Last but certainly not least, it wouldn’t be a proper campus tour if we didn’t introduce you to the one, the only The Duck. He is a foul of very few words, actually, none at all, because he doesn’t speak. But his well toned wings from doing so many pushups at football games tell the story of the UO success, not only on the playing field, but also in the classroom. Wow, Duck, I can see why you’re loved by so many people and one of the most recognized college mascots in the entire nation. Sports Illustrate even ranked you second among the greatest mascots in college football history. Now that’s something we’re shaking your tail feathers for. Thanks again for that. The University of Oregon, everyone, this was such a fun tour. I’d like to thank all the amazing passionate students we got to meet today for sharing their stories. Looks like they’re all set to achieve incredible things here at the UO and beyond. What a great group of students and what a wonderful campus. Well, that’s all the time I have for now, but I highly encourage you all to check out more about the University of Oregon for yourself. This place is incredible. Trust me when I say it’s even better in person. Bye, everyone. Until next time.
Now let’s check in with Audrey. Audrey is a senior studying human physiology with minors in chemistry and business administration. Audrey loves to stay active and explore the outdoors. And she’s eager to share how she fulfills these passions at the UO. Take us on an adventure, Audrey.
– Thanks so much, Alex. Growing up in Oregon, so much of my childhood was spent exploring the outdoors and constantly staying active. I knew that when I was picking a college, I really wanted to keep these two things in mind. I also had a love for science and the human body, which led me to study human physiology and become a teaching assistant in the cadaver lab. When I first came to campus, I also joined the club soccer team. I like to think of club sports as the perfect medium point between intermural and division one soccer. I’ve been playing soccer since I was five. So knowing that I could continue to play at UO persuaded me to go even more. Right in the middle of campus, you’ll find the student rec center. I love staying active by attending cycling and yoga classes, using the equipment or just hanging out in the hot tub. And for those days when I really want to de-stress and unwind, I’ll go to the duck nest. And just a mile off campus near Autzen stadium, you can find Pre’s running trail. I often will grab a friend and go for a run or rent a Pre’s health bike, and explore the many miles of trails that run along the Willamette river. And just a quick 15 minute drive from campus is this spot right here, Spencer Butte. I love hiking up all the way up to the top and seeing the full city of Eugene. This is a hike that’s done by so many ducks and I’m sure you’ll meet many cute K9 friends along the way. And for all my winter sports lovers out there, don’t worry. The UO has got you covered. Through the outdoor program, students can get discounted lift tickets and rides up to the mountain. We’re also able to rent snowboards, camping gear, and kayaks to fulfill all our outdoor adventures any season of the year. In my last year as a duck, I hope I’m able to make some lifelong memories and I’ll be forever thankful that I pick this school. No matter where you end up, make sure you’re always getting outside every day and being active, and as always go ducks. Back to you, Alex.
– Thanks, Audrey. Seems like there’s something for every athlete and adventure to enjoy at the student rec center or through the outdoor program. I might have to lace up my hiking boots and check out some of those trails myself, sounds exhilarating.
Next, let’s move over to the school of music and dance where we will meet Natalie. She’s a senior who’s drawing her way to two degrees, a bachelor’s in music percussion performance, and a BA in music theory. Natalie is going to tell us why this school is a rocking place for students to be.
– Thanks for that introduction, Alex. From a young age, I had this dream of in an orchestra, not piano, but percussion. And so freshman year of high school, I joined band and knew that this is exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. The University of Oregon was the only school I applied to because I knew that this was a school for me. After auditioning at the school of music and dance I felt completely at home in the percussion section. The professors we have here are internationally renowned. Here in Eugene, we have an amazing music scene for all genres. Because of the connections I have at the UO, not only am I a student, but I’m able to make my music a full-time career. I played with the Eugene concert choir, the Elsinore theater and orchestra next, a group that plays live music with the Eugene ballet company. But the UO doesn’t just Excel in music performance. We offer degrees in music history, music theory, jazz performance, pop music, dance, and so much more. The UO offers amazing performance opportunities for non-majors too. We have three rock and acapella groups you can join, various dance programs, no matter your experience and opportunities to enjoy almost 300 concerts and events each year. I’ve also been invited to travel internationally as a tour percussionist. Because of the amazing comradery we have here it was so easy for me to get involved. I will cherish all the memories I’ve made. Next for me is a lifetime of happiness, success and personal growth, all thanks to the opportunities and networking provided by the UO. That’s all from me. Take it back, Alex.
– Awesome, Natalie. Whether you are a musician or not, you can definitely get down with the programs in the school of music and dance. That was fantastic, Natalie. Take care.
Now we’re gonna meet one of UMBC’s terrific student leaders. Nailah-Bena is a junior global studies and Chinese major, and also a humanity scholar. Whether are you’re interested in student government or finding ways of making change on or off campus, UMBC is well known for empowering students to become the leaders of tomorrow. The floor is all yours Nailah-Bena.
– Thanks, Alex. When deciding way university I wanted to attend, I was stuck between two factors, diversity or community. I wanted to attend a university that not only felt like home, but that was diverse in its students and its perspectives. When I found UMBC, I was no longer stuck between one or the other, I had both, I love the way I’ve been able to make connection to my academic interests and my social life here and I’ve been able to grow as a leader as well. UMBC allows for student advocacy, whether that be through student organizations like SGA, where I currently serve as the Vice President of Student Organizations or if it’s through writing op-ed pieces for the school newspaper about allyship and equity, UMBC creates an environment where I can enhance my advocacy and leadership skills, both socially and academically. Our leadership program, such as the Center for Democracy and Civic Life help assist students in becoming stronger leaders, both on campus and post-graduation. Through leadership retreats and seminars, students have access to all types of resources here on campus. Even if you are not in a position within SGA or you are unsure of how leadership manifests itself on campus, UMBC creates an open environment where all students can use their voice. Leadership here can mean anything from learning how to have a hard conversation to volunteering in one’s community, to instituting big changes here and beyond. For example, all students are able to apply and be active within the Student Government Association, regardless of major or year. Additionally, there are plenty of chances for students to speak directly with faculty and administrators to voice their ideas and opinions. Whether you decide to take advantage of the wonderful opportunities here at UMBC or not, you will still have a great experience being a part of the Retriever community. UMBC supports its students every step of the way and equips us with the knowledge and confidence needed to prosperous alumni post-graduation. I can fit all that UMBC student leadership has to offer in such a short segment. But I hope that you have the chance to experience it here in person at UMBC. That’s all for me, take it away, Alex.
– Thank you so much, Nailah-Bena. It sounds like there are a million ways to become a leader at UMBC and a community of folks with tons of resources to help students grow. Looks like you’ve learned a lot yourself and we can’t wait to see what you do next, cheers.
All right, now we’re gonna meet Sandra, a student at UMBC at The Universities at Shady Grove. Sandra’s working on her masters in data science is gonna tell us all about how Shady Grove UMBC’s Campus near Washington, DC has given her exactly what she needs to succeed in her growing field, take it away, Sandra.
– Thanks, Alex, hi everyone. As a working adult I wanted to make sure that the graduate program of my choice provided me with the right resources, convenience and academic excellence in order for me to succeed in my career change. UMBC is a wonderful, convenient and supportive community and it has been the right choice for me. I attended Shady Grove for my undergrad in business at the University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business with a candle full tuition scholarship. I decided to come back for my master in data science from UMBC. The data science and cyber security graduate programs have an outstanding faculty, supporting community and academic excellence. I also obtained a graduate certificate in cybersecurity, which opened the doors for me in this field as well. USG’s campus was an easy commute from work and home. The hands on learning approach of a master’s program has provided me with the right skills to be a competitive candidate in the job market. I completed many machine learning projects with real life applications and I’m currently working on my capstone project, analyzing obesity data, using machine learning models such as logistic regression, and SBM. I was hired by a professional services firm and I’m currently a cyber security consultant there. Women and minorities are highly underrepresented in demanding careers like tech. As a Latina in tech, career changer and working adult, I would highly recommend UMBC’s Shady Grove professional studies programs in data science, cybersecurity and technically management among others because they speak directly to employee needs in expanding job sectors in Maryland and beyond. That’s it for me, Alex, back to you.
– Wow, Sandra, it really does sound like you found exactly the right place at the right time in your community at Shady Grove. And it looks like you’ve got an amazing career ahead of you. Thanks to all the preparation you’re getting through your programs there. Congrats Sandra and thanks for sharing your story.
All right, here we go. Everyone knows football is big in Texas, and there’s no exception here at UNT. So let’s head over to the Apogee Stadium where we gonna to meet Audrey Tan, a senior finance major who also happens to be an unbelievable golfer. And she’s gonna talk to us about athletics here at UNT. Audrey you’re on.
– Thank you Alex, hey everybody. I applied to UNT and about 50 other schools with no knowledge of UNT or the quality of the athletic program, but it was coach Akers, thoughtful and personalized approach that won me over. He also set the precedent of the kind of supportive people within the athletic department and throughout UNT campus. Being a student-athlete is challenging between driving school and practice. You also need time management skills and the ability to work under pressure, but most importantly, it is making sure we have time to refuel and take care of ourselves. Being thousands of miles away from home and thrown into a whole new culture, took a little while to get used to. But everyone here has been so supportive and shared me so many helpful resources. With the amazing support system here, I was able to settle in quickly. UNTS championship athletic teams I call them Mean , and you can really feel that Mean Green pride throughout campus. With people wearing , throwing out the claw and filling Apogee Stadium during football games. With 16 division one teams and over 130 conference championships, you can see what my fellow student athletes like to call you UNT our home. My three years representing UNT on and off the golf course has pushed me to achieve many of my goals. I won my very first conference title and went on to win my next post season event, while setting a personal scoring record. Through the amazing events and experiences here, I have grown so much as a person and a golfer, helping me take my game to the next level. That’s my story, and back to you, Alex.
– So cool, being a student-athlete is so challenging and being that you’re also from Malaysia makes your story even better. You have a special community here and we all can’t wait to see you on the tour. Good luck Audrey and take care.
This is gonna be great, Here’s Vanessa, a senior majoring in education, and she’s gonna tell us her UNT experience in her first language, Spanish. Take it away, Vanessa.
– Thank you, Alex, hey. Studying education of UNT has made me understand that there is always a way to use or implement other languages in the classroom while promoting internationalization. And this makes me super excited about my future as an English teacher and well, that’s all for me today. Back to you, Alex.
– Gracias Vanessa, your bilingualism has not only opened up opportunities for you, but for others as well. I loved hearing about your on-campus job, assisting students in both Spanish and English, wow! And the first-generation success center sounds like an amazing resource too. Kudos to you Vanessa, take care.
Get ready to meet Jane. She is a junior majoring in sociology, and she’s going to talk about the impact that research has on her studies here at the university. Jane, take it away.
– Hey, y’all. My name is Jane, and I’m from Colorado Springs, Colorado. And I chose the University of Oregon because I felt like I was more than just a number. In other words, I was a person before I was a student. And now I’m here studying sociology and art. Being a part of the social sciences department is something I’ve been really grateful for. I’ve always loved challenging myself academically and my peers and professors have made that really easy to do. There are quite a few majors to choose from. Some of our most popular are economics in general social science. But I found my home in the sociology department. I’ve always loved studying the world and the people in it. And lucky for me, that dream has become a reality here. I’m able to work with classmates who also want to deep dive into that research as well. Everyone in this department is incredibly passionate about what they’re doing and that’s what connects us. Whether it’s through the sociology club or a history class, it’s completely up to you. I always thought research was something that only graduate students could do. But here at the University of Oregon research is ingrained in you the second you step foot on campus. In fact, three quarters of our student population is involved in research. It’s not just for stem majors either, but for all of us, social science majors as well. My classmates and I get to research and study underlying social issues or how one portion of society functions all while connecting that data directly to the community around us. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do in college, but I knew I wanted to work with everyone around me. And something that makes the UO so special is just that, the people. I’m able to study what I love while having fun and making meaningful connections. And that’s something that I’m really grateful for. But that’s it for my story. Throwing it back to you, Alex.
– Thank you, Jane, for showing us that research doesn’t only belong in the lab. Here at the university, anyone can engage in research. From biology and chemistry to sociology, there really is a chance for every student to explore what interests them, and that is awesome. Thanks again.
Time to head over to Zach. Zach is a sophomore majoring in linguistics and Japanese, and he can’t wait to tell us about his experience at the UOs college of arts and sciences. The floor is all yours, Zack.
– Thanks Alex. Hello everyone. The University of Oregon was always my first choice. The students and faculty are so warm and inviting and an environment where we could be open, honest and friendly with each other was very important to me. And I felt that from the moment I stepped on campus. One aspect of the university that has been very important to my learning is not only how invested the faculty are in their fields of study, but how interested they are in sharing that knowledge and getting students excited about their particular fields. Many of the faculty are conducting research with undergraduate students, something that I’m very excited to be a part of starting this year. When it comes to the humanities and linguistics in particular, this kind of research, combining many different fields, such as sociology, psychology and linguistics can help us understand each other and make the world a better place, which is a large driving force behind humanities research here at the University of Oregon. Humanities at the UO will open up a wide range of career possibilities for me. From being able to work at a Japanese company abroad to translation work, or even being able to work full time researching as a professor, this field helps me understand the different perspectives and ways in which people think and express themselves. Although my college career has taken me in many exciting directions, I’m now able to visualize what I want out of a career for myself. Thanks to the humanities in particular I now have a plan and I’m excited to make a difference in the lives of people, both foreign and domestic. Thank you so much for listening to my story. Now back to you, Alex.
– Thanks Zach. The humanities certainly do provide an opportunity for students to go into a wide range of careers after graduating. Obrigado.