Okay everyone, now let’s head over to the robotics and digital fabrication laboratory, Matheus is waiting for us there. He’s an architecture major who has used the skills he’s learned at FIU to walk on water. Can’t wait to hear his story, Matheus you are on.
Thank you Alex, and hello everyone. I’m so excited to say that I graduated with a master’s degree in architecture from FIU. See, I was born and raised in a farm in the countryside of Brazil, where I was raised around horses, cows, goats, and emus. And when I moved into a larger city in Brazil, I realized that my life goal had become to get accepted into a university in the United States. And I would not stop studying until I fulfill that. Although I shared that I wanted to become an architect, I had no clue that the next five years would mean way more than just designing buildings. What I learned here at FIU is that the role of the architect is to imagine the world we live in. To design the sonography of the play of life that is constantly performing, the unspoken language between humans and spaces which then informs how we move, how we feel, how we connect with others. And the biggest example of that is the building that we’re in right now. This is the policy of school for architecture designed by Bernard Tschumi, anyone studying architecture my know that Bernard Tschumi is a legend in architecture theory. He designed a school for the future architects by splitting the building to two masses, one to the south for the faculty, and one to the north for the students which is our studios. At the heart of the building is the courtyard around which most of the circulation is arranged. So students and faculty lived in different classrooms and find moments of encounter. So the freshly learned material comes up in conversations and then creates new knowledge. We’re not in the era of deconstructionism though, and FIU is committed to preparing us for the problems and shifting roles of the 21st century. I was first introduced to critical thinking design on my second year, when professor Jaime Canaves gave us an assignment to design a pair of shoes that would allow us to walk on water. This tradition goes back over 30 years and the rules are pretty simple. But working on these is actually so much harder than it looks, my partner and I spent countless nights working on it until we could finally walk without getting wet. It’s always a huge festival and everyone comes around to see architecture students battling and sinking. At the end of my second year, I got invited to participate in the project to inaugurate the robotics in fabrication lab. We spent the entire summer in a tiny room with a huge robot and a team of amazing people developing our own system with 3D printing play blocks for a parametric wall. And that was only the start, we spent the following three years working on amazing projects that defined the boundaries of architecture and design. And I can’t wait to see what FIU has there to achieve. That was a bit of my story, now back to you Alex.
What a fun tradition, your passion for architecture is inspiring, there are a lot of places on campus that are helping you cultivate your creativity. Thanks again for sharing your story, take care Matheus.
Okay now let’s head over to where Panthers socialize the Graham Center, Binta is waiting for us there. She’s an international student studying economics in the prestigious Stephen J. Green School of International and Public Affairs. An international student from Nigeria, she’s gonna tell us more about the I in FIU. Take it away Binta.
Hi everyone, and thanks Alex. The I in FIU stands for international, and that means a real opportunity to experience a vibrant and diverse campus culture. I arrived at FIU as an international transfer student more than three years ago from Nigeria. There are more than 142 countries represented at FIU, and I was fortunate enough to meet many students from my home country Nigeria, students from Russia, China, Brazil, and so many other places. It really is a melting pot with character. When I first transferred to FIU, I was enrolled in the college of business. I knew FIU had one of the top rated business programs in the country. The college is a part of the 5% of elite business schools that are accredited by the AACSB international, the association to advance collegiate schools of business. And I graduated from FIU this year with a BA in economics. I was the vice president of the undergraduate economics club, a member of the National Business Honor Society and Tau Sigma National Honor Society. Because I transferred into FIU I wasn’t able to experience the global first-year program the school offers. However my brother was, and I immediately saw how the program helps international students transition into a life at FIU, and an American college. FIU promotes global learning by enabling students to think really and build diverse connections. Through my connections working at the office of admissions as a campus guide, I was able to acquire an internship working at a graphic design and marketing company. It’s so happens that the owner of that company was an FIU alumni, which just goes to show how interconnected our community really is. FIU maintains the reputation as one of the most diverse schools in the country. I’ve given tours to famous content creators who visited our beautiful campus all the way from Brazil. I’ve held study groups at the library with engineering students from Ukraine, art students from Japan, finance students from Italy, all seated together as one FIU. I’m so happy I got the chance to experience such an amazing college setting. It has shaped me into being a more active and well-rounded individual with a global mindset and diverse perspective on the world. Well everyone, that’s it for me, thank you so much for letting me share my story and back to you Alex.
Binta that was great, what a unique experience to share your college experience with friends from all over the world. Your graphic design and marketing internship really highlights the Panther network at work beyond campus. Cheers Binta.
Let’s get started on the main campus at the Graham Center, and meet Krista, she’s an alumni and a current law student, a Miami native she’s gonna share how her experience as student body president was enriched by being a student in a global city where the opportunities were endless and diversity was celebrated. Okay Krista, it is all yours please take it away.
Thanks Alex, hi everybody. I was born and raised here in Miami and decided to stay to continue my education because I recognized that FIU is an amazing institution. The university is 56 years old and is Miami’s only public research institution. We have two main campuses multiple facilities across South Florida. From suburban Miami-Dade, home to our main campuses to underwater. 60 miles off the coast, we have our aquarius reef base, which is the world’s only underwater ocean laboratory. Our ongoing research has landed us number three in the country for life underwater. We are a top 50 public research university, according to the Washington Monthly with 37 programs among the US News and World Reports top 100 public universities. And our law, MBA, business and medical programs are all highly ranked. FIU is not just in Miami, we are Miami and we are part of what makes this global city so special. Every winter we help to run one of the country’s most awesome wine and food events, right in town, the South Beach Wine Food Festival. Also our Herbert Wertheim College of Medicines Neighborhood Health Program, gets good healthcare to our underserved community members. And we never miss the Miami Beach Pride Parade where every year we celebrate love. While working on local campaigns and volunteering with United Way, I noticed how many of our students and alumni were working together to help innovate our community. We are amongst the top 10 largest universities in the country with a diverse student population that reflects Miami and all have a home here at FIU. I’ve always felt welcome here. My favorite memory was the day that my sister got admitted to FIU, she was able to join so many great organizations and experiences that helped me grow as an individual, and I’m so proud of everything she’s accomplished because of FIU. That’s my time Alex, back to you.
Thank you Krista, you really can’t tell where the campus ends and where Miami begins. How awesome to have everything from the seagrass of the Atlantic to the sawgrass of the Everglades as your classroom. Congrats on law school Krista, and congratulations to your little sister on becoming a Panther, take care.
Okay everyone, we’re gonna take a little break from the tour to enjoy some cafecito, a Panther tradition. At exactly 3:05 PM, Panthers stop to indulge in the rich Miami coffee culture and fuel up on caffeine to finish the day strong. Earlier this week, I had the pleasure to enjoy some cafecito with FIUs president who is beloved on campus and in Miami. And after you watch this, you will see why.
– You know that there’s a lot of people at this university who know where Vicki’s is but who don’t know where the library is. And don’t quote me.
– I asked President Rosenberg about this amazing campus culture, and we wanted to share his inspiring words with you all. Here take a look. Well, President Rosenberg I really appreciate this personal VIP tour with a one amazing campus, the energy is infectious. And I’m curious how would you describe, you know, the feeling and the energy of FIU and why it’s so special.
– Well this is a special place, and I’ve been on a lot of college campuses I was raised on a college campus there’s no place like FIU. Why? The dynamism of our students, they’re very purpose-driven, the geography of our location, Miami incredible, the sun’s out all the time, there’s a lot going on in this community, it’s a 24/7 365 community. The diversity of our students, the particular cultures that they bring to the campus gives it an energy. And you really can’t, you can’t really understand it unless you’re here and you feel it. Our students like the traditions of a college campus, we have some amazing traditions. One is with our mascot, our Panther the Florida Panther Rory, Rory Rocks Rory is a great dancer, Rory likes to have fun, and that energizes our students. Our environment and the challenges that we have in this environment, we enable our students to get deeply involved in problem solving, in doing research, in being engaged with the faculty. Our faculty also are highly mobilized, they wanna be here, they wanna work with the students, they believe in the mission. A lot of our students have seen work, they’ve come out of the world of work, they weren’t born on third base. These are students who wanna go places and they understand that FIU gives them that platform.
– Wow, I’ve felt it every step of the way here, I appreciate it, and you have some amazing coffee to boot.
– I love the coffee here, no coffee like you can get in the 305.
– Cheers.
– Cheers
– That is no ordinary coffee, and this is no ordinary university, there’s so much going on here that it’s hard to capture in one show. On behalf of The College Tour, we wanna thank president Rosenberg for spending some time with us on campus and introducing us to FIU, that was awesome.
You all are gonna be inspired by this next student’s story. We’re heading over to the GCU labs to meet Erik Yost. Erik is a freshman majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Business Management. What this young man is doing to change the world for good using his engineering skillset is absolutely mind blowing. Eric, the floor is all yours.
– Thanks, Alex. Hey, everyone. Throughout my life, I’ve always felt the need to go and serve the world in the name of the Lord. I’ve always loved engineering and entrepreneurship from a young age, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my skills specifically. In high school, I was heavily involved throughout campus as student body vice president for sport varsity athlete, robotics mentor, and a leader in the engineering and entrepreneurship program. I focused my skillset on our ISS program, an elite engineering program, where students were able to send their research projects onto the International Space Station. I worked on multiple different teams, and eventually sent six different projects into space. My primary project was focused on microbial fuel cells. Fuel cells are able to take any form of organic waste and convert it into electricity. We were able to take this project to the American Society of Gravitational and Space Research, and win first place, which was a huge accomplishment. From there, I started to work with NASA on sustainable energy research. I felt my calling to use my skills in engineering to help better the world. When I started looking at colleges, I learned about the Discover GCU trips. I just knew I had to participate. These trips are so immersive, and you get to experience firsthand, what it means to be a Lope. During this all-expenses-paid on-campus experience. We learned about that dynamic academic programs offered across GCU’s nine colleges, connected with GCU’s vibrant campus community and explore different ways to connect with current students, faculty and leadership. On this trip, I was introduced to GCU’s engineering program, entrepreneurship initiative, a strong sense of Christian community, and a place I could truly thrive. It was awesome, and I fell in love with GCU. Once on campus, I started my LLC, generate a biotechnology company, focused on building my fuel cells through the entrepreneurship initiative, so I’m able to fund my nonprofit, and help better the world around me. Here on campus, I’m also starting a program called STELLAR, which allows GCU students to send their projects to the International Space Station. Here at GCU, you’re able to join any club or program and grow your skills and glorify God. You can impact your local community globally, or even the universe. There’s such a multidisciplinary aspect between the colleges, where students are able to learn real life skills and apply all around their life. And I pray that I’m able to glorify God in all that I do, that He’s able to use me as a vessel through my clubs, business and leadership. Back to you, Alex.
– Erik, it is so profound to see you use your passion and experience with biotechnology to help make the world a better place. It’s all very impressive. Thank you for sharing that, we’ll see you soon. Cheers, Erik.
So next, we’re heading over to one of Florida Tech’s science laboratories to meet Delaney Lisco. She’s a senior, majoring in biomedical engineering, and she’s going to take a few minutes away from her lab work, to talk to us about another important element of Florida Tech’s DNA, in-depth undergraduate research. Delaney, please take it away.
Hey everyone. All students at Florida Tech have the opportunity to get involved in research, and most of us take full advantage. Undergraduate research is a great way for Florida Tech students to dive deeper into a topic that they’re most passionate about. It’s also a great way to gain practical knowledge whether you’re in the lab, or out in the field.
Here at Florida Tech, we have tons of research disciplines, so no matter what you’re interested in studying, we have an opportunity here for you. A lot of students get involved with research through their professor, or graduate assistant who works within the department. Once you get involved with research, you can learn more about your major, you can learn how to use really awesome technology and equipment, and can gain practical skills and knowledge that will help you excel both inside, and outside the classroom. My favorite part about the research that I do here at Florida Tech, is the connection that I can make between my education, and the real world.
Currently, I’m involved in a really relevant, and exciting multi-disciplinary senior design project, sponsored by a local science-based company, Chem-Free Solutions. We have been developing a UV LED matrix for ultraviolet germicidal irradiation. I got involved with this project in my junior year, and it really has been one of the greatest experiences that I’ve had at Florida Tech. Being involved with research, has allowed me to network with other passionate students. You can learn so much working side by side with one of your professors, a graduate assistant, or another student on the project.
With so many knowledgeable and experienced professors, as well as opportunities, I have found that our foundation for research is deeply rooted into what Florida Tech has to offer to its students, and to the world. Florida Tech’s motto, “Ad Astra Per Scientiam,” which translates to, “To the Stars Through Science,” for me, it captures what Florida Tech is all about. Our school really does go above and beyond when it comes to scientific research and discovery. Back to you, Alex.
Delaney, wow! It’s so impressive, the hands-on research you all get to do alongside your professors here on campus. It’s extraordinary. Thanks for taking the time to share that. Bye, Delaney.
Next we’re gonna visit the sky lounge, where Juliana is gonna share her undergraduate research experience. At FIU, students are entrusted with major projects in the lab and in the field before grad school. Juliana is an honors college student who is in the early assurance program, which guarantees graduates admission to FIUs Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.
Thank you Alex, hi everyone, I am an Argentinian Cuban born and raised here in Miami, Florida. Ever since I was in high school, I knew I wanted to come to FIU because of the cultural diversity. FIU has one of the top programs in the nations for Hispanics like myself. With hard work and dedication, I am blessed to have been granted some of the many scholarships offered by FIU, including recognition for my leadership ability and academic excellence in biological sciences. Through FIU I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer with multiple organizations such as the Green Family Foundation Neighborhood Health Program, which is a service learning project that immerses medical students in our community. We visit households and learn about the social determines of health while making a difference. At the FIU biochemistry and chemistry department, I worked at the x-ray diffractometer and I assisted Dr. Minjun and Dr. Lisa Brinn in teaching students about the functions of the human body. As the president of the national society of leadership and success, I helped to organize food drives to fill the FIU pantry, which aids students suffering from food insecurity. In addition, I was able to join the pre-medical honors organization known as STITCH. Through this organization I was able to share my knowledge and love for science with children in underserved community. As a sophomore through the competitive FIU honors early assurance program, I was granted a seat at my dream medical school, FIU. Medical school is very competitive, this is an amazing opportunity for me and future FIU students who aspire to become physicians like myself. I am proud to say I’ll be continuing my education at FIU medical school because of the combination of my love for learning, research and serving my community. FIU is not only my second home but my second family. One day I hope to see you all in the halls of our wonderful FIU. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my story. Now back to you Alex.
You had me at x-ray diffractometer, Juliana, you did a great job highlighting the academic rigor at FIU. It’s exhilarating to see what you’ve already accomplished, good luck in med school, take care.
Now let’s check out one of the coolest facilities at FIU, civil and environmental engineering PhD student, Kehinde is at FIU Wall of Wind, located at the engineering and computing center, the facility is part of the university’s extreme event institute. Research conducted there has helped inform building practices and codes throughout the region. Kehinde I can’t wait to hear about the work you and your fellow Panthers are doing there.
Thanks Alex, hi everyone, I’m a PhD student at the department of civil and environmental engineering here at FIU. I’m Nigerian, and moving to Miami to start my PhD was a big decision for me. This is because I’ve never been to the country and I’ve only had about the US from the news and interaction with some of my friends who study here. When I arrived on campus, I noticed the diversity in the student population and how nice the staff were in directing new students in the right direction. My doctoral research is in the area of structure wind engineering, and my research group sits within the International Hurricane Restart Center, which is a part of FIUs Extreme Events Institute. The Extreme Events Institute was launched in 2012, to use both a multi hazard and a transdisciplinary approach in understanding extreme environmental events like hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes. The goal of the center is to reduce the vulnerability of the community to hurricane events. The Wall of Wind is one of the research laboratories within the center. It is a recognized NSF experimental facility with a six fan open jet wind panel capable of producing category five hurricane wind speed. This unit facility has provided a test bed for both academic and industry researchers, to understand how hurricane winds affect buildings and other infrastructure. Some of the building code changes to the Miami-Dade and Florida building code are direct results of research carried out at our Wall of Wind by our amazing faculty, staff and students. The center also organizes STEM events for kids, including the annual Wall of Wind challenge and other outreaches to inform community members on homes best to protect their homes during hurricanes. Aside from research, I’ve improved on my leadership skills by participating in the Inaugural Academy of Leaders Training. This gave me the opportunity to meet other students with similar interests. I have also been able to connect with many other Nigerian students at FIU. For achieving PhD here at FIU was a great decision, and I’m grateful for the wonderful environment that the university provide and the opportunity to contribute to the work of protecting our community. As you can see, we’re about to fire up the Wall of Wind now. Back to you, Alex.
Wow that blows me away we’re in good hands when it comes to environmental resilience. Thank you for sharing your work with us and the next generations, cheers Kehinde.
Next is Ally Gee. She is from Low Mountain, Arizona, located on the Navajo nation. She’s a senior public health major, the Hozhoni Ambassador, and a remarkable woman who’s gonna talk to us about diversity here at Fort Lewis College. Which, as you will see is very special here on campus. Ally, it’s all yours.
Hi, everyone. As Alex stated, my name is Ally. I’m now going to introduce myself in my Navajo language. What I just said in my Diné language are my four clans that I use to identify myself as a Navajo woman. I personally chose to attend Fort Lewis because of their commitment to serving students and the diversity within this community. And it’s proven to be the best decision I’ve ever made.
Fort Lewis is a unique place where diversity is central to who we are. Over 50% of our campus are students of color representing nearly all 50 States, 15 countries and 170 Native American tribes and Alaskan villages. Fort Lewis is a Native American serving, non-tribal institution that offers qualified students a tuition waiver if they come from federally recognized tribes. The tuition waiver was established in 1934 to provide Native American students an opportunity at affordable higher education.
The old Fort Lewis property in Hesperus, Colorado, was home to a military base and Indian boarding school in the 1800s. Fort Lewis College is currently taking steps to address its history. And the school has been working to understand and represent the diversity of the student body. One of the ways that this is done is by the resource centers that we have available to us. On campus, we have resources like the Native American Center, El Centro De Muchos Colores, the Black Student Resource Center, and the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center. These centers play a huge role in everyday student life, from free tutoring to events on campus, there is a place for everyone.
The opportunity to meet new people from a variety of backgrounds, interests and concentrations of study are always available here at FLC. That is something that I truly love about this campus. Together as Skyhawks, we work hard to create an inclusive community. By actively seeking to understand the diverse backgrounds of our community, we become agents of change to create a more equitable world and I love it. Thanks, everyone. That was super fun to share what diversity means here at Fort Lewis. And back to you, Alex.
Ally, thank you. Thank you for being so open and honest about diversity here at Fort Lewis. The world needs more people like you. Great job.
All right, everyone. Now, we’re heading to meet Nate Decremer. He’s the senior here at Fort Lewis College, an outdoor adventurer in every sense of the word. And he’s gonna talk to us about outdoor recreation here at Fort Lewis. Nate, how you doing? Take it away.
How’s it going, everyone? One of my favorite parts about the Fort is the fact that I have all this great access to outdoor recreation out here. I’m a raft guide during the summertime, rafting down the Colorado River in the desert. During the winter time when I’m not in school, I’ll dedicate my time to backcountry snowboarding. During the spring, I go and do ski mountaineering, which is riding technical lines down the big high peaks out here in the San Juans. During the fall, I explore the infinite canyons of the desert.
What’s really cool about Durango is that the San Juans are right there in our backyard and the desert’s only about two and a half hours away. So that means that you got world-class skiing, climbing, mountaineering, hiking, backpacking, it’s awesome. Durango is home to the Animas River. It flows right through the heart of downtown Durango and it’s an awesome spot for whitewater kayaking and rafting out here.
Durango is also home to the end of the Colorado Trail. We got a ton of trails out here, hundreds of miles weaving in and around town that is great for trail running, mountain biking, hiking, you name it. If you like national parks, then you will have a ton of options out here. We’ve got places like Grand Staircase-Escalante, Chaco Canyon, Canyons of the Ancients, Arches, Canyonlands and Mesa Verde is only about an hour away. Not to mention all the national forests as well as all the designated wilderness areas that you can explore and camp in all by yourself.
Whether you’ve been exploring the outdoors for your entire life or if you’re just getting into it, outdoor pursuits here at FLC is an awesome resource. It’s located right here on campus at the Student Life Center and they provide free gear rentals to all the students. You can rent anything from a mountain bike to split boards to hiking and backpacking gear, anything you need to be successful out there in the wilderness. Not only do they provide free gear, they also provide guided trips and training tutorials so that you can hone your skills before you go out there on your own. These trips are provided by student outdoor leaders and guiding professionals themselves in the field and range anywhere between backpacking trips over the weekend here in our backyard or mountaineering trips all the way around the world.
I love going to college here because this place has really allowed me to explore all of these new recreational activities and truly find all these cool outdoor experiences. And it has really shaped who I am today. Back to you.
Nate, next time I’m back here, you have to take me on one of those awesome adventures you do all the time. That was awesome, great job.