Maria Hallenbeck

I was selected to be a UI Honors Program Fellow in the University of Iowa Honors Program through the scholarship application. This position has a class component where the cohort of sophomore Honors students learn about civic engagement and service learning. In this program, I was able to partake in service events in the Iowa City community. This position allowed me to make more connections with other members of the Honors Program and Iowa City.

Selected for a cohort of sophomore Honors students to earn a scholarship for the entire year as a fellow

Participated in weekly class discussions on civic engagement and service as a part of education

I accepted the position to be a data analyst student manager for Iowa Baseball as a result of my longstanding passion for numbers and sports. I have always loved math and Big Ten sports, so my skills fit this position well. As a program, Iowa Baseball Managers are a crucial part of moving the needle and developing players into the best people they can be. In the data analytics department, I learned how to take a specific approach to a project and tell a story with baseball analytics and research. I also helped prepare the team for various weekend series by contributing to scouting reports. These scouting reports provided me an opportunity to expand my skill of being detail-oriented.

Collaborated with other eleven analysts to create weekly scouting reports detailing opponent tendencies
Collected data by utilizing TrackMan and Rapsodo to record practices and games
Responded to coaching staffs requests by analyzing data in R to discover points for player improvements
Delivered written and oral presentations to clarify research and share findings through the manager blog
Enhanced skills in Microsoft Office through project construction in PowerPoint and Excel

As an Honors Outreach Ambassador for the University of Iowa Honors Program, I was able to virtually interact with new people to discuss the program and all that it has to offer. Through being on panels and creating a group presentation for students on experiential learning, I learned how to develop my presentations for a unique audience. I also learned more about professional writing through my direct contact with incoming and prospective students to both the University of Iowa and the Honors Program.

Enriched public speaking skills by participating in two virtual panels detailing my Honors Program experience
Polished professional writing skills by crafting welcome emails to twenty incoming Honors students
Crafted a live presentation with two other students detailing experiential learning to ten current students