When emeritus Professor Leah Adams and husband Tim established a research scholarship for EMU graduate students, they had students like Melissa Heuker and Marliese Temme in mind.

In fact, it's hard at times to distinguish Heuker from Temme. Both are enrolled in the same master's program concentration; each has served as an EMU graduate assistant; each has adopted an ambitious research project to be funded with the Adams scholarship; and each plans to become a college professor.

And this year marks the second consecutive year that the pair have been awarded the same scholarship. They shared that honor in 2005-06, when each garnered one of the Delores Soderquist Brehm Endowed Scholarships in Special Education.

"I think research is in our blood," said Melissa, 26, of Dayton, Ohio.

"The special education department at EMU has professors from such a wide array of past careers, which makes finding someone with similar research interests that much easier," said Marliese, 24, from Casper, Wyoming.

Dr. Adams, a professor emeritus in the Department of Teacher Education, retired from EMU in 1999 after 30 years. She and Tim, a retired Ford Motor Co., engineering consultant, established the endowment in 2001 to recognize graduate students interested in research focused in preschool, kindergarten or primary grades.

"I always considered it a privilege to teach at Eastern Michigan University. We want to help EMU retain its reputation as one of the best universities for the preparation of classroom teachers," Dr. Adams said.

As part of the Adams scholarship application, students must submit a research proposal, including goals, procedures and plans for disseminating the results.
Temme's research project is titled, "The Impact of Social-economic Factors on First-Grade Literary Achievement." She will assess and monitor the literacy skills of about 90 first-grade students. The scholarship will help defray some of the study's estimated $10,000 cost.

Temme, who graduated from Michigan State University in 2004, chose EMU's master's program in special education and its concentration in cognitive impairment for research-related reasons. When comparing programs, EMU offered her the best chance to work immediately alongside faculty, as well as the opportunity to teach and travel and present papers and findings at academic conferences.

"I chose EMU because the department was more willing to help me achieve other professionals needs and goals," said Temme, who graduates in May.
Heuker's research project is titled, "The Use of Research-Based Instructional Strategies by Elemen-tary Teachers." It requires about 100 surveys across six districts. "Leah really mentored me and helped me make contacts in the districts," said Heuker, who graduates in December. "I owe a big thank you to her."

Heuker is an eighth-grade special education teacher at Whitmore Lake (Mich.) Middle School for Whitmore Lake Public Schools, about 15 miles north of Ypsilanti. She graduated in 2002 from Ohio State University with majors in psychology and zoology.

Heuker and Temme will both earn master of art degrees in special education with a concentration in cognitive impairment.