UW Honors | Weekly Announcements

Week 8 – Autumn 2023

Hi Honors Huskies!

We are finally entering the home stretch of the quarter! It’s Thursday afternoon, which means it’s time for our weekly announcements. Check out the many events happening soon and open positions to apply for, linked below.

Opportunities

Events

Delta Epsilon Mu and PhiDE Research Exposition

Delta Epsilon Mu (DEM), is a co-ed pre-health professional fraternity. DEM is partnering with PhiDE (a pre-med professional fraternity) to host a research exposition on November 16! The event is from 2-5 pm at the HUB Lyceum.

Beinecke Scholarship

The Beinecke Scholarship (https://beineckescholarship.org/) seeks to encourage and enable highly motivated students to pursue graduate study in the arts, humanities and social sciences, and to be courageous in their selection of graduate programs. The scholarship provides $35,000 for a research-focused master’s or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences to juniors (based on graduation date) who have financial need.

UW nomination required. Students from all 3 campuses are welcome to apply for nomination:

    — UW application deadline: Jan. 31, 2024, 11:59pm

    — UW application and nomination information: https://new.expo.uw.edu/expo/scholarships/beinecke

    — UW online application form: https://new.expo.uw.edu/apply/715

    — Questions? Concerns? Contact: Robin Chang, robinc@uw.edu, in the UW Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards.

Scholarship & Application Benefits:

If you are considering graduate studies in an arts, humanities or social science field, have a passion for that field, and financial need, consider applying! In addition to being considered for the scholarship, you can use this scholarship application process as a helpful way to get well ahead of the game in preparing for future grad school apps!

The financial benefits the scholarship provides include:

    — $5,000 immediately prior to entering graduate school and

    — $30,000 while attending graduate school.

The scholarship can be used at any accredited school in the US or abroad, and recipients are allowed to supplement the award with other scholarships, assistantships and research grants.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for this scholarship, a student must:

    — Be a United States citizen, or a United States national from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

    — Be a college junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree during the 2023-2024 academic year. “Junior” means a student who plans to continue full-time undergraduate study and who expects to receive a baccalaureate degree between December 2024 and August 2025.

    — Plan to enter a research-focused master’s or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences.  Please note: Students in the social sciences who plan to pursue graduate study in neuroscience should not apply for a Beinecke Scholarship. Also, students who plan to pursue professional school programs that emphasize skills and practical analysis over theory and research (such as law, business, education, architecture, journalism, clinical psychology, social work, etc.), are not competitive for selection at the national level.

    — Have a documented history of receiving need-based financial aid during their undergraduate years, with a preference for Pell Grant recipients. Other evidence of meeting this criterion is a student’s history of receiving need-based institutional, state or federal grants-in-aid. An institutional financial aid officer will be required to complete a Financial Data Sheet certifying that the student meets this criterion. During the selection process, the amount of financial need will be one of the factors considered with preference being given to candidates for whom the awarding of a scholarship would significantly increase the likelihood of the student’s being able to attend graduate school.

    — Have demonstrated superior standards of intellectual ability, scholastic achievement and personal promise during their undergraduate career.

Please feel welcome to contact Robin Chang in the UW Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards (robinc@uw.edu; 206-543-2603) with questions or concerns, and please find additional details at https://new.expo.uw.edu/expo/scholarships/beinecke and https://beineckescholarship.org/.

HONORS 397: Prison Education and Freedom in WA State

If you’re passionate about issues surrounding mass incarceration, prison reform, prison education, and the rights of incarcerated individuals, take this 2 credit course! This is an opportunity for social justice-oriented students to get involved with organizing surrounding these topics, to engage with and support cultural groups in prisons, and more! 

Time Schedule listing: Honors 397: Prison Education and Freedom in WA State

Course description:

This 2-credit peer-led course critically analyzes issues surrounding incarceration and the criminal legal system. Through student-led projects, we will collaboratively explore themes surrounding decarceration, abolition, and coalition-building that center the voices of incarcerated people and their work in prison organizing. The course will incorporate various forms of media including artwork, readings, speaker testimonies, legislative material, etc. Group projects, reflective essays, and other assignments will be organized based on students’ selected topic. Topics include (but are not limited to): art as liberation, legislation as a tool for community organizing, politics of reintegration.

HONORS397 Flyer

ASUW Gender Equity Internship

The ASUW Gender Equity Commission is hiring interns for the 2023-2024 school year!

The Gender Equity Commission (GEC) is an entity within ASUW that advocates for students on the basis of gender identity by way of policy, event planning, and community building.  

The GEC intern team is comprised of four essential teams: community outreach and education, marketing, programming, and policy and activism. With these teams, we hope to spotlight our interns’ passions to uplift community through collaboration on multiple fronts.

The intern positions and descriptions can be found here, and the application and deadline can be found here.

EDUC 260/401: Service experience at K-12 Schools

Want to volunteer with K-12 students and earn credit? The Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center offers courses for UW students to earn academic credit while volunteering in K-12 schools! If you are interested in educational equity and gaining direct-service experience working with K-12 students, then we encourage you to enroll in our courses. Our courses are variable credit, count towards the ELS and Leadership minors, and are graded CR/NC. To get started, consider registering for the below classes on MyPlan:  

EDUC 260: Equity Issues in K-12 Education (1 credit) 

When: Mondays, 11:30 am-12:50 pm   

Modality: In-Person 

EDUC 260 is a community-engaged course designed to prepare University of Washington students for a mentoring and tutoring relationship with K-12 students at local partner schools, either in an academic tutor or a post-secondary planning capacity. The course’s purpose is to strengthen student consciousness of self, of others, and community to be applied to practice.

*Pre/co-requisite course for EDUC 401  

EDUC 401 A/B: Practicum in Community Service Activity (1-6 credits) 

When: A Section BIWEEKLY on Wednesdays, 11:30 am-12:50 pm 

           B Section BIWEEKLY on Wednesdays, 4:00 pm-5:20 pm 

Modality: In-Person  

EDUC 401 A and B are CELE community-engaged courses designed to prepare University of Washington students for an academic tutoring or mentoring relationship with K-12 students at local partner K-12 schools. Students will be matched with a volunteer site, or can choose their own site, and will volunteer on a weekly basis. Tutors will build teaching and academic support skills through coursework and in-person volunteering. EDUC 401 classes are meant for tutors to reflect on their direct community engagement experience. Credit is earned through attendance, assignments, and the completion of required service hours (to be fulfilled through tutoring at schools and professional development sessions). 

*Co-registration in 260 required for all first-time 401 A/B students 

EDUC 401 C: Practicum in Community Service Activity (1-6 credits) 

When: Online, Thursday 11:30 am – 12:50 pm  

Modality: Virtual 

EDUC 401 C is for returning tutors and mentors. Students must have taken and passed EDUC 401 A or B and EDUC 260. First class session meets sychronously online, and subsequent sessions are asychronous online. Tutors/mentors will either continue the same volunteer site placement they have done previously, or choose a new volunteer site. Assignments expand on previous 401 A/B material and focus on advanced reflection topics and in-depth issues in K-12 education. Credit is earned through attendance, assignments, and the completion of required service hours (to be fulfilled through tutoring at schools and professional development sessions). 

*Pre-requisite: EDUC 260 and EDUC 401A/B 

You can find out more information on our website, located here. If you have any questions about registration or curriculum, please email celecenter@uw.edu.  

LABOR 480: Applied Research for the Labor Movement

LABOR 480

Western Regional Honors Conference (WRHC) Proposals

The Western Regional Honors Council (WRHC) Conference will be held on March 28-29, 2024 at CSULB.

Beyond the Breaking Point: Searching for Buoyancy

Undoubtedly most of us came out of the COVID pandemic feeling a bit off balance and wanting to steady our upside-down lives. Despite the return to more normal daily activities and routines, we live differently today as survivors of the pandemic. We look around and know that there are pressing human, environmental, social, and cultural elements that need our attention. While you come explore the city of Long Beach, discover through a visit to the Aquarium of the Pacific, contemplate our Hispanic-Serving (HSI) and Asian-American, Native American, Pacific-Islander-Serving (AANAPISI) CSULB, enjoy our keynote conversation with filmmaker Dr. Jennifer Abod, may you gain new insights into our human experience and the tools at our disposal for collective and continued survival and well-being. Enjoy!

We are currently accepting proposals for the 2024 WRHC Conference. The application deadline is December 17, 2023.

https://www.csulb.edu/university-honors/western-regional-honors-council-conference-2024

Types of Presentations

Poster Presentations (45 minutes)  

  • The poster presentation session will be an interactive event in which individuals or groups of two present their research on posters. The recommended poster size is 24” x 36” and shall be of professional conference quality. Presenters should be prepared to answer any challenging questions regarding their research. 

Oral Presentations (10 minutes per presenter with 5 minutes Q&A) 

  • The oral presentation sessions will allow presenters to discuss and show their research. The presentation may include audio or visual aids. Presentations will be organized into panels of 3 participants based on research similarities. If you have a predetermined panel, please note that in your form. 

Workshops (45 minutes) 

  • The workshop sessions will consist of presenter/s teaching various skills to attendees through hands-on training, spirited discussion, and active learning. Each workshop can be as formal or informal as the speaker desires. Interactive materials are welcome but will not be provided. 
WRHC Banner

CHID 250/270: Critical humanistic explorations of Black speculative fiction, histories of science, and Queer representation in the media.

These courses below are amazing “special topics” courses that are great options for Honors students.

Brittney Frantece, CHID 250A THE CRAFTING OF ELSEWHERE –   BLACK SPECULATIVE FICTION THROUGH BLACK FEMINIST AND QUEER THEORIES (CALDERWOOD SEMINAR, LIMITED TO 12 STUDENTS) ___ WE WILL ENGAGE BLACK FEMINIST METHODS OF WORLD AND COMMUNITY BUILDING AS METHODS OF FINDING AUTHENTIC LIFE, LOVE, KINSHIP, AND CARE. WE WILL ALSO ENGAGE QUEER THEORY EXPERIMENTS WITH REALITY, RELATIONALITY, AND TIME. HOW CAN A CRITICAL STUDY OF SPECULATIVE FICTION AND ART LEAD US TO THE ECSTATIC ENGAGEMENT OF MATERIAL CONDITIONS EXISTING ELSEWHERE?

Dimas Romadhon, CHID 250D CRITICAL HISTORY OF IMMUNITY – THIS COURSE WILL EXPLORE THE EVOLUTION OF THE CONCEPT OF IMMUNITY THROUGHOUT HISTORY. WE WILL EXAMINE ITS ORIGINS, THE SOCIOCULTURAL INFLUENCES THAT HAVE SHAPED ITS MEANING OVER TIME, AND ITS TRANSFORMATION INTO A TECHNICAL TERM THAT HAS LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF VACCINES AND VACCINATION-RELATED POLICIES IN MODERN SOCIETY.

Aparna Ghosh, CHID 270A QUEER REPRESENTATIONS IN JOURNALISM – BEYOND STORIES, STORYTELLERS, AND STRUCTURES – THIS SEMINAR-STYLE COURSE DELVES INTO THE INFLUENCE OF JOURNALISM IN SHAPING QUEER IDENTITIES AND EXPERIENCES. THIS COURSE OFFERS STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MEDIA REPRESENTATIONS, LANGUAGE CHOICES, AND NEWSROOM PRACTICES, ANALYZING THEIR IMPACT ON PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF QUEER ISSUES.

Annual Chemistry Department Scholarships and Summer Research Awards Applications

We are pleased to announce that applications are now open for:

  1. Department of Chemistry tuition scholarships ($1,000-$2,500) and book awards ($500) for UW students who are currently declared biochemistry or chemistry majors.
  2. ChemStarter summer research stipends ($5,000-$6,000) for UW students who are current or aspiring chemistry/biochemistry majors and aspire to pursue a career in chemical sciences, are at earlier stages of their career, and demonstrate financial need.

The application deadline is January 15, 2024, 11:59 pm. Students may submit their application here [docs.google.com/forms]. More information is below and complete application information can be found on our website at: https://chem.washington.edu/scholarships-and-financial-support

New this year: We have a consolidated application for both the scholarships/book awards and ChemStarter summer research stipends. Applicants will select whether they want to be considered for a scholarship/book award and/or summer research stipends. Recipients will be selected during winter quarter (by mid-March 2024). Scholarships and book awards will be disbursed for spring quarter and ChemStarter summer research stipends will be disbursed at the start of summer quarter.

The application form has four pages, outlined below. Before starting the application, we recommend you gather all you need to answer the prompts:

Page 1 (for all applicants):

  1. Answer basic questions about yourself, like your name, student ID, year in school and major
  2. Your cumulative UW GPA
  3. Indicate if you receive federal financial aid
  4. Tell us about any research experience that you have, including which department/lab you are in and how long you have been there. (aim for approximately 100 words) Note that for ChemStarter summer research stipends, research experience is not required.
  5. Tell us about your personal background. This may include sharing a challenge or obstacle (educational, financial, or otherwise) that you have faced and how have you overcome it or plan to overcome it. If you have a personal commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion of marginalized groups in STEM, please share with us. (aim for approximately 150 words)

Page 2 (for scholarship/book award applicants):

  1. Are you involved in any volunteer activities or extracurriculars? Please tell us about these experiences. (aim for approximately 100 words)
  2. Tell us who has agreed to submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf. We prefer that letters of recommendation come from a faculty member or teaching assistant in the Department of Chemistry. Please provide this link to your recommender so they may submit their letter here: https://forms.gle/FfXMFQhnzo9CsmKRA. Letters are due on January 15, 2024, at 11:59 pm.

Page 3 (for ChemStarter summer research stipend applicants):

  1. Tell us about your career goals (one to two sentences)
  2. Tell us how this stipend will impact your summer plans or what you would do this summer if you did not receive this stipend? (aim for approximately 50 words)
  3. If you are currently in a research lab, which one are you in? Do you plan to continue research with this lab over the summer, and have you discussed this with your PI?
  4. If you are not in a research lab, or if you do not plan to continue in your current lab over the summer, rank your level of interest in various research areas, so that the committee can inquire with Chemistry faculty about open positions in their labs on your behalf. (We will provide a list of areas including Analytical Chemistry, Biophysics, Catalysis, Chemical Biology, Clean Energy, Inorganic Chemistry, Materials, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and Theory and Computation. For each area, you may choose “Strong interest, Medium interest, Low interest, or No interest.”)
  5. Provide a personal statement: What research focus interests you the most? How does this summer research opportunity fit into your future plans, and what do you hope to get out of this experience? What are your prior experiences and skills that may help you succeed in research? How will this award impact your professional development? Feel free to address the questions that are most relevant to you. Successful essays include specifics/evidence of the qualities you seek to emphasize. For example, “I am industrious” is too vague, but  “I have done x, y, and z and this proves that I am industrious” carries a lot more weight (aim for approximately 250-350 words). Writing resources are available at the UW. 

Page 4 (for all applicants):

  1. Upload one pdf file, named “LastName_FirstName_CV.pdf”, containing:
    1. Your CV that includes a listing of all your education, training, and work experience
      1. Do not include sensitive information such as your social security number/ITIN.
      2. You are encouraged to include any honors and awards you might have received, scholarly presentations or publications, leadership, service, outreach or other extracurricular activities, as well as honors courses you have taken in addition to any other activities or information that could distinguish your application.
      3. Examples of CVs are provided by the Career and Internship Center. 
    2. Your most current unofficial transcript.
  2. An optional field to share anything else with the selection committee that you feel is important.

If you have any questions, reach out to the Chemistry advisers at advisers@chem.washington.edu.