Gems Camp: A Junior Perspective

Junior Eileen Ser shares her Gems Camp experience both as a camper and Camp Leader:

I still have the letter that Gemstone sent me on May 21, 2011, welcoming me to the program and inviting me to Gems Camp. I did not know much about Gemstone– I chose it based on its research focus, so I was pleasantly surprised to see a colorful brochure advertising a Las Vegas themed Gems Camp. Intrigued, I convinced my parents to let me go (moving in early was a great selling point).

Attending Gems Camp was a fantastic experience – it quickly became clear that Gemstone focused on areas outside of pure academics. All of the Camp Leaders were incredibly friendly, fun, and welcoming. I left completely exhausted, but came home with so many friends. Gems Camp was definitely the first step to making a big school smaller.

I was fortunate to be selected as a Camp Leader the following year. As a sophomore, I loved getting to know the freshman. The theme that year was Survivor, and the competition was a great element. I looked forward to the next year as soon as it was over, and sure enough, when Gems Camp 2013 came around, it was just as fun. Plus, the theme of Turning Back Time made it even more meaningful.

I can easily say that Gems Camp is my favorite Gemstone experience. The lighthearted atmosphere is a great way to kick off the school year. I still keep in touch with many of the people I met at camp as a freshman and my campers from the past two summers. My fellow Camp Leaders are some of the funniest people I have ever met, and spending nearly a week with them is quite the adventure – we spend a lot of the time perfecting our dance and eating a lot of cheeseballs. 

So, to you, Gemstone student, I highly encourage you to apply to be a Camp Leader – I’m in denial this summer is the last chance I have to be a Camp Leaders because I have truly had an unforgettable experience!

-Eileen Ser: Team PANCREAS : Class of 2015

If you wish to apply to become a Gems Camp CL please follow this link here and fill out the application.  

The application closes midnight March 25th!

Mixing Gemstone with the Blarney Stone: A Student Perspective to Studying Abroad

Sophomore Eric McCaffrey shares her experience studying abroad in Ireland: 

This semester I set off for the Emerald Isles to study abroad at University College Cork in Cork, Ireland. I think the biggest draw to studying abroad is, of course, the opportunity to experience a new culture. However, since arriving in Ireland two months ago I have found that studying abroad enhances nearly every facet of the college experience… Gemstone included! From an academic standpoint studying abroad has afforded me the opportunity to continue with my coursework for my microbiology major while also diving into the Irish culture. It has become a ‘normal’ day for me to go from speaking Gaelic and listening to Irish traditional music in the morning to learning about Immunology and Medical Microbiology in the afternoon! Additionally, participating in a public health internship is giving me the chance to gain a new perspective on health and medicine.

I am of course still a member of my Gemstone team—Team ATTENT—while abroad. While it may seem difficult or a burden to maintain work on a Gemstone team while abroad, it has actually been a very easy transition. My team, mentor, and the Gemstone staff have been incredibly accommodating. One of my favorite parts of the week is being able to Skype into team meetings and see some familiar faces from back at home! I still feel that even while abroad, I am able to contribute towards all the work the team has been doing on our thesis proposal and grant applications this semester. While in Ireland I have gotten the opportunity to converse with professors and medical professionals about the research Team ATTENT will be doing. Hearing their input and perspective is definitely enriching the research process and allowing me to look at our research problem in new ways.

If the academic opportunities and Gemstone experience are not enough of a reason to study abroad as a Gemstone student then the cultural opportunities should seal the deal. To be able to experience the Irish culture, along with other European countries, makes every day an exciting adventure! For all that it has offered me already, studying abroad is the best decision I have made while at UMD… besides joining Gemstone of course!

-Erin McCaffrey: Team ATTENT: Class of 2016

A Startup Straight from the Minds of Some of the Gemstone Program's Precious Gems: Mindforge Design

After the first week of the fall semester, Aerospace Engineering student Brett Potter decided to have some fun. After buying a kit for a 3-D printer off the internet for $300, he spent an entire Saturday putting it together. Now a semester later, the sophomore from Team TESLA is working on a startup with a few friends, with the printer at the center.

Potter first gained experience with the up-and coming technology in high school, and thought it would be cool to get his own desktop model. Roommate and fellow Gemstone student Ben Tunick (Bioengineering, Team BASIC) soon took an interest in Potter’s creation, followed closely by their across-the-hall neighbor Sam Thomas (Criminology and Criminal Justice major). After Thomas mentioned the possibility of turning the printer into a business venture, the three sophomores realized it could be a great idea.

Once they embraced the opportunity, the trio soon began spreading the word and preparing to open for business. It wasn’t long before they branched out. Their startup, christened “Mindforge Design,” has an Xbox Kinect to scan objects and people into their computers, and can print bobble heads and small copies of said object from the scanned model. In addition to offering a line of small Maryland-themed products, Mindforge offers printing of custom designs, regardless of whether the client can make a model in CAD.

Since then, Mindforge Design opened for business and even turned a few heads. Late in the semester, the three entrepreneurs were accepted into the Startup Shell, an on-campus club aimed at guiding new startups and helping them succeed through collaboration and support. In addition, the group has been contacted by Route 1 Apparel. The two parties are currently negotiating the sale of a few 3D printed Maryland items through the popular retailer.

 

Keep a lookout for these guys going forward! Their website is http://www.MindforgeDesign.com/

-Ben Tunick: Team BASIC: Class of 2016

Senior Team Update: Team RITALIN

This past November, seven members of senior Team RITALIN (Brian Barnett, Valerie Cohen, Taylor Hearn, Emily Jones, Alice Kunin, Jessica Lee, and Gautam Rao) attended Neuroscience 2013, the 43rd annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. This conference gathered over 30,000 neuroscientists from across the globe in San Diego to share ideas and interests about current and future projects. Held over a span of five days, the conference is In addition to viewing dozens of posters and attending several lectures, Brian, Taylor, Jessica, and Gautam presented their team's project, Impact of Prenatal Nicotine Exposure on Impulsivity and Neural Activity in Medial Prefrontal Cortex. 
"It was amazing to see almost every neuroscientist in the country in one place. It was an extraordinary example of how collaborative the scientific process can be" -Taylor Hearn

Somehow, team RITALIN managed to leave the bliss of sunny San Diego and return to College Park, where they are now fully concentrated on finishing their thesis.
They hope that some of their newly-made connections will add unique insights to their final product and are excited to finish senior year strong!

-Taylor Hearn: Team RITALIN: Class of 2014

Missed out on GSC's November Events?...

Don't worry! Here's a run-down of what the GSC committees have been up to the past month...

Stay tuned for our upcoming events and don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter! 

The Academic Affairs Committee hosted a Pre-Med & Health Professions Advising event presented by Wendy Loughlin. Wendy is the Director of the Health Professions Advising Office, and gave an insight overview on how to prepare for the medical school application process. She discussed what makes a competitive applicant, questions about the new MCAT, and mostly importantly the significance of patient empathy. Wendy specifically talked about Maryland’s medical school and their push for patient interaction as well as unique and diverse experiences.

Students were full of curiosity and questions to which Wendy provided detailed and informative answers for. Everyone that attended also received super awesome syringe pens to prepare for their medical futures!

The Student Activities Committee hosted its annual Fall Food Olympics were held on November 15th in front of Ellicott Hall. As tradition entails, two students pair up to compete in an obstacle course involving food: this year's challenges included feeding pudding while blindfolded, eating apple slices while crab-walking, and balancing candy corn while doing a three-legged race. With our previous 3-year champions graduated and gone, new challengers were eager to win the title and our grand prize: Gems Formal tickets! Sophomores Zeke Gonzalez and Yvette Mann stepped up and snatched away those tickets – congratulations to this duo for becoming the 2013 Fall Food Olympics Champions! Come back next fall and see if they'll maintain their title and prowess – for now, let's get ready for Gems Formal 2013!

The Gemstone Student Council enhanced their monthly GBM this month with the first annual Gemsgiving!  Students brought food to contribute to the potluck ranging from pizza to baked chicken.  Though all members of GSC brought food to the event, the other generous students who brought food were entered into a raffle for an amazon gift card.  Additionally, GSC surprised everyone with three other gift cards hidden under chairs.  As for the GBM, each cohort shared recent events and milestones in their Gemstone process.  Turnout was one of the greatest all year second only to the first GBM! 

The Community Engagement Committee hosted Gemstone’s First SHABAM.  SHABAM stands for Shabbat Across Maryland, and is an annual Friday night dinner provided by the Maryland Hillel, made possible by donations from the Gorlin family.  Gemstone’s SHABAM was one of 75 meals across campus feeding over 1,000 UMD students.  Some students came for the free food and others to learn a little about what Shabbat is all about, but everyone got the chance to have a sit down dinner together in the Gemstone suite.  Junior Steph Gross and senior Jenn Rottenberg explained some of the customary practices that are done before a typical Shabbat friday night dinner, reciting customary prayers in Hebrew before explaining their English meaning and significance.  SHABAM was one of the first events of CEC’s goal to provide the Gemstone community with first hand experiences of different cultures that represent the diverse program.

We cannot wait to see you at Gems Formal 2013!

-Alexa Cohen: Team HAPTIC : Class of 2016

-Edward Lin: Team AWE: Class of 2015

-Tom Schmitt: Class of 2017
-Shivani Patel: Team BASS: Class of 2015

Gems Formal 2013

Getting ready for Gems Formal, Saturday December 7th?  We are too!  

Junior Christina Winkler gives her own perspective looking back at her experiences at Gems Formal 

Looking back at my past two (almost two and a half!) years in Gemstone, I have been to a lot of Gemstone events. While GSC hosts awesome events all year long, Gems Formal is the event I look forward to all year long! I have been a part of SAC since my freshman year, so I am always very active in the planning and execution process of Gems Formal. Excitement begins months before the event, when we sit down as a committee to seriously debate the theme of the year. A few weeks later, we'll move on to decorations. The day of, we make the balloon arch and decorate the ballroom in Stamp, and, finally, formal is here!

I don't know if I can pick one single favorite formal memory. I always really enjoy socializing with and listening to the DJ with my former students and friends across cohorts. Somewhere in between finding the perfect dress, socializing with my friends and students across cohorts, and dancing to the DJ, Gems Formal is always a fantastic night! 

This year is no exception - I cannot wait and I hope that you are all as excited as I am for Gems Formal! And remember - a little party never hurt nobody.

Still need tickets? visit :Gems Formal Tickets !

Can't wait to see you there!

-Christina Winkler: Team VIRTUAL : Class of 2015

Congratulations to some of Gemstone's Precious Gems!

Congratulations to our junior students, Winston Liu and Mel Walsh on receiving prestigious scholarships! 

Winston Liu was awarded the Whitaker International Undergraduate Scholarship!
The Whitaker International Undergraduate Scholarship Program provides funding of up to $7,500 to increase the number of undergraduates in biomedical engineering (BME) who go abroad; to provide the opportunity for students to see BME from an international perspective early in their educations, and to develop students to become future leaders in BME. Winston is Maryland's first Whitaker International Scholarship recipient.



Mel Walsh was awarded the Sarah Gingrich Firebaugh Memorial Scholarship!
Sarah Gingrich Firebaugh Memorial Scholarship, a scholarship for Gemstone students who are engineering or science majors from Pennsylvania.

Congratulations to our impressive Gemstone Terps!

-Stephanie Gross: Team SILVER: Class of 2015