Undergraduate Becca Alberts analyzing macrobotanicals for Susan Kooiman
The Department of Anthropology would like to congratulate undergraduate Becca Albert on her outstanding research. She is the Anthropology Senior of the Year, an award given yearly by our department to a graduating senior. Last week she won first place in her section at the Michigan State University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum, and she is lead author on a brand new American Antiquity article entitled “Earliest Microbotanical Evidence for Maize in the Northern Lake Michigan Basin.” Great job on all of you hard work Becca!
Our Graduate Student Association has been busy this fall. The first order of business was elect new officers. Congratulations to President Caitlin Vogelsberg, Vice President Jack Biggs, Information Officer Amber Plemons and Treasurer Kelly Kamnikar.
Graduate student Jack Biggs with his 1st place chili trophy
So far this semester, the GSA has awarded two scholarships, hosted our annual Chili & Cornbread Cookoff, participated in the Puerto Rico Rises donation campaign and held a workshop for undergraduates. Amber Plemons and Alex Goots were awarded Academic Enhancement Scholarships to fund things like travel, technical training, and software and equipment purchases. The Annual Chili & Corn bread cookoff saw 10 chili entries, 5 cornbread entries and full stomachs all around. Congratulations to our winners, Jack Biggs in the meat chili category, Lisa Bright in the vegetarian chili category and Kelly Kamnikar in the cornbread category.
After the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria, the GSA partnered with the Ann Arbor branch of Puerto Rico Rises to gather donations for the victims of the hurricane. This organization is partnered with several corporations and universities to help the relief effort. Big thanks go out to everyone who contributed.
For the first time, the GSA also partnered with the undergraduate MSU Anthropology Club to host a “Prepping for Graduate School” workshop. Undergraduates were paired with graduate students in their field of interest to ask questions about the application process, receive comments on the resumes and personal statements and to discuss the graduate school experience in general. This event was attended by 10 undergraduates and 10 graduate students and we hope to make it an annual event.
