Now, we have talked about students at Goucher following their passions a couple times now, but here to talk more about that is Rachel, a Literature Major and Philosophy and Creative Writing Double Minor. She’s gonna let us know how Goucher empowers students to become who they’re meant to be through support and opportunities. Over to you, Rachel.
– Thanks, Alex. Hello everyone. I’m a disabled college student. Disabled college students do not get a lot of media representation and people tend to forget about us as a population, but we’re here, we wanna learn, and have fun, and generally have the college experience. At Goucher, I’ve been able to do all of these things because of the warm, collaborative community. I’ve had opportunities here to do things I never dreamed were possible. I’m on the leadership team of Equal Access, Goucher’s student run advocacy and support group focusing on students with disabilities, chronic illnesses, mental illnesses, neuro divergencies, and learning differences. I studied abroad in France, acted in a French play, wrote a fiction piece about a zombie apocalypse that takes in a Wawa Convenience Store, all during my time here, and through all of this, the Goucher community, professors, staff, and students have stood by me and supported me. Goucher is a place that both accepts you for who you are and helps you grow into the person that you want to be. It’s the first place I felt safe and comfortable truly being myself. Coming from a competitive high school, it was just amazing to find a place where everyone is genuinely rooting for each other to succeed. Goucher has helped me get to a point in my life where I’m ready to go out into the world. I’ve gained so much confidence, I’ve made lifelong friends, and I’m working towards a career in disability advocacy. My journey has not always been easy. There’s still so many barriers to accessibility that need to be dismantled. But the Goucher community has helped me to keep going and find the strength to fight against these challenges. Thank you so much for watching everyone, I hope you all have a lovely day. Now, back to you, Alex.
– Incredible, Rachel, with everything you have overcome, what an inspirational story. Thank you, you are already doing great things at Goucher and I’m sure you’re gonna go on to do so many more amazing things. I’m so glad Goucher gives students the time, space, and opportunity to follow their passions and find their true self. Cheers, Rachel.
Do you have an idea you like to bring to life, an invention or business to improve your community? Illinois Tech signature Interprofessional Projects Program allows you to work with a team of student to solve real world problems. Chemical engineering, student Bilal and this team, are working on a startup company and he’s here to tell us all about it. Bilal, please take it away.
– Thanks for the intro Alex, hi everyone. Illinois Tech has always had an influential position in my life. With my dad once being professor here, I spent most of my summers sitting in his office, peering outside his window, watching students walk by, little did I know that one day I would be one of them. In my opinion, one of the most fascinating aspects of the university has severe Interprofessional Projects Program, also known as IPRO. IPRO classes bring students of all different majors along with faculty and industry professionals together to solve real world issues, whether that be working with robots or designing greenhouses, there’s an exciting project for every student to work on. I believe this program truly allows students to find their passion, gain leadership skills and truly learn to innovate, to solve real world problems. Take me for example, last I took a course called social innovation design and I got the chance to create and lead my own group in a project. After I finished the course, I recruited a larger team composed of all university undergrad students. Steming from engineering, applied mathematics, economics and computer science. From there, we spent weeks researching and interviewing professionals to truly develop our idea into something with more impact and meaning. And once we establish that, we decide to create our very own startup company. Our company is called Square1, and our goal is to create a web application to help connect minority homeless youth in Chicago area with local resources. With the help and support of the university, my team and I are currently in the pro creating very first prototype of the app. It’s truly amazing to think that our hard work and effort, while still being students, has a potential to create such a positive change in the world. That’s all for me, sending it back to you, Alex.
– What an inspiring story Bilal, that is amazing. At Illinois Tech, students do more than learn, they learn to do and create. Here, you’ll gain an entrepreneurial mindset that will help you become a leader in the next generation, thanks again.
Illinois Tech is big on experiences. It takes them so seriously that Illinois Tech guarantees all students, internships, research projects, and other awesome ends on experiences through its one of a kind Elevate Program. Seth, a mechanical engineering major, had a life changing internship at NASA and he’s participating in Illinois Tech accelerated master’s program, which allows him to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in as few as five years, that is amazing. Seth, please take it away.
– Thank you Alex. Hey everyone. There were two things that set me on the path of becoming an engineer, reading comics with my father and my AP physics class. Both inspired me to make a change using both math and science. I transferred to Illinois Tech as an third year and immediately join student organizations. I found my closest friends in the National Society of Black Engineers in the Black Student Union. Now I serve as a student leader, helping those who are once in my shoes adjust. Student leadership has been an amazing experience for me. Seeing students make new friends and having a good time fosters a sense of family within the university. As a leader, the students I help continue to push me to be better. My peers inspired me to apply for the accelerated master’s program. This gave me an opportunity for an internship at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, working on an interplanetary space flight mission. Working at JPL was a dream come true, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the help of my student orgs. My time at NASA and as a student leader have grown my technical and interpersonal abilities far more than I could imagine. I’m truly grateful to the school and the student that have helped me pave my way to a successful future. I’ve been blessed with an opportunity to further my education to the fullest. The accelerated master’s program made my internship possible, the student community helped me adjust and become a great leader, and the faculty helped me find my passion. Thanks to the combination of these experiences, I’m confident that I have what it takes to elevate my future. That’s me in a nutshell, over to you, Alex.
– That is so cool Seth. It’s truly amazing how many experiential opportunities you’ll find at Illinois Tech from internships to student groups and team projects. What’s more, you don’t have to wait. You can begin taking part in them in your very first year. Like Seth, this sets you up for even more hands on upper opportunities down the road. Talk about paying it forward for yourself, cheers Seth.
Okay, it’s time to talk about an education that’s truly out of this world. Andy is an aerospace engineering student whose passion for space exploration founded a launching pad right here at Illinois Tech. Andy credits her professors with preparing her to land amazing internships, including one where she worked on the largest aircraft in the world. It is time for a lift off, Andy, please take it away.
– Thanks Alex. What’s up beautiful people. After graduating in the 2008 recession, working 10 years of jobs I’ve hated. I started volunteering at the Adler Planetarium, going back to my old love of space exploration. While on maternity leave, I watched the Falcon 9 land on the Of Course I Still Love You drone ship and I knew I had to be part of that world. Illinois Tech was the only school in Chicago that offered what I wanted in aerospace engineering. The faculty here care about your success and they know who you are. My professors have been incredibly understanding when issues arose with my young daughter, Zoe, or when I was diagnosed with cancer. Without my professors, I wouldn’t be a USRA scholar, a NASA space grant recipient or a Brook Owens fellow. Without them, I wouldn’t have worked on the largest aircraft in the world over the summer at Stratolaunch, or started working toward my private pilot license. Thanks to the support of this school, I was able to start Illinois Tech Rocketry, a team of students who wanted to get their hands dirty and build rockets. Within six months, we put up the school’s first high powered rocket. We have a small space now, but future students will be able to build bigger and fly higher because what’s the point of carving a path if others can’t follow? I am all about space exploration, be it building rockets or working on space habitats, I wanna be part of the future. I want other moms to see what I’ve done and follow their dreams. I wanna show my daughter, Zoe, that not even the sky is a limit for her. Thanks to Illinois Tech, I can. That’s my story, back to you Alex.
– What an exciting journey. Thanks Andy. It’s so inspiring to see how students at Illinois Tech receive personalized attention and support in addition to an amazing education and access to hands on experiential learning opportunities. Talk about taking your future to the next level. Absolutely incredible, take care.
Illinois Tech can help you shape your own big picture, incredible. I’m sure you all have heard of the movie “Top Gun”, right? But did you know there’s Top Gun among law students too? It’s an award given to the winner of an exciting competition where law students test their skills as trial attorneys, Illinois Tech is home to Chicago-Kent College of Law, one of the best law schools in the country, and law students, Zoe, is a recent Top Gun. She says Chicago-Kent’s combination of exceptional professors, foundational education and real world experiences have helped her land her dream job.
– Thanks Alex, hi everyone. When I was looking for a law school, I had three priorities, cost, practical trial skills, and location. It was hard for me to find a law school that prioritized all three but when I found Chicago-Kent, I knew I hit the jackpot. Chicago-Kent is in the heart of downtown Chicago and it’s surrounded by top law firms from around the globe. From day one, I was told that I would learn practical legal skills that I could use as soon as I started working in the legal field. And my professors were right, I immediately learned skills like legal research and trial advocacy skills that I now use every day as a law clerk and as a summer associate. After my first year at Chicago-Kent, I joined the trial advocacy team and I learned how far those skills could take me. Chicago-Kent’s team is ranked third in the country by US News and with good reason. Our eight teams are couched by practicing attorneys and sitting judges from around the country, many of whom are Chicago-Kent’s alums. Everything I’ve learned about litigation, I’ve learned from my amazing coaches and advocacy professors. I was chosen to compete in the hardest mock trial competition in the country, Baylor School of Law’s, Top Gun 2021. After only having 24 hours to prepare both sides of a case by myself, I managed to beat all 15 of the top advocates in the country and took home the title of Top Gun for Chicago-Kent. Since my first year at Chicago-Kent, I’ve grown into a polished and passionate trial advocate. Luckily I’ll be starting as a trial attorney at a large civil defense firm here in downtown Chicago after graduation. The practical skills that I learned at Chicago-Kent made all the difference and I’m so proud to be a CK student. That’s my story. Back to you, Alex.
– If I need an attorney, I am calling you Zoe. Chicago-Kent College of Law is a future focused law school that prepares its students to be ready to practice on day one. With a combination of foundational skills and practical experiences, you’ll graduate ready to hit the ground running. Thanks again, Zoe.
Okay everyone, wait until you hear all the fun opportunities our next student Kelsey is gonna share with us. Kelsey is a sophomore in the College of Human Sciences, majoring in kinesiology and health. Powered by a passion for people, the College of Human Sciences is filled with opportunities to innovate. Kelsey, the stage is all yours.
– Thanks, Alex. Hey, everyone. Coming here, I decided to investigate all the different majors and found kinesiology and health. Once I found the perfect major, I needed to decide on an option of interest and decided to become an occupational therapist. Iowa State has one of the world’s largest communities of human sciences. They have launched the careers of thousands of teachers, fashion designers, wellness professionals, nutritional experts, and family counselors. Which is why I know Iowa State will help me with my future career. There are over 60 clubs and organizations revolving around human sciences. I’m part of the Pre-occupational Therapy Club, where we have socials, talk about applying for graduate school and have guest occupational therapists talk about their experiences. The College of Human Sciences has a lot to offer like the fashion show. An annual event entirely run by students. I modeled in the fashion show in the spring. It was a lot of fun modeling the different designs made by Iowa State students, walking the runway and meeting new people. It was such to great experience and I hope to do it again this spring. The college also houses, the Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom. A restaurant and classroom teaching operation within Iowa State’s world renowned hospitality management program. This nonprofit restaurant is a 90 seat learning laboratory with meal service provided for faculty, staff, students and visitors. With the different majors, clubs, events and resources, Iowa State’s College of Human Sciences has so much to offer. Plus the College of Human Sciences offers $1.3 million in scholarships every year. I’ve learned so much here and I’m just getting started on my degree. Take it away, Alex.
– Kelsey, it is absolutely incredible how much you’ve done in just two short years at Iowa State. With all those experiences and a pre-health major, you’re sure to create a positive impact on people’s lives. Thanks again for that.
Okay, so while we have seen a lot of opportunities Iowa State offers academically, there are even more ways to get involved outside the classroom. Over 900 of them. Let’s meet Ally, a student club expert who has taken advantage of just about everything Iowa State has available. Ally, let’s hear all about it.
– Thanks, Alex. Hey, everyone. The second I stepped on campus, I fell in love with Iowa State. With a well known engineering program and a beautiful campus, my heart was captured. Iowa State has more than 900 student clubs and organizations. My first semester on campus, I went to Club Fest and joined 17 clubs. Club Fest is a way for students to connect with other clubs and organizations. Everything looked so fun and exciting, I couldn’t say no. On top of those 17 clubs, I was also involved in the sorority and fraternity community. Now I’m not saying to go and join 17 clubs, but I do suggest getting involved. I joined professional organizations, engineering organizations, and clubs for fun. Like learning how to swing dance. One of my favorite clubs is TEAM, the Engineering Ambassador and Mentor Program. With TEAM, I give tours through the College of Engineering to prospective students and families. And it has been the highlight of my week for the last four years. I’ve also loved being a part of the Society of Women Engineers and the Society of International Engineers. There is certainly a club for everyone and if it doesn’t exist, you can create it. Iowa State is a big school but joining clubs makes it feel smaller and gives a sense of community. Joining clubs also allows you to meet incredible people and gain skills for life after college. Giving tours for TEAM has allowed me to expand my public speaking and conversational skills. And with the Society of Women Engineers, I’m able to network with other professional women in engineering. Come find your club at Iowa State. Now back to you, Alex.
– Wow, Ally! I wouldn’t even know where to start! How exciting that you have experienced clubs to further your educational experience, clubs that allow you to give back and clubs to have some fun with friends. Sounds like you’ve had a blast. And there truly is something for every interest right here at Iowa State.
Next, we’re heading to the Jerry Colangelo Museum here on campus, where we’re gonna meet the legend himself, Mr. Jerry Colangelo. He has owned professional sports teams such as the Phoenix Suns, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and was the Managing Director of USA basketball, bringing home three gold medals. He is a legendary American businessman and sports executive, and he has played a big part in helping make GCU what it is today. Matter of fact, GCU’s business college is named Colangelo College of Business. And he’s gonna take a few minutes to speak about business, being a force for good, and his experience at Grand Canyon University. Mr. Colangelo, please take it away.
– It’s great to be with all of you, and whenever I come on campus, I just kinda get a thrill on and I’m excited about what is happening, what’s transpired over the last decade, and what is still to come. Another thing that has been very important to me is that, the Christian philosophy, the Christian base that we have here at the university, I take pride in the fact that this school stands for what it does, and takes the moral position that it does on all subjects. And it wasn’t too long ago when Brian Mueller came to see me and asked me to really get involved with the school of business here at the university. And that excited me. He had a unique vision in developing a hybrid product, an online emphasis, the building, not a campus. And, of course, what rang my bell, was the fact that basketball was gonna be a calling card. And so, one of the things I could do at that point was use my relationships to try and make that happen a lot sooner than it might ordinarily would’ve happened. So within a matter of months, we were in division one. We have a tremendously bright future in basketball and all sports here because there’s a commitment. All of these things up on the wall, talking about various things that have happened. History of Phoenix over the last 50 years, it was all about making a commitment, and then following through. The growth of the school, the people coming from around the country, is indicative of people looking for exactly what we’ve put in place here. Brian Mueller’s leadership, the management team here, the organization as it’s structured, is just committed to being the very best we could be. This has been a great deal of fun for me going down memory lane, and I hope you enjoyed it. And now, back to Alex.
– Mr. Colangelo, thank you for taking some time to talk about why you are so personally passionate about Grand Canyon University. Your devotion to this university and its message to the world is present throughout campus. That was really special. Thanks again, Mr. Colangelo.
Next, we’re heading over to another beautiful part of GCU’s campus to meet Kara. Kara received her Bachelor’s of Arts in History and a minor in Athletic Coaching from the Honors College here at GCU. And she’s gonna speak on how Grand Canyon University is empowering future leaders in this world. Kara, please take it away.
– Thank you so much, Alex. After watching my older sister attend GCU and seeing the financial and academic opportunities available, I knew I wanted to give GCU a shot. You see, I graduated high school with a 4.62 GPA and a perfect score on the SAT Reading Section, finishing sixth in my class. This presented me with the opportunity to apply to Ivy League universities, as well as obtain scholarships. I wanted a challenging academic program, close to home, where I could grow as a leader, a professional, and most importantly as a Christian, and GCU provided the perfect balance. Being super involved and being encouraged to be more well-rounded, is a huge reason that I got involved on campus. I wasn’t just a student leader. I played intermural sports, I was a member of the Havocs, which is our sports student section. I did a chapel on Mondays with 7,000 other students to hear the Word of God and worship together. I took outdoor recreation trips to places like Seven Falls in Tucson. I went to as many on-campus events as possible, and I had a job with the Honors College. It was through being an RA for three years that I truly found my place at GCU and met some of the best people I know. I learned how to serve others in ways that were unexpected and behind the scenes. I learned how to put myself out there and communicate with people, and I learned how to better balance discipline with grace. While serving as RAs, a huge emphasis from the university is on how college should not just grow you academically. Dorm life should teach you how to be a good neighbor. Attending sporting events should teach you how to win and lose with grace. Playing intermural sports should teach you the value of physical health and taking mental breaks. GCU graduates should be well-rounded individuals that are prepared to serve wherever the Lord calls us. With the skills and confidence I gained during my time here at GCU, I applied for and became a White House intern during the fall of 2018, I then went on to intern for one of our Arizona senators and was hired full-time. It was with the help of several GCU faculty members who went above and beyond to help me with my applications, resume, professional development, interviews, and letters of recommendation that I was able to succeed in Washington, DC even after I had graduated and moved away. I would not be where I am today if there were not for the things I learned while here at GCU and as a student leader. But more importantly, I would not be where I am today if it were not for the community that GCU provided me. The people at this university truly care about us as students and alumni, and want to see us change the world, wherever God calls us to. I am so thankful for their impact on my life and for my time at GCU. Thanks so much for letting me share my story. Alex, back to you.
– Kara, thank you for sharing that. It’s so fun to hear the awesome stories of GCU shaping leaders like yourself and so many other students going through these doors. That was great. Thanks, Kara.
Next, we’re heading to meet the Provost of GCU, Dr. Hank Radda. There is no question that here at Grand Canyon University, there is one purpose, success of their students. And Dr. Radda is gonna take a few minutes speaking about academics with purpose, and how GCU designs programs that prepare students for their careers from day one here at GCU. Dr. Radda, please take it away.
– Hey, thank you, Alex. On behalf of our faculty, the deans and all colleges, I’d like to welcome you to GCU and share with you some of our programs. We offer over 270 programs, focused on building foundations for careers in business, healthcare and nursing, theology, science and technology, humanities, fine arts and education. Two exemplars of our programs can be seen in nursing and in engineering. GCU has been offering nursing for over 30 years, and is known as an expert in delivering nursing education. The performance of our students is top-notch. They are scoring over 96% on the NCLEX, the national exam that leads to licensure. Engineering is a new program for us, but we built it the same way as nursing, based on the outcomes, based on experience, and within our first ABET accreditation visit, we earn ABET accreditation. And our industry partners are looking to hire our graduates, and they’re coming back after the first graduating class, and hiring more. So we know that, if you develop a program with the end in mind, with industry partners, that the outcomes for students is very good. At GCU, students success is paramount. All faculty and staff are dedicated to the success of students. We really get that feeling in terms of all faculty who go above and beyond the classroom, in terms of student clubs, professional organizations, and internships with industry partners. It is this way of thinking that a student develops wholly as a person, not only in the classroom, but with the industry experience that gives us the results we look for. The other support services academically, come around students in our Academic and Career Excellence Center, so that students could get any extra help they need to be the best. Our goal at Grand Canyon University is to guide students to find their purpose so that they may become the next generation of leaders. Thank you for considering GCU. And with that, I’ll turn it back to Alex.
– Dr. Radda, that was great. The way you’re building the strongest academic student body in the Southwest while guiding students to find their purpose to become the next generation of world leaders, is inspiring. Thank you again for that. Cheers, Dr. Radda.