You can take it from this next student Josi, a biochemistry major who is also minoring in Spanish studies and public health, that some of your most memorable and transformative college experiences happen outside the classroom. You won’t believe all they have been involved with. Please tell us all about it.
– Thanks Alex. Hey everyone. When I started looking for university I knew I wanted to get out of my hometown. So I found the farthest university from my home while still paying in-state tuition. I also wanted a school with engaged faculty that would provide an exceptional education to prepare me for medical school. After meeting the amazing faculty in the chemistry and biology departments, I knew I was home. When I left my small hometown I had no idea the amazing opportunities that USI would provide me. I have met so many lifelong friends and mentors here in Evansville. I am always being challenged by our top tier education. As much as I love each of my professors, my favorite and most transformative experiences have been spent beyond the traditional classroom setting. I conduct organic chemistry research with my advisor in one of our many chemistry labs. I was a cadet in the army RTC for two years where I learned so much about leadership, global politics and military actions. I am the co-captain on the USI Women’s Rugby club and serving on the board of trustees at USI has been the best experience of my life thus far. I learned so much about the governance of higher education and I have a newfound appreciate for just how much the faculty and administrators at USI care for the students. The opportunities never stop at USI. I was even able to represent my university at an international conference for higher education in Romania. The University of Southern Indiana has prepared me for the next steps in my life as a physician and as a well-rounded person. I am so excited to attend medical school next year. I will always have USI to thank for fostering my curiosity and igniting my passion for people. That’s all for me. You’re on Alex.
– Talk about memories of a lifetime. There is new know denying your wide variety of experiences have prepared you for a promising future Josi. Your willingness to serve and passion for people will definitely help you succeed in your healthcare profession. Thanks again for sharing your story. Take care.
The University of Illinois is located in the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign, which together have a population of around 100,000 people. The term micro urban does a good job describing the kind of place this is. It’s friendly, affordable, and easy to get around, but it’s also a bustling diverse place which has consistently been named the number one Midwest food town. There’s also a great music scene here in the community and on campus. Mike, the student you’re gonna hear from next, over in the Illinois Street Dining Center is really involved in the music scene. When Mike talks about Campustown and the great community here, he’s clearly talking about the people as well as the place. Mike, take it away.
Hey, everyone coming to college was a big transition for me. My first semester was full of new experiences and honestly, it was a struggle for me to adapt. I had to step out of my comfort zone and find my place. All it took was that first step to realize how amazing the U of I community is. It has so many friendly people with diverse interests. You can join a campus group for everything from water polo to origami. In fact, I even started my own club for solving Rubik’s cubes. The first thing I joined my freshman year was a Shakespearean theater group on campus. I made so many very good friends that way.
Now that I’m a senior, I’m renting a house just off campus with five of them. It’s so great, you’ll never get closer to friends than you do by living with them. I’m a business major and generally an entrepreneurial person. So I’ve met a lot of people through the resources and activities on campus. Last year, I had an app idea and my roommate was on board with helping out. All we needed was engineers. An on-campus startup competition called Cozad was perfect for our search. Cozad brings an experienced entrepreneurs to give students expert advice on starting a business. After we gave our pitch, we found three engineers to join the team. We didn’t win the competition, but we learned so much about the ins and outs of starting a business. It was a great outlet for finding entrepreneurial people and ideas.
I’ve also met tons of people through the fantastic music scene here. We have Midwest demo, R&B and many other indie influences in a wide variety of venues close to campus that bring in great shows. When I first got to campus, I dabbled in music, but I’ve really started working at it when I joined Music for the Masses, an open mic group on campus that hosts bi-weekly open mics at the Illini Union.
When I first got on that stage in front of a bunch of people, I was so nervous that I had to sit down during my first song. My legs were shaking that much, but everyone was so encouraging that I came back every two weeks. I eventually became a host and now I’m vice president of the club. After people started hearing my music, I got a job performing weekly at the Illini Union Food Courtyard Cafe. It’s amazing to think about how I started my musical journey, being so nervous to go on stage, and now I’m a known artist here on campus.
Last semester, I finally released my first album with the help from a friend. I submitted one of the songs to the student radio station, WPGU, and the next thing I knew, it was put into the mix. Now it’s on rotation for the whole campus to hear. This inspired me to work on an indie folk album, which I hope to release soon.
When I think back in my entire U of I experienced, one of my favorite memories is from one of my sets here. I was singing, “Take Me Home Country Roads” in front of an audience of students that joined in with me, singing harmony and tapping to the beats. It’s a perfect example of how great the students are here. I’m really gonna miss this community after I graduate, but I’ll never forget the memories. Back to you, Alex.
Mike, I’m always up for a country road sing along on. Can I also put in a request for Jack Johnson “Pirate at Forty”? Whatever you do my man, keep on playing the world always needs more music. Thanks again.
At the end of the day, students like Mackenzie, who you’re gonna meet next, want a school that can help them achieve their goals and reach their dreams. U of I students are highly recruited by top companies across the U.S. and around the world. Check out these numbers. 9,700 unique employers, including 86 Fortune-100 companies recruited U of I students last year. There’s also a huge network of more than 475,000 alumni that students have access to. Mackenzie, who’s a senior has taken advantage of so many of these opportunities available here. Let’s go over to Siebel Center for Computer Science to meet her.
Thanks Alex. So I’m gonna be honest with you all. I felt really nervous the summer leading up to college. I was having trouble picturing myself succeeding in computer science. Because some people tried to tell me that I only got into a top CS school because of my gender. But it only took a few days on campus to make me realize I deserved to be here. There was a women in engineering orientation on campus a few days before classes started. I was able to meet other engineering students, get advice from upperclassmen, and get introduced to the resources on campus. This was super helpful for me because I got to meet so many other passionate students and get hands-on experience before classes even started.
In the spring semester of my freshman year, my friends and I participated in Hack Illinois, a hackathon where students tackle interesting challenges provided by different organizations. One of the challenges was taking a set of data about Champaign-Urbana and doing whatever we wanted with it. I talked to city officials during the Hackathon about how the geography of the Midwest leads to infrastructure problems when it rains or snows. Our team decided to build a community tool that could be used by residents to easily and effectively report issues like flooding in their neighborhoods. We ended up winning an award as freshmen and got to continue our research in a tech innovation lab here on campus.
Now I’m a senior and I cannot believe how many opportunities I’ve had to prepare me for the real world. It’s insane how many companies and professionals I’ve gotten to talk to through career fairs and tech meetups. The university has also helped me connect with some amazing recruiters. I ended up being a software engineering intern at Facebook and Microsoft over the past few summers. These internships have been so valuable for my professional journey. I’ve gotten to contribute to products that millions of people use every single day and I was able to find out that I was definitely on the right career path. The best part is that all these experiences have led to a full-time job offer at Microsoft.
After graduation, I’ll be moving to Seattle as a product manager, and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s almost hard to believe that when I started my major four years ago, I felt a little lost. But there are so many different paths you can take here to help you grow and gain confidence. Which is one of the many things I love most about UIUC. I’ve been able to explore so many different social impact spaces during my time here. And I know I’m set up to make a meaningful impact in the future. Back to you, Alex!
Mackenzie, thanks for keeping it real as you shared your story. That’s one of the best things about college. By the time you graduate you’ve come so far, you’re just not the same person as you were when you moved into your dorm your freshman year. Thanks again, Mackenzie.
Diversity and inclusion are high priorities at the U of I. It’s evident in very real ways here. The university has the most students of color among any top rank Midwest university. And there are students from over 100 countries and all 50 states represented on campus. You’re about to meet Faith. An out of state senior who can personally attest to the ways the U of I works to have an open, safe, and inclusive environment. She’s not only benefited from this culture of inclusion, but she’s also contributed a great deal to it herself. Let’s head over to the Foellinger Great Hall in Krannert Center for the Performing Arts to hear Faith’s story.
Hey everyone! Being a student at the University of Illinois has allowed me to deepen my passions and discover my purpose. I think what makes this university so special is its ability to serve students in a way that honors where you’ve come from and supports who you’re becoming. I’m not the same person that arrived on campus three and a half years ago. I’ve personally benefited in so many ways from the U of I’s diversity and inclusion efforts. Like the Office of Minority Student Affairs, this amazing resource offers various academic services for students of color. Including free private or group tutoring sessions at their location. Each tutor as a current student at the U of I, who excels in the course you need help in.
Being able to work with another student didn’t just help me in my freshmen statistics class, but it also gave me a mentor who is invested in my overall success. One of my favorite spots on campus is the beloved Bruce Nesbitt African American Cultural Center, also known as BNAACC. BNAACC is a place like no other. You can catch up on coursework in one of the many study lounges. Cook a meal with some friends in the stainless steel kitchen, record a song in the recording studio, or practice a routine in the dance studio. They host various educational and community building events each semester. There’s so much to do at the BNAACC and at the other cultural centers, all located on the same block.
Being able to have this kind of home away from home, didn’t just give me the opportunity to immerse myself in my own culture, but it’s also where I’ve made friendships that would last a lifetime. I’m a dance major, and one of the biggest things I was looking for was choosing a school that not only appreciates the arts, but allows me to explore my passions within them. The U of I does exactly that. My freshman year, I was able to help start a registered student organization on campus known as Fine and Applied Arts Black, which I now serve as president. Our goal is to uplift and strengthen the black arts community on campus. There are various community building, educational, and networking events.
Even if you’re not involved in the arts, what’s important is that the university supports students who want to start organizations, or implement new diversity and inclusion efforts. The U of I encourages it’s students to invest in their passions even outside of the campus community. The summer of 2019, I moved to New York City and interned with an arts and social justice organization that helps artists of underrepresented communities advance their careers. This experience gave me the incredible opportunity to bring together all of my passions around the arts and helping others. Ultimately it’s inspired me to one day establish my own art center that helps marginalized communities. The U of I has truly allowed me to discover my purpose. And I can’t wait to take that into the world and share it with others. Alex, back to you.
Faith, thanks for sharing. I love your sense of purpose and hearing about how you really embraced the opportunities and people on campus during your time here. Thanks again.
When it comes to school spirit, there’s nothing quite like being at a big 10 university. The atmosphere and energy here on game days is absolutely insane. You can cheer on the teams through the Illini Pride U of I Student Fan Base. Not only do they organize these huge cheery sections but they also raise money for charity. If playing sports in college is your goal, there are tons of club teams and intramurals to join on campus, plus the 21 division one teams. Right now, we’re gonna head over to the amazing new Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center so you can hear from not one, but two of those fighting Illini athletes, twins in fact. Sydney and chase, please take it away.
Alex, I appreciate the introduction. Hi everyone, I’m Sydney.
And I’m Chase.
And as you can tell, we’re identical twins and we don’t make it easy on people by having the same hair, going to the same university, and playing on the same football team. I’m gonna be taking you through the first segment here. Chase, so we’ll see you soon.
Being part of an NCAA football team has been a dream of mine and my brother’s since we were nine years old. Our father played three seasons in the CFL, so it’s kind of in our blood. As we started having more success in the sport, we noticed to make it to the next level, we had to experience a whole new level of training and competition. The minute I stepped on campus at the University of Illinois, it felt special to me. No other university had what Illinois had to offer. You not only get that Ivy League type of education, but you get to play football in the big 10, one of the best in the nation. You get to play and train in amazing facilities. I mean, look at this. We’ve got the best strength and conditioning, sports med, nutrition, you name it.
When we dreamed of playing college football, we knew we’d have chance at the national stage playing in front of tens, even hundreds of thousands of fans. There’s nothing like that feeling on game day. Walking through the tailgating during the Illini walk, running out onto the field to the sounds of the fight song from the marching Illini. And of course, celebrating with your team in the locker room after big wins. It will give you chills.
I’ll take it from here Syd. At Illinois, being part of a team feels more like being a part of one big family. We work so hard together all year long to assure that we are successful on the field. Now, we start with early weight room workouts, long hours of practice, and grueling camp days. But our family is even larger than just a football team. With 21 sports and over 500 student athletes on campus, we go out every single year and fight for big 10 in national championships so that we can represent that name in our chest, “The Fighting Illini.”
More than half of our sports are ranked in the top 25, every single year nationally. Athletics helps provide passion and spirit for the university, a way for us to all come together and celebrate. We truly believe that football has changed our lives. Because we came to Illinois, we’re going to leave with a lifetime of memories, an experience through sport that has taught us the power of leadership, determination and fighting through adversity. But more than anything, we will receive a degree from one of the best universities in the world. We’re going to leave with a unique identity, being a Fighting Illini, one of hundreds of thousands across the globe. And everywhere we go, we will hear I-L-L –
I-N-I!
Back to you, Alex.
You guys, your story is just awesome. Thank you for sharing it and best of luck next season. Cheers guys.
This is the college tour. Of course, teaching and learning is what this place is all about. The faculty here, like to say that education is not something you get, but something you do. And that’s pretty obvious when 100% of students will complete an experiential learning opportunity. And Sophie is going to share how learning here is an experience like none other. Sophie it is all yours.
– Hi, I never could have imagined the ways that Puget Sound would shape and change me. I also never planned to study politics until I took political theory with Dr. Alisa Kessel and I was hooked. Pugent Sound has shown me the ways to be engaged in politics and communities at large, the research volunteering and the nonprofit sector. Pugent Sound prepare students to be engaged citizens, problem solvers and entrepreneurs. With more than 55 undergraduate and graduate programs, there are plenty of pathways to pursue your passion. And with an average class size of 17, this has really allowed me to connect and collaborate with my peers and professors. Experiential learning is at the heart of our curriculum here, and our programs are really extensive. So there truly is something for everybody. The perfect experiential learning program for me was the Summer fellowship internship or SFI. SFI is a program that facilitates paid internships at 10 to coma based nonprofits that are exclusively available to Puget Sound Students. Paid internships in the nonprofit sector are extremely hard to come by. So I was thrilled to be funded by the university while working for United way of Pierce county. At United way, I was given the opportunity to work on the educational and summer learning programs. After my original internship end date near, they asked me to stay on and join the advocacy committee. This past semester, I also had the opportunity to intern at a local law firm, working in government affairs and sustainable urban planning. Here I had the chance to attend hearings and Wrightsville reports all watered in class credit. When I was looking at schools, I had no idea what I wanted to learn or what opportunities were even available. But I always say that choosing Puget Sound gave me everything I never knew I always wanted. I’ll be graduating this semester, but I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. That’s my story, What’s next Alex?
– Sophie, thank you for sharing your experience and for the work you are doing and aspire to, making a difference is part of the culture here at Puget Sound. And you are really living it through your non-profit work. Thanks again, Sophie. And we can’t wait to see how you change the world.
Okay, everyone, I don’t even know that we can fully capture how mind blowing the setting is here, but Cyrus is going to give it the old college try. College absolutely is one of life’s greatest adventures, but with the best of the Pacific Northwest outside your door, this place is next level. Cyrus, please show us.
– Thanks, Alex. Hi all. I love everything that I get to do here on campus from working as a resident advisor, to being a captain on the men’s ultimate Frisbee team. But off campus here is next level. This area is called point defiance, and it’s just a few miles from campus. I love that I get to go to school here. When I was looking at schools, I knew that I wanted a smaller liberal arts school with a business program on the west coast. So with that criteria, Puget Sound came up pretty quickly. And once I visited, I was hooked. There’s no doubt that I’ve met some of my best friends here. And campus life is awesome. but one of our favorite things to do is get out and take advantage of the Pacific Northwest. Puget Sound outdoors or PSO is a student managed club that runs virtually all of our outdoor programming here. They do hiking trips to Mount Rainier, the cascades and the Olympics, as well as kayaking, climbing and backpacking trips. PSO also runs an outdoor leadership experience course where you can get wilderness advanced first aid certified. PSO also runs the bike shop and the expeditionary where you can rent, gear, get discounted lift tickets, or get a shuttle to some amazing scheme. And of course the school is just a few minutes from the water that were named after. So whether your thing is getting out in the mountains, being immersed in nature, or being out on the water, there’s something here for everyone. And for days you can’t get off campus, we have an awesome indoor climbing gym as well as incredible mountain views. That’s all I got today Alex, I’m headed back out to the trails. Thank you.
– Cyrus I’m heading out to meet you on those trails as soon as I’m done here. It’s so awesome that Puget Sound has so many resources to help students get out there and explore, thanks again, Cyrus.
Okay. Everyone let’s meet Dr. Nick Kontogeorgopoulos. or as most students call him, Konto. He’s had the best job ever, spending years guiding students exploration and contributions around the globe. Konto is going to highlight a unique program called PAC Rim and many other international opportunities that probably explain why Puget Sound is a top producer of peace Corps volunteers. Konto, all you.
– Thanks, Alex. One of the most transformational things I did as a student was study abroad, experiencing a different culture, gave me a totally different perspective and opened up all kinds of possibilities. Here at Puget Sound, we offer more than a hundred programs in 44 countries, and we work with every one of our students to make sure we find the perfect choice for them. For nearly 50 years, Puget Sound has offered it’s one of a kind Pacific rim study abroad program or PAC rim, as we like to call it around here. PAC rim is an immersive and high impact study abroad program led by faculty to multiple destinations in Asia. PAC rim students form a learning community and prepare as a group before heading off to Asia for several months of innovative coursework and experiential learning. The Pac room experience is unlike any other. Our students have hiked the Himalayas, navigated the streets of Delhi and Mumbai, cooked Thai food with their home stay families and explored the architecture of Beijing. Experiences like this connect the classroom to the world beyond and make PAC rim an unforgettable part of the Puget Sound experience. PAC rim is just one of many faculty led study abroad programs that bring students overseas after taking an on-campus course. Indonesia, Greece, Ghana, Argentina. These are just some of the places our students have visited with their professors and to take a one step further, we offer a peace Corp prep program that prime students, both for peace Corps service, but also international development work. Puget Sound is the place for experiential learning. You can be sure that there’s an opportunity waiting for you here at Puget Sound. Well, that’s it for me? What’s next Alex?
– Professor Konto Thank you. I’m so jealous of these extraordinary experiences your students have and grateful for the impact. so many of them are making, take care.
To tell us all about school spirit at USI our next student’s enthusiasm is contagious. Kaylee already earned her undergraduate degree here in public relations and advertising and minor in marketing and journalism and is now a graduate student pursuing a master of arts in communication. Kaylee, let’s hear all about it.
– Thanks Alex. You can ask anyone, I am one of the University of Southern Indiana’s biggest fans and always will be in or out of USI cheer uniform. I came to USI because of its campus size and close proximity to home not having any idea how significant an impact the university would have on both my time as an undergraduate and now graduate student. USI’s 4,800 seat Screaming Eagles arena is unreal. It’s a one of a kind feeling cheering on the Screaming Eagles to victory. But for me, the most special part was seeing the USI community come together to show off their Screagle Pride and support their teams. To look up into the sea of USI blue, red, and white at basketball games was one of my favorite things. The relationships made with coaches and teammates and representing the university are memories that I will cherish forever. USI has a proud athletic tradition with 10 individual and 14 national championships. We compete in 19 varsity sports, including newly added swimming and diving. With the addition of the new Screaming Eagles Complex and Aquatic Center, there is no doubt you’ll be hearing about success from our Screaming Eagles athletes for years to come. USI’s mascot, Archie is our head spirit ambassador. He’s often seen around campus and if you’re lucky, you might even catch one of his impressive dance moves Archie and his army of students Screaming Eagle fans are sure to bring Screagle Pride wherever they go. As I continue my time at USI completing my master’s degree in communications and serving as a graduate assistant in university communications, I remain a strong supporter of this institution. I am so proud of USI. The people and opportunities have given a steady foundation athletically and educationally to pursue my dreams. I can’t wait to see where I go from here. Go Screagles. Alex, back at ya.
– All right, Kaylee. I couldn’t resist. You inspired me to show my Screagle Pride. Thank you for sharing this Screaming Eagle history of fierce competition and impressive student and community’s support with us. Wherever your journey takes you, I know you’ll always be a Screaming Eagle at heart. Take care.
This next story might surprise you and is one you definitely don’t wanna miss. Senior and theater arts major Blake almost missed out on completing his degree here at the University of Southern Indiana. That is until they granted him a second chance as he learned a valuable life lesson. The spotlight is on you Blake.
– Thanks Alex. And nice shirt by the way. During high school I was involved in theater and I saw myself continuing after I graduated. So why would an aspiring actor choose to come to Indiana to attend college? Why not go to New York or California? My answer is simple. It was my destiny to come to the University of Southern Indiana. Things weren’t always peachy keen at first though. During my freshman year there was a unforeseen medical event in my family life and this caused me to fail all but one of my classes. And because of that I was put on academic probation and eventually I was academically dismissed. I was able to appeal this though and the university gave me a second chance. With that second chance, I was able to throw myself into the USI theater department. We have a wonderful acting teacher who has inspired us and has given us the best education possible. And he’s also just there to talk to us when we need someone to talk about everyday things, USI is all about opportunities and I was able to find a love for lighting in theater and I was eventually able to design a student-led production. Freshman year I was shy, academically unimpressive and antisocial. Senior year, I’m on the Dean’s list, I’m the secretary for the National Theater Honor Society APO and I’m an RA. It’s weird to think that my academic journey is almost at an end, but my USI faculty cares about my education and has done everything in their power to prepare me for the future. After graduation I plan on pursuing my dream as a voice actor and as a lighting designer. Thank you guys so much for taking the time to listen to my story. Alex, back to you my good sir.
– Right back at ya. Thank you for sharing your courageous personal story with us. There’s no doubt you made the right choice in USI and were right where you are supposed to be with the resources to make the absolute most of your second chance. Here’s to your future success Blake.