Student Announcements
Innovation lunch club meets virtually on March 28
The March edition of the Innovation Impact Lunch Club (postponed from February) will feature ISU Research Park associate director Alison Doyle. It will meet virtually on Friday, March 28 (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; RSVP to receive the link in an email). Learn more about how the research park connects people and drives innovation in central Iowa. The free series is hosted by ISU's office of economic development and industry relations especially for its faculty and staff partners, but open to all.
Inter-Residence Hall Association collects accolades at regional meeting
The Inter-Residence Hall Association received several honors at the recent regional business conference of the Midwest Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls, held at the University of Nebraska, Kearney:
- Iowa State received the School of the Year award, the highest honor member schools can receive, in recognition of outstanding achievements on the campus level by a residence hall organization and affiliated groups, as well as contributions on regional and national levels. IRHA qualifies for the National School of the Year award at the National Association of College and University Residence Halls conference in May.
- IRHA board members Braden Fels, Chase Davis and Julia Pedroza won first place in the case study competition, in which representatives have to collaborate and find solutions to common scenarios present in hall government spaces.
- IRHA president Braden Fels was elected as the regional director of the Midwest Affiliate for the 2025-26 year, and Martin Hall director Casey Dworzynski was confirmed as the regional advisor.
Register by March 20 for gardens' Day of Insects
Reiman Gardens invites nature lovers, entomology enthusiasts and families to experience the incredible world of insects at its 17th annual Day of Insects on Saturday, March 29 (8 a.m.-4:20 p.m.). Registration ($24; $38 with box lunch) is required and the deadline is March 20. Enjoy a full schedule of engaging presentations and hands-on activities, with experts sharing their knowledge on topics such as mosquito factories, insect conservation, honeybee behavior and more.
Grad Mixer Wednesdays partners with colleges this spring
Grad Mixer Wednesdays is collaborating with a different college each Wednesday of March and part of April to address important topics for graduate students. Ivy College of Business is hosting "Growing Your Professional Skillset" on March 5 (1-4:30 p.m., 4237 Student Innovation Center) with topics such as building your brand and the student perspective on academic versus industry job seeking. The College of Engineering will host "Engineering the Future: Innovation, Collaboration and the AI Revolution" on March 12, and the College of Health and Human Sciences will discuss "Shaping the Future: Advancing Research, Teaching and Funding" on March 26.
Presenters sought for women's and gender studies student conference in April
Iowa State's Women's and Gender Studies student conference will be held Saturday, April 12 (9 a.m.-4 p.m., Student Innovation Center). Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to attend and/or present their research as it relates to themes within the fields of gender, sexuality and women's studies. Proposals are due by 11:59 p.m. March 28. This conference is free to attend. Submit a proposal or register to attend on the conference website.
March 29 workshop targets would-be business owners
The Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, with the Ames Regional Economic Alliance and Iowa Small Business Development Center, will host a free Smart Start Workshop on Saturday, March 29 (9 a.m.-4 p.m., ISU Research Park Core Facility). The day is a "crash course" for anyone considering starting a business. Local business professionals will cover topics such as banking basics, insurance, business organization, intellectual property, registration, marketing and operations. Registration is required; half-day registration is available.
Juniors, seniors: Apply by March 28 for undergraduate research assistantship
The office of student financial aid is accepting applications for the 2025-26 undergraduate research assistantship (URA) program. The program encourages outstanding juniors and seniors to pursue graduate study by offering hands-on experience in a formal research environment to help them make career decisions and learn more about graduate education and fellowships. Questions may be directed to Julie Arnold, 515-294-0103. Student applicants must:
- Be classified as juniors or seniors by the beginning of the research term
- File the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be eligible for work-study funding
- Maintain an ISU cumulative GPA of at least 3.25
- Complete the online URA application (soft deadline of March 28 for spring interviews)
Registration is open for digital scholarship symposium
Registration has opened for the second annual Digital Scholarship Symposium on Wednesday, March 26 (9:45 a.m.-4 p.m., 199 Parks). The symposium will feature two panel discussions: "Public Digital Arts and Humanities: Community Impact Through Digital Projects" and "Digital Pedagogy: Expanding Digital Literacy and Creativity in the Classroom." Panelists will discuss examples of using digital methods to open research to a wider audience and developing digital literacy skills in the classroom. Registration is free and includes lunch.
Fall juniors could be eligible for Carver renewable scholarship
Twenty Iowa State students are selected annually to receive a renewable $6,000 scholarship from the Roy J. Carver Trust. The application deadline for fall 2025 recipients is April 1, and the eligibility criteria are:
- At least a junior classification by fall 2025
- Evidence of significant social and economic obstacles to attending college full time
- Graduate of accredited Iowa high school or Iowa resident for five years
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.80
- Demonstrates financial need based on the FAFSA (student must file FAFSA for 2025-26 year)
Students should apply online for this scholarship. Questions may be directed to the office of student financial aid, 0640 Beardshear, phone 515-294-0103, email: scholarships@iastate.edu.