Okay, everyone, we have another impressive FAU student for you to meet. Aiden is a business management major with an emphasis in entrepreneurship. He’s gonna share his story of taking an idea and turning it into a business with the help of the resources FAU offers to student innovators and entrepreneurs. This is gonna be a good one, Aiden, you’re up, my man.
– Welcome to sunny South Florida, a boater’s paradise. I grew up on the water whether it was boating, fishing, or surfing, and I knew I wanted to attend a school that fit for me and my future. With most of my life being spent around the ocean, it was only proper that I build my career around it. Thus, my entrepreneurial mindset took over. When I had the idea to innovate the boating community, like any startup business, the early stages of development can be quite scary. But FAU gave me the tools and resources I needed to create my startup business, Marine Connex, a platform that connects boaters with qualified marine service vendors. Taking a leap with my idea into several entrepreneurial programs such as the FAU Wave, the Business Plan Competition, and the FAU Tech Runway, I began to see a future for me for Marine Connex. I applied and was accepted into the FAU Wave program. This program helped me get my idea up and running. As I developed further, I was accepted into the FAU Business Plan Competition. I stood up in front of a room of investors and pitched my idea, not as a student, but as a professional. I won first place and $10,000 to begin investing into my idea. FAU has done so much for me and I’m gonna go ahead and leave you with one more piece of advice. FAU provides students with so many opportunities to be successful, but it’s up to you as the student to take advantage of those opportunities and to make it happen. Back to you, Alex.
– Thank you, Aiden. Boca Raton has a long history of innovation as home to centers credited with the advancement of modern computing and airborne radar, so it’s fitting that a school founded in this region of ingenuity provides unmatched opportunities for students to turn their dreams into reality. Thanks again.
All right, everyone. Now we’re heading over to Lopes Way. Here, we have Noah Wolfe waiting for us. Noah received his undergraduate degree here in Christian Studies, and is currently getting his master’s degree online while serving as the Director of Alumni Relations. Noah is gonna share an exciting story about what opening doors and opening arms means right here at Grand Canyon University. Noah, it’s all yours.
– Hey, everybody. My sophomore year on campus, I was in a course that was discussing the negative effects of poverty on our society. And there was one class period in particular, where we were watching a video of a middle-aged African-American woman who is sharing how her community had been dramatically impacted by low incomes, violence and drug abuse. As I began to pay closer attention to the words that she was saying, I started to realize that she happened to be from the exact same neighborhood that I was born into, a place full of very little hope. Statistically speaking, college can be difficult to access for a lot of people. It’s challenging for those who were born into environments, similar to mine to pursue higher education, but as I reflect over the course of my life, there have been countless individuals and organizations who have chosen to stand up to statistics and advocate for equal opportunity. Grand Canyon University, without a doubt, has proven themselves to be one of these organizations. This place is so special to me because it is a champion of inclusion, community and equal opportunity for all. Regardless of where we come from, everyone here is valued as a child of God that is wonderfully made. Together, We remain unified through the belief that Christ death and resurrection brings us in as one incredible family. During my time on campus, I had the ability to interact with so many different types of people from so many diverse backgrounds. Our students, staff, faculty, and alumni represent all socioeconomic classes of Americans, and in my opinion, that is something uniquely special to this place. GCU is teaching people, not just how to live together, but how to thrive together, how to collaborate with one another on some of our communities most challenging problems so that we can make a difference. All of this is coming from a place that says, if we work together and remain unified under key principles, we can make the world a better place. I’ve never experienced a culture like this, a Christian community of people who are deeply committed to serving one another. My senior year, I had the privilege of serving in the role of student body president, and today I get to serve as our director of Alumni Relations. I could not be more grateful to be a part of a workforce full of thousands of individuals who are passionate about the purpose of coming alongside people and helping them find theirs. As our alumni base continues to grow at an incredibly rapid rate, our hope is to build supportive programming that leaves a legacy, and allows people to remain connected and engaged to their purpose and the university for years to come. I would highly encourage anyone who is looking for an advocate in the world of higher education to consider GCU. We are building a community here that is committed to cheering you on towards a higher purpose, and all of that is being fueled by a simple concept, that together we can pioneer the world of private Christian education with America’s promise of equal opportunity for all. That’s my story. Lopes up. Back to you, Alex.
– Noah, your message about how GCU is teaching the students, not just how to live together, but how to thrive together is awesome. You can feel that energy all around campus here. Thanks again for that, Noah.
let’s now head over to the crosses on campus to meet Bethany. She received her undergraduate degree here in Christian Studies, and is now pursuing her master’s in counseling. And Bethany is gonna speak about freedom and faithful leadership here at Grand Canyon University. The story she has about deciding to come here is just awesome. Bethany, please take it away.
– What’s up everybody. I am so excited to share my story on how I decided on GCU. I was in my senior year at a small Christian school in Colorado Springs, and I had dreamed of going to a big Christian university. I was student body president, I was in honors, and dual enrollment courses each year in high school with a very high GPA. This presented me with the opportunity to apply to even Ivy League universities, as well as obtain multiple scholarship offers. However, months later, my parents and I were on a plane to Phoenix, Arizona to visit Grand Canyon University. And the first thing I noticed, was the Latinx culture. There were Mexican restaurants and mom-and-pop shops. That’s true in my multicultural loving heart, my striving for missions. Fast forward to a few days of getting to know campus, and my parents and I were invited to a chapel service, where the speaker was talking about the life of a warrior woman, and giving credence to the power that women in leadership have. This kept tugging at my heart as I thought about the possible opportunities and experiences I could have here. So, I decided to attend GCU to pursue my undergraduate in Christian Studies with the intention of then going on doing master’s in counseling. Throughout my time as a student in the theology program, I was given the freedom to explore at my own pace, and I had a plethora of options around campus to further engage in my faith. One of the best parts about my experience as a student, was getting to truly connect with the kids in this neighborhood, through my student worker position, which eventually turned into my full-time position here at GCU while I work on my master’s in counseling. I was given the opportunity to lead GCU’s Thunder Vision program, which teaches college readiness to middle school students from neighboring Title 1 schools. These kids likely have never thought college would be an option for their life, but once they come to campus and they hear what we have to say, it changes everything, including themselves and their family’s lives. Yes, I went into this program to change these kids’ lives. Man, these kids have changed my life just as much. My husband and I love this neighborhood so much that we decided to move into it and become a part of this culture. I wouldn’t have any of this if it weren’t for GCU, and I know there’s so many other people who have had these life-changing experiences here. It’s almost magical. I have loved to telling my story to you guys about my time here at GCU, and now, Alex, it’s back you.
– What an incredible story. Your excitement for GCU is contagious. Thank you for opening up and telling us that awesome story. That was a lot of fun. Cheers, Bethany.
Okay everyone, now, we’re heading to Crawford Green. Without a doubt, the center of campus activity. Here, we have Tanner Crampton waiting for us. He’s a junior with a double major in aviation management, and air traffic control, with a minor in unmanned aerial systems. Pretty impressive, Tanner. And he’s very excited to share with us what Florida Tech life is all about here on campus. Tanner, how are you? Take it away.
What’s up everyone? Welcome to Florida Tech. We are proud to be one of the most diverse campuses in the State of Florida. One of my favorite things, is that there’s always something going on, on campus. With over 165 clubs, you’ll be sure to find your new family. Personally, I love being social, I love being involved, all while having strong academics. Florida Tech gave me the perfect opportunity to do just that.
It all starts right here on the Crawford Greens, the heart of campus. From your first event at orientation, to your last at Grad Bash at graduation, you will have made so many memories to love and cherish. You never know what might be going on around here. There are so many different types of events, but my favorite, is the local farmer’s market. They have local vendors, farm animals, food trucks, and my favorite, the hummus stand. When your busy day is over, you can head on over to the Panther Plaza where we have many movie nights, or to South Gate Fields where you’ll find our intramural sports practicing, or Greek Life posting their philanthropy events. Doing all of those activities works up an appetite, or at least it does for me.
Head on over to The Rathskeller, or Black Kats Kafe, where I like to grab a bite to eat with friends, listen to some music, sing some karaoke, and of course, play some games. What makes it all so enjoyable though, is the relationships and friendships you make along the way. We have clubs from every area of interest, from e-sports, to radio stations, music, theater groups and so much more.
Where I’ve made most of my memories, and friends, is when I chose to join Greek Life, where we pride ourselves in community, leadership, and of course, brotherhood, and sisterhood. It’s evident to me that you’re not only here for the classes and labs that prepare you for the future, but for your college experience as a whole. My advice, be bold, and remember to make your college experience unique. Remember to keep an open mind, be outgoing, and be you. Alex, back to you.
Tanner, that was fun. Great job. With all the clubs, and orgs, and other ways to get involved, it sounds like there’s always something to do here at Florida Tech. Maybe that’s why every person I meet seems super happy to be here. I love it, what a fun campus! Thanks again, Tanner.
All right, everyone. Now, we’re heading over to Panther Plaza. A really cool spot here on campus, to meet Tij Vishwakarma. Tij received his undergraduate here in aerospace engineering, and has started his master’s degree in ocean engineering. Tij is gonna speak about the warm, and welcoming culture and community he found here at Florida Tech. Tij has some great stories about how this school has positively affected his life. Tij, you are on, take it away.
Thank you, Alex, for that amazing introduction. You know, students from all over the world, come to Florida Tech. If you ask me, there’s something very special about this place. The very first time I came on campus, was also my very first time in the United States. My parents were nervous. I was nervous too, but you know what? The moment we met the welcoming community of Florida Tech, every worry disappeared.
In the first week itself, I met students from across the globe. Each person I met was friendly, and had a positive attitude. I never expected to meet my friends like Tom, Jess, and Daniel. Tom, is a guy from Scarborough, Maine, who I met during an orientation icebreaker. It just so happened that he loved table tennis as much as I did. And so naturally we bonded. First, we became friends, then we became roommates, and now, we’re like brothers.
Now, let me tell you about Jess. I met her in the Evans Library while I was studying for my Physics 2 exam. I shared my stories about India, and she told me about her life in Greenville, South Carolina. We realized that even though we were worlds apart, we had so much in common. I could not let this opportunity go. So, I asked her out. Now, she’s my long-term girlfriend, and also my closest friend.
In the summer of 2016, in a breather between classes, I sat down next to a guy named Daniel. I asked him where he was from, and he said, Gambia, West Africa. We talked for hours. He told me about African traditions, and I realized how similar they were to the Indian traditions. We shared our love and interest for technology, and now we’re best friends. When we all first met, the only thing we had in common, was Florida Tech. Now, we are all like family.
As an international student, I feel like Florida Tech does everything it can to make me feel like home, from Panther Dining Hall’s International Dinner Series, to the university’s annual International Festival, during which the students, and community organizations come together to celebrate the sights, tastes, and sounds of various world cultures. But what I think really brings me, and people like Jess, Tom, and Daniel together, is the unique community that Florida Tech fosters. Florida Tech is an amazing place to live and learn, and I would not trade my experience for anything else. Back to you, Alex.
Tij, Great job. Thank you for opening up, and getting personal about the culture and community here at Florida Tech. That was special. Cheers, Tij.
Okay, so now we’re heading to Florida Tech’s beautiful Botanical Garden. A tropical oasis tucked away in this peaceful corner of campus. And we’re going to meet Emily Warner. She’s a senior here at Florida Tech, majoring in psychology, with a concentration in animal behavior. Emily is going to talk to us about student-faculty mentorship at Florida Tech. Wait until you hear what Emily is doing here at the school, it’s awesome. Emily, please take it away.
Thanks, Alex. Hello everybody. I chose to come to Florida Tech for the small classroom sizes, and the tight knit community. I didn’t want to be seen as just a number. At Florida Tech, my class size is average from about 25 to 30 people. This means that by the end of my semester, I’ve gotten to know my professors really well.
The substantial relationship I built here in my time at Florida Tech, is with Dr. Darby Proctor. She is my research mentor, has been my professor for several classes, she even became my employer this past August when she created a federal work study position for me within her lab. Being a part of this lab, has opened up a world of opportunities for me. Because of her, I’ve had the chance to be involved in the introduction of a rescued spider monkey to our troop at Brevard Zoo.
This has been an incredible research opportunity, and has fostered a love for non-human primates that I didn’t previously know that I had. She’s not only a great mentor in an academic sense, but also a personal sense. She even sends me information about job openings that she thinks that I would be a good fit for. I know my relationship with Dr. Proctor is not unique among Florida Tech students. My closest friends all have similar relationship with mentors in the fields of aerospace engineering, astrobiology, forensic psychology, marine biology, and more.
These experiences have been critical in helping Florida Tech students receive scholarships, internships, and even jobs once they have graduated. So if you’re looking for a tight-knit community, with a plethora of undergraduate research opportunities, then Florida Tech is the school for you. Back to you, Alex.
Emily, it’s absolutely profound what you’re doing here at Florida tech. Next time you get to work with a baby spider monkey, can you please call me so I can join? Unbelievable. Thanks again for sharing. That’s awesome, Emily.
Next, we’re heading to the Orlando Melbourne International Airport, home to FIT Aviation. Florida Tech’s very own flight training facility. Just a short drive from campus, this is where students like Greg Dunn, a junior majoring in aeronautical science with flight, become pilots. Greg is going to talk to us about flying planes here at Florida Tech. Greg, you’re on, take it away.
Hey guys, one thing that sets Florida Tech apart from other colleges, is that we have our own flight school. Florida Tech is home to one of the most respected collegiate aviation programs in the country. As long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be a pilot. And as you can probably hear, I do have a Jamaican accent. Which means me leaving my small island, and finding that one college that would have made my dreams a reality. That was Florida Tech.
Here we are, at Emil Buehler Center For Aviation Training & Research, which is located about 10 minutes away from the Florida Tech campus, at Orlando Melbourne International Airport. This facility is home to FIT Aviation, also known as Florida Tech’s flight land. As a flight student, my day starts off with me waking up approximately an hour and a half before my flight, and heading to the flight land. I then get checked in at this bird, and my instructor is usually coming out to get the lesson started. This is usually around 5:30 in the morning. So my takeoffs are two hours of course, into the sunrise. This is a breathtaking scene.
Florida Tech has their students to dive head first into their majors. This was extremely important to me, as one of my biggest fears was having to wait over a year to fly. This was not the case at Florida Tech. Soon after arriving on campus, I remember getting a text message from my instructor saying, I had my first fight in the preceding days. Being able to fly so quickly, made me know that Florida Tech had my best interest at heart.
Learning to fly here in Melbourne, Florida is amazing. Not only do we get to take advantage of over 300 days of pristine weather, but we do get one of the best approaches in the world. We fly over the land, fly over sea, we even fly over campus. We have a variety of top of the line, single and multi-engine Piper training aircraft, and an award-winning maintenance department known for excellence in safety and service.
Another thing that I really appreciate, is that Florida Tech are not only here for the students, but they’re here for the community. The team here at FIT Aviation has done everything from flying hurricane relief supplies to The Bahamas, to helping our locals who transport our endangered animal from Texas to here. Florida Tech students are part of something bigger than themselves. In my experience, Florida Tech’s flight land is a tight-knit community of really caring aviators, who want to see the community grow. I urge anyone who has the slightest dreams of becoming a pilot, to take a look at Florida Tech’s program. I can promise you, you won’t regret it. That’s it for me, back to you, Alex.
Greg, I love how you have always wanted to fly planes, and are now making that dream a reality right here at Florida Tech. That was fun, great job. Cheers, Greg.
Okay, first, we’re gonna meet up with Iyahna Calton. She’s a junior originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is majoring in psychology with a double minor in criminology and pre-law, very, very impressive. And she’s gonna share with us what campus life is all about here at Fort Lewis. Take it away, Iyahna.
So, when it comes to campus life at the Fort, there are a number of ways to get involved. Let’s be honest, that’s a big part of the college experience, the community. And that’s exactly why our campus is buzzing with events and activities for the students.
Usually when something big is taking place on campus, it’s best to be in what I call the Wholly Triad. The Wholly Triad consists of the clock tower, the library and the student union and are commonly places where students can find, A, an ideal study spot, B, a tabling event of some sort, or C, a place to hang out and meet someone new. Over time at Fort Lewis, these places became legendary to me, wholly in a sense, serving as a space to meet some of the most wonderful people in my life today. And these views are just a few of the beautiful places available to students on campus, functionally serving as a hotspot for new hangs or the place for the perfect picture.
Personally speaking, my experience at the Fort has been full of perfect and not so perfect moments. If you ask me, understanding life as a young adult can be all too challenging, which is why choosing the right college can quite literally mean everything. Fort Lewis meant, for me, choosing an unknown path, a new path when it came to forging diversity, equity and inclusion. Fast forward three years and self-work, growth and actualization to have taken place right here on this very campus. And thanks to campus life, I’m grateful for the opportunities presented to me.
I was able to genuinely cultivate a network that of which I am so very proud of. My role as a part of student government has allowed me to represent the student body in ways I never knew possible. My greatest role as Black Student Union President has presented me with a platform to speak on issues around colonization, oppression, addressing discussion and dialogue unknown to the narrative. By now, I’m sure that this is where I’m meant to live and the truth I am meant to be a part of.
If you ask me what makes this place so unique is people like you, with a story to tell and a top tier liberal arts education awaiting. I hope I didn’t tell you all our secrets. And if anything that I said stuck with you for whatever reason, well, I hope to see you soon. I’m off to one of the beautiful views I was talking about earlier. See you around. Back to you, Alex.
Iyahna, that was so special. Thank you for speaking from the heart. That was really cool. This campus is incredible and I’ve been loving the vibe ever since I got here. Great job, thank you for that. Take care, Iyahna.
Next up is Amelia who is balancing her classes in international relations with her philanthropy. With the help of StartUp FIU and Panther alumni, she is working on an app that will centralize donations. Can’t wait to hear more, Amelia take it away.
Hi everyone, my name is Amelia Raudales and I’m a senior here at Florida International University. I’m currently majoring in international relations and pursuing three certificate programs, one in public policy, one in human rights and political transitions, and the last in law ethics and society. And the reason why I chose this university and this educational path is because of its commitment to challenge me to think critically about issues around the world, while also preparing me for a future in public policy. I was born and raised in Miami and over the last three years I have had the opportunity to be involved in five different fellowships, as well as run three different organizations. I was president of our student ambassador program, FIU student philanthropic council tasked with raising funds for our student emergency fund. I also had the opportunity to be the honors college senator for our student government association, captain of our leadership club lead the team, as well as director of our social justice club, the Panther Community Action Board. Now over the past year, I’ve also had the amazing opportunity to work with three FIU alumni in order to create an app that will centralize in kind donation giving. Working with the Center for Leadership and Service, the global learning office, as well StartUp FIU has been instrumental to my success as a student entrepreneur and helping me develop this idea as well as getting the seed funding. Now StartUp FIU is a university wide initiative to foster entrepreneurship as well as innovation. FIU has even been ranked a top 50 US utility patent producer around the world. As an Ashoka Changemaker Campus, a title that has only been given to 42 colleges and universities around the world, this has opened so many doors for me as a student entrepreneur. I was able to compete in placing the Fowler Global Social Innovation challenge pitch competition become a millennium Fowler alumni as well as a Clinton Global University Initiative fellow. On top of this, our college of business even offer its own entrepreneurship certifications for students ready to take their startup ventures to the next level. As Miami’s only public research university, this has afforded me and my peers countless opportunities to conduct research. Now the FIU Honors College has a class called diplomacy lab in which we’re able to conduct research on issues identified by state department officials under guidance of FIU faculty who have years of experience when it comes to diplomacy, as well as the international relations. Now this past year, I was able to conduct research on human trafficking and smuggling laws for the International Bureau of Narcotics and Law Enforcement. Because of this research I will now able to conduct research on different topics and brief my updates to US Southern Command, USAID as well as MITRE. All these opportunities have afforded me the chance to now be a congressional intern, as well as an intern for the Smithsonian. Thank you so much for listening to my story. What’s next Alex?
That’s a lot of hustling Amelia, as a businessman I recognize that entrepreneurial spirit, you’ve really optimized all the opportunities FIU provides from working with StartUp FIU, to bring your idea to market, to developing pivotal skills for the 21st century diplomat. Congratulations on the congressional and Smithsonian internships, we’ll see you soon.
Now let’s head over to the academic health complex and meet Brittany, who is a second year graduate student in the masters of social work program. She graduated with a double bachelor’s in psychology and interdisciplinary studies from FIU in 2020. She’s gonna share how field work is helping her prepare for the complex role of a clinician, take it away Brittany.
-Thanks Alex, as an aspiring clinician, it was important for me to find a university with an accredited master’s of social work program with a clinical focus. I was also interested in working across disciplines with students and faculty in the health sciences, as well as the opportunity to do field work. Stumble College checked all of these boxes by offering programs in the fields of public health, social work, and dietetics and nutrition, including dual degree programs and an academy for international disaster preparedness, Stumble College had exactly what I was looking for and more. Something that I noticed right away is the amount of support the staff provide. They brought me some exclusive opportunities which allowed me to expand my network and build my resume. I was able to get a fellowship with the national council for mental wellbeing as well as attend NatCon 2021 the world’s largest convention on mental health and substance use. These opportunities were only available at nine other universities nationwide and less than a hundred students were selected to participate. The fellowship I took part in was focused on the opioid epidemic and allowed me to collaborate with other social work students and professionals from around the country. By far my favorite part of the program is the field experience I acquire as part of the curriculum. The field office works with local businesses and organizations to place students in a practicum placement which meets their individual interests. Because of my fellowship, I was placed in a substance use and behavioral health treatment facility. I had the opportunity to work with people on an outpatient basis doing both individual and group therapy. While all the classes are informative, nothing compares to hands-on experience for learning. A graduate of FIU Stumble College can go on to work in a variety of fields. A social worker can work in hospitals, private practice for government or state agencies and even in policy work. A social work degree is very versatile and allows you to work in both micro and macro practice. The possibilities really are endless and I could not recommend the school enough. That’s all from me, back to you Alex.
Brittany great job, it’s heartening to hear about the great field work opportunities available to you and your fellow Panthers before you start your careers. It sounds like you are prepared to take on whatever comes your way, thanks again.