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Show 227 I vividly remember stepping out on my first independent research project as a sophomore undergraduate. By the time I graduated, I'd spent three summers measuring vines that grew on trees in the lowland floodplains of Indiana. It was through that engaging, fun and chal-lenging experience (imagine mosquitos, humidity, wet feet and poison ivy) that I embarked on a lifelong journey as "researcher." Over the years, my research has taken different forms from biology to creative writing to pedagogy. Like many of the students showcased in this publica-tion, what I gained from my first experience was a sense and love for the great, and unending, mysteries of the world, and the excitement that comes from bringing our minds, methods and collaborative spirit to bear on those mysteries. The Honors College believes that every student should have a meaningful experience in research through his/her thesis or capstone project with the hopes that he/she will also be-come a lifelong researcher. Once again we join with the Undergraduate Research Opportuni-ties Program for the annual Research Symposium. In fact, every student who graduates with the Honors degree and completes an Honors thesis or capstone project participates in this symposium. This day recognizes our belief in the immense benefit that independent research provides students. We celebrate the achievements of the Honors students featured in the University of Utah's Undergraduate Research Abstracts Journal and congratulate them for their inquisitive natures, diligence in completing their theses and for becoming lifelong researchers. Message from the Dean Sylvia Torti honors college |