Å·²©ÓÎÏ·¹ÙÍø

When Becca Peterson arrived at Å·²©ÓÎÏ·¹ÙÍø Illinois University in 2014, the transition to college was a shock.

Carly Hall has always loved math, and she’s been very good at it. But it wasn’t until the summer before her senior year, standing in front of a room full of incoming freshmen, that the University Honors Program Scholar would discover her passion: teaching.

Building relationships has helped bridge the gap between an education in theory and one in practice for Å·²©ÓÎÏ·¹ÙÍø earth science students. Faculty in the earth science department have reached out to local and national agencies and organizations in order to provide internships and field opportunities for their students. These hands-on experiences have brought to life the concepts learned in textbooks and discussed in the classroom.

In May of 2014, Claudia Hernandez earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from Å·²©ÓÎÏ·¹ÙÍø It was the first major step in realizing her lifelong goal of becoming a social worker—a goal born from tragedy.