THE DISTINCTION SPRING 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS

3-5 May 2020 Graduates

6-7 A Look Back at the Semester Kate Earnhardt

8 Zoom Symposium Bailey Hoffer

9 À Bientôt Besançon Adele Kanley

10 Reflection Byron Moore

11 Groningen, Goodbye McKensi Uecker

12-13 SHPEP Afrah Rasheed

14 Resonating Research Daniel Faronbi

15 Freshman Leadership Council Meena Rahmanzai

16 Student Art

17 Honors Highlights

@UNOHonorsProgram @unohsa @UNOHSA Hannah Im, Editor

2 May 2020 Graduates

Wala Albahrani Alexandra Chase College of Arts and Sciences College of Arts and Sciences Major: Biology College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media “The Impact of Healing Arts on Students at the Majors: Mathematics, Studio Art University of Nebraska at Omaha” “The Healing Properties of Interactive Art: Creating a Advisor: Adrian Duran Proposal for Art within a Hospital Environment” Advisors: David Helm and Adrian Duran Caroline Anderson College of Arts and Sciences Alexandra Deman Major: Political Science College of Arts and Sciences “The Violence Against Women’s Act: From the Major: Psychology Criminalization of Domestic Violence Through Modern “Exploring Connections Between Social Anxiety and Political Challenges” Social Media Use in College Students ” Advisor: Kim Retzlaff Advisor: Troy Romero

Caelyn Armshaw Jacob Franzen College of Arts and Sciences College of Business Administration Major: Molecular and Biomedical Biology Concentrations: Banking and Financial Markets, “A Library without Books: The Importance of Language Business Finance, Investment Science and Portfolio Representation in Public Libraries” Management, Legal Studies, Real Estate and Land Use Advisor: Jose Moreno González Economics “Cryptocurrencies: An Overview, Investment Kylee Beyea Investigation, Comparative Analysis, and Regulatory College of Education Proposal” Major: Speech-Language Pathology Advisor: Clinton Rushing “Bilingual Practices in Speech-Language Pathology in Nebraska Schools” Tylore Gross Advisor: Kathy Coufal College of Arts and Sciences Major: Psychology Jamie Bish “Examining the Relationships Between College and College of Arts and Sciences High School Relational and Physical Victimization and Major: Foreign Language & Literature - Spanish its Effects on Self-Esteem” “Culture and Aging: The Role of Language in Engaging Advisor: Juan Casas our Senior Population” Advisor: Melanie Bloom Patricia Harte-Maxwell College of Arts and Sciences Aaron Borcyk Majors: English, Biology College of Education “Meeting His Monstrous Family: Kinship and Major: Speech-Language Pathology Kinslaying in Beowulf” “Law Enforcement, Public Opinion, the Media, and its Advisor: Lisabeth Buchelt Effects” Advisor: Justin Nix Keanu Hoang College of Information Science & Technology Major: Bioinformatics “Comparative Analysis of Metabolic Pathways of Bacteria found in Fermented Food” Advisor: Dhundy Bastola

3 May 2020 Graduates

Bailey Hoffer Morgan Miller College of Arts and Sciences College of Education College of Public Affairs and Community Service Concentrations: Special Education and Sign Language Majors: Psychology, Criminology and Criminal Justice Interpretation “Planning and Navigating in an Unfamiliar Location: “A case study comparing fingerspelling production Effects of Outsourcing on Memory” between two interpreters with EIPA scores of 3.0 and Advisor: Bethany Lyon 4.0” Advisor: Julie Delkamiller Delaney Jackson College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media August Namuth Major: Theatre College of Arts and Sciences “Peter and the Starcatcher: Creating the Character of Major: Neuroscience Peter Pan via Rehearsal, Script Analysis, and Personal “Art and the Pursuit of Happiness: How Artists Use Art Actor Techniques” to Promote Their Emotional Well-being” Advisor: Ronald Zank Advisor: Bruce Chase

Nathan Johnson Savana Nawojski College of Arts and Sciences College of Arts and Sciences Majors: Political Science, Sociology Major: Molecular and Biomedical Biology “Factors Influencing Student Participation in Liberal “‘Contact’ Sports: Competitive Athletic Experience, Student Organizations” Racial Attitudes, and Intergroup Contact” Advisor: Julie Pelton Advisor: Dan Hawkins

Natalia Kunze Jacob Phillips College of Arts and Sciences College of Arts and Sciences Majors: Psychology, Biology Major: Philosophy “Undergraduate Employment: How Does Working “Language and Thought in Wittgenstein’s Solipsism” Influence GPA and Attendance?” Advisor: Andrew Newman Advisor: Brigette Ryalls Yazmin Ramos Morgan McBride College of Arts and Sciences College of Public Affairs and Community Service Majors: Foreign Language and Literature - Spanish, Majors: Criminology & Criminal Justice, Psychology Psychology “Responding to Victims of Human Trafficking in the “Predictors of Loneliness among College Students: United States: A Review of Treatment Providers” Evidence for the Necessity of Early Childhood Advisor: Teresa Kulig Interventions to Prevent Loneliness” Advisors: Kelly MacArthur and Joseph Brown Maria Mickles College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media Alison Raszler Major: Communication Studies College of Business Administration “Trying to Save the Game(r): Understanding the Concentrations: Supply Chain Management, Marketing, meaning-making process of YouTube subscribers and Management surrounding mental health and video game vlogging” “How Power Bi can be built to analyze player and team Advisor: Andrea Weare stats in the NBA” Advisor: Erin Pleggenhule-Miles

4 May 2020 Graduates

Delaney Simmonds College of Arts and Sciences 2020-21 Major: Neuroscience “Challenges Associated with Occupational Therapy in HSA EXECUTIVE BOARD Nebraska” Lavanya Uppala Advisor: Katie Shirazi President Alyssa Spartz College of Arts and Sciences Katie Hill College of Public Affairs and Community Service Vice-President Majors: Psychology, Emergency Management “Influential Factors that Impact Individual Disaster Luis Rodriguez Donations” Advisor: Tom Jamieson Treasurer

Madeline St Clair Noah Polacek College of Arts and Sciences Secretary Major: Biology “‘Disbelieving Black Women to Death’; the ‘Double Hannah Im Jeopardy’: Racism and Sexism Affects Black Women’s Access to and Quality of Care During Pregnancy, Birth, Public Relations and Postpartum” Advisor: Timi Barone Afrah Rasheed Fourth Year Representative Kathleen Thompson College of Arts and Sciences Major: Environmental Science Elizabeth Russman “Soil Quality Tests for Classroom Use” Third Year Representative Advisor: Ashlee Dere Grant van Robays Nicholas Weber Third Year Representative College of Arts and Sciences Majors: Philosophy, Psychology “Perspective Driven Behavior: The Effect of Classroom Alaina Wallick Climate on a Student’s Personality and Willingness to Third Year Representative Communicate” Advisor: William Kramer Meena Rahmanzai Second Year Representative Catie Yaggie Heinen College of Arts and Sciences Major: Biology Alaina Mann “Analyzing Leadership Opportunities through Second Year Representative Participant Perspective” Advisors: Karen Murch-Shafer and Katie Shirazi Michaela Woods Second Year Representative

5 A Look Back at the Semester Kate Earnhardt on the Queer & Trans Services board. scholarship! I enjoy helping plan and executing Being in Honors also means programming specifically aimed for to discover, whether it’s discovering LGBTQ+ students on campus.” Catie things about yourself or your Yaggie Heinen told us “I enjoyed surroundings. Alyssa Spartz candidly spending three years on campus as told us her most memorable moment a Resident Assistant and a Resident at UNO “was finally finding a course Director. I made some amazing of study that I was passionate about. connections and found great leaders It took about four major changes, but through this position.” And I can’t after changing it for the final time, forget to mention Madeline St. Clair, I was able to start learning about a who noted her most memorable UNO topic I was truly passionate about.” experience is “right now, having my Yazmin Ramos’s “most memorable last semester online and working at Honors course was City of Omaha. It the Maverick Food Pantry during the was really eye-opening to learn about Covid-19 pandemic.” our city in historical, sociological, f you’ve ever stopped into my I’ve also learned that to be in and political perspectives. There was Ioffice for a quick chat, a cup of Honors is to adventure. So many of so much that I didn’t know about tea, or even just to say hello, you’ve our students have had the incredible Omaha, particularly North Omaha, probably heard my self-deprecating privilege of studying abroad or and I really fell in love with the city.” joke that I wasn’t an Honors student. traveling the country, and those And Morgan Miller expressed that And if we swerve away from experiences have helped them grow she “really valued my time taking undervaluing myself (which we as students and humans. Kylee American Sign Language courses. should all do, honestly), it’s a true Beyea told us “I want to say that These courses allowed me to learn statement. And since we’re being studying abroad in Peru was my a new language and experience honest, I didn’t even know UNO most memorable UNO experience, deaf community and culture. It had an Honors Program when I was but I wasn’t at UNO, so I feel like was because of these courses that I an undergrad here. Now, in my that doesn’t count.” (For the record, changed my major to become a sign defense, I graduated from UNO all as a former study abroad student, language interpreter.” the way back in 2012, long before I say it does!). Aaron Borcyk also Being an Honors student means Dr. Morrison arrived on campus to had a great time when he “traveled challenging yourself, in big and small help rejuvenate Honors into what to Orlando for the American Speech ways. Delaney Jackson challenged it is today, so I had to build all my Hearing Association Convention to herself when she “interviewed the knowledge from the ground up. In present the research I completed for a senior residents of the Immanuel my short time working in Honors, FUSE Grant. I’d never gone on a trip Village retirement community for I’ve learned so much about this by myself before and it was a great the Nostalgia colloquium. The community from the awesome faculty, experience.” And though it may not interviewees shared such rich and the students I see almost every day, feel like an adventure to us native compelling stories I wouldn’t have and especially our resilient 2020 Omahans, Carrie Anderson “will had the opportunity to hear if I hadn’t graduates through the lens of their always remember the weekend trip I taken the class.” Maria Mickles most meaningful UNO and Honors took down to Omaha to participate in gained camaraderie with her fellow memories. the Distinguished Honors Scholarship Honors students when she “found out I’ve learned that to be in Honors competition. It was the first time in the majority of my honors classes, means being engaged with our UNO I ever flew by myself. Attending just because no one is raising their community, like Keanu Hoang, who the competition made me confident hand, doesn’t mean they don’t know recounted “my most memorable UNO that I had made the right decision in what’s happening. I found comfort experience has been my membership coming to UNO. “ And she got the in difficult work with other students

6 Spring Awards who are as equally challenged yet determined as I am.” And Savana Nawojski stated simply, “my most memorable UNO course was Organic Chemistry II because it was extremely challenging and required me to adapt in an unprecedented capacity.” And let’s never forget that being in Honors means coming together. Delaney Simmonds recounted her “most memorable experience with Honors was the combined three courses for my freshman cohort. It was a very interesting experience to grow so close to the same group of twelve students in my first semester at UNO and I am still friends with a good amount of them.” Likewise, Bailey Hoffer said her most memorable Honors experience was “simply being the student worker for the Honors Department all three years I went to UNO. It gave me the opportunity to personally get to know all the staff, while also introducing me to students that I would probably not have met otherwise.” And who could ever forget Nicholas Weber’s most memorable Honors moment: “being able to meet and fall in love with the person I am going to be marrying this upcoming July!” In my short time working in the Honors office, I’ve learned so much about its students and community. We strive for excellence, but we remind ourselves to take time for self-care and introspection. We go above and beyond what’s required of us personally, but never leave a Maverick buddy behind. We push ourselves to view the world outside of our lived experience, but we don’t forget where Top: Dr. Zach Darwish receiving the Honors Faculty Award, we come from. So while I might not applauded by fiancée Sarah. have been an Honors student all those Middle: Dr. Adrian Duran virtually receiving the Honors Faculty Award. years ago, I’m delighted to be a part Bottom: Bailey Hoffer virtually receiving the Honors Student of its community now. Achievement Award with dog Stella. 7 Zoom Symposium Bailey Hoffer

The Honors Symposium is an annual opportunity for soon-to-be Honors graduates to share their research projects with the community. This year, the Symposium faced unique challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic and was held through a virtual Zoom conference environment. More than 135 Zoom guests attended the event.

Bailey Hoffer was one Honors student who presented research on her thesis, “Planning and Navigating in an Unfamiliar Location: Effects of Outsourcing on Memory.”

alking into the student the spring symposium for the Each student was recognized in a Wballroom of Milo Bail semester I was to graduate. When personalized way by Dr. Morrison, Student Center, I could see the the difficult times of Covid-19 hit, and in the end, we had the option array of all the thesis posters put this dream sadly had no chance of to break off into breakout rooms together by my honors classmates, becoming reality. with our family members to have with whom I would be graduating Thinking fast on their feet, our own private conversations. in just a few months. Going further Dr. Morrison and her team did a This past semester as a into the room, I find my poster great job at organizing an online whole was difficult for the entire in between two others before zoom event. Although not the university; however, being a wandering around to admire the same as an in-person ceremony, graduating senior made it even other students' work. I could feel being able to have all the students, more difficult, in my opinion. the excitement in my body as I faculty, family members and The bittersweet moment that I waited for all of my family and friends participate in this event had always imagined had been friends to arrive to share this from the safety of their own homes stripped away, but the online Zoom special moment with me. was such a great feeling. Each Symposium is still a night that I For the three years that I poster was displayed on a website will never forget. For that, I am had been a student at UNO in the which the attendees had the chance thankful. University Honors Program, this to glance over and ask questions is always how I had imagined to each student, if they so desired.

8 À Bientôt Besançon Adele Kanley

Adele Kanley shares her journey from Besancon back home after the pandemic cutrails her study abroad trip. Original blog post from https://rollingdeepthoughts. wordpress.com/. Edited. got the news that I had to return always taint my abroad experience. one being forced home. In addition I to the States while video chatting Sad for all the friends I would be to a thrilling lesson about French with a couple friends back home. leaving behind. Despite all the adjectives and numbers, the head of News about the coronavirus had just overwhelming feelings I was feeling the CLA came in to announce that started to become an all encompassing in that moment, I still made sure to all upcoming classes would be held conversation topic when I received book a flight home. online because the president of France the email on my University student After a night filled with anger had ordered a shut down of all public account. When I first got the email and tears, I woke up the next day institutions. The knowledge that I was notification with the words “study determined to take as many photos not going through this alone and that I abroad” and “coronavirus” I kind of and videos of my little French wouldn’t be missing out on too much shrugged it off because I genuinely hideaway as I could. Before the was a wonderful aid to my hurt. thought there was no way this virus news of our mandatory return, I was I took my sweet time leaving could get so bad. But during my chat that person who was embarrassed to class, said some awkward goodbyes with my friends, they got a news take pictures in public and always and then went on a walk around the notification on their phone saying internally rolled my eyes at my city center. As I was walking out of something along the lines of US friends who did. But that Friday, I the CLA for the last time, headphones borders being closed due to the virus. got it. It finally clicked. I started my in pretending I was in a movie, I My first immediate instinct was documentation of Besançon from coincidentally met a couple of fellow to scramble to find ways where I could my bus ride to the CLA (Centre de Jehovah’s Witnesses who were out cheat the system and stay in France. I linguistique appliquée) all the way doing preaching work. We instantly assumed the school was just trying to through the evening of that Friday. I bonded and then I informed them in prevent a potential lawsuit in case one took the long route to class because some still broken French that I would of the students abroad got sick, and why not, and I got to test my handy be leaving on Monday. We laughed, thought they would allow the options dandy vlogging skills, no matter how we hugged, and of course we picture- for students willing to take the risk to embarrassing it might have been in ed. I said my first and last goodbye stay. As I read the email over and over the moment. to them and headed to my destination again and as more and more emails As I walked into class that day, of choice, my favorite Kebab shop. about Covid-19 came flooding in from I did the cliche thing of realizing It just happened to be one of the first news sources and the university, I “you never know a good thing until beautiful spring days in Besancon and knew there was no way I could stay. it’s gone”. I walked into that French everyone was out in the city center. I I was in shock, confused, but most class, fully determined to not miss a patiently waited in line for my Kebab of all I was sad. Sad that my quaint single word the professor utters and while I solemnly took in my last sights little French city was being taken participate like my life depended on of Besançon. away from me. Sad that this news will it. But turns out, I was not the only 9 Reflection Byron Moore

Byron Moore reflects on his shortened study abroad experience in Thessaloniki, Greece.

ven though it was certainly not rewarding. but also still balancing this newfound Ethe most ideal string of events, I The study abroad lifestyle was approach with a healthy amount of would not trade my chosen semester quite different than that of a normal ambition. abroad for anything else. I arrived student, especially in Greece. I Even though I was not able to in Thessaloniki, Greece on the 4th often heard the phrase “no rush, no see Athens, Tripoli, visit a Greek of February and returned to the worries” being used by everyone, beach, see Mt. Olympus, or travel to United States on the 16th of March, from my landlord to the university any of the islands, I do not wish I had a whopping 40 days abroad. The first staff. While nice at times, this cultural decided to study abroad a different week and a half was cold and lonely, quirk became extremely annoying corona-less semester. Regardless resulting in two weeks of essentially when attempting to finalize selected of the heartbreaking outcome, I pre-corona isolation. But from then courses and university paperwork. am thankful for the opportunity to on, every moment in Thessaloniki was Another interesting aspect of the experience a month abroad and build worth it. I was surprised to find how unique situation was the fact that relationships with wonderful students close I had become with the other my classes did not begin until a from a diverse set of nations. I know foreign students in such a short period week after arriving back home. One I will be studying abroad again, of time. Being thrown into a new takeaway since returning from Greece Covid-19 permitting. environment where you have never is a heightened focus on minimizing met anyone before is challenging but stress levels and being more relaxed,

10 Groningen, Goodbye McKensi Uecker

McKensi Uecker looks back on her time in Vaarwel, Netherlands. Original blog post from https://mckensiuecker. wixsite.com/website. Edited.

hile it’s comforting to be Wback home with my family watching this pandemic unfold, I‘m still heartbroken over leaving. I wasn’t planning on coming home until August, so I feel robbed of my exchange experience. I know that it isn’t anyone’s fault, but it is still a really unfortunate turn of events. Everyone (myself included) had to pack up and leave so quickly that there wasn’t time for very many goodbyes. I hope in the future to see all of my friends again, but I’m not sure that we will all have an opportunity to do so. It‘s difficult to view this situation from an optimistic perspective, but I am still of my friends and family, so I really at 92.3°F (hypothermia sets in when very grateful that I had the opportunity had to put myself out there and meet the body’s temperature falls below to go. new people. 95°), so the health checks were only During my time in Groningen, On my trip home, I flew from successful in stressing people out. I learned so much about different Amsterdam to Detroit and had One of my last days in Europe cultures across the world, and I think to undergo health screenings for was spent in Germany with some of I grew as a person—even if my time Covid-19 when I went through my life long friends. I planned on was cut short. The largest lesson I’m customs. I was disappointed to learn visiting them once I had settled in a taking from this experience is that it’s that the only measures being taken bit more—so the past weekend has felt okay to be completely independent. were temperature checks that proved a lot like “hello”and “goodbye” all at I had to navigate life in a new place to be wildly inaccurate and handouts once. However if time has taught me by myself, forcing me to adapt and about symptoms to watch out for. anything, it’s that I’ll see them again. overcome a variety of challenges. For instance, the woman behind me To Groningen and the friends I made Overseas, I didn’t have the safety net in line had her temperature recorded there, I will be back.

11 Summer Health Professions Education Program Afrah Rasheed

’m not going to lie, I didn’t think SHPEP, I had all of that and more. and discrimination, James A. Miles II was going to make it into this The first thing that I really liked taught us about financial literacy, program. Everything was going was that we stayed at the dorms on Dr. Jasmine Riviere Marcelin told wrong: my transcript took nearly Scott Campus, where food, room and us about her journey into medicine, forever to send, the website kept board, and transportation was covered and Jessica Kroeker spoke to us on malfunctioning, I filled out some by SHPEP. That is already a huge plus Adverse Childhood Experiences things at the last second, and, not for struggling college students, and (ACEs) and their impact on health. to mention, I didn’t think I was an being the sheltered nerd that I was, it All of these experiences served to interesting enough candidate for it. was nice to stay away from home for deepen our understanding of not only I persevered and decided to give it a a couple of weeks to explore. Plus, the world of healthcare, but also to shot so that I could at least say I tried. we got an extra $600 on top of that open our minds as future healthcare I accepted defeat anyways, yet I still to fund our journeys around Omaha, providers and to understand the ended up checking my application which was the cherry on top. population of people we will serve about a month later and guess what: I one day. got in! “One of the most I applied to the program of The Summer Health Professions rewarding experiences I got medicine, so within that I had some Education Program (SHPEP) is a from SHPEP was being able incredible opportunities. I worked 6-week program over the summer with cadavers every week, which is where pre-health professionals engage to meet and connect with an interesting experience to say the in activities to increase their exposure various incredible people ” least. I learned how to put on a cast and connections to the medical field. and splint as well as basic surgical Their aim is specifically to find those We had UNMC first and second suturing, work with $50,000 medical who are disadvantaged financially year students be our TA’s and RA’s, dummies who can move and speak, or are minorities who have limited and they guided us throughout the and I tested out the new iEXCEL opportunities to get into medical whole program with advice and technology that will revolutionize school. It is open to all freshmen leading activities. I still keep in healthcare in the years to come. We and sophomores who are interested contact with some of them! This was toured UNMC and the College of in any health-related field, including also a really good opportunity for us Dentistry in Lincoln and I also got to medicine, public health, dentistry, to experience a taste of medical school see a clinical perfusionist in action etc. Multiple medical schools across as we had courses at UNMC and the and shadowed an amazing physician, the nation sponsored SHPEP, but I UNMC students to go to for advice. Dr. Howard Liu, who was the Head applied to UNMC and the program Throughout the week, we would of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry was led by Sonja Tutsch. There were shuttle over to the UNMC campus at Nebraska Medicine (and we follow approximately 12,000 applicants, but and sit in a giant lecture hall where each other on Twitter now, so that’s only around 800 got accepted. UNO professors, such as Dr. Shirazi fun!). We also got to do a bunch of It was one of the most enriching and Dr. Sullivan, and various UNMC fun things around Omaha and with experiences that I have ever been professors would give lectures on each other and had support groups through. Growing up, I was this topics such as anatomy, biomedicine, after our lectures at UNMC. I traveled meek little Muslim girl who wasn’t chemistry, physics, and epidemiology. to the Old Market a couple times allowed to do anything except go to We also had the opportunity to see and explored a bunch of the small school. I haven’t had many friends, a variety of guest speakers from businesses there, went all over Omaha the opportunity to explore my city, or multiple areas. Dr. Lawrence Chatters to do a project on various living the chance to have my voice heard. At held a workshop on microaggressions conditions, rode around on the metro

12 Summer Health Professions Education Program Afrah Rasheed

buses (not a great experience by the another guy was passionate about applying to SHPEP in the next cycle way; it was pouring and we had no dentistry (and funny enough, teeth). I of November this year. Applications idea what we were doing), and visited still am in contact with various people will be up at https://www.unmc.edu/ a bunch of cool sites around town. I met at SHPEP and we all have one shpep/index.html. Unfortunately, on the first few giant group chat where we update days of the program, I had a series of each other on our lives and share panic attacks due to the unfamiliar memes. Now, I also have connections situation and after meeting a bunch to doctors, speakers, and medical of amazing SHPEP scholars. In students which is amazing. I wish that my mind, I wondered what I was I could’ve stayed for longer! Afrah Rasheed at UNMC for even doing there. I didn’t feel like I If you are a Pre-Health freshman the 2019 Summer Health deserved such an opportunity. I would or sophomore, I would highly Professions Education hide in the bathroom and cry for a few recommend in you considering Program. hours at a time, missing out on some of the activities. At that point, I was devastated, and the people around me were starting to notice. Finally, I decided to reach out to the RA’s and they were amazing enough to sit down with me and to help talk me through the experience. I could never thank the med students enough for all the support and encouragement that they gave us. Over the next few weeks, I ended up making strong bonds with my roommates and other fellow SHPEP scholars. I got to participate in a talent show where I got to show off a video of mine where I painted, and I really felt a lot of love after that. One of the most rewarding experiences I got from SHPEP was being able to meet and connect with various incredible people, all of whom are talented and intelligent and have set a strong vision and goal for themselves. I met another Muslim girl who wanted to be one of the few female cardiothoracic surgeons in the U.S. One of my roommates wanted to be in public health and work with expecting mothers in poverty, and

13 Resonating Research Daniel Faronbi

site at Washington State University. likelihood of alcohol relapse. I applied to this REU program in My interest in digital signal January. The application process processing (DSP) is a result of my included submission of a resume, interest in computers and music. essays describing my possible DSP is the process of taking a real- contribution to the program, list of world signal (like audio or biometric prior work experience, and many data) and analyzing it using a variety other parameters. In April, the of computational techniques. The finalists for the program were sent computer often must perform complex an email asking for two letters of mathematics on the signals to produce recommendation. At this time, I asked the desired results. My double two UNO faculty members to submit majors in Computer Engineering letters for me. Soon, I was notified and Music Technology, and minor in of my acceptance into the program. Mathematics, have given me a strong Students are usually expected to exposure to DSP topics. travel to the institution to participate The University Honors program in the project. Unfortunately, new has been a great help for me trying to travel policies implemented amidst navigate my unique education track. the Covid-19 pandemic have forced The summer before my freshman very year, the National Science the removal of this component of the year, I met with Dr. Lucy Morrison EFoundation funds a variety program. Instead, I will be aiding the and the Honors advisor. They helped of Research Experiences for research project remotely. me plan out my upcoming college Undergraduates (REU) programs. experience, managing the variety Hundreds of these programs are “The University Honors of classes offered from both of my hosted at a variety of universities program has been a great majors and making sure the class across the country, providing students times did not conflict. This was access to world class research. These help for me trying to navigate incredibly helpful. The support I programs are very competitive, with my unique education track. ” received for pursuing my unique acceptance rates varying from 10% goals was a refreshing contrast to to 15%. In these programs, students The project that I have been conversations with other advisors. are assigned to an REU site, which assigned focuses on alcohol relapse. My plan is to pursue a Ph.D. consists of about 10 students, and Participants of the study use a program in Music Technology, each student is assigned a faculty wearable computing wristband specializing in topics related to DSP member with whom they will work called E4, which collects a variety for music. I am thankful to be a part closely on a research project. The of biometrics from the participants. of this REU program since exposure hands-on approach to research These include skin conductance to these topics will be very helpful to pedagogy combined with the prestige level, heart rate, temperature, and my graduate school application and makes these programs ideal for many more. My role in the project my career. I am also grateful to be a students wanting to attend graduate is to apply digital signal processing part of a fantastic Honors Program school. techniques to analyze this data, so that which has been supportive of my This summer, I have the the research team can find correlations unique interest from the beginning of opportunity to participate in an REU between biometric parameters and the my college experience.

14 Freshman Leadership Council Meena Rahmanzai

he Freshman Leadership semester where we get to know However, I do not regret running TCouncil (FLC) is made up each other and plan what we want for it because it was so much fun of approximately 20 Freshman to accomplish as freshman leaders. getting my project ready for my Leaders who meet regularly to We had many guest speakers presentation. Including the goals learn more about the UNO campus who taught us so much about that you want to accomplish if you and UNO Student Government. I leadership. One of the biggest get the ambassador position, my heard about student government impacts that FLC guest speakers project was focused on student through UNO’s Instagram account; had on me was them teaching success and what I wanted to do if they post almost everything that us about how we impacted our elected and how I wanted to do it. happens at UNO. The Student community and those around us as FLC partners with Nathan Body Vice President oversees a leader. I think this was a really Hale Middle School honors FLC, including the group’s special students and we go there from projects, which are events such as “FLC is a great way for time to time to help them with giving cookies to the students in problems they are facing that are new students to get involved the library during finals week. We school-related; we also give them also had another project that was in student government...I advice on what to expect in high going to happen in the summer; got to know so many great school and what they need to do this project was planned to help people” in high school to be successful Nathan Hale Middle School in college. We were luckily able students with hair cuts and school important concept because being to accomplish this goal and we supplies for going to school in the a leader means there are people hope that it helped those students. fall. looking up to you and, as a leader, We planned many end of the year FLC is a great way for new a person should have a good events for UNO students and students to get involved in student influence on those around them summer plans for Nathan Hale government, and my time at FLC and in their community. Middle School students to help was the most memorable and During the first semester, FLC them with school supplies. Even valuable because I got to know elects two members to be First- though we didn’t get to meet in so many great people. During Year Ambassadors who attend person because of the pandemic, the first semester, the individual Student Senate sessions and act we know those students will be interviews for all the applicants as the voice of new students. The great in high school. I recommend with the Vice-President take place. election for becoming First-Year FLA as a great way to get involved After the candidates are chosen to Ambassador also takes place in on campus and learn about be FLC members there are a lot of the fall, and I was a candidate; leadership. meetings that take place in the first unfortunately, I did not win.

@UNOHonorsProgram @unohsa @UNOHSA

15 Student Art

Alexandra Chase I am Alex Chase, a Studio Art and Mathematics double major graduating spring 2020. I view my art as a reflection of myself and the world around me. My creative process is personal, introspective, and requires precision and attention to detail in order to produce the vision that I have in my head. I strive for my creations to display who I am, what matters to me, and the world as seen through my perspective.

Left: Nightmare is a 8.5” x 10” lithograph print.

Afrah Rasheed Paintings for sociology project Left: Maria; above: Together 16 Honors Highlights

Madeline St. Clair received the Patrick Hodson is a graduate of Junior Dalton Meister, a Social 2019 Marian Ivers Community the UNO College of Business Work major, was awarded Service Leadership Award Administration who has earned the Canada-Mitacs Globalink (Ivers CSL), which is awarded to the Congress-Bundestag Fulbright scholarship this summer. students who show commitment Youth Exchange Program This prestigious and highly to community service and (CBYX) scholarship. Although competitive national award would leadership. delayed due to the global health allow Dalton to undertake original pandemic, Hodson will have the research regarding social work opportunity to work and continue practices in Hong Kong, which his studies in Germany through Dalton was fortunate enough to the program. visit briefly last summer!

Maria L. Perez Hernandez is a Business The Distinguished Scholarship Competition was Administration Economics and Management student hosted by Honors on Februrary 29th. Incoming who has been named a Newman Civic Fellow. This freshmen spent the morning engaged in activities esteemed recognition identifies those who have as they competed for these prestigious awards. improved their communities through civic service. The fellowship program provides awardees resources and opportunities to continue their commitment to social and community change. 17 `

Dr. Lucy Morrison Director [email protected]

` KAYSER HALL 6001 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68182 402.554.2696 unomaha.edu/honors-program