Our Students
We encourage students to take learning outside the classroom, and love seeing the different opportunities our students find along the way! Here are a few ways our students have gotten involved both in and outside the UNF community:
Exploring Interests Outside The Classroom: Madelyn Schneider
Madelyn Schneider is an Honors student who has found ways to pursue her major both inside and outside the classroom. Madelyn, a current junior majoring in English with a minor in Mass Communication, is a key member of the UNF Spinnaker team. Formerly a Biochemistry major, Madelyn joined Spinnaker as their News Editor in the spring of 2024, her second semester at UNF, to gain some writing experience and learn more about the world of journalism. However, after just a few months, Madelyn was promoted to Spinnaker’s Editor-in-Chief for the fall 2024 term!
Madelyn loves her new position and the teamwork that comes with it. Her favorite part of the position is working with volunteer writers because of their ideas and passions for stories. “It’s so fun to read stories written by students of all disciplines–– not just English or journalism majors. It gives me access to perspectives that might’ve never crossed my mind.” Madelyn particularly enjoys writing feature stories as she loves listening to others talk about what excites them. “I love sitting down with people and letting them geek out, rant, rave and tell me everything they wish the world knew about what they love.”
In her (limited) free time, Madelyn can be found roaming the Osprey Fountains hallways in search of a late-night ice cream treat or working part-time as a florist during the holidays. Despite her packed schedule, Madelyn was still able to visit Finland, Latvia and Estonia this summer with the UNF Choral Group.
Madelyn is a model Honors student who explores her interests, takes on leadership roles and strives for success daily.
Interdisciplinary Honors at its Finest: Damien Jackson
The Oxford Dictionary defines the word interdisciplinary as, “of or pertaining to two or more disciplines or branches of learning; contributing to or benefiting from two or more disciplines.” Hicks Honors College Student Damien Jackson is certainly an interdisciplinary student.
Damien, a Financial Planning student, transferred into UNF and Honors after finishing his associate degree at FSCJ. While at FSCJ, Damien worked as a student assistant in the North Campus library where he decided to learn how to 3D print in order to expand his academic and professional horizons.
When Damien entered UNF in the fall, he assumed his 3D printing days were over until he, by chance, took Dr. Monti’s section of Honors Pre-Capstone Symposium. Dr. Monti introduced him to the S.T.E.P. Lab which has 3D printers for certified UNF students to use. This inspired the two of them to create an Honors 3D Printing seminar course that would teach students how to use 3D printers for recreational (personal) use and show these students the interdisciplinary skills 3D printing can apply to their majors and future careers. The course ran for the first time this past spring with Damien acting as a co-Teacher, and all eight students have earned the UNF 3D printing badge which lets them use the S.T.E.P. Lab’s 3D printers as they please!
If you thought Damien was busy creating and co-teaching an Honors seminar, you’ll be even more impressed to know that, during this time, Damien also was applying for the highly competitive Gilman Scholarship! Damien planned to study abroad in the spring semester, but realized he would need more funding to make the trip a reality. So, he met with Dr. Kershner in the Office of Fellowships to explore funding opportunities outside UNF. Dr. Kershner brought up the Gilman Scholarship* and with her guidance Damien finished his application and was one of roughly 1,700 undergraduate students across all 50 states, the District of Colombia, and Puerto Rico who were accepted during that cycle!
Damien used his fall Gilman award the following semester to go to the European Business School in Paris, France during spring break where he studied finance and the rapidly growing financial technology field. While there, he made a point to seek out famous French landmarks and locations every day with other UNF students including the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and the Louvre.
After his experience abroad, Damien has some advice: “I want to encourage all other students to take the time and opportunity to explore studying abroad as it can be very beneficial for them!”
While most people use the word “interdisciplinary” to mean contributing two or more disciplines, Damien is here to show students that it also means benefiting from two or more disciplines. Don’t be afraid to stretch and take opportunities outside of your major!
*The Gilman scholarship is funded by the U.S. Department of State and helps defray the cost of study abroad and international internships for U.S. undergraduate students. Gilman alumni also have unique opportunities not open to the general public including Graduate School tuition reduction, and eligibility for 12 months of Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE) hiring status with the federal government (NCE status allows individuals to be appointed to federal positions without having to compete with the general public).
Current students interested in the Gilman scholarship can also receive a supplemental award of up to $1,000 dollars to conduct STEM-related research as part of their planned study abroad or international internship program.
For more information about the Gilman Scholarship, as well as other Fellowship opportunities, students can meet with Dr. Kershner in the Office of Fellowships.