Miami University

 

9/8/09

Two of nine students receiving 2009 Provost’s Student Academic Achievement Awards have worked on out-of-classroom projects with faculty members from Miami University’s School of Education, Health and Society (EHS).

Nicole M. Mitchell and Benjamin L. Walker were recognized for their remarkable record of academic accomplishments Aug. 21 at Millett Hall during opening convocation. The award includes a $1,000 scholarship.

“Team up outstanding students with outstanding professors and the result is award-winning research,” said Carine Feyten, EHS dean. “This is a tremendous honor not only for Benjamin and Nicole, but for their faculty mentors, Dr. Jeffrey Potteiger and Dr. Jeffrey Wanko.”

Miami prides itself on personal attention to students in and out of the classroom and Wanko and Potteiger exemplify that commitment to undergraduates, added Feyten.

The students honored:

• Nicole M. Mitchell, senior from Lake Forest, Ill., is an interdisciplinary business management major and a Spanish minor who conducted research with Potteiger, professor of kinesiology and health and director of Miami’s Center for Health Enhancement.

Her work, which focused on the effects of carbohydrates on women’s metabolism during exercise, will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. She also presented the results of her research, which will help women better understand how to improve their health, at a conference of the American College of Sports Medicine in Seattle.

The moderator of that session, an outstanding scholar from the University of Massachusetts, was amazed that an undergraduate had performed the work, said Potteiger.

“Working with with undergraduate students such as Nicole is why I love teaching at Miami University,” he added.

Mitchell plans to attend medical school following graduation.

• Benjamin L. Walker, senior from St. Louis, Mo., is a double major in integrated mathematics education and mathematics and statistics.

This past summer, Walker created a pedagogical research project with Wanko, associate professor of teacher education, that tied together his dual passions for mathematics education and social justice. After meeting with leading researchers, Walker prepared lessons plans for high school teachers that address social justice issues from a unique mathematical perspective.

Walker has also worked with Professor Wanko on a project to develop deductive reasoning in middle school and high school students and the two are co-authoring a book of activities for middle-school teacher to develop proof-readiness skills around language-independent logic puzzles.

Walker is involved in many campus activities, including the Men’s Glee Club and the School of the Americas activist contingent project. He also is a student employee at Miami’s Outdoor Pursuit Center, leading hiking and climbing trips.

“As a student, Benjamin is both engaged and engaging. He is respectful and respected. He challenges himself and he appreciates being challenged,” said Wanko.