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ARTS AND SCIENCES STUDENTS RECEIVE GRANTS

By Justine Benzen
UW-RF University Communications

NOV. 18, 2005-- Due to the generous contributions of alumni and friends of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, 12 undergraduate students were awarded grants to fund academic research.

The University Foundation has created the CAS Fund for Excellence for undergraduate students. The fund is intended to support student participation with faculty in educational opportunities that go beyond the classroom. The students will use the support for research, scholarly or creative activities. The grant provides students with supplies, project expenses, research travel, conference participation and other useful tools related to their study.

"This grant expands the opportunities for students to put to use what they learn in the classroom," said Terry Brown, dean of CAS. "By taking the initiative, it shows that a student is willing to go beyond what is expected."

These grants are intended for students who are working on projects outside of the classroom. "This grant does not support a grade in the class, it is merely for their own experience," said Brown. "Students would not be able to do this without the funding."

Recipients
Alyson Gerstmann from Hager City, Wis., will study the art, writings and religious practices of ancient Egypt and is presenting a display of the research in the River Falls Public Library. Gerstmann was awarded $250. Her advisor is art faculty member Steven Derfler.

Karine Wilson from Hudson, Wis., will mount and display a new series of paintings for senior exhibition based on New Orleans experiences and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Wilson was awarded $500. Her advisor is art Professor Michael Padgett.

LeAnne Ptacek from River Falls, Wis., will purchase materials for large-scale intaglio printmaking. The prints will be displayed in the senior show during spring semester. Ptacek was awarded $493. Her advisor is art Professor Bernice Ficek-Swenson.

James Grosek from Appleton, Wis., will travel to the National Conference of Undergraduate Research to present a research poster. Grosek was awarded $500. His advisor is Timothy Lyden, professor of biology.

Charles Packard from Cambridge, Wis., will travel to the National Conference of Undergraduate Research to present his research poster. Packard was awarded $500. His advisor is Scott Ballantyne, professor of biology.

Kendra Scudder from Verona, Wis., will use materials for studying the effects of estrogen compounds on C. elegans. Scudder was awarded $500. Her advisor is E. Katherine Miller, professor of biology.

Jessica Chavey from River Falls, Wis., will purchase materials to synthesize a naturally occurring pain-relieving molecule following a technique developed at UW-RF. Chavey was awarded $155. Her advisor is Karl Peterson, professor of chemistry.

Brianna Zemke from Deer Park, Wis., will purchase materials to synthesize molecules that many induce cell death in cancer cells. Zemke was awarded $166. Her advisor also is Peterson.

Karla Miller from Baldwin, Wis., will travel to the National Association for Music Education conference to present a research paper. Miller was awarded $500. Her advisor is Hilree Hamilton, professor of music.

Luke Chambers from Hugo, Minn., will purchase materials to create an engine capable of magneto hydrodynamic propulsion. Chambers was awarded $500. His advisor is Lowell McCann, professor of physics.

Janice Syverson from Menomonie, Wis. will purchase a hydrogen-alpha filter for the physics department camera; he will conduct observations of solar activity using the filter and the camera. Syverson was awarded $495. Her advisor is Matthew Vonk, professor of physics.

Jessica Kopp from Forest Lake, Minn., will travel to the Midwestern Psychological Association Annual Meeting to present research posters. Kopp was awarded $1,224. This amount includes the cost of the trip for both advisors. Her advisors are Bradley Caskey, professor of psychology, and Travis Tubre, professor of psychology.

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