AY 2010-2011 Chancellor's Medalion Recepients from CASL

Prior to every commencement ceremony the University hosts a luncheon to recognize and honor the Chancellor's Medallion recipients.  The Chancellor's Medallion is awarded to five seniors each term.  The recipients must have demonstrated excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service.  The Chancellor's Medallion is UM-Dearborn's most prestigious academic honor bestowed on students.

For AY 2010-2011 the Chancellor's Medallion was awarded to four impressive CASL students   The Fall 2010 recipients were Ms. Joelle Ann Primeau and Ms. Emily Shafer. 

Joelle Ann Primeau

Ms. Joelle Primeau earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Psychology and Women's and Gender Studies, graduating with High Distinction.  She earned University Honors three times.  She was named one of 50 Difference Makers, selected during the UM-Dearborn 50th anniversary celebration.

Ms. Primeau worked on several diverse independent research projects and the results from two of those projects were presented to annual Meeting of Minds conferences.  She worked with Dr. Diane Graves Oliver studying eating disorders among African American Adolescents and presented that research at the 2010 meeting of the American Psychological Association conference.

Ms. Primeau was a member of the Women in Learning and Leadership (WILL).  She organized self-defense workshops, the UM-D Take Back the Night event, and served as a liaison between WILL and a nonprofit organization serving girls, women, and their families.  She served as a teaching assistant for a psychology class taught by Dr. Susana Peciña at the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility (WHV).  She was a site leader for the MLK Day of Service, and worked at the Metro Detroit Youth Day.  She interned and and continues to work at SafeHouse Center in Ann Arbor to help survivors of domestic violence, and ran a 12-week workshop at WHV on domestic violence.   She is pursuing a graduate degree to prepare her to assist survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and to advocate for prisoners’ rights.

Ms. Emily Shafer

Ms. Emily Shafer graduated with High Distinction earning Bachelor of Arts degrees in both History and American Studies.  She earned 12 A+ grades and a perfect 4.0 grade point average.  Ms. Shafer was a graduate of UM-D’s Honors Program and the recipient of several academic awards and scholarships.  She was a consistent member of the CASL Dean’s List and earned University Honors six times.   

Her senior seminar paper analyzing the historical and cultural significance of Frank Capra’s Academy Award winning film, It Happened One Night, was hailed by her faculty adviser as, “a model of historical craft” and as “the best piece of undergraduate research” he has seen in over ten years at the university. 

Ms. Shafer also participated in internships at the Brick Store Museum in Kennebunk, Maine, and at the Henry Ford Estate.  She worked throughout her undergraduate years as an Historical Interpreter at The Henry Ford where she interacted with guests in period dress and teaching them about the history and American culture of the period.  She was a member of the UM-D choir for three years, and was the founder of the UM-D Pep Band.  

Ms. Shafer is currently enrolled in the Graduate Program in History and Museum Studies at Tufts University where she is pursuing an MA. 

The CASL Winter term recipients of the Chancellors Medallion were Ms. Nour Al-Hadidi and Mr. Jospeh Noles.

Ms. Nour Al-Hadidi

Ms. Nour Al-Hadidi graduated with High Distinction and a perfect 4.0 grade point average, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, a minor in Hispanic Studies, and 10 grades of A+.  She was named to the CASL Dean's List in 2008 and 2009, and earned University Honors in 2008 and 2009.   

Ms. Al-Hadidi was the recipient of the Merck Index Award and the award as outstanding Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader by the Department of Natural Sciences.  As an SI leader she volunteered to conduct extra tutoring sessions around midterm and final examinations.  She contributed original problems to the SI program and was consistently praised by students for the clarity or her explanations, her patience with students, and for her consistently positive approach and feedback.  She also served as a tutor for the Academic Success Center tutoring students in Biology and Organic Chemistry. 

Ms. Al-Hadidi also worked in the Chemistry lab of Dr. Simona Maricean.  Her lab work focused on the green chemistry project, studying the selective functionalization of diols. 

Ms. Al-Hadidi is fluent in English, Arabic, and Spanish and spent her spring break in Costa Rica providing health care to Nicaraguan refugees.  This fall she will begin medical school at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

Mr. Joseph Noles

Joseph Noles graduated earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, a minor in Chemistry, with High Distinction, a perfect 4.0 grade point average, and six grades of A+.  He earned placement on the CASL Dean's List every semester and University Honors three times.  Mr. Noles was named the Department of Mathematics and Statistics Honor Scholar in 2010 and received the Rasmussen Award for his achievement in applied mathematics from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics in 2009.  He is also the recipient of a National SMART Grant.

Mr. Noles has produced independent research in mathematics resulting in papers that have been submitted to the top undergraduate mathematics journal, Pi Mu Epsilon.  He gave presentations on his work at the Michigan Undergraduate Mathematics Conference at Grand Valley State University and at a Math Club meeting here at UM-Dearborn.  Mr. Noles has undertaken readings courses in Complex Analysis, Dynamical Systems, and Real Analysis, all three dealing with advanced material traditionally covered as part of doctoral curricula.  

Mr. Noles was an instructor for Supplemental Instruction (SI) in both Mathematics and Chemistry.  He is well known to other students as the person to seek out for assistance with difficulties in mathematics classes.  He was a mentor for two calculus courses, a tutor for Academic Support and Outreach Services, and participated in the Gear Up for Summer High School Outreach Program.

Mr. Noles plans to continue his studies in the doctoral program in mathematics at  Texas A&M University. 

Congratulations to these four exceptional CASL graduates.  Best wishes for your future endeavors!

Thanks to Vice Chancellor Stanley Henderson for information contained in student bios.