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Kim Ma '03 Engineering Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska |
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"I knew Iowa was the right place for me when I first came to visit," says Kim about her decision to attend the UI for her engineering education. "The people seemed so energized about the college, and just as important, were friendly and welcoming." Being in an environment where people are excited about their work is important to Kim, and it's easy to see why. Since coming to the UI, she has taken every opportunity to both excel academically and become involved in her community. Kim received a UI Presidential Scholarship -- the University's most prestigious merit-based award -- because of her high achievements in high school. The National Honor Society chapter president, student council vice president, and cross-country runner stood out among her peers as exactly the type of top-notch student and citizen the UI hopes to attract. She also received an Engineering Excellence scholarship, supported by annual contributors to the Engineering Excellence Fund, an essential college-wide unrestricted resource. Kim has taken these academic opportunities and run with them. In addition to her full courseload, she's participating in research projects involving tissue engineering and development of software for use in mapping the human genome. "I love the fact that the College of Engineering is small enough that I can get to know people well," Kim says. "The professors are all very approachable and helpful. And being part of a large research university opens up so many possibilities. It's really the best of both worlds." Kim is also active in the life of her college and the UI community. She's on the executive council of Dance Marathon, which raises money for families of cancer-stricken children, and she's a mentor to younger students in the Women in Science and Engineering program. She also serves as a "student ambassador" for the College of Engineering, helping other students navigate the ins and outs of a busy engineering education. And if all of that weren't enough to keep a student busy, Kim received a UI Study Abroad Scholarship to travel to Chengdou, China, during the summmer of 2002 and study Mandarin Chinese. "I'm so grateful for my education here. I've gotten to do so many wonderful things. I can't say thank you enough to the University and the contributors who have helped make it all possible," says Kim. "The preparation I've received for my career and my life has happened both in and out of the classroom. I'd recommend Iowa to anyone."
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