Student spotlights
Check out these student spotlights and featured videos to discover more ways to get involved.
Connor
- College:
- CLA
- Class:
- Senior
- Major:
- Journalism, Art History, Studies in Cinema & Media Culture
Experiences that mattered
Reflection
Everyone talks about how important networking is these days, and for the first half of my college career I just didn't understand how to really improve my networking skills. Does that just mean that I should ask everyone I meet for a business card or talk to every person I know to see if they've can help me out?
Ernest
- College:
- CLA
- Class:
- Senior
- Major:
- Communication Studies
- Minor:
- African and African American Studies
Experiences that mattered
Reflection
As president of PRISM, I am in charge of helping to redevelop the organization. This means I have to do a lot of networking with the various departments at the University of Minnesota and getting to know staff and faculty. I also have learned a lot about campus and the surrounding community. The network I have developed as a byproduct of the work that I have done has really helped to enhance my experience on campus.
Kevin
- College:
- CLA
- Class:
- Senior
- Major:
- Broadcast Journalism, Spanish Studies
Experiences that mattered
- Humphrey Institute Center for Democracy and Citizenship
- Prensa de Minnesota
- Cicerones de Buenos Aires
Reflection
When I started at the University of Minnesota, I knew I needed to make the most of my undergraduate career to prepare me for my lifetime career in bilingual television journalism. After I graduated, I wanted to be able to produce quality video journalism that connects the Spanish-speaking world with the English-speaking one. I knew I’d need to venture outside the classroom to make that happen so I always kept my eye out for opportunities to engage!
Maarya
- College:
- CBS
- Class:
- Senior
- Major:
- Genetics, Cell Biology, Development
- Minor:
- Global Studies
Experiences that mattered
Reflection
Throughout my undergraduate career, I sought out experiences outside my coursework that would be meaningful and unique, and be inclusive of my interests in both global studies and medicine. These experiences not only enhanced my studies, they gave me a chance to apply what I was learning and allowed me to mature as a person.
Ganesh
- College:
- CEHD
- Class:
- Senior
- Major:
- Biology (Concentration of Society and Environment), English
Experiences that mattered
Reflection
I participated in several student organizations on campus during my freshman year. During my sophomore year, I was recruited as a teaching assistant because of my efforts to succeed as an undergraduate. I worked a total of seven semesters alternating as a Teaching Assistant for Cultural Anthropology and U.S. History.
Aaron
- College:
- CEHD
- Class:
- Senior
- Major:
- Kinesiology
Experiences that mattered
Reflection
I got involved as a community adviser for the Multicultural Kickoff. I was also the president of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), and was a physiology tutor for two years at the Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence. I am also a McNair Scholar and University of Illinois-Chicago Summer Research Opportunity Scholar.
Leah
- College:
- CBS, CLA
- Class:
- Senior
- Major:
- Biology and Physiology
- Minor:
- Spanish
Experiences that mattered
Reflection
During my undergraduate career, I tried to go outside my comfort zone by placing myself in new situations. In addition to exploring different areas, I consistently contributed my own, unique ideas to work in collaboration with other individuals toward similar goals.
Since my sophomore year, I have been an active member of Habitat for Humanity. As a senior, I had the opportunity to serve as the club's Fundraising Coordinator and was able to turn our annual Battle of the Bands into more of an educational event. With the help of a local group—Substance—we created a fun-filled night with music, fundraising, and most importantly, activities that raised awareness of the importance of affordable housing. By inviting local spoken word artists and playing affordable housing trivia, we organized an event that was a success in educating a wide range of students and community members.
In addition, I have also been on the University of Minnesota Club Handball Team for three years. Being one of the most experienced members on the team has given me a leadership role; I worked with our coach this year to get our team's first set of jackets. Traveling with the team each year has also challenged me to juggle athletics and academics, aiding with my time management skills.
Finally, the experience which has had the largest impact on me throughout my undergraduate career has been volunteering and holding an internship at Centro de Salud. It is one of my goals to become fluent in Spanish. Being at Centro, a Latino service agency in Minneapolis, has allowed me to continue practicing Spanish, even after completing all of my Spanish classes. I have volunteered in the pre-school, with the food and clothing shelf, and with pre-natal classes. I decided to take my volunteer role to a new level, and created an internship that was approved to complete CBS honors and CBS internship requirements. At this internship, I prepared and led discussions with other volunteers and staff geared to addressing different pertinent health issues that affect the Latino population. For example, I have lead discussions on depression, hypertension, and Alzheimer's disease to a group of senior citizens. This was an amazing experience.
From all of these experiences I have learned how to effectively communicate and work with other people and carry myself in new situations. I have learned that to be an influential leader, it is necessary to be enthusiastic and effectively delegate responsibilities. Most importantly, I have learned that it is necessary to continually think outside the realm of what is considered "realistic." College classes may have prepared me to be a biologist, but my undergraduate experiences have helped feed my creativity and taught me how to change ideas into actions. As I further my education at Loyola Stritch Medical School, I hope to utilize my Spanish language capabilities, leadership skills and public health practice to become a physician capable of serving and advocating for my patients.
Jill
- College:
- CFANS
- Class:
- Senior
- Major:
- Agricultural Education: Leadership, Training, and Development
Experiences that mattered
Reflection
My first semester in college, I jumped right into joining a sorority on the St. Paul campus, Lambda Delta Phi. For four years, I participated in many events including Homecomings, Spring Jams, Greek exchanges, and Minnesota Royal events. My absolute favorite event would have to be Homecoming. I really got to understand the true Gopher spirit on campus. I also had the opportunity to meet different people throughout the Greek community, some of whom are now my best friends.
Anh
- College:
- CBS, CLA
- Class:
- Senior
- Major:
- Neuroscience, Psychology
Experiences that mattered
Reflection
Through involvement with student organizations, I have learned the meaning of leadership: to inspire others to step out of their comfort zones to become more active members in their communities. More importantly, I have learned to work with others and to become a more active community member myself.
Richard
- College:
- CDes
- Class:
- Senior
- Major:
- Environmental Design
- Minor:
- Geography
Experiences that mattered
Reflection
I was fortunate enough during my time at the University to be engaged in several great activities. Three in particular really shaped my experience during my time at the U: a UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program) research project, a Metropolitan Design Center fellowship to China, and my membership on the University's Club Tennis team. These activities took me across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest, Texas, California, North Carolina, and even to China.
Do you have a profile or video you would like to see posted on the Engage! search?
For student spotlights: e-mail engagetc@umn.edu with your reflections on 2-3 experiences that mattered to you.
For videos: Send us a link to a YouTube or Media Mill video that highlights your engagement with an undergraduate opportunity, and we'll consider adding it to the site.
