5/1/2013
A native of Orland Park, Kan., Jackie Yu had her choice of schools (she applied to 14) when making her college decision and ultimately chose Illinois over Duke, Cornell, Vanderbilt and Northwestern after feeling at home during an overnight visit and receiving one of the prestigious Engineering Visionary Scholarships.
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A native of Orland Park, Kan., Jackie Yu had her choice of schools (she applied to 14) when making her college decision and ultimately chose Illinois over Duke, Cornell, Vanderbilt and Northwestern after feeling at home during an overnight visit and receiving one of the prestigious Engineering Visionary Scholarships.
Editor’s Note: This is one in a series of short biographical sketches on the College’s Engineering Visionary Scholars. The scholars are identified based on academic ability and leadership potential and are expected to excel in their class work and develop as leaders. They enjoy a number of unique benefits and opportunities such as special classes and seminars just for Engineering Visionary Scholars. This year, the College of Engineering will graduate its first group of EVS scholars.“I really loved the sense of community and the cooperation that was here,” Yu said. “I was nervous about meeting people, but immediately met so many friends.”
From the moment she set foot on campus, the junior bioengineering major took advantage of the opportunities in research, study abroad and leadership.
Having been influenced by a positive first impression, Yu continues to give back, serving as the coordinator for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Little Sisters Weekend, which brings high school students to campus for a two-day overnight program. She has served as a Women in Engineering (WIE) freshman camp counselor and as a tutor and mentor at the CARE (Center for Academic Resources in Engineering) Center.
Yu has worked in the lab under professor Rashid Bashir and has researched bone marrow stem cells at Stowers Institute near her hometown. This summer she will continue to broaden her research experience at the National Institute of Health in Maryland.
“There are so many opportunities to get involved in research on campus starting your freshman year,” Yu said. “Whenever I’ve sent out my resume, the professors here have been very responsive.”
Yu has enjoyed the familiarity the bioengineering staff has with its students. She has taught a session of Cellular and Tissue Engineering for Professor Su-A Myong and has been a part of Myong’s middle school outreach program, teaching students at Jefferson Middle School concepts in bioengineering. Yu has also participated in brown bag sessions where professors discuss their research papers.
“Classes here foster group learning projects,” Yu said. “I really feel like I’ve gotten to know my professors.”
In addition, Yu studied in Beijing, China through the IPENG (International Programs in Engineering) office and will serve on the executive board for the Biomedical Engineering Society. A 15-year veteran of the violin, she has also played in the orchestra.
“Winning an EVS Scholarship helped reinforce my leadership potential,” Yu said. “It’s made has made me want to get more involved and give back to the College of Engineering. Having done that in my first three years, I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.”
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If you have any questions about the College of Engineering, or other story ideas, contact Mike Koon, writer/editor, Engineering Communications Office, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 217/244-1256.