Seniors Can Apply to Be Engagement Scholars

Undergraduate students graduating in December 2013 or May 2014 can apply to be Imagining America Engagement Scholars or Entrepreneurship Engagement Scholars.

The yearlong program supports recent graduates with a strong academic record to become civic-minded professionals or entrepreneurs in Central New York, and to begin graduate studies at Syracuse University through a 24-credit tuition scholarship.

Students are selected based on their academic record, their experience with civic engagement or entrepreneurship, a faculty or professional recommendation and an in-depth interview.

The Imagining America Engagement Scholars program provides recent graduates with a transition from undergraduate study to employment and graduate education. In addition to the 24-credit tuition scholarship, students have access to professional and faculty mentors, assistance in finding a job and opportunities for professional development and networking through monthly seminars and the Publicly Active Graduate Education—Central New York Chapter.

“The Imagining America Engagement Scholars program nurtures the pipeline of publicly engaged scholars,” says Tim Eatman, faculty co-director of Imagining America and a professor in the School of Education. “The program expands the sense students have of the multitude of ways that various disciplines contribute to the public good.”

“As an Engagement Scholar, I began a graduate program at Maxwell, worked at the Near East Foundation and expanded my knowledge of civic engagement and what it means to serve a community,” says Marc Mason, a 2012-2013 Imagining America Engagement Scholar and current M.P.A./M.A.I.R. student at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

The Entrepreneurship Engagement Scholars program provides recent graduates with an opportunity to start a for-profit or nonprofit venture. In addition to the 24-credit tuition scholarship, students have professional and faculty mentors and space in the Student Sandbox at the Tech Garden and/or the Couri Hatchery.

“The Entrepreneurship Engagement Scholars stay in Syracuse to start their ventures,” says Stacey Keefe, executive director of the RvD IDEA at Syracuse University. “Through the program, scholars have access to SU resources for another year. We make sure that they are aware of the many events, meetups, workshops and competitions that they have the opportunity to participate in, and they make connections in the community, further investing them in Syracuse.”

The program’s entrepreneurial endeavors in the past have included the following: creating a workspace for freelancers and entrepreneurs; an incubator for product lines designed by SU students; a pop-up shop for art students to promote and sell their work; a free social browsing app; a portable and self-sustained rainwater harvesting system; and a jewelry company that sells handcrafted rings as symbols of female empowerment.

“Having an extra year to utilize SU’s vast network of both academic and non-academic resources was simply a game changer,” says Michael Smith, 2012 Engagement Scholar and co-founder of Centscere. “Because of the scholars program, I was aware of tons of opportunities to engage with the community and find people who could help me move my venture forward.”

2013-14 Engagement Scholar Profiles

For a sense of the range of projects represented by the Engagement Scholars, here are profiles of this year’s class:

Imagining America Engagement Scholars

• Christopher Borncamp, B.S. in advertising, will pursue a master’s degree in public relations from the Newhouse School of Public Communications and plans to create a PR campaign geared toward SU students about Syracuse’s vitality.
• Ousman Diallo, B.S. in information management and technology, will work on “Public: A Journal of Imagining America” and pursue a master’s degree in photography from Newhouse.
• Quinton Fletchall, B.I.D. in industrial and interactive design, will work at the Connective Corridor and pursue a master’s degree in communication and rhetorical studies from the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
• Kathleen Kogel, B.S. communication and rhetorical studies, will pursue a certificate of advanced studies in addiction studies and will work in community engagement in the Syracuse community.
• Stacey Lindbloom, bachelor of architecture, will work with the Near Westside Initiative and co-teach a 1-credit survey seminar on Syracuse, titled System City: unpacking, hacking, and restacking in spring 2014.
• Brian Luce, bachelor of architecture, will work with UPSTATE to help develop a visiting critics studio and a Syracuse-specific design-build project.
• Juliann Merryman, B.A. in international relations and Middle Eastern studies, will work at the Near East Foundation and pursue a master’s degree in international relations from Maxwell.
• Sarah Myers, B.S. in health and exercise science, will continue her work with Planned Parenthood and hopes to pursue a master’s degree in social work from the Falk College.
• Hannah Nast, B.F.A. in art photography and religion, will work as a production coordinator at SU Arts Engage and pursue a certificate of advanced study in information innovation from the iSchool.
• Leondra Polk, B.S. in social work and psychology, will work at the Elmcrest Children’s Center in the Family Transitions Program and pursue a master’s degree in social work from the Advance Standing Program.
• Trevor Raushi, B.A. in sociology, will pursue a master’s degree in cultural foundations of education and work with QuERI (Queering Education Research Institute).
• Mary-Jo Robinson, B.A. in policy studies and psychology, will continue her work with Hopeprint and pursue a M.A. in international relations from Maxwell.
• Heather Ryerson, B.F.A. in illustration, will work at the Talent Agency and pursue a M.F.A. in illustration from VPA.
• Michelle Tarshus, B.S. in information management and technology, is pursuing a number of community-based poetry projects with the Underground Poetry Spot and is continuing her work at the VA Hospital through the Veteran Appreciation Shows and Poetry/Art Therapy Initiative she has established. She is pursuing a M.S. in library and information sciences specializing in school media.
• Corinne Tyo, B.F.A. in acting, will work as a production coordinator at SU Arts Engage and pursue a M.A. from the Janklow Arts Leadership Program.

Kauffman Entrepreneurship Engagement Scholars:

• Aldrine Ashong-Katai  ’13, B.S. in public health, business management, and pre-medicine, founder of Arcit, a website for Syracuse University students to buy and sell products (textbooks, furniture, microwaves, etc.) for reasonable prices.
• Koby Brandstein ’13, B.S. in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises and information technology and management, and founder of iSucceedOnline, a program that digitally facilitates reading comprehension for struggling students.
• Russel DeRemer ’13, B.S. in finance, and founder of Wealth Enabler, an asset management website for millennials.
• Ian Dickerson ’13, B.S. in communication and rhetorical studies, and president of Centscere LLC, a social media donation platform that enables users to donate to their favorite charity through simple social media actions.
• Michelle Gaston ’13, B.S. in communication and rhetorical studies, and co-founder of Komolog.com, a business management platform that doubles as a site for SME’s to commission high quality creative services.
• Troy Harris, Jr. ’13, B.A. in African American studies, and founder of Collar Candy, a bowtie accessory line with bowties that can be worn in numerous ways to accommodate any event.
• Lizette Lewis ’13, B.S. in communication and rhetorical studies, and founder of Promise to Keep Your Head Up, which seeks to motivate, encourage and instill goal seeking strategies and confidence within young females in the Syracuse Area to accomplish their goals, especially those striving to go to college.
• Jennifer Osias ’13, B.A. in international relations and political science, and founder of AccuFit, a program that creates a virtual mannequin so that online shoppers can try clothes on virtually.
• Altan Senaydin ’13, B.F.A. in photography and B.S. in information technology and management, and founder of Altan James Photography, a fashion, portrait and concert photography company.
• Justin Sullivan ’12 B.A. in theater arts from Le Moyne College, and founding executive producer for the Syracuse Fringe Festival, an annual performance arts festival.
• Edward Zaremba ’13, B.S. in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises, and founder of Disability Identity Consulting, which will promote an inclusive culture for people with and without disabilities.

Prospective students are invited to attend one of the following information sessions:

• Tuesday, Dec. 3, 9:30-10:30 a.m., 060 Eggers Hall
• Friday, Dec. 6, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 207 Hall of Languages

To apply, visit http://engage.syr.edu/apply.html.

For information about the Imagining America Engagement Scholars, contact Karen Boland, IA office supervisor, at kcboland@syr.edu and 315-443-8590.

For information about the Entrepreneurship Engagement Scholars, contact Stacey Keefe, executive director, RvD IDEA, at sekeefe@syr.edu and 315-443-7086.