Hixson-Lied Success Scholars Newsletter

Volume 9 | Issue 5 | November 2020

A GUIDE THROUGH A JOURNEY

By Andrea Santillan, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar

A Hixson-Lied Peer Mentor’s role is to support and advocate for the students within their chosen section of COLA100E. It is required that Peer Mentors have completed one year in the Hixson-Lied Success Scholars Program, and therefore, at least one year in college. This empowers the peer mentor to go into the role of having a whole arsenal of information to pass down to the students. For example, peer mentors share valuable information about campus resources, study skills, and tips about how to be academically successful in college and in general.

Hixson-Lied Peer Mentors have excelled through a variety of experiences in university that are important to pass on to students who may not have the same confidence when it comes to approaching various situations that are encountered in daily life at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). We share our knowledge through a variety of ways that are pre-approved by the professor that we work with. For example, we may decide to do a PowerPoint, activity, or tip of the week.

This transfer of knowledge by a peer that is done in COLA 100E is an important way in which students are supported. Many students who are taking COLA 100E are unsure of which major to select, and many are also new to the idea of being a student at a university. These experiences can be overwhelming, so it makes all the difference to have access to another student who is going through similar experiences, as a majority of peer mentors have declared a major. We are also all current undergraduate students, so we are still taking exams, fighting procrastination, and dealing with a lot of the same things that they are going through.

Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of peer-mentoring is seeing that you have made a difference for someone. We do not always get to find out when something we said has resonated with a student, but when we do, it makes the entire process extremely rewarding. After all, we are chiefly there for the students to help them navigate through the educational journey they are on.

EXPANDING MY HORIZONS THROUGH STUDY ABROAD

By Jannie Nigoza, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar

Studying abroad was something that I had always dreamed of doing since high school. I wished to study abroad not only to travel internationally for the first time but also to live in a foreign country and challenge myself. Initially, I never thought studying abroad was possible because of the cost, but I came to realize that it was achievable. At the beginning of last semester, I booked a flight to Alicante, Spain to start my study abroad experience. I did not know what I was getting myself into until I arrived at my homestay. I was immediately greeted by my two host parents who spoke nothing but Spanish to me. I remember feeling culture shock for the first time and feeling frustrated that I could only speak and understand very little Spanish. I lived with two retired grandparents who treated me like I was their daughter. They supported me greatly throughout my stay in Alicante, and they even took me on a trip with them to Valencia. In the first few weeks of my trip, I was getting used to my classes, meeting new people, and learning so much about Spanish culture. During my time in Spain, I loved every second of it. My program also offered great opportunities to get involved. I worked at a local high school teaching English conversation classes which was such a valuable experience.

During my experience, I took a Spanish cuisine class where I learned how to cook traditional Spanish dishes. I went on many field trips with my program, visited other cities in Spain, and traveled to London with friends. I was also a 15-minute walk from the beach, so I would always go there in my spare time. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, my study abroad program was canceled in mid-March. Of the 5 months, I was able to stay for about 3 months with my program.

Though my experience was cut short, I do not regret studying abroad at all. I met many wonderful people and was able to travel for a short time. My Spanish improved tremendously, and I left this experience feeling very grateful. I would highly recommend any student to look into studying abroad. It was truly a learning experience for me and allowed me to grow in so many ways and if I could study abroad again, I would. As a first-generation college student, I thought it was impossible. Contrary to what many assume, studying abroad is affordable and doable for many students. I recommend that students start planning a year before they study abroad because it gives them time to complete the application and prepare to leave the country for a couple of months. To learn more about studying abroad and this program during Covid-19, please contact the University of Nevada, Las Vegas International Programs via email at international.programs@unlv.edu or visit their website here.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AMIDST THE PANDEMIC

By Rilee Currie, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar

With a mission of increasing undergraduate student participation in research, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Office of Undergraduate Research allows for students to be exposed to a diverse selection of fieldwork, scholarships, and more. Kira Tran, Research Advisor and Communications Specialist with the Office of Undergraduate Research, was interviewed about the opportunities this office offers students.

The requirements to join the research lab are flexible but are usually dependent on the professor you request to work alongside. Before starting research, it is important to take into consideration the time commitment. Students should ask themselves if they have room in their current schedule and if they are an early-riser or night-owl. Some research opportunities might be more strenuous than others. Some might also require students to be certified in specific things such as CPR or First Aid. Some may even be as intense as being certified to work with chemicals under OSHA standards. This is all dependent on which lab the student is interested in. Steps for applying are simple and can be found on the website. First, students should identify a research area of interest and then identify a faculty member who could serve as a mentor. Email templates are available to help students craft a professional email. It is important to note that some professors may also ask for a resume.

Participating in a research lab is important for undergraduate students because it allows for exposure in their specific field of interest, hands-on experience, an increase in professional development. Additionally, students form connections, gain experience in public speaking and presentation skills. Types of research that have been conducted include geoscience, art, political science, and public health. Consider looking into research as an undergraduate, as it can raise your chances of success in your college career.

A HANDSHAKE AWAY FROM YOUR FUTURE

By Yarlin Mayor Garcia, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar

Work and internship experience while in college can help students apply knowledge from the classroom to real-world experience, gain work experience, and network. Nonetheless, as diligent students, it is sometimes troublesome to find these opportunities. To facilitate the process of finding positions to gain experience, UNLV Career Services has adopted a new career management system displaying hundreds of job opportunities that tailor to every student’s interests. Handshake allows students to apply to jobs and internships around the nation to companies such as Google, NV Energy, T-Mobile, and many other employers. Employers post their opportunities on Handshake for students to discover. The application process is simple, easy, and convenient. To access these resources and opportunities, all students must do is create an account using their Rebelmail credentials and ACE login information.

Having a Handshake account opens so many doors for opportunities to network with people that students may not have met otherwise. There are out-of-state internship opportunities to go to Oregon, Texas, California, and many other states. Additionally, Handshake has career listings posted for students who are searching for their career after graduation, making the transition from college to career run smoothly. Students can filter through jobs and internships that fit their majors as well as save their resumes to their profile. Students can also adjust their notifications so that the system can alert them whenever a new job or internship appears.

Handshake provides a brief description of what the job or internship entails and what degree of experience the position requires applicants to have. This way, students can skim and focus on the opportunities that are compatible with their level of expertise in their particular field of study. Handshake is quite practical for maintaining constant communication amongst recruiters and employers. For example, Handshake offers an events section where students can RSVP to attend virtual events at UNLV or with employers. These events are information sessions that employers offer to meet students face-to-face. These events are not mandatory but are the perfect place to ask questions about the opportunities offered and to leave lasting first impressions with employers. These events give students a more in-depth understanding of the positions they are applying for and what companies expect from them. It is also a time to see if the position is truly a good fit for the student.

If students are not sure how to get started with their Handshake account, UNLV Career Services are always here to assist. To book an appointment with a Career Coach, students can do so on their Handshake profile page. Students can meet virtually with Career Services to get assistance with using Handshake, resume building, mock interviews, or general career development questions. UNLV students have doors to many opportunities but are often unaware. Handshake allows students to knock on the doors of many opportunities all at once!

A VIRTUAL UNLV FAMILY DAY

By Rey Ruiz, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar

Every year the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Division of Student Affairs hosts a Family Day. However, this year Family Day has been different due to COVID-19. On October 10, 2020, UNLV Student Affairs hosted a live virtual family day with a panel of undergraduate and graduate students. Although family day could not be in-person this year, there were still important topics that were discussed by the panel of students. There were also major differences in attending this event in-person and attending virtually.

The event panel also consisted of important Directors across different UNLV departments; Adam Crisp, the Director of Communications for the Division of Student Affairs, and LaToya Burdiss, the Associate Director of Programming for the Recreation and Wellness Center, along with Heather Rappaport, the Director of Development for the Division of Student Affairs. They led the discussion on important topics and questions that could impact students this semester. Many students were concerned with the overall University schedule since they heard that the University of Nevada, Reno had changed its academic schedule. However, she reassured students that there had been no changes to the current academic schedule, and it was not likely that we would see one in the future. Something that is currently on many students’ minds is FAFSA. This topic was also covered by Heather Rappaport, as she explained that the priority deadline is November 15, 2020. She also discussed concerns of some students with regards to filling out FAFSA. Usually, students can go to the Office of Financial Aid and have someone there ready to help with the FAFSA, however, this year is different due to the current pandemic. Everything is being done online or over the phone and because of this, the Office of Financial Aid hired more people to compensate for the difference. The distinction between synchronous and asynchronous classes was also discussed. Synchronous classes are classes that hold a live meeting during a class schedule and asynchronous classes do not hold live meetings.

To continue, Family Day was then opened to a panel of students that tackled different questions. They answered questions about how they have personally stayed organized throughout the semester. They also provided advice on how to cope with isolation and more information on resources that are available to students. The student panel talked about the importance of Academic Advising, especially during a semester that has been unique when compared to other semesters. They also discussed how to get involved with campus activities like a homecoming. Although most homecoming events this year will not be in-person, there are still events that are occurring in which students can participate in.

My initial reaction to the event being virtual was “surprised.” I did not think that the event was going to be held this year and I think the virtual aspect of it was unique. There were major differences between having the event in-person and attending the event virtually. One major difference was the social aspect of Family Day. One thing that they were able to do last year was a Jazz Brunch, which was something that was currently not possible this year. Another different aspect was the length of Family Day. The panel and the answering of questions were roughly one hour long versus what it usually is, which is an all-day event. However, I still think that UNLV made the best out of the situation. They were still successful at conveying important information through their panel.

Overall, the event was unique just like this semester has been so far, the effort to inform students and parents was still seen and appreciated. Although there were differences in the way that the event was organized, I think that the UNLV team was still successful with this event and in conveying information that impacts many students.

ONE STEP CLOSER TO SUCCESS

By Virginia Ramos Munoz, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar

Have you heard about virtual workshops hosted online at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)? Virtual sessions are an opportunity for students at UNLV to interact with events that would normally take place in a face-to-face environment. For example, these events can range from workshops, where you learn new skills or meetings where you get to meet professional people and network with them. Students can discover virtual event opportunities by visiting the Virtual Events Calendar. On October 13, 2020, I had the opportunity to attend a virtual workshop with the Academic Success Center (ASC). The ASC has an “Academic Success Series” where they talk about different Academic Success topics each week. The times these series take place are Mondays at 2:30 PM, Tuesday at 11:30 AM, and Wednesday at 10:00 AM. These workshops are hosted by the Academic Success Coaching Program, which supports undergraduate students with soft skill development through one-on-one appointments or workshops. To access these workshops students will need to pre-register. Information on how to pre-register can be found on this website.

The workshop I attended was about self-care, which allowed me to assimilate a lot of information that I can utilize within my daily life. One of the things that stood out to me the most was the difference between burnout and stress. I learned that stress is characterized by over-engagement which tends to lead to anxiety, meanwhile, burnout is characterized by disengagement that tends to lead to detachment and, in some extreme cases, even depression. Some ways students can overcome burnout is by turning to others for support, adjusting your mentality, re-evaluating priorities, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Other ways students can destress is by incorporating more exercise into their routine, surrounding themselves with positive people, and practicing various forms of self-care.

Virtual workshops give the students the flexibility to access them from anywhere in the world in comparison to in-person sessions, where students would need to physically attend. Workshops created by the ASC, such as the workshop promoting self-care that I have attended, can be beneficial to improve an undergraduate's success in their college career.

SHORT-TERM RESEARCH INTERNSHIPS

By Christian Lainez-Artiga , Hixson-Lied Success Scholar

Internships are a great opportunity for students seeking to obtain new experience and knowledge. Fortunately, for Juniors and Seniors in the UNLV College of Engineering, there is opportunity to participate in a short-term research internship and gain notable research experience abroad with the International Exchange Internship Program. This exciting program provides. Engineering students hands-on research experience that is carefully directed by faculty mentors who share the same area of interests. This internship opportunity will allow students to not only educate themselves, but also become more aware of many safety procedures while conducting research. Students will also be able to learn how to better find research materials for future projects. They will also learn about ethics within their given field. While many internships are unpaid, as is this one, students still have the chance to learn new skills and adapt to a laboratory environment.

This internship is an opportunity for students to gain more experience researching in the Engineering field and presenting their research. The students will learn how to create a research poster. They will prepare the poster themselves and orally present the poster. Along with other information, the poster will identify the major elements of the scientific method within the research area they performed.

Students will receive 1-3 course credits and will be graded on the “Pass/Fail” system. Students can receive a satisfactory grade by completing at least 70% of the assigned tasks. Participating students should be willing to work hard, explore, learn, and collaborate with their professors.

In order to start participating, interested Engineering students should start choosing which specific Engineering department they want to work in. From there, students can search the faculty directory and identify the professors who they would be interested in collaborating with. Once students identify the professors, they should email them and express their interest in working with them. Students should then send their unofficial transcript and resume to professors, as well as email the coordinator of the internship program in order to express their interest. The information students provide will be used by the professors to decide if they are willing to be mentors for the students. In addition, students will need to fill out the online application form. Students can apply at any point in the academic year, but remember to enroll as a non-degree seeking student.

Something to be aware of are the fees associated with the internship opportunity. The application as a non-degree seeking student has an initial $30 fee. Moreover, enrolled students must pay for 1-3 credits of EGG 499 and the cost may vary from semester to semester. For an estimate of tuition cost or for more information on applying, students can contact the International Program Coordinator at this email: rosangela.wacaser@unlv.edu.

After completing the application, the program coordinator will contact the student regarding the number of credits they will need to register to participate in the program. The professor reviews the materials and communicates with the program coordinator. If a student is accepted into the program, the program coordinator will send the student a tuition estimate, an acceptance letter, a syllabus that has been edited by the professor, a list of required documents for a J-1 visa application, and a couple of documents from the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) for DS-2019 processing. The OISS will then follow-up with the student to help them with the rest of the visa application. Further, the student will need to inform the program coordinator when their visa is issued. The program coordinator then passes along all of the needed information to the College of Engineering Advising Center, who will help the student enroll in classes and create a working schedule.

It is understandable if all this information seems confusing or overwhelming, but always remember that internships are amazing opportunities and provide students with skills that they may use in their future careers. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact the internship webpage here or reach out to Professor Jaekeun Cho from the College of Engineering at jaekeun.cho@unlv.edu for more information.

MEET OUR DONORS

Ms. Christina M. Hixson

Ms. Christina M. Hixson graduated from high school in Clarinda, Iowa and moved to Omaha, Nebraska to attend business school. She later went to work for Mr. Ernst F. Lied , a car dealership owner in Omaha and in 1960 she joined Mr. Lied in Las Vegas, Nevada as his assistant. After Mr. Lied’s death in 1980, Ms. Hixson became the sole trustee of the Lied Foundation Trust and turned the Lied Foundation Trust into one of the largest foundations in the state of Nevada at that time. Ms. Hixson has a special understanding of young people who, like her, came from a challenging family background and are willing to work hard.

Mr. Ernst F. Lied

Mr. Ernst F. Lied was born in Columbus, Ohio and attended the University of Kansas for two years, where he played on the golf team. He ultimately graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1927. Mr. Lied became a Buick dealer in Omaha, Nebraska and later his dealership was ranked third in the country for the number of cars sold. Mr. Lied established his charitable foundation in 1972, and upon his death in 1980 at age 74 nearly his entire estate funded the Lied Foundation Trust. Lied Foundation Trust has enhanced the capabilities of many schools and enriched the quality of many lives!

*All photos used are original, can be found on unlv.edu, UNLV social media or have references indicated

Visit the ASC Website

UNLV | Academic Success Center | (702) 895-3177 | asc@unlv.edu | www.unlv.edu/asc