Cassidy Mendez

On 11/24/2025, I attended the Arkansas Unions E-Waste Presentation. During this presentation, I was able to learn about Lithium-Ion Batteries and their impact on the world and the consumers who use them. I learned that these types of batteries are used in consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and medical devices. I also learned that the demand for these batteries is skyrocketing, which is also skyrocketing the production. The way to extract lithium for these batteries has many effects on the environment and leaves lots of chemicals behind. We learned about two ways lithium is obtained, which are mining and brine extraction. To help all these problems, you can recycle your e-waste, which there are apparently some in the union!

On August 21st, 2025, I attended the Honors College Back to School Recess with some of my fellow path scholars. It was a great way to start the semester.

On April 30th, 2025, I attended the honors hub tabling at Mullins library. This is for my social honors event. I learned about classes that were being held in the upcoming fall semester as well as when different events usually take place. I was also able to pick up a sticker and some candy!

On April 30th, 2025, I bought and donated snacks (fruit snacks and Rice Krispies) for the Snack Donations for YRCC summer camp for the Yvonne Richardson Community Center. Through a contribution like this, I was able to help support the summer camp by aiding in providing snacks for the children so they have all the energy they need to be able to enjoy the activities throughout the day over the summer.

On April 30th, 2025, I bought and donated snacks (fruit snacks and Rice Krispies) for the Snack Donations for YRCC summer camp for the Yvonne Richardson Community Center. Through a contribution like this, I was able to help support the summer camp by aiding in providing snacks for the children so they have all the energy they need to be able to enjoy the activities throughout the day over the summer.

On April 4th, 2025, I participated in a survey that was conducted by an honors course at the University of Arkansas Knowledge and attitudes regarding reproductive health issues. While taking the survey, I learned that I knew less than I thought I did about reproductive health. I also realized that I should do my research to help destigmatize my own experience and to help not spread any misinformation.

On March 8th, 2025, I was selected to be a part of the supporting college students panel for the Path Program Interview Weekend. In previous weekends, I was more behind the scenes. Being on this panel definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone, however, this was an extremely valuable experience as it was the first time that I had to do something like this outside of a class.

On March 7th, 2025, my coworkers and I of Freshman Commuter Success completed our once-a-semester trail clean up. This time we returned to the Tsa La Gi, which was needed as there were many things to pick up along the trail. I will say that it was significantly cleaner than in the past. I helped gather pieces of trash while also holding the bags for my coworkers to deposit their trash into.

For my academic honors event, on February 27th, 2025, My professor invited my queer middle east classmates and I to a lecture by Dr. Zahid R. Chaudhary. He is an associate professor of English at Princeton University. The lecture was called Psychopolitics of Truth, and it was about social movements surrounding medical freedoms and parental rights in the US. This lecture combined both politics and anthropology as we discussed what "freedom" means, which circles back to different readings I have done in my anthropology classes by Michel Foucault, as well as my minor being legal studies and discussing the legal implications the groups find themselves in.