Croft Graduate Helps Launch Map of Citizen Security Projects in Latin America

Croft graduate Joe Bateman (B.A. 2010) is working for the Washington Office on Latin America (www.wola.org), where he coordinates the organizations work on Brazil and does research for the Citizen Security program.  In collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank, WOLA recently launched an interactive Mapping of Internationally-Funded Citizen Security Projects in Central America. This web application identifies citizen-security programs and projects in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and Costa Rica and tracks over 2 billion dollars of funding across 600 programs.  It looks like it could be useful for a future senior thesis!

Nisolo Accepted into Social Enterprise Accelerator Programs

Croft graduate Patrick Woodyard (B.A. 2010) recently informed us that his company, Nisolo, was recently accepted into one of the top social enterprise accelerator programs in Latin America, Agora Parternships, as well as one of the top accelerator programs in the world for social enterprises, The Unreasonable Institute in Boulder, CO. These opportunities will enable Nisolo to move quickly from growth to scale stage in the life cycle of our business and are a huge honor, as each had hundreds of reputable businesses from around the world applying to be in the programs. He and his partners were also recently named "Heroes" in Nashville Lifestyles Magazine, an encouraging achievement after having moved there seven months ago.

Pictures from Thesis Defenses and Graduation Dinner on Facebook

The last few weeks have been busy as we wrap up the spring semester and prepare for graduation.  Visit the Croft Institute's Facebook page to see pictures from our senior thesis defenses and the graduation dinner.

Rebel Global Connections Field Trip from Como Elementary School

Rebel Global Connections will host its first field trip.  About 150 3rd through 5th graders from Como Elementary School will be on campus from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, April 19.  There will be an international fair, passports for the students to make and other crafts and activities . If anyone wants to volunteer to help they can email Kathy  Trabue or Erin Mauffray. They should also feel free to come to the RGC meeting on Monday, April 12, at 5:15 p.m. in Bryant 207.

Thirteen Croft Students Inducted into UM Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa

Congratulations to thirteen Croft students who were inducted into the University of Mississippi's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa:

Seniors
Cody Leblanc
Audrey Mason
Becky Pocase
Claire Reid
Jessica Sewell
Lexi Thoman
Tori Thoman
Kathy Trabue
Anastasia Varenita
Sarah Woods
Leighton Wright

Juniors:
Brad Gordon
Kevin Scott

They join seniors Jackie Boyce, Robert Eberhart, Ryan Ezelle, Isaac Lichtlyter, and Sean Ray, who were inducted in 2012.

Croft Students Honored at Annual UM Honors Convocation

Congratulations to our 2013 University of Mississippi Honors Convocation Award Winners!

Croft Institute Gerald M. Abdalla Prize:
Ryan Ezelle

Marcus Elvis Taylor Medal: 
Jackie Boyce
William Bumpas
Brad Gordon
Isaac Lichlyter
Becky Pocase
Kevin Scott

Economics:
Outstanding Liberal Arts Economics Student Award:
Kevin Scott

Modern Languages
Milden Award: Kevin Scott
Chinese Award: Conner Clark
French Award: Cody LeBlanc
German Award: Zack Newton
Korean Award:Conner Clark
Portuguese Award: Maia Cotelo
Russian Award: Sean Ray
Spanish Award: Ryan Ezelle

Patterson School of Accountancy
Arthur Andersen/W. Kelly Clifford Memorial Award
Courtney Pinac
Federation of Schools of Accountancy Outstanding Student Award
Courtney Pinac

School of Business Administration
Outstanding Undergraduate Economics Student Award
Lorin Dawson

Croft Senate Elections

Outgoing President Kathy Trabue has reported on the elections for the 2013-2014 Senate elections.  She writes that they had some great nominations this year and thanks all those who participated.

• Sophomores: Liana Tai, Conner Clark, Steven Wild
• Juniors: Alison Bartel, Maggie Spear, Holly Smith
• Seniors: Colby Woods, Kendra Wright, Landin Smith

Congratulations to our new senators.  Elections for freshmen senators will take place next fall.

Rebel Global Connections: Mural in Clarksdale and Visit from Como Elementary School Students

Rebel Global Connections has had a busy few weeks.  On Friday, April 19, the group welcomed students from Como Elementary School.  They gave the students a tour of campus, played games, and put on an international fair to get them excited about college, their future, and the world around them!

The very next day, April 20, members of RGC drove down to Clarksdale to help paint a mural of a world map at Myrtle Hall IV Elementary School, which houses a Spanish-immersions program.

Croft/Rebel Global Connections Relay for Life Team Raises almost $1200

This year, Croft students joined with the new Rebel Global Connections group to form a team for the University of Mississippi's Relay for Life.  Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life is an overnight walk that honors cancer survivors, remembers for those who have died, and raises funds for research and to support people with cancer.  The Croft team raised almost $1200, adding to the $50,000 raised by the entire university.

Seven Croft Students Inducted into UM Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi

Congratulations to the following Croft students and international studies minor on their Spring 2013 induction into the University of Mississippi's chapter of Phi Kappa Phi:

Alison Bartel
Jill Cowart
Hattie Fisher
Elise Luers
Zack Newton
Blake Pruett
Susanna Rychlak

Minor:
Kristen Laprade

Croft Students raise close to $1000 in RebelThon

Almost two dozen Croft students participated in the the U.M. RebelThon on Friday, April 5, and raised almost one thousands dollars through on-line donations and several bake sales.  This was added to the total of $25,409.73 raised for the children at Le Bonheur Hospital in Memphis.  Croft students Claire Reid, Sarah Woods, Maia Cotelo, and Zachary Newton served on the Executive Board of the fundraiser.

Professor Miguel Centellas Published in Political Analysis

Croft Visiting Assistant Professor Miguel Centellas recently had an article published in Political Analysis.  The article, which Dr. Centellas co-authored with Mihaiela Ristei Gugiu of the Ohio State University, uses hierarchical cluster analysis to propose and construct a new measure of democracy, the DCC index,  from five popular indices of democracy.

Croft Instructional Assistant Professor of Japanese Kaoru Ochiai Brings Students to Japanese Speech Contest in New Orleans

As she has for the past several years, Croft instructional assistant professor of Japanese Kaoru Ochiai brought a group of her students to the Japanese Speech Contest sponsored by the Consulate-General of Japan in New Orleans on March 23.  No Croft students participated this year, but the University of Mississippi was well represented.  At the first year level, Zhen Guo won first prize, at the second year level Nicholas Denette won first prize and Brittany Linkous won the Consul General of Japan Award, and at the third year level Eduardo Lopez won second prize.  There were a total of thirty-one participants from seven universities.  Congratulations to Dr. Ochiai and her students!