The UB Alumni Association (UBAA) is awarding $7,500 in scholarships to six students in recognition of their involvement with on-campus activities and leadership.
Nathanael Carbrey, Grace Mukupa, Jovin Panthapattu, Jennifer Trapani, Caitlin Curry, and Lisa Kulka will receive the honors at a dinner reception on Friday in the Center for Tomorrow.
The J. Scott Fleming scholarship was established in 1985 for undergraduate and graduate students who, through their extracurricular and volunteer activities, help to improve student life. It will be awarded to Carbrey, Mukupa, Panthapattu, and Trapani. Curry will receive the Willie R. Evans UB Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship, and Kulka will be awarded the Alumnae Scholarship.
"[These students] show a level of engagement and pride in the university that we hope leads to future involvement in the university," said Tim Lafferty, president of UBAA.
Nathanael Carbrey
Carbrey is pursuing a combined bachelor's and master's degree in accounting. In 2011, as the president of the Beta Alpha Psi – an international organization for accounting and finance students – he oversaw the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which brought over $1 million in refunds back to the Buffalo community.
Carbrey's program returns this year – in February, March, and April, those making under $50,000 per year can get their taxes done for free courtesy of Carbrey, Beta Alpha Psi, the UB Accounting Association, and the School of Management. (See The Spectrum's Jan. 17 article on this subject for more details about the free service.)
He also co-founded UB for Christ, an organization for students who "love Jesus and enjoy reading the Bible," according to the group's website.
"Activism and leadership help distinguish UB as a university," Carbrey said.
Grace Mukupa
Mukupa, a Ph.D. candidate in the global gender studies program, is president of the Graduate Student Association. She teaches an undergraduate course on gender issues in Africa.
In December, she traveled to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and presented at the 16th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa. Mukupa has also served as a representative to the United Nations' Economic and Social Council. (See The Spectrum's Jan. 21 article for a comprehensive look at Mukupa's impressive story.)
Jovin Panthapattu
Panthapattu is a junior pursuing a career in pharmacy. He is a resident advisor to freshmen, a research assistant in a pharmacology and toxicology lab, the Habitat for Humanity coordinator for Circle K, and a contributor to the Center for Student Engagement and Community Leadership. As one student at a large university, Panthapattu said he has been motivated to get involved in activities as a way to "build intricate networks and small families."
Jennifer Trapani
Trapani is a junior majoring in biological science. She is engaged in undergraduate research related to the Great Lakes communities. As a member of the Undergraduate Academies Living and Learning Community, she is involved in a range of activities including serving as a floor leader, peer mentor, and teaching assistant.
Caitlin Curry
Curry is the recipient of the $2,500 Willie R. Evans UB Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded annually to children or grandchildren of UB alumni who contribute to the growth and enrichment of UB.
Curry is a junior pursuing a bachelor's degree in business administration and a minor in Spanish. She is a student-athlete; she is a member of the cross-country and track and field teams, and she serves as a member of the executive board of the UB student-athlete advisory committee. Curry calls her father, a 1979 graduate of the School of Management, a "true blue parent" who still actively supports her and the university.
Lisa Kulka
Kulka will receive the recently reintroduced and female-designated Alumnae Scholarship. Kulka is a senior studying English and English-as-a-second language education. She serves as an interpreter-translator and academic tutor at Upgrade Academies, Inc., and she also tutors for UB athletic academy services. She has studied abroad in Spain.
The scholarship dinner will be held on Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the Center for Tomorrow.
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