�����鶹��ѿ�

By JASON GONZALEZ

Northern �����鶹��ѿ�University celebrated its commitment to undergraduate research with its , featuring over 1,300 students and 650 unique presentations last Friday in Flagstaff. �����鶹��ѿ� Student Regent Jadyn Fisher and NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera kicked off the event with a ceremonial toast to honor the university’s research achievements. The symposium showcased a comprehensive range of research projects led by undergraduate students, demonstrating NAU’s emphasis on hands-on learning and innovation.

“We are not only providing students the tools they need to position themselves well for careers of consequence, but also ensuring they will live lives of purpose,” Cruz Rivera said during his remarks. “I'm reminded that one of the most important roles a university can play is to serve as a true stewarding place.”

The students’ projects were reviewed by an impressive array of 257 local officials, alumni, faculty, staff, community members, donors and industry partners from prominent corporations including Boeing and Gore. The symposium was also an opportunity to celebrate NAU’s recently announced designation as an , the highest classification for research institutes in the United States by the Carnegie Foundation.

While touring the various presentations and , regent Fisher commended the achievements of her fellow Lumberjacks and highlighted the significance of NAU's national recognition.

“This year marks a historic milestone for NAU. But what makes this achievement truly extraordinary isn't just the official R1 designation, it's the passionate students and dedicated faculty who make groundbreaking research possible every single day,” said Fisher, a junior at NAU studying early education. Addressing the students, Fisher said, “Our proud community has long been a hub of research and discovery. Now, with your hard work and our R1 status, we're advancing that legacy of innovation and exploration."

The symposium featured various projects in engineering, humanities, business, education, the sciences and arts. Niah Nieuwenhuis, a senior studying communication sciences and disorders, presented her speech synthesis technology project, which is focused on creating natural-sounding speech synthesizers for underrepresented populations, specifically targeting native Spanish-speaking females.

“I absolutely love that I've been able to pursue such a high-level of research at this institution while earning my undergraduate degree,” Nieuwenhuis said. “I really feel like NAU has prepared me for a career in research and academia.”

Nieuwenhuis’ work is a representation of a broader trend at NAU, where hundreds of undergraduate students across disciplines begin working in professors' labs and often progress to leading independent research projects funded by university and external grants.

Visual communication students also presented innovative work, including branding projects for Coconino County and local community organizations. Tracy Grant, one of the student designers who was featured, highlighted the unique opportunities available to all students that attend NAU.

"We're not just focused on traditional research," Grant said. "We get to showcase the design side that's still very much research."

Tina Zecher, NAU’s director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity, punctuated the importance of involving undergraduates in research experiences.

"We really try to recognize the importance of student involvement early and often," Zecher said. "I love that we get undergraduates into these types of experiences to help prepare them for what’s next. It teaches them the skills they'll need to be successful in whatever career they choose — communication, critical thinking, teamwork and leadership."