Fall 2009 Recipients

Micah Chervin

Two passions of mine, environmental sustainability and social justice, are likely to dictate my career aspirations. I'd like to either pursue environmental or human rights law after college, however "being on the ground" where these issues take place is also an important consideration. Last spring break I went with a group of students to a small Mayan town in the Yucatan Peninsula. While in Mexico, we contributed to the construction of a botanical garden that will hopefully bring eco-tourism to the impoverished community. The experience revealed to me how closely many of the world's most daunting tasks are really intertwined. For example, in the Yucatan, poverty, famine, and even political clout maintain a close connection to agricultural practices and land-use. The experience of working alongside local farmers to promote sustainable lifestyles had a significant impact on both my future goals as well as my own lifestyle practices.

Phylicia Graham

Phylicia Graham is a Junior Sociology and Government and Politics Double Major here at the University. She is from South Orange, New Jersey a small and diverse town. Phylicia is involved with a number of different clubs on campus including, the Choice Mentoring Program, Invisible Children, and the Black Student Association. Over the summer Phylicia was a Congressional Intern for Congresswoman Donna Christensen, a representative for the Virgin Islands. This internship has been a defining experience in her since she has been in college, by exposing her to the Legislative process. This intriduction has significantly influenced her career interests and goals. Phylicia has really valued her experience in the College Park Scholars, and is grateful she was able to participate in the program. She would like to thank Dr. Glass, and the all of the faculty in the International Studies Department who continue to provide a great program, with special thanks to Anthony Marcum for being a great resource to her while in the program.

Iman Tsz Yin Ng

I was born in Hong Kong and lived in the city for 13 years when I immigrated to the US in 2002 and my life has since experienced dramatic changes. I spent my 20th birthday in Jordan in the Middle East after having won a US State Department Scholarship to study Arabic in the region for the entire summer. I have also won a scholarship from the National Arabic Flagship Program to study Arabic and this will take me to Alexandria in Egypt for all of next academic year. I am a member of the Government and Politics Honors Program and the Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society. In the future I plan to work for the US State Department as a foreign service officer.

Zachary Rowan

My name is Zachary Rowan and I am currently a junior Criminology and Criminal Justice Major, English Minor. I’m from Forest Hill, Maryland – a small town in Harford County about an hour north of College Park. I’ve been involved in numerous clubs and organizations on campus. I’ve become fairly involved in the Student Government Association; starting as a member of the Campus Affairs Committee, assuming the position of Vice Chair of the committee, and this past year I was elected Cambridge Community Legislator. I’ve maintained a 4.0 GPA for the past 2 years and have been on the Distinguished Dean’s List for those two years. I remain an active member in the Primmanum Honor Society and have recently become a part of both the Criminology and Criminal Justice Department’s Honors Program and Alpha Phi Sigma – the Department’s Honor Society. As part of looking to attend law school and become a lawyer, I have completed several internships which have provided invaluable experience and knowledge – I served as an intern for Congressman Wayne T. Gilchrest of Maryland’s 1st District, an intern at Gessner, Snee, Mahoney, & Lutche, P.A. – a local law firm, and this past summer completed an internship with the Justice Research and Statistics Association in Washington, D.C. I am currently an intern at the Undergraduate Student Legal Aid Office and I look forward to a challenging year and ultimately a rewarding experience here at Maryland.

Fall 2008 Recipients

Ejaz Baluch, Jr.

Ejaz Baluch Jr. was born in Newark, New Jersey and raised in Edison, New Jersey. He attended John P. Stevens High School, where he played football for four years, and was a member of the track team and lacrosse team for two years each. His senior year, he was elected Varsity Captain of the high school’s first varsity lacrosse team in school history. At the University of Maryland, Ejaz was a member of Maryland’s Model United Nations Team his freshman year, attending the annual Harvard MUN Conference. He currently is an Undergraduate Research Assistant, a member of Maryland’s Silver National Mock Trial Team, the Treasurer of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International, and a Resident Board member of the University Student Judiciary.

Luke Beckman

Luke Beckman has a number of interests and activities, including the Intelligence Community Club, an avid sports fan, especially tennis, basketball, lacrosse, and soccer, following congressional and presidential politics, especially by watching Hannity and Colmes, and a love to travel and experience the world around me. He has lived in Harrogate, England and Bonn, Germany with his Air Force father. His previous achievements include Harvard Model Congress Delegate in High School, Co-founder of the Young Republicans Club in High School, Captain of the Basketball and Soccer teams in High School, and two-time winner of the Eagle Award. In the future, he hopes to serve the United States while engaging in the international community. While working on Capitol Hill appeals to him but he also would love to work in U.S. Embassies across the world or with various analyst positions in the intelligence community.

Rebecca Cohen

Rebecca Cohen has been involved in a number of activities, such as a research intern for Minorities at Risk Project, serving as the Vice President of New Member Education for Sigma Delta Tau, a past participant in Hillel's Alternative Spring Break to Uruguay and the Atid Campus Fellowship. Over the summers, she has worked at a Jewish overnight camp in New Hampshire as a counselor and this past summer as the assistant director of girls’ area. Her previous achievements include joining the Primannum Honor Society and National Society of Collegiate Scholars. In the future, she hopes to study abroad next semester in Cape Town, South Africa.

Ned Curry

Ned Curry is a Junior Government & Politics Major from Severna Park, Maryland. Ned was President of Centreville Dorm Hall his freshman year and has been a guest columnist in the University’s newspaper, The Diamondback. In the summer of 2007, Ned had the honor of being a White House Intern in the Presidential Office of Correspondence. An avid follower of politics, Ned campaigned for Senator John McCain during the Presidential Primaries in January of this year. Ned is also an Army ROTC cadet and will commission as a 2nd Lieutenant upon graduation from the University of Maryland. In the winter, Ned loves to ski, but if he could ski year-round, he would do it in a heartbeat. Ned also loves to run and spend time with his family.

Fall 2007 Recipients

Emilie Campbell

Emilie Campbell is a junior Government and Politics major from Greensboro, North Carolina. She plans to continue her studies after Maryland by receiving her Masters in Education to teach in the Washington, DC area. Emilie is a current Resident Assistant in Centreville Hall for International Studies Scholars freshman, and last year served on the RA Recruitment Team, and as a Teaching Assistant for EDCP470. She is also a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, serving as a liason between her chapter and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life as the Visions Chair. This winter, Emilie is headed to Lesotho and South Africa for a winter abroad program through the University of Maryland where she will study world issues, focusing on education, politics, and health concerns of the region. In her spare time, Emilie enjoys playing soccer, reading, and cheering for the Red Sox.

Jeff Amoros

At the University of Maryland, Jeff Amoros is currently the sports editor for The Diamondback and works as an open house panelist for the Philip Merrill College of Journalism. Amoros has also been a section editor of Unwind, the Scholars arts and entertainment magazine, as well as the sports editor of the Public Asian, the Asian-community newspaper on campus. In 2006, he was a summer intern in the GEICO communications department where he got to meet Warren Buffett, while in 2006, he worked as the sports desk intern for the Washington Post Express, covering and editing Washington-area sports. In 2006, he appeared on the Game Show Network show Chain Reaction, helping his team win $7,200. While a student at Centennial High School in Ellicott City, Md., Amoros served as the Howard County Student Member of the Board of Education. He captained the schools It’s Academic team to a 13th place finish at the national tournament, the highest in school history, as well as 2nd place out of 183 teams in the Baltimore-Washington-Central Virginia It’s Academic T.V. Superbowl. As a sophomore and junior, Amoros was part of the school’s Harvard Model Congress coalition, winning an outstanding-achievement award his sophomore year. He served as editor-in-chief of The Wingspan, the school’s bi-weekly paper, and co-founded the school’s Interact Rotary Club and the Young Democrats. Amoros also interned in the office of Howard County Council Chairman Guy Guzzone and was the youngest elected member of the Salem Lutheran Church Council in the church’s more than 150-year history. He played soccer on the Centennial J.V. soccer team and competed on the school’s debate team, serving as an officer.

Matt Wagner

I am a junior journalism and government and politics double major from Hagerstown, Md. I am a member of the Distinguished Dean’s list, and have been awarded the Oppenheimer Scholarship, the Maryland Distinguised Scholarship, and the Delegate Scholarship. Currently, I am applying for the Truman Scholarship. My time at Maryland has enabled me to pursue a wide range of interesting and challenging experiences. Last year, I traveled to Rome, Florence, and Pompeii for a winter semester course, and will spend the upcoming semester living with a family in Seville. I have tutored youths in both Washington and College Park, and I am currently working with area kids through the university’s Lakeland STARS program. For the past year I have worked with Minorities at Risk, a research project run through the Center for International Development and Conflict Management. This semester I began writing for The Diamondback, and hope to continue do so until graduation. I have also gained real world insight into state government. As a member of the Governor’s Summer Internship Program, I spent the summer interning at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. I have also interned with delegate John Donoghue of Hagerstown. My crowning achievement of college was helping to lead International Studies to victory in the softball tournament freshman year. I hope to attend graduate school and work in government policy, or write for National Geographic.