Smith Students Named "2004 Merrill Scholars"

Three Smith School undergrads -- Mark Weinstein, Timothy Potter and Danhao Wu -- are among 25 University of Maryland seniors who have been named 2004 Merrill Scholars. The Merrill Presidential Scholars Program honors University of Maryland's most successful seniors and their designated university faculty and K-12 teachers for their mentorship. The program celebrates the connections between mentorship, scholarship and academic achievement.

Mark Weinstein, finance and marketing major, named his teacher at North Penn High School, Cynthia Louden, and the dean of undergraduate studies at the Smith School, Patricia Cleveland as his mentors. Cynthia Louden was one of my biggest advocates in high school. She noticed my energy and ambition immediately, and nurtured it, says Weinstein. Through her I learned how to lead others and how to position myself to serve as an effective leader. Weinstein who is also the president of the Smith Ambassadors club credits Dean Cleveland's mentorship as a major driving force behind his all-round success. Dean Cleveland has offered sound advice, while allowing me to experience life lessons first hand, he surmises.

Timothy Potter, who created the first-ever Web site for the Business Information Technology Society named Brian Shaffer, assistant professor of logistics, business and public policy, and Daniel Kraft, a teacher at West Deptford High School, as his mentors. Potter has only high praise for Kraft. He is perhaps the most interesting and intellectually stimulating teacher I have had, says Potter. His extensive knowledge of physics combined with his ability to relate complex subject matter to his students through the use of humor and innovative teaching techniques were unmatched at my high school. Outside of academics, Potter has competed for the Terrapins as a member of the varsity swim team. This past summer he worked for Accenture as an intern analyst.

In addition to the honor of being a Merrill Scholar, Danhao Wu is also the winner of the Jean & Paul Mullan BMGT Honors Scholarship and president of Smith Undergraduate Student Association (SUSA). Her mentor here at the Smith School is Stephen Berkowitz, adjunct professor of finance. She describes his ability to bring finance to life as one of the reasons why she was drawn to his teaching style. This style is very similar to that of her other mentor, an advanced placement U.S. history teacher at Walter Johnson High School, Chris Garran. His abundant knowledge of the subject and lively presentation style made his class one of the most popular ones among his students. Each session was a magnifying glass that examined the drama in American history, delving into the hidden truths and forgotten stories, explains Wu.

The University of Maryland hosted the Merrill Presidential Scholars and their mentors on November 5, 2004. The day included a workshop in the morning on building bridges between K-12 schools and the University of Maryland. The keynote talk, K-16 Perspective On Teaching And Learning, was delivered by Nancy Shapiro, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, University System of Maryland. In the afternoon, a special luncheon in recognition of Merrill Scholars, faculty and teachers took place in the Grand Ballroom of the Stamp Student Union.

▓Smith Media Group, Priscilla Mwangi, MBA Candidate 2006