Summer Program Helps First-Gen Student Take Flight Into Drone Research

Through the Boosting Representation of African Americans in the Geosciences (BRAGG) program, a summer research partnership hosted by UC Merced for students from historically Black colleges and universities, Zhakeya Hawkins has strengthened her research and professional skills while working with Professor Adeyemi Adebiyi.

"I've learned how to get out of my comfort zone of knowing everything and to see things from other perspectives," said Hawkins, valedictorian and recent graduate of Kentucky State University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in mathematical computer science.

Hawkins has gained a deeper understanding of how to approach emerging technologies. "I've learned that AI shouldn't be looked at as something that gives you answers, but as a tool that helps prompting you toward discovering them yourself," she said after attending a SURI workshop led by UC Merced Professor Teamrat Ghezzehei.

Students leave the program with tangible outcomes that support future opportunities, including research presentations, abstracts, graduate school materials and expanded professional networks.

Thanks to his experience with SURI, Miguel was able to continue conducting research with Stark for fall and spring semester and was hired as training and operations engineering lead. Now, he presents at national STEM conferences and is writing safety trainings that will guide drone and rocketry operations throughout the UC system.

Soto said one of SURI's strengths is the sense of community it fosters while helping students grow as emerging scholars.

"Student success reflects a true campus effort," Soto said. "One of the most rewarding aspects of SURI is watching the entire UC Merced community come together. Faculty, graduate students, postdocs, staff scientists, research centers, academic staff and many others contribute to the experience."

Everyone is invited to attend the SURI culmination event at the 20th UROC Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on July 31 in the UC Merced Conference Center.

View last's year's SURI video recap: