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When political science major Benjamin Bohr arrived on campus four years ago, he set the bar for himself high. The UC Regents scholar moved into the honors dorms so he could stay focused on academics and learn from those around him. As a freshman, he left Irvine for a study abroad program in Sweden where he took upper level courses designed for juniors and seniors.
"I've always been a curious person and liked the idea of a challenge and finding new ways to solve puzzles," he says. "Being in classes with students who already knew a bit about topics that were new to me really gave me a forward looking perspective and helped me focus on what I needed to learn."
Over the next four years, he combined his interests in international cultures and problem solving as a political science and global cultures double major. He traveled to France where he spent a quarter learning about the country's culture and government while exploring his own European roots.
He put his innate curiosity to work as a top undergraduate researcher studying how recent humanitarian missions and military occupations impact international law. The topic served as the focus of his honors thesis which he presented last month at the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program's annual symposium.
"Pursuing my own research has been a great learning experience," he says. "The challenge that comes with creating new information and data rather than reading what already exists is extremely rewarding."
"Ben is one of the most avid and capable undergraduate researchers I have known at UCI," says political science professor Wayne Sandholtz with whom Ben has worked closely throughout his time at UCI as a research assistant. "He tackles research challenges with creativity and sophistication. He has the makings to be a top-notch scholar."
For all his work in the classroom, Ben was just as active outside through his involvement with Model United Nations and the Social Sciences Dean's Ambassadors Council where he served in several leadership positions. His role as a housing assistant for the honors dorm allowed him an opportunity to mentor others interested in pursuing advanced study. He also worked as a social studies teacher with the Waldorf School of Orange County where he created a four-course series of global studies classes to give students a broader international perspective. His efforts earned him numerous awards and accolades at UCI including recognition as the 2006 Aeberhard Outstanding Freshman of the Year and 2008 Aldrich Outstanding Junior of the Year.
"Ben Bohr is one of the most accomplished undergraduate students I've ever known," says Mark Petracca, political science associate professor and department chair and mentor to Ben. "He is a gracious, mature, disciplined and energetic student, a delight to engage in conversation and the sort of person others admire and wish to emulate."
Following his highly successful undergraduate career at UCI, Ben's sights remain set high as he will be pursuing his interests in teaching and research as a political science graduate student at UCSD in the fall.
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