University Fellows: A Summer Full of Learning
The University Fellows program, an initiative funded in part by generous donations from many alumni, creates an environment for intellectual growth and close student-faculty relationships during the summer that often positions students to continue their research in senior-year projects.
Keeping Lakes Healthy
Brian Congiu ’08, a geology and environmental studies double major from Bayonne, N.J., received a Linus R. Gilbert University Fellowship to work with Associate Professor of Geology Jeff Chiarenzelli ’81 on a project titled “The Environmental Impact of Waterfront Property: An Investigation of the Effects of Residential Shoreline Development on Water Quality of Lakes and Ponds in St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, N.Y.” The Elberty Laboratory for Spatial Analysis, which memorializes the late revered Professor of Geography William T. “Bill” Elberty Jr. ’53, was the locus of the portion of his work that involved Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology.
“My project consisted of using GIS to identify lakes and ponds that are vulnerable to water quality degradation,” he says, “and then analyzing several characteristics of those water bodies. Next, I visited each one and measured various parameters to verify the accuracy of the GIS analyses and determine the health of the water bodies.
“The fellowship allowed me to become more independent and confident in my abilities,” Congiu explains. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to pursue my interests while challenging myself and working closely with dedicated faculty members.”
Giving Back to the Community
Jon Cardinal ’08, a sociology major from Ogdensburg, N.Y., undertook research along with Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of Community-Based Learning Ron Flores on “The Forgotten America: Rural Poverty in Northern New York.” He was the recipient of a Thompson-Weatherup Family Charitable Foundation University Fellowship.
“As a proud North Country resident, one of my life-long goals is to give back to my home area by playing a central role in the development of the region's economy,” says Cardinal, who is also the recipient of a prestigious Truman Scholarship for post-graduate study. “My research gave me a clearer understanding of the many reasons why poverty is an ever-present problem in the area, and with this understanding, I can begin to formulate concrete strategies for economic growth and poverty reduction.”
Cardinal’s mentor, Flores, has done extensive research on poverty in the North Country. “With my completed research, we can publish pieces jointly in an effort to bring information on this important problem to the public,” says Cardinal.
Although Congiu and Cardinal worked on greatly differing research projects, it was in large part the emphasis on the residential aspects as well as the close faculty-student relationships that the participants developed which made their experiences such a success. Says Cardinal, “Clearly, the Fellows program offered me a tremendous opportunity to expand upon my knowledge about not only my research subject but myself as well.”
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University Fellows can be funded through expendable or endowment gifts. Named gift minimums for University Fellowships are $5,000 for an annual expendable fund and $50,000 to permanently endow a fund. To learn more about funding a named University Fellowship, please contact Andy Whittier, director of major gifts, at 315-229-5511.
