Hello, I'm Allison Boies, and I'm a senior from Lincoln, Neb., in the fisheries and wildlife major of the School of Natural Resources.

The SNR abounds with opportunities for undergraduate students. Capitalizing on just a few of these programs has greatly expanded my knowledge and skills beyond what classroom lessons can teach.

I spent the summer after my sophomore year at the Cedar Point Biological Station on the shores of Lake Ogallala. Cedar Point is a research station where students take classes and assist faculty in a rustic outdoor setting. At the station, I learned how field research truly works by participating in several projects. I had little contact with the "outside world," but I had the full attention of the station's professors and researchers.

Following my summer at Cedar Point, I became a lab assistant for Dr. Jean Knops, an ecology professor. Dr. Knops eventually suggested I apply for an internship in the office of Chuck Hagel, U.S. senator from Nebraska, a proposition I probably would never have entertained on my own. I applied and received a spot on Hagel's intern team for the spring semester. I moved to Washington, D.C., that January and spent part of my time working with Hagel's agriculture and natural resources aide on policy issues related to my field of study at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I working mainly with the Senator's personal scheduler and I acted as the Senator's Summer intern coordinator.

My activities beyond the forestry and fisheries program's base on East Campus have been phenomenal and have enriched the quality of my education. However, these opportunities have also highlighted for me East Campus' unique "open door" atmosphere. The campus certainly has a special feel to it. Faculty members are extremely welcoming. Many professors strive to build personal relationships with their students, and all of the professors are willing to help.

See Allison's Poster (Large PowerPoint file)