Treasured Places

Treasured Places by Craig Berger

The thirty degree temperatures, the cold, wet flakes, and what turned out to be a long walk from my car to the restaurant had my Californian girlfriend shivering under my umbrella and me wondering how I was going to pull this off. Luckily, the snow/rain/whatever it was lightened as we approached my car. Acknowledging it was cold and less-than-beautiful out, I mentioned that Federal Hill was right up the street. "Do you want to check it out?," I asked, nervously. While she had to have thought I was crazy, she agreed. Finally reaching the edge of the hill five minutes later, I clutched the ring box in my right pocket, as she took a panoramic photo of the Baltimore skyline on her phone. I pointed out the fading Ravens logo on the side of the hill; as she stepped forward to look, I grabbed the ring out of my pocket. As I went to kneel, my umbrella in one hand, the ring box open in the other, I heard her say, "Alright, let's go," as she turned away and took a step back toward the car, shaking from the cold. "Wait," I said. When she turned to see what could possibly make me want to stay any longer, I was already down on one knee. "Will you marry me?," I asked. Covering her mouth with both hands, tears welling in her eyes, she nodded, eventually able to reply "yes."

In the couple weeks that have passed since my engagement, I have replayed this experience many different times, gradually remembering additional details from that night that my nerves had initially blocked (in writing this post, I was able to recall even more). The realization I keep encountering is how, in the course of living our lives, we sanctify certain places. We fill these hangouts, stores, parks, bars, and campuses with our experiences, our interactions with people, and through that process, we transform them--in our memories, in our everyday lives, and in the recollections of ourselves and others.

I've always realized that my view of places changes as I accumulate experiences in them, but I see now that this power to see places differently over time based on these experiences also impacts others (even people who may not yet be here). I can imagine taking my kids back to Federal Hill in a decade, pointing out the general area where the knee of my dress pants touched the cold, wet cement. I can also visualize many students here returning to UMBC in several years, walking around with significant others, their kids, or other loved ones, and pointing out where their significant moments took place: where they were when they met their partner, the place where they were when they realized what they wanted to do with their life, or even that physical piece of campus they walked by each day, always noticing something new.

I find incredible power in realizing that these places weren't consecrated in my life because of any heroic mission I completed. It is those everyday moments and my ability to be real in them that make these places important to me. Some of those moments are big and obvious, similar to my proposal. Others are more difficult to anticipate. But it's empowering to me to know that I have the ability to shape these places myself.

I'm curious: what would you consider to be "treasured places" in your lives? What makes them so?

Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter. ]]>

by Craig Berger The thirty degree temperatures, the cold, wet flakes, and what turned out to be a long walk from my car to the restaurant had my Californian girlfriend shivering under my...

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Dear Graduating Student:

The Spring Commencement ceremony will be held on May 22, 2013. If you plan to participate in this ceremony, you must rent your academic regalia (cap, gown and hood) soon. To help you navigate the graduation process, please visit the May 2013 Commencement Newsletter site:

http://www.umbc.edu/gradschool/commencement/

Everything you need to know about commencement is just a click away.

If you have any questions about the information contained in the newsletter, please contact the following staff:

If you are a Ph.D. or M.F.A. student, please contact Kathy Miller, (kamiller@umbc.edu) (410) 455-3269
If you are a Master’s student, please contact Linda Thomas, (lthomas@umbc.edu) (410) 455-2440

---------------------------

This message is a mirror of the email announcement that Ms. Linda Thomas sent to graduating students on March 1, 2013.

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Dear Graduating Student: The Spring Commencement ceremony will be held on May 22, 2013. If you plan to participate in this ceremony, you must rent your academic regalia (cap, gown and hood)...

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My handwritten words, in a notebook:

Wednesday, March 12, 2003, 11:40 a.m., San Diego, California.

Sharon and I have lived in our apartment for a year and seven months, but today is the last day. Movers are carrying our furniture and boxed belongings downstairs and loading them onto a truck. Nearly all traces of our time here are gone. Our car is downstairs on the street, full of our things, ready for a long trip.

People have told me they think our decision to move from San Diego to Maryland is a courageous one. These comments acknowledge the sacrifices involved--of temperate weather, proximity to friends, a familiar situation--and also the risks. I'm the president of my own nonprofit organization, but ... my income is next to nothing. Once we're in Maryland, I'll have to raise money quickly and, most likely, find a job that will pay the bills. [The job I ended up finding a few months later--at UMBC--turned out to fit my interests and personality so well that I ended up shutting the nonprofit down.] We don't know that we'll like living in Maryland.

And there is a war about to start. The slow process of dismantling our apartment and saying goodbye to all that is familiar in San Diego has been matched, in time and in my mind, with the Bush Administration's eerie and unsettling, and often nutty and embarrassing, push for war against Iraq.

I really don't think of our move as courageous. It reflects a choice to live for something other than just our own comfort and convenience. My hope and dream is that my nonprofit organization ... will be able to do wonderful and valuable work from its base in Maryland. At the least, I hope to find inspiration, new ways to make contributions to the general welfare, and opportunities to hone and implement my emerging vision of a healthy, vibrant democracy in which each person feels that they are fully alive and able to change the world around them. Moving to Maryland is a no-brainer. San Diego is comfortable, but [for me, right now], it's also a place to stagnate and rot.

This apartment is where Sharon and I began our life together as a family. For that, this place will always be in my heart. But I'm certain that it's time to go.

Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter. ]]>

by David Hoffman My handwritten words, in a notebook: Wednesday, March 12, 2003, 11:40 a.m., San Diego, California. Sharon and I have lived in our apartment for a year and seven months,...

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by David Hoffman

It was an introvert’s nightmare, and I was the introvert:

I’m standing in a public square, reaching out to the people streaming past, calling attention to myself despite seeing that most of them don’t want to be bothered. I’m engaged in an activity many of them view as the height of dorkishness. And I am literally wearing a sign that says “Hi, I’m David Hoffman.” It might as well say “Judge me!”

When I lived this experience, all of my instincts were shrieking at me to fold up and go home. I wanted to be alone with a book, or having a quiet conversation with a few close friends. Anywhere but in that public square.

But I went to school in a place where the student government was real, not pretend; where students could make a difference on a scale I could not previously have imagined. And so it seemed to me that it might be worth enduring this bizarre ritual of campaigning and its culmination, the election (and with it the risk of losing) in order to have a shot at experiencing everything that deep involvement with such an organization would bring: self-discovery, the feeling of being a part of something larger than myself, new connections, and all the learning that could come from trying and doing big things.

You also go to school in one of those still-rare places where the student government is real; applications to run for elected positions for 2013-2014 are due later this week. And I have no doubt that there are UMBC students who are introverts like me, thinking about whether to apply, wanting to serve but not wanting to have to endure a campaign. Maybe you’re one of them, wondering whether you can stand to put yourself out there, wondering whether it would be worth it.

You can. And it would be.

Since campaigning inevitably involves reaching out to lots of strangers, it’s never going to feel easy to an introvert. But there are ways to make it less draining and more fun:

Team up with friends (whether they’re running for positions themselves or not), and lean on each other. There is safety in numbers.

Use social media (which didn’t exist when I was running for student government positions). Luckily for you, it’s possible to reach a lot of people in ways that feel personal but don’t require navigating crowds. Just don't forget that you'll still need to make in-person connections as well.

Make a deal with yourself: Commit to giving yourself the solitude and down time you’ll need after the election in exchange for a couple of weeks of reaching out strangers before and during the election.

Remember that running for office is a perfectly honorable thing to do, and your worth as a human being will not be at stake. If you lose (as I did as often as I won), you’ll be OK—and proud of yourself for having accepted the challenge.

Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter.

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by David Hoffman It was an introvert’s nightmare, and I was the introvert: I’m standing in a public square, reaching out to the people streaming past, calling attention to myself...

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Name: Sam Saxena

Hometown: Harrisburg, MD

Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: This is my fourth semester at UMBC.

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: I am currently a tour guide in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, a member of club tennis, a member of Pre-Med Society, and the chair of the Events & Seminars Committee in Global Medical Brigades.

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?

A: I am a good student and a great friend to others.

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A: I love just walking around campus and seeing different people I know, it gives me that community feel that I was really looking for in a school. I like that I learn something new every day and I appreciate the diversity that UMBC has. I also really enjoy being a tour guide because I get to share my enthusiasm about the school with prospective students.

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A: Sleep isn't really necessary, haha just kidding. I've learned the importance of your mindset, as opposed to hard work on its own. A lot of people work hard, but oftentimes they have doubt in their minds. If you work hard, you might succeed, but if you are confident and your mind is in the right place, it will be impossible for you to fail.

Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"

A: The San Francisco 49ers, and my hair.

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: I think the donuts in the Pura Vida cafe in the library are delicious! But not very many people know about them. When I was visiting here as a high school senior, I saw a group of people set up two tightropes between the tall trees near the admissions office and try and walk across them. It was something that really stuck with me and showed me how even though UMBC students care about their academics, they know how to loosen up and have fun. Interestingly enough, I haven't seen them since--it must have been a sign!

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We're asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are...

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Old Bay, crabs, the loud "O!" during the national anthem, and professional sports teams named for dark birds. We all know the obvious Maryland-isms: the things that make Maryland, Maryland.

But if you're from Maryland and have always lived here, maybe there are some Maryland-isms you don't even realize are unusual and not simply the way things are everywhere. The two of us are migrants from other states (David from California, Craig from Ohio), so we're going to do you the service of naming a few.

Outside of Maryland, it is very rare that ...

People identify themselves by which county they grew up in, or which high school they attended.
People use (or know) the term "Delmarva."
All the place names refer to English royals, nobles and locales.
Lacrosse is a big deal. (For David and everyone from Southern California, LAX is an airport).
The War of 1812 is a big deal.
The place you go to get or renew a driver's license is called the "MVA." (In other states it's called the Department of Motor Vehicles--DMV--or Bureau of Motor Vehicles--BMV).
Counties are known by acronyms like BalCo, HoCo or MoCo. (Really, in other states nobody talks about counties!).
High school student governments are called SGA's. (In other states they're called student councils).
So many people know when the state legislative session begins and ends.
So little travel time is required to experience so many different kinds of terrain.
The state flag has four different, highly contrasting colors.
So many people live in so many rowhouses.

What other Maryland-isms belong on this list?

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by David Hoffman and Craig Berger Old Bay, crabs, the loud "O!" during the national anthem, and professional sports teams named for dark birds. We all know the obvious Maryland-isms: the things...

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A message from the SGA Election Board:

It’s the most wonderful time of the year again. SGA Election Season!

Here is your chance to be a part of the nationally recognized UMBC Student Government Association. An elected position in the SGA gives you the ability to have an amplified voice on campus issues, be involved in campus wide movements like BreakingGround, and represent your peers before everyone from Dr. Hrabowski to Governor Martin O’Malley.

But, maybe you’re still thinking, why should I (yes, you) run for SGA?

Being part of a student organization is the first step in getting involved and taking action on campus! You know how to engage your peers about important issues. You can plan events that inspire and dazzle the campus community. You know what it takes to be involved while still performing academically. You know how to budget time and run a budget. You know how to make your voice heard.

You are ready for this next step.

In all, there are 20 positions to run for in SGA. In April the student body will select 11 Senators, 5 Finance Board Representatives, a Vice President for Student Organizations, a Treasurer, an Executive Vice President, and a President. Any one of those could be you!

The application to apply to run for a 2013-2014 position is up and ready to go at our website umbc.edu/studentvote along with all the information you would need about each available position and its requirements. All applications are due before Spring Break, on Friday, March 15 at 5:00 p.m.

You can also find the latest candidate information, election events, and giveaways on our pages at facebook.com/umbceb and twitter.com/umbcelections.

In addition, the Election Board will be hosting three information sessions, each featuring a current SGA leader so that prospective candidates can ask questions and see what its really like to be involved. The sessions are as follows:

Monday, March 4th during free hour (12-1) in Physics 201 featuring Executive Vice President Kian Larijani and Speaker of the Senate Valerie Parks
Wednesday, March 6th from 4-5pm in Commons 331 featuring Vice President for Student Organizations Michelle Kuah and Finance Board Chair Samantha Spehr
Monday, March 11th from 7-8pm in Public Policy 206 featuring President Kaylesh Ramu and Treasurer Chisom Ebinama

If you can’t make the sessions, the Election Board will also be on Commons Main Street Wednesday, March 6, from Noon-2PM to answer any additional questions.

Everyone has the potential to have an impact: So Make UMBC Yours and Run for It!

Remember all applications are due before Spring Break, on Friday, March 15th at 5:00 p.m.

Sincerely,

Your friendly neighborhood Election Board ]]>

In this guest post, Collin Wojciechowski, SGA's Election Board Chair, discusses the details of the 2013 SGA Election and asks you to make a commitment to the UMBC community and yourself. A...

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This message came to us from UMBC Chemistry alumna, Dr. LaTese Briggs. Dr. Briggs completed a postdoc at The Broad, a collaborative between Harvard and MIT. She is now a Program Analyst for Faster Cures, a division of the Milken Institute.

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The NIH has issued a Request for Information about implementing the recommendations of its Working Group on the Biomedical Research Workforce.The comment deadline is April 22. Responses are being sought from all stakeholders in the extramural community, including students, postdoctorates, scientists, scientific societies, and NIH grantee institutions, as well as from the general public.

Here is the Link:

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-13-045.html

]]>

This message came to us from UMBC Chemistry alumna, Dr. LaTese Briggs. Dr. Briggs completed a postdoc at The Broad, a collaborative between Harvard and MIT. She is now a Program Analyst for Faster...

https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/25032/guest@my.umbc.edu/dc4f8f02ca0314ab46ab5d538bed47a6/api/pixel biomedical gradstudents nih postdocs Grad Student & Postdoc Development https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/gspd https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xsmall.png?1695134616 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/original.jpg?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xxlarge.png?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xlarge.png?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/large.png?1695134616 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/medium.png?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/small.png?1695134616 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xsmall.png?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xxsmall.png?1695134616 PROMISE @ UMBC: Graduate Student Development https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/025/032/77c33d0fb152118e33778d34ae8a0473/xxlarge.jpg?1362169857 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/025/032/77c33d0fb152118e33778d34ae8a0473/xlarge.jpg?1362169857 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/025/032/77c33d0fb152118e33778d34ae8a0473/large.jpg?1362169857 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/025/032/77c33d0fb152118e33778d34ae8a0473/medium.jpg?1362169857 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/025/032/77c33d0fb152118e33778d34ae8a0473/small.jpg?1362169857 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/025/032/77c33d0fb152118e33778d34ae8a0473/xsmall.jpg?1362169857 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/thumbnails/news/000/025/032/77c33d0fb152118e33778d34ae8a0473/xxsmall.jpg?1362169857 0 0 true Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:31:54 -0500 STEM Grad Students! Win $1000 – $3000 from @NSF for the @GradEdChallenge! Deadline April 15, 2013

Calling all of our STEM graduate students!! YOU have ideas … we’ve heard many of them. You’ve shared them with us in meetings, at conferences like the PROMISE SSI, on the walkways of our campuses, and in our offices. Now it’s time to get those ideas out to a national audience, and receive money if your submission is chosen! You have to be in it to win it!

Deadline Apr. 15, 2013

_____________________________________________________

The following message comes from Dr. Jessie DeAro, national Program Director at the National Science Foundation for all of the AGEPs in the US. (PROMISE is Maryland’s AGEP, one of more than 20 AGEPs nation-wide.)

______________________________________________________

Calling Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Graduate Students:

Have you ever thought of ways to improve STEM graduate education? Do you have a creative idea regarding graduate training? If so, NSF wants to hear from you!

The National Science Foundation Innovation in Graduate Education Challenge is calling for entries from currently enrolled STEM graduate students and teams. They are invited to submit innovative ideas to prepare today’s graduate students for tomorrow’s opportunities and challenges. Entries are solicited for ideas with the potential to improve graduate education and professional development. Ideas can be directed toward students, faculty, departments, institutions, professional societies, and/or federal agencies. Winning ideas will be shared widely and winners will receive prizes between $1000 and $3000.

FROM THE WEBSITE:

Be sure to include the following elements in your submission:

The title of your submission (150 characters or less)
The issue in graduate education you wish to address
Your solution or idea
How your idea will change graduate education

DETAILS:

Who: Currently enrolled STEM graduate students (see additional eligibility criteria) [PROMISE note: YES, Social Sciences and STEM Education research areas are eligible. Students must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents. See pages 6-11 in the guide for eligible disciplines.]
What: A 1000 to 1500 word submission responding to this challenge
Where: Submission made to https://production.skild.com/skild2/NSF-EdChallenge/loginPage.action
When: Entries must be submitted by 11:59PM Pacific Time on April 15, 2013

For more information and to enter the challenge, go to www.nsf.gov/gradchallenge/
Entry deadline is April 15^th! Make your voice heard on STEM graduate education!
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @GradEdChallenge
Send questions to GradChallenge@NSF.gov

]]>

https://promiseagep.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/stem-grad-students-win-1000-3000-from-nsf-for-the-gradedchallenge-deadline-apr-15-2013/ https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/28018/guest@my.umbc.edu/9a3c55e8f0e0dbc5d268bb5670dc589d/api/pixel academic-enrichment advising agep alliance-for-graduate-education-and-the-professoriate development engineering funding gradschool gradstudents graduate-school learning maryland national-agep national-science-foundation nsf postdoc professor professoriate promise promise-marylands-agep stem-fields support teaching umbc Grad Student & Postdoc Development https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/gspd https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xsmall.png?1695134616 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/original.jpg?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xxlarge.png?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xlarge.png?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/large.png?1695134616 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/medium.png?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/small.png?1695134616 https://assets3-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xsmall.png?1695134616 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/066/fd3771a0ce0803416cfb6a914448d0d0/xxsmall.png?1695134616 PROMISE @ UMBC: Graduate Student Development 0 0 false Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:27:24 -0500 STEM Grad Students! Win $1000 – $3000 from @NSF for the @GradEdChallenge! Deadline April 15, 2013

Deadline Apr. 15, 2013

_____________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

Calling Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Graduate Students:

Have you ever thought of ways to improve STEM graduate education? Do you have a creative idea regarding graduate training? If so, NSF wants to hear from you!

FROM THE WEBSITE:

Be sure to include the following elements in your submission:

The title of your submission (150 characters or less)
The issue in graduate education you wish to address
Your solution or idea
How your idea will change graduate education

DETAILS:

Who: Currently enrolled STEM graduate students (see additional eligibility criteria) [PROMISE note: YES, Social Sciences and STEM Education research areas are eligible. Students must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents. See pages 6-11 in the guide for eligible disciplines.]
What: A 1000 to 1500 word submission responding to this challenge
Where: Submission made to https://production.skild.com/skild2/NSF-EdChallenge/loginPage.action
When: Entries must be submitted by 11:59PM Pacific Time on April 15, 2013

For more information and to enter the challenge, go to www.nsf.gov/gradchallenge/
Entry deadline is April 15^th! Make your voice heard on STEM graduate education!
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @GradEdChallenge
Send questions to GradChallenge@NSF.gov

]]>

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