Author: Kelly Wiese Niemeyer

Student Anastasia Sorokina lived in Japan as a small child and always wanted to return. Next year, she’ll get the chance, after being awarded a Boren scholarship. Sorokina just completed her sophomore year at Washington University in St. Louis, where she is double-majoring in comparative arts and international studies, both in Arts & Sciences. Boren scholarships allow U.S. students to study abroad in parts of the world critical to U.S. interests.

An internship program to encourage people of diverse backgrounds to work in technology was a success, and now leaders are working to carry it forward. Denise Hirschbeck, assistant vice chancellor of Information Services & Technology, said her department’s internship program showed that people without a previous background in technology could succeed if given the chance and appropriate training.

Where a child lives makes a difference in how demographics and other factors influence algebra performance, and policies should take into account local variation, research from Washington University in St. Louis suggests. Here, a map illustrates the relationship between the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches and Algebra I scores in Missouri school districts.

The annual Staff Day offered WUSTL employees a chance to relax and play outside. Here, Ryan Risley competes in the washers tournament. Visit the WUSTL Flickr site to see many more employee photos. Also, this year’s Gloria W. White Distinguished Service Award winner was Harvey Fields, PhD. Fields was honored for his dedication to supporting students at Cornerstone, the Center for Advanced Learning.

The following people have been recognized for 10 years of service to Washington University in St. Louis: Dale A. Abernathie, Fadila Becic, Donna L. Bequette, Mary E. Blalock, Hubert D. Brandon, Wesley Allen Brooks, Phillip James Campbell, Bradley J. Castanho, Michael C. Chapin, Samuel S. Chun, Catherine Compton, Carol Anne Cox, Ellis Ben Cox, Rebecca […]

As President Obama gives a speech on national security — including defending U.S. use of drones to combat terrorism — Leila Sadat, JD, international law expert and professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis, argues that such targeted killing by unmanned planes may violate international humanitarian law. Legalities aside, she also questions whether it promotes U.S. interests abroad.

This morning, more than 2,700 degree candidates will gather in Brookings Quadrangle for the 152nd Commencement ceremony, surrounded by family and friends, to celebrate and remember before embarking on the next part of their journey. Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory A. Booker will deliver the commencement address.

Cory A. Booker, the mayor of Newark, N.J., told the more than 2,700 WUSTL graduates to focus on being “first class” in character, to never give up and to focus on performing small acts of kindness. Booker spoke at the university’s 152nd Commencement celebration.

The Class of 2013 has left its mark on Washington University in St. Louis, and now the graduates are preparing to step out and make an impression in the larger world. They are scholars and athletes, inventors and entrepreneurs. They have trained not only to succeed professionally, but to make a difference in their communities.

Two WUSTL graduate students are competing in a National Science Foundation essay contest, the Innovation in Graduate Education Challenge. They propose a new course to teach graduate students how to communicate their work to the general public. Vote for their idea online now through May 29.