The amount of Odyssey funding for student and faculty projects has now surpassed
three million dollars. This April, the Committee on Engaged Learning awarded $97,881.75
in Odyssey grants to 38 projects, bringing the total awarded since the Odyssey Program’s
inception in 2005 to $3,096,668.05.
This summer will be a time to pursue potential career interests and research
experiences, while this fall features global explorations to understand the Holocaust
and in-depth examinations of civil rights in Arkansas.
Kara Coffman
Internship at Fort Smith Public Libraries
Category: PL
Sponsor: Prof. Britt Murphy — Library
During her internship at the Fort Smith Public Library system, Kara Coffman will
assist with various services, including the summer reading program and story time
in the children’s section.
Brandon Cox
The Chemistry of Hand Building
Category: PL
Sponsor: Prof. Beth Lambert — Art
At the Arkansas Arts Center, Brandon Cox will explore the role of chemistry in
ceramics, using a grid method to research various glazes on clay pieces that he
will create. He hopes to understand the underlying molecular compositions that contribute
to increasingly complex and controlled hand built objects.
Debra Crawford
An Inside Look at Physical Therapy
Category: PL
Sponsor: Prof. Sheila Rupert — Kinesiology
During her internship in the physical therapy department of the Conway Regional
Medical Group, Debra Crawford will observe physical therapists as they work with
a variety of injury types and patient demographics.
Hadley Crowl
Exploring economic development through the lens of a social impact investor
Category: PL
Sponsor: Prof. Lyle Rupert — Economics and Business
Hadley Crowl will use her training in statistical anlaysis to practice as an
intern with Firestarter, a non-profit organization that helps philanthropists take
an efficient research-based approach to charitable giving.
Ruthie Daniel
Internship at the Clinton Foundation
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Leslie Zorwick — Psychology
As a Communications Intern for the Clinton Foundation, Ruthie Daniel will work
with the communications team on all media-related activities including speechwriting,
presswork and preparation of materials for television, print and video for the press
and general population.
Grace Dearing
College Away from Home: An Internship in Event Planning and Marketing
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Ralph Scott — Economics and Business
Grace Dearing will be a planning and marking intern for the Alumni Relations
Department at Texas Lutheran University. She will contact alumni and coordinate
the university’s homecoming and tailgating events.
Elizabeth Dye, John McAvey, Collin Shaddox, Kylie Dickerson, and Candyce Sarringer
The Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing
Category: SP
Sponsor: Dr. Gabe Ferrer — Computer Science
Elizabeth Dye, John McAvey, Collin Shaddox, Kylie Dickerson, and Candyce Sarringer
will attend the 2015 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Houston,
Texas. The conference series focuses on research and career interests of women in
computer science. This project is also supported by a generous donation from the
Acxiom Corporation.
Mary Julia Emanuel
Summer Internship at the Arkansas Public Policy Panel
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Jay Barth — Politics and International Relations
As a research intern with the Arkansas Public Policy Panel in Little Rock, Mary
Julia Emanuel will help with spreading the organization’s message on issues such
as education, agriculture and natural gas that are relevant to the state.
Shaquille Grant
Assistant Prosecutor
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. James Jennings — History and Education
Working under the supervision of the deputy prosecuting attorney for the 20th
Judicial District, Shaquille Grant will interview juveniles going through the court
system, prepare petitions, assist in determining witnesses and preparing for trials,
observe hearings and interact with probation officers.
Caitlyn Hendrickson
Internship at Heifer International
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. John Sanders — Religion
Working at the Heifer International Headquarters in Little Rock, Caitlyn Hendrickson
will help translate statistics from projects dealing with equality between men and
women in order to assemble and convey accessible information about how the organization
is helping to close the gender gap.
Connor Herrold
Making a Case for My Legal Odyssey
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Alice Hines — English
In Garland County, Connor Herrold will get an inside look at the legal profession
by working closely with a District Court Judge and his staff. He hopes to prepare
himself for law school and his career goal of becoming an attorney.
Caitlin Hoffman
Internship with Faulkner County Court District
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Kiril Kolev — Politics and International Relations
As an intern at the Faulkner County District Court, Caitlin Hoffman will help
staff organize case files, put them into the court’s computer system, and sit in
on trials as she explores her career options in law.
Levi Jabben
Internship Across the Americas
Category: PL
Sponsor: Prof. Lyle Rupert — Economics and Business
Levi Jabben’s internship with Industrial Training International will have him
travelling to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; Chicago, Ill.; Edmonton, Canada, and Woodland,
Washington. He will see the industrial field and how it operates on a global scale.
Bayley Krell
More Than Just a Game: PR/Social Media Internship with Beyond Sports Network
Category: PL
Sponsor: Bri Cone — Athletics
At Beyond Sports Network, Bayley Krell will draft news releases and write sports
articles to be published on the organization’s website. Krell will gather facts
for media writing by attending sporting events and practices.
Cameron Meek
New Kensington Community Development Corporation Internship
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Jay Barth — Politics and International Relations
As the Community Engagement Intern at the New Kensington Community Development
Corporation in Philadelphia Cameron Meek will help with initiatives to promote the
organization’s goals for community-driven economic development, home ownership,
increased access to healthy food, and responsible land management.
Sarah Moore
Domestic Violence Initiative
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Leslie Zorwick — Psychology
Sarah Moore will use her internship with the Domestic Violence Initiative to
investigate how victims of domestic violence in Conway and Central Arkansas may
actually become re-victimized by the criminal justice system in which the powerless
and destitute are at a disadvantage.
Christina Morales
Internship at GENaustin
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Anne Goldberg — Sociology and Anthropology
GENaustin is a nonprofit organization in Austin that aims to empower young women
through programs that build confidence, support learning skills for academic success,
and increase awareness through community advocacy. As an intern, Christina Morales
will build on her interest in social work and women’s issues.
Grace Oxley
94th Annual Associate Collegiate Press National College Media Convention
Attendance
Category: SP
Sponsor: Prof. Maxine Payne — Art
Grace Oxley and seven other Hendrix students will participate in the 94th Annual
Associate Collegiate Press National College Media Convention in Austin this fall.
They will submit materials from campus publications and KHDX for critiques and attend
medium-specific training sessions.
Allison Price
Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre Internship
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Marjorie Swann — English
Allison Price will be the dramaturgy intern for Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre’s
production of Fiddler on the Roof this summer. She will do a presentation
on the history of the show and create a study guide.
Lexus Raney, Megan Murphy and Dan D'Ostuni
Something Smells Fishy in the Seafood Industry
Category: UR
Sponsor: Dr. George Harper — Biology
Lexus Raney, Megan Murphy and Dan D'Ostuni will use molecular analysis methods
to determine the true genetic composition of fish sold as red snapper in Arkansas
and three adjoining states.
Tyler Ratliff, Alex McIntyre, Michelle Hunyh and David Dobry
Caffeine and Ethanol: A Slippery Slope to Risky Behavior or Media Sensationalism
Category: UR
Sponsor: Dr. Sara Taylor — Psychology
Using rats as test subjects, Tyler Ratliff, Alex McIntyre, Michelle Hunyh and
David Dobry will examine interactions between ethanol and caffeine upon ethanol
consumption, risk assessment, learning and memory.
Alex Raymond-Schmidt
Washington University Psychology Research Assistantship
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Leslie Zorwick — Psychology
At the Cognition and Development Lab at Washington University, Alex Raymond-Schmidt
will learn to create study stimuli, recruit and test participants, code children’s
behavior, analyze data and think critically about research questions.
Michala Roberts
Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre Dramaturgy Summer Internship
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Debapriya Sarkar — English
Michala Roberts will combine academics, artistry, and public relations experience
as she works with the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre this summer. She will be a dramaturge
for an abridged children’s production of As You Like It.
William Ross
Experiencing the Courts: Internship at the Superior Courts of Orange County
Category: PL
Sponsor: Prof. Alan Eastham — Politics and International Relations
As an intern with the Superior Court in Orange County, Calif., William Ross will
get to experience the legal field in a courtroom setting, where he will get to observe
the inner workings of a profession he may one day pursue.
Janie Sanford, Zach Chastain and Nigel Halliday
American Model United Nations Secretariat
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Daniel Whelan — Politics and International Relations
Janie Sanford, Zach Chastain and Nigel Halliday will serve as staff members of
the secretariat for the 2015 American Model United Nations International Collegiate
Conference in Chicago this fall. They will draft research guides for participants,
ensure that the conference deliberations follow United Nations procedures, and provide
logistical support during the event.
Abigail Schlenk and Brady Rowe
2015 Dean's Civil Rights Trip
Category: GA
Sponsor: Jim Wiltgen — Student Affairs
This year’s Dean’s Civil Rights trip will focus on how Arkansas, and the surrounding
area, is affected by recent civil rights issues. The group will visit centers that
have been active in the fight for LGBT, racial and gender rights as participants
explore how the state has played a part in these issues.
Sami Sexton
Exploring Political Activism through a Summer Internship
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Kimberly Maslin — Politics and International Relations
This summer, Sami Sexton will work with Project Vote Smart in Philipsburg, Montana.
She will help the organization with its mission of helping citizens make informed
voting decisions through non-biased research on politicians and current legislation.
Haley Shefferman
Jumpstarting Children's Education in Washington, D.C.
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Anne Goldberg — Sociology and Anthropology
Jumpstart, part of Americorps, has a mission to close the achievement gap between
children from low and high income families. Haley Shefferman will work with preschool
children in low-income neighborhoods to increase their language and literacy skills.
Adam Simon
Audio Engineer for KUAR in Little Rock
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Norman Boehm — Music
This summer, Adam Simon will learn about the equipment and technology at radio
station KUAR in Little Rock. He hopes to build his knowledge of audio engineering,
which is a career field of interest for him.
Elizabeth Soo
The Role of the Immune Receptor NLRP3 in Ischemic Organ Injury
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Mark Sutherland — Biology
At the University of California in San Diego, Elizabeth Soo will research the
role of the NLRP3 protein in the immune response of transplanted organs, such as
the kidney. When organs are transplanted, the lack of oxygen during the process
can lead to cell death and the activation of the immune system.
August Stuppy
Volunteering at Hospice Home Care
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Andres Caro — Chemistry
Hospice Home Care in Conway provides terminally ill patients with compassion
and comfort at the end of their lives. As a volunteer, August Stuppy hopes to learn
about the sensitivity and comfort that members of the medical field can share with
these patients.
Hamza Syed
Education through the Court
Category: PL
Sponsor: Prof. Alan Eastham — Politics and International Relations
Hamza Syed will gain an in-depth understanding of the judicial system while working
at the District Court in Conway. The internship will allow Syed to work with and
observe different lawyers in court and settlement hearings.
Robert Taylor
Delta Regional Authority Summer Fellowship
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Jay Barth — Politics and International Relations
As a Fellow with the Delta Regional Authority in Clarksdale, Miss., Robert Taylor
will help the federal agency as it strengthens the physical and human infrastructure
of Delta communities. He will also help improve local business environments.
Yuyutshu Thapa
Internship at Primerica
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Ralph Scott — Economics and Business
Through his internship at Primerica, Yuyutshu Thapa will learn to apply his business
and accounting knowledge to the insurance industry. During this time, he will also
prepare for the state exam in order to obtain his license.
Jerry Thomeczek
The Holocaust Remembered: A Comparative Perspective
Category: GA
Sponsor: Dr. Todd Berryman — History
In considering how various countries memorialize the Holocaust, Jerry Thomeczek
will travel to Germany, the perpetrator; Israel, the victim, and Poland, which is
between the two. He will explore how the events are portrayed in each country’s
museums and memorial sites.
Brianna Wagner
Internship with Choices: Memphis Center for Reproductive Health
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Victoria Evans — Kinesiology
This summer, intern Brianna Wagner will help Choices, a non-profit in Memphis,
which works for sexual health and reproductive rights and provides reproductive
health care. She will also help manage the organization’s social media accounts
to inform the community and train as a patient advocate to understand the personal
perspective of the individuals utilizing the clinic’s services.
Susan Warren
Exploring a Career in Juvenile Services
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Jennifer Peszka — Psychology
During her internship with juvenile services, Susan Warren will design a gender-specific
series of educational courses for young women to help them build life skills and
self-confidence. She will also be a Volunteer Probation Officer, serving as a mentor
to a probate and assisting her with a community service project.
Olivia Grace Whittington
Internship at Wildland Gardens
Category: PL
Sponsor: Dr. Joyce Hardin — Biology
Wildland Gardens is an ecological farm in Morrilton, Ark. As an intern, Olivia
Grace Whittington will experience firsthand the benefits such farms can have on
the natural environment and the surrounding community as she implements small-scale
farming practices that are based on permaculture principles.