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.
First up, everyone let’s meet David, a senior majoring in accounting with a minor in management. When considering a future alma mater David had some specific criteria in mind but did not envision the transformative experiences he would undergo while a student at USI. Speaking of transformation, this idyllic campus has seen extraordinary change since it was established in 1965. We can’t wait to hear more David, please take it away.
– Thank you for that introduction Alex. When I was deciding what college to attend, I knew I wanted to attend a university that had a history of serving its community at a great location and empowered students. I found all of these qualities and more at the University of Southern Indiana. The University of Southern Indiana started as a branch of another university in 1965. But thanks to the determination and tenacity of visionary leaders our university became an independent campus in 1985. Prior to USI’s founding, there were no public higher education institutions in Southwestern Indiana. USI has always kept the needs of students at the forefront of it’s strategic planning. Fast forward to present day, USI sits on a beautiful 4,400 acre campus in Evansville, Indiana, close to several major cities, including Indianapolis, St. Louis, Louisville and Nashville. The university boosts a total enrollment of approximately 9,750 students pursuing dual credit, undergraduate, graduate studies and much more. USI serves its community by offering more than 130 areas of study, accredited academic programs and affordable tuition. But how does USI benefit students like me? As student body vice president I can personally attest that USI empowers students. I’ve had the opportunity to represent student voices with administration, intern for Fortune 500 companies and work at the Indiana House of Representatives. It was a cool experience working in the same state house were legislation officially established USI decades ago. USI enables its students to achieve success beyond what I could have ever imagined. Looking to my future, I plan to attend law school. By taking with me the spirit of community service and encouragement I have gained during my time here at USI, from here I’m ready to ignite my future. That’s all for me. Back to you Alex.
– Wow, I’m sure your future will be bright indeed David. Thanks for sharing.
The U of I is a major incubator for entrepreneurship and innovation. They have an entire research park that’s home to more than 120 Fortune-500 and startup companies. These top corporations set up offices here in large part because of the university’s amazing student talent pool. In fact, more than 800 student interns are employed at research park, getting real-world experience right away. Lots of student hackathons and venture competitions take place throughout the year too. The student you’re gonna meet next, Mona, has built her very own business by leveraging another cool program called iVenture Accelerator. It supports student entrepreneurs with funding and access to world-class resource and mentors. Let’s go over to the reading room at the main library to meet Mona and hear her story.
Thanks Alex, and hi everyone. I started my entrepreneurial journey when I was 17 years old. I wanted to create a platform that allows a long-term good to be recirculated once it’s done being used. As we encounter new challenges in climate change and pollution, we’ll have to redefine the way that we use stuff such as clothes and household items, rather than treating them with a consumed and dispose mentality. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure, right?
I knew I wanted to start a company while getting an engineering degree at a university. When looking at my college options, the University of Illinois stood out the most to me because of its fantastic entrepreneurship resources. So my freshman year, I moved in with an inventory of 500 clothing items. Before I even started class, I was able to find a co-working space in downtown Urbana, where I could store my clothes and get to work immediately. My next step was to find teammates. Lots of students are interested in startups, and the U of I offers a lot of networking events and chats where you can easily mingle with professors, students, and researchers. So it wasn’t difficult for me to find a group of passionate teammates who had strong marketing and software development skills.
Throughout the rest of my freshman year, we participated in many startup competitions. They included Cozad, which is a startup competition that has a $25,000 grant prize. And Illinois Impact Incubator, which helps to support social and environmentally focused startups like us. Over the summer, we also joined the prestigious iVenture Accelerator. iVenture Accelerator supports top students startups at the university. With iVenture’s help, we were able to take the company full-time and Karma Trade opened its first retail store. The moment when Karma Trade was no longer a “what if”, sparked a new energy in me and the company. Now, at the end of my sophomore year, we’ve helped over 100 people rejuvenate their wardrobe instead of going to fast fashion companies. More importantly, we’ve rescued over 2000 clothing items from landfill.
Running Karma Trade has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences I’ve had in life so far. I’ve learned what it means to be a business owner and team leader, while also making a positive environmental impact. And we’re just getting started. Our next step is to bring the service online, where you can swap your clothes and shop from your couch. I can’t wait to see where things will go from here. And I know the U of I network will be ready and willing to support us along the way. If you have an idea that you want to pursue, the U of I will help you achieve it. Back to you, Alex.
Mona, I can’t believe you’re only a sophomore. Karma Trade sounds like an amazing concept and I look forward to seeing it takeoff. It sounds like it already has. Bye Mona.
Making sure there aren’t barriers for people who want a world-class education is at the heart of the U of I’s mission. One big example is Illinois Commitment. A free tuition scholarship for Illinois residents whose families make under a certain amount. What’s crazy, is that 1/3 of all incoming students have received Illinois Commitment since it launched. And there are other types of scholarships and aid too. Which made it possible for Arnoldo, the student you’re about to meet, to study here. Once students get here, the university keeps importing them in all kinds of ways too. Let’s head over to the Temple Hoyne Buell Hall on the South Quad to hear Arnoldo, tell us about his path to the U of I and how he’s helping others as well. Take it away, Arnoldo.
Thanks Alex. So, when I was in high school, I never imagined moving out for college. Growing up in a rural Illinois, I never really heard of many people leaving town to go to school. And as a first-generation student, it wasn’t really an option that I considered until halfway through high school. At the time I figured the best course of action for me was to stay home and go to community college instead. Even though I knew I had the grades to get into a great university like U of I.
I decided to apply for fun. When I finally did get accepted, I was proud of myself. But the moment was bittersweet. At the time, I hadn’t yet received any financial aid. I figured there could be no way I could afford to attend U of I without taking out a loan. Even though I knew it was the perfect university for me. Fast forward to decision day. When I impulsively decided to accept my offer in the hopes that I’d receive a good enough award. When I finally did get my award letter, low and behold, I had gotten a full ride. I was elated. I couldn’t help, but think of how fortunate I was to ever receive such a generous gift from my number one pick. And I knew that I had to make the most of my time here on campus.
During my freshman year, I decided to run for student government. I was elected as a Senator, and would spend my sophomore year representing the students in my college, the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. I knew this was the perfect moment to bring about change. And so my student government colleagues and I, along with other student organizations on campus, decided to create a new scholarship, dedicated to students who don’t qualify for federal financial aid. We all knew the importance of attending a higher education institution like U of I, and we all knew the barriers that these communities had to face just to get here. We worked throughout my sophomore year to get the scholarship approved. I was then named the scholarships director. Tasked with the responsibility of implementing the scholarship successfully.
I couldn’t help, but feel slightly emotional when the first scholarships were officially launched and posted on the student’s accounts. I knew exactly how those students would feel. Because I had experienced that moment of bliss myself. I was happy to pay it forward and give hope to students who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to attend U of I. A group of Illini all focused on the same goal, brought about this fantastic change on campus. And this commitment, “by students for students”, is what makes U of I a place for everyone. Back to you, Alex.
That’s such a great story, Arnoldo. I love that you’re paying it forward and giving others the opportunity to become part of the U of I family too. Take care.
kay, everyone, we’re gonna kick things off with Sami. A recent graduate from the finance program and former student body president. He’s the perfect person to give us an intro to Utah State, and talk about what makes this school so special. All right, Sami, time to get the tour going.
– Hi, everyone! I wanna tell you some of my story, and give you an idea of what Utah State University is all about. I was born and raised in Ethiopia. and I came to Salt Lake City at the age of 11 with my family. My mother’s dream for me was to be able to attend college and find success in the United States. However, being in a first-generation immigrant family, I didn’t have the blueprint for college. When I arrived at Utah State, I wasn’t sure if I’d find success, but I quickly learned this was the perfect place for me. Although my cultural and ethnic background differed from most students and faculty, I never felt out of place. I found my home here at Utah State because of the university’s accepting and friendly nature helped me reach my highest potential as a student beyond what I thought was possible. Let me tell you a little about USU. It’s home to top-notch academics, great hands-on experience, and cutting edge research. As a student, I was able to see these high academic standards in my courses. For example, my international finance course was one of the most challenging and impactful classes I’ve taken. Getting that global perspective is extremely valuable. As Aggies, we are dedicated to improving the world around us. Aggies protect our nation’s water supply, help make the world a safer place during earthquakes, and even study how to grow plants in space. In my time at Utah State, I accomplished things I never would have imagined. Thanks to my friends, professors and mentors, I was elected as student body president for two consecutive years. I’m most proud of the work that I did in that role, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The university’s commitment to bringing students back safely on campus during the fall of 2020 required significant amount of work. And I attended countless meetings to help determine classroom and safety policies. Being the only student in those high-level meetings required thoughtful consideration before making recommendations. I love you Utah State University, because all students who attend here have the same opportunities to succeed, regardless of background or previous educational experience. Utah State is truly a student centric university that is committed to student success beyond any other priorities. I hope my story, and the other Aggies you’re about to hear from, can show you how special this place truly is. And now back to you, Alex.
– Sami, what an awesome story. Thanks for sharing how Utah State became home away from home. You’re a great ambassador and success story for the university, best of luck in the future. Thanks again for that.