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8 IN FOCUS t ISSUE 2025-2026Undergraduate Physiology Society (UPS). The leadership Undergraduate Physiology Society (UPS) for the 2024-2025 school year included co-presidents Ifrah Aden and Tarun Balaji, vice president Sophia Siniscalco, Communications Director Lauren Christian, Public Relations Director Jordan Erickson and Secretary Shania Thelen.UPS greeted new first year students during the U%u2019s Welcome Week at the end of August, then introduced themselves to other interested students via both the Explore U and University Activities fairs at the beginning of the semester. The kickoff of the group%u2019s events was an Ice Cream Social event on the Northrup Mall that was very well attended. October 1st brought a Meet the Faculty event where several IBP professors shared their scientific journey with our undergraduates. Physiology Game Night came midway through the month and participation in the Homecoming parade on October 25th closed out October.In November, the UPS students gathered to make tied fleece blankets that were later donated to a local hospital. After Thanksgiving, but prior to finals, UPS hosted a De-Stress Hot Chocolate and Games event in Jackson Hall.To kick off the spring term, UPS hosted a Coffee & Donut event in the Moos Tower 2nd floor corridor during the first week of February. At the end of the month, Dr. Olson held her annual workshop for the group on crafting personal statements for professional school applications. After Spring break, in late March, UPS partnered with a former member (now in medical school) to host a discussion panel with health professional students of color on a Tuesday followed by an Anatomy Bingo Night on Thursday of the same week. Two new additions to the UPS calendar for April 2025 included a UPS Gala in partnership with the U of MN Swiftie (Taylor Swift) club and a visit to the virtual reality (VR) suite in the new health sciences education building for a VR tour of a cell.The spring term rounded out with a Game Night in late March, the selection of officers for 2024-2025 and an end of term visit to the Coffman Union bowling alley.Dr. Vincent Barnett, Director of Undergraduate Studies UPS Officers, 2025-2026Front row (left to right) Dr. Lisa Anderson, Jordan Erickson, Shaina Thelen, Sophia Siniscalco, Dr. Vincent BarnettBack Row (left to right) Anaya Garg, Omer Mitha, Dr. Steven WuUndergraduate Physiology Society 2024-2025 Co-Presidents Ifrah Aden and Tarun Balaji, pictured with Dr. Vincent Barnett tEDUCATION PROGRAM UPDATESUndergraduate Physiology Society at the Homecoming Parade Tarun Balaji (as a skeleton), Anaya Garg, Vincent Barnett, Omer Mitha, Steven Wu, Sophia Siniscalco and Joseph Metzger