University of Iowa

The University of Iowa is celebrating Homecoming this week and that means the 14-member executive council is busy, really busy.

In her own words, Tj Grimes talks about her experiences while traveling to Seoul, South Korea, in the spring semester of 2022. "I was fully aware of the differences in ideology from that widely accepted in the United States. Although some do not support the LGBTQ+ community in the United States, the silver lining is that people in the community do have legal rights that they would otherwise not have if they were outside of the United States."

In her own words, Sushma Santhana talks about her many experiences travelling abroad last summer. "Even four months after coming back from my study abroad experience, it's hard for me to collect all of my memories and experiences from my month there and put them into one piece of writing. So much happened in such little time, and while it does seem cliche, my confidence in my identity and my ability to empathize with those around me increased greatly from my time in Italy."

Felix Pabon-Rodriguez is five years into the University of Iowa's biostatistics doctoral program in the College of Public Health, but until he was enrolled in a master's program in Puerto Rico, he was not aware of the field. "I knew there was biology, statistics and mathematics, and I really loved all of those areas separately, but I didn't know there was a specific field in biostatistics," he explained.

Nick Beattie he was able to combine his undergraduate experience with art history and his studies at the University of Iowa's School of Library and Information Science to complete a summer internship at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

Growing up in Puerto Rico, Hector Sanchez Melendez made up his mind to study the brain and go to medical school. But as a neuroscience major at the University of Iowa, he has discovered a passion for research. Now, he wants to establish a lab back home.

Ann Kreitman found community at the LGBTQ Iowa Archives and Library, as well as a wealth of stories to tell in her work in the theater.

New York native Matthew McGregor came to Iowa to work on addiction and relapse research championed by faculty member Ryan LaLumiere because he found an inclusive, welcoming environment in the graduate program.

At the University of Iowa, Guadalupe De La Rosa found an environment where she could push herself to be a leader, take part in the crucial cycle of mentorship, and better embrace her cultural background.

More than 260 current University of Iowa students are members of the 2022 Hawkeye Marching Band, one of the "top ten college marching bands in the nation," according to CNN Headline News and one of the Big Ten Conference's marching bands whose halftime show is "worth the watch," according to Sports Illustrated. The 2022 Hawkeye Marching Band - affectionately known as "Band 142" by its membership - will once again be the sound of Iowa Football and the heartbeat of historic Kinnick Stadium at each of the Iowa Hawkeyes' seven home games.

Third-year student Gursharan Virk recently became the first Air Force cadet granted permission to wear traditional Sikh garb as part of his military uniform.

While some theater graduate programs require students to focus on one specialty, the University of Iowa allowed Alastair Sigala Ramirez to pursue both of his passions.

Cielo Herrera, a freshman from Cedar Falls, was one of the speakers at the University of Iowa's annual convocation. She was selected to address her peers in Iowa's Class of 2026, the most academically accomplished class in the history of Iowa.

The University of Iowa continues to attract high-achieving students. This fall's incoming first-year class has topped previous records with an average high school grade-point average (GPA) of 3.82. The average high school GPA for the classes of 2025 and 2024 were 3.81 and 3.78, respectively.

At the University of Iowa, Kaevon Merriweather has honed his skills on the gridiron, found a major that resonates with his career ambitions, and developed a project celebrating Black history.

More than 260 current University of Iowa students are members of the 2022 Hawkeye Marching Band, one of the "top ten college marching bands in the nation," according to CNN Headline News and one of the Big Ten Conference's marching bands whose halftime show is "worth the watch," according to Sports Illustrated. The 2022 Hawkeye Marching Band - affectionately known as "Band 142" by its membership - will once again be the sound of Iowa Football and the heartbeat of historic Kinnick Stadium at each of the Iowa Hawkeyes' seven home games.

Within one year of starting at the University of Iowa, Ella McDaniel has realized two of her childhood dreams: to become Iowa's Golden Girl and to be crowned Miss Majorette of America.

The Carver College of Medicine recently staged its annual Arnold P. Gold Foundation White Coat Ceremony for first-year students beginning their medical education at the University of Iowa. The event welcomed the College's class of 2026 and it represented the first time these future physicians would recite the Oath of Hippocrates, calling attention to the importance of the doctor-patient relationship.

Thirteen University of Iowa women's gymnasts were recently named Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association Scholastic All-America Award recipients.

A fascination with electronic devices and photonics - or the science of light - has led Jacob Sindt down a promising path of research and discovery as an undergraduate student at the University of Iowa College of Engineering.

As a toddler, Iowa student-athlete Kelby Telander was diagnosed with severe hearing loss. He recently talked about his experience and offered advice to kids who have hearing loss or stutter as part of a summer program.

University of Iowa sport and recreation management students spent a week learning about many aspects of a career with the Olympics-and lived like an Olympian in the process.

Starting his studies during a pandemic, Iowa engineering student Sayre Satterwhite focused on exploring new interests. The payoff? In 2022, the Ames, Iowa, native became the first UI student to land a prestigious scholarship established by the NOAA.

One in five pregnant women face food insecurity. Upstream Initiative, a student-run program in a high-risk pregnancy clinic at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, aims to improve health outcomes by addressing the issue head-on.

In 2022, the the University of Iowa's Mobile Clinic celebrates 20 years of service as it continues to offer free medical care for immigrants and refugees, homeless people, those who are returning from incarceration, migrant workers, low-income residents, and whoever else may need primary and preventive care.

This spring, more than 5,100 University of Iowa undergraduate, graduate, and professional students earned their degrees. These Hawkeyes engaged, excelled, and stretched to reach their goals -- despite a pandemic.

More than 4,000 undergraduate students at the University of Iowa were named to the dean's list for the 2022 spring semester. Dean's list status was earned by 714 first year undergraduates during the 2022 spring semester at Iowa, only 1,268 second year students, only 1,559 third year students, and only 2,045 fourth year students.

More than 1,000 undergraduate students at the University of Iowa were named to the president's list for the 2022 spring semester.

Undergraduate students at the University of Iowa not only have plentiful opportunities to work alongside faculty researchers, they make important contributions to science.

Travel abroad provides an excellent opportunity to consider one's personal identity in a new cultural context. The Diversity Ambassador Scholarship program supports the diversification of students who study abroad by providing awards to students from diverse backgrounds and identities, many of whom are traditionally underrepresented on study abroad programs.