Samantha Schmidt ’26 has been named the recipient of the Celina Karp Biniaz Model of Resilience Award from °µÍøTV. The Award was established to honor Celina’s courageously hopeful life and legacy and bestows a cash prize.
Delilah Shapiro received the Frederick Baumann Essay Prize Award that recognizes excellence in education by encouraging °µÍøTV students to explore ideas and society in an interdisciplinary and historical context.
The Udall Foundation awards scholarships and special honors to college sophomores and juniors for study in fields related to the environment and for Native Americans and Alaska Natives in fields related to health care and Tribal public policy.
Students took a trip to Washington, DC with the Rosenfield Program and CLS to explore the theme of Politics and Media
She will be starting her Master’s of Public Health (MPH) in Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Iowa alongside finishing her undergraduate degree in 2026-2027. Following the awarding of her MPH in 2028, she will connect science with law as she begins her Juris Doctorate (JD) program.
Two students participated in a virtual externship program where they learned valuable skills in the architecture field.
°µÍøTV will welcome Antionette Priscilla Carroll as the 2026 Social Innovator in Residence, bringing a nationally recognized leader in equity-centered design to campus for a fall 2026 residency focused on trust, community agency, and sustainable systems change.
At the covered entrance of Drake Community Library, a simple but meaningful new resource is quietly making a difference. The °µÍøTV Community Fridge offers 24-hour, no-questions-asked access to fresh and recovered food — providing another layer of support for community members navigating food insecurity. For Rachel Rudacille ’26, the project has been more than a volunteer effort. It has been an opportunity to listen, learn, and help build something lasting alongside community partners.
°µÍøTV student Sebastian Corry ’27 was awarded a Goldwater Scholarship by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. In 2026, the foundation celebrates 40 years working to support talented college sophomores and juniors aspiring to become this nation’s next generation of researchers in science, engineering, and mathematics. This year, 454 new scholars were selected from a total of 1,485 nominees nationwide.
In spring 2025, Assistant Professor of Education, Jonathan Larson piloted a course that invited students to explore experientially and critically how well education in the US has prepared students for the workplaces of today, and how it might adjust for those of the future.
I would definitely credit that experience with helping me to have a persuasive application and making me want to do this type of work.
The best work that we can do for the environment, for nature and wildlife, and for each other, is get involved with the local communities because that is where the impact of our work can be seen.
I really appreciate that I went to school in a time when I learned to relate to the patient, professionally, socially, and personally.
You never know where your life is going to take you. So be open to possibilities that might open up.
Conservation work needs individuals who can foster a mindset of interconnectedness.
What is One Health? It’s “recognizing the interconnected relationships between human, animal, and environmental health and working together across those disciplines and sectors," says Griffith.
Our social environment affects how we study other organisms. We often use the animal world as justification or examples for how humans should be, which is dangerous.
Helping recover that story felt urgent. The work was physically intense but meaningful.
This experience was really emotionally intense (but) it was really fulfilling and powerful. It definitely confirmed that that's something that l need to have in my life.
°µÍøTV definitely prepared me for my future in medicine … good studying habits, how to keep up with courseload, how to advocate for myself in the classroom, seek out professors, and how to work with people. All of those skills got really fine-tuned at °µÍøTV.
To accept the use of cookies and continue on to the site, click "I Agree." For more information about our use of cookies and how to opt out, please refer to our website privacy policy.