We are excited to announce that we have added three new student ambassadors this semester. In addition to Deidre and Paulina's continuing work as student ambassadors, we are pleased to welcome Lauren Hunt, Rebekah DeFusco, and Jordan Bothern to the team. They have each written a short biography to introduces themselves!
Lauren Hunt: My name is Lauren Hunt, a junior Biological Systems Engineering major with minors in Biomedical Engineering and French. I am originally from Overland Park, a suburb of Kansas City. During my time here at Nebraska, I have grown in my interest for the research side of Biomedical Engineering—specifically in the areas of neuroscience, pain management, and orthopedics. More specifically, I have also become interested in the growing field of pharmaceuticals for mental illnesses and pain management, and how genetics could play a huge role in the uptake of these pharmaceutical drugs. This summer I participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) at UNMC where I grew in my knowledge of neuroscience, MATLAB, and problem solving. During my time there, I also had the opportunity to shadow a perfusionist during a swine open-heart surgery, a rheumatologist, and a pulmonologist. Through these experiences, I have become more interested in the path of healthcare. I love to travel and explore new places; the summer before my sophomore year of college, I studied abroad in southern France where I took a French multiculturalism and a French science and technology course. As the outreach chair on the Engineering Student Advisory Board and Society of Women Engineers, I love networking with other engineering majors to create unity within the college. Similarly, I’ve always had a passion for helping people and seeing the fruits of my labor ultimately improve the lives of others.
Rebekah DeFusco: My name is Rebekah DeFusco, and I am a junior studying Biological Systems Engineering with an emphasis in environmental and water resources engineering. I was born and raised in Lincoln, so coming to UNL was an easy choice for me. On campus, I hold officer positions in the Society of Women Engineers and American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ASABE), and I am also involved with the UNL Navigators and was initiated into Tau Beta Pi last semester. This past summer 2016, I studied abroad for 4 weeks in Lille, France, where I took classes about engineering project management and current practices in renewable energy. Whenever I get the chance, I love volunteering at the Lincoln Children’s Museum, and once a year I am Princess Merida for their Super Hero Day!
Jordan Bothern: My name is Jordan Bothern, I am currently a sophomore in mechanized systems management here at UNL. I have a passion for agriculture that drives me to learn as much as I can during the time I have here at UNL. On campus, I work at the Nebraska Tractor Test Lab and I am involved in Quarterscale which is a club that allows students to have a hands on experience in design, manufacturing, production as well as developing an understanding for current business practices and how to pitch projects to an audience. I am also involved in ASABE which offers an opportunity to network and hear from industry professionals that come in and discuss opportunities within their specific industry, and it networks students across the various majors in our BSE department. My sorority, Delta Gamma, on city campus that provides me connections to women across an eclectic mix of majors all of whom have taught me something about our campus, the community or even their experiences around the world. Off of campus, I am involved with the agriculture boards, I love going to the State Office Buildings and hearing about the new promotions that are going on and what projects are being worked on. The Nebraska agriculture boards (Wheat Board, Corn Board, Ethanol Board, Corn Growers, Cattlemans, etc) promote agricultural awareness across the state and foster open relationships within the community that allow for a respectful inclusion of all opinions on agriculture, they also are active in the farming communities making a difference where possible. This summer I am excited to move to Burns Harbor, Indiana to work for Cargill at their Portage location. I will be learning about the inter working of a grain elevator, and how they successfully market and export grain by way of barges. I am looking forward to getting this hands on experience and cannot wait to see what I learn.
Ultimately, I chose to come to Nebraska because it is a place that has offered opportunities and excellenceto my family for generations. I am carrying on a tradition of getting an education here at UNL, and plan to work in Nebraska post-graduation. Whether I am putting in hours studying at school, learning about new research and resources in the agricultural industry, going hunting on the land my family homesteaded generations ago, attending Husker game days, watching the sunset, or even driving a combine for the first time in a corn field, Nebraska has endless opportunities for me and I look forward to seeing where my journey continues.