News and Events



College of Liberal Arts graduates awarded Fulbright and French Ministry of Education Teaching

Assistantships
Two Auburn University seniors awarded National Science Foundation graduate research fellowships
Auburn University senior awarded Fulbright Scholarship to study in Germany
Auburn University enrolls record number of National Merit Scholars
Auburn named a top 50 public university for 19th consecutive year in U.S. News survey
Auburn University posts record enrollment, highest freshman ACT scores
Auburn student awarded Udall Scholarship for Excellence in National Environmental Policy
Auburn University junior named Barry M. Goldwater Scholar
Auburn University named Scholarship Provider of the Year
Auburn University’s Anderson awarded Rhodes Scholarship
Auburn University debuts new collegiate license plate design

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College of Liberal Arts graduates awarded Fulbright and French Ministry of Education Teaching Assistantships

1:46 PM, May 11, 2012

AUBURN – Hanna Gordon, an Auburn University spring 2012 summa cum laude Honors College graduate with a major in French, has been awarded a Fulbright-French Ministry of Education English Teaching Assistantship.

Gordon will be placed in a middle school in the Besancon region of France. She is the third consecutive Auburn University student awarded the assistantship in France, following Kristen Snow in 2011 and Helen Hunter Robertson in 2010.

"Hanna's desire to perfect her French language skills coupled with a sincere desire to embrace the French culture made her a strong candidate for the Fulbright," said Paul Harris, associate director of the Honors College. "It was a pleasure working with her throughout the application process.  She will represent Auburn University and the United States well during her time in France."

In addition to her work with middle school students, Gordon plans to further develop her understanding and appreciation of French culture by enrolling in cooking classes. She intends to travel throughout the country in an effort to discover the diverse cuisines and meet local chefs to better understand French cultural traditions through food.

"Hanna is one of a kind!" said Samia Spencer, professor of French in the Department of Foreign Languages in the College of Liberal Arts. "I have rarely encountered a student as motivated, as determined, and as excited about her studies as Hanna. Her passion for France, its language, its people and its culture is simply amazing. The Fulbright-France assistantship she is receiving is an honor she has earned and richly deserves. No one could be a more honorable ambassador of the United States in France than Hanna Gordon."

Gordon will be joined by fellow Auburn graduate, Kaylin Stephens, who has been awarded the competitive Teaching Assistant Program in France assistantship, sponsored by the French Ministry of Education.

Each year, the Fulbright Scholarship program and the French Ministry of Education allot 50 applications for the Fulbright-French Ministry of Education Teaching Assistantship. To be eligible for the award, the student must complete a Fulbright Scholarship application which requires a detailed project proposal and personal statement. The applicant must also submit three letters of recommendation, a letter certifying fluency in French and an interview with the campuswide selection committee.

(Written by Carol Nelson.)

Contact: Paul Harris, Honors College, (334) 844-8731 (pah0005@auburn.edu), or
Mike Clardy, Office of Communications and Marketing, (334) 844-9999 (clardch@auburn.edu)

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Two Auburn University seniors awarded National Science Foundation graduate research fellowships

11:06 AM, April 3, 2012

AUBURN – Auburn University students Bianca Williams, a senior in chemical engineering, and Devin Kalafut, a senior in mechanical engineering, have been awarded National Science Foundation graduate fellowships; Matthew Ramirez, a 2011 graduate in the College of Sciences and Mathematics was named honorable mention.

Each fellowship provides three years of support at $30,000 annually and an additional $10,500 cost of education allowance. The purpose of the fellowship program is to help ensure the vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce in the United States.

Williams, a senior Honors College student, is completing her honors thesis under the direction of Elizabeth Lipke in the Department of Chemical Engineering. Williams' research project is part of the Lipke lab's effort to guide the differentiation of mouse embryonic and human induced pluripotent stem cells into cardiomyocytes, which could eventually be used for the treatment of heart disease.

Outside the classroom and lab, Williams is actively involved with Auburn's Minority Engineering Program where she serves as a mentor to middle and high school students at the Boys and Girls Club. In the spring of 2011, she served as conference chair for the National Association of Black Engineers Annual Meeting held in St. Louis.

Kalafut is a member of the Honors College and a current undergraduate research fellow. He is completing his honors thesis under the direction of Jay Khodadadi in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Their work focuses on developing suitable techniques for manufacturing synthetic bone tissue. Specifically, the goal of the  project is to construct a lab scale specimen of tissue scaffolding that has the identical porosity and strength of human bone.

As president of Auburn University's chapter of Pi Tau Sigma, the mechanical engineering honor society, Kalafut is actively involved in promoting science, engineering and mathematics to middle and high school students. Additionally, he organizes study sessions for finals in all major mechanical engineering courses as a department outreach activity.

Ramirez, a 2011 Honors College graduate, has worked under the direction of Wendy Hood. He completed his honors thesis on the functional changes in the gastrointestinal tract of lactating Columbian ground squirrels.

The National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited U.S. institutions. For more information, go to http://www.nsfgrfp.org/.

(Written by Paul Harris.)

Contact: Paul Harris, The University Honors College, (334) 844-5860 (pah0005@auburn.edu), or
Mike Clardy, Office of Communications and Marketing, (334) 844-9999 (clardch@auburn.edu)

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Auburn University senior awarded Fulbright Scholarship to study in Germany

3:05 PM, March 26, 2012

Paul Bergen

AUBURN – Paul Bergen, a senior in Auburn University's College of Sciences and Mathematics double majoring in microbiology and German, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Germany for the 2012-13 academic year. At the Technical University of Munich, he will continue to pursue his research in microbiology.

"Paul is an inquisitive and engaging young man with a range of interests and activities that go well beyond the lab and range from the study of German politics, culture and language to being an active member of Auburn's nationally recognized mock trial team," said Paul Harris, associate director of the Auburn Honors College. "He will gain so much from his classes and interactions with German students and faculty and he will represent himself, Auburn University and the United States with distinction."

A four-year member of the Honors College with a 3.97 overall grade-point-average in two demanding majors, Bergen is Auburn's fourth consecutive Fulbright scholar, following Rebecca Ludvigsen, Germany, 2009, Helen Hunter Robertson, France, 2010 and Kristen Snow, France, 2011.

His achievements include being selected for the Competitive Undergraduate Research Fellowship for the 2010-2011 academic year; being named a Cellular and Molecular Biosciences Summer Fellow in 2011; and being named the College of Sciences and Mathematics' top junior for 2010-2011. He is also a recipient of Auburn's Presidential Scholarship.

For the past two years, Bergen has conducted his honors research under the guidance of Mark Liles, examining clones from a soil metagenomic library that have inhibitory activity against bacterial pathogens. Liles is an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. Bergen's work in the Liles Laboratory is the basis for his honors thesis and it is this work that he will continue to pursue under the direction of professor Wolfgang Liebl at the Technical University of Munich.

"Shortly after entering Auburn, I accepted an invitation to join the lab of Dr. Mark Liles," Bergen said. "The Liles Lab is devoted to discovering novel, natural antibiotics from soil bacteria. Under the direction of Dr. Liles, I discovered a love of seeing the experiment to the end and discovering that the data helps to confirm, or even contradict, a hypothesis. Sometimes, it is the experiments that reach an unexpected conclusion that help us out the most, and I have certainly found this to be true in my research. I always end up with additional questions which drive me to continue the pursuit of the final answer. This experience along with my desire to learn more about the German language and culture, strengthened my determination to pursue a Fulbright Scholarship to Germany."

The Fulbright Scholarship Program is a highly selective, merit-based award designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Founded in 1946, the Fulbright Program competitively selects graduating seniors and graduate students who plan to conduct research, or exercise their talents abroad.

(Written by Neali Vann.)

Contact: Paul Harris, The University Honors College, (334) 844-5860 (pah0005@auburn.edu), or
Mike Clardy, Office of Communications and Marketing, (334) 844-9999 (clardch@auburn.edu)

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Auburn University enrolls record number of National Merit Scholars

9:24 AM, January 26, 2012

AUBURN - Auburn University is ranked second nationally out of 145 public institutions in the enrollment of National Merit Scholars, the university's Office of Enrollment Services announced this week. The rankings are included in the recently released 2010-2011 National Merit Scholarship Corporation Annual Report.

Auburn is first in the Southeastern Conference among public institutions and second, behind Vanderbilt, among all Southeastern Conference institutions. Auburn ranked ninth overall out of the 359 institutions where these scholars are enrolled, with Chicago, USC, Harvard, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Washington-St. Louis, Oklahoma and Yale ranked higher. Only Oklahoma was ranked above Auburn among all public institutions.

Auburn enrolled 181 new scholars this summer and fall, which is a 35 percent increase over last year's number of 134. Auburn moved up from third in the SEC and 16th overall last year.

Auburn's 181 National Merit Scholars are from 23 states and are enrolled in all of the university's 10 undergraduate colleges and schools.

"This achievement reflects a commitment by Auburn University to enroll some of the most outstanding students our state and nation have to offer," said Velda Rooker, director of university scholarships. "We are pleased that so many accomplished students recognize this commitment, along with the quality of Auburn's faculty and nationally ranked programs, and have chosen to become part of the Auburn family."

Auburn also enrolled a record 45 National Achievement Scholars from 19 states, an 80 percent increase over last year. The students are enrolled in five of Auburn's undergraduate colleges and schools.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation is an independent, not-for-profit organization that conducts the National Merit Scholarship Program and the National Achievement Scholarship Program as annual competitions for recognition and undergraduate scholarships.

More information about Auburn's program for National Merit Scholars is available at http://www.auburn.edu/scholarship/national-scholars.html. General information about Auburn University scholarships is available at http://www.auburn.edu/scholarship.

(Written by Katherine Harding.)

Contact: Velda Rooker, Enrollment Services, (334) 844-7570 (scholar@auburn.edu), or
Mike Clardy, Office of Communications and Marketing, (334) 844-9999 (clardch@auburn.edu)

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Auburn named a top 50 public university for 19th consecutive year in U.S. News survey

7:52 AM, September 13, 2011

AUBURN - Auburn University is ranked 36th among public universities nationwide, up from 38th last year, according to an annual survey released by U.S. News & World Report today. The ranking marks the 19th consecutive year the magazine has ranked Auburn among the nation's top 50 public universities.

Auburn also improved its ranking among all universities, coming in 82nd nationally, up from 85th in 2010. Its College of Business undergraduate program ranked 27th among the nation’s public institutions and 46th overall.

"It is certainly an honor to be recognized by our peers as a leading business school and serves as a testament to our outstanding students and faculty," said Bill Hardgrave, dean of the College of Business and Wells Fargo Professor. "While we are pleased to maintain our position as a top 30 public business school in the U.S., we will continue to look for ways to build and improve upon the undergraduate business program and the educational experience provided to our students."

The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering ranked 57th among universities offering doctoral programs in engineering.

"This ranking is a reflection of the quality and work ethic of our faculty and students. Despite the tough economy and tight resources we continue to excel in the classroom and laboratory," said Larry Benefield, dean of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. "I am proud of the fact that Auburn Engineering ranks second among publically funded SEC peer institutions."

Rankings of other programs are released at various times during the year by U.S. News & World Report.

"While no calculation can ever capture what is most essential and alive about a college or university, it is always good to have confirmation of the challenging and supportive environment that Auburn provides for learning," said Drew Clark, director of Auburn's Office of Institutional Research and Assessment.

Among land-grant universities, Auburn ranks 19th.

Auburn is also included in the magazine's list of A-Plus Schools for B Students, which identifies schools that admit solidly prepared high-school students and do a good job of helping them advance toward their educational goals.

To establish its rankings U.S. News categorizes colleges and universities primarily by mission and, in some cases, region. The magazine then gathers data from each on up to 16 indicators of institutional resources and quality, assigning each factor a weight that reflects the magazine's judgment about how much each measure matters.

The indicators the magazine staff uses to capture academic quality fall into seven categories: academic reputation among its peers, retention of students, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving, and (for national universities and liberal arts colleges) the graduation rate performance, or the difference between the proportion of students expected to graduate and the proportion who actually do.

The 2012 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges will be on newsstands Sept. 20.

(Contributed by Mike Clardy.)

Contact: Mike Clardy, (334) 844- 9999 (clardch@auburn.edu), or
Deedie Dowdle (334) 844-9999 (dowdldk@auburn.edu)

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Auburn University posts record enrollment, highest freshman ACT scores

1:38 PM, September 9, 2011

AUBURN – Auburn University has achieved its highest enrollment in history this fall, and its freshman class boasts the top ACT score of any previous class, according to numbers released today by Auburn's Office of Institutional Research and Assessment.

Enrollment is 25,469 among all student groups – undergraduates, graduate students and those enrolled in professional schools – up from 25,078 in fall 2010. Auburn has students from all 50 states and from 79 foreign countries.

New freshman enrollment consists of 4,202 students, just two fewer that last year's record class. The class compiled an average score of 27.2 on the ACT college entrance exam, outpacing last year's then-record of 26.9. They also earned an average high school grade point average of 3.81, up from 3.79 last year.

"Auburn University's outstanding academic programs, faculty and student body continue to attract record numbers of prospective students to our campus," said Cindy Singley, director of University Recruitment. "Once they are here and experience the Auburn Family, they want to be a part of it too!"

National Merit Scholar enrollment is 181, up 47 from last year. National Achievement Scholar enrollment is 45, up 20 from last year. This year’s class of National Scholars represents 32 states, compared to 27 last year.

At the bachelor's degree level, enrollment is 20,446, up 225 from last year. Post-baccalaureate enrollment is 5,023, up 166 from last year. This category comprises 1,018 professional students in the schools of pharmacy and veterinary medicine, up 3.6 percent, and 4,005 graduate students in other programs. The graduate student enrollment is a 3.4 percent increase above the 2010 figure of 3,874.

The numbers reported are official enrollment numbers, calculated after the 15th class day of every fall semester.

Contact: Drew Clark, (334) 844-4765 (clarkj3@auburn.edu), or
Mike Clardy, (334) 844-9999 (clardch@auburn.edu)

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Auburn student awarded Udall Scholarship for Excellence in National Environmental Policy

12:43 PM, April 1, 2011

AUBURN - Mobile native Nathan Warner, a biosystems engineering student in Auburn University's Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, has been selected as one of 80 recipients from 61 universities for a Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Scholarship for Excellence in National Environmental Policy. Scholars were selected on the basis of commitment to careers in the environment, health care or tribal public policy; leadership potential; and academic achievement.

Warner, who is also pursuing a minor in sustainability, is strongly committed to alleviating poverty, which complements his dedication to a sustainable environment. The focus of his honors thesis is the provision of safe water and sanitation to those most affected by poverty and hunger. He is a member of the Honors College, the Committee of 19 and co-founder of the Auburn chapter of "Engineers without Borders." Warner will use the $5,000 Udall Scholarship to fund his senior year at Auburn.

"It's definitely an honor to be recognized with the top student leaders in sustainability from around the country," Warner said. "Getting involved with sustainability-related student organizations has truly shaped my goals and passions in life. There are so many inspiring students involved with these initiatives that I truly believe are going to change the world. I am just blessed to be a part of these wonderful opportunities at Auburn. I have a feeling that there will be many more Udall Scholars from this university within the next few years."

"Nathan stands out as someone who has taken the lead to bring environmental and global awareness to the attention of the student body," said Paul Harris, associate director of the Honors College. "He embodies the characteristics of a servant-leader on the Auburn campus which call us to serve a higher purpose, to work for a common good, and to seek to improve the lives of those most in need."

This year's class of Udall Scholars was selected from 510 candidates nominated by 231 colleges and universities. They will assemble Aug. 3-7, in Tucson, Ariz., to receive their awards and meet policymakers and community leaders in environmental fields, tribal health care and governance.

Established by Congress in 1992 to honor Morris K. Udall's 30 years of service in the House of Representatives and enhanced by Congressional action in 2009 to honor Stewart L. Udall's vast public service, the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation is dedicated to educating a new generation of Americans to preserve and protect their national heritage through scholarship, fellowships and internship programs focused on environmental and Native American issues.

(Submitted by Carol Nelson.)

Contact: Carol Nelson, (334) 844-9999 (nelsoc4@auburn.edu), or
Mike Clardy, (334) 844-9999 (clardch@auburn.edu)

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Auburn University junior named Barry M. Goldwater Scholar

3:26 PM, March 31, 2011

AUBURN - Emily Brennan, a junior in Auburn University's College of Agriculture, has been chosen as a 2011 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar. The scholarship, given to only about 300 students nationwide each year, is widely considered the most prestigious award in the United States for undergraduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.

Brennan, an animal science major, conducts research in Professor Geoffrey Hill's laboratory in the College of Sciences and Mathematics' Department of Biological Sciences.

"I'm honored to receive the Goldwater Scholarship," said Brennan, a native of Jacksonville, Fla. "When I came to Auburn, I had not planned to do research, but I really enjoy it. I hope to enroll in veterinary school and continue research there and in my career."

Her research involves enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays on eggs collected from House Finch bird nests to test for antibodies to the bacterium, Mycoplasma gallisepticum. The goal is to determine the role of maternal effects - the ability of mothers to pass helpful substances to their offspring at birth - in the adaptation of House Finch populations.

Hill said, "It is a rare privilege to supervise an undergraduate student as bright, motivated and talented as Emily. She is doing graduate-level work as a junior, and will be leading a new project on gene expression in my lab this summer."

Brennan has a 3.96 grade point average and is a member of the Auburn University Honors College. She is secretary of the College of Agriculture Ambassadors; president of the Auburn Rowing Club; and a member of the Auburn Undergraduates Committed to Veterinary Medical Bioscience Research and Training program.

"It was a pleasure assisting Emily with her Goldwater application," said Paul Harris, associate director of the Honors College. "Though she has always been interested in science with the goal of becoming a veterinarian, it wasn't until she became involved in Dr. Hill's lab as a Cellular and Molecular Biosciences Undergraduate Research Scholar that she decided to combine research science with veterinary medicine."

Honorable mention

Auburn student Bianca Williams received honorable mention during the 2011 Goldwater Scholarship selection process, one of only 50 students nationwide to enjoy this distinction. Williams, under the direction of Assistant Professor Elizabeth Lipke in the Department of Chemical Engineering, conducts research on heart repair and lost or damaged cardiac cells.  She investigates hydrogel-based microcarrier design for directing and facilitating the differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes.

She is one of 20 students to receive an Auburn Undergraduate Research Fellowship. She tutors for Auburn's AT&T Minority Engineering Program and is treasurer and national convention chairperson for the National Society of Black Engineers.

Contacts: Mike Clardy, (334) 844-9999 (clardch@auburn.edu), or
Charles Martin, (334) 844-9999 (marticd@auburn.edu)

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Auburn University named Scholarship Provider of the Year

2:25 PM, December 11, 2009

AUBURN - Auburn University was named Scholarship Provider of the Year at the 2009 National Scholarship Providers Association Annual Conference in New Orleans for its Provost Leadership Undergraduate Scholar program.

The award was presented in recognition of the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs' PLUS program, which provides academic and social support to students pursuing their undergraduate studies at Auburn University. The PLUS program provides an $8,000 four-year, renewable scholarship at $2,000 per academic year, and has been developed to complement the goals of the Auburn University Strategic Diversity Plan.

"This award is a great honor and tribute to Auburn University," said Associate Provost for Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Overtoun Jenda. "We are really excited for the PLUS students and dedicated staff who have made it possible for the PLUS program to receive nationwide recognition. We thank our corporate donors, alumni and friends, whose generosity and support have made the PLUS program possible and continue to have such great success."

PLUS includes a retention program that provides peer mentoring, leadership opportunities and training, time management and study skills, tutoring and counseling services, and an opportunity for participants to enroll together in a series of classes throughout their freshman and sophomore years. The program has benefited 125 students since its inception in 2006. Of those students, 55 are first generation college students.

The Scholarship Provider of the Year award includes a $2,500 cash prize, recognition at the NSPA conference and on their Web site, a plaque and an invitation to present a session at next year's conference.

Auburn University awarded more than $33 million in scholarships for the 2009-2010 academic year. Sixty-five percent of all freshmen who enrolled and 27 percent of all enrolled students received scholarships, compared to last year's 56 percent and 23 percent, respectively. Overall scholarship amounts awarded by the university have increased by more than $18 million over the last four years.

Contact: Velda Rooker, (334) 844-7570 (rookelv@auburn.edu) or
Mike Clardy, (334) 844-9999 (clardch@auburn.edu)

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Auburn University’s Anderson awarded Rhodes Scholarship

10:35 AM, November 23, 2009

 

AUBURN - Since arriving at Auburn in 2006, Jordan Anderson has been training with NCAA and SEC champions, along with Olympic medalists, to become the best swimmer he could be and a contribute to Auburn's decorated swimming and diving program.

Upon his graduation in May, Anderson will study with some of the best and brightest in the country, as he was awarded one of 32 Rhodes Scholarships, becoming Auburn's first Rhodes Scholar since 1980.

"This is a huge honor, and goes without any kind of question that I'm extremely happy," Anderson said. "It is something I am very proud of. I would not have made it this far without the help of the Auburn education I've received and the great and influential people at this university that have helped me obtain this level of maturity."

The Rhodes Scholarship was created in 1902 at the request of Cecil Rhodes and is the oldest international fellowship.

It is given to students who possess high academic attainments, personal integrity and high-moral character, leadership and the ability to use one's talents to the fullest.

Anderson is the fourth Auburn University student to be named a Rhodes Scholar and the first in almost 30 years. He joins the ranks of Auburn's Hugh Long (1949), Ed Gentles (1975) and Susan Karamanian (1980) to be honored with the scholarship, and will do graduate work at the Oxford University in England.

"I am so happy for Jordan," head swimming and diving coach Brett Hawke said. "This is an amazing accomplishment, and I'm very proud to have him as the team captain and leader in the classroom and in the pool. He is a fantastic kid and is very deserving."

"Being named a Rhodes Scholar is an enormous honor for Jordan and a tremendous credit to Auburn University and our National Champion swimming and diving team," Athletic Director Jay Jacobs said. "Jordan is an accomplished scholar and a tremendous

competitor in the pool. He embodies all of the Rhodes Scholar criteria, including scholastic attainment, use of his athletic talents to the fullest, strong character and an instinct to lead. We are proud of Jordan for this incredible accomplishment."

Anderson enters his senior year as a returning All-American and a member of the 2009 NCAA Championship team. He is a two-time SEC runner-up in the 100 fly and was a finalist in the 100m fly at the 2009 U.S. Senior National Championships, finishing sixth.

The Roanoke, Va., native is also a College Swim Coaches Association of America Academic All-American and a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member. Anderson currently holds a 3.91 grade-point average and is majoring in pre-dentistry.

"We all felt that Jordan exemplified the ideal of the Rhodes Scholarship and was a worthy candidate," Associate Director for National Prestigious Scholarships at Auburn Paul Harris said.

Anderson began his application for the scholarship in late August with the aid of Harris. After being named a District Seven finalist, Anderson traveled to Birmingham on Friday to begin a two-day interview process with 12 other finalists from Tennessee, Alabama and Florida.

After a Friday night dinner and a 20-minute interview session on Saturday morning, Anderson and the other finalists played the waiting game for the decision.
"There were so many great and qualified candidates and to be in that company was a great honor," Anderson said. "When they announced my name, I was overwhelmed at first but then felt very honored and excited."

At Oxford, Anderson plans to enroll in a master's degree program in global health science, which is a program geared towards gaining an understanding of the health conditions in third-world countries.

With a combination of his education here at Auburn and at Oxford, Anderson hopes to pursue a life in medical mission work.

"The long-term goal is to give me a better understanding of the problems in countries that I want to one day work in," Anderson said. "With the help of a future dental degree, I'd like to develop medical solutions from a dental perspective."

For a complete listing of this year's Rhodes Scholarship recipients, click to http://www.rhodesscholar.org/press.

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Auburn University debuts new collegiate license plate design

7:46 AM, August 24, 2009

AUBURN - Auburn University has introduced a new design for its collegiate license plates to be available in late August or early September.

Proceeds from the sale of Auburn University license plates in Alabama go to the Auburn University "License to Learn" Scholarship Endowment Fund, a statewide program that raises funds for freshmen scholarships. Approximately $1.2 million in scholarships was awarded in 2008-09.

The state requires the collegiate license plate designs to be changed every five years. Auburn University's new design features the interlocking AU logo on the left side of the tag, an orange gradient at the bottom and a blue gradient at the top, with "Auburn" in orange at the top of the tag. The new design will allow for six characters; past designs have had space for only five. This will allow for additional personalization options.

Several new designs were considered, but in the end, Auburn alums voiced their opinions via a survey and one design in particular was overwhelmingly the favorite.

"I appreciate the university asking Auburn in-state alumni to participate in choosing the new tag design," said Debbie Shaw, vice president of alumni affairs. "Our alums love to show their support of Auburn and what better place than on the highways every day."

Auburn University collegiate license plates will be available at local county license offices in late August or early September. Since all counties will not receive the tags at the same time, those interested in purchasing the tags are encouraged to call first. Both numbered and personalized tags are available. The cost for either one is $50 above the normal tag cost of $24.25. Collegiate license plates may be purchased at any time, regardless of the individual's tag renewal month.

To search for or reserve a personalized tag message online, go to the Web site for the Alabama Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division, at www.alabamainteractive.org/dorpt/UserTagChoice.str beginning Sept. 1.

Auburn tags are also available in Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Mississippi and South Carolina. New Auburn University tags will be available this fall in North Carolina. Sales from the South Carolina and North Carolina tags also benefit scholarships.

For more information on Auburn's car tag program, go to www.auburn.edu/cartags, or call the Auburn University Alumni Affairs office at (334) 844-2586.

For a high resolution image of the new Auburn University car tag, go to http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/multimedia/cartag09.jpg.

Contact: Debbie Shaw, (334) 844-1134 (shawdeb@auburn.edu), or
Mike Clardy, (334) 844-9999 (clardch@auburn.edu)

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Last Updated: May 21, 2012