The 2005-2006 Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars

Jessica Green
My high school education would not have been the same without Frau Jillian Ritchie, my German teacher. She taught her classes with enthusiasm and genuinely cared about each of her students. Always encouraging me to do more, I learned not only about a culture and a language from Frau Ritchie, but most importantly, I learned a set of values that have contributed to my academic and personal success. Professor Thomas Schumacher is one professor who does not lose sight of context, focusing only on a single subject. He impresses upon his students the social implications of architecture and how crucial these are when designing a project. Both of these mentors have shown me that education is not just about the facts, but the experience of the whole.

Virginia Scott
Mrs. Pamela Gentry was my high school teacher for general and advanced placement chemistry. I will never forget her endless patience as she answered my questions and worked through infinite examples until the class understood the material. At the time, I had never put so much work into a single class, but it was easier to put in the work when I knew that my teacher would take the time to explain it. Though AP chemistry wasn't always a fun class, it was a very rewarding one. In addition, Mrs. Gentry was one of those rare teachers who cared about her students' lives far beyond their academic achievements. At the University of Maryland, I have not had a more engaging instructor than Dr. Elizabeth Brown. In addition to keeping the class interested in courses such as sport psychology and children in sport, she cares about every individual student in her classes. She has helped me to figure out my post-graduation plans by advocating internships and real world experience. She is a person to whom I can turn for any kind of advice. Mrs. Gentry and Dr. Brown are just two of the many outstanding teachers I have had over the years, and I am grateful for the educational and life lessons they have taught me.

Mary Beth Hanley
Throughout my education, I have had different people inspire me.  My two mentors, Ms. Christine Murphy and Mr. Charles Rutherford, inspired me to keep my eyes open for learning opportunities all around me, not just in the classroom.  Ms. Murphy, my senior year English teacher, was truly an inspiration.  She made the literature we studied exciting.  During fourth period, it felt like a group of friends discussing literature rather than a sterile “classroom” lecture.  She provided an environment in which we felt comfortable to openly share our opinions and insights.  Dr. Rutherford has also been an inspiration to me.  As President of the Student Dance Association this year, I have had the opportunity to work with Dr. Rutherford on several occasions.  He is currently the acting chair of the Dance Department and is genuinely interested in students' opinions on improving the department.  He has always treated me as a colleague and encourages me to take on various leadership roles within the College of Arts and Humanities.  Both of my mentors have believed in me and have always encouraged me to voice my opinions.

Erin Millford
Mr. Skip Lee, my high school track and field coach, had a contagious
enthusiasm that brought out the best in everyone.  After a particularly hard practice during my freshman year, I was ready to give up and quit the team. He talked me through this and many other difficult times, and always kept me focused on my priorities.  Because of Mr. Lee, I know that it is possible to turn any situation into a success.  He strongly supported my decision to attend the University of Maryland, where I met my second mentor, Professor Lauretta Clough.  I first became acquainted with Professor Clough when she taught my French Writing and Composition class.  She is also the Undergraduate Advisor for the French department, and has helped me with everything from planning my curriculum to readjusting after the culture shock of a semester abroad.  Her office door is always open and just walking through it makes any challenge seem smaller.  I will always be grateful to Skip Lee and Lauretta Clough for their sound advice and their unwavering support.

Betsy Rosen
Ms. Barbara Whitman was my sophomore and junior high school English teacher. Ms. Whitman's class is one which a student might not appreciate until years later. She taught me how to dissect a piece of writing and how to convey my ideas thoughtfully and clearly, but she also instilled confidence in my writing, which has helped me immeasurably in college. What I will remember most about Ms. Whitman is her kind heart, dedication, and her willingness to be there for me as a friend, even now, three years after graduating from high school. Ms. Leigh Smiley has been a great inspiration to me in the Department of Theatre at the University of Maryland. She has pushed me to expand my range as an actor and has given me the confidence in myself to seriously consider an acting career. She also brings one-hundred percent of herself to her work everyday and is constantly involved with her students, striving to make their college experiences as educational and beneficial as possible. Her openness and amazing work ethic truly make her a wonderful role model.

Monica Ai-Lynn Tsuneishi
Mrs. Laurie Mannino was my history teacher in both eleventh and twelfth grades. She is an inspiring and supportive person, and has encouraged me in all of my interests. Her classes were always interesting and engaging, and she was always there for students. She made me feel special at a time when I was still uncertain about my potential. History was never my best subject in school, but she is part of the reason that I am a history major now. She also helped me to fulfill my life-long dream of going to Italy. My mentor at the University of Maryland is Professor Joseph Scholten of the Classics Department. His enthusiasm for the material he teaches inspired me to become a Classics major and, in part, a history major, as well. He always goes above and beyond his required duties, and he has aided me many times in my own academic goals. No matter how busy he is, he has always made himself accessible to students. Both Mrs. Mannino and Professor Scholten have been important influences on my academic career, and I would probably not be where I am today without them.

Emilie Clingerman
Mr. Kenneth Witts was my ninth grade geometry teacher. His jovial nature and his sincere love of teaching made his class enjoyable and unforgettable. Mr. Witts was one of the rare teachers who not only valued good grades in his classroom, but who also truly cared about us as people. I credit his dedication to education and to his students in helping me to achieve many successes. Dr. Nan Ratner, the Chair of the Hearing and Speech Sciences Department, is my faculty mentor here at the University of Maryland. Working closely with her both in the classroom and in the research laboratory, I have gained a thorough understanding of concepts in my field and have gained insights into how to succeed in a clinical setting. Dr. Ratner is a selfless individual who goes out of her way to ensure the success of her students.

Kelly O'Connell
When thinking of who has been an outstanding mentor to me throughout my education, two people clearly stand out.  In high school, Mrs. Jan Schultz, my advanced placement psychology teacher, taught me the basis of what would end up being my major.  Her love and enthusiasm for the subject was contagious, and she always encouraged me to do something with my life that I loved. But what really stood out with Mrs. Schultz is that even outside of academics, she was my mentor.  She was interested in my activities and life outside of the classroom; she was always asking questions and giving her advice and guidance when I needed it.  Everyone should be so lucky as to have a Mrs. Schultz in her life. Dr. Laure Brooks, my mentor at the University of Maryland, is the most incredible professor with whom I have ever had the pleasure of taking a class.  Actually, I have taken two classes with her and then became her Teaching Assistant.  Ask any student who has worked with her: Dr. Brooks is fair and truly cares about her students doing well.  Dr. Brooks is a teacher first, and a criminologist second.  It is very refreshing to have a professor at the University level who cares about teaching and her students as much as the subject matter.

Adam Namm
Both of the extraordinary teachers I have selected wore many hats. They excelled in their teaching inside the classroom, while also being extremely active with their students outside of the classroom. Mr. David Mead is a History teacher at Livingston High School, where his high-energy personality and enthusiasm for teaching come through in every class he teaches. In addition, his involvement in students' extracurricular activities adds to his ability as a mentor. Dr. Hassan Ibrahim *, a professor in the Decision and Information Technology Department of the Robert. H. Smith School of Business, is another teacher who is active in students' academic and extracurricular activities. Dr. Ibrahim has been a part of many of the significant projects that I have been involved in at the University of Maryland. I am very thankful to him for all of his teachings and guidance throughout these opportunities. These two teachers are perfect examples of how teachers can positively affect their students' lives inside and outside the classroom.

Sakisha Jackson
Ms. Samantha McLeod was one of my teachers at Allenwood Elementary School. She was an excellent role model both inside and outside of the classroom, teaching my third grade class and my after-school dance and drama class. During a critical growth stage in my life, both personally and academically, Ms. McLeod helped me to develop the values and leadership skills that I still hold dear today. She was and still is an example of what a young person should strive to be-- confident but modest, strong, intelligent, giving, and self-motivated. At the University of Maryland, Dr. Hassan Ibrahim's* down-to-earth teaching style makes his classes the most enjoyable, accessible, and applicable of any Business School classes that I have taken. Even more impressive is Dr. Ibrahim's dedication to students outside of the classroom. Dr. Ibrahim is the faculty sponsor for the Business Information Technology Society (BITS). As the president of the Smith Undergraduate Student Association, which presides over all Business School clubs, I can attest that Dr. Ibrahim is definitely one of the most involved faculty advisors, and this shows through the club’s success.

Joel Willcher
Ms. Linda Leslie is an educator par excellence.  Her course in advanced placement Language and Composition produces a quality of expository writing that is unparalleled in the state of Maryland.  Though she has taught hundreds of students the skills that they will need to communicate effectively, that will not be her most enduring legacy.  I will carry closest to my heart her challenge to read carefully, to think critically, and to act confidently.  Ms. Leslie fought to purge the passive voice not only from her students' writing but also from their attitudes.  By the end of our time in high school, the sense of self-determination that she inspired in each of us had congealed simply into a sense of self. I will always be grateful to Ms. Leslie for the special care she took to coax both the inner word wonk and the conviction of character out of me. Professor James Peters is similarly passionate about his role as a teacher.  He lives for the light bulb moment when a student masters complicated material. He practically charged into the classroom each day, determined to share his knowledge with his students. In his enthusiasm, he also passed along his passion. Dr. Peters' willingness to do whatever he can to help every student excel in his course and maximize their benefits from a Smith School education, continually inspires me.

Aaron MacGray
Even though I enjoyed math from a young age, Dr. Gary Hendrickson encouraged me to excel in it. I took every math class that he taught and participated in the after school competition teams that he directed. Because of Dr. Hendrickson's encouragement and support, I was successful in many high school math competitions and eventually decided to major in mathematics at the University of Maryland. In addition, Dr. Hendrickson introduced me to the world of physics, which sparked a whole new interest in me. During two years of physics classes with him, I learned an immense amount, because he pushed me and my classmates and held us to such high standards. “Doc” was more than a teacher to me, he was a mentor who shaped my life. Outside of academics we enjoyed ski trips and other activities because we connected on a truly unique level. When I came to Maryland, I chose Dr. Mike Boyle as my Math faculty advisor because I enjoyed him so much as a professor for Calculus 2. He has helped me to decide what classes to take in my major and been interested in my extra-curricular involvement. I have truly appreciated his wisdom and counsel.

Tim Dulaney
My love for physics began in high school.  During my junior year, I enrolled in Mr. Barry Hopkins' advanced placement physics class.  His passion for giving us practical, as well as mathematical intuition for physics, was evident in every class.  He stressed the importance of understanding the concepts instead of just the equations.  I wanted to learn more after two years of Mr. Hopkins' physics classes, so I decided to study physics in college. In my first year, I was fortunate to have Professor Jim Gates for my introductory physics class.  Professor Gates always had the highest expectations of his students and was always full of encouragement for us to meet and exceed these expectations.  When he lectured, we were never just in a physics class; sometimes it was an astronomy class, sometimes chemistry and always mathematics.  Over the next two years, he showed me how theoretical research was conducted and I have been hooked ever since.  Without these passionate and devoted mentors, I would not be such a diligent and successful scholar today.

Kun Lin
I did not name a single K-12 teacher for this award, because every teacher who has taught me deserves to be awarded. Each one has been patient in answering my questions, and along the way has encouraged me to explore more on my own. Without any one of them, I would not have achieved as much as I have. Their dedication to their profession and willingness to go beyond the call of duty has not only changed my life, but many of my fellow students' lives as well. I would like this award to honor each and every one of them. I hope that they will continue to teach, so that future students may have as much enjoyment as I have had. Dr. Perinkulam Krishnaprasad has been my college mentor for the past two years. He has taught me many things about how to be a great engineer. He is able to explain things with the most clarity I have encountered in my engineering studies. Thus, I would like to acknowledge his contributions by naming him as my University of Maryland faculty mentor.

Deborah Sweet
Dr. Dennis Finseth, my tenth grade chemistry teacher at Winchester Thurston High School, awakened my love of chemistry by allowing me to go beyond the activities in the classroom to satisfy my academic curiosity. Observing that the class material came very easily to me, Dr. Finseth created an extra laboratory for my experiments and gave me more challenging problems after I had completed the regular test. His class inspired me to pursue a career in chemical engineering. Dr. Mohamad Al-Sheikhly, my research advisor for over two years, has opened the world of research to me and has inspired me to pursue a PhD after graduation. After I had completed only one year of my engineering curriculum, Dr. Al-Sheikhly took me into his laboratory and taught me the fundamentals of being a successful researcher. His continual support and praise of my work has given me the confidence that I will need to succeed in my future endeavors. I hope that one day I am able to be a mentor to a student in the same way that he has inspired me.

Daniel Jacobs
The two most influential teachers in my life were also my toughest ones. Even after more than three years in college, the hardest course I have ever taken is still Advanced Placement U.S. History. I took this course in eleventh grade at Owings Mills High School with Mr. Wayne Hughes. The class became my favorite in large part because of the passion and dedication that Mr. Hughes had for his students. His love of history was contagious and I was quickly swept up in it. At the University of Maryland Ms. Penny Bender Fuchs taught my first reporting class; because of her, I always quadruple-check all of my stories for misspellings and factual errors. Ms. Fuchs has also challenged me outside of class, encouraging me to reach as far and as high as I can for internships. Most importantly, I have complete trust in Ms. Fuchs and Mr. Hughes, and I value their opinions highly. They both demanded a lot from me in their classes, but rising to meet their challenges has made me into the person who I am today.

Tatyana Delgado
My tenth grade broadcast journalism teacher, Mr. John Goldman, introduced me to television production. During my last two years of high school, he was my advisor and helped me to produce a monthly television show. He taught me how to write scripts, conduct interviews, and produce shows. I will always be grateful to Mr. Goldman for giving me the freedom to be creative. He allowed me to gain experience and challenged me to improve the quality of each show. Another mentor who has inspired me to become a journalist is Dr. Lee Thornton. As my television production and reporting professor, she has offered me guidance on numerous occasions. Her high expectations have motivated me to become a better writer and reporter. Dr. Thornton has an admirable dedication to accurate and fair news coverage, which has inspired me to uphold these principles in my journalism career.

Joanna Stewart
Mrs. Janet Stein has made a larger impact on me than any of my other teachers or professors. Her enthusiasm for chemistry is what sparked my interest in the subject. Her encouraging smile and sense of humor were ever-present and made learning chemistry enjoyable for her students. Mrs. Stein's dedication did not stop when class ended: she spent numerous hours of her own time helping me with a complex science fair project during my senior year. Completion of this project was one of my proudest accomplishments, and I could not have been successful without Mrs. Stein's support. Another experience that changed my life was my summer 2004 internship, for which I would not have applied without the insistence of Dr. Ray Stricklin. Dr. Stricklin consistently takes the time to offer me advice, inform me about opportunities, and make sure that I am doing well in my courses. He puts significant effort into getting to know many of the Animal Sciences students individually. His care and concern are critical to my continued motivation, as I do not feel lost among the thousands of students at the University of Maryland. I am the student I am today because of the influence of Mrs. Janet Stein and Dr. Ray Stricklin.

Jenna Pitts
When thinking about my four years at Soldotna High School, one teacher stands out in my memory.  His name is Mr. Michael Druce and I was in his Honors English, Advanced Placement English, and Film as Literature classes.  Mr. Druce both challenged and aided my abilities as a writer and a thinker.  He also taught the class that sparked my interest in film, which led me to become an Individual Studies major with a concentration in Film Studies. Dr. Eugene Robinson is my Individual Studies mentor here at the University of Maryland.  He has provided me with guidance as I choose classes and decide what aspect of Film Studies to pursue.  I look forward to working more closely with Dr. Robinson during my senior thesis and learning from his knowledge and perspective

Jennifer Dodge
I chose Ms. Mary Lee as my K-12 mentor because she is the teacher who inspired me to become an education major and a teacher myself. I received a teaching kit as a gift in first grade, complete with a chalkboard, grade book, and pointer. I spent hours in my living room teaching my brother just like Ms. Lee had taught me. Ms. Lee was also the teacher who sparked my passion for children’s books. Even today, I spend most of my winter and summer breaks reading children’s books instead of “grown-up” books. Here at the University of Maryland, Dr. John Splaine has opened my eyes to a variety of important issues in education and has helped me to see the history behind them. He brought in numerous speakers from all different grade levels, schools, and even countries to help our class see the strengths and weaknesses of our school systems. Dr. Splaine challenged me to think critically about these issues and to defend my own point of view, even when it contradicted the view of a professor. I knew I wanted to select Dr. Splaine as my mentor from the University because I always find myself saying, “Well, in Dr. Splaine’s class we did this.

Lucy Wagner Mitzner
Two mentor teachers who have had a significant impact on me throughout my educational career have been Mrs. Yvonne Burton and Mrs. Anne Daniel. Both have inspired and motivated me at different stages of my life.  Mrs. Yvonne Burton was my English teacher in my sophomore and senior years of high school.  Not only did she motivate me to achieve my best within the classroom but outside the classroom as well.  She voluntarily accompanied a group of students on a trip to explore Italy and Greece, where she helped me to learn more about myself as an individual. More recently, at the University of Maryland, Mrs. Anne Daniel has been an influential mentor in not only shaping who I am as a person, but also shaping who I am as an educator.  She has always been available to provide advice and guidance through both positive and negative experiences that I have encountered.  Her willingness to help and dedication extends to all of her students, and she has an impact on every student with whom she comes in contact.  Both of these extraordinary mentors have influenced my personal and professional development, and I am forever thankful that I have had their guidance in my life.

Kristina Cammen
The best teachers are those who do not teach from textbooks but rather encourage discussion and new ideas. I have been fortunate to have had two such teachers. Mr. Donaldson, my high school physics teacher, taught me so much more than physics. He devoted a class each month to a student-led discussion on any topic. Mr. Donaldson spent more time listening to his students talk than he did lecturing at the blackboard. Though I was a quiet student, he encouraged me to speak up. He helped me to see science in an entirely new light. At the University of Maryland I was fortunate enough to study with Dr. Jeffrey Jensen. Dr. Jensen has the unique ability to make daunting amounts of information seem within reach. He ties mundane biological facts together into intricate stories. His enthusiasm and love for animal biology greatly furthered my interest in the field and made me excited to learn as much as I could about the biology of the world around us.

Kevan Jonathan Salimian
Mr. Ron Peterman, my high school chemistry teacher, was very influential in my academic career.  His class was notoriously challenging, but those who chose to tackle it emerged with a detailed knowledge of chemistry.  He inspired me to think about everything critically, and he sparked my interest in the field of chemistry.  My extremely solid foundation in chemistry can be attributed solely to him.  As a result of this foundation, I chose to pursue biochemistry in college.  Under the wing of Dr. Jeffery Davis, I have been able to make the transition from a scholar in the field to an avid researcher.  Dr. Davis has provided me with the opportunity to do meaningful research in the field of organic chemistry.  He is extremely supportive, but at the same time, he allows me to conduct my research individually.  He always pushes me to strive for excellence. His honest advice, incessant smile, and willingness to help are among many qualities that make him an amazing mentor.  As mentors, both Mr. Peterman and Dr. Davis have helped me to succeed intellectually and personally.