Congratulations to Amanda Ginter, a doctoral candidate from the Department of Family Science, who has been named a Graduate All-S.T.A.R. Fellow.

Ginter is one of 16 students from across the university to receive the award this year. The Graduate All-S.T.A.R. Fellowships are intended to honor graduate students who are both outstanding scholars and outstanding graduate assistants.

Family Science doctoral candidates Tiffani Stevenson Lloyd and Damian Waters and Maternal and Child Health doctoral candidate Laurén Doamekpor are 2013 recipients of the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) Distinguished Teaching Assistants award. Awardees were selected from the top ten percent of all teaching assistants for their exemplary teaching and mentoring contributions at the undergraduate level. Tiffani has been an instructor for FMSC 332, Children in Families; Damian has been an instructor for FMSC 381, Poverty, Affluence and Families; and Laurén has been an instructor for FMSC 302, Research Methods in Family Science. Awards were presented by the CTE, the Office of Undergraduate Studies, and the Graduate School at the annual Distinguished Teaching Assistant Ceremony on Wednesday, May 10th.

Congratulations, Laurén, Tiffani, and Damian, on this award!

FMSC Undergraduate and Graduate Students were honored this spring at the 8th Annual Dean's Scholars Dinner. Awards and scholarships recognized academic excellence, service, and leadership within the Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, and the larger community. FMSC departmental scholarship recipients included: Ebony Edwards, Jeanette Spier Beavers Memorial Scholarship; Damian Waters, Andrew Billingsley Endowed Scholarship Fund; Kathylin Flores and Megan Kimmel, Edlavitch Family Science Fund; Shana Simkin, Ned Gaylin Endowed Scholarship; and Ana Martinez, Noel Myricks Endowed Scholarship. FMSC recipients of School of Public Health scholarships included: Claire Bernstein, Fraley Award, and Jerry P. Wrenn Scholarship recipients Mila Choei, Natalie Gaudette, Zainab Hosseini, Samantha Reich and Maya Robinson. The School of Public Health also presented awards to the following FMSC students: Dean's Outstanding Graduate Scholars Jocelyn Smith (PhD) and Nicole Ehlert (MS); Dean's Senior Scholars Talya Miller, Lisl Setzer, and Lindsey Zemeir; and Undergraduate Scholars Talia Brown, Teresa Donaldson, and Menucha Frischling. Please visit the following link to learn how you can contribute to scholarships for outstanding students in Family Science.

Six Department of Family Science Faculty (FMSC) were honored at the 6th Annual University-Wide Celebration of Scholarship and Research. FMSC awardees include Elaine Anderson, FMSC Chair & Professor; Amelia M. Arria, Director, Center on Young Adult Health and Development; Sandra Hofferth, Professor; Marian Moser Jones, Assistant Professor; Sally Koblinsky, Professor; and Sandra Quinn, Professor. Hosted by Provost Rankin and Vice President O'Shea, the celebration seeks to recognize University scholars and researchers who have made major contributions in their field of study.

Congratulations to the 2013 FMSC Honorees!

Dr. Amir Sapkota, assistant professor, Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, is the recipient of an inaugural award for his research and work to address environmental issues.

The University of Maryland Council on the Environment's Junior Faculty Award recognizes junior faculty members who contribute significantly to environmental research and knowledge, thereby raising the profile and visibility of the university.

Dr. Sapkota has been invited to present his research at a cross-campus seminar the Council will host in the near future.

Global Public Health (GPH) Scholars students presented details of their "active learning" experiences ranging from study abroad to laboratory research to internships at hospitals and NGOs at the 17th annual College Park Scholars Academic Showcase on May 3. The School of Public Health sponsors the GPH program, which is open to all admitted College Park Scholars students. The program offers students a unique opportunity to examine the complex connections between health, culture, economic growth and development, and environmental sustainability.

Ann G. Wylie Dissertation Fellowships are one-semester awards intended to support outstanding doctoral students who are in the final stages of writing their dissertation. Congrats to Eric Anson for winning one of these prestigious awards!

High school youth and senior citizens from the city of Seat Pleasant will visit the University of Maryland on Friday, May 10 to participate in a health summit focused on developing leaders for the CREATE for Change program. This arts-based, inter-generational project is designed to raise awareness about HIV and STD prevention through creative expression in Prince George's County. The School of Public Health and the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center organized the summit in partnership with Seat Pleasant Mayor Eugene Grant (pictured).

Dr. Ana Palla-Kane presented at the International Conference on Education promoted by CRIFPE (The Inter-university Research Center on Training and the Teaching Profession) in Montreal, Canada.

Presentation title: "Physical Education Teacher Education in the State of Maryland: program structures and challenges of teacher preparation".