The Scholars Academy held its annual orientation Friday, Sept. 2, in room A300 of the Academic Building, welcoming new and returning students to the organization. Students were introduced to faculty mentors, peer mentors and administrators, and learned the stringent requirements that must be maintained for SA membership and the many benefits associated with being a part of this group.

The Scholars Academy is now in its 13th year. Director Mary Parker shared statistics with the group showing the success of the SA since its inception, including $13 million in grants that have been awarded to SA scholars, 450 alumni who have participated in this program and the 39 percent of SA alumni who are in graduate school or have completed graduate school programs.

Fourteen SA students were introduced and awarded the Barry Garrett Scholarship, made possible by a donation from Marion Garrett Wilson. The scholarships were presented by Wilson, her husband Jack Wilson, and her daughter, Erin Mayer, in honor of Wilson's late husband and Mayer's father, Barry Garrett. Mayer spoke of her father saying that "he was an amazing scientist who was able to push people who were involved in sciences to reach their potential and produce good things." The connection between her father's work and the Scholars Academy made sense, with Mayer stating that with her 20 years in working at UHD, "I have always been impressed with the science education programs here." The scholarship is a fitting tribute to a man who loved science by benefitting students involved in becoming our next generation of scientists, she said.

Several students made presentations on their summer research projects which included travel to other universities across the nation and participating in specific research in which they were interested. Students presented the serious side of science in their projects and the new knowledge they gained, while showing the enjoyment of summer travel and working with other students.