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Tag: student stories

15 KU College moments from an extraordinary year

December 18, 2020December 18, 2020 Aspen Grender

2020 has been — well, take your pick of adjective: Difficult. Uncertain. Unpredictable. Unprecedented. Challenging. By now, we’ve all heard and used these words…

Mason Hussong’s love of languages leads to adventures around the world

November 12, 2020November 13, 2020 Aspen Grender

Mason Hussong’s passion for language goes back to high school, where he spent four years studying Latin. After learning about KU’s nationally renowned Slavic…

Abigail Vegter investigates religion, politics and gun ownership in America

October 14, 2020October 15, 2020 Aspen Grender

Religion and politics in America can be messy, divisive, and contentious, certainly. But, as Abigail Vegter points out, the topics are anything but boring.…

Alex Pang seeks to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education

October 9, 2020October 9, 2020 Aspen Grender

From the day of his college visit in 2017, Alex Pang knew he wanted to be a Jayhawk. “I wanted to attend a university…

Myra Dotzel uses lessons in visual art to solve problems in STEM

September 9, 2020September 10, 2020 Aspen Grender

There’s a common stereotype that those who are creatively gifted are naturally bound to pursue arts and the humanities, while students skilled in math…

Camila Ordóñez Vargas launches campaign to support Colombian community during the pandemic

May 6, 2020May 7, 2020 Aspen Grender

When Camila Ordóñez Vargas, a political science and economics double-major, traveled to spend spring break with her family in her home country of Colombia,…

Jayhawks flock to Iowa ahead of 2020 caucuses

April 23, 2020April 24, 2020 Aspen Grender

Two months before the spread of COVID-19 became the center of collective national attention in the U.S., political rivals across the ideological spectrum journeyed…

Strength in numbers: KU community joins forces to limit coronavirus’ spread

April 20, 2020May 26, 2020 Aspen Grender

Everywhere you look, Jayhawks are coming together and rising to today’s challenges. As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is felt across the U.S.…

College senior Sara Carlsen reflects on social media research, internships, and possibilities at KU

April 10, 2020April 10, 2020 Aspen Grender

Where do you turn for inspiration? Sometimes taking a look back at where you were a few years ago and the progress you’ve made…

NSF grant helps first-year PhD student research low-income communities and nonprofits

March 6, 2020March 20, 2020 Lexie Edison

In the School of Public Affairs and Administration, students from every background are shaped into exceptional leaders for public service who provide solutions to…

Non-profit internship takes Aristote G-Atata from Lawrence to Tokyo

February 28, 2020March 2, 2020 Aspen Grender

An internship can help you build professional skills and apply lessons you’ve learned as a student outside of the classroom, and even around the…

Daphne Lin finds connections between healthcare and humanities

February 14, 2020February 14, 2020 Aspen Grender

From the time KU senior Daphne Lin arrived on the Hill, she had med school in mind. As any medical professional is sure to…

Lights, camera, action: Ishan Parikh releases his third feature film ‘Ego’

February 6, 2020February 6, 2020 Aspen Grender

Steven Spielberg released his first full-length film at the age of 25. Hitchcock made his debut at 26. Ishan Parikh, a film & media…

Top 10 #HeartofKU stories of 2019

January 30, 2020January 31, 2020 Aspen Grender

As the first month of 2020 comes to an end, we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite KU stories of 2019.…

Lilah Wilder goes to Washington as a Department of State intern

December 5, 2019December 5, 2019 Aspen Grender

If you’ve been keeping up with headlines, you’ve probably noticed that stories involving diplomacy have been dominating the news cycle recently. As a Public…

Mitch Lightfoot: on the court and in the College

October 1, 2019October 3, 2019 Aspen Grender

Student athlete. Kansas Jayhawk. Econ major. With hometown roots in Kansas City, Missouri, senior Mitch Lightfoot was a KU fan long before he began his…

Rachel Smith meets the beetles (of South America)

September 19, 2019September 19, 2019 Aspen Grender

Rachel Smith is fascinated by the beetles. Water beetles, to be exact. As a biology major with an emphasis on ecology, evolution, and organismal…

Alex Murray & Elizabeth Sundahl: For the love of bees

September 12, 2019September 12, 2019 Aspen Grender

You’ve probably heard about the recent boost in popularity for the KU Beekeeping Club (KUBC), who signed up nearly 300 Jayhawks at this fall’s…

Avary Kolasinski applies variational mesh adaptation to improve solution approximations

April 30, 2019May 2, 2019 Aaron Lynn

The opportunities and applications that can stem from subjects like Numerical Analysis and Scientific Computing seem to be endless in a world where technology…

Poetry assignment reminds Fengxue Zhang of her childhood in China, helps her find home in the College

April 9, 2019April 10, 2019 Alex Folsom

Fengxue Zhang, a junior from Hays, is studying economics, political science, and creative writing. After moving to the United States from China as a…

Courtland Triplett seeks to do good through government

March 27, 2019March 28, 2019 Aspen Grender

Growing up in Kansas City, Courtland Triplett always knew he wanted to bring positive change to the world but struggled to find the right…

An Sasala expands the way humans conceptualize bodies in relation to technology

March 21, 2019March 21, 2019 Aaron Lynn

How are social norms about gender and sexuality perpetuated through portrayals of robots and other digital entities in sci-fi storytelling? What can these treatments…

Pegah Naemi examines critical multiculturalism and its influence on social justice

February 18, 2019February 21, 2019 Aaron Lynn

Hometown: Santa Monica, CA What are your research interests and why did you choose them? Was there a moment when you decided this is…

Finding a creative outlet led Trevor Bashaw to KU’s Department of English

February 11, 2019February 11, 2019 Alex Folsom

Trevor Bashaw has found an outlet for his creativity in KU’s Department of English. He’s the winner of the Spencer Museum Brosseau Creativity Award…

Aroog Khaliq examines human nature through writing, psychology, and medicine

February 6, 2019February 8, 2019 Aspen Grender

Where are you from? And why did you decide to come to KU? My hometown is Overland Park, KS. I really ended up at…

Sarah Wright, Majors: Business / Film & Media Studies, Minor: Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies

Sarah Wright: Depth of Field

January 9, 2019January 24, 2019 Aspen Grender

Where are you from? And why did you decide to come to KU? I’m from Overland Park, Kansas. I decided to come to KU…

Nathan Bowman, Ph.D. Theatre, 3rd year

Nathan Bowman: Taking center stage

November 27, 2018November 27, 2018 Aspen Grender

Program of study and year: 3rd year Ph.D. Student in Theatre Hometown: Kansas City, MO What are your research interests and why did you…

Ben Clark, Major: Communication Studies, Minor: Journalism

Ben Clark goes to bat for the Kansas City T-Bones as a Social Media and PR intern

November 6, 2018November 8, 2018 Aspen Grender

  Hometown: Tonganoxie, Kansas Major(s) / Minor(s): Communication Studies / Journalism Internship title and organization:  Social Media and PR intern for the Kansas City…

Aaron Carrillo finds his passion in the Heart of KU and explores Asia through two internships

September 19, 2018September 19, 2018 Aspen Grender

Preferred Name: Everyone calls me A-A-Ron, but Aaron works too! Major(s) & Minor(s): I’m not going to lie, I’ve been jumping around in the…

The world is your canvas: Van Go intern gives back through community art

September 12, 2018September 12, 2018 Aspen Grender

  Hometown: Fairway, Ks Majors and minor: Psychology and Strategic Communications, Spanish (minor) Internship title and organization: volunteer, Van Go What were your responsibilities…

Evin Smith interns in India

October 25, 2017December 7, 2017 Mark Sheaves

Hometown: Tribune, Kansas Majors: Finance and Economics Internship title and organization: Research intern at the Center for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP)   What were your…

Tyan Fairbank, biologist and social media guru

October 11, 2017January 17, 2018 Mark Sheaves

Major: B.S. biology (Molecular, Cellular and Develeopmental Biology), pre-med track What would you tell your freshman self? I transferred to KU sophomore year and…

Liberal arts & sciences at work: Elizabeth Orr

October 5, 2017December 7, 2017 Mark Sheaves

Hometown: Westwood, KS Majors: Global & international studies and French, minor in economics Internship title and organization: Events Intern at the International Relations Council What were your responsibilities during your internship? I…

Ella Richards, a Jayhawk dedicated to helping people

September 21, 2017January 17, 2018 Mark Sheaves

Majors: Women, gender and sexuality studies major and psychology, business and human sexuality minors. Hometown: Topeka, Kansas What has been your favorite class at KU? And…

Kathleen Meeds interns in Eutin, Germany

September 6, 2017December 7, 2017 Mark Sheaves

Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska Majors: English major with German and journalism minors Why did you choose your majors/minors? I’ve always really enjoyed English and German, and I figured…

Cody Boston mixes film major with DJing

July 24, 2017January 17, 2018 Mark Sheaves

Recent KU film and media studies grad Cody Boston found his home and purpose at KJHK, KU’s student-run radio station. As KJHK’s Multimedia Director,…

Photo of McKenzie wearing a KU basketball jersey and sunglasses, smiling in the sun with trees behind her. Text reads "BeAJayhawk"

McKenzie Cory, scientist, artist & zoo intern

July 11, 2017January 17, 2018 Mark Sheaves

Combining classes in photography, sign language, biology & anthropology, junior McKenzie Cory takes full advantage of all the variety the College and KU has to…

Rebecca Rumptz interns at Department of State

July 5, 2017January 17, 2018 Mark Sheaves

A career in the US army sparked Rebecca Rumptz’s passion for international diplomacy. A desire to learn more led her to KU.

Carson Vickroy, the World’s Fastest Weatherman

July 5, 2017January 17, 2018 Mark Sheaves

“Take advantage of all the opportunities that you have, while you can.” That’s the advice of self-proclaimed “weather nerd” and aspiring broadcast meteorologist Carson…

Savannah Pine broadens horizons

June 23, 2017January 17, 2018 Mark Sheaves

Savannah Pine lives and breathes history. It’s a passion that has directed her days since she arrived at KU, and she dreams of working…

Trent Allen interns in Washington D.C.

June 2, 2017December 7, 2017 Mark Sheaves

Hometown: Beloit, Kansas Majors: Political Science & Economics Internship title and company: Office of Postsecondary Education Intern, United States Department of Education What are your responsibilities?  I…

Insia Zufer takes passions from classroom to community

June 2, 2017January 17, 2018 Mark Sheaves

Ask Insia Zufer why she studies biology, and she’ll give you an answer that extends far beyond a passion for fieldwork. By exploring how and why…

Home court advantage: KU hosts National Debate Tournament for the first time, makes history

June 1, 2017October 3, 2017 Ryan Camenzind

While KU basketball’s quest for the National Championship grabbed our attention during March, another heated tournament with an equally illustrious KU history took place…

October Davis learns for her students

June 1, 2017January 17, 2018 Mark Sheaves

October Davis loves teaching history. It’s her career calling. So when she arrived at KU, she enrolled in the School of Education and began developing…

Meet the CLAS of 2017: Social Sciences

May 19, 2017December 7, 2017 Mark Sheaves

These graduating Jayhawks are fascinated by the way the world works. From the individual, to the local, to social media, to crises across the…

Meet the CLAS of 2017: Arts

May 19, 2017December 7, 2017 Mark Sheaves

Our arts graduates pursue their passions with heart and intent. As they created, they developed useful skills and knowledge, and career paths emerged before…

Meet the CLAS of 2017: Sciences

May 19, 2017December 7, 2017 Mark Sheaves

Our graduates are not only scientists but leaders in the lab, classroom and across the campus. Some found their passions early in life, while…

Meet the CLAS of 2017: Humanities

May 19, 2017December 7, 2017 Mark Sheaves

Our humanities graduates push boundaries, driven by the conviction that anything is possible. They look to the past to understand different ways of living,…

Prescription for success

March 24, 2017December 14, 2017 Mark Sheaves

Do you ever feel that you have too many interests to choose just one major? The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences has a…

8 KU discoveries illuminate hot topics

November 1, 2016December 11, 2017 Alex Folsom

Across the humanities, sciences and the arts in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, there are inspiring faculty and students busy helping us…

Video production club revived by film student

February 29, 2016December 14, 2017 Christine Davis

Wanting to provide film students with the opportunity to collaborate and gain experience on film projects, an ambitious and talented film and media studies…

A Self-Published Success: Sophomore author turns her exoduster roots into a novel

February 18, 2016January 8, 2018 Christine Davis

What started as a high school project turned into five years of work and a self-published novel that’s already in its second printing. Crystal…

15 #BestofKU moments from 2015

December 18, 2015November 5, 2018 Christine Davis

Looking back, it’s amazing to see what our students, professors and alumni have accomplished in the past year. They made ground-breaking discoveries, received national…

Driver’s License to Degree: CLAS celebrates 16-year-old graduate

December 17, 2015December 14, 2017 Christine Davis

2015 was a big year for Alina Zheng; in the same year that she celebrated her sweet 16, she also earned a bachelor’s degree…

Beyond the Coffee Run: An Internship for Change

November 11, 2015December 14, 2017 Christine Davis

As an intern, Melissa Fontana wasn’t making coffee; she was making a difference. Using the interpersonal and communication skills she learned in her classes,…

6 things #KUresearch discovered in summer 2015

August 27, 2015December 7, 2017 Christine Davis

Taking a break from the classroom, many of our talented faculty and students were hard at work this summer digging into their research –…

Q&A with Megan Lease: KU’s First PhD Candidate in Women’s Studies

August 26, 2015December 14, 2017 Christine Davis

On the first day of the new semester, Megan Lease made history. Megan defended her dissertation, “A Strong Woman of the Lord: Performing Gender at…

Combining the arts and sciences provides unique inspiration

June 30, 2015December 14, 2017 Christine Davis

Balancing the arts and the sciences comes naturally to Natali Diaz-Yepes, a graduating senior double majoring in dance and biology. Diaz-Yepes’ father is a…

Vashti Goracke

Graduation Profile: Finding a place that fits

May 5, 2015December 7, 2017 Christine Davis

Vashti Goracke, B.F.A. in dance, Class of 2015 Vashti Goracke has a bittersweet relationship with dance. Some days are good, some days are bad.…

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