UMD News Releases

Eight University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) students were selected to present their research and public engagement projects to University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks in February during "Impress the President: A Student Exposition." The program was part of the inaugural week activities at the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis.

The event gave over 100 students from all University of Minnesota campuses the opportunity to display their work for President Bruininks as well as the chance to participate in a roundtable discussion with him. The UMD student's presentations covered a wide range of subject matter including leadership studies, robotics, and a musical composition.

President Bruininks commented on the exposition saying, "We have such a wide scope of research at the University, and students are constantly coming up with innovative ways of exploring new ideas and topics." President Bruininks also remarked that "The graduate and undergraduate research opportunities offered at the University of Minnesota are something you can't find anywhere else in Minnesota."

A Complete list of participants, their projects, and home towns are listed below

Peter Carlson is a senior in the UMD College of Liberal Arts. His research project is titled "Portrayal of Snakes in Early Modern English Emblem Books."
Hometown: Maple Grove, MN

Stephanie Newland is a senior in the UMD School of Business and Economics. Her research project is titled "Cross-Cultural Study of Leadership as it Relates to the U.S., Germany, the Middle East, and Asia."
Hometown: Elk River, MN

Nicholas Matack is a senior in the UMD College of Education and Human Service Professions. His research project is called "Motion Analysis of Unweighted Running."
Hometown: Duluth, MN

Ryan Rapsys is a senior in the UMD School of Fine Arts. His research project is a musical composition called "Modicum One 2-1202."
Hometown: Duluth, MN

Darin Albrecht is a Masters Degree student in the UMD College of Science and Engineering. His research project is titled "Fate of Sediments from the Nemadji River in Lake Superior."
Hometown: Hutchinson, MN

David Olsen is a senior in the UMD College of Science and Engineering. His research project is called "Fuzzy Logic Control in Autonomous Robotics."
Hometown: Rochester, MN

Mary Lewerenz and Sue Meyer are students at the University for Seniors at UMD. Their public engagement project is called "UMD/University for Seniors: 14 Years of Community Engagement."
Hometown: Duluth, MN (for both)