News University of Northern Colorado

UNC Scholar Earns One of 15 National Awards

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

University of Northern Colorado senior Owen Volzke was honored this month as one of 15 winners of the 2013 Gilder Lehrman History Scholar Award.

Selected from candidates across the country, Volzke was recognized as an outstanding graduating college senior who demonstrated academic and extracurricular excellence in American History or American Studies.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute brought the awardees to New York City from June 7-10 for a series of special presentations in their honor, including meetings with eminent scholars, exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of historic archives, and an awards dinner.

Museum and archive visits included stops at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Gilder Lehrman Collection, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, with talks and discussions led by Kenneth T. Jackson, Khalil Gibran Muhammad and Adrienne Petty.

Read more about Volzke at: www.unco.edu/news/releases.aspx?id=5282

For more information about the award, visit www.gilderlehrman.org/historyscholaraward

UNC Experience Leads to Mars Mission

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A summer program can be a way to get the kids out of the house during those long days with "nothing to do," or, if you pick the right one, a summer program can help students shape their future careers as doctors, teachers or even an electrical engineer for NASA.

Stuart Spath, program manager of NASA's INSIGHT Mars lander mission, is living proof that the Frontiers of Science Institute at the University of Northern Colorado is the right kind of summer program.

FSI is a six-week summer program for 25-30 high school juniors and seniors who have shown aptitude in STEM subjects: science, technology, engineering and math.

Founded in 1959 after the launch of Sputnik, the institute is designed to inspire interest in and develop a better understanding of STEM subjects and related careers. There's also a strong focus on building self-confidence and the ability to choose a direction for future academic and professional pursuits.

Spath described FSI as a true turning point for him in his senior year of high school. He was already sure he wanted to be an engineer, but he said it was FSI that helped him to choose electrical engineering as his preferred focus.

"It was very eye-opening," Spath said. "It gave me a chance to sample various types of engineering coursework and zero-in on electrical engineering."

Spath is an engineer at Lockheed Martin in Denver, where he helps design, develop and build interplanetary spacecraft for NASA. He recently became the program manager for the INSIGHT Mars lander mission, set to launch in 2016. INSIGHT stands for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport.

The $425 million project will send a rover to Mars to collect data from below the planet's surface that should allow researchers to make strong inferences about Mars's core as well as those of other planets in our solar system, and how they were formed.

Coincidentally, when Spath's daughter, Melani, attended FSI last summer, she worked on a Mars-related project.

"It was actually totally unrelated, before I became program manager for INSIGHT, but the project she worked on was a thruster study for a Mars lander," Spath said.

In a letter to UNC President Kay Norton, Spath said his daughter underwent a visible transformation after her time at FSI, is now "brimming with newfound confidence" and seems "ready and eager to tackle her college career and beyond." Although Melani hasn't yet made any definitive career decisions, Spath said it was good for her to be exposed to so many professional options.

Lori Ball, FSI program administrator, said exposing students to many different educational and career opportunities is one of the primary goals of the Institute. Graduates of the program have gone on to enter a diverse array of careers as teachers, doctors, engineers and even one submarine captain.

The six-week program, which begins June 17, is packed with activities. Each student is enrolled in three classes and one lecture block; this year's subjects include genetics, sustainable energy, a guest lecture on neuroscience and more.

The students attend classes in the mornings and engage in mentored research in the afternoons. In addition to the classwork, there are seminars from professionals, fieldtrips to exciting and educational places, including Premier Labs and the Colorado University Astrophysics Department, and a four-day trip to South Dakota to visit Mount Rushmore, Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave and more.

"We really put a lot into the six weeks," Ball said. "So they're very busy and they learn a lot."

During the program, participants live and dine in UNC's residence halls, an atmosphere that's designed to encourage a spirit of community. Spath said that although FSI is an academic program, one of his favorite parts of the experience was the camaraderie and the friendships he built there, a sentiment he feels would be echoed by many other FSI alumni.

"The friendships just last a lifetime," Spath said. "I still stay in touch with my FSI friends, even 31 years later."

Ball agreed with Spath, saying that the students grow in personal and social ways, as well as academically, and that's what makes the program special.

"This is our 54th summer," Ball said. "So we must be doing something right."

- Jaidree Braddix

Of Note
According to Frontiers of Science's Lori Ball, Stuart and Melani Spath are one of more than a dozen examples of an FIS participant whose child or children subsequently attended the institute. She said in some cases, whole families, including nieces and nephews, have attended over the course of time.

FIS Website: http://mast.unco.edu/programs/fsi/

2013-14 Faculty Promotions, Tenure Awarded

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The following faculty at the University of Northern Colorado have recently been awarded a promotion and/or tenure:

Assistant Professor to Associate Professor

Betty Cardona, College of Education & Behavioral Sciences
Kris Heintz-Nelson, College of Performing & Visual Arts
Teresa Higgins, College of Natural & Health Sciences
Robert Reinvsvold, College of Natural & Health Sciences

Assistant Professor to Associate Professor & Tenure

Wendy Adams, College of Natural & Health Sciences
Rashida Banerjee, College of Education & Behavioral Sciences
Karen Barton, College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Jill Bezyak, College of Natural & Health Sciences
Matthew Birnbaum, College of Education & Behavioral Sciences
Jan Chaloupka, College of Natural & Health Sciences
Alena Clark, College of Natural & Health Sciences
Elysia Clemens, College of Education & Behavioral Sciences
Emmett Evanoff, College of Natural & Health Sciences
James Hall, College of Performing & Visual Arts
Melissa Henry, College of Natural & Health Sciences
Karen Hessler, College of Natural & Health Sciences
Michael Martin, Monfort College of Business
Mitchell McGlaughlin, College of Natural & Health Sciences
April Miller, College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Kathleen O'Neil, College of Education & Behavioral Sciences
Jungwon Park, College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Eric Peterson, College of Education & Behavioral Sciences
Pat Seaton, Monfort College of Business
Dawit Senbet, College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Jeremy Smith, College of Natural & Health Sciences
Robert Weis, College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Lei Weng, College of Performing & Visual Arts
William Wilcox, Monfort College of Business
Stephen Wright, College of Education & Behavioral Sciences
Tamara Yakaboski, College of Education & Behavioral Sciences
Lisa Zimmerman, College of Humanities & Social Sciences

Associate Professor to Professor

Paula Conroy, College of Education & Behavioral Sciences
Andrew Dahlke, College of Performing & Visual Arts
Marian Hesse, College of Performing & Visual Arts
Joy Landeira, College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Deanna Meinke, College of Natural & Health Sciences
Kimberly Pacheco, College of Natural & Health Sciences
Robert Powers, College of Natural & Health Sciences
Kevin Pugh, College of Education & Behavioral Sciences
Jay Schaffer, College of Education & Behavioral Sciences
Linda Vogel, College of Education & Behavioral Sciences

Associate Professor to Professor & Tenure

Anthony Armenta, College of Education & Behavioral Sciences

Instructor to Assistant Professor

Matthew Semak, College of Natural & Health Sciences

Tenure

Jason Byrnes, College of Performing & Visual Arts
Keiko Krahnke, Monfort College of Business

UNC Graduate Interviewed by Riyadh Radio Station

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

University of Northern Colorado graduate Manal Alanazy was interviewed by a Riyadh radio station regarding her Ph.D. in Educational Technology and dissertation. She is the first teacher with a scholarship from Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education (which covers K-12) to complete a Ph.D. (as opposed to the Ministry of Higher Education). Her dissertation was on how Saudi female students in the U.S. deal with mixed-gender discussion environments in face-to-face and online formats.

She has also been contacted about doing a TV interview.

Her major advisor was Jeff Bauer, Ph.D., and her co-advisor was James Gall, Ph.D.

Summer at UNC: Classes, Community Events, Camps and More

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The University of Northern Colorado this summer will offer more than 300 classes and a variety of community events along with academic, arts, music and sports camps for all ages.

Classes over six-, eight- and 12-week sessions begin May 20. Registration is still open. Visit http://www.unco.edu/summer for details.

Community events include:

The 79th season of Little Theater of the Rockies, featuring five shows, opening with The Fantasticks on June 13: http://www.arts.unco.edu/ltr
Concerts Under the Stars, free weekly outdoor performances beginning in July at Garden Theater: http://www.arts.unco.edu/calendar/concerts.html
See the online calendar for more events: http://calendar.unco.edu

Academic camps include:

The Young Child Program (ages 4 through entering fourth grade), Summer Enrichment Program (grades 5-10), and Leadership Enrichment Program (grades 11 and 12), http://www.unco.edu/cebs/sep
Frontiers of Science for rising high school juniors and seniors, June 16-July 26: http://mast.unco.edu/programs/fsi
Center for Integrated Arts summer institute: http://www.arts.unco.edu/ciae/
A complete list of academic, arts, music and summer camps, including those offered by UNC's Division I coaches and by national rugby programs is available at http://www.unco.edu/summerconf/ by clicking on "Find Your Conference."

Orientation, room rentals, lodging:

Throughout the summer, orientation for new freshmen, transfer students and parents will be held: http://www.unco.edu/orientation/
The university also offers affordable options for private gatherings such as family reunions, weddings and wedding anniversary parties. Indoor conference facilities and meeting rooms, beautiful outdoor wedding or party venues, catering services, dining rooms, convenience food outlets and a recreation center are among the amenities available. Details at: http://www.unco.edu/uc/events/
The university also offers nightly hotel-style accommodations during the summer in North Hall, a residence hall featuring suites accommodating up to four persons. Built in 2009, the spacious, air-conditioned suites include 2-3 bedrooms, a bathroom and a living area.

For more on summer housing, conferences and events, visit http://www.unco.edu/summerconf/

Faces of the Class of 2013

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Whether validating a lifetime of experience, conquering obstacles to achieving their educational goals or trying to find their calling in life, members of the University of Northern Colorado's spring class of 2013 are now poised to make a difference during the next chapter of their lives. Here are profiles of just a few.

Artie Mae Grisby
Validating a lifetime of experiences

When Artie Mae Grisby crossed the commencement stage on May 11, she was among the oldest graduates in University of Northern Colorado history at 79.

Although she's proud of earning her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, the completion of her degree is just one step on a lifelong journey that didn't end on graduation day.

"I keep my feet flat on the floor," Grisby said recently at UNC's Center for Urban Education (CUE) in Denver, where she took classes for the past two years. "This is my time, that's all."

She said she never thought she'd go into a career working with children after visiting a friend's childcare center in her home state of Louisiana many years ago.

Nor did she imagine that she'd go on to become a sought-after childcare trainer and first aid instructor for the state of Colorado.

"I was a nurse for a few years before I worked in the insurance business. After 10 years of that, I knew I had to do something else," she said.

But she didn't know what so she turned to her religious faith and prayed for guidance on her next steps. The message was clear.

"'Childcare,' the Lord told me. And I said, ‘No, not me!'" But each time she prayed, the answer was the same. "So I finally decided to listen. I said, ‘Ok, I'll quit my job and I'd better have one child in my care by August 1.'" Continue Reading.

Mario Hernandez
From Guatemala to Greeley … and beyond

The fact that Mario Hernandez was selected as both the student speaker for this year's undergraduate commencement ceremony and as one of two recipients of the 2013 Robert and Ludie Dickeson Presidential Prize for Leadership gives you an idea of how he made a difference during his time at UNC.

And it shows just how far he's come in 10 years. When he and his parents left Guatemala for a better life in the United States, he was 11, spoke no English and college seemed like an impossible dream.

Hernandez used multiple merit-based scholarships and jobs to help make the dream come true and he embraced campus life, serving as a diversity mentor and resident assistant in multiple residence halls while helping with a variety of Residence Hall Association initiatives. He was a member of the President's Leadership and Honors programs, a participant in and then student facilitator for UNC's yearly Catalyst Social Justice Retreat and helped plan two of the school's annual Leaders Engaging in Action through Passion annual summits.

He also co-founded and served as standards chair of UNC's chapter of Pi Kappa Phi, a national fraternity focusing on developing members' leadership skills.

Hernandez was also active off campus, volunteering countless hours at the Weld County Food Bank, Greeley Place Senior Living Center, A Children's Place and Relay for Life.

Hernandez, who earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration - Management, will work as an assistant residence hall director on the University of Colorado's Boulder campus for the next year while he saves money to help finance a master's degree in higher education and student affairs so that he can continue in a role of leadership in a university setting.

Emilie Nemchak
Leading in and out of the classroom

Emilie Nemchak's involvement in a wide variety of student life activities and organizations while working toward her bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communications summa cum laude earned her one of two Robert and Ludie Dickeson Presidential Prizes for Leadership given each spring to a graduating senior.

In addition to serving on the campus Residence Hall Association council, Nemchak was social and traditional events coordinator her senior year, leading the association's involvement with a variety of campus events such as homecoming and earning her a nomination as RHA student of the year.

As a member of the National Residence Hall Honorary, she represented UNC at NRHH national meetings and conferences, playing a key role in implementing the organization's national safe trick-or-treat and anti-bullying campaigns at UNC and assisting with leadership education activities to help develop other student leaders' leadership skills.

In addition to her residence hall responsibilities, Nemchak helped recruit new students through her work as a campus tour guide and then assisted new freshmen transition from high school to university life in her leadership role during orientations for new students.

As a member of the Student Public Relations Network, she helped organize seminars and networking events with working professionals in the field. Her involvement with Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority gave her opportunities to help plan and volunteer at events such as highway clean-ups and the Special Olympics.

She'll use the experience she's gained as a campus leader and in internships off campus to pursue a career in marketing.

Konrad Schlarbaum
Leaving a sustainable legacy

Konrad Schlarbaum leaves behind a legacy at UNC after leading the effort to establish the Student Leadership Environmental Action Fund, a fee-funded initiative approved by students in 2012 that promotes a sustainable campus community and culture.

He also served as the first president of the student-run fund, which in its inaugural year used more than $100,000 to support water-saving improvements to the campus' lawn sprinkler systems, the placement of 20 outdoor recycling kiosks expected to increase recycling totals by 10 percent and the installation of 32 bottle-filling water stations in buildings that have already diverted more than 500,000 plastic water bottles from landfills.

When he wasn't helping UNC's "greening" efforts, Schlarbaum, a veteran of tours in Belgium and Iraq with the U.S. Army, was helping other veterans transition from military life to campus life or participating in community service activities on and off campus, including ones as a member of UNC's chapter of Mortar Board, the National Senior Honor Society.

A double major in Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality and Environmental and Sustainability Studies, Schlarbaum was regularly named to the Dean's List. This summer, he'll combine what he's learned in both majors during an internship as a tour guide at Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado.

He hopes to use that experience as a springboard to a career in environmental tourism.

Corina Brown
Doctoral dissertation changes the way nursing students learn

Corina Brown is a familiar face in UNC's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry: She earned her master's degree in Biochemistry in 2009 and served as a teaching assistant while earning her Ph.D. in Chemistry Education.

But she'll be best remembered not for how long she was associated with the department, but rather for the impact of her graduate work, particularly her doctoral dissertation, which earned her a Graduate School Dean's Citation for Excellence and is changing how a required chemistry course for nursing students is taught.

Her dissertation, a product of her experiences as a graduate teaching assistant of UNC nursing students' required chemistry course, Principles of Biochemistry, provides a model for assessing students' pre-course knowledge of the subject.

Her research, done in collaboration with UNC's School of Nursing, has already been used to re-design the course to provide students with more information relevant to their careers.

Moreover, since presenting her dissertation at multiple regional and national chemistry meetings, she's been fielding requests from chemistry faculty throughout the U.S. for approval to use her assessment materials in their classroom.

Brown also was selected by the American Chemical Society to present her work at the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences Congress in Prague, Czech Republic, and so far has had it published in one peer-reviewed journal with manuscripts pending publication in two other publications.

She hopes to continue teaching and researching in a university faculty position.

Originally from the Transylvania region of Romania, Brown's story of growing up under communism before emigrating to the U.S., a 3.94 GPA and her outstanding dissertation made her an excellent choice as student speaker at the Graduate School's commencement ceremony.

Lisa Regan and Sara Regan
Mother and daughter share a common motivation for earning their degrees

A combination of career fairs and personal ties to physical therapy led Sara Regan, a Greeley native and a Daniels Fund Scholar, to pursue the undergraduate degree in Sports and Exercise Science she received May 11 from UNC. Her mother, Lisa Regan, a second-grade teacher at University Schools, graduated the night before with a master's degree in Reading.

While their chosen fields are quite different, Sara and her mother have similar post-graduation goals in mind: to use their education to make a positive impact on the lives of each person they work with.

Sara experienced the positive impact of physical therapy second-hand; her mother was diagnosed with epilepsy as an infant; the apparent result of a stroke that occurred before or shortly after she was born. Her doctors didn't think she would graduate from high school, let alone college. Lisa did both, and inspired Sara to show others with traumatic brain injuries that the effects don't define who you are, or the goals you've established for yourself.

Lisa pursued a master's in Reading because of her interest in language and unique learning styles, and because of her desire to better understand reading and writing as separate entities and how they relate to each other. She's looking forward to bringing her knowledge to the classroom and getting her students excited about learning.

The saying, "Like mother, like daughter" certainly applies to these UNC graduates, even though their college experiences were anything but similar. Both women are living proof that with motivation and determination, and sometimes a little inspiration, a college degree is possible at any age.

Taylor Hall
Passion for public speaking, faith earn him a Princeton scholarship

After he interviewed for admission into the elite seminary graduate program at Princeton University, where less than 7 percent of those who apply are accepted, Taylor Hall knew the interview went well when he was asked to submit letters of recommendation.

He was told he'd be contacted in a few weeks, after the letters were reviewed.

Hall couldn't help but wonder, though, if admissions staff might think it odd that someone from Sterling, Colo., with a bachelor's degree in Finance would want to get a master of Divinity degree.

Imagine his surprise when, only a week later, he received an e-mail notifying him that not only had he been accepted into the seminary program, he'd also been awarded a full scholarship that covered books, tuition, residential housing and even a living stipend.

"I was speechless," Hall said. "They told me this particular scholarship was based only on the quality of the interview, not GPAs or activities or letters of reference. I'm still amazed."

Being speechless is a rare thing for Hall, who as a student ambassador for UNC's Admissions Office the past two years, became accustomed to talking for 90 minutes straight while conducting campus tours for prospective students and their parents.

According to Hall, Professor of Finance Christine McClatchey helped him identify his passion for public speaking and motivating people, which helped him decide to pursue motivational speaking as a career.

"And what better way to do that then to combine my passion for religion and philosophy and wanting to make a positive difference in the lives of others?" he said.

Don Alvarez
Non-traditional student sets the bar high for others

Although Don Alvarez was almost 30 years older than most of his classmates, the 50-year-old father of three didn't lack for energy in the classroom or outside it during his pursuit of a bachelor's degree in Nursing.

He graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA and was a College of Natural and Health Sciences Scholar. He served as president-elect and president of the Student Nurses Association, taught CPR to other nursing students and served as a greeter for the School of Nursing's 50th anniversary event.

His many other extracurricular activities included co-organizing a free health fair for members of Greeley's refugee communities and leading a fund-raising effort that paid for the majority of immunizations administered during the fair. He then built on that experience by serving as medical coordinator for the first-ever 9Health Fair hosted by UNC, attended by an estimated 800 area residents.

Away from campus, he responded to medical emergencies as an EMT with the Poudre Valley Health System, taught portions of EMT courses and CPR courses at Front Range Community College and volunteered as an assistant Boy Scout leader.

Alvarez, who said being in classes with students young enough to be his children made him feel like an awkward teenager trying to fit in but taught him how to be a better listener, will start work on his master's in Nursing at UNC in the fall.

Caitlin Miller
Trip to India inspires grad to continue community service work

In addition to graduating cum laude with bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Anthropology, Caitlin Miller leaves UNC with awards for outstanding community service and research, and a legacy for helping those less fortunate, both in Greeley and India.

In the summer between her junior and senior year, Miller spent six weeks in India working with three different community service organizations, including one that sought to empower women and another striving to educate children that were once beggars in the country's poorest areas.

She fully immersed herself in the culture, wearing Indian clothes, eating Indian food and even wading in the country's holiest - and by American standards, its dirtiest - rivers.

When she returned to Greeley, Miller, pictured at right with Congolese refugee Jackline, began an internship at the Global Refugee Center, working to raise awareness about the refugee populations in Greeley, helping connect the refugees with the rest of the community and organizing awareness events such as "Walk in Their Shoes."

She also organized concerts, Swahili drum lessons and cultural shows, and taught English to refugees.

As a research assistant in UNC's neurophysiology lab, Miller studied traumatic brain injuries' effects on the brain's ability to process information and then combined her anthropological and psychological work for her honors thesis, in which she studied Somali refugees' interpretations of trauma-related mental illnesses.

Her work with refugees, other volunteer work and her thesis earned her the Center for Honors, Scholarship and Leadership's Civic Engagement Award and second place in UNC's annual Research Excellence Award competition.

Miller plans to take a break from school by returning to India to continue her work with women's empowerment and rural development organizations before pursuing an advanced degree in psychological anthropology.

UNC in Photos: An April Retrospective

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

A slideshow of events and activities on campus.

UNC Recognizes Students’ Research Projects

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Winners of the University of Northern Colorado's annual Research Excellence Awards, based on presentations given on April 11 as part of the school's annual Research Day, have been announced. The winner in each category will receive a $100 gift card. Award categories and presentations receiving awards were:

Undergraduate Research Excellence Posters

Winner: Elizabeth Maxey
"An Examination of the Cytotoxic Effects of Snake Venom on Human Colon Cancer Cells"
Faculty Sponsor: Stephen Mackessy

Second Place: Evelyn Ortega
"How Individuals who Stutter, Graduate Student Clinicians, and an Experienced Speech-Language Pathologist Perceive Success in Fluency Therapy"
Faculty Sponsor: Kimberly Murza

Finalists: Ana Caudillo, Kittra Gonzales, Kristen Holm, Valerie Nirschl-Coats, Shaina Rush, Kyle Yeager

Graduate Research Excellence Posters

Winner: Traci Parry
"Cardiac Dysfunction in the Tumor Bearing Rat"
Faculty Sponsor: Reid Hayward

Second Place: Eric Bredahl
"Effects of a Resistance Training Model on Doxorubicin-Induced Muscle Dysfunction in the Rat"
Faculty Sponsor: David Hydock

Finalists: Fatimah Alebrahim, Jessica Brown, Noah Gibson, Karen Traxler and Mary Siegrist

Undergraduate Research Excellence Oral Presentations

Winner: Matthew Karp
"Out From Under the Cosh: The Impact of Football on English Working Class Identity through Cartoons, 1900-1925"
Faculty Sponsor: Steven Seegel

Second Place: Caitlin Miller
"Somali Refugee Interpretations of Trauma-Related Mental Illness: Similarities and Differences between the Somali Concepts of ‘Murugo Joogto' and ‘Qulub' and PTSD"
Faculty Sponsor: Theodore Bashore

Finalists:
Amber Rea, Aly Archuleta and Katey Morrison, Lauren Koppel, Austin Seeley, Jamie Walter

Graduate Research Excellence Oral Presentations

Winner: Anthony Saviola
"Molecular Basis for Prey Relocation in Viperid Snakes"
Faculty Sponsor: Stephen Mackessy

Second Place: Danya Carroll
"American Indian Youth Perspectives on Traditional Food Systems"
Faculty Sponsor: Teresa Sharp

Finalists: Corrie Groesbeck and Emily Schroeder, Rick Adams, Nat Warning

The Research Excellence Awards program was established to encourage and reward those Research Day presentations that exemplify the highest levels of excellence in research. Only a limited number of presentations were accepted into the awards program, and each was evaluated on Research Day by a team of faculty judges.

Research Day is part of Academic Excellence Week, an annual event to celebrate and honor academic excellence throughout the university. AEW is coordinated and sponsored by the Center for Honors, Scholars and Leadership in conjunction with various academic programs and offices across the campus.

Judges

Angela Henderson, Robert Mondi, Janice Dickensheets, Mel Moore, Josh Packard, Susan Hutchinson, Brian Iannachionne, Lauryn Benedict, Thomas Smith, David Gilliam, Anna Ursyn, Wendy Highby, Juliet Fried

UNC Provost Announces Academic Excellence Awards

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

University of Northern Colorado Provost Robbyn Wacker has announced the recipients of the school's 2013 Academic Excellence Awards, which recognize excellence by faculty and programs in teaching, student advising, performance assessment, scholarship, service and leadership. The recipients are:

Teaching Excellence in Undergraduate Education: Robert Heiny, Mathematical Sciences (More Info)
Teaching Excellence in Graduate Education: Priscilla Falcon, Department of Hispanic Studies (More Info)
Excellence in Faculty Service: Richard Schwenz, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (More Info)
Excellence in Faculty Advisement: Robert Reinsvold, Department of Biological Sciences (More Info)
School/Program Excellence in Service: School of Theatre Arts and Dance (More Info)
Excellence through Performance Assessment: Tutoring Services (More Info)

Criteria for the awards include a thorough knowledge of the academic or professional field, ability to communicate that knowledge in an effective and organized manner, ability to create a positive learning environment, demonstration of respect and concern for students, ability to inspire enthusiasm for learning and high expectations for students' performance.

The recipients will be honored at the university's annual Academic Excellence Awards Reception April 23.

Academic Excellence Awards Announced

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Provost Robbyn Wacker has announced this year's Academic Excellence Awards recipients, who will be recognized at the annual Academic Excellence Reception from 3-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, in the University Center Panorama room. Presentations will begin around 3:30 p.m. RSVPs are not required for the reception, which is open to all faculty and staff. The recipients are:

Teaching Excellence in Undergraduate Education: Robert Heiny, Mathematical Sciences (More Info)
Teaching Excellence in Graduate Education: Priscilla Falcon, Hispanic Studies (More Info)
Excellence in Faculty Service: Richard Schwenz, Chemistry and Biochemistry (More Info)
Excellence in Faculty Advisement: Robert Reinsvold, Biological Sciences (More Info)
School/Program Excellence in Service: School of Theatre Arts and Dance (More Info)
Excellence through Performance Assessment: Tutoring Services (More Info)

Academic Excellence Awards Announced

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Provost Robbyn Wacker has announced this year's Academic Excellence Awards recipients, who were recognized at the annual Academic Excellence Reception April 23. The recipients are:

Teaching Excellence in Undergraduate Education: Robert Heiny, Mathematical Sciences (More Info)
Teaching Excellence in Graduate Education: Priscilla Falcon, Hispanic Studies (More Info)
Excellence in Faculty Service: Richard Schwenz, Chemistry and Biochemistry (More Info)
Excellence in Faculty Advisement: Robert Reinsvold, Biological Sciences (More Info)
School/Program Excellence in Service: School of Theatre Arts and Dance (More Info)
Excellence through Performance Assessment: Tutoring Services (More Info)

Academic Excellence Week: Research Day

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

More than 350 undergraduate and graduate students from nearly every academic discipline at UNC will share information about their research projects during 258 presentations from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, throughout the University Center's second floor.

Top research projects in undergraduate and graduate oral and poster presentations will be selected for recognition through a competitive judging process and winners will be announced at the Research Excellence Awards and Graduate School Celebration of Research from 4:45-5:30 p.m. in the Mount Evans ballroom. The winner in each of the four categories will receive a $100 cash prize.

The Research Day program, which includes information about the finalists in the competition and a complete list of presentations is available on the Research Day website.

Research Day is one of several activities during Academic Excellence Week April 7-13. Other activities promoting academic excellence and recognizing student, faculty and staff scholastic achievements include:

Teaching and Learning Fair: Faculty from a variety of disciplines will exchange ideas, strategies, assignments and other tools that foster academic excellence through teaching and learning during the fourth annual Teaching and Learning Fair from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, in the University Center Panorama room and Aspen suites. Schedule.

Hewit Distinguished Professor of History Lecture: Susan Schulten, professor of History at the University of Denver and the 2013 Hewit Distinguished Professor of History at UNC, will present "The Meaning of Maps," a free public lecture and book signing at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, in the Panorama room at the University Center. Full details.
Distinguished Scholar Luncheon: UNC's Faculty Research and Publications Board will honor the 2013 A.M. and Jo Winchester Distinguished Scholar, college scholars and faculty achievements from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday, April 8, in the University Center Panorama room.
College- and School-Hosted Events: A variety of UNC's colleges, schools and programs will honor faculty and student academic achievement with convocations, banquets and other events during the week.

For a complete schedule of activities or additional information about UNC's celebration of academic excellence, visit http://www.unco.edu/hsl/aew.html or contact the Center for Honors, Scholars and Leadership at 970-351-2940.

Academic Excellence Week is coordinated and sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research; the Center for Honors, Scholars and Leadership; and the Graduate Student Association along with academic departments and programs across campus.

Academic Excellence Week: Hewit Distinguished Professor of History Lecture Wednesday

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Susan Schulten, the 2013 UNC Hewit Distinguished Professor of History, will present "The Meaning of Maps" at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, in the Panorama Room of the University Center,

The lecture, open to the public free of charge, will focus on an American culture that is saturated with maps, from Google Maps to geographic information systems.

Schulten, professor and chair of the University of Denver's History Department, will examine how maps came to be used in the 19th century United States, not only to identify locations and represent the landscape, but also to analyze information.

Through maps of the weather, the population, the economy, disease, and even their past, Americans gradually learned to view themselves and their nation in altogether new ways.

A signing of her newest book, Mapping the Nation: History and Cartography in Nineteenth-Century America will follow the lecture. For more, please see http://www.mappingthenation.com/.

The William E. Hewit Endowment, the UNC History Department and Phi Alpha Theta are sponsoring the event.

The lecture is one of several activities during Academic Excellence Week April 7-13. Other activities promoting academic excellence and recognizing student, faculty and staff scholastic achievements during the week include:

Teaching and Learning Fair: Faculty from a variety of disciplines will exchange ideas, strategies, assignments and other tools that foster academic excellence through teaching and learning during the fourth annual Teaching and Learning Fair from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, in the University Center Panorama room and Aspen suites. Schedule.
Research Day: More than 350 undergraduate and graduate students from nearly every academic discipline at UNC will share information about their research projects during 258 presentations from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, throughout the University Center's second floor. Top research projects will be selected for recognition. List of presentations.
Distinguished Scholar Luncheon: UNC's Faculty Research and Publications Board will honor the 2013 A.M. and Jo Winchester Distinguished Scholar, college scholars and faculty achievements from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday, April 8, in the University Center Panorama room.
College- and School-Hosted Events: A variety of UNC's colleges, schools and programs will honor faculty and student academic achievement with convocations, banquets and other events during the week.

AEW Kicks Off with Distinguished Scholars Luncheon, Teaching and Learning Fair Tomorrow

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Academic Excellence Week begins today with the annual luncheon honoring UNC's Distinguished Scholars. Tomorrow, April 9, faculty from a variety of disciplines will exchange ideas, strategies, assignments and other tools that foster academic excellence through teaching and learning during the fourth annual Teaching and Learning Fair from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, in the University Center Panorama room and Aspen suites.

The fair includes a luncheon and accompanying discussion about teaching and learning that will be led by UNC's Teaching and Learning Faculty Fellows.

RSVPs for the luncheon were due April 5, but all members of the university community are welcome to attend the poster/display session from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and either of the two concurrent 90-minute breakout sessions featuring several guest presenters from 1:30-3 p.m. Schedule.

The fair is one of several activities during Academic Excellence Week April 7-13. Other activities promoting academic excellence and recognizing student, faculty and staff scholastic achievements during the week include:

Hewit Distinguished Professor of History Lecture: Susan Schulten, professor of History at the University of Denver and the 2013 Hewit Distinguished Professor of History at UNC, will present "The Meaning of Maps," a free public lecture and book signing at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, in the Panorama room at the University Center. Full details.
Research Day: More than 350 undergraduate and graduate students from nearly every academic discipline at UNC will share information about their research projects during 258 presentations from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, throughout the University Center's second floor. Top research projects will be selected for recognition. List of presentations.
Distinguished Scholar Luncheon: UNC's Faculty Research and Publications Board will honor the 2013 A.M. and Jo Winchester Distinguished Scholar, college scholars and faculty achievements from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday, April 8, in the University Center Panorama room.
College- and School-Hosted Events: A variety of UNC's colleges, schools and programs will honor faculty and student academic achievement with convocations, banquets and other events during the week.

UNC Scientists Collaborate on Breakthrough Research

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

University of Northern Colorado faculty Stephen Mackessy and Ashis Mukherjee recently discovered that a protein in a venomous snake has potential to be used to develop drugs to treat clotting disorders and heart patients.

Mackessy and Mukherjee isolated the protein Russelobin from the venom of Russell's Viper, a venomous snake native to India. The non-lethal protein has properties that could be used in new cardiovascular drugs.

The paper, published in Biochimica Biophysica Acta, includes some of the work conducted at Mackessy's lab at UNC while Mukherjee, a UNC adjunct faculty member from India's Tezpur University who was a visiting scientist at UNC last year. The article is available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304416513000500.

In 2011, Mackessy earned grant funding for research showing promise in creating drugs from snake venoms to treat and limit the spread of breast, colon and skin cancers.

On a related note, Mackessy was also recently invited to present a paper on reptile venoms and toxins to the British Toxicology Society in Solihull, United Kingdom.

Related

Academic Excellence Week: Distinguished Scholars to be Recognized

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The Faculty Research and Publications Board, College Deans and Office of Sponsored Programs will recognize faculty achievement in research and other academic pursuits at the Distinguished Scholar Luncheon on Monday, April 8. RSVPs for the luncheon were due

Nine faculty will be presented with awards.

Rick Adams, professor of Biological Sciences, will receive the 2013 A.M. and Jo Winchester Distinguished Scholar award - given annually to a faculty member who's consistently demonstrated outstanding scholarly performance.

Awards for college scholars will be presented to: Robyn Hess, professor of School Psychology; Nicholas Syrett, assistant professor of History; Isaac Wanasika, assistant professor of Management; Robin Macaluso, associate professor of Chemistry; Melissa Malde, professor of Music; and Jennifer Leffler, associate professor and manager of Resource Maintenance at the University Libraries.

In addition, Paula Conroy, associate professor of Special Education, will receive the Outstanding Achievement in Sponsored Programs Award, and Jill Bezyak, assistant professor of Human Rehabilitative Services, will receive the Sponsored Programs New Faculty Recognition Award.

Read honorees' profiles.

Other activities promoting academic excellence and recognizing student, faculty and staff scholastic achievements during the celebration include:

Teaching and Learning Fair: Faculty from a variety of disciplines will exchange ideas, strategies, assignments and other tools that foster academic excellence through teaching and learning during the fourth annual Teaching and Learning Fair from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, in the University Center Panorama room and Aspen suites. Schedule.
Hewit Distinguished Professor of History Lecture: Susan Schulten, professor of History at the University of Denver and the 2013 Hewit Distinguished Professor of History at UNC, will present "The Meaning of Maps," a free public lecture and book signing at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, in the Panorama room at the University Center. Full details.
Research Day: More than 350 undergraduate and graduate students from nearly every academic discipline at UNC will share information about their research projects during 258 presentations from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, throughout the University Center's second floor. Top research projects will be selected for recognition. List of presentations.
College- and School-Hosted Events: A variety of UNC's colleges, schools and programs will honor faculty and student academic achievement with convocations, banquets and other events during the week.

UNC Faculty Recognized for Research, Scholarly Work

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The University of Northern Colorado's Faculty Research and Publications Board, College Deans, and the Office of Sponsored Programs recognized faculty achievement in research and other academic pursuits at the Distinguished Scholar Luncheon on April 8.

Rick Adams, professor of Biological Sciences, received the 2013 A.M. and Jo Winchester Distinguished Scholar award - given annually to a faculty member who's consistently demonstrated outstanding scholarly performance.

Awards for college scholars were presented to: Robyn Hess, professor of School Psychology; Nicholas Syrett, assistant professor of History; Isaac Wanasika, assistant professor of Management; Robin Macaluso, associate professor of Chemistry; Melissa Malde, professor of Music; and Jennifer Leffler, associate professor and manager of Resource Maintenance at the University Libraries.

In addition, Paula Conroy, associate professor of Special Education, received the Outstanding Achievement in Sponsored Programs Award, and Jill Bezyak, assistant professor of Human Rehabilitative Services, received the Sponsored Programs New Faculty Recognition Award.

About the recipients:

Rick Adams' research encompasses the ecology, evolution and development of bats. His field research is predominately based in Colorado but also takes him to the Caribbean islands, South Africa, Botswana and China. He is best known internationally for his research on the importance of water sources to natural bat populations as well as for using ontogeny (growth and development) as a surrogate for novel insights into the evolutionary origin of bats 60 million years ago. He recently published articles in two of the highest ranking international ecology journals (Journal of Animal Ecology, and Ecology) showing how bats are "canaries in a global coal-mine" for predicting negative ecosystem effects of climate-change. Adams has four books either already published or in-press, and 39 peer-reviewed publications including journal articles, book chapters and monographs. For more about Adams, visit www.unco.edu/news/?3713.

Robyn Hess' research interests are in the areas of school dropout/completion, especially among Latino students; culturally responsive assessment and intervention; systemic interventions; and stress/coping in children. She and a colleague recently started a project to evaluate the effects of cultural adjustment groups on the social and school adjustment of Somali refugees. Her recent articles have appeared in Best Practices in School Psychology-V and The Journal of Special Education. She has co-written two books, Counseling Children and Adolescents in Schools and Public Health Problem-Solving to Address Children's Mental Health Needs. Hess is actively involved in many different school psychology professional organizations in her roles as chair of the School Psychology Specialty Council, chair-elect of the American Academy of School Psychology, and co-chair of the School Psychology Leadership Roundtable.

Nicholas Syrett teaches and researches the history of women, gender and sexuality in the United States. He's the author of The Company He Keeps: A History of White College Fraternities, published by the University of North Carolina Press in 2009, and has published journal articles in American Studies, Genders, and The Journal of the History of Sexuality, and has articles forthcoming in GLQ: A Journal of Gay and Lesbian Studies, The Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth, the Pacific Historical Review, and a number of edited collections. He has been interviewed about his research by Newsweek, Out Magazine, The New York Times and local and national newspapers and radio programs. He's currently on sabbatical writing a book about the history of child marriage and the regulation of children's sexuality in the United States.

Isaac Wanasika's research interests include strategic deception, transaction cost economics, base-of-the-pyramid strategies and strategic leadership orientations. He's collaborated with internationally-known scholars in the GLOBE studies, the largest international study in management involving 62 countries. His research has been published in prestigious journals such as the Journal of World Business, Journal of Strategic Innovation and Sustainability and the Journal of Managerial Issues. His work has been presented at national and international management conferences including the Academy of Management.

Robin Macaluso has established a research program at UNC that focuses on the synthesis and structural characterization of intermetallic compounds. More recently, she's begun a research program in the synthesis of novel oxynitride compounds for solid-state lighting technology. Hess has published 11 journal articles in the field of solid-state chemistry and has earned more than $1.5 million in external grants, including a highly competitive CAREER grant from the National Science Foundation and funding from the Petroleum Research Fund from the American Chemical Society. For more on Macaluso, visit www.unco.edu/news/?4076.

Melissa Malde has performed with numerous orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States, including Kentucky Opera, the Bangor Symphony and Opera Colorado. She has sung abroad with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, the Prague Radio Symphony, the Bad Reichenhall Orchestra, and Vancouver Opera. She's licensed as an Andover Educator to teach Body Mapping and the book she has co-authored on that subject titled What Every Singer Needs to Know about the Body is in its second edition. She is an active clinician and presenter at national conferences for organizations including the College Music Society, the Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation of the Performing Voice and the Physiology and Acoustics of Speech.

Jennifer Leffler is known as the "master of unraveling challenges in user access" because of the leadership she's provided in integrating new applications of technology to library operations resulting in processing efficiencies and enhanced access to resources. She's shared that expertise through presentations at regional and national conferences and in articles in peer-reviewed journals relating to her areas of interest: technical services work flows, use of technology in technical services, use of software tools such as web conferencing and building collections in support of new interdisciplinary degree programs. She's a member of the national editorial board of the Journal of Electronic Resource Librarianship, and serves as a copy editor for UNC's Undergraduate Research Journal.

Paula Conroy has been the project director on several U.S. Department of Education personnel preparation and research grants in the area of culturally and linguistically diverse students with visual impairment, helping to prepare teachers for working with this unique population of student, and has received numerous grants from other organizations in the areas of assistive technology, training and in-service and pre-service teacher preparation. She's published book chapters, juried articles, juried special/technical reports and has conducted numerous professional presentations in her areas of expertise, and has studied the importance of physical education and activity for students who are blind and visually impaired.

Jill Bezyak is a certified rehabilitation counselor with a wide array of clinical interests including psychiatric rehabilitation, substance abuse counseling and counseling individuals with physical disabilities and chronic illness. Her research interests include health promotion of individuals with disabilities, evidence-based practice in rehabilitation counseling and education and implementation strategies for the Americans with Disabilities Act. She currently directs a U.S. Department of Education grant for long-term training in Rehabilitation Counseling. She has numerous juried publications and presentations in her areas of academic expertise, in addition to several non-juried presentations and guest lectures to community health education and vocational rehabilitation programs and groups.

For more information, visit the Office of Sponsored Programs online at: http://www.unco.edu/osp/ or http://www.unco.edu/osp/news/dslunch.html.

UNC to Celebrate Academic Excellence April 7-13

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The University of Northern Colorado will celebrate academic excellence with a variety of activities and ceremonies during the school's annual Academic Excellence Week, April 7-13.

The highlights of the many activities promoting academic excellence and recognizing student, faculty and staff scholastic achievements during the celebration include:

Teaching and Learning Fair: Faculty from a variety of disciplines will exchange ideas, strategies, assignments and other tools that foster academic excellence through teaching and learning during the fourth annual Teaching and Learning Fair from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, in the University Center Panorama room and Aspen suites. Schedule.
Hewit Distinguished Professor of History Lecture: Susan Schulten, professor of History at the University of Denver and the 2013 Hewit Distinguished Professor of History at UNC, will present "The Meaning of Maps," a free public lecture and book signing at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, in the Panorama room at the University Center. Full details.
Research Day: More than 350 undergraduate and graduate students from nearly every academic discipline at UNC will share information about their research projects during 258 presentations from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, throughout the University Center's second floor. Top research projects will be selected for recognition. List of presentations.
Distinguished Scholar Luncheon: UNC's Faculty Research and Publications Board will honor the 2013 A.M. and Jo Winchester Distinguished Scholar, college scholars and faculty achievements from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday, April 8, in the University Center Panorama room.
College- and School-Hosted Events: A variety of UNC's colleges, schools and programs will honor faculty and student academic achievement with convocations, banquets and other events during the week.

UNC’s Online Graduate Education Program Ranked Among the Nation’s Best

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

U.S. News and World Report has ranked the University of Northern Colorado's online master of education degree program among the best of its kind in the nation in the magazine's annual evaluation of online degree programs.

UNC's program ranked ninth among the 208 evaluated and was the top-ranked program in Colorado.

The magazine evaluated programs' student engagement, faculty credentials and training, student services and technology, and admissions selectivity in making the rankings. UNC's highest scores were in student engagement, which evaluated student satisfaction and instructor responsiveness, and faculty credentials and training.

"UNC has roots as a teacher preparation university and has a long-standing and strong reputation as a leader in preparing teachers and other education personnel," said Eugene Sheehan, dean of the UNC College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. "Recognition by U.S. News and World Report is a testament to the quality of education and service provided by our faculty and staff and our Extended Studies division."

UNC offers online advanced degrees in Special Education with multiple teaching specializations, Special Education Administration, Curriculum Studies and Educational Psychology with a Teaching Applications emphasis.

Online education has become an essential part of higher education with the number of schools offering fully online degree programs nearly doubling in the past 10 years, according to a study by the Babson Survey Research Group.

The complete list of rankings with school's scores in the categories evaluated is available at
http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings.

Making New Year’s Resolutions Last

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Almost everyone creates a New Year's resolution. How long the resolution lasts, however, varies from person to person. John Froiland, UNC assistant professor of School Psychology, suggests the use of intrinsic motivation as a way to keep resolutions going all year long.

A common New Year's resolution on college campuses is to get better grades. Many students resolve to focus more in the coming semester, and paying attention in class and turning in assignments on time would seem key to accomplishing this goal.

Research shows, however, that intrinsically motivated students excel in the classroom every semester.

"Intrinsically motivated students focus on the beauty of learning, understanding what they learn, and in some cases, use what they learn to help others," Froiland said.

According to Froiland, these students tend to do better in school because they're passionate about what they're learning and are typically under less pressure. They express themselves in what they are learning, and in turn, tend to get better grades.

Another common resolution is to lead a healthier lifestyle. Many people are motivated by the physical changes that come with this new lifestyle - a certain number of pounds lost or thinner thighs to fit a favorite pair of jeans. Froiland suggests that instead of focusing only on physical benefits, you should also try to seek deeper meaning in what you're doing for yourself and how it can affect others.

"Focus more deeply on the idea that if you eat healthy, you will live longer and be stronger," Froiland said. "By increasing your strength and vitality, you'll be able to do more to make this world a better place."

Increasing intrinsic motives, however, doesn't mean you need to completely eliminate all extrinsic motives (desire to make more money, impress others, etc). Froiland recommends focusing first on intrinsic goals, such as helping yourself to help others; then focus on extrinsic goals.

"If you put the intrinsic goals and aspirations first, but still keep the extrinsic aspirations high, you can have a motivational synergy," he said.

A helpful tip for everyone with a New Years resolution, whether intrinsically motivated, extrinsically motivated or both, is the idea of implementation intentions. According to Froiland, implementation intentions involve asking yourself, "What am I going to do today to help accomplish my goal?" By saying your intentions out loud or to yourself, or by writing them down, they become a habit. The more you say your intentions, the more automatic it becomes; you'll get closer to your goal each day.

"It's like programming yourself for success - programming yourself to follow through on the things you want to follow through on," he said.

- Katie Owston, Senior Journalism Major

Keys to Cultivating Happiness in the New Year

Froiland also offered several keys to cultivating happiness in the new year, each driven by intrinsic values:

Elevate your intrinsic motivation. Seek passion in what you do: If you want to lose weight in the new year, reconsider your reasons. Consider that a healthy body reduces stress and helps you live longer. Try to be motivated by how your resolution will affect you as a whole.
Get excited for other people's good news, Ask your friends questions; help them relive their best moments. In doing so, you'll find that you become excited too.
Be grateful. Each day, write down three events that you are thankful went well in your day and why you think they went well. Writing why it went well helps you to see the role you played in the positive outcome of the situation.

Froiland shares tips for children's academic success.