Jason Lopez Martinez

Multimedia Journalist at the University of Minnesota

Medium •

The cost to attend college is increasing, making it harder for students to keep up

Mariam Khemakhem is a sophomore mechanical engineering major at the University of Minnesota who balances a packed schedule — playing cello for the University Philharmonic Orchestra, serving as a treasurer for the Arab Student Association and researching bioanalytics part-time in a campus bio lab. She chose to attend the University of Minnesota because of its affordability, but now, with rising tuition costs, it is no lo...
The Minnesota Daily •

Gophers throwers find rhythm in recent meets

Redshirt sophomore Jordan Dunigan’s best throw of the day did not start with confidence.At the Gary Wilson Invitational in Minneapolis April 22, Dunigan opened the discus with a throw of 34 meters, far from where he expected to be. By the end of the meet, he had turned it into one of the best performances of his career.Dunigan threw 58.12 meters to win the men’s discus and move to No. 8 on Minnesota’s all-time list.“A lot of people see the PR,” Dunigan said. “But if you look at the field series,...
Medium •

First-Gen UMN student coaches debate team

Wollman’s parents, Joyce and Tony Wollman, both never went to college, let alone high school. They grew up in Hutterite colonies and were taught through eighth grade before focusing on work — her mom cooking, cleaning and caring for younger children, and her dad doing farm and carpentry work.That meant figuring out everything on her own– applications, financial aid and even the decision to leave home.In Aberdeen, a town of about 27,000 people, life was comfortable and familiar. Wollman could wal...
Medium •

Building a home away

Erica Cahoy’s entire high school graduating class in Avon, South Dakota, consisted of only 25 people. At the University of Minnesota, she often finds herself in a single room with hundreds of strangers at once.“The lecture classes, of course, were bigger than my entire high school,” said Cahoy, a freshman studying bioproducts and biosystems engineering. “It was also hard to make friends again because I was with the same 20 people throughout my entire high school...
Medium •

Students finding a space

Grace Leonardson has not had the typical college experience. She took a semester off in 2023 and the whole year in 2024. Now, 24 and studying chemical engineering, she navigates college life as someone with ADHD.“And so basically, right now, I am taking classes to practically rebuild,” Leonardson saidAlong with a handful of other students, she listened to ADHD specialist Derick Otte guide participants on helpful writing activities and discussion...