Author: Diane Toroian Keaggy

Terri Williams is taking her master’s degree in American culture studies from University College in Arts & Sciences, along with a passion for teaching and inspiring young people, right back into neighboring University City.

Getting a job requires more than hard work, said Mark Smith, dean of career services. It also takes a little luck. Olin Business School alumna Melanie Berkowitz learned that lesson the hard way after applying for 40 jobs.

Once undocumented, Brown’s Robert Sagastume is advocating for policies and laws that will help immigrants access higher education. Expanded access is a win-win for us all, Sagastume says. “Latinx people are very community oriented and often pursue careers in nursing and teaching — positions that are going unfilled in our state. Why wouldn’t you want to leverage all of that potential to benefit our state?”

James Schisler grew up 100 miles west of St. Louis in St. James, Mo., population 4,216. When only one-fifth of his high school class returned to college their sophomore year, Schisler was determined to find out why. He believes cohort programs, like the ones he belonged to, can help rural students access the support and resources they need.

Entering college, Haley Allen knew she wanted to join ROTC so she could be an officer in the U.S. Army. But an ROTC trip Tanzania sparked a passion for Swahili and East African culture and history. She graduates this month with a degree in international studies and hopes to serve in Africa after completing helicopter training at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

More than 230 students from the St. Louis region will launch their balsa wood gliders at the 11th annual Boeing Engineering Challenge at Washington University. The competition follows months of designing, building and testing at elementary, middle and high schools across the region, where Boeing engineers have volunteered as mentors.

The Office of Sustainability launched RESET, an innovative new program that provides students real-world experience in renewable energy, one of the fastest-growing sectors in the U.S. economy. Students from a range of disciplines have studied the engineering, policy and business aspects of installing solar power on the South 40.

Cities are both a leading cause and victim of global climate change, but they also hold great promise. In the first installment of Class Acts, a series celebrating the Class of 2019, seniors Marissa Lerner and Alexis Vidaurreta share their optimism and respective visions for cities that protect people and resources.

Arriving via Corvette convertible, Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton and Risa Zwerling Wrighton snapped selfies with students, enjoyed performances from student dance troupes and joined the members of Dance Marathon on stage to do “The Dancellor.”

Thurtene, the nation’s oldest and largest student-run carnival, returns to Washington University in St. Louis this weekend. Hours are  4 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 12, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14. The carnival is located next to historic Francis Field near the corner of Forsyth and Big Bend boulevards. Admission is free.