Highlander Highlights shares with readers some of the extraordinary research and accomplishments happening on and off campus through the tireless work and curiosity of our students, staff, alumni and faculty.
Alaska Research Experience returns to the Arctic
Ten students are enrolled in this year鈥檚 Alaska Research Experience, a two-course, year-long sequence led by Professor of Physics Rhett Herman that culminates in hands-on field research in Utqiagvik, Alaska. The official field season runs from Feb. 21 to March 7, with most students making the trip for either Feb. 21-28 or Feb. 28 to March 7.
鈥淭his is an incredibly intense but rewarding experience,鈥� Herman said. 鈥淭hat one-week field window is shockingly tight, but the students are ready because they鈥檝e been building toward this moment since August.鈥�
While most students spend one week in Alaska, those with larger projects may stay two weeks. This year, Lily Backus, the 2025 Artis College/AEP Summer Research Fellow, is doing a two-week field session. Supporting the cohort is Elevate Research student mentor Athena Smith, a participant in the 2023-2024 experience and the 2024 ACSAT/AEP Summer Research Fellow. The Elevate Research effort, run through the office of Associate Provost for Academic Affairs Jeanne Mekolichick, has been especially helpful this year, Herman said.
鈥淗aving Athena as a mentor has been invaluable,鈥� Herman said. 鈥淪he knows exactly what the students are facing because she鈥檚 done it herself.鈥�
Travel logistics underscore the remoteness of the work. To arrive on Feb. 21, participants leave the East Coast on Friday, Feb. 20, arriving the following afternoon after multiple flights. Since COVID-10, Utqiagvik has only one main commercial flight in and out each day, Herman said.
Each student designed, proposed and built a microcontroller-based environmental, geophysics or low-Earth-space sensor aligned with their planned career paths. 鈥淭hey work individually with me from topic selection through funding and construction,鈥� Herman said. 鈥淏y the time they reach Alaska, they know their systems inside and out.鈥�
Students, employers meet and mingle at Spring Career Fair
By Joya Garris and Jordan Richardson
Voices echoed through Kyle Hall on Thursday, Feb. 5, as 300 students from programs and majors across campus attended Career and Talent Development鈥檚 Spring Career Fair. The event was designed to connect students with 75 potential employers, according to Paula McGraw, assistant director of student and employer engagement.
Remi Miller, a sophomore management major from Stuart, Virginia, came to the fair searching for internships and came ready to make an impression. Through her Human Resources class, Miller prepared for the fair by creating business cards, resume materials and even thank-you letters to give to business representatives.
Graduate criminal justice student Abbie Lane of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, was excited to see so many police departments participating in the fair. 鈥淚t was really nice to kind of make connections and just see what鈥檚 out there,鈥� she said. She made the most of her limited time before class by talking to as many employers as possible. 鈥淚 would have never talked to as many people or realized how many departments are out there without this career fair.鈥�
Meanwhile, Annabelle Peay, a junior marketing major from Buchanan, Virginia, was completing her career fair passport, a fun incentive for students to engage with more booths. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a good way to get students to go to different tables and get them to interact with people,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 feel like you have to have a conversation to get the stamp, so it鈥檚 a good way to network.鈥�
We Are 91制片厂 winner for February
The We Are 91制片厂 employee recognition program is a monthly honor recognizing an individual whose daily interactions with students and colleagues represent the best of the 91制片厂 experience. The winner for February is Charlie Quesenberry, warehouse operations assistant.
鈥淚 can't say enough how much Charlie goes above and beyond with deliveries to the various Student Life offices," his nominator wrote. "We often have large or unusual deliveries in Student Life, and he's been willing to meet us at other locations with large shipments or track us down at an event where items didn't come in until the day of the event. He also does it all with a smile!鈥�
Employees who have served at least one year at 91制片厂 are eligible to be recognized for upholding the university鈥檚 core values.