Although the mere sound of professional conferences may intimidate some students, the experience of meeting regional honors professionals, expanding interdisciplinary research interests, and presenting research findings offers invaluable experience to a student’s undergraduate career. As a matter of fact, most of the selected University Honors students who participated in the WRHC Conference had no prior research presentation experience. Despite this, the participants encouraged honors student to partake in conferences more often. Leela Tanikella, a fourth year honors student, hopes that “more honors students [become] involved in these conferences, which give them both the confidence and exposure needed to one day become leaders in their field.” Since most University Honors students will conduct research, academic and professional excellence are vital assets for aptitude in various fields. At the Denver conference, students also gained advantageous insights that will follow many of them to graduate school.

 

What came as a surprise for the selected University Honors students was the diversity within the UCR group compared to a majority of the WRHC participants. The conference really brought to a light UC Riverside’s truly unique diversity and intellectual identity. Fourth year student Sapphire Ear describes her experience as such, “I began to acutely realize that our group from UCR was the only diverse one in attendance. Upon that realization came a deep sense of pride in our group.” The diversity varied not only in students’ backgrounds, but also in their fields of study. While Sapphire Ear presented a comparative review of English literature, Adanna Nwachuku presented on her analytical chemistry research. Through their enriching encounter with students across the region and development of a close-knit support system, University Honors students truly represented UC Riverside’s academic, innovative, and professional values while exemplifying the supportive University Honors community.

 

The WRHC Conference will be hosted at the University of Nevada, Reno in 2015 but will come to UC Riverside in 2016! Proposals are due in February for the 2015 conference, so plan ahead and take advantage of this distinguished opportunity open to all University Honors students. More information for the 2015 conference can be found at this website: http://www.unr.edu/honors/wrhc-2015.

 

 

2014 WRHC University Honors Participants:

Lazaro Cardenas – 4th year

Chanelle Castracion – 4th year

Sapphire Ear – 4th year

Jesus Garcia – 4th year

Insia Hirawala – 4th year

Adanma Nwachuku – 4th year

Joshua Poole – 4th year

Kimberly Rosas – 4th year

Leela Tanikella – 4th year

Merima Tricic – 2nd year

Rebecca Villareal – 4th year