ST. MARY'S CITY, MD (02/11/2014)(readMedia)-- Generous funding from the Colonial Dames of America, Chapter One of Baltimore, Md., allowed St. Mary's College of Maryland to hire Baltimore natives Kaylie Jasinski and Leah Keller as Colonial Dames Fellows for the spring and fall, respectively. Both students are enrolled at St. Mary's College. Jasinski, a senior, is a double major in anthropology and English. Keller, a junior, majors in anthropology.
As Colonial Dames Fellows, Jasinski and Keller will work along with archaeologists at St. Mary's College on a project exploring settlements along the Potomac River Valley. They will assist with the preparation of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) maps, data entry, and artifact analysis to compare sites along the tidal Potomac from both Maryland and Virginia.
"Thanks to the Colonial Dames of America, Kaylie and Leah are able to attain invaluable experiences, which will position them well for graduate school or entering the workforce," said Julie King, professor of anthropology at St. Mary's College and fellow supervisor.
Founded in 1890, the Colonial Dames of America (CDA) is an international society of women members whose direct ancestors held positions of leadership in the Thirteen Colonies. The organization's goals are education of American history and historical preservation. Each year, the Colonial Dames of America makes grants to several institutions for student fellowships and awards.