In a variety of academic programs and in a variety of ways, Bloomsburg University students distinguish themselves and launch futures that have the potential for success. These are a few who have been recognized in the 07-08 school year on the BU website as rising stars.

Aleksandra Fedunchak
Aleksandra Fedunchak, a junior Anthropology and Communications Study dual major from Orangeville and a graduate of Central Columbia High School, was recently awarded the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties scholarship. She bested the field in all fourteen state universities for the single scholarship award and plans to enroll in graduate studies for applied or medical anthropology. Criteria included grade point average, an essay, and recipients must be a child of a current APSCUF member. She chose BU because of its proximity to home and for its reputation in anthropology.

Jessica Fiedor
Jessica Fiedor, a senior Anthropology major from Bloomsburg and graduate of Central Columbia High School, received invited status from the National Association of Student Anthropologists for a research poster on "Geek Culture" to be presented at the 106th American Anthropological Association annual meeting in Washington, D.C., in late November. Additionally, she was invited to serve as chair of the session. Originally a film major at Rochester Institute of Technology, she changed to Anthropology and transferred to Bloomsburg on the strength of BU's reputation.

Judy Steinhilper
Judy Steinhilper, a senior Anthropology major from Williamsport and graduate of Bishop Neumann High School, received invited status from the National Association of Student Anthropologists for a research poster on the "Phenomenon of Christian Rock" to be presented at the 106th American Anthropological Association annual meeting in Washington, D.C., in late November. The reseach was conducted in Dr. Faith Warner's ethnographic methods class. She also recently returned from a summer as excavation site supervisor at the 7,000-year-old Tel Mendes site in Egypt in conjunction with The Pennsylvania State University. Named as the top junior anthropology major in the United States, she chose BU because of its proximity to home and its academic reputation, and plans on graduate study in palethoethnobotany or middle eastern studies.

Adrienne S. Mael
a senior anthropology major from Bloomsburg and graduate of Bloomsburg Area High School, will present "The Globalization of Divorce" at the 106th Anthropological Association annual meeting in Washington, D.C. A recipient of the Kozloff Award for Undergraduate Research, she transferred from Delaware Valley College to BU because of the strength of the anthropology program. Her research examines student attitudes toward marriage and family and was under the direction of Dr. Faith Warner. Co-president of the Anthropology Club, she plans a career in international development in Africa with a non-government organization or the Peace Corps.

Julianne Funk, a junior anthropology major and art history minor from Southampton and graduate of William Tenent High School, recently presented "Jacques Louis David and the Art of Propaganda" to the 11th annual Student Symposium in the History of Art. Her research investigated paintings from just before and during the French Revolution and their impact on the political events of the period. She chose Bloomsburg because it was "close enough to home but far enough away for me to be on my own," and says that while she plans to attend graduate school for a career in museum work, she enjoyed the opportunity to supplement her studies with her interest in art history.

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