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Nota Bene

The New England region of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) presented its highest honor, the Madonna Della Strada Award, to Fred Enman, SJ, chaplain and special assistant to the associate dean for Student Services at Boston College Law School. Fr. Enman founded and currently serves as executive director of Matthew 25, a nonprofit organization that rehabilitates abandoned houses in Worcester and Boston, creating affordable rental housing for low-income people. The Madonna Della Strada Award recognizes those who embody the Jesuit tradition of direct service to the poor and of working and educating for a more just society.

Boston College Libraries recently announced the winners of Fourth Annual Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Mapping Contest. Awards were based on map quality, use of GIS as a research tool and originality. Special consideration was given to topics depicting social implications of the research such as environmental issues.

Due to the strong response, prizes were awarded this year to both undergraduate and graduate students.

First place ($100 Amazon gift card):

Austin Nijhuis, graduate student in earth and environmental sciences: “Predicting Coastal Dead Zone Size: a Statistical Approach Using GIS.”

Andrew Ireland ’14, biology: “Population Pressures on Tiger Habitat in India.” Second place ($50 Amazon gift card):

Brendan Hildum, graduate student in earth and environmental sciences: “Arsenic Speciation and Groundwater Chemistry Near and Within a Landfill Leachate Plume in Central Massachusetts.”

Licia Tomasi, international student in earth and environmental sciences: “Wind Power in Massachusetts: Conservation and Energy Production.” Third place ($25 Amazon gift card):

 Federico Mantovanelli, graduate student in economics: “The Protestant Legacy. Missions and Literacy in India.”

Kyra Prats ’13, earth and environmental sciences: “Relationships Among Hydrogeomorphology, Wetland Distribution, and Water Levels in Estuarine Environments.” Presidential Scholar.

Amanda Loewy ’15, a member of the Boston College equestrian team, has been selected for the Interscholastic Horse Show Association (IHSA) National All-Academic Award. The IHSA promotes competition for riders of all skill levels, who compete individually and as teams at regional, zone, and national levels. Candidates for the award must have a GPA of 3.8 or above, and ride in at least two IHSA horse shows during the academic year.

Kuong Ly ’08 is one of 30 winners of Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, which are awarded annually to the most accomplished and promising immigrants and children of immigrants in American graduate education. Ly, born in a refugee camp to Cambodian parents who fled the mass killings in their country, went on to earn Truman and Marshall scholarships. Currently enrolled at the University of California-Los Angeles Law School, Ly plans on a career in public interest and critical race law.

Newsmakers

Sports Illustrated writer Pete Thamel offered a heartwarming, inspirational portrait of the special relationship shared by the Athletics Association, especially the BC men’s basketball team, and Sports Information Director Dick Kelley, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2011. Kelley also has been named The Heights’ 2013 Person of the Year for his inspirational service and courage.

Prof. Robert Bloom (Law) was interviewed by WCVB-TV Ch.5 News about the effect of the judge’s rejection of the immunity defense in the Whitey Bulger case.

 Prof. Elizabeth Graver (English) discussed her latest novel, The End of the Point — which weaves decades of history into a story set in a fictional Massachusetts community on Cape Cod — on WBUR’s “Here and Now.”

Bloomberg News and BusinessWeek. com reported on last month’s 25th anniversary Wall Street Council Tribute Dinner, which raised a record $2.7 million in support of the Presidential Scholars Program. Vatican II calls Catholics to a renewed realization of the primacy of Christ, wrote Assoc.

Prof. Professor Rev. Robert Imbelli (Theology) in an essay for America Magazine. US News & World Report cited research by Weston Observatory Director John Ebel — who presented his preliminary findings at the Seismological Society of America’s annual meeting — that an increase in seismic activity in the North Atlantic suggests that New England is most at risk of suffering the effects of a tsunami in the near future.  

Honors/Appointments

Monan Professor of Higher Education Philip Altbach has been selected as the 2013 recipient of the Marita Houlihan Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Field of International Education from NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Altbach, who is retiring at the end of the academic year, will be honored at the association’s Annual Conference and Expo later this month in St. Louis.  

Time and a Half

The Lonergan Institute hosted the conference “Thinking and Critical Realism” April 26 and 27, with a series of presentations and panel discussions taking place in Stokes Hall. Boston College faculty members taking part in the conference included Lonergan Institute Director Prof. Patrick Byrne (Philosophy), Prof. Audrey Friedman (LSOE) and Freshman Writing Program Director Paula Mathieu.