NEWS RELEASE

News Bureau . Schofield Hall 201 . Eau Claire, WI 54702
phone: (715) 836-4741
fax: (715) 836-2900

EAU CLAIRE — Ten students at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire have been selected for the prestigious Ronald E. McNair Post baccalaureate Achievement Program.

Each year faculty nominate talented undergraduate students, recognized for their academic achievement, and select up to 10 to participate in the program. McNair Scholars plan to go on to graduate school and pursue a doctoral degree. They spend two years doing collaborative research with faculty, and eventually publish and present their research to the academic community.

UW-Eau Claire is one of 140 institutions nationwide to be awarded a Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Education. The program’s namesake, Ronald Erwin McNair, received a doctorate in physics from M.I.T. in 1976 and was an expert on lasers. He joined NASA in 1978 and died aboard the space shuttle Challenger when it exploded in January 1986.

Students from your area are:

• Amy Beaudry, daughter of Gary and Honey Beaudry of Phoenix, Ariz. and Chip and Cathy Manny of Chippewa Falls. In collaboration with Dr. Blaine Peden, professor of psychology, Beaudry will pursue research on the correlation between sleep disorders and lack of exercise among college students.
• Tiffany Black, daughter of David and Anna Black of Durand. In collaboration with Dr. Paul Thomas, professor of physics and astronomy, Black will pursue research on the origins of Saturn’s E ring with particular emphasis on the potential role of Saturn’s moon Enceladus.
• Jennifer Freeland, daughter of Everette Freeland Jr. and Karen Freeland of Nelson. In collaboration with Dr. Garry Running and Dr. Robert Barth Jr., associate professors of geography and anthropology, Freeland will pursue research on developing a practical settlement model of prehistoric site identification.
• Bobby J. Kuechenmeister, son of Robert and Media Kuechenmeister of Chippewa Falls. In collaboration with Dr. Joel Pace, associate professor of English, Kuechenmeister will pursue research on the complexities and development of Superman comic books.
• Megan Kuehl, daughter of George Handrick and Kelly Kuehl of Minocqua. In collaboration with Dr. Charles Hanson, associate professor of English, Kuehl will pursue research investigating the literary influences on American nature writer Annie Dillard.
• Jane-Marie Woodside Ovanin, daughter of Pierre Ovanin and Maggie Woodside of Amherst. In collaboration with Michael Christopherson, professor of art & design, Woodside Ovanin will pursue research on the history, creation and presentation of small metal boxes.
• Corey Schuster, son of Robert and Annette Morrison of Elcho. In collaboration with Dr. Frederick King, professor of chemistry, Schuster will pursue research calculating the ground state energy of the Beryllium atom to a higher precision.
• Shantih Spanton, daughter of Thomas and Dawn Spanton of New Richmond. In collaboration with Dr. Matthew Evans, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, Spanton will pursue research investigating the interactions of heated silicon and manganese in semiconductors.
• Jessica Spears, daughter of Steve and Donna Spears of La Crosse. In collaboration with Dr. Sasha Showsh, assistant professor of biology, Spears will pursue research on resistant bacterial strains in order to assist future researchers in the development of more effective antibiotics.
• Jodi Swanson, daughter of James and Gail Olson of Eau Claire. In collaboration Dr. Paula Kleintjes, professor of biology, Swanson will pursue research on the competition between the Karner blue butterfly and the blister beetle for wild lupine.

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Judy Berthiaume, Director
UW-Eau Claire News Bureau
Schofield 201
(715) 836-4741
newsbur@uwec.edu

Updated: January 29, 2004