Summer Programs in the College of ACES

Upon requesting information from the University of Illinois College of ACES, you may have discovered just about every opportunity available when you arrive on campus to take classes.  However, summer programs are available through the College of ACES to prepare high school students for the future. There are two summer programs through the College of ACES: Research Apprentice Program (RAP) and Young Scholars Program (YSP).

The College of ACES offers the RAP summer program to under-served and economically disadvantaged high school students.  This is a great way to introduce interests that are available through ACES.  RAP takes place throughout the summer for four weeks and it provides these high school students with opportunities of their interest. Students form groups that explore companies such as PepsiCo and Archer Daniel Midland (ADM).  The students then learn the values of the company and the process a company goes through when reaching a consumer. 

Last week, I was able to talk with the PepsiCo Team of RAP I.  There were approximately five students in this group working with granola bars.  These students were interested in Food Science, and got a hands-on experience working with Quaker Oats, a division of PepsiCo.  They explained the steps involved that the group took which included: visiting the Quaker Oats Laboratory to develop different granola bars, researching the ingredients and altering them slightly for a consumer test, working with a graduate student to form the consumer test, finding consumers to test the products, and finally evaluating the responses of consumers from the sensory test.

I was able to be part of the sensory test to determine what type of granola bar is most liked by consumers. This sensory test took place in a nutrition laboratory in Bevier Hall.  There were four granola bars placed in front of me while I then filled out a questionnaire that showed how I rated each bar.  With each granola bar I tasted, smelled, and viewed the texture before deciding which one I liked the most.  It will be interesting to see what the results are!

While on campus, the students live together in the Hendrick House and develop friendships with other students.  The students spoke to me about how this program has opened their eyes to what opportunities are available in the future.  The4 students in the PepsiCo Team said they have had a great experience working with Quaker Oats in the RAP program.

The five students I spoke with told me they enjoyed the program and are learning so much more than they would from sitting in a classroom.  RAP offers the students with laboratory and real-world experience that the students can expect if they follow this interest into the future.  For information on the RAP Program visit: http://www.summerprograms.aces.illinois.edu

The stepping stone to professional school..

I blogged earlier about the different programs the College of ACES offers, but additionally ACES could also be your stepping stone to professional fields you may not have suspected.  Professional fields include: Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, and many more. Within the College of ACES most students major in Business, Animal Sciences, Engineering, etc., and each of these programs can lead to higher education.  There are many alumni who have completed an undergraduate degree within the College of ACES which has led to a professional field.

Jasmine Abdullh, senior in Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN), plans to continue her education to obtain a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). Jasmine came into the University as a biology major before switching her major to nutrition her sophomore year. She took a FSHN course as a general education requirement and discovered her passion for nutrition.  Jasmine then resear4ched dentistry and found that nutritionists are in high demand to dental offices because they are able to provide information about diets and foods to individuals.  Jasmine is only one of the many students who plan to pursue a professional degree after graduating from the College of ACES.

As you research the University of Illinois for a particular area of interest, don't forget the endless possibilities within the College of ACES.  For more information on professional degrees and graduate studies at the University of Illinois visit the Graduate School site.

Bevier Cafe: Staffed and Managed by Food Science and Human Nutrition Students

Food is a large part of my life.  When looking at me, you would never guess this but I'll be the first to admit I eat way  more than I should! I enjoy trying a variety of foods such as Asian, Mexican, Italian, and many others.  Something else I like is a small-town restaurant or cafe.  I am from a smaller town and like the feeling of everyone knowing each other, especially when you eat dinner at the same cafe. The restaurant in my hometown has one long table that seats about 20 people.  Anyone can come and sit there to eat with other residents.  In my opinion, small town cafes have a comforting feel to them and also a unique taste to the food.

Moving to Urbana or Champaign you may have trouble finding that 'small-feel' cafe. However, I have found a cafe that reminds me of home-style food.  Bevier Cafe is located in Bevier Hall at the University of Illinois.  something unique about this cafe is it is staffed and managed by Food Science and Human Nutrtion (FSHN) students. The cafe serves as a lab to FSHN students as part of their curriculum. Although Bevier Cafe does not hae a large table like my hometown cafe, I still get the same feeling when eating there.  Something I think is neat about the cafe is the studetns chefs prepare the meals and do a tasting before the food is served.

Bevier Cafe is conveniently located, so it is a perfect spot to meet up with your friends to hang out or even study for an upcoming class.  The cafe offers different items each day and the menu can be found at www.beviercafe.illinois.edu.  Bevier Cafe offers Breakfast, Lunch, and 'After Hours' items.  If you have not checked out Bevier Cafe, I recommend you eat there!

Study Abroad

The University of Illinois provides students with hundreds of opportunities.  One of the many opportunities students are able to participate in is study abroad.  The University offers programs within the College of ACES, or you can travel with a different College.  As an incoming student you many not have thought about study abroad, or really want to participate and already have a specific location you want to visit.  Before coming to the U of I, I never put much thought into study abroad.

Transferring into the University as a junior, I heard stories of students studying abroad but never though much about it until recently.  I thought I never had time before graduation and I did not want to spend more than a few weeks overseas.Little did I know what I would be doing a year later.

I thought there was no way I would ever be able to study abroad until one of my friends, Kaitlyn, went to Belgium for a month in June.  While Kaitlyn was in Belgium she wrote a blog (www.kaitlyngoesglobal.blogspot.com) about her experiences and everything seemed like so much fun.  Although she took a class while in Belgium, she was able to travel to Paris, London, and so many other beautiful cities.

Kaitlyn's blogs inspired me to dig deeper into study abroad and I kept thinking of the common saying, "you won't have time for traveling after graduation." I then took the initiative and looked into a study abroad program.  Better yet, I found a class within my major that will study abroad for two weeks! Something even better than that was I looked further into the program where there were a lot of scholarships available to help with funding. Perfect!

Currently, I am in the process of applying for the study abroad trip and will not find out until September if I am accepted.  So there I was, just a year ago thinking that I will never have the time to travel before graduation.  However, here I am, applying to study abroad for the perfect amount of time and pertaining to my interest of study.

The College of ACES has a wide range of programs available.  Among these are trips only for Freshman including: Dominican Republic, Jamaica, London, Paris, Singapore, and more! You can find the complete list and requirements on the ACES Study Abroad webpage for freshmen: http://students.aces.illinois.edu/study_abroad/freshmen

Even though I found a destination that fit my interest with a class I am going to enjoy, there are options of creating your own study abroad trips! I am not an expert on this, but it is available and you also get to plan your own itinerary.  If you have ever thought about studying abroad, I encourage you to look into the programs the University of Illinois offers.

For more information on ACES Study Abroad visit: http://students.aces.illinois.edu/study_abroad you can also contact Dawn Berg for an appointment at dawnberg@illinois.edu or calling (217)333-3380. 

Also, stop by the study abroad fair on September 8th from 11:00am-4:00pm in the Illini Union.