Every Monday afternoon, a group of University of Georgia freshmen and sophomores gather to discuss the latest trends in research pedagogy or listen to guest lecturers about their academic interests. These seminars are part of the support network that the Honors Program's Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities provides the participants in its Apprentice Program.

The 30 undergraduates, paired with UGA faculty research mentors representing various disciplines, spend 10-12 hours a week on individual research projects. The seminars give the students an opportunity to build their own community of scholars as they compare notes about each other's experiences, learn research techniques and trends, and improve their writing and critical thinking skills.

First-year apprentice Christine Akoh says one of the highlights of the program has been conducting advanced microbiology research with real-world applications before taking the introductory course. Working in the laboratory of infectious diseases professor Eric LaFountaine, Akoh's project involves purifying a specific protein of the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei with the potential for use in future vaccine developments. The bacterium is classified as a potential bioterrorism agent by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"In most introductory science courses, it is often times hard to apply what you learn to the real world," said Akoh, a biological science major from Athens. "I think that my experience with CURO will allow me to better understand what I will be learning in my future science classes, especially the classes with no laboratory component."

Freshman Michael Burel, who received a first glimpse of the CURO Apprentice Program during a visit to CURO's annual spring undergraduate research symposium in March, finds the support system and teamwork approach one of the best benefits of the program. Burel is an undergraduate researcher in the laboratory of Steve Stice, GRA Eminent Scholar in Reproductive Physiology.

"The CURO apprentice program offers each and every person involved unprecedented support," said Burel, a cellular biology major from Acworth. "The apprentices can network about their own projects, and the faculty is encouraging and infinitely supportive. Everyone has everyone else to lean on."

Within that support system structure, the apprentices receive additional encouragement and guidance from their teaching assistants-previous apprentices who lead small group discussions and talk about their own experiences with the program. Cleveland Piggott, one of three teaching assistants, says he hopes the students he mentors retain the interview and presentation skills they learn during the two-year program. He says he has used those in his own experiences, especially studying under the guidance of faculty research mentors and cellular biologists Marcus Fechheimer and Ruth Furukawa.

"Accepting the offer to be a CURO apprentice was the best decision I made coming into college," said Piggott, a junior biology and psychology major from Suwanee. "I'm grateful to give back to the program and help make this an invaluable experience for all the students."

Freshmen chosen for the Apprentice Program may continue through their sophomore year if they maintain a minimum 3.4 GPA and receive a satisfactory performance review.

For more information about the CURO Apprentice Program, see http://www.uga.edu/honors/curo.

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The University of Georgia remained a national leader in study abroad, ranked 5th among doctoral/research institutions with 2,060 total study abroad participants in 2006-2007, according to a recently released national "Open Doors" report.

"I could not be more proud of UGA's students for their enthusiasm about study abroad," said UGA President Michael F. Adams. "They recognize that the world they will enter when they leave this campus requires an understanding of other cultures and they are preparing themselves for success in that world."

UGA also is ranked second in the nation in the number of students who participate in summer and other short-term programs. Additionally, around 400 students choose a full semester or academic year abroad each year.

"The story of international education at the University of Georgia has been one of growth. The number of students studying abroad at UGA has tripled over the last decade," said Judith Shaw, associate provost for International Education. "The Office of International Education has sustained the university's international vision by providing students the opportunity to expand their horizons, equipping them to live and work in an increasingly interconnected world through study abroad programs and international student exchange."

New York University (private), Michigan State University, University of Texas and the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (all public) took the top four rankings.

"It should be noted that UGA ranked among schools that are considerably larger and in at least one case, substantially more expensive. So the sheer number of students we have participating is even more impressive," said Kasee Laster, director of study abroad.

UGA offers 170 different study abroad and exchange programs in dozens of countries on every continent. Three year-round residential centers (Oxford, UK; Cortona, Italy; and San Luis, Costa Rica) each offer unique facilities and foci.

Reflecting 2006-2007 enrollment data, the "Open Doors" report is published each November by the Institute of International Education with funding from the U.S Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

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The University of Georgia Redcoat Marching Band recently announced the public phase of its $2.5 million fundraising campaign to help finance the new Redcoat Practice Complex, a multi-part facility already in construction at the intramural fields off College Station Road.

Dubbed "100 Yards for 100 Years," the campaign, which began with a quiet phase in 2005, supplements funds from the university. The finished complex will include a football field of artificial turf, lighting, spectator stands, storage space to house instruments and an instructional tower.

The first phase of construction was made possible by UGA President Michael F. Adams, who designated the space and identified funding for natural turf and perimeter lighting for the complex. Current plans call for the initial construction phase to be completed in January.

"The Redcoat Band is pleased and excited that the university has seen fit to dedicate a portion of campus to create the first full-service facility for the students in this organization," said Michael Robinson, director of Athletic Bands at UGA. "We look forward to the new opportunities the complex presents to the Redcoats and to the university."

The initial phase of fundraising, with a goal of $1.5 million, will provide funding to build the instructional tower and storage area and install spectator stands. The Redcoat Band Alumni Association is aiming for completion of the facility in August 2009, just in time for summer band camp.

Those interested in supporting the project can donate directly to the UGA Arch Foundation or visit the Redcoat Band Alumni Web site (www.redcoatalumniband.com) for information on contribution and naming opportunities within the facility.

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Senior Signature, a program that encourages graduating students to contribute to the university, is looking to top last year's record-setting participation with the help of the Class of 2009.

Seniors are solicited each year to leave a legacy at UGA by being a part of Senior Signature, UGA's senior class gift. Participating seniors who make a minimum gift of $35 to the Senior Signature Fund are recognized by having their name included on the Senior Class plaque, permanently located at the Tate Center Plaza. Last year 2,008 new alumni were recognized.

According to 2008 UGA senior Cara Landers, "I gave to Senior Signature because it is the official class gift of the University of Georgia, and because I was proud to be able to support the institution where I have spent the past four years. I also wanted to someday be able to point out to my children and grandchildren the honor of having my name on the 2008 plaque that is on display at the Tate Center."

Senior Signature carries on a long tradition of giving, which was started by classes over 100 years ago. Classes and their gifts have been contributed to many North Campus fixtures including benches and lamp posts. The Class of 1908's gift, a sundial and marble pedestal located where the Toombs Oak once stood, recently received attention when a new sundial face was installed. After the disappearance of the original sundial in 1971 and to commemorate its centennial anniversary, descendants of the class president presented the University with a new face this fall.

Today, class gifts through the Senior Signature Fund assist in providing programming for seniors and recent graduates.

March 31, 2009 is the deadline to participate in the 2009 Senior Signature campaign and be recognized on the class plaque. Seniors may participate by making a gift by mail, phone or online. For more information, contact Senior Signature at 706-542-8119 or www.externalaffairs.uga.edu/seniorsig.

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Dr. Barbara L. Schuster, an internist and seasoned medical educator who chaired the Department of Internal Medicine at Wright State University's Boonshoft School of Medicine in Ohio for a dozen years has been named campus dean of the Medical College of Georgia/University of Georgia Medical Partnership Campus in Athens.

"We are happy to have Dr. Schuster, a proven and passionate educator, physician and administrator, lead this innovative campus that will leverage the significant strengths of Georgia's health sciences university and the state's flagship institution of higher education," said Dr. Daniel W. Rahn, MCG president and senior vice chancellor for health and medical programs for the University System of Georgia. "Expansion of physician education is critical to the health of our citizens and to the future of our rapidly growing state. The new, four-year medical partnership campus in Athens will contribute significantly to this initiative."

Dr. Schuster, who just completed a year as a Robert G. Petersdorf Scholar-in-Residence at the Association of American Medical Colleges, assumes her duties Nov. 1, according to School of Medicine Dean D. Douglas Miller. The Athens campus plans to enroll its first students in fall 2010.

"Dr. Schuster is exactly the right person to lead this critical initiative to help address the shortage of physicians in Georgia," said University of Georgia President Michael F. Adams. "Her background and experience have prepared her for the challenge and opportunity of building the MCG/UGA Medical Partnership from the ground up. I am pleased that our partnership with the Medical College of Georgia has taken this important step."

Dr. Schuster has served as professor and chair of Internal Medicine at Wright State University since 1995. Previously she served for 15 years on the faculty at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in New York, where she also completed medical school and an internal medicine residency.

She has served as medical director of the University Health Service at the University of Rochester, medical director of the University Medicine-Pediatrics Practice at Wright State University and president of Wright State's faculty practice plan. At both institutions, she worked with graduate medical education programs where residents learned at multiple hospitals. She received the 2003 Excellence in Medical Education Award from Wright State and the Teaching Excellence Award from Wright State's class of 2005.

Dr. Schuster chaired the AAMC's Council of Academic Societies from 2003-04, served on the association's Executive Committee from 2002-04 and received the AAMC's 2007 Distinguished Service Award. She served on the Board of Regents of the American College of Physicians for six years and chaired its Education Committee for four years. She is immediate past president of the Association of Professors of Medicine and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine.

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The generosity of those who love the University of Georgia made the Archway to Excellence Campaign the most successful fundraising effort in our history. Even more impressive is the impact those contributions will have on students, faculty, staff and the entire university for generations to come. The following special publication was put together to show just a few examples of private giving in action.

View campaign summary

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Traditions create a link from the past to the present and on to the future. This year, several of UGA's campus traditions have been renewed and even strengthened.

For over 50 years, whenever the Georgia Bulldogs football team has taken the field, so has its spirited mascot, "Uga". From generation to generation, each Uga has been part an unbroken family line. The white English bulldogs are owned by Sonny Seiler (BBA '56, JD '57), whose family breeds, raises and trains them - and considers them part of the family. When Uga VI unexpectedly died, Uga VII was called to duty, making his public debut on Aug. 30 before the Bulldogs home opener against Georgia Southern University.

Though Uga VII has been plunged into a world very foreign to the one he's known since birth-frequent travel, roaring crowds, constant demands for his attention-Seiler says he'll handle it with dignity, just like his predecessors.

"English bulldogs by nature are gentle," he says, "although they look ferocious."

Another tradition often associated with the football season is the ringing of the University of Georgia Chapel Bell. The bell and its tower were taken down last spring when university officials decided the tower, which dated back to about 1913, could no longer safely hold the 700-pound bronze bell.

Over the summer, physical plant workers spent many hours building a new tower, which closely resembles the original in height and shape. Workers in several physical plant shops including carpentry, sheet-metal, welding and roofing helped build the new tower. While the tower was being built, the bell - cast in 1835 in Medway, Mass. - was in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a thorough refurbishing. Workers at the Verdin Co., a firm that specializes in bell restorations, removed years of accumulated rust and grime, including remnants of paint reputedly used by Georgia Tech students to paint slogans on the bell in the 1920s. Polished and covered with a preservative, the formerly greyish-black bell now has a radiant golden luster.

Ralph Johnson, associate vice president for physical plant, commended the construction crew and all the other workers who participated in the task.

"All the employees who worked on this project took great personal, painstaking interest to ensure the quality of the work," Johnson said. "They put a lot of pride into this, and Georgia fans owe them a big thank you for their dedication and hard work."

The refurbished bell was placed in its new tower in time to be rung in celebration of UGA's victory over Georgia Southern University.

A decidedly quieter, but no less venerable, link to the past is the sundial honoring the Class of 1908 that was installed 100 years ago on the site of the famed Toombs Oak. For 63 years the sundial sat atop its pedestal until it was stolen in 1971. Now the historic sundial's face has been replaced thanks to the descendents of J. Howard Neisler, president of UGA's Class of 1908.

With only a faded black-and-white photograph of the original sundial as a guide, artisan Tony Moss of Bedlington, England, created a face similar in size and appearance to the original but much richer in detail. Made of solid brass and weighing about 15 pounds, the circular face is engraved with directional orientations, large Roman numerals, the months of the year and intricately etched designs. The gnomon-the triangular device in the center of the face that projects a shadow that indicates the time-is a close replica of the original. The new face also incorporates modern scientific knowledge that makes it almost as accurate as a clock for telling time.

Laura Whatley Cole, Neisler's granddaughter, remembers seeing the original sundial when she came to UGA football games with her grandfather, who died in 1969, three years before the sundial went missing. She learned of its disappearance years later when her son took a campus tour.

"My grandfather would nonchalantly point it out, but he was humble about it," Cole said. "He was dear friends with his classmates all his life and I know the sundial was important to him. I think he would be proud that his grandchildren and other family members are making this gift a hundred years later in his honor."

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