Zipperman Scholars

The ZipS went hiking on Saturday morning! It was an excellent way to explore a new part of Tucson, enjoy nature, and get to know each other.

Two ZipS—Andrei Sim and Dylan Kim—got the opportunity to go camping at the Grand Canyon! Not only was it a way to conduct research for a possible new event trip, but it also provided excellent networking and leadership opportunities.

The ZipS visited Paradox last Thursday, where they learned about how the company’s AI tool—dubbed Olivia—assists with the hiring process. In addition to a tour of the Scottsdale office, students got to network with Paradox employees. Thank you to Lauren K. for arranging the event, and thanks to the panelists who spoke to the ZipS: Hayden Russell, Tyler Rountree, Mia Li, and Ruhama Halake.

Last week, the ZipS visited Shamrock, where they got a chance to network with company leaders and learn about everything from supply chain operations to internship opportunities. Thank you to Kjerstin Karlsson for coordinating the visit, and thanks to the panelists who spoke about their experiences: Corey Gilchrist, Bryce Owen, and Taylor Radtke.

The ZipS went rock climbing on Saturday! Thank you to UA Outdoor Rec for organizing the trip.

On Monday, the ZipS traveled to State Farm Stadium, where they met with leaders from the Arizona Cardinals Football Club. During a panel discussion, the students learned about how a professional sports team uses technology and marketing, develops business strategies, and makes data-informed decisions. The day concluded with watching the Cardinals beat the Chargers. It was a fun and educational event! Thank you to the panelists: Orlando Avila, Erik Jones, Alexis Stevens, and Paye Kialain. Additional thanks to Jace Williams for facilitating and organizing the trip.

Thank you to Dr. Hsinchun Chen! Last week, he spoke to the ZipS about AI, deep learning, cybersecurity, and more. The conversation also touched on the ethical dilemma of artificial intelligence. “AI is becoming a double-edged sword,” he said.

The ZipS went on a beautiful evening hike last week. It was fun to explore a new part of Tucson and watch the sunset!

On Tuesday, the ZipS got to collaborate on a case study about AI bias, ethics, and more. Thank you to Dr. Laura Brandimarte for facilitating the event and providing feedback to the students!

The ZipS had a blast at their first social event of the semester: bowling!