Alumni

UMBC’s Champion Twirler – Stasi Kowalewski ’10 and Mardel Kowalewski ’81

/ 3 minutes of reading

The grace of a ballerina. The poise of an equestrian rider. The flexibility of a gymnast. Those are the qualities baton twirlers like Stasi Kowalewski ’10 need to have, according to Stasi’s mother Mardel Kowalewski ‘81. And Stasi, who is the world and national two-baton champion, possesses not only those traits but also a desire to learn. “You need to have time and patience for this sport,” Stasi said. “You need to want it bad enough to learn it. It still takes me a long time to perfect my routines.” Stasi, who regularly performs at UMBC men’s basketball games, has… Continue Reading UMBC’s Champion Twirler – Stasi Kowalewski ’10 and Mardel Kowalewski ’81

Making U.S. Democracy A Little Less “Crazy” – Jamie Nola '08

/ 3 minutes of reading

Confused about how an American democracy works? You are not alone. A new Web site – www.USDemocrazy.net – designed by Economist magazine cartoonist Kevin “Kal” Kallaugher, artist-in-residence at UMBC, aims to demystify and explore America’s crazy 50-state democracy in a fun and engaging way. Behind the scenes, recent alumnus Jamie Nola ’08, visual arts, spent the last year turning Kal’s black and white drawings into a colorful, interactive web experience, where talking fish discuss the economy and banners promising “crazy factoids” and “political mumbo-jumbo” are all the norm. “It’s really cool,” said Nola, who joined UMBC’s Imaging Research Center as… Continue Reading Making U.S. Democracy A Little Less “Crazy” – Jamie Nola '08

Making U.S. Democracy A Little Less “Crazy” – Jamie Nola ’08

/ 3 minutes of reading

Confused about how an American democracy works? You are not alone. A new Web site – www.USDemocrazy.net – designed by Economist magazine cartoonist Kevin “Kal” Kallaugher, artist-in-residence at UMBC, aims to demystify and explore America’s crazy 50-state democracy in a fun and engaging way. Behind the scenes, recent alumnus Jamie Nola ’08, visual arts, spent the last year turning Kal’s black and white drawings into a colorful, interactive web experience, where talking fish discuss the economy and banners promising “crazy factoids” and “political mumbo-jumbo” are all the norm. “It’s really cool,” said Nola, who joined UMBC’s Imaging Research Center as… Continue Reading Making U.S. Democracy A Little Less “Crazy” – Jamie Nola ’08

A Mathematical Mind: Kimball Martin '99

/ 5 minutes of reading

“But Mom, when am I going to use all this math stuff anyway?” For parents, it’s a frequent refrain from kids of all ages, and sometimes in the age of spreadsheets and computer desktop calculators, it’s a question that’s as tough to answer as sample problems from the math section of the SAT. But don’t say that to Kimball Martin ’99, who has turned his inquisitive nature and love of challenges into a robust career as an assistant professor of mathematics specializing in number theory. “Math is not about numbers, but about ideas and problem solving,” he said. “Doing math… Continue Reading A Mathematical Mind: Kimball Martin '99

A Mathematical Mind: Kimball Martin ’99

/ 5 minutes of reading

“But Mom, when am I going to use all this math stuff anyway?” For parents, it’s a frequent refrain from kids of all ages, and sometimes in the age of spreadsheets and computer desktop calculators, it’s a question that’s as tough to answer as sample problems from the math section of the SAT. But don’t say that to Kimball Martin ’99, who has turned his inquisitive nature and love of challenges into a robust career as an assistant professor of mathematics specializing in number theory. “Math is not about numbers, but about ideas and problem solving,” he said. “Doing math… Continue Reading A Mathematical Mind: Kimball Martin ’99

Life in the Fast Lane: Kelly Kwedar '98

/ 5 minutes of reading

In many ways, Kelly Kwedar ’98, visual and performing arts (photography), leads a double life. A clinical practice supervisor at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, by day, Kwedar manages a staff of forty doctors and twenty other hospital workers who take patients through the cancer treatment process. By night, she is known to her friends in the Gotham Girls Roller Derby as “Lil Red Terror,” goddess of jamming, blocking, and dishing out pain in the rink. “Roller derby has been my most amazing experience in New York. I’ve made the most amazing friends. I was never an athlete, but… Continue Reading Life in the Fast Lane: Kelly Kwedar '98

Life in the Fast Lane: Kelly Kwedar ’98

/ 5 minutes of reading

In many ways, Kelly Kwedar ’98, visual and performing arts (photography), leads a double life. A clinical practice supervisor at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan, by day, Kwedar manages a staff of forty doctors and twenty other hospital workers who take patients through the cancer treatment process. By night, she is known to her friends in the Gotham Girls Roller Derby as “Lil Red Terror,” goddess of jamming, blocking, and dishing out pain in the rink. “Roller derby has been my most amazing experience in New York. I’ve made the most amazing friends. I was never an athlete, but… Continue Reading Life in the Fast Lane: Kelly Kwedar ’98

Following the Game Plan: John Goedeke '79

/ 3 minutes of reading

During John Goedeke’s first year on the UMBC basketball team, the players lost all but five games. The year was 1975, and all of the players were freshmen and sophomores. “UMBC wasn’t even ten years old, but it was a challenge and an opportunity, and I welcomed that,” said Goedeke ’79, economics, who had turned down recruiters from big name basketball schools like Ohio State and the University of Maryland, College Park, for a spot on a fledgling team with coaches he really admired. Over his college years, however, the team made an amazing turn. By the time his senior… Continue Reading Following the Game Plan: John Goedeke '79

Following the Game Plan: John Goedeke ’79

/ 3 minutes of reading

During John Goedeke’s first year on the UMBC basketball team, the players lost all but five games. The year was 1975, and all of the players were freshmen and sophomores. “UMBC wasn’t even ten years old, but it was a challenge and an opportunity, and I welcomed that,” said Goedeke ’79, economics, who had turned down recruiters from big name basketball schools like Ohio State and the University of Maryland, College Park, for a spot on a fledgling team with coaches he really admired. Over his college years, however, the team made an amazing turn. By the time his senior… Continue Reading Following the Game Plan: John Goedeke ’79

The New Language of Software: Loren Siebert ’93

/ 3 minutes of reading

When many people have some extra time to spare, they might think about collecting coins, painting model airplanes, or even trying to write the great American novel. When Loren Siebert ’93, computer science, took up a hobby, though, he decided to learn one of the hardest languages around – Arabic. The first UMBC graduate to earn the prestigious Marshall Scholarship, Siebert recently developed a software, LinguaStep, that will be used to aid in instruction of the Arabic language programs at over 30 different universities. Indeed, this San Francisco resident has made a very grand entrance into the world of software… Continue Reading The New Language of Software: Loren Siebert ’93

The New Language of Software: Loren Siebert '93

/ 3 minutes of reading

When many people have some extra time to spare, they might think about collecting coins, painting model airplanes, or even trying to write the great American novel. When Loren Siebert ’93, computer science, took up a hobby, though, he decided to learn one of the hardest languages around – Arabic. The first UMBC graduate to earn the prestigious Marshall Scholarship, Siebert recently developed a software, LinguaStep, that will be used to aid in instruction of the Arabic language programs at over 30 different universities. Indeed, this San Francisco resident has made a very grand entrance into the world of software… Continue Reading The New Language of Software: Loren Siebert '93

A Strong Role Model: Mabrooka Chaudhry '95

/ 2 minutes of reading

When Mabrooka Chaudhry immigrated to the United States from Pakistan in 1982 at the age of nine, she didn’t speak a word of English. Twenty-five years later, she exemplifies the American dream. A U.S. history and world religions teacher in Howard County, Chaudhry recently was honored as a recipient of the Milken Family Foundation National Educators Award, which rewards public school teachers who have demonstrated superior educational talent and long-range leadership potential. “It’s a very humbling thing,” said Chaudhry, who received the honor at the end of last semester in a surprise presentation by state schools superintendent Nancy Grasmick. “It’s… Continue Reading A Strong Role Model: Mabrooka Chaudhry '95

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