Photo by: Rachael Roark

Extreme Academics, a post-graduate resource panel and workshop series, held its first session Friday at Craig Hall, where student panelists spoke about the opportunities the series offers for success in academia after graduation.

Extreme Academics is a series of panels, workshops, skill sessions and information fairs to educate students interested in post-graduate academic options and fellowships.

Two alumni, Caitlyn Tivy and Nicole Savino, sat on a panel at the first session.

Tivy, a molecular biology major, graduated in 2010. She is now conducting research on immunology at the National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C.

She said that in her field presenting ideas clearly and convincingly in writing and orally is crucial.

“If you can speak well and write well, you’re golden,” said Tivy.

The workshops and resources at Extreme Academics help participants perfect their proposal-writing skills, she said.

“Extreme Academics helps you learn how to present your ideas in a clear way,” said Tivy.

Tivy also spoke about the importance of conducting a research project as an undergraduate.

Savino, a psychology major, also graduated in 2010. She is now working as a lab manager in the DU psychology department.

She competed in Extreme Academics last year and won a grant at the end of the program. She used the money to conduct her own research on emotion and happiness.

An opportunities fair, with representatives from campus organizations and departments, followed the student panel.

The program, in its second year, is sponsored by the Boettcher Foundation and the honors program.

It starts with four open sessions to introduce students to possibilities for domestic and international fellowships and opportunities for scholarly work after college, such as graduate programs.

These sessions will also include workshops on writing and communicating fellowship proposals as well as a faculty roundtable to discuss how ideas are selected for awarding money.

In the second set of sessions, students will write, workshop and present proposals to compete for grant money.

The money will be awarded by a faculty committee at the end of the quarter.

The committee will award two grants of up to $1,000.

Students must sign up for the second set of sessions on Oct. 8.

The program is for students interested in learning about a possible career or future in scholarly pursuits and academic work, said Carol Helstosky, history professor and one of the Extreme Academics organizers.

“It’s about how to get closer to realizing your academic goals,” said Helstosky.

Extreme Academics is open to students of all disciplines and all grade levels.

“We encourage anyone and everyone who might be interested,” she said.

Last year’s program had diverse student attendees, including from the Women’s College, Daniels, Lamont and from the department of arts, humanities and social sciences.

Close to 25 students attended the first session this year. Last year about 50 students attended the first session, and about 10 students participated in the competition sessions.

The next session will be held at 12 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24 in the Olin Rotunda.