Tag: Farquhar Honors College

Honors College Grant to Aid Underprivileged High-Schoolers

Andrea Nevins, Ph.D.

The Farquhar Honors College has been awarded a planning grant for $25,000 from the Teagle Foundation to support a new initiative that helps underserved high school students realize their full potential through the humanities. This Knowledge for Freedom program will feature a three-week symposium titled “One Person Can Change the World” for underprivileged high school juniors in Broward County.

The program aims to open the door to higher education to those who have been historically neglected, allowing them to engage with the humanities on a college level as they probe the processes and contexts of change. With an improved understanding of how change occurs, students will put theory into practice by conceiving an actionable project to facilitate change on an issue important to them.

Along with this project, the program will provide students with important resources to aid in the college application process such as recommendation letters, writing aid, and general support.

The program is helmed by Andrea Nevins, Ph.D., dean of the Farquhar Honors College, who is the Principle Investigator (PI). Robin Cooper, Ph.D., assistant dean for Research and Strategic Initiatives in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences (HCAS), and Melissa Dore, Ph.D., director of Academic Support and Administration in HCAS, will serve as Co-PIs. Aileen Farrar, Ph.D., associate chair and associate professor in the Department of Humanities and Politics in HCAS, will serve as the lead faculty.

“The Honors College is excited about the opportunity to collaborate with NSU faculty and staff across the campus, including several colleagues in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences on this important project,” said Dean Nevins. “We believe that the tremendous curiosity Honors College students have about the world is what leads to positive change, which is what this project hopes to accomplish in our local community.”

Once the planning stage is complete, the Honors College could be awarded an implementation grant of up to $300,000 to support the execution of the program.

Learn more about The Teagle Foundation’s Knowledge for Freedom initiative.

Posted 01/30/22

Social Change Through Art Open Classroom Series, Feb. 21

The Open Classroom series will feature conversations with scholars from various disciplines who will share their expertise on important issues and provide insightful perspectives rarely seen in the media.

Join us online or in person for our first installment, Social Change Through Art. Learn how contemporary artists use art as a form of social activism to challenge the historic use of images as a tool to marginalize women of color.

Social Change Through Art will be Monday, February 21, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Cotilla Gallery at the Alvin Sherman Library.

Register online or in person.

The event will be hosted by Andrea Nevins Ph.D., M.F.A. The featured speaker will be Kandy Lopez-Moreno, M.F.A., Associate Professor in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts. The Open Classroom series is a collaboration between the Farquhar Honors College and the Alvin Sherman Library.

Posted 01/28/22

Honors Student Gives Keynote Speech at Scholars Ceremony

Olivia Singleton

In September, Farquhar Honors College student Olivia Singleton received the honor of delivering the keynote speech at the Presidential Scholars Pinning Ceremony. The ceremony was held in recognition of the high-achieving students in the Presidential Scholars Program, a prestigious scholarship program that allows recipients of the full-tuition Presidential Scholarship to effect change across campus through transformational committees and projects.

In her speech, Singleton reflected on the program’s projects, growth, and goals to inspire her peers to continue to be catalysts for change on campus.

“Being chosen as the keynote speaker for the Presidential Scholars Ceremony was a very surreal moment for me,” Singleton said. “Being able to represent such a stellar group of students was a huge honor. It’s an amazing opportunity to help spearhead programs that will create change on campus, so to be able to put the group’s passion to make a difference into words was a privilege. It was also a very important moment for me because Dr. DeNapoli was a monumental mentor for me in the Presidential Scholars Program as well as in the Admissions Office, so it was a great opportunity to remember him, the influence he had on the program, and the way he pushed us all to strive for our goals.”

Along with being a Presidential Scholar, Singleton is a junior Honors student pursuing a B.S. in Chemistry with minors in Spanish and Honors Transdisciplinary Studies in the hopes of becoming a general surgeon for local and global missions. She is also the president of Greenhouse Campus Ministry and gives campus tours to prospective students as an Admissions Ambassador in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

“Being in the Honors College has enriched my academic experience in so many ways,” she said. “I have been able to maintain my love for books and English by taking three different Honors reading seminars with some of the most amazing professors we have on campus. Those classes as well as an honors class I took on transmedia studies in film, television, and social media have been my favorite classes outside of my core science curriculum because they allow me to be extremely well-rounded in what I get to learn about. They also have really opened my mind to new cultural perspectives and current issues that we face today. Honors classes are also my favorite because the style of classes makes it really easy to get to know my classmates, make new friends, and hear diverse opinions.”

For more information on the Presidential Scholars Program click here.

Posted 01/16/22

Honors Student Successfully Completes Thesis Track

Eva Ducanis and Dean Andrew Rosman, Ph.D.

In September, Farquhar Honors College student Eva Ducanis defended her Honors thesis highlighting the rising importance of blockchain technology and its implications across the professional learning path. Her thesis, titled “An Accounting Perspective: Predicting the Impact of Blockchain Technology Across Industries,” analyzes the current state and future direction of blockchain technology to surmise the trajectory of its impact on the academic, occupational, and further education sectors.

Completed in pursuit of her Research Citation in Honors, Ducanis’ thesis serves as a stepping stone for her future career as a Certified Public Accountant.

“This thesis has provided me with the opportunity to connect with industry experts related to my thesis topic— from NSU’s chief financial officers to top executives on Wall Street,” said Ducanis, a senior accounting major. “I’ve also been able to develop a professional relationship with Mr. Andrew Rosman, Dean of the Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship. He has been a tremendous resource and I cannot thank him enough for his guidance both academically and professionally throughout the research process.”

Next fall, Ducanis plans to step into her accepted role as an audit associate for RSM, a national public accounting firm.

Posted 01/16/22

Honors Student Develops App to Aid in Data Collection

Professor Jeffrey Matthew Hoch, Ph.D., with Honors College student Rose Leeger.

Farquhar Honors College student Rose Leeger has developed an app that optimizes the data collection process for researchers in the field. The app, called “Everglades Research for Mosquitofish Data Collection,” allows researchers to upload pictures and input data into premade categories for a more efficient and accurate method of data collection.

Leeger, a junior triple majoring in Marine Biology, Environmental Science, and Biology, created the app using software on ESRI’s ArcGIS system as part of her final project in her Geographic Information Systems course. The app has proven to be a handy alternative to the waterproof paper and pencils previously used in the field, allowing Leeger and her peers to conveniently collect and organize data on their phones. This data is then uploaded to an online data collection system that makes it easy for them to locate past data and identify trends in their research.

“I was able to save time and allow for more thorough research and data collection to be done,” said Leeger, who is currently using the app to collect data for her Honors thesis analyzing the distribution of biologically vulnerable mangrove mosquitofish and its relation to climate change and human activity in the Everglades.

Leeger plans to continue pursuing her passion for marine environment conservation by getting her Ph.D. to become a professor who can inspire future generations to do the same.

Posted 12/12/21

Honors Student’s Startup Helps Physical Therapy Patients

Varun Kota

Farquhar Honors College student Varun Kota has developed a startup to help improve the recovery prospects of physical therapy patients. The startup, called SMART MS3, aims to make the physical therapy process more efficient by providing direct and timely feedback between patients and their physical therapists.

SMART MS3 was conceived by Kota, a junior biology major, and his cofounder after conducting interviews and research that illuminated the widespread dissatisfaction among physical therapy patients with their long and uncertain recovery processes. The startup aims to minimize these recovery times by using an electromyography (EMG) sensor that measures muscle activity as patients complete their at-home exercises and a software app that sends this data directly to their physical therapists who can review their progress and tailor their exercise regimen accordingly.

Kota, involved with the coding of the app, is currently working with his co-founder, a graphic designer, and a team of engineers to optimize the device and app before it’s released.

“I have learned a ton through this process and [my] mistakes,” Kota said. “I now have an intimate understanding of the medical app framework, how apps are developed, time management, leadership skills, and public speaking. Initially, I really didn’t know how much I would learn from making a startup, but it has been an enlightening journey so far. I hope that I will continue to learn and improve myself as SMART MS3 continues to grow!”

To learn more about SMART MS3 click here.

Posted 12/12/21

Honors Student Publishes Research to Combat Heart Disease

Joshua Bennett defends his thesis.

Last September, Farquhar Honors College student Joshua Bennett published an article in the Global Journal of Medical Research that suggests engineering principles could be used to help fight heart disease. The research was completed as part of his honors thesis titled “Mathematical Analysis of Blood Flow in Human Coronary Arteries Plagued by Atherosclerosis” and was also presented virtually at the American Society of Thermal and Fluid Engineers Annual Meeting and the Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Fall Meeting.

“It feels crazy to know that the research I performed in my first three years of undergrad could potentially impact lots of people, and knowing that my fellow coauthors and I are being recognized for it is truly an amazing feeling,” said Bennett, a senior general engineering major.

Completed in pursuit of his Research Citation in Honors, Bennett’s thesis uses engineering principles to study the implications of blood flow mechanics in the onset of heart problems for those with atherosclerosis.

“Joshua is a stellar student with solid engineering principles,” said Manuel Salinas, Ph.D., professor in the College of Computing and Engineering who served as Bennett’s thesis adviser. “He focuses on industrial and systems engineering and through this project, he got a taste of biomedical engineering. My contribution was mainly helping him convert a disease into an engineering system and applying engineering principles to study and potentially solve the disease.”

View Bennett’s article in the Global Journal of Medical Research.

Posted 11/14/21

WCC Undergrad’s Short Documentary Wins First Place

Janay Joseph, NSU Writing and Communication Center (WCC) undergraduate consultant, and Halmos College of Arts and Sciences history and international studies major, won first place for her short documentary “She Had a Dream: Eula Johnson’s Fight to Desegregate Broward County” at the Undergraduate Student Symposium (USS), hosted by the Farquhar Honors College April 6-8, 2021.

Janay Joseph

Joseph’s “She Had a Dream” began as a short video project for her internship with History Fort Lauderdale, who helped produce the film along with her internship supervisor, Tara Chadwick. Joseph’s film focuses on Eula Johnson, a Civil Rights activist who led the Wade-ins protest on Fort Lauderdale Beach and became the first woman president of the NAACP Broward Chapter. Joseph’s video focused on Johnson’s story in an effort to inform others of her work as a Civil Rights activist, which led to the desegregation of Broward County Schools and other public facilities.

“I found her story inspiring since she was fearless in fighting for the rights of African-Americans including those outside of her community in Sistrunk,” she said. “With the recent Black Lives Matter protests it shows that a lot of the same issues she was fighting for in the past are still the struggles that Black people go through today. In a way, it links her past to our present. It was an honor to take first place and to see that her story resonated with so many people.”

NSU’s annual USS features and celebrates undergraduate student scholarship through poster displays, oral presentations, films, and performances. Representation in the USS often leads students to further research and publication, and presentation opportunities at both local and national conferences and conventions.

Watch Joseph’s “She Had a Dream: Eula Johnson’s Fight to Desegregate Broward County.”

Learn more about the NAACP Broward Chapter.

Learn more about the Undergraduate Student Symposium.

https://honors.nova.edu/student-symposium/index.html

Learn more about the NSU Writing & Communication Center.

 

NSU Changing Lives Scholarship Helps Students Continue Education During Pandemic

The Changing Lives Scholarship at Nova Southeastern University continues be a meaningful resource to help students pursue their academic careers, especially during a pandemic that has brought economic hardship.

The most recent 2021 Honors College Changing Lives Scholarship was recently awarded to an undergraduate student in the NSU Farquhar Honors College – Kristin Rodriguez. Kristin is a third-year student at NSU who is studying to receive her bachelor’s in psychology with a global engagement minor and honors trans-disciplinary minor.

Before even applying to the scholarship in 2020, Rodriguez was notified that due to the pandemic she was not going to receive aid from her other scholarships. Luckily, after receiving the 2021 Honors College Changing Lives scholarship, she was able to continue her education at NSU.

“NSU has been so gracious with their scholarships. Every single year, I worry about financials, but they normally pull through. They allow me to pursue my academics and without them I wouldn’t be in college,” said Rodriguez. “This scholarship allows me the ability to pursue my education and enjoy it, without being concerned over money. There are so many amazing people giving to these scholarships and it’s been a great process. I’m involved in so many extracurriculars as well and anything I can get to lessen the stress is just amazing,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez’s life-changing scholarship is made possible by Farquhar Honors College’s very own Dean Don Rosenblum, Ph.D. Dr. Rosenblum is the current dean of the Farquhar Honors College and an ardent supporter of education. Because of his position, he plays no role in the scholarship selection of the student.

 “I’m actually a donor for the Honor College Changing Lives Scholarship, but I am very unattached form the process, said Dean Rosenblum. “We have a selective faculty as well because they understand the honors college and they know the students beyond the packet of materials. I’ve always had great confidence in the selection and recommendations of the faculty. They do an extraordinary job in their decision-making and all the students are wonderful and appreciative.”

At the moment, Rodriguez plans to graduate from NSU in the Fall of 2021 with her bachelor’s degree, then will continue her education at NSU in the Fall of 2022 to pursue her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. While working a job, leading extracurricular activities, and remaining on the Dean’s List, Rodriguez remains diligent to succeed at NSU. With the help of the 2021 Honors College Changing Lives scholarship, she continues to balance her school and work life, all while being a top student.

“I’m so grateful that the Honors College chose me for this scholarship. The Changing Lives scholarship, first-hand, touches students’ lives, and I’m just forever grateful for NSU’s generosity.  I would point out the fact that NSU goes so far beyond what a normal college is expected to do,” added Rodriguez. “I can personally see those experiences happen, and they help students benefit from it beyond words. NSU’s continued support enriches the university experience and academics.”

If you’re interested in donating or would like to read more about the NSU Changing Lives scholarship, check out https://www.nova.edu/alumni/support.html

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