PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (December 2, 2021) For Da’Verick Hunt, a senior from Houston, Texas, participation in the Faculty Research & Innovation for Scholarly Excellence (RISE) for Undergraduate and Graduate program is an experience that helped him to master skills that are key for success and are highly sought after by companies. Hunt credits his involvement with RISE with his abilities at professional soft skills such as communication, punctuality, and time management.
As Hunt completes an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology in December 2021 from the College of Education, he is already focused on his next goal.
“While looking to land an entry-level job. I would like to thank my mentor for all of the encouragement and great advice that I will bring along throughout my life journey.”
Hunts RISE mentor, Catherine Kisavi-Atatah, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Health Coordinator in the Department of Health and Kinesiology, says, “I am lucky to have him as a research assistant and have the pleasure to mentor him. As a research assistant, he has made my job easy.” She goes on the say, “He is always eager to engage with me and learn more about the protocols and processes associated with research.”
Hunts unique contribution as a student researcher is that he “is technologically savvy and has exposed me to ways to save time using technology.” Kisavi-Atatah continues.
“Research is an important part of the college experience, especially for undergraduate students,” says Kisavi-Atatah. The RISE program provides funding for undergraduate and graduate students to be engaged in the research process with a faculty mentor.
Kisavi-Atatah maintains that providing students with additional resources while enhancing their knowledge of research encourages them to be dedicated and focused on the research processes.
Kisavi-Atatah encourages other faculty to engage students with research, stating, “Research helps build critical thinking skills, expand knowledge, and builds relationships.”
As Da’Verick matriculates and moves on to the next step in his journey, he leaves words of advice for students considering adding ‘student researcher’ to their accomplishments at Prairie View A&M University:
“Work should come before pleasure. Manage your time effectively, set up a timeline for getting work completed in each of your courses. Set aside adequate time for homework, study, sleep, relationships, and work.
“You need not always finish every task all at once. Remember, you can write a 365-page book every year if you only write one page per day.”
Karen B. Cotton