Blue Jay Buffet

Blue Jay on The Hill

Name: Emily Ethridge

Class: Class of 2006 Graduate

Hometown: Charlotte, NC

Current Residence: Washington, DC

Major: Writing Seminars

***************************************************************************************************************************************

Winter is here and every night lots of fancy, well-dressed people get out on the streets of D.C. on their way to what must be fabulous parties. I’m s till waiting for my gala invitations, but I’ve got lots of other things to keep me busy. For example, my office holiday party (there was a karaoke machine).

After graduating from JHU I began working as a reporter that covers the health care industry. I write for the daily publication, as well as being in charge of a weekly publication that covers Congress.

At Hopkins I majored in Writing Seminars, and I love that now I get to write professionally! All my Writing Sems classes not only developed my skills, but helped me so much with learning how to edit and be edited. It’s not up to just your professor to review your work and grade you – all your classmates read, analyze, and comment on your stories. Then you get to write another draft! In the reporting world, it’s a similar situation. I’m not finished once I turn in a story at deadline – the process of calling sources, doing my research, editing and proofreading has just begun. Although I’m working on much tighter deadlines now than I did at school…

I couldn’t have asked for a better preparation for writing professionally than the Writing Seminars department, and the liberal arts education I got at Hopkins helped a lot too. One of the reasons I chose Hopkins was the lack of a core curriculum. Being able to pursue my interests and having the freedom to explore things I wasn’t familiar with enriched my four years at school. And that prepared me to jump into an industry I didn’t know. I had no experience with health care or policy making before I took my reporting job, but Hopkins taught me how to learn quickly and dive in to untried terrains.

I love covering Congress, though. At JHU I was involved with the student-run theater group the Barnstormers, and served as their president senior year. So I have to admit: I love drama. And Congress is all about drama. There is something behind every move a Congressman makes, and I always want to get in there and find out what it is. Research comes in handy here – another skill I developed at Hopkins! When I’m spending hours pouring through long bills and the Congressional record, I always think of all the time I spent tracking information down in MSE, the Hopkins library.

Most of the lawmakers don’t remember my name yet, but Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) once told me I was a “glutton for punishment” for following him on his 15-hour day, so that’s a start.

It’s not all work and running after elected officials down marble hallways in high heels, though. Many JHU graduates, including some Barnstormers, are down here in the District. And I’m happy to report they all remember how to strike that perfect balance between work and play, although now it’s easier because we don’t have homework to deal with.

I also incorporated some volunteering into my routine. At Hopkins I admired how many student groups were set up to help out in the Baltimore community, from tutoring children after school to cleaning up nearby parks. I did most of my volunteering through my sorority, Alpha Phi, which helped me fit it in with all my other activities, and gave me the motivation to continue volunteering on my own.

Here in D.C. I volunteer at the Washington Animal Rescue League, which cares for animals until they are adopted and provides low-cost care to pets of low-income families. So basically I get to play with dogs and cats to socialize them so they will be adopted…not a bad deal!

The other best thing about D.C. is that it’s close enough to Baltimore to come up for young alumni events and see some of the Barnstormers shows. I hope when y’all get to see Hopkins you find as many things to love there as I did. Please feel free to get in touch (use the comments section below) if you’d like to talk more about JHU or anything else. I would love to hear from you!

Scanning the Recent JHU Magazines

Happy Holidays everyone. One of the great ways to learn about Johns Hopkins is to read our various University magazines. There is the Johns Hopkins Magazine which is the university's alumni magazine, the Arts and Sciences Magazine which is the publication for the Krieger School, and the Johns Hopkins Engineering Magazine which is the publication for the Whiting School. We at the Blue Jay Buffet have perused all three of the recent editions of these magazines and selected some of the top, most interesting stories to share with you. Enjoy!

ONE THING IN COMMON - The Johns Hopkins Magazine

Click here

A collection of student profiles featuring 12 new students who began their Hopkins experience this fall. The article is a distinct look at how diverse the student population is between all the divisions that make up Johns Hopkins University. From first year freshmen students to masters students, nursing and medical students, the collection of profiles represents a University with many different parts but certain qualities in common too.

JOBS BECKON NEW GRADUATES - The Johns Hopkins Magazine

Click here

The "Wholly Hopkins" section of the Johns Hopkins Magazine which features short notes on stories around all of the Hopkins universe, discusses how more and more Hopkins undergraduates are looking the job market post-graduation rather than graduate school. The story details some new trends that were discovered by the most recent Johns Hopkins Career Center survey.

DR. FOOTBALL - The Johns Hopkins Magazine

Click here

A fantastic feature on Coach Jim Margraff, the most victorious coach in Johns Hopkins football history. A 1982 Hopkins graduate, Coach Margraff returned in 1990 to become head coach of Hopkins Division III football squad. An excerpt:

When Margraff returned to Homewood in 1990 to take over as head coach, Hopkins had never won a Centennial Conference football title, had never qualified for the NCAA Division III championship tournament, had not had a winning season in five years, and had won only two of its last 20 games. In the 17 years Margraff has been in charge, the Jays have recorded 12 winning seasons, four Centennial Conference titles, and three post-season East Coast Athletic Conference championships. In 2005, Hopkins earned its first trip to the NCAA tournament. And Margraff has not won by recruiting one-dimensional athletes for whom classes are merely a distraction from the gridiron. In its history, Hopkins football has produced 10 academic all-Americans; Margraff has coached eight of them, as well as five of the program's seven recipients of NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships. In 1997, the university recognized his contributions as a player by inducting him into the Johns Hopkins Athletics Hall of Fame.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS - The Johns Hopkins Engineering Magazine

Click here

An behind-the-scences feature of the final few days in the Admissions Office this past spring before the release of Regular Decision notifications. Follow along as the Admissions staff makes final decisions, discusses in committee the last remaining applications, and the process behind releasing 14,000+ decisions. The process is known as March Madness, and after reading this article you will know why.

OBJECTS OF ADMIRATION - The Johns Hopkins Engineering Magazine

Click here

Engineers love their objects. This article features 8 members of the Whiting School of Engineering, including students, faculty members, and even the Dean, sharing their thoughts on their favorite engineered object. Click here for even more contributions to the best engineered objects discussion.

DEFINING WORKS - Arts and Sciences Magazine

Click here

A special collection of stories that feature the great works of four of Hopkins greatest faculty members: Lou Galambos, Alan Shapiro, Frances Ferguson, and John Irwin. "They each recount the intellectual, emotional, and professional challenges they confronted while completing the project that's been most important to their careers. What were the defining personal moments behind their defining academic works?"

GILMAN HALL - THE RENOVATION BEGINS - Arts and Sciences Magazine

Click here

One of the most exciting pieces of news to come out of the Kriegers school in the last decade has been the decision to renovate Gilman Hall into a truly state-of-the-art Humanities Center. This news items discuss the initial stages of the project which commenced this fall semester. It also provides and array of links for those who want even more details on this fantastic project (see the right column titled Related Links).

GRANTING THE ARTS MORE PROMINENCE - Arts and Sciences Magazine

Click here

The strengthening of the Arts at Hopkins continues with the awarding of the first round of Arts Innovation Grants this past spring. Two of the winners were Kriegers School groups who will use the $2000 arts grants to create a new general-interest arts journal and expanded dance class offerings for the full Homewood campus.

STUDENT RESEARCH FROM THE FIELD - Arts and Sciences Magazine

Click here

This special feature discusses the projects being worked on by a number of current Woodrow Wilson Research fellows. As explained in the article, "The Woodrow Wilson Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program awards grants of up to $10,000 to incoming freshmen and up to $7,500 to rising sophomores for original, independent research projects in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. Students use grants to pay for equipment, travel, or other research expenses."

Engineering News Briefs: November and December 2007

Issue of Time Magazine Features JHU Chapter of Engineers Without Borders

Johns Hopkins University's Chapter of Engineers without Borders was featured in a Time Magazine article in their December 10th issue. Here is the direct quote from Time:

At Johns Hopkins University, for example, engineering professor William Ball says more than half of his department's students have signed up with the school's EWB chapter, which is engaged in long-term work to improve irrigation in rural South Africa. "I know for a fact that many students come here because we talk about this sort of work," says Ball. "And that's the kind of student we want to attract."

Click here to read the full article, and learn more about Professor William Ball by clicking here.

Freshmen Mechanical Engineering Students Compete in “Flippy Car” Contest

On December 10, the annual Mechanical Engineering Freshman Design Competition was held. This year’s project? The students had to design a "Flippy Car.” A twist on the usual mouse-trap car: the vehicle had to travel 10 feet, flip over, and then travel another 10 feet, using only the energy stored in rubber bands and mousetraps. Thirteen teams of students, who had worked on their cars for over a month, competed in a single-elimination tournament. Click here to check-out the full details about the Fall 2007 Mechanical Engineering Design Team Project. Click here for even more on MechE Design Projects.

Engineering Student Video Competition Launched!

The first ever Engineering School Student Video Competition launched in  December. Students must submit 2-3 minute videos on the topics:

1. “It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time”
2. “A Day in the Life”
3. A New Discovery
4. “How it Works”

Cash prizes will be awarded to the best videos in early March and a selection of the videos will be made available on the Engineering School website and on YouTube. Prospective students should check back to see what our creative students come up with. Click here to read the full details of the contest.

Mechanical Engineering Professor Featured in Science Magazine

Professor Greg Chirikijian was recently featured in Science Magazine's story "Making Machines That Others of Their Kind." The article discusses the professor's work developing simple robots that can make others like themselves out of a few relatively complex parts. Click here to read the full article and click here to view Professor Chirikijian's faculty profile.

November at Hopkins

November meant the first hints of holiday spirit, and a full calendar of openings and student-run events. And the highlights, in no particular order…:

Study Abroad Gets a Makeover
Hopkins created the Office of Study Abroad this past summer to help out the hundreds of undergraduates that choose to temporarily trade in the Homewood campus for foreign excursions. In November, the Office welcomed Lori Citti as its first official director. Citti will oversee all study abroad programs for the School of Arts and Sciences, and the University is excited to see what she has planned. Meet Lori, and read more about the new and improved study abroad programs by clicking here.

Change to Change the World
On November 1, the student-run group Engineers Without Borders unveiled their plan to build a nursery in Ecuador. They asked local businesses in Charles Village to keep collection jars by their cash registers, so students and members of the community can contribute to the effort. EWB also decided to add a little friendly competition to the mix: the class that donates the greatest amount of change to these collection jars will be entered into drawings for gift certificates to Chipotle and Coldstone’s Creamery. Read more about the various projects of Engineers Without Borders by clicking here.

Fall Sports Wrap-Up
The Blue Jays wrapped up their fall seasons in November, with a great many fans cheering them on. The men’s soccer team ended their season at a proud 18-4-0, finishing just on win shy of the school record. Women’s soccer closed at 14-5-2, which included an impressive nine game winning streak. Women's cross country closed their finest season in school history with a 29th-place finish at the 2007 NCAA Championships, and men’s cross country wrapped up with an 86th-place finish. The men’s waterpolo team placed seventh at Eastern Championships. In field hockey, juniors Leah Horton and Adair Landy were named Second Team All-Americans by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association – this, too, was a first in Blue Jay history. The women’s volleyball team ended their season at an impressive 25-6, the third most wins in school history. Read more about all the teams by clicking here.

Sculpture, Prints, and Paintings: Oh My!
Student curators took initiative with exhibits this month. On November 5, seniors Gillian Maguire and Whitney Shaffer unveiled their exhibit titled “Renaissance Men: Classical Form in Art and Anatomy” at the Eisenhower Library. On November 14, undergraduates in the department of Museums and Society opened their show “Printed Sculpture/Sculpted Prints” at the BMA. Both exhibits are free and open to the public. Read more about them by clicking here.

Where Finance Meets Economics, There is…!
A new center! Hopkins welcomed the opening of the new Center for Financial Economics, an exciting and comprehensive new program that will eventually offer an undergraduate major and minor and train graduate students in financial economics. The center aims to demonstrate how the two facets of the economy are integrated. Learn more about the new program by clicking here.

Culture, Theater, and Comedy
So many different performances hit the stages this month, it was hard for students to pick just one to attend at a time! The Johns Hopkins University Theatre opened their production of Twelfth Night on November 9 to a full and admirable audience. The Barnstormers presented their comedic and original “Six Degrees of Separation.” On November 17, the Entertainer’s Club hosted a majestic night of juggling, fire spinning, unicycling, and other awe-inspiring talents. Perhaps the most well-attended of all performances was the CultureShow, an incredible collaboration of 20 of JHU’s finest performers from nearly every area of entertainment expertise.