April 14 , 2005
For Immediate Release
For more information:
Megan Laurie
(801) 863-7149
UVSC Valedictorian Continues Research at Top Graduate School
With graduation fast approaching, Courtney Burns from Orem, Utah, is currently making preparations to attend a prestigious graduate school in Northern Ireland. Accepted to Queens University in Belfast, Burns will be enrolled at one of the top 20 universities in the United Kingdom.
At the Utah Valley State College graduation April 29 at 10:30 a.m. in the UVSC McKay Events Center, Burns, who is valedictorian, will receive a bachelor's degree in integrated studies (religious studies and social science). As part of her UVSC experience, Burns participated in undergraduate research projects including conferences, lectures and other events.
At Queens University, and under the tutelage of world experts, Burns hopes to focus her study on comparative ethnic conflict and conflict resolution in Northern Ireland.
"Northern Ireland is a center of conflict," said Burns. "The experts who inform the world on ethnic conflict are going to be my mentors."
After studying at Queens, Burns says she hopes to work with a nongovernmental agency in Northern Ireland to promote conflict resolution or work with the U.S. State Department or CIA as a Northern Ireland conflict consultant or conflict analyst. In preparing for graduate work, Burns says she is appreciative of the opportunities UVSC provides to prepare students to compete internationally.
"Walking down the halls at UVSC, I see fliers advertising prominent people speaking on campus," she said. "At UVSC, I have incredible opportunities to learn from important figures in the world like ambassadors from Rwanda, Kyrgyzstan and Russia."
In addition to her schoolwork, Burns participated in a work-study program that allowed her to work part time with the UVSC Center for the Study of Ethics. While working with the Ethics Center, Burns was involved in the planning and execution of the Religious Studies Conference in October, the Eugene England Lecture Series in February and the Mormon Studies Conference in March.
###