NEWS @ COMMONWEALTH COLLEGE

Announcements & Activities

  1. OCSL Community Service Awards Deadline, April 11
  2. Dinner and a Movie: Dark Days, April 14
  3. Weekly Wed. Workshop: Honors Independent Study, April 16

Achievements, Awards & Accolades

  1. Lauren Proctor Nominated for Lowe's Senior CLASS Award

$cholarships and $upport

  1. Scholarship Program: Health and Nutrition Diversity Scholars
  2. $25,000 Scholarship for International Study, 2009-2010
  3. Research Assistant Fellowships Deadline, April 22
  4. Honors Research Grants: Deadline, April 22

Internships & Employment

  1. Young Professionals in New Orleans - This Could Be You!

Academic Opportunities

  1. Exciting Leadership Opportunity Available!
  2. Community Service Learning Dean's Book Course

Campus & Community Events

  1. Life and Labors in Afghanistan, April 12
  2. CHFA Declamation Day Celebrates the Spoken Word, April 16
  3. CHFA Career Connections Networking Reception, April 24
  4. Spring 2008 Environmental Lecture Series, Apr 16-May 5

— ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACTIVITIES —

OCSL COMMUNITY SERVICE & ENGAGEMENT AWARDS DEADLINE, APRIL 11
The deadline for Awards Nominations/Applications is this Friday, April 11th. Any information about the awards, including applications and nomination forms, can be downloaded from the website at: www.umass.edu/csl/awards

DINNER & A MOVIE: DARK DAYS , APRIL 14
A filmmaker lives with a group of homeless people in an abandoned section of the New York City underground railway system. Show starts at 7:00pm in 504 Goodell and dinner is served at 6:45pm. Please RSVP to peers@comcol.umass.edu for dinner by Friday if you plan to attend.

WEEKLY WED WORKSHOP: HONORS INDEPENDENT STUDIES, APRIL 16
Learn how to contact professors to do HIS, Colloquium and other honors opportunities.
    Workshops take place 6:00-7:00pm in 504 Goodell. RSVP to c3@comcol.umass.edu by Monday 4pm prior to the event if you are planning to attend.

—ACHIEVEMENTS, AWARDS & ACCOLADES—

LAUREN PROCTOR NOMINATED FOR LOWE'S CLASS AWARD
Lauren Proctor, a current senior in the Commonwealth College, was nominated for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.  This recognition, which takes classroom, community, character, and competition into consideration, is one of the most prestigious awards given in NCAA athletics. Proctor is one of 30 softball players in the country nominated. For more information on Proctor and the award, see the Facebook group dedicated to her nomination.

— $CHOLARSHIPS AND $UPPORT —

HEALTH AND NUTRITION DIVERSITY SCHOLARS
The Department of Nutrition is seeking applicants for the HANDS program (Health and Nutrition Diversity Scholars). HANDS is a multicultural scholarship program funded by USDA to increase the diversity of students in the field of nutrition. HANDS Scholars will be awarded a $6000 scholarship annually for up to three years, while they participate in a 1-credit Scholars Seminar each semester, and have access to department and campus-based supports. The Nutrition Department is looking for qualified ALANA and other underrepresented students who will become nutrition majors and receive support and funding through the HANDS scholarship program beginning this spring semester. If you qualify and are looking for a new major or have not yet declared a major, please see the Nutrition Department website for further details or email Prof. Nancy Cohen, Interim Dean, at cohen@nutrition.umass.edu. There will be an open house to answer any questions on April 3, 4-6 PM in 210 Chenoweth Lab.

$25,000 SCHOLARSHIP FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDY
The Rotary Foundation, the world’s largest private provider of international scholarships, is seeking candidates for a $25,000 Academic Year Ambassadorial Scholarship for study abroad.  To be eligible for the scholarship offered in our area, applicants must:  (1) study, work or reside in Western Massachusetts,(2) have completed at least two years of university or college course work, and (3) be proficient in the language of the proposed host country (with limited exceptions in Africa).  The application deadline is June 1, 2008.
     For further details, see the online announcement and the Rotary website, at www.rotary.org.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT FELLOWSHIPS DEADLINE, APRIL 22
Attention Freshman & Sophomore Commonwealth College students! The deadline to apply for Research Assistant Fellowships for Fall 2008 is Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 4:00 p.m., 408 Goodell.
     These Fellowships are working fellowships that pay $8.00 per hour up to a maximum of $1,000 for students to work on a faculty member's research project. The program is designed to provide supplemental financial assistance, to give you an opportunity to gain experience in your academic field, and to help prepare you to undertake your own research. Application forms and guidelines are available here. Submit applications with essay and documentation from faculty member to ATTN: Research Fellowships, Commonwealth College, 408 Goodell. You must submit your application jointly with a faculty member.

HONORS RESEARCH GRANTS: DEADLINE, APRIL 22
Attention Junior Commonwealth College students! The deadline to apply for Honors Research Grants for Fall 2008 is Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 4:00 p.m., in 408 Goodell.
    Juniors who will be seniors pursuing honors research in the next academic year are eligible to apply. Students must submit a proposal outlining their project accompanied by a letter of endorsement from their faculty sponsor. Every recipient is asked to present his or her work at the statewide Undergraduate Research Conference in spring 2009. These fellowships of up to $1,000 are for direct costs only and do not provide a stipend or wage. Application forms and guidelines are available online here. Submit applications with proposal and letter of support to ATTN: Honors Grants, Commonwealth College, 408 Goodell.

— INTERNSHIPS & EMPLOYMENT —

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN NEW ORLEANS-COULD BE YOU!
Presented by The New Orleans Young Urban Rebuilding Professionals Initiative (NOLA-YURP) (www.nolayurp.com) The mission of the NOLA-YURP Initiative is to build a support and resource network to attract, connect, and retain young professionals from diverse backgrounds for a sustainable New Orleans. The executive director is Nathan Rothstein, UMass '06.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 22nd at 7pm
WHERE: UMass Campus Center, Room 162
WHAT: They will speak about the climate of the city from a young person's perspective and the types of job opportunities are available. They will also talk about different ways to help the city from college campuses. The event will feature photography Erin FitzPatrick, who will also talk about her work.
     This event is free and open to the Five Colleges community. Juniors & Seniors who are thinking about jobs after graduation should check this out. We would also like to see the different groups who went to New Orleans for Alternative Spring Break to meet each other and reflect on their experiences. [view NOLA-YURP poster]

— ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES —

EXCITING LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE!
Looking for a fun and different way to earn academic credit and money and give back to the community? Apply for the Dean’s Book Service Coordinator Position! This position involves working closely with community based organizations, students, the Office of Community Service Learning, and the course instructor to provide service placements and lead discussions for students enrolled in the Fall 2008 section of the CSL Dean’s Book course (391S).
    This role also requires enrolling in the course Honors 393L: Leadership in Service Learning in Fall 2008 and putting in 20 hours of preparation work in April and May. The Service Coordinator will earn $200 for the preparation work this semester as well as 4 credits and $500 for work in the Fall 2008 semester.
     Please stop by the Office of Community Service Learning in 610 Goodell for more information or to pick up an application. You may also contact the current service coordinator, Ashley Pratte, at csldeansbook@comcol.umass.edu for an application or any additional information.

COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING DEAN'S BOOK COURSE
Do want to give back to the community? Are you in Commonwealth College? Consider taking this “two-in-one” Dean’s book course! The Dean’s Book Community Service Learning class, or CSL Dean’s book, is a 3-credit course that combines 291 and 391 along with a community service component. You must have junior status or above to be eligible for the 391S class. Some sophomores may be admitted and are welcome to apply. The class will be held on Wednesdays from 5:00-6:55. This fall, there will be two books, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer and another chosen by the instructor. Students then do 18 hours of community service in Holyoke based on themes from the book along with attending the Introduction to Holyoke on a Saturday at the beginning of the semester.
     If you would like to apply for the course, either stop by 610 Goodell to pick up an application, or print out an application from www.umass.edu/csl. Contact the community service coordinator, Ashley Pratte at CSLdeansbook@comcol.umass.edu for any additional questions. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling admission basis so the sooner you apply, the better your chances are of getting into the class.

— CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EVENTS —

LIFE AND LABORS IN AFGHANISTAN, APRIL 12
Come see a presentation of a photo documentary, lecture and discussion with Amherst MA aid worker Gary Moorehead of the Marigold Fund.  Marigold’s mission is to help Afghans rebuild their country after decades of war, and to establish friendship and understanding between Afghans and Westerners.  
     Saturday, April 12, 4:30 - 6:30 PM
     Community Room, Forbes Library, Northampton, MA
With special guest Smith College alum and documentary award winning film maker Sharmeen Obaid.  She included the work of Marigold in her 2007 filming for CNN Special Investigations Unit: Lifting the Veil.

DECLAMATION DAY CELEBRATES THE SPOKEN WORD, APR 16
The UMass College of Humanities and Fine Arts is pleased to present Declamation Day, a celebration of the Spoken Word. Declamation Day celebrates the aliveness and spark of the human voice and its boundless capacity to move us. Come hear UMass students re-ignite a powerful tradition by delivering rousing speeches and dramatic poems! Performance, Wednesday, April 16, in Bezanson Recital Hall (Music Dept.), from 3:30-5:30pm. Come join us for this first-of-its-kind event at UMass!

CHFA CAREER CONNECTIONS NETWORKING RECEPTION, APRIL 24
Fine Arts Center Lobby, 3:00-6:00pm
The College of Humanities and Fine Arts Career Connections connects current students with successful CHFA graduates. Alumni/ae from CHFA departments will be available to discuss their current professions and how their education in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts relates to their careers. Refreshments provided and raffle for an IPOD Touch!

SPRING 2008 ENVIRONMENTAL LECTURE SERIES
The Environmental Institute is pleased to announce the Spring 2008 Environmental Lecture Series which will feature three distinguished scientists addressing Emerging Technologies and Environmental Applications and Impacts. Public Lectures will focus on the environment and nanotechnology; wireless sensor networks to monitor global environmental change; and the role of genome science in bioenergy, carbon cycling, and environmental remediation respectively. The series is free and open to the public. See flyer for complete information.