Southern Miss Center for Undergraduate Research Named for Alumnus Drapeau
Thu, 09/15/2016 - 09:49am | By: David Tisdale
NOTE: An earlier media report that the University's Trent Lott Center has been renamed the Drapeau Center is incorrect.
Because of the generous support of a University of Southern Mississippi alumnus, David Sliman II of Ocean Springs can pursue his research interests in biochemistry that he hopes will lead to a career in genetic engineering.
That alumnus, Donald Drapeau, was honored Sept. 14 at the University's Hattiesburg campus with the announcement of the naming of the Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research. Founded in 2011 as the Center for Undergraduate Research, its mission is the enhancement of the academic experience for the University's undergraduate experience that includes student-faculty collaborations in research, creative projects and scholarship.
Drapeau earned a bachelor's degree in history from Southern Miss in the early 1960s and in recent years has provided financial support to help the Center advance its goals, including its Eagle Scholar Program for Undergraduate Research (Eagle SPUR). Based on the quality of their research proposals, Eagle SPUR scholars receive up to $1,000 for research grants used for scholarly or creative projects done in collaboration with a faculty mentor, the findings of which are later presented to an academic audience.
Southern Miss Vice President for Research Dr. Gordon Cannon said Drapeau's passion for helping expand academic opportunities for undergraduates has enhanced the overall experience for students at USM. “It is fortunate that we have an alumnus like Don Drapeau who understands the value of research,” Cannon said.
After graduating from Southern Miss, Drapeau went on to receive a master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, a Fulbright Grant for a yearlong study in Belgium and a Kress Fellowship at Harvard Business School in Boston. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Man-Drapeau Research, Pte., Ltd. as well as the founder of Drapeau and Company.
“I'm enormously grateful to USM and delighted to be a part of it,” Drapeau said. “I believe the university is on the cusp of doing great things and making enormous advances (in research).”
Sliman was one of several students recognized for securing an Eagle SPUR award during the ceremony that also honored Drapeau. “I'm really excited and honored to receive this,” said Sliman, whose faculty mentor is assistant professor Dr. Philip Bates. “Research can be expensive, so the Eagle SPUR funding is a big deal.”
Learn more about the Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research at https://www.usm.edu/research/center-overview.