Today is UMCUR — our celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship. With programming running from 9 AM - 8 PM in the University Center— and dozens of DHC students presenting wildly diverse and impressive capstone projects— it's one of my favorite days of spring! Everyone's encouraged to explore the oral presentations, performances, poster sessions, and evening film screening of Bring Them Home. There's also a special session (11:45 - 1 PM) featuring State of Mind — UM's theater/public dialogue program of listening, tackling mental/behavioral health stigmas, sharing resources and exploring strategies for care across communities. Congratulations to all of our amazing student presenters and kudos to Dr. Catalina de Onís for her leadership of undergraduate research at UM. A PDF of the full UMCUR program is here:
The UMCUR awards ceremony is coming up next week (April 30, 4-5:30 PM, UC Ballroom).
Yesterday was UM's Democracy Summit, and once again, we thank our colleagues across campus (Michael, Alicia, Kelly and Katie) for putting together such a compelling series of conversations. I was fortunate to be part of a lovely and lively discussion around the question: What does an educational system look like if its aim is to develop educated citizens? The sequence left me heartened and hopeful. Keynoter Robert (Bowling Alone/Join or Die) Putnam is being rescheduled for fall due to illness.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch— classes are moving quickly toward the semester's end (last day of classes is just one week from today). Senior Seminar students participated in a mission statement workshop. Introduction to Honors students were thrilled to hear wise and wonderful perspectives and academic (and life!) advice from DHC Teacher of the Year, Philosophy Professor and Pre-Law Program Director Soazig Lebihan. Love class was extra-special this week as students shared their creative non-fiction stories about love in their lives; from siblings to grandparents, friends, dogs, soccer, romance (of course), and self — to paraphrase the old Mary Tyler Moore theme song — love was all around.
DHC Ambassadors were excited to welcome a big, strong bunch of new members to their ranks at Wednesday's meeting, facilitated by Loveable Lauren and Joyful Julia. Along with some end-of-year planning and outreach efforts, Ambassadors also had the chance to congratulate and thank our graduating seniors and retiring members of the team. Watch for Julia, Chloe and their pals on the UM Woodman's Team at this weekend's Forestry Days at Fort Missoula.
Last evening Honors Student Association elected Jaxon Caufield President, Quindy Gronley Vice President, and Cara O'Rourke Secretary. We're excited for another great year of leadership from this crew (and are currently recruiting a Treasurer). HSA's food drive culminates tonight with a BINGO game and celebration; the word on the street is that the prizes are amazing! Introduction to Honors students' food drive efforts continue through next Wednesday. Please be generous (it's #honorable).
Speaking of elections, this just in: DHC'ers Buddy Wilson and Maya Anderson have been elected as UM's new student body President and Vice President, and Liam Edwards as the ASUM Business manager. Congratulations, and LEAD ON!
The end of the semester is packed with activities; we'll be running hard on the home stretch. There's a range of final concerts, recitals, shows and performances, and, as is my custom, I am trying to make the rounds to honors classes to catch presentations of some of our students' fabulous final projects. Here's just a bit of all that's in store between now and Commencement.
4/25 UMCUR celebration of undergraduate research and creative scholarship 4/25 Honors Student Association BINGO night — food drive — and prizes! 4/30 Share Kindness Day (stop by the DHC table on the Oval) 4/30 Week of Excellence UMCUR Awards Ceremony 4/30 Climate Change Studies Symposium 5/1 Learning Assistant Showcase/Tea Time 5/1 Honors LLC Spring Celebration 5/1 DHC Trivia Night 5/2 Week of Excellence Celebration of Scholarships 5/4 DHC 'We Did it Ourselves' Film Festival 5/7 Creative Showcase 5/9 Spring Medallion Ceremony 5/9 Spring Commencement
We've had a bright and beautiful week in sunny (!?!) Missoula. Today is literally a perfect day. And our morning sunrise walk up Blue Mountain was the perfect way to start it. The Oval is green, leaves are coming on, trees are blossoming, and those favorite yellow bushes have returned to their springtime glory. Here is Barbara Crooker's Forsythia:
What must it feel like, after months of existing as bare brown sticks, all reasonable hope of blossoming lost, to suddenly, one warm April morning, burst into wild yellow song, hundreds of tiny prayer flags rippling in the still- cold wind, the only flash of color in the dull yard, these small scraps of light, something we might hold on to.
Here's to that 'wild yellow song' and these 'small scraps of light' --
