Student Profiles

The University of Minnesota is a world-class university located in a national park, along one of the great rivers of the world. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA), established by Congress in 1988, stretches for 72 miles on each side of the Mississippi through the heart of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. A "partnership park," because the Park Service owns very little land, MNRRA works with public agencies and nonprofit partners throughout the corridor to protect significant resources and interpret the stories and places of this nationally-significant corridor.

UHP students have been researching and discovering the Mississippi River in exciting ways -- both as part of HSEM courses and internships. Here are two excellent pieces that were produced in conjunction with these learning opportunities:

Joseph Manulik, a current UHP student in the College of Science & Engineering, wrote about the 1962 Oil Spills while working a river-related internship with the Minnesota Historical Society. Published in December 2012 by MinnPost.

Derek Holmer, a current UHP student in the College of Design, wrote about the river and Saint Paul Union Depot while taking HSEM 3039: Sustainability & Planning on the Great River. Published in January 2013 on the River Life website.

Brian Eby, a UHP student in genetics, cell biology, and development, is currently in Freiburg, Germany as a 2012-2013 Katherine E. Sullivan Scholar. Brian is studying the German healthcare system, but was interviewed by the U of M News Service before he left. Check out the feature, "Going abroad to be better at home."

Four UHP students—Meghan Palmer, Annie Favreau, Baylen Wagner, and Kevin Nguenkam—were among the winners of the U of M's Driven to Discover video contest, producing videos that highlight the unique experience of undergraduate study at U.

Benjamin VandenWymelenberg graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2012 with a B.S. in Architecture. Here he discusses the process of completing an Honors Thesis at the University of Minnesota.

Many congratulations to Miss Minnesota 2012, Siri Freeh. Freeh, who will be a senior in the University Honors Program this fall, will now have the honor of representing her state in the Miss America Pageant. You can follow Siri's journey on her blog.

Click photograph to expand. Courtesy of Sarah Morreim Photography.

About Siri Freeh

Siri Freeh is a representative on the Nursing College Board, a Co-host for the Women's Only Cardiac Support Group at the Minneapolis Heart Institute, President of the Global Health and Transcultural Group, an advocate for the American Heart Association, and a volunteer for Camp Odayin. She's currently conducting research in cardiovascular disease and women's heart issues as part of her undergraduate experience in the University Honors Program, and plans to pursue a doctorate in a related area.

About the Miss Minnesota Pageant

The Miss Minnesota Scholarship Pageant is a non-profit organization that awards scholarships to outstanding young women to help advance them academically and professionally. Participants have gone on to achieve major success in diverse fields including medicine, law, business, broadcast journalism, theater, politics, literature and more.