Thank you to our first-ever Bryan Liaisons, Michael Eger (Bryan resident 2003-2004), Amie Stepanovich (Bryan resident 2003-2004), Rachel Brown, Sarah Ness, Thomas Lee, Jeff Phillips, and Laura Diss, for a successful pilot year. Thank you for your contributions to the planning meetings and discussions, and for your energy and enthusiasm for our in-house events and activities.

Several Bryan residents have shown an active interest in pursuing their Curiosity and the Desire to Learn this year, and we would like to recognize them here:
Audris Solomon, for her active participation in non-required aspects of the Bryan experience, such as Book Club readings and discussions and additional selections from our Book-Go-Round; Jaclyn Blackwell, for accumulating several Bryan “points” for participation in non-required events and activities, such as attending our faculty and student mixer, and viewing the documentary, The Farm: Life in Angola Prison (and then visiting a real prison with the Bryan group in the Fall); Mark Britcher, for attendance at non-required events, such as Love And Death and the Farenheit 911 screening/discussion; Ashley Deetz, for active participation, such as attending The Farm: Life in Angola Prison; Suhrim Fisher, for attending events such as The Farm: Life in Angola Prison and our book-signing reception with Professor Max Friedman; Christina Hall, for attending events such as Popcorn and Professor’s Love and Death and The Farm: Life in Angola Prison; Kelly Hauck, for attending Popcorn and Professor screenings, including Love and Death, Inherit the Wind, and Amélie; Marshall Kraft, for attending events such as our Faculty/Student mixer and the Nazis and Good Neighbors book-signing with Professor Max Friedman; Jennifer Mojica, for attending events such as the Faculty and Student mixer and the screening of The Farm: Life in Angola Prison; and Robin Turansky for attending events such as the Faculty and Student mixer and The Farm: Life in Angola Prison.
We have likely left off many residents who have actively contributed to both the “learning” and “community” aspects of life in Bryan, basing this list only on our available observations. If you know someone who deserves recognition (now or in the future), please let us know!

 

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Several other students stood out for achievements in academic excellence, commitment to community success, leadership, or active involvement in the pursuit of knowledge. For their efforts, we recognize them with the 2004-2005 “Bryan’s Best” Award:

Nikki Murray, for fostering a real sense of community by playing guitar and singing at our Welcome Week Open Mic and participating in not only a Bryan mentorship, but also a handful of non-required in-house events, such as our Popcorn and Professor presentation of Inherit the Wind and the documentary, The Farm: Life in Angola Prison.

Kristen Norton, for contributing thoughtful comments to our first Book Club discussion of The Princess Bride and for attending Bryan events such as Popcorn and Professor’s Love and Death, the Nazis and Good Neighbors book-signing reception, and The Farm: Life in Angola Prison, as well as FSU Theatre’s production of Metamorphoses.

Thomas Lee, for his rich contributions to Liaisons conversations, especially his comments on student perspectives at FSUnited’s roundtable, as well as efforts at planning and participating in Bryan’s in-house events. Dr. Laura Bedard, Thomas’s Bryan mentor commented, “Thomas selected a very difficult reading to study and present to the group. He was not at all intimidated by the reading and did an excellent job presenting it. He should be encouraged to go to graduate school!”

Jennifer Shacklock, for being one of the “consistently best” students in Dr. David McNaughton’s class, from making excellent contributions to discussions about ethical theory and practical issues to leading student presentations. She stood out for her attendance, performance on assignments, and commitment, earning top exam grades and scoring “perfect marks” on weekly comments.

Jamie Hart, one of Dr. David McNaughton’s “consistently best” students, having made excellent discussion contributions (ethical theory and practical issues), as well as for leading student presentations, but mainly for her commitment, attendance, and performance on assignments, regularly scoring “perfect marks” on weekly comments and earning high exam grades, including a perfect score on the essay. Jamie has also stood out as an active participant in Bryan, attending events such as FSU Theatre’s production of Metamorphoses with the Bryan group.

David Kuhn, for his excellent contributions to discussion in Dr. McNaughton’s class, as well as for engaging discussions among residents and faculty, such as at the Nazis and Good Neighbors book-signing reception with Professor Max Friedman, as well as his sense of community, demonstrated through guitar playing and singing at our Welcome Week Open Mic.

Michael Spilios, for his active participation in the Bryan Hall Learning Community. Consistently present at Bryan events, such as Warehouse Come to Bryan (poetry reading) and our faculty and student mixer. His rich contributions to the discussion about the documentary, Born into Brothels, further demonstrate Michael’s dedication to learning.

Ryan Gil, for active participation in non-required events, such as Popcorn and Professor screenings, our Warehouse Comes to Bryan (poetry reading) event, a book-signing reception with Professor Max Friedman, and the Fall Bryan prison visit. Ryan has consistently demonstrated a sense of Curiosity and the Desire to Learn.

John Rogers, for his commitment to active participation in the Learning Community, from creating a game show for Welcome Week’s Open Mic Night to attending screenings, such as our Popcorn and Professor showing of Love and Death and the documentary The Farm: Life in Angola Prison, to participating in field trips such as the Fall prison trip.

Andrew Mauldin, for his dedication to Curiosity and the Desire to Learn, evident in his independent explorations of Tallahassee’s museums, as well as his participation in in-house events and extra efforts toward earning non-required Bryan “points,” such as writing a response to the film, Rosenstrasse and attending FSU Theatre’s Metamorphoses and a bilingual production of Romeo and Juliet. Andrew especially receives this award for his “outstanding contribution to discussion” in Dr. Grant’s World History class.

Jeff Phillips, for his dedicated efforts as a Bryan Liaison, including efforts at coordinating theatre outings, participation in event planning and conversations about student interests, leading student discussions about the political process during the 2004 Presidential election, and for leading events such as an outing to see Michael Moore’s Farenheit 911, with discussion to follow. Jeff also participated in the Bryan Book Club’s “Book Go Round,” this Spring, reading A People’s History of the United States for the sheer sake of satisfying his Curiosity and the Desire to Learn.

Lory Conte, for outstanding work in her Bryan courses. Dr.Moore, Bryan Hall director 2000-'004 and currently Coordinating Director, University Learning Communities noted: “The group of people receiving the "Bryan's Best" recognition would be incomplete if it didn't include LORY CONTE. In the in-house course I'm teaching this semester on African American literature, she has stood out as one of the brightest members of the class, which is saying a lot -- AND she has consistently impressed me, in the ‘Which Did You Like Better, the Book or the Movie?’ mentorship, as one of Bryan's Best. Thank you, Lory.”

Lee Greco, Bryan Hall Student Government President, for leadership in her student government role, as well as active participation in the Learning Community. Miguel Hernandez, Bryan’s Residence Coordinator, commented: "Lee has taken her position and used it to motivate other leaders within Bryan and Broward Hall to action. When problems arise in the buildings, she encourages students to attend hall government meetings and voice their concerns. She has also worked very hard in terms of providing social activities while maintaining the academic focus of the building. For example, she led coordinating efforts for the Eastside Prom as a means for encouraging students to network between learning communities. She also helped to orchestrate a reception honoring students on the dean’s list." Lee exhibits a true commitment to participation, attending events such as the screening of the prison documentary, The Farm: Life in Angola Prison and the Popcorn and Professor screening of Woody Allen’s Love and Death, as well as our guest poetry reading, Warehouse Comes to Bryan. She receives this award especially for her “scholarly leadership” in Dr. Grant’s World History class.
Congratulations to Lee for her nomination for sponsorship in the LeaderShape experience this May!

Bryan’s 2004-2005 “Best of the Best” Award:
Laura Diss received several nominations for a Bryan’s Best Award, standing out even among “Bryan’s Best.” One such nomination came from Dr. Dennis Moore, Bryan Hall director 2000-'004 and currently Coordinating Director, University Learning Communities, who noted: “Laura Diss has stood out this year as personifying those qualities we so often talk about in relation to Bryan Hall: curiosity and the desire to learn. I feel fortunate to have led the mentoring group this spring that included Laura, and without a moment's hesitation I nominate her for one of this year's Bryan's Best Awards. Thank you, Laura.”
Another in-house professor, Dr. David Johnson, noted: “Laura should be recognized for her insightful contributions to class discussions and her wonderfully written papers. Naturally inquisitive, a gifted student, a great presence in class.”
All year, Laura has indeed demonstrated the qualities that we seek in Bryan residents. From her faithful attendance to non-required in-house events, such as Welcome Week Open Mic Night and Book Club gatherings, to active participation as a Bryan Liaison, including an instrumental role in generating interest in events such as our Warehouse Comes to Bryan poetry reading, Laura has shown consistent dedication to a successful learning community. Laura was among a select group of Bryan residents who helped represent our Learning Community during a Clemson visit, and she was also nominated as a President’s Retreat participant in the Fall.
Congratulations, Laura, for receiving Thank you, Laura, for representing Bryan so well!

And thank you to Miguel Hernandez, for outstanding work as a Residence Coordinator. His efforts to coordinate the residence life component of the Bryan experience with the program goals of creating a true Learning Community have made for a successful year, and his new ideas and plans for next year continue to demonstrate his dedication and commitment.