Talking Points

21st Century Leaders, Welch Scholars to be recognized at Commencement

The exemplary achievement, initiative and leadership of some of the university’s most talented and accomplished graduating seniors will be recognized during Undergraduate Commencement on May 10 beginning at 5 p.m. at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
 
Eleven graduating seniors have been named 21st Century Leaders and will be honored for far-ranging achievement, initiative and social awareness. Ten of those being recognized are members of Commonwealth Honors College.

  • Zachary Robert Bemis, a Civil Engineering major with a minor in Geology, is from Southborough.

Senior Caroline Conena honored at State House

Senior Caroline Conena of East Sandwich was honored May 2 at the State House as one of “29 Who Shine,” a group of outstanding students from each of the community colleges, state universities and UMass campuses.

A double major in Public Health and Business Management, Conena is graduating with a 4.0 GPA. As a peer mentor, she provided crucial academic support to first-year students. As an Commonwealth Honors College peer ambassador, she met with Massachusetts high school students to acquaint them with the colleges programs and opportunities.

For two years, Conena has interned at

Honorary degrees, awards to be presented at Commencement ceremonies

Undergraduate Commencement on Friday, May 10 will feature a keynote address by Kenneth I. Chenault, chairman and CEO of American Express. He will speak to 5,500 graduating seniors at McGuirk Alumni Stadium where friends, family and alumni will gather to take part in a full day’s schedule of commencement observances. The ceremony runs from 5-6:30 p.m.
 
Chenault will also receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at the ceremony.

Outstanding teaching, research and outreach honored

The highest standards in teaching, research, outreach and invention among members of the faculty were recognized April 29 at the UMass Honors dinner held as part of Founders Week.

Four faculty members and two graduate students have been chosen to receive the Distinguished Teaching Award, the highest honor awarded on campus for excellence in teaching and learning.

The tenure system faculty winners are Christian Appy, History, Elizabeth Connor, Biology, and Robert Nakosteen, Operations and Information Management.

Center for Research on Families announces student award winners

The Center for Research on Families recently awarded $39,200 in funding to 11 undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in researching issues related to the family.
 
Now in its fourth year, CRF’s Student Awards Program supports student research, training and conference travel and provides opportunities for students to work with faculty on research projects. Awardees engage with the center by attending two roundtable events to present their research.
 
The CRF Family Research Graduate Student Fellowship provided $10,000 to three doctoral students for one year to work with a faculty

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