Latest news with #UofM
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
U of M student wins prestigious scholarship in STEM
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — College can be challenging for anyone. However, one University of Memphis sophomore is showing others that with time management and a little will power, anything is possible when achieving your goals. Blake Robinson is just like any other 20-year-old college student. When he's not studying, he's weightlifting and spending time with his friends. He's also busy conducting research at the University of Memphis, focusing on wound treatment and assisting with research at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to find treatments for epilepsy. 'I try and look at the end goal and try to enjoy myself along the way,' said Blake Robinson. So, maybe he's not the average 20-year-old. Blake is on a mission to change lives. He's already making his mark in the world of STEM and is one of more than 400 students nationwide to receive a 2025 Goldwater Scholarship. According to the Scholarship website, the program is one of the 'oldest' and 'most prestigious' national scholarships in the STEM field in the US. Retired Memphis man gives back with free food truck meals The foundation says they look for students who have the potential to make a 'significant future contribution to research.' Blake met all of the criteria, making him the first Goldwater Scholar at the University of Memphis in over a decade. 'I think it was that continual reaching for improvement that over time really built me,' he said. The Bartlett High School graduate says that when he enrolled at the U of M, he immediately started looking at various research labs, and that's when he came across Biomedical Engineering Professor Dr. Joel Bumgardner's work. 'This is where we take shrimp exoskeleton and we're trying to turn that into a wound treatment,' Blake said. 'You could use this for surgical treatments, for burns, for military applications out in the field… sort of taking what nature already has to offer and reinventing that for medicine, that was really inspirational for me.' Blake says his interest in medicine started with his mother, who works in the medical field. 'But it really wasn't until my mother was diagnosed with two brain aneurysms, unruptured aneurysms, that I kind of looked towards research,' he said. 📡 for Memphis and the Mid-South. 📧 and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. Ever since, he's been working to obtain an MD-PhD in Neurosciences by participating in various research programs and shadowing different physicians. Trying to balance school, his research, and a personal life has been challenging, but he says the support of his mentors keeps him pushing forward. 'It's more so an impact of how these individuals are really pushing the field forward, as well. They're more so leading me,' said Blake. Blake has a busy year ahead of him as he plans to graduate a year early. The University says this Summer, he's heading to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to attend Harvard's Biomedical Summer Research Program. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
From doubt to degree: students rewarded after post-COVID pivot
Before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world, both Jennifer Breddam and Deanna Garand never dreamed they would go to university — let alone graduate. Breddam, 37, stepped out of her wheelchair she uses due to chronic back problems and walked across the stage to receive her labour studies degree Wednesday at the University of Manitoba spring convocation ceremony. Garand, 32, was handed her degree in nursing a day later. 'I feel I can do a lot of good through a public policy lens,' said Breddam, who will begin a masters degree program in social justice and equity studies at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont., in the fall. Garand said she told people many times through the years that she would never set foot in a university. 'People who know me can't believe I was in university,' she said laughing. 'My aunts are nurses, my grandmother was one too, and they were surprised when I said I've been accepted into nursing — but they were all excited.' Breddam and Garand are two of the 2,934 graduating students receiving their diplomas this week at the U of M Fort Garry campus convocation. The convocation began Wednesday and continues to Friday. The ceremonies have already seen Dave Angus, who was president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce for 17 years before becoming president of Johnston Group, an employee benefits company, be installed as the university's 15th chancellor. Four people will receive honorary degrees, the university's highest honour. They include: former Manitoba premier Greg Selinger; Sister Lesley Sacouman, who joined the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary when she was 17 and went on to co-found Rossbrook House and Esther House; Rosanna Deerchild, host of CBC radio show Unreserved and a Cree storyteller from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation; and Catherine (Kate) Bowler, a Winnipeg historian and New York Times bestselling author who wrote several memoirs after being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer at 35. Breddam, who had injured several discs in her back years earlier, was working in human resources with Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority when the pandemic hit. 'With my job, I was in the car for long periods of time, doing visits within the health region, and I had constant back pain,' she said. 'Then, in 2020, one day I couldn't get up — I couldn't stand or walk. For about eight months (during COVID-19 lockdowns) I was pretty much bedridden. I even needed help with dressing and showering. But, when I was lying down, I was not in a lot of pain and my fiance recommended that, to distract me and give me something to work towards, that I register for online courses at the university. 'I knew it wasn't going to be a quick recovery, so I did.' When lockdowns were lifted, Breddam switched to hybrid courses, with some online and others in person. While in university, Breddam became involved with organizations supporting and advocating for people living with disabilities. She has been chairwoman of the Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities for two years. She also served as president of the Labour Studies Students Association. There's only one downside to the two-year degree program she is about to start. 'My wedding for this July has been put on hold — that really sucked — but, while I have received scholarships, I needed the money for my education. My fiance fully supports me.' Garand, who is Métis, was working as a makeup artist and manager with a retail cosmetic company and cannabis outlet when the pandemic shuttered all that. That's when she began looking at her options. 'I never really wanted to go to university, I didn't want to go to school for any reason,' she said. 'But once COVID started, and I couildn't work anymore, my family and friends said why don't you go to school? Maybe you'll find something you like.' Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. Garand said she 'hemmed and hawed' but submitted her application on the final day. 'I thought, if I ever go back to school, now is the time.' With a nursing job in the community waiting for her, she is thanking the university and the Indigenous Student Centre for the support she was given. 'If I had gone back to school when I was younger, I wouldn't have been able to finish,' Garand said. 'I think a little bit of life experience helped. 'I'm glad I did.' Kevin RollasonReporter Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin. Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minnesota universities brace for impact after federal pause on student visa interviews
Minnesota universities brace for impact after federal pause on student visa interviews originally appeared on Bring Me The News. The Trump administration recently ordered U.S. Embassies to pause interviews for student visa applicants, deepening concerns at the University of Minnesota and other institutions that enroll thousands of international students annually, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in the process. The pause comes as the administration plans to roll out new vetting requirements, which would require examination of the prospective foreign students' social media accounts. The change is expected to slow the pace of student visa processing at a time when the changing federal landscape may be deterring international students from studying in the U.S. at all, coming amid President Donald Trump's highly publicized spat with Harvard University, and the attempted deportation of numerous international students across the of fall 2024, there were 5,712 international students from over 140 countries enrolled at the University of Minnesota across all five campuses, which studies suggests has an economic impact in excess of $230 million. Fewer international students would have a significant impact on the U of M and other Minnesota colleges and universities – both in terms of revenue and the contributions and culture of the institutions. "International students and scholars have been and will always be an essential part of the University of Minnesota," the U of M shared in a statement to Bring Me The News. "The knowledge and skills they develop on campus and contribute to the broader community prepare all our students to become the next generation of world leaders who can work across languages, cultures and borders to solve shared global challenges." On Thursday, the U of M leaders said they are awaiting clarity on the U.S. State Department's pause. "Our teams are working diligently to measure the short- and long-term impact of this and other changes in the federal landscape, especially for our students," the university shared, adding its providing resources to the entire campus community and personalized support those those potentially impacted by recent developments. The statement continues: "Regardless of what transpires, we remain rooted in our mission — our values, principles and priorities — and loudly champion the work of our students, faculty and staff, who deliver extraordinary impact on countless lives across our campuses, state, nation and world." According to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, one U.S. job is created and supported by spending occurring in the higher education, accommodation, dining, retail, transportation, telecommunications and health insurance sectors for every three international students. NAFSA's International Student Economic Value 2023-2024 study noted the impact from international students at the following U of M campuses: Twin Cities campus: $228.7 million Duluth campus: $6.1 million Crookston campus: $1.1 million Morris campus: $818,004 Other institutions awaiting further information from the federal government include Macalester College in St. Paul, which issued the following statement to Bring Me The News: "Macalester has recruited talented students from around the globe for decades. We are aware of the recent pause on scheduling student visa appointments, and we are working to determine what it might mean for our students and how we can best assist them." This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
CBS News
6 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Golden Valley Police Chief placed on leave
Two injured in shooting at graduation at U of M campus, and more news headlines Two injured in shooting at graduation at U of M campus, and more news headlines Two injured in shooting at graduation at U of M campus, and more news headlines The Golden Valley police chief is on paid administrative leave until further notice, per city officials. Officials say, Chief Virgil Green is on leave pending the review of a complaint. The City says they are not able to share the nature of the complaint. No other details were given. Assistant Chiefs White and Perez are co-leading the department in Green's absence.
CBS News
6 days ago
- General
- CBS News
St. Paul apartment fire sends two officer, resident to the hospital for evaluation
Two injured in shooting at graduation at U of M campus, and more news headlines Two injured in shooting at graduation at U of M campus, and more news headlines Two injured in shooting at graduation at U of M campus, and more news headlines Two officers and a man were taken to a hospital after an apartment fire in St. Paul. Officials say the fire happened just after 9:30 Saturday morning near Sherburne Avenue and Rice Street. When firefighters arrived, they found an active fire on the second floor. Firefighters and police were able to evacuate seven residents. A police officer and an adult male were taken to the hospital. Another police officer later drove himself to the hospital. All three are being evaluated for smoke inhalation, per officials. Around 70 firefighters responded to the scene along with other agencies. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
