On Thursday, March 28, 2024, during annual Student Research Days celebrations, the Office of Undergraduate Research & Fellowships and the TRIO/Student Support Services program convened a Mini-Symposium for First Year Research Experience (FYRE) students. Among 42 students completing the FYRE program this year, 25 elected to give brief talks about their research or creative projects to an audience of students, faculty, and staff.
Each fall, FYRE staff match eligible incoming first year undergraduates with faculty mentors to engage in a manageable research or creative project, with their employment supported by federal work-study and the TRIO/Student Support Services Program. Participation in undergraduate research and first year experiences are both considered high-impact practices for undergraduate education by the American Association of Colleges & Universities. The FYRE program combines both practices, ensuring that first year students build social connection with faculty mentors and researchers while gaining first-hand knowledge of how Nebraska’s research innovations contribute to solving global challenges.
The Mini-Symposium event theme, “Cultivating a Growth Mindset,” reflects the FYRE program’s commitment to providing enriching research opportunities that foster curiosity, creativity, resilience, adaptability, and reflection on the value of the first-year experience. In addition to the Mini-Symposium, FYRE students participate in monthly skill-building workshops and complete HuskerWork, a professional development program facilitated by the Office of Undergraduate Research & Fellowships in partnership with University Career Services.
Darby Kelley, a graduate student in the Master of Arts in Educational Administration: Higher Education program, serves as a graduate assistant and coordinates activities for the FYRE student community. Kelley noted the benefits of learning how to engage in academic conferences, like the Mini-Symposium, in the first year. “Providing students with a safe space to present their findings supports their professional development and gives them the experience to continue presenting their work,” Kelley said. “It is our hope that the Mini-Symposium prepares them for future research presentations and endeavors.”
Indeed, 11 of the current FYRE students were recently offered 2024-25 Undergraduate Creative Activities & Research Experiences (UCARE) program awards to continue research in the second year of study. Since the FYRE program’s inception in 2019, more than 50 FYRE students have received UCARE awards, and 10 have been selected as Ronald E. McNair Scholars.
Following is a list of 25 student presenters at the FYRE Mini-Symposium, organized by hometown, with their academic majors and faculty mentor’s name(s).
Nebraska
La Vista: Ronald Greer, Biological Sciences, Lise Pingault
Lincoln:
- Abdallah Abdallah, Civil Engineering, Eileen Hebets
- Nathaly Aguilar, Undeclared, Colin Meiklejohn
- Ahmad Al-Hilfy Leon, Kurt Piepenbrink
- Maathir Basi, Psychology, Kristi Montooth
- Aida Burks, Sociology, Trish Wonch Hill and Michelle Krehbiel
- Nathan Dang, Computer Science and Mathematics, Alexander Zupan
- Jessica Huynh, Civil Engineering, Alexander Zupan
- Poni John, Undeclared (Pre-Health and Pre-Dental Hygiene), Tierney Lorenz and Nicole Iverson
- Alexis Mendez Santiago, Computer Engineering, Dai Shizuka
- Alejandra Moreno Guerrero, Psychology, Ashley Votruba
- Hamdiya Mumade, Biological Sciences and Microbiology, Kristi Montooth
- Kathleen Nguyen, Biological Sciences, Amanda Ramer-Tait
- Riada Riyangow, Undeclared (Pre-Health and Pre-Nursing), Valerie Jones
- Breana Sabin, Biological Sciences, Michael Herman
- Anok Timothy, Computer Science and Mathematics, Alexander Zupan
- Kim Tran, Biological Sciences, Nicole Buan
- Bui Vu, Mathematics, Alexander Zupan
- Mustafa Waly, Computer Science, Alexander Zupan
- Segen Yosief, Actuarial Science, Emira Ibrahimpasic
- Maricela Zamora, Biological Sciences, Michael Herman
- Sergio Zavala, Physics and Electrical Engineering, Heidi Diefes-Dux
Omaha:
Veronica Sargbah, Architectural Studies, Katrina Jagodinsky
Elsewhere:
Alton, IL: Megan Yarborough, Fisheries and Wildlife, Sabrina Russo
Boonville, MO: Gabrielle Clifton, Agronomy, Luis Posadas Martinez
In addition to the 25 presenters named above, the following 17 students also completed the FYRE program this year.
Nebraska
Aurora:
Gabriel Peterson, Biological Sciences, Michael Dodd
Fremont:
Harley Boutard, Psychology, Michael Dodd
Hastings:
Joanne Vuong, Chemical Engineering, Yingying Wang
Lincoln:
- Mia Hamel, Plant Biology, Kurt Piepenbrink
- Lucas Kortus, Nutrition and Health Sciences, Yingying Wang
- Morgan Lahm, Psychology and English, Emira Ibrahimpasic
- Aram Pirali, Chemical Engineering, Xia Hong
- Tiegan Ries, Undeclared (Pre-Medicine), Christine Wittich
Omaha:
- Arjun Rishi, Biochemistry, Nicole Iverson
- Promise Smeal, Plant and Landscape Systems, Richard Wood
- James Thomson, Electrical Engineering, Nicole Iverson
Scribner:
Grace Schlueter, Animal Science, Amy Desaulniers
Sidney:
Aspen Gurr, Emerging Media Arts, Michael Burton
Elsewhere :
Ladera Ranch, CA: Ayden Topping, Psychology, Ashley Votruba
Griffin, GA: Chance Matlock-Carter, Insect Science and Environmental Science, Thomas Powers
Hutchinson, KS: Morgan Hixson, Microbiology, Amy Desaulniers
Troy, MT: Audrey Evans, Agricultural Systems Technology, Richard Wood
