Okay everyone. Let’s meet Amy. She’s in her senior year studying public relations here at the UO. Amy will be talking about this stunning campus nestled in the Willamette valley and its proximity to some of the most breathtaking landscapes here in the Pacific Northwest. Amy, please take it away.
– Hey everyone. I’m so excited to share my experience here at UO. I grew up just outside Portland and wanted to stay in state for the college experience, but wasn’t sure what career I wanted to pursue or what to expect coming to UO. Where I’ve ended up is completely different from what I expected. And I’m so happy it all put out the way it did. I’ve met so many people here who inspired me to find what I’m passionate about, which I’ve discovered is being outdoors. Eugene is definitely unique place. There are hiking trails, climbing gyms, parks in the Willamette river. And if you go a little bit out of town, there’s waterfalls, mountains for skiing and the beach. Eugene is just a few hours away from Smith rock, my favorite place in Oregon. I’m only a two-hour drive from Portland, one hour from the coast, a few hours from skiing in Ben and exploring the redwoods down in Northern California. Living in the Pacific Northwest has given me the opportunity to pursue self-reflection and figure out what I love to do. The UO prepared me for my past two internships, which helped me find balance in my life. Feeling confident about my experiences allows me to focus my energy on my passions, which I’m so excited to keep exploring. Had I not chosen to go to UO three years ago and met the people I did, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I learned to go with what feels right and be open to new experiences. Everybody’s college experience is different and mine is a lot different than expected, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. Back to you, Alex.
– Amy, thank you for showing us around this beautiful state of Oregon. What an amazing place to call home while you’re studying. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to hit those hiking trails. But before we do, let’s learn a bit more about this university. Thanks again for that.
Now it’s time for us to meet Jailah. She’s a senior studying human physiology and planning public policy and management. Research is super important to her. And she’s here to share with us her experience studying the natural sciences. Jailah is at the Knight campus where the UO scientific discoveries turned into the medicines and technologies we all will be using soon. Jailah, it is all yours.
– What’s up y’all and thanks Alex, for the intro. As a child growing up, I was really curious, wanting to know more about the world around me. I needed to be someplace that I could explore. The University of Oregon was that place for me. The emphasis that you UO places on research allows me to dive in and explore my interests. I am currently studying human physiology in the department of natural sciences within the college of arts and sciences. I came into college thinking I knew exactly what I wanted to do, and that couldn’t have been further from the truth. The University of Oregon prides itself in letting students be curious, make mistakes and change their minds. There are so many programs to choose from and lots of ways for students to get involved. I also volunteer at the university health services building. What I love about the natural sciences is that faculty share their excitement for research with students and provide so many opportunities for them to get involved. And hear the Knight Campus, students can tap into new opportunities in applied science and engineering as well. Even outside of academics, the University of Oregon gives you so many opportunities to discover what you love. Our campus offers over 300 different clubs and organizations to get involved in. My time here at the University of Oregon has been something I will never forget. I have grown so much as a student and young adult. The person that I am leaving U of Oregon is so much stronger, confident, and well-rounded than the person I was entering. Thank you all so much. And back to you, Alex.
– Wow. What awesome opportunities for students both inside and outside of the classroom, and the Knight campus is definitely where innovation is taken to the next level. Thanks again, Jailah. That was fantastic.
Next up is Sarah, a junior psychology major with a personal interest in helping people around her. Sarah’s gonna tell us all about her experiences with public research for the public good and why UMBC is so keen on making community engage research, such a big part of students’ lives. It’s all yours Sarah.
– Thanks, Alex. Growing up, I always wanted to help people, whether I was with my friends or doing a volunteer project, I always felt best helping people to get in a better position. I didn’t know how to go into a community, learn about their needs and address them accordingly until I learned about the power of community driven, applied research. I love how UMBC embraces the inquiring minds of student and provide so many research opportunities to actualize our potential. I chose to study psychology to achieve my goal of affectingly helping people by analyzing their environment and the adjustments that can be made to improve their wellbeing and productivity. I received a research opportunity from my wonderful academic advisor and I worked with her for over a year to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on students’ academic success. I’m also McNair scholar, it’s a program that emphasizes research and graduate school education for underserved, low income and first generation college students. Being surrounded by a supportive community that provides funding and other resources shows that success in research is achievable. Finding research in your discipline is only a click away. You’ll be able to learn more about your field and what the needs are and you’ll be equipped with the tools necessary to elicit change wherever your education or profession takes you. My research experiences have given me the knowledge and confidence necessary to become an asset to my field and community. UMBC will help you learn your purpose, put your passion action, add to your field’s knowledge base and make the world a better place. Back to you, Alex.
– Thank you so much, Sarah. I loved hearing about how you’ve been able to take what you’ve been learning and really make a difference in the community with your research. It’s amazing and such an aspiring way of combining your personal interests with your work. Thanks again.
Now we’re gonna meet Thomas, a senior political science major and President of UMBC’s National Championship winning mock trial team. Thomas loves to cheer on Retriever athletics, but he’s also gonna tell us about what it’s like to compete on an intellectual sports team at a school where it’s cool to be smart. Take it away, Thomas.
– Thank you, Alex. When I came to UMBC, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I knew that I liked politics and the law, but I wasn’t really sure how I was going to make a career out of it. I got lucky and I found UMBC’s mock trial team. Through mock trial, we compete against teams from all across the country in trial simulation activities. Students play witnesses and give testimony or play attorneys and make arguments and that’s what I do most of the time. I’m also the team’s President. I love that I’m able to compete on a successful intellectual sports team run entirely by student leaders and UMBC alumni, like our head coach, Ben Garmer, class of 2013. I get to compete with the team full of people that have differing backgrounds, ideas and majors that all have a passion for advocacy just like I do. The wide variety of people in our program is one of the reasons why we’re so good at what we do. In fact, we won a national championship this year. It’s also so important to me that UMBC values our successes. We’ve been recognized by UMBC’s president, professors who know how hard what we do is and even the governor. Even the students at UMBC are always hyped and excited to see us do our best every year. At UMBC, it’s cool to be smart. Here, I’ve learned how important it is to advocate for yourself and advocate for others and how great it feels to get cheered on, which I do a lot of at UMBC’s soccer games. I can’t wait to apply the skills that I’ve learned and the passion that I’ve developed out in the world. Back to you, Alex.
– That was amazing, it’s so cool to see how everybody cheers each other on at UMBC. Thanks for sharing your experience with mock trial and as part of Retriever Nation, Thomas. I see big things ahead for you for sure, thanks again.
Okay, everyone let’s get started with Maurice, he’s a Sophomore double majoring in communication design and art history and urban policy and planning. Maurice, is going to tell us what life on campus is all about. Okay, Maurice, it’s all yours.
– How do you all from the University of North Texas, I am honored to share some of the things that make this campus, my home. I decided that UNT was the right fit for me once I went on my first campus visit, where I found a diverse and caring community. Some people were like me and others weren’t and that’s very important. Right away I felt accepted. Now as a student living on campus, I’m able to take part in events, hosted by student-led organizations, such as the Residence Hall Association, the University Programming Council and the Black Student Union. At Mean Green Flint UNTS annual welcome back party. It was hard for me not to join every club I came across because so many of them represent so many great things and they have free swag. The dining halls are amazing and the food is incredible. They’ve won a ton of awards and I can see why. We have the first 100% vegan dining hall. Texas’ first dining hall certified free of gluten and the big eight allergens as well as a brand new dining hall. Our dining halls use sustainable eco-friendly practices and dining services even grows a lot of the food that eat. In our beautiful eco-friendly union, you will find live music events, art exhibits, and food options that can be explored to your heart’s content. Also, one of the many perks to being a student here at UNT is that you get a free ticket to all of our division one athletic events and full access to our awesome pole recreation center. These are just a few of the ways that I got involved here at UNT. With over 425 student orgs and 1,500 on-campus events each year. I’m sure that there’s something here for you. Back to you, Alex.
– Maurice, thank you for showing us why UNT is the perfect fit for you with the union, the food, the rec center and the division one games. I can see why you call UNT your home, thanks Maurice.
Up next is Dr. Ana Alonso, faculty member in the Department of Biological Science. She’s gonna give us a look at the 22 research centers and institutes at UNT and how UNT faculty work with students to collaborate on breakthrough research. Dr. Alonso, please take it away.
– Thanks Alex, hi everyone. UNT is a T1 public research institution where world-renowned faculty members, who are experts in their fields are heavily involved in scientific research. And there are many opportunities for you to be part of it all. There is a vibrant research culture here at UNT as part of our 22 research centers and institutes. We are four institutes of research excellence that tackle global challenges related to health, food security, energy security, environment, and many more. Another one of my roles is associate director of the Bio-discovery Institute, where I explore my passion for plant biochemistry. Plants are extraordinary biochemical factories, that produce a lot of molecules we are using in our everyday life like food, biofuels and medicinal compounds. In UNT state of the art labs my research group is working on alternative crops. These plants considered as weeds for a long time are now generating a lot of interest because they produce a type of oil in their seeds that you suitable for many industrial applications. These alternative crops require low agricultural input. Do not compete in the field with all the important food crops and have the potential to replace many of the petrochemicals that we are currently using. I collaborate with other researchers at UNT across the US and abroad. Most importantly, we opened the doors of our laboratories to you, our undergrad students. So you can get hands-on experience in our ongoing research projects. Think about UNT as a nest of Mean Green Eagles. When you join UNT for your studies, the caring faculty members take you under their wings. They feed you with knowledge. They share with you the most recent techniques and findings. And then when you graduate from UNT, you extend your own wings. You fly away from the nest stronger to achieve your career goals. Up to you, Alex.
– Dr. Alonso, the work you’re doing is absolutely mind blowing. I love that you include your students in your research, so they get experiential learning. I can see that UNT faculty have a special bond with their students, and that is awesome. Thanks again, Dr. Alonso, take care.
Okay. Now let’s throw an O over to Riley and Bretten. They are twin brothers in their junior year studying business administration with concentrations in operational business analytics and entrepreneurship. These global scholars just returned from a summer in Italy and are ready to share their international adventures with us all.
– Thanks for the introduction, Alex.
– we were big fans of UO growing up. So when we started our search for potential universities, we knew UO was the right choice.
– We wanted to study business and be a part of the Robert D Clark’s honors college. We attended an information session through the university’s global education Oregon, and we’re excited to study abroad. We’ve always had the desire to travel and learn more about other cultures.
– [Riley] After talking to our academic advisors and the global education Oregon staff, we decided to study wine marketing in Santa Italy for our summer term. While there, we studied sustainable marketing, intercultural communication and wine management.
– [Bretten] Our in-class projects replicated a hands-on practical business experience. We traveled throughout Italy and learned the culture, the history and the cuisine of many Italian regions.
– This program is just one of hundreds offered at University of Oregon. Whether you’re looking for an internship, a language program, or to study within your major, global education, Oregon can help you reach your goals and organize a plan.
– [Bretten] And with the launch of UOs new school of global studies and languages in the college of arts and sciences, the UO is opening up even more doors to be more globally minded, learn new languages and find solutions to some of the world’s greatest challenges.
– We knew our time at Oregon was going to be amazing, but that diversity and opportunities we were offered far exceed our expectations. Aside from international travel, we’re also part of the run club and the Warsaw business club.
– We’ve built incredible memories in the classroom, studying abroad and cheering on our ducks at sporting events. There is no better place than Oregon and as always, Go ducks.
– Okay. So who wouldn’t want to study wine marketing in the Tuscany region of Italy? Now that’s an international class project that I could get behind. And that’s only one of many opportunities for these ducks to take flight around the world. Thanks you two.
All right, everyone. Now let’s meet Gabby. She’s a junior studying business administration with a concentration in marketing and a minor in Spanish. Gabby, you’re on.
– Thanks, Alex. Hi, everyone. When searching for colleges, I had no idea where I wanted to go. What I did know was that I wanted to go further from home so I can be in a new, exciting place to be more independent and find adventure. After touring the University of Oregon, from the academics to the amazing school spirit, I fell in love with everything it had to offer. The Lundquist College of Business stood out to me especially and I knew I wanted to major in business after hearing all about it. The college is ranked among the top 30 public business schools in the country. Now I’m a mentor for the Lundquist flight school setting up new business students for success. Lundquist has so many resources, such as Mohr career center, Braddock tutoring center and tons of business clubs to join. I especially love being part of the international business association. I’ve met people from all over the world. And the Lundquist college of business has a top three green MBA program. MBA students are well-prepared in environmental issues, sustainability and social responsibility for a career in the green job market. Oregon is also a worldwide leader in sports and outdoor product education and research offering a master’s degree in sports product management. I know I’ve made a great decision choosing the UO. I’ve had the time of my life here in Oregon, gathering knowledge from my courses and meeting some amazing people along the way. We can’t wait to see you on campus where you can start your own story. That’s all from me. Back to you, Alex.
– Thanks, Gabby. Wow. With all those resources at your fingertips, you are definitely going to be prepared for the competitive job market that awaits you after graduation. No doubt your career will take flight. Take care.
Next up we’re heading to UMBC’s new Center for Well-Being to meet Cindy, a junior statistics major who came to UMBC from South Korea. Cindy is gonna tell us about the ways UMBC supports the whole student to make sure they feel healthy, welcome and cared for, Cindy you’re up.
– Thanks, Alex, hi, my name is Cindy Um. I’m from South Korea and I moved to Maryland about five years ago. When I was a child, I looked at the map and thought that I’d like to visit other countries and become a global person with diverse experiences. Thankfully, I have wonderful parents who always support my ideas actively and taught me to live independently. Coming to America was very big challenge, but the support of my parents and my childhood dream would motivated me. And I was happy to find a community at UMBC that supports whole students. One example is the Global Ambassadors Program, a part of our wonderful Center for Global Engagement, which provides so many resources for students. As an ambassador I can help other international students better understand university service, such as on campus support for academic achievement, preparation for future job interviews and on campus employment. Last summer I participate in a webinar and wrote a guide book for new college students, including useful tips for adjusting American cultures, about the difficulties that they faced in the past. That’s just one way UMBC takes care of students. UMBC also offers space programming and steps, support centers of wellness, spirituality and health, including our brand new Center for Well-Being. And there are also endless exciting event throughout the year, including Homecoming and the big carnival. Meeting new people and having fun gives me new vitality and motivation when I feel homesick. Not to mention the UMBC community always welcomes me and makes me feel like family. UMBC always makes me feel welcome and supported me whole person. If you dream of becoming a global talent, come to UMBC and make your dream come true. Alex, back to you.
– What a great story, Cindy, it’s incredible to hear about how you feel on such a caring community waiting for you at UMBC. And to know that those resources really do cover all the bases, it makes all the difference in the world. Well done, Cindy, thanks for sharing your story.
Now we’re heading over to UMBC student inspire coffee shop, Oca Mocha, to meet Zion, a senior media and communications studies major who has a serious entrepreneurial spirit. He’s gonna tell us all about the music label he started and all the folks at UMBC who helped him make that dream a reality. We can’t wait to hear more Zion, please take it away.
– Thanks for the introduction, Alex. Growing up in a military family, I’ve always had a sense of adventure. I’m a transfer student and I’ve changed my major three times and throughout my entire journey, UMBC has provided me with the guidance and support that I’ve needed to succeed. As a creative, finding that balance between following your dreams and making a can be challenging. Thankfully though, UMBC champions great ideas and backs that up by helping students to pursue our unique entrepreneurial paths. I was inspired by the story of Oca Mocha, a coffee shop born in the UMBC classroom. And I felt empowered to pursue my own interest in the music and entertainment industry. Our media communications depart offers a wide variety of classes that help like-minded students to connect. It was in one of these classes where I met two friends who had helped create Nostalgia War Records. With the school’s backing Nostalgia has shot music videos, hosted talent showcases and collaborated with local artists. I love how I’m able to truly bridge my academic interests with my future profession at UMBC, The Alex Brown Center for Entrepreneurship is a great on campus resource, they offer workshops, panels and contests for student entrepreneurs. Through their services I have connected with professionals already working in the music world and gained valuable insights into the industry. So whether you’re looking to start an independent record label, a community driven coffee shop or any other idea that drives you, UMBC will make sure you have the skills and connections that you need to succeed. Because of my time here, I feel ready to work towards my dreams and goals after graduation. And that’s all for me, so I’ll send it back to you, Alex.
– Zion, you are truly making it happen. Thanks for telling us about how you built your label. It’s so inspiring. It’s so cool to think that you can grow your ideas like that right here at UMBC. Best of luck with everything Zion, take care.