Interdisciplinary experiences in honors
Nguyen has stayed grounded even in that level of success. As a student in the Mark Stephen Cosby Honors College, Nguyen enjoys a variety of non-research courses, too, spanning a range of topics. The discussion-based structure and open conversations with professors are the first thing she mentions when asked about her time in honors.
“I love honors classes,” Nguyen says.
This semester, Nguyen learned the ins and outs of entering post-grad life in “Adulting: Managing Your Money and Mindset for Success” with John Magliocco, a lecturer in the honors college. From credit cards to changing a car tire, Nguyen has relished the opportunity to gain knowledge about real-life topics that fall outside traditional college curricula.
Another of Nguyen’s honors favorites was “Game Analysis and Design” with Dr. Chris Hlas, professor of mathematics education. As they study all the strategies, rules and formulas that go into board game design and gameplay, students are tasked with developing and presenting their own unique board games, which students and faculty gather to play at the end of the semester.
“It's not like a lecture at all,” she says. “We sit together and study about strategy and how we can develop the game at the end of the semester. Very hands-on.”
Outside of honors courses, Nguyen has been involved in various honors events. Course previews, professor book review sessions and the first-year welcome picnic allowed her to connect with students across the college with different backgrounds and perspectives.
“I think it's pretty cool to be able to talk to new fellow students in different majors,” Nguyen says.
Outstanding student, upstanding leader
Nguyen is passionate about pursuing her interests outside of the formal classroom. During her first year, she took advantage of an opportunity to join the Student Association for Computing Machinery. Along with finding a like-minded community, she gained practical skills in programs crucial to her computer science career.
“I didn't realize how important and helpful it was until I had my research and internship, which required that knowledge.”
Nguyen also served as a resident assistant in Karlgaard Towers during her second year, a choice she made after living off campus the year prior, in search of greater personal development and connection to the student body.
“I wanted to actively contribute to the community I was a part of while expanding my own network and knowledge base regarding campus life.”
Her RA duties involved mediating disputes, addressing resident concerns, ensuring safety, responding to emergencies, creating an inclusive, welcoming living environment and serving as a mentor and role model. It honed skills she thinks she’ll turn to regularly now that she’s graduated.
“The experience taught me valuable interpersonal skills,” Nguyen says. “And being the first responder to emergencies and ensuring the safety of residents also drastically improved my crisis management and quick-thinking abilities, skills that are valuable in any professional setting.”
Beyond the UW-Eau Claire campus, Nguyen has gained professional experience in computer and information systems, work she hopes to continue for a while before pursuing graduate school. Currently, she works as an intern for Menards, handling information systems general development. In this role, Nguyen has been involved in application development, quality and performance, working across a variety of teams — and the collaborative spirit she grew at UW-Eau Claire, she says, will continue to go a long way.
Written by Cami Hoth, a second-year junior studying business communication and marketing at UW-Eau Claire. She is from Stewartville, Minnesota.
