{"id":215799,"date":"2024-07-01T07:30:34","date_gmt":"2024-07-01T11:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=215799"},"modified":"2024-06-27T13:27:38","modified_gmt":"2024-06-27T17:27:38","slug":"neag-school-alumni-board-names-recipients-of-its-2024-scholarship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2024\/07\/neag-school-alumni-board-names-recipients-of-its-2024-scholarship\/","title":{"rendered":"Neag School Alumni Board Names Recipients of its 2024 Scholarship"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Congratulations to the recipients of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foundation.uconn.edu\/fund\/neag-alumni-board-endowed-scholarship\/\">Neag School of Education Alumni Board Scholarship<\/a> for 2024:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>John Burrell<\/strong> \u2013 a doctoral student in giftedness, creativity, and talent development;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Joshua Sukumar<\/strong> \u2013 a doctoral student in research methods, measurement, and evaluation; and<\/li>\n<li><strong>Damiao Zoe Xu<\/strong> \u2013 a doctoral student in learning, leadership and education policy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Alumni Board Scholarship provides a $1,500 annual award to students enrolled in a Neag School master\u2019s, doctorate, or sixth-year program who have proven academic excellence or demonstrated financial need.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Educator Manages ADHD, Excels with Neag Scholarship<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_215816\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-215816\" style=\"width: 214px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-215816 size-medium img-responsive lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_2889_Burrell_5x7-214x300.png\" alt=\"John Burrell\" width=\"214\" height=\"300\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_2889_Burrell_5x7-214x300.png 214w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_2889_Burrell_5x7-300x420.png 300w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_2889_Burrell_5x7.png 360w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 214px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 214\/300;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-215816\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u201cThe Neag School Alumni Board Scholarship will give me the financial freedom to work fewer hours, allowing me more time and energy for my research,\u201d says John Burrell.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">John Burrell, an educator for nearly ten years, recalls being in math class during high school and telling himself, \u201cYou need to focus if you are ever going to get this.\u201d He would take out his notebook, find an open page, and write the date.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cA pit formed in my stomach as I dreaded having to show my teacher my half-done homework,\u201d he recalls.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">When the class began, Burrell would copy what the teacher wrote on the board, but soon, the familiar experience of wondering how she got from step four to step five, realizing that he had zoned out, occurred. Instances like this punctuated his education career, and this past year, he was diagnosed with ADHD.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cOver my adult life, I have learned to adapt to my condition with time, checklists, and planners,\u201d he says. \u201cDespite challenges associated with ADHD, I have found academic success in my doctoral program, possessing a 4.0 GPA.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Before coming to UConn, Burrell worked with twice-exceptional students \u2013 those who are gifted and have a learning or developmental disability \u2013 and frequently encountered the work of Neag School experts Joe Renzulli, Sally Reis, and Del Siegle. At UConn, Burrell is currently working with the same faculty as a research assistant on <a href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2022\/10\/finding-gifted-learners-through-language-barriers\/\">Project EAGLE<\/a>, a $2.9 million project developing a dynamic approach to equitably identifying gifted English Learners.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">A doctoral student who is passionate about helping others like him, Burrell is seeking to study the efficacy of study skills instruction and will soon begin the dissertation portion of his program.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cThe Neag School Alumni Board Scholarship will give me the financial freedom to work fewer hours, allowing me more time and energy for my research,\u201d he says. \u201cThe Alumni Board\u2019s commendation is meaningful because of the wide impact of Neag alumni throughout Connecticut.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Ph.D. Student Selects Ethical Direction Over Financial Gains<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_215817\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-215817\" style=\"width: 214px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-215817 size-medium img-responsive lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Joshua-Sukumar-Headshot-2022_5x7-214x300.jpg\" alt=\"Joshua Sukumar\" width=\"214\" height=\"300\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Joshua-Sukumar-Headshot-2022_5x7-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Joshua-Sukumar-Headshot-2022_5x7-300x420.jpg 300w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Joshua-Sukumar-Headshot-2022_5x7.jpg 360w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 214px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 214\/300;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-215817\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u201cThis support means a lot. Knowing that people in my corner understand and support my journey is incredibly encouraging,&#8221; says Joshua Sukumar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">After obtaining a master\u2019s degree in applied statistics, Joshua Sukumar discovered the influence of data science in corporate settings, where financial gain overshadowed ethical considerations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Faced with a project that prioritized profit above all, Sukumar reached a pivotal moment. He needed to decide between pursuing data science for financial betterment or societal improvement. He chose the latter, aligning his career with his values.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sukumar became a statistics instructor and now, as a doctoral student and graduate assistant at the Neag School, he focuses on the intersection of data science, artificial intelligence, and education. He employs methodologically rooted data science, machine learning, and statistical techniques to enhance educational data.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cThis journey solidified my commitment to enhancing educational data analysis while highlighting the untapped potential of AI in education,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">When one of his previous funding sources dried up, he proactively responded by submitting dozens of internship applications while juggling multiple classes and research projects. Navigating the financial hurdles has left him undeterred.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cMy commitment transcends the challenges I encounter,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s driven by a deep-seated desire to lay a foundation for the success of future generations while ensuring that advancements in education are accessible and beneficial to everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cThis scholarship will allow me to focus more on my coursework and research as it alleviates significant financial burden,\u201d he says. \u201cThis support means a lot. Knowing that people in my corner understand and support my journey is incredibly encouraging.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>International Doctoral Student Overcomes Challenges <\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_215818\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-215818\" style=\"width: 214px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-215818 size-medium img-responsive lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Zoe_XU_5x7-214x300.png\" alt=\"Zoe Xu\" width=\"214\" height=\"300\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Zoe_XU_5x7-214x300.png 214w, https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Zoe_XU_5x7.png 225w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 214px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 214\/300;\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-215818\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u201cI am deeply grateful for this recognition from the Alumni Board, which acknowledges my academic progress and personal growth over the years,\u201d says Damiao Zoe Xu.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Resigning from her full-time job as an online learning specialist and relocating to the U.S. to join her husband, who was pursuing his doctorate, Damiao Zoe Xu marked a new chapter in her journey as a lifelong learner by enrolling as a doctoral student at the Neag School.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Despite financial challenges, including being an international student, paying out-of-state tuition, and being a new mother, she remained steadfast in pursuing her doctorate in adult learning.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cLifelong learning should be accessible and manageable to all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances,\u201d Xu says.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Embracing this belief, she has dedicated her dissertation to supporting online adult students in higher education, ensuring their success in pursuing further learning.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Xu envisions a future career dedicated to optimizing online learning for a diverse student population.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">Xu currently works as a graduate assistant for UConn\u2019s Center for Career Development, where she organizes and manages career-related programs for graduate students. In that role, she has developed online learning modules and writes blog posts featuring doctoral students.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cReceiving the Neag School Alumni Board Scholarship is profoundly meaningful to me,\u201d she says. \u201cIt means a validation of the journey and challenges I&#8217;ve faced &#8211; not only for myself as a mid-age minority graduate student and a mother who has left her home country and career to pursue graduate studies but also for others who share similar paths.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cI am deeply grateful for this recognition from the Alumni Board, which acknowledges my academic progress and personal growth over the years,\u201d Xu says.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\"><em>Alumni Board Scholarship recipients<\/em>\u00a0<em>John Burrell, Joshua Sukumar, and Damiao Zoe Xu will be formally recognized at the 2025 Neag School Alumni Awards Celebration, taking place in spring 2025. For more information about supporting Neag School students, visit <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foundation.uconn.edu\/fund\/neag-alumni-board-endowed-scholarship\/\"><em>s.uconn.edu\/neaggiving<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Graduate students\u00a0John Burrell, Joshua Sukumar, and Damiao Zoe Xu are recipients of the fund, which was created as a way to invest in future generations of Neag School students<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":123196,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[147,2426,2427,2428,2424,1855],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[1879],"class_list":["post-215799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-curriculum-instruction","category-educational-leadership","category-educational-psychology","category-neag-community-engagement","category-neag"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-07 06:31:08","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=215799"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215799\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":215830,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215799\/revisions\/215830"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/123196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=215799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=215799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=215799"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=215799"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=215799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}