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James Madison University - Index

James Madison University - Parents Newsletter Spring 08 - Index

By the
Numbers
4
Fourth president,
Founding Father,
Father of the Constitu-
tion — James Madi dison
is featured
on the fourth
in the series of
presidential dollar
coins. The
U.S.
Mint
re released Mdi a son’ s
coin
in November
along
with a $10
“first
spouse” coin of
Doll Dolley Madison. Learn
more at www.usmint.gov/
16
JMU is ranked 16th
nationally for its
graduation rate (81
percent) in the enrollment
category of 10,000 to 18,000
students, according to the
U.S. Department of Education’s
Integrated Post-Secondary
Education Data System.
14
JMU ranks No. 14
on the Peace Corps’
2008 list of top
volunteer-producing ng
universities. Fiftythreeundergraduate
and two
graduate alumni
are serving in the
Peace Corps.
87
The ONE campaign,
aimed at
ending global
poverty and AIDS, ranked
JMU 87th out of the 100
most active schools in the
nation and invited the JMU
chapter to send two representatives
to the 2008 ONE
Campus Challenge Power 100
Summit in Washington, D.C.
2 FAMILY CONNECTION
The centennial’s best and brightest
Junior and senior valedictorians earn perfect 4.0s By Katie Hudson (’10)
Two seniors with perfect 4.0 grade-point averages
share the valedictorian award this year,
and a junior with a 4.0 garners the Samuel
Page Duke Award. The trio was honored during
Centennial Week activities in March.
2008 FACULTY AWARD
Eric Feinstein (’08) of Richmond
is a recipient of the 2008
Faculty Award. He is the son
of Barry and Hinda Feinstein.
The Faculty Award is presented
to the student in the
graduating class with the highest
grade-point average and who
has completed 100 or more
hours of course work at JMU
with an average of 14 hours earned each semester.
Feinstein is a biology major and an economics
minor. He says his success is due to “the academic
structure at JMU with its ample office hours, which
made it easier to get to know my professors.”
‘The academic
structure at
JMU made it
easier to get
to know my
professors.’
Feinstein is a student
representative of the
Honor Council and president
of the Biology Honor
Society, Tri Beta.
He also spends his
time helping the community.
“I have been
involved in many chari-
table activities around Harrisonburg, including volunteering
and grant writing at Mercy House.” Feinstein
earned the Dolley Madison Award in 2006 in
recognition of his volunteer commitment.
An Honors Program student, Feinstein has served
as a chemistry teacher assistant for the past two years.
After graduation, he plans to enter medical school
at the University of Virginia or New York University.
“I will also continue my research interests in the
immunological aspect of disease,” he says.
Feinstein’s advice for other students is fairly simple:
“Get to know your professors and know what
they expect.”
2008 FACULTY AWARD
2008 Faculty Award winner
Kimberly Daniels (’08) is a
health science and pre-physical
therapy major with a minor in
gerontology. Daniels is the
daughter of Jeff and Denise
Daniels of Voorhees, N.J.
“When I know I am capable
of doing something better, I
do not like to settle for something less,” Daniels says.
The co-president of the Madison Honors Club
and Pre-Physical Therapy Society, Daniels is also a
member of the women’s
club cross country and
track team, Eta Sigma
Gamma, Golden Key
Honor Society, the JMU
Honors Program, Mortar
Board Honor Society and
the National Society for
Collegiate Scholars.
“It’s important to become involved in school
activities that interest you, so you can have time
away from the stress of your work,” Daniels affirms.
“That way you will be prepared to do well in class
and still have time to have an active social life. It’s
not always easy, but it’s possible!”
In September, Daniels will start the Doctor of
Physical Therapy Program at Drexel University in
Philadelphia.
“I will miss the overall JMU atmosphere,” she
says. “There is a sense of togetherness that comes
from being on and around JMU’s campus. The real
world is different than a college campus; I hope my
experiences at JMU have prepared me for graduate
school and beyond.”
2008 SAMUEL PAGE DUKE AWARD
Lok-Kun L. Tsui (’09) of
Richmond earned the 2008
Samuel Page Duke Award. The
physics major is the daughter of
Kah-heng and Taisun Chen.
The Samuel Page Duke
Award is given annually to
the member of the junior class
who has had the highest scholastic
record for five semesters.
The award honors the late Samuel Page Duke, president
of Madison from 1919 to 1949.
“One has to have a real interest in both physics
and math to do well and be dedicated to the task,”
Tsui believes.
She is heavily involved with MAGNA, the JMU
anime club, and she serves as the club’s Web site
administrator. For her senior
year, Tsui plans to continue
pursuing her degree in physics
while maintaining her
impeccable GPA. “My supportive
friends and family
give me the motivation to
do well,” she explains. “I
really have a desire to suc-
‘It’s important
to become
involved in
school activities
that
interest you.’
‘My supportive
friends
and family
give me the
motivation
to do well.’
ceed in this field and get a better understanding of
the world around us.” M