iSchool undergraduates Madisen LeShoure and Harshitha Vetrivel have been awarded Kathryn J. Oberdeck Social Justice Scholarships. The scholarship program, which is sponsored by the Campus Faculty Association at Illinois, awards $1,000 scholarships for undergraduate students who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to social justice in the community. 

Zifan Zhao, who is pursuing dual degrees in information sciences + data science and psychology with a concentration in cognitive neuroscience, has been selected as a 2024 Beckman Institute Undergraduate Fellow. The program provides undergraduate students with a $3,000 award to pursue interdisciplinary research at the Beckman Institute during the summer. 

The Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute (IHSI), in partnership with the Center for Social and Behavioral Science and with support from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, has selected BSIS students Sophie Chiewtrakoon and Madisen LeShoure as 2024 Community-Academic Scholars. The 17 scholars in this cohort represent seven colleges and schools and encompass a diverse array of fields of study, from community health to education to industrial design.  

As part of Teaching Associate Professor Judith Pintar's Introduction to Information Sciences (IS 101) course, students are tasked with creating board games that teach various aspects of information science targeted to particular audiences. The students presented their creations on April 19 at the Game Studies and Design Spring 2024 Showcase. In addition to the game demonstrations, the event featured posters and presentations by students and faculty.

BSIS student Adaeze Asonye, who hails from the Near West Side of Chicago, discovered her interest in user interface (UI)/user experience (UX) before her freshman year. She looked for programs that would help her prepare for a career in this area and discovered the iSchool.

Several iSchool undergraduate students will participate in the 17th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. During the event, visitors will learn about undergraduate research projects through oral and poster presentations, creative performances, and art exhibits. All are welcome to attend the symposium, which will be held on April 25 from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. in the Illini Rooms and South Lounge of the Illini Union. 

When the Fighting Illini men's basketball team played in the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament this spring, BSIS student John Kramer was on the sidelines for each game—not simply as a fan but as a team manager. This is the second year that Kramer, a sophomore from Huntley, Illinois, has served in this role.

A new student organization at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will promote diversity and inclusion in data science and empower women in the STEM field. Samridhi Verma, BSIS+DS student and an ambassador for Women in Data Science (WiDS) Worldwide, launched the new initiative because of her interest in fostering a community where students and professionals can connect, share insights, and grow together. WiDS Urbana-Champaign welcomes individuals of all genders who support the cause, including students, professionals, and academics from a variety of backgrounds and expertise levels in data science and related fields.

BSIS+DS student Dulf Genis discusses his study abroad in Granada, Spain, where he is mastering the Spanish language and enjoying all that the city has to offer. 

BSIS+DS student Jackson Clark discusses his internships with NASA and the skills he gained, including the soft skills that come from working as part of a team.

This fall, students in the Business Intelligence Group (BIG), the student consultancy group associated with Associate Professor Yoo-Seong Song's Applied Business Research class (IS 514), worked on projects related to supply chain management, digital health, biotechnology, and higher education for companies located at the University of Illinois Research Park and overseas in East Asia and Africa. 

BSIS student Pablo Quispe discusses his study abroad in Barcelona, Spain, a place he selected because of its rich cultural heritage, world-renowned cuisine, and vibrant social scene. So far, he has enjoyed "every second" of his experience. 

BSIS student Zoe Matz discusses her summer internship at PwC, where she gained consulting experience at one of the largest and most prestigious accounting firms in the world.

BSIS student Anee Anisa discusses her practicum experience at the American College of Emergency Physicians, a professional organization of emergency medicine physicians in the U.S.

Each year, the School of Information Sciences recognizes a group of outstanding students for their achievement in academics as well as a number of attributes that contribute to professional success. Congratulations to this year's honorees!

The iSchool will be well represented at the 16th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium on April 27. The symposium, the signature event of Undergraduate Research Week, brings together students, faculty, and staff from all disciplines on the UIUC campus. During the event, visitors will learn about undergraduate research projects through oral and poster presentations, including creative performances and art exhibits. All are welcome to attend the symposium, which will be held in the Illini Union.

BSIS student Thomas Walsh discusses his study abroad in Singapore, an experience that has helped him move outside of his comfort zone and prepared him for working abroad in the future.

Students who are struggling academically or just need a little help can find assistance at the iSchool Academic Support Center. In addition to providing one-on-one tutoring to iSchool students and students enrolled in iSchool courses, the center offers academic success workshops, coordinates with faculty and instructors to provide support for specific courses or exams, and curates and shares academic support resources.

BSIS student Emily Grayburn discusses her practicum experience at Medtronic.

BSIS student Joe Medley discusses his internship at Spectrum. In addition to developing technical skills, he gained critical thinking skills by deriving business conclusions from large sources of data.