Current Students

David Anderson

Daniel Andringa

Major/subject interest: Environmental Science

What is an interesting fact about you? I like trees.

What initially attracted you to the FYRES course? Jamie Skillen

What is a highlight that you have from your time in the course so far? Going to the dunes.

Asa Deeren

Major/subject interest: Environmental Science

What is an interesting fact about you? I like to play any musical instrument I can find.

What initially attracted you to the FYRES course? Hands-on experience.

What is a highlight that you have from your time in the course so far? Fieldwork. 

Ruth Diepstra

Abby Dykstra

Major/subject interest: Civil Engineering

What is an interesting fact about you? I can't whistle.

What initially attracted you to the FYRES course? The opportunity to do research and learn surveying techniques.

What is a highlight that you have from your time in the course so far? Using the total station. 

Jordan Fridsma

Major/subject interest: Environmental Studies, Geography

What is an interesting fact about you? I have 2 pet chinchillas! 

What initially attracted you to the FYRES course? Place-based and project-based learning.

What is a highlight that you have from your time in the course so far? Finding cool things in the dunes, like a rodent skull, a dead turtle, and a tiny mushroom growing in the sand.

Sam Greene

Zach Guikema

Major/subject interest: Geology

What is an interesting fact about you? My favorite food is pizza.

What initially attracted you to the FYRES course? I am a GEO major and I did not want to miss out on this first year student only course.

What is a highlight that you have from your time in the course so far? I love our lab time. It is awesome to be able to get out of the classroom, but also to take it with us to the dunes of the Lake Michigan coast! 

Seth Hoeksema

Major/subject interest: Geography and Sociology

What is an interesting fact about you? I won defensive player of the year for goalie senior year.

What initially attracted you to the FYRES course? The opportunity to be outside.

What is a highlight that you have from your time in the course so far? The People.

Titus Holleman

Major/subject interest: Environmental Science

What is an interesting fact about you? I play ping pong a lot. 

What initially attracted you to the FYRES course? I was told about it by my advisor and it sounded fun. 

What is a highlight that you have from your time in the course so far? Sitting on top of a dune after research was done.

Zachary Lindemulder

Major/subject interest: Geography

What is an interesting fact about you? I really like trains.

What initially attracted you to the FYRES course? One of my older sisters was in this course and she loved it and I like being outdoors.

What is a highlight that you have from your time in the course so far? Learning how to use a total station. 

Jake McClure

Major/subject interest: Financial Planning

What is an interesting fact about you? I have a double tooth. Two teeth connected together into one root.

What initially attracted you to the FYRES course? My brother had taken it two years ago and said it was very interesting, fun, and hands on.

What is a highlight that you have from your time in the course so far? Meeting more people and understanding some of the processes used to form dunes.

Austin McRae

Amanda Paintin

Major/subject interest: Undecided

What is an interesting fact about you? I really enjoy activities and time with other people.  

What initially attracted you to the FYRES course? I really wanted to get into the FYRES course because it allowed me to experience things I had never had the opportunity to do before (like seeing sand dunes for the first time!) and study science in a unique and engaging way.

What is a highlight that you have from your time in the course so far? A highlight so far in this course is learning so much more about sand dunes than I ever thought and meeting new friends.

Cherith Pickett

Major/subject interest: Environmental Science

What is an interesting fact about you? I sometimes eat my burger upside down if it is very full and the bottom bun is leaky.

What initially attracted you to the FYRES course? I was excited to try my hand at some field research during my first semester. I believed this would help me quickly determine whether field research is something I enjoy and therefore whether Environmental Science would be the right major for me.

What is a highlight that you have from your time in the course so far? I enjoy our weekly lab where we take an excursion to the beautiful Lake Michigan for 3 hours.

Brandon Price

Major/subject interest: Civil Environmental Engineering 

What is an interesting fact about you? I keep bees.

What initially attracted you to the FYRES course? The opportunity for research.

What is a highlight that you have from your time in the course so far? Doing research on real places and using the total station.

RyAnn Rohrer

Major/subject interest: Environmental Science

What initially attracted you to the FYRES course? The opportunity to be outdoors for a class period and getting the chance to experience what research was like.

What is a highlight that you have from your time in the course so far? I just love the time we have spent out on the dunes and beautiful landscape we are able to study.

Joel VanHekken

Ashley Vredevoogd

Major/subject interest: Environmental Science

What is an interesting fact about you? My favorite place I have visited is Glacier National Park

What initially attracted you to the FYRES course? My interest in environmental science.

What is a highlight that you have from your time in the course so far? The hands on aspect of learning during our labs every week.

Yang Yang

Major/subject interest: Graphic Design

What is an interesting fact about you? Practice

What initially attracted you to the FYRES course? There are plenty of opportunities to experiment outside.

What is a highlight that you have from your time in the course so far? I have no idea

Monica Zhang