to take in for Johnson, a Caribbean-American and first-generation college student leaving the familiarity of New York City for a small liberal arts college 1,000 miles from home.

She found at �鶹ӰԺ a community that allowed her to thrive.

“�鶹ӰԺ became the home I never knew I needed,” Johnson said. “I ended up spending my entire junior year here, including winter break, spring break, summer. I got to study abroad in Rome. I got to meet amazing people and make lifelong relationships whether that be professional relationships or just with my peers. I met my best friend here. All those things—professionally, socially, academically—all matched. It was everything that I was looking for in a university.”

Johnson will share that journey when she addresses her classmates, families, and the �鶹ӰԺ community at Commencement, set for 10 a.m. Sunday, June 9. She was one of 13 members of the graduating class who submitted speeches for consideration to be senior class speaker. She was chosen by a committee of faculty and staff.

During her time at �鶹ӰԺ, Johnson served as treasurer of �鶹ӰԺ University Community Council (LUCC), worked for two and a half years as a Community Advisor in Residential Education, was a member of Beta Psi Nu, Black Student Union (BSU), and African and Caribbean Union (ACU), and was a leader on the LU Cheer Team.

It was the New York-based Posse Foundation that initially put �鶹ӰԺ on Johnson’s radar. �鶹ӰԺ has partnered with Posse since 2007—the nonprofit organization assesses and develops high school students from diverse backgrounds who show leadership potential. After being nominated for a Posse scholarship, Johnson went through six months of preparation, including multiple interviews. Among the Posse partner colleges, she put �鶹ӰԺ as her No. 1 choice even though the pandemic kept her from partaking in an in-person visit. For that, much credit goes to Kate Zoromski, �鶹ӰԺ’s associate dean of academic success and a mentor to Posse 14.

“Kate Zoromski came into our meetings in our pre-collegiate training, and the level of comfort that she brought in was amazing—that’s her aura,” Johnson said. “I thought, if everyone else at �鶹ӰԺ is like this one person, this is going to be an absolutely amazing experience.”

Zoromski was equally impressed with Johnson, noting how prepared she was and how focused she was on building her future.

“She asked me questions most first-years don’t even think about until sophomore or junior year,” Zoromski said.

That has continued through Johnson’s four years on campus. She has shown an impressive level of determination and conscientiousness, with exceptional problem-solving skills.

“When she sets her sights on a goal, stand back because nothing is going to stand in her way,” Zoromski said.

Johnson and Zoromski have developed a tight bond.

“We’ve shared some tears, but we’ve also laughed until we cried,” Zoromski said. “She calls me Mama Kate, and she’s always the first to text me birthday and Mother’s Day wishes. I feel incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to get to know her.”

After Commencement, Johnson is turning her attention to the next step—law school. She will take a gap year to study for and take her LSAT exam, then apply to law schools for enrollment in fall of 2025, with her eye on being a practicing attorney by age 24. Her focus is on criminal defense.

“I couldn’t be prouder of all her achievements at �鶹ӰԺ—in and out of the classroom,” Zoromski said. “But I’m perhaps most proud of how she is not deterred by challenges that get in her way. I have no doubt Mo is leaving this campus with what she needs to be successful in her life after �鶹ӰԺ. Keep your eyes on Mo. She’s brilliant and resourceful, and she’s got a bright future ahead of her.”

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Inspired by parents, senior Adnan Sarancic pursues paralegal career with focus on helping others

Communications — Fri, 17 May 2024 13:24:31 +0000

Senior Adnan Sarancic, an international relations major from Gurnee, Illinois, has left his mark in both academics and athletics at �鶹ӰԺ University. He plans to use his experiences at �鶹ӰԺ within the paralegal field after graduation.

Sarancic’s interest in international relations stems from his family’s story. His parents fled their home in the former Yugoslavia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina) in 1993 as result of the Bosnian genocide.

“They came to America knowing no English with only the clothes on their backs and very little money to their name,” Sarancic said. “They truly achieved the American dream and have sacrificed so much for my brother (Jusuf Sarancic ’16) and me to set us up for success and allow us to pursue our own dreams.”

Witnessing the hardships of his parents inspired Sarancic to pursue a career where he could help others, particularly in the legal field. The difficulty of the paperwork involved in immigration sparked his interest, amplified with an academic interest in war history. With an alumni connection through his older brother, Sarancic knew that �鶹ӰԺ was a good fit early on in his college search process.

“My growing love for law made it a no-brainer for me to pursue a career in the legal field and try to help others in a way that is both effective and one that I am passionate about,” Sarancic said. “I was recruited to play basketball, and I knew �鶹ӰԺ had gone well for my brother.”

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Examine pressing issues of international security, challenges of political economies, and the influence of international institutions.

A forward on the men’s basketball team, Sarancic believes in the importance of team camaraderie. He loves being a part of a team environment and going through shared successes and struggles with his peers.

Sarancic earned Academic All-District honors and was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the national college athlete honor society. He also was able to study abroad in London for a term, which he describes as the “most influential and enjoyable 10 weeks” of his time as an undergraduate.

“I think the ability for student-athletes to study abroad is one of the aspects of �鶹ӰԺ that makes it so appealing due to our trimester system,” Sarancic said. “I had to keep myself accountable, which I think is an incredibly beneficial skill.”

Sarancic was able to study abroad in London while still enjoying his basketball season. Sarancic’s experiences on the team and abroad have helped him gain perspective he hopes to use in the field of law.

The past two summers have also been filled with opportunity for Sarancic, as he worked as a legal intern in Chicago for a private criminal law firm, Nishay K. Sanan, Esq. Sarancic spent his time under Sanan taking notes on cases, meeting clients, and sitting in on meetings.

“It was an incredible opportunity and I’m incredibly grateful for him,” Sarancic said.

After graduation, Sarancic looks forward to being part of a team again, this time in the legal field rather than on the basketball court. He will begin a two-year paralegal position in New York with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates. The job will expand on his previous experiences, working with about 20 team members.

“I am super excited for it,” Sarancic said. “I’ll help out where needed, fill out paperwork, and learn the nuts and bolts of law.”

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Concerto winner Evan Ney looks to showcase new music from alumnus, Conservatory students

Communications — Wed, 08 May 2024 14:12:31 +0000

“I was over the moon,” said Evan Ney, a �鶹ӰԺ University fifth-year student seeking a Bachelor of Music in saxophone performance and Bachelor of Arts in English.

He had just won the annual �鶹ӰԺ University Wind Ensemble Concerto Competition, and he was set to perform Ingolf Dahl’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Orchestra. In late April, he took the concerto to Memorial Chapel, with a striking interpretation that favored drama and genuine passion. Accompanied by the university’s Wind Ensemble, under the baton of Andrew Mast, major works by Joseph Bologne and Frank Ticheli also were featured.

The concerto itself is Dahl’s best-known work, featuring three distinct, highly evocative movements. It opens with a recitative, where the phrases are rhetorical and gestural—almost spoken, explained Ney. The contrasting second movement features increased lyricism and interplay between the soloist and band.

“It’s just a romp—it’s just fun”, Ney said of the third movement. As an optimistic finale, it evokes Dahl’s well-known wit alongside references to popular music.

Ney cites dramatic stylistic shifts and the final movement’s velocity as particular challenges. However, there is a more notable concern at play.

“It stretches your ears; we’re not working with major and minor chords all the time,” he said, “It’s not atonal [but] it’s stretching our understanding of harmony into some really rewarding, but also challenging ways.”

Next up? Recital of commissioned music

Ney is now gearing up to extend his musical journey with an upcoming recital, the culmination of his time at �鶹ӰԺ. It’s set for 11 a.m. May 12 in Harper Hall.

“For me, this is the most distinctive project of all,” he said. “It’s been years in the making.”

When the Haverhill, Massachusetts, native arrived at �鶹ӰԺ five years ago, he pondered two related questions: “What are my heroes doing in the saxophone world?” and “What do we need as saxophonists?”

A singular answer? New music.

“Our compositional lineage doesn’t really go back that far compared to other classical instruments,” Ney said. “The saxophonists I look up to are premiering new work and they’re working with composers.”

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With a clear goal in mind, Ney began planning a contemporary-focused recital as early as his sophomore year.

“A major part was getting my own playing to a level where I could actually play these [newer] pieces,” he said.

Oftentimes, contemporary classical repertoire, particularly for saxophone, is chock full of extended techniques, which ask the performer to undertake especially difficult sound manipulation. Of all Western instruments, the saxophone is particularly versatile in this regard.

“One of the things I’ve really enjoyed during my study here is unlocking these different abilities and new sounds,” Ney said.

Indeed, the instrument can switch between what sounds like a startling train horn to a pensive whistle in mere seconds.

“I see them as expressive tools,” Ney said, “not just displays of virtuosity, but a sound that says and means something.”

This perspective led Ney to commission a host of composers for new saxophone works. After securing a grant from the Chandler Senior Experience Fund, he sent dozens of emails to colleagues and teachers, asking for their composer recommendations.

“The one person who kept coming up over and over again was Daniel Whitworth, a �鶹ӰԺ [2018 graduate] saxophonist and composer,” Ney said.

Whitworth’s name is no stranger to saxophonists, given that he composed a major sonata for the instrument.

“If everyone in your life is telling you to do something, you need to do it,” Ney said.

After reaching out to Whitworth, the composer wrote him a work for saxophone and electronics, driven by rhythm and timbre. Notably, it incorporates a passage where the saxophonist must employ circular breathing, seamlessly maintaining airflow without interruption.

Ney also commissioned composer Ethan Isaac, who specializes in microtonal music—where a scale is divided into smaller parts than a standard piano. The result is a fascinating collage of percussive sounds and multiphonics, a special technique where the instrument is able to play multiple pitches simultaneously.

The project also showcases the compositions of two �鶹ӰԺ students: fifth-year Jasper Kashou, a music education and music performance (saxophone) double major, and myself, a fourth-year music composition and art history double major.

Kashou’s work mixes bluegrass and contemporary techniques for an ensemble of saxophone, banjo, and double bass. My composition emphasizes the transition between air and sound, using texture in place of pitch.

“I had the great privilege of people who wanted to write music for me to play,” Ney said. “It’s been a great honor that my playing has inspired people to write for saxophone and to listen to what this instrument has to offer.”

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�鶹ӰԺ senior Safiya Grant finishes in the money in The Pitch, eyes launch of Muse skin-care line

Communications — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 13:56:50 +0000

�鶹ӰԺ University senior Safiya Grant, a biology major from Jamaica, finished in the money in The Pitch, an annual shark-tank-style business startup competition for college students in northeast Wisconsin. Grant placed third as she pitched her idea for Muse, an all-natural skin-care line that features body care products targeted toward women of color.

The top three finishers split cash and in-kind prizes valued at $50,000. First place receives $10,000 plus in-kind prizes such as marketing and technology assists; second place $7,500 plus in-kind prizes; and third place $5,000 plus in-kind prizes.

Senior Safiya Grant placed in the money at The Pitch following her win in the LU Launch competition.

�鶹ӰԺ students have now placed in the money five times since the competition launched in 2017.

“I have always been interested in skin care and the business aspect of the skin care industry,” said Grant, who has been making her own DIY products since she was 12 years old and is now looking to launch it as a business. “Just the opportunity to be able to start this business is great. It’s always been on par with my goals for myself.”

The Pitch, held April 24 in The Fox Club at Fox Cities Stadium, is organized by Fox Connection, a collaboration of colleges and universities in the region that works to enhance entrepreneurial education and opportunity. This year’s competition featured students from �鶹ӰԺ, St. Norbert College, UW-Green Bay, UW-Oshkosh, and UW-Stevens Point.

The 10 students competing were finalists from earlier competitions held at each school. They pitched their business startup ideas to a panel of judges and an audience of students, community members, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors. Each pitch had a four-minute time limit, with follow-up questions from the judges.

“I’m going to try starting a business, keep on the same track,” Grant said.

Grant has been taking classes within �鶹ӰԺ’s interdisciplinary Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) program in preparation for launching Muse. She studied with Claudena Skran, the Edwin & Ruth West Professor of Economics and Social Science, professor of government, and chair of I&E, and more recently was in class with Karen Bussone, professor of practice in entrepreneurship. Irene Strohbeen ’78, entrepreneur-in-residence at �鶹ӰԺ, and Isabella Sgriccia ’22 joined Bussone in mentoring Grant and Smith in the lead-up to The Pitch.

“They were so great and so helpful and necessary in the process of preparing me for this pitch,” Grant said. “They always had great insights. Taking classes in I&E really prepared me. My class with Professor Bussone last term helped me figure out what I need to have in a pitch, in a business plan. I don’t think I’d be here without the I&E program at �鶹ӰԺ because they’ve been so helpful every step of the way.”

Bussone called Launch LU and The Pitch contests “valuable experiences” for students who aspire to start a business.

In addition to Grant, �鶹ӰԺ was represented by junior Nathaniel Smith, a business & entrepreneurship and film studies double major. He pitched the startup Thrive in Humility, a Christian apparel brand that sells high-end clothing with built-in technology such as QR codes that take you to a website with information on featured events. Grant placed first and Smith second in �鶹ӰԺ’s LU Launch competition, held earlier in Spring Term.

“Our Innovation & Entrepreneurship curriculum provides the foundation students need to explore their passions,” Bussone said. “I’m incredibly humbled to have the opportunity to teach and coach students here at �鶹ӰԺ University. Safiya and Nate worked very hard to unleash their innovative passions during the competitions. It has been an honor and privilege to work with them.”

Nathaniel Smith makes his business pitch to judges during The Pitch.

Grant said she was 12 years old when she started researching skin care options—body wash, lotions, oils.

“I started watching DIY videos and thought, this is so fun,” she said. “My skin was always really sensitive. So, when I’d use products, the popular brands at that time, it would irritate my skin, cause redness. I started making my own skin care products with natural ingredients like cocoa butter; it kind of just grew into something more.”

Those pursuits sparked her interest in biology. She came to �鶹ӰԺ to major in biology with thoughts of studying dermatology in medical school. She has now shifted her focus to aesthetic nursing.

The Muse skin-care line will pair with that nicely, she said.

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Four �鶹ӰԺ students, recent graduates going abroad with prestigious 2024 Fulbright awards

Communications — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 21:20:06 +0000

One �鶹ӰԺ University student and three 2023 graduates have been named 2024 Fulbright Scholars, a prestigious honor that provides funding to study or teach abroad.

The four recipients in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program are senior Jonathan Bass, a double degree student in music performance (piano) and French and francophone studies, and three members of the Class of 2023: Gunner Bauer, who majored in government and Russian studies; Miri Villerius, who was a music and religious studies double major; and Ayla Walther, who recently received her teacher certification with plans to teach German.

This is the largest number of Fulbright recipients for �鶹ӰԺ since 2018.

“I am so proud of our four awardees and of all the applicants this year,” said Claire Kervin, assistant professor of English and director of fellowships advising. “The high number of finalists reflects a growing Fulbright culture on campus: Lawrentians have been applying in increasing numbers, writing excellent applications that demonstrate their excitement and preparation for cultural exchange.”

The awards mark a continuation of success for Lawrentians in the Fulbright program—63 Fulbright scholars over the past four-plus decades. Among the highest scholarship honors in the world, the Fulbright comes from the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, offering applicants the opportunity to study, teach English, or conduct research abroad. Seven Lawrentians made it to the semifinalist round this year.

Jonathan Bass ’24

Jonathan Bass ’24 (Photo by Danny Damiani)

Bass, of Greenville, Wisconsin, received the Fulbright-Harriet Hale Woolley Award in the Arts. He will enroll in the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris to pursue a graduate degree in piano performance. He will live in Paris at the Fondation des Etats-Unis, where he will collaborate with other artists in residence there.

“I spent the fall of 2022 abroad in Paris, and my only regret was that I didn’t have more time—so I’m absolutely thrilled that I get to go back,” Bass said. “Paris has such an incredibly rich musical and cultural life; one could spend weeks on end just wandering through some of the art museums—important because visual art and music are often intertwined in surprising ways. And, on any given night, there are concerts of every genre of music you can imagine.”

At the Ecole Normale, Bass will study with Professor David Lively, who taught him privately while in Paris in 2022. Catherine Kautsky, the George and Marjorie Olsen Chandler Professor of Music at �鶹ӰԺ, connected Bass with Lively.

“He is a really wonderful teacher,” Bass said. “I’m excited to work with him again.”

Bass, who will graduate in June, called �鶹ӰԺ a “perfect fit.”

“It was high-level music study within the context of a well-rounded liberal education that taught me so much more than just how to play fast notes on the piano,” he said. “In particular, professors Michael Mizrahi, Dominica Chang, and Cathy Kautsky have regularly gone out of their way to open doors for me—and then to give me advice about how best to walk through those doors.”

Gunner Bauer ’23

Gunner Bauer ’23 (Photo by Danny Damiani)

Bauer is headed to Slovakia, where he will teach English. He said the pursuit of a Fulbright was a goal since arriving at �鶹ӰԺ.

“I actually chose to go to �鶹ӰԺ after Professor (Victoria) Kononova told me about the Fulbright during a visit, and thus began four years of studying Russian and international relations,” he said.

Bauer spent a term abroad in Kyrgyzstan. Since graduating last June, he has been working in his hometown of Menomonie, Wisconsin, while writing and translating for Argentics, a Ukrainian software company.

Miri Villerius ’23

Villerius’ Fulbright award will allow her to work as an English teacher’s assistant in southern Italy for nine months. She will work with a high school English class while engaging with the surrounding community.

“I’m excited about this opportunity because of how much enrichment I’ve gotten from Italian language and culture throughout my life,” Villerius said. “If I had never learned Italian, I would be a completely different person. Living in Italy for an extended period to try and return that favor by teaching my own mother tongue is a beautifully reciprocal opportunity.”

Villerius said her four years at �鶹ӰԺ prepared her to embrace such opportunities.

“The fact that I got to pivot my studies as much as I did while still building a lot of real practical skills was wonderful, especially in the company of a lot of impactful mentors and wonderful friends I made there and am still in touch with,” she said.

After graduating last June, Villerius worked as an intern with the Center for Deep Listening in Troy, New York, before moving to Chicago. She is working in food service and as a freelance journalist and has started her own publication, Oyer, focused on Jewish music. As an undergrad, she was among a group of �鶹ӰԺ students who explored klezmer music.

Ayla Walther ’23

Walther’s Fulbright journey will take her to Bavaria, Germany, where she will work as an English teacher assistant.

“Outside of the classroom, I plan on participating and engaging with the community as much as possible,” Walther said. “I plan to join a local sport group and connect with individuals that way, as well as travel and see as much of Germany and Europe as possible. I also really want to use this experience to polish my German skills in preparation of being a German teacher when I return.”

Walther said she’s been dreaming of this opportunity since her high school days in Wausau, Wisconsin.

“As someone who has essentially dedicated my career to pursuing German studies, I see this as a fantastic opportunity to continue to improve not only my German language skills but also develop a deeper understanding of German culture to bring back to the classroom and share with my future students,” she said.

Walther, who graduated from �鶹ӰԺ in June, completed her student teaching in German and social studies at Ashwaubenon High School earlier this year. She received her teaching license from the State of Wisconsin in early spring and is working as a substitute teacher in Ashwaubenon and Green Bay.

Want to know more about the Fulbright? �鶹ӰԺ students interested in applying for a Fulbright award or other fellowships should reach out to Claire Kervin, assistant professor of English and director of fellowships advising.

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Fascination with space leads �鶹ӰԺ senior Charlie Bunch to International Space University

Communications — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 14:52:15 +0000

After a full and exciting four years at �鶹ӰԺ University, biochemistry major Charlie Bunch is headed to International Space University in Strasbourg, France. She will pursue a master’s program in space science and exploration.

Bunch, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, has always been interested in the prospect of extraterrestrial life. During her undergraduate studies, she has been studying microscopic species. These organisms thrive in steam vents and high-pressure systems that can be similar to the harsh conditions on other planets.

“We like to use small organisms that live in extreme environments to study what life could look like on other planets,” Bunch said. “If we’re going to find life, it’s most likely going to be unicellular.”

Bunch is excited for her next steps—progress in her academic career and the decision to spend the next two years living and studying in France.

“I wanted to make it an adventure,” she said. “I wanted to do something a little more out there.”

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Bunch is also graduating from �鶹ӰԺ with a minor in art history, and she challenges the idea that her studies in art and astronomy are far removed from each other. She believes popular culture and representations of space exploration are essential for scientists to consider.

“A lot of people’s first experience with space is through art,” Bunch said. “Movies, superhero comics, even music videos with people as aliens—I think if we look to art, we can understand what people want from space. Artists have pushed this wonderful idea of space, and now we have to go explore and see if it really is that cool.”

Bunch isn’t sure where her career will take her yet, but the possibilities are vast.

“I’d love to go to space; I’d love to be an astronaut,” she said. “Mostly I’m excited to be around other people who are asking the same questions as me and asking questions related to those questions.”

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