Colorado State University is among the nation’s top research universities, so it makes sense that students in their earliest years would dive into research and artistry to extend their classroom learning. Thousands of CSU students are doing just that. In laboratories and studios, you’ll find undergraduate students working shoulder to shoulder with world-class faculty. Many mentored research opportunities have a service-learning component, allowing students to better their communities. As you’ll read in this collection of stories, research, artistry and service-learning projects also change the lives of students involved, leading to academic success, new career plans – and inspiration to improve our world.