UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, August 16, 1995
9A
Sisters Irene Aga, sophomore, and Jessica Aga, junior, both of Overland Park, received scholarships from the American Chemical Society. The two are pursuing chemical engineering degrees at KU.
Edmee Rodriguez /
KANSAN
Sisters with 'chemical bond' win minority scholarships
By LaTina Sullivan Kansan staff writer
Sisters Jessica and Irene Aga have a lot in common.
But what makes the Overland Park sisters unusual is that they are both chemical engineering majors with outstanding grade-point averages.
For their efforts, Jessica, junior, and Irene, sophomore, were among 201 African-American, Hispanic, and Native-American students nationwide who will receive more than $600,000 in scholarships from the American Chemical Society this year.
The sisters, who are 18 months apart, entered the chemical engineering program at the same time.
However, Jessica and Irene Aga had different reasons for choosing chemical engineering as their majors.
"I thought that there were better job opportunities in chemical engineering," said Irene Aga. "I also felt that chemical engineering was a good foundation for anything medically related."
Jessica said she chose chemical engineering because it was an applied science and not a soft science. She also liked the friendships that evolved.
"I like the camaraderie among the students," Jessica Aga said. "We take classes and struggle together and become friends."
Whatever Jessica's and Irene's reasons were, many at the School of Engineering said the sisters had made the right choice.
"Jessica and Irene have what it takes to make it in the field of chemical engineering," said Florence Boldridge, director of minority engineering programs. "Our program just nurtures them."
Marylee Southard, associate professor of chemical and petroleum engineering, said that she had no question that Jessica and Irene would succeed.
"They are fun and neat people to work with," Southard said. "They will shine."
And even though the sisters have the same major and some of the same courses, they say that there is no competition between them.
"We don't compete," Jessica Aga said. "We help each other. We feel good when one of us succeeds and bad when one of us fails."
The two participate in karate — Jessica has a purple belt and Irene a blue belt — and enjoy music — Jessica plays the clarinet and Irene plays the piano.
Chemical engineering isn't the only bond that ties the sisters.
The sisters are active in the Society of Women Engineers, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.
Young's legacy: vision, integrity
By Novelda Sommers Kansan staff writer
J. Michael Young will not be replaced anytime soon.
Young, who died of cancer in June, was a professor of philosophy, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and director of the College Honors Program.
The search for a new director will be on hold for at least a year, said Sally Frost-Mason, acting dean of the college.
"I felt that this was a decision the new dean should help make," Frost-Mason said.
Frost-Mason said she wanted to wait until a permanent replacement was hired this fall for James Muyskens, former dean of the college.
Frost-Mason appointed Jim
Carothers, associate dean of the college, as acting director of the College Honors Program.
J. Michael Young
"I think he will do a good job to get us through the year," Frost-Mason said.
Students and colleagues say Young set a high standard
of academic integrity.
"He loved the intellectual process," said Mary Klayder, assistant director of the honors program. "There was this belief in 'Let's connect. What are the possibilities?'*
Klayer said Young's vision for the program came from his awareness of individual students.
"We are keeping in mind the values he established," she said. "His interaction, his beliefs, his ideas — that's the legacy."
Chris Reedy, Topeka senior in the honors program, said students revered Young for his interest in their ambitions.
"Everything was about thinking for yourself and getting students to think about their capabilities and possibilities," Reedy said.
Muyskens said the next couple of years would be a time of transition for the honors program with the hiring of a new director.
"Michael Young is not replaceable," he said. "He was a person of such academic integrity. He cared so much about honors students."
A memorial service will be held for Young at 3 p.m. Aug. 27 in Crafton-Preyer Theatre. Students, faculty and the public are invited.
auyskens will preside over the ceremony as his last official act.
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