Alumni Memorial Scholars are eligible to apply for a fellowship of up to $5,000 in funds set aside exclusively to pursue research, study and academically meaningful internships or experiences beyond the formal curriculum and programs at Colgate.
Awards may be made for summer or short-term experiences; scholars may submit more than one request to take full advantage of the $5,000 allocation. A faculty-staff committee advises scholars on developing their proposals.
Fellowships enrich the liberal arts experience beyond the traditional semester or classroom experience. Sample projects may include: in-depth research and/or study on an area of specialized interest; expanded research on a topic begun earlier, perhaps in preparation for an honors thesis; intellectual exploration outside the formal Colgate curriculum; attendance at a relevant academic conference; participation in an academically meaningful internship or experience; independent research, project, or creative work while at Colgate or on a study group.
Some of the fellowships recently completed include:
Maggie Fried '10
History, peace & conflict studies
Conflict in Lived Experience: Cultural Expressions of Post-Conflict Memory in Belfast, Berlin and Dubrovnik This experience meant much more to me both intellectually and personally than I had expected. The experience brought together so many different aspects of my studies over the past three years and added a new level of depth to prior research and coursework. This project allowed me to focus on the history of a geographical area that I had not previously studied. My experience in Dubrovnik has become the basis of my senior thesis paper for my peace and conflict studies seminar. Although I had initially chosen a different topic, I kept thinking back to what the war tour guide said to us about how hard it was to forgive the Americans for not intervening. I decided to change my topic and to further explore what the guide had said. As a result, my senior thesis paper is now analyzing the effect of the international media’s depiction of the conflict in Croatia on the U.S.’ decision not to intervene and compare this decision to the later decision to intervene in Kosovo. This spring I will have the opportunity to further explore this subject because it will also be the basis for my honors work in peace and conflict studies.
Another great aspect of this project was the presentation that I gave on my research upon returning to Colgate. Everyone who attended my presentation was really interested in the work I had done and asked a lot of questions about my experience. The support of my friends and peers, as well as their genuine interest in the work I had done, served as a meaningful conclusion to my project.
Jason Kammerdiener '10
History, environmental studies minor
Hare Moa Distribution Relative to Island Resources at Easter Island, Chile
The project was an amazing opportunity to read about the history and archeology of a location in the academic literature, and then see that location firsthand. This was an important experience to have, because it really drove the point home that even academic literature is often only theory based on observations, and alternative perspectives may call such literature into question.
This experience took what I have learned in the classroom at Colgate and made it real. I could look at the archeological structures on Easter Island and see how islanders impacted their environment, and how they attempted to cope with deteriorating environmental conditions. I think there is a lot to be said for physical observation. The classroom can educate students about ideas, but the application of those ideas is very difficult without seeing a real-world scenario or example.
I also had incredible advisers who were willing to assist me with ideas and even loan equipment to me. Really going above and beyond, however, my primary adviser taught me to drive a stick shift during lunch hours the summer prior to my trip so that I could rent a car on the island!
Scott Konicki '10
Economics, mathematics
With Roumiana Zlateva '10
The Secrets of Roman Engineering: Pozzolana Concrete and the Semicircular Arch
This project was a great addition to the liberal arts education I have received at Colgate. It gave me an opportunity to rigorously look into a new area of study that has long interested me. I would never have had a chance like this to learn about my topic in depth otherwise.
The process of writing the proposal, doing the research, and presenting the final product has helped with similar processes in classes. This experience enriched my education, both academically and personally — going to Rome was my first time on an airplane!
Sara Zurmuhlen '10
Environmental geography
With professors Frank Frey, Ellen Kraly, and Peter Scull and Shelly Forster '11, Josie Johnson '09, Caitlin Mello '11, Michael Palmer '10, and Beili Wei '11
Case Studies in Mountain Gorilla Conservation in Southwestern Uganda
My most vivid memories of my time in Uganda are the evenings after the lab was locked up and the samples put away, when the village boys would drop by and we would play soccer on a mountainside pitch. Cows and goats had to be shooed off the rocky and uneven field, but being able to interact with the local people during these times was so rewarding, and I still am in contact with many of the kids we met there.
At one point during our stay in Buhoma, our group went gorilla trekking. We came so close to the gorillas that the rangers had their cell phones out to photograph them; they said that it was the closest a group has been able to approach. A juvenile female named Malaika actually reached out and hit me on the arm, and I was struck by the power and grace of her kind. It was a reminder that I was no longer in a whitewashed lab working with samples, but actually dealing with living creatures, each with a distinct personality. The immediacy, relevance, and reality of the gorilla and community health work we were doing in Bwindi was solidified in my mind.
Traveling in a group enables issues and thoughts to be bounced around during the trip and allows for great personal and academic growth with the professors there to facilitate meaningful inquiry into the experience. Being able to work more closely with our professors allowed us deeper insight into the research and their prior experiences in the area made our visit smooth. Getting to know Professors Frey, Scull, and Kraly better has been very rewarding and I know I can go to talk to any of them if I have a question or an idea.