Over the winter break, I had the opportunity to take a class that involved touring different National Parks in Texas and New Mexico. I was told it would involve some hiking, but “no fitness level would be required.” On the first day of the trip, we toured two different missions (historic catholic churches) in the El Paso, TX area that involved no hiking of any kind.  We did some light walking and spent more time traveling by car than by foot. The next day however, we went to our first National Park: Guadalupe Mountains National Park. 

My name is Alexandra Houser and I will be graduating in 2019 as part of the first class of students in the new non-thesis Master of Animal Sciences program at Illinois. I came to the CU area in the fall of 2018 to begin this unique one-year program knowing that the next nine months would be very challenging, but also extremely worthwhile… and boy was I right!

Students and faculty may have just returned from spring break, but it feels like it’s taking forever for spring to show its shiny green face this year. Looking back in my phone, I find photos of fully leafed-out trees and fat, unfurling hosta leaves by early April in recent years. This year, buds are still in winter-mode: small and clenched, as if they’re hunkered down for a storm.

Not to sound like a hypocrite, but instead of going on and on about how important it is to constantly embrace change and adopt a growth mindset (like I have been known to do) today I want to talk our remembering our roots.

Seniors in dietetics in the ACES Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition have done it again! Nationally, an average of only 50 percent of dietetic students match with a dietetic internship. However, the dietetics class of 2019 achieved a match rate of 100 percent, meaning that every senior that applied for a dietetic internship or graduate school was matched with or accepted by one. The seniors found out the exciting news on April 7.

Sometimes learning comes in thundering waves; other times as tiny nuggets of wisdom.

More than 500 4-H members studied through the winter and early spring to learn as much as they could about the horse industry. They competed in four regional contests until the best of the best remained to compete in the Illinois State 4-H Horse Bowl, Hippology, and Horse Speaking contests held on campus April 13-14.

While most people were packing bathing suits and sunblock into their luggage, I was packing work boots and flannel shirts. My last spring break in college was spent hiking through the woods, carrying a chainsaw and learning how to safely fell trees.

Isn’t it funny how sometimes the answer you least predict resonates the most and leaves the biggest impact? I was in a meeting recently when one of my friends and fellow College of ACES student was asked what her greatest opportunity was in the college. This friend is very involved in all kinds of clubs and experiences housed in the College, so I was expecting her to say something about one of her numerous club and committee officer roles, study abroad experiences, or sense of community through her relationships with faculty, advisors, and even the deans.

Congratulations, Class of 2019!

The big day is almost here. Your journey has been incredible.

The College of ACES is so proud of you and we can’t wait to celebrate YOU this weekend. You may have a few questions about this weekend’s festivities. Please refer to the links below to find all the info.

ACES Convocation info: https://graduation.aces.illinois.edu/may

I have always wanted to travel the world, see new places, and learn about different cultures. However, as an agricultural and biological engineering student, I was unsure if I would have the time to study abroad due to my hectic college schedule.