iCons is frequently in the news. Here you can view news highlights from our program, press clips from media coverage, upcoming iCons events, and musings in our blog.
News Highlights
UMass iCons Program Sparks Creative Thinking to Address Student Anxiety
On October 22, 2024, the UMass iCons Program hosted the annual Idea Slam. This event urges students to think creatively and collaboratively to hypothesize potential solutions to real-world issues, with a particular focus this year on addressing the epidemic of student anxiety. Presentations delivered by thought leaders Dr. Melissa Rotkiewicz, the director of the UMass Amherst Center for Counseling and Psychological Health (CCPH), and Brian Pearson, the founder of Adventure East, prepared participants for the issue at hand: the epidemic of student anxiety.
From Classroom to Climatetech: Marinna Teixeira’s Inspiring Path
In 2016, Marinna Teixeira graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a degree in Environmental Sciences and a minor in French. Having emigrated from Brazil at a young age, Marinna was the first woman in her family to graduate from university and has achieved profound accomplishments since. After joining the UMass iCons Program as a freshman, she befriended peers who dreamed of professional accomplishments like hers. As a member of the third iCons cohort, the Third Axis, her participation in the undergraduate program fell under the Renewable Energy track where she pursued her interest in climate change mitigation.
From iCons Classroom to Global Adventures
Heather Bortolussi '24 and Fay Paicos '24, both recent graduates of the Environmental Science program and the UMass iCons Program at UMass Amherst, discovered that an iCons classroom is not just the beginning of a professional toolkit but a gateway to enriching experiences beyond academia. Their journey began in an iCons 2 classroom, where their teamwork sparked a friendship that extended far beyond those four walls, taking them all the way to Thailand for a study abroad adventure.
iCons Blog
Decoupage and Pizza: What a combo!
Tuesday 3/21, iCons students proved there is no craft they can't tackle. Check Decoupage off the list. Students and faculty (Ally Hunter) gathered in ISB 145 armed with nothing more than scissors, craft paper, e6000 apoxy, mod podge, and some creativity. Some beautiful work was created and some fun had. At the end of the time, the pizza box was empty and many were peeling the glue off of their fingers with a look of accomplishment on their faces. A small break from the stresses of academic life.
Come join us next time if you can make it :)
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