NIU’s Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning will continue its Student Engagement Colloquia Brown Bag series at noon Friday, March 11, when Rachel Jacob from the departments of History and Political Science will present in Altgeld Hall 125.
The series showcases research, artistry and community engagement projects completed by students who have received funding through the Student Engagement Fund and Undergraduate Special Opportunities in Research & Artistry.
During the Feb. 26 edition, seniors Timi Adeboje and Yannick Koua discussed their recent travel and volunteer experience at an organization called Entreamigos in San Pancho, Mexico.
Entreamigos is an education center that helps the surrounding local community. Adeboje and Koua were selected by Entreamigos founder Nicole Swedlow to participate in a program designed to empower young leaders. They described their trip as a valuable experience that allowed them to meet other people and exchange in cross-cultural differences.
Adeboje offered advice to students who may be interested in experiences like his: “Pursue your passion. That was the best thing about our trip. It wasn’t a GPA contest; we were picked because of our convictions and values. Utilize your opportunities and follow your heart.”
The wild bison herd at Nachusa Grasslands is the first herd reintroduced for habitat restoration purposes east of the Mississippi River.
Senior Jessica Flinginger discussed her research on the Nachusa Grasslands titled, “The effects of bison reintroduction, prescribed fire, and time since restoration on grassland bird nest success in tallgrass prairie.”
Flinginger was a Student Engagement Fund award recipient for summer and fall 2015 and has also participated in Huskie Service Scholars program through the Office of Student Engagement & Experiential Learning. She discovered this project by taking a class taught by her mentor, Holly Jones.
This experience was one of a kind and even led Flinginger to a full-time job, which she will start in May after graduation.
Her advice to students who hungry for an experience like hers? “Just go for it! You may think it will take a lot of work and time, but it is definitely worth it in the end.”
Interested in engaged experiences involving research, service learning, study abroad or traveling to conferences or competitions? Apply for the Student Engagement Fund by Tuesday, March 15.
For more information, call (815) 753-8154 or email engage@niu.edu.
