Scholarship and Academic Life

Students in the School of Architecture’s AIAS “Freedom by Design” chapter recently completed the first of a two-phase project at the Cabarrus Bilingual Preschool, run by Families First in Cabarrus County, a nonprofit organization that serves low-income families through bilingual (Spanish and English) programs for children and parents.

The finished phase of the project includes a privacy fence weave of colorful nylon strips woven through the existing chain link fence, a series of interactive wooden panels attached to the fence and a large gardening area.

Carl DuPont, assistant professor of voice, will compete in the 20th International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition, which will take place in Leipzig, Germany, July 4-16. This competition is held in the categories of voice, organ and cello/Baroque cello and consists of four competitive rounds in each category. Participants were chosen in a juried pre-selection process this spring.

Learn more about how the School of Architecture offers a well-rounded education for students.

Counseling student LaTonya Summers is one of 22 doctoral scholars across the United States to be selected for the Minority Fellowship Program by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC).

As a result of this honor, Summers will receive $20,000 and training to support her education and facilitate her efforts with underserved minority populations.

Twenty young leaders from high schools across the United States comprise the seventh class of UNC Charlotte’s Levine Scholars Program. They will join the University starting with the fall 2016 semester.

The University’s most prestigious merit scholarship is valued at approximately $105,000 for in-state students and $155,000 for out-of-state students. It covers full tuition, fees, housing, meals, books and summer experiences. Additional funding is provided to support community service work and professional development during the scholars’ academic years.

Commencement is an opportunity for students to celebrate their accomplishments. This year, it also is a chance for UNC Charlotte to join #CountAllStudents, a coordinated campaign to share stories of 2016 graduates who transferred from other institutions or who attended part-time. It is these undergraduates who are missing from the federal graduation rate, often used to rank the effectiveness of colleges and universities.

Scott Fitzgerald, associate professor of sociology, is the 2016 recipient of the International Education Faculty Award, presented at the 22nd annual International Education Celebration.

A UNC Charlotte faculty member since 2003, Fitzgerald was instrumental in providing leadership to the Global Village Learning Community (GVLC). He collaborated with students to ensure they completed 40 hours of service learning with a variety of local organizations, including those that work with immigrant and international populations.

Competing for top national and international academic scholarships is a team effort, and the Honors College recently recognized endorsed candidates for these awards and other grants.

Biology major Heidi Cope was recognized for receiving a research Fulbright grant to India, where she will investigate the intersections of marriage culture and the sexual health of adolescent women; Diane Zablotsky from the Levine Scholars Program was her program director.

UNC Charlotte is transitioning to a new learning management system, Canvas; its adoption resulted after several months of study, including a pilot phase that involved more than 100 courses in 20 disciplines and 3,000 students.

Four degree candidates in the College of Education Department of Middle, Secondary and K-12 Education have received fellowships to participate in the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History’s prestigious Teacher Seminar program.

Brittany Gibson, Renae Kaister, and Marticia Turner are teachers at Newell Elementary School; Erin Byrd teaches at Butler High School. Gibson, Turner and Kaiser are pursing master’s degrees in teaching English as a second language; Byrd, a master’s in secondary education.