Photo of two IRR students unloading in North Carolina

Disaster Response Team deploys to North Carolina

Give online About IRR IRR Facebook Photo album Oct. 6 update:Today, the IRR response team arrived in Newland, NC, and hit the ground running, collaborating with the local community. We supported a food and supply…

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Photo of Adam Anderson in a science classroom.

Senior puts international service before med school

Any senior applying to medical schools could use a prayer or two. Then there’s Adam Anderson. The international rescue and relief (IRR) major will be applying to highly competitive programs while volunteering in a country…

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IRR students preparing to leave for Arkansas

Students head to Arkansas for tornado relief

Nestled in the forest between a state park and a national park, Hot Springs Village, Arkansas is normally a quiet retirement community, but on Thursday, March 14, an EF-2 tornado touched down with winds up…

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Flipping the script on ADHD

Union student’s research shows experiential learning improves academic performance. When you find out that Lauren Richert has ADHD, you might feel a twinge of sympathy that she has to face such a challenge. But that…

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Photo of Joshua Reyes-Meiring with other IRR students

From IRR to MPH: Joshua Reyes-Meiring

“I never felt alive until I started working in healthcare,” said 2022 international rescue and relief graduate Josh Reyes-Meiring.  Reyes-Meiring was interested in science and medicine, but until he started in the IRR program, he…

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Eric Barber: Finding fulfillment in service

Union College’s International Rescue and Relief Program is comprised of bold and adventurous students. The IRR program’s new expedition coordinator matches their energy perfectly. Eric Barber comes to Lincoln from the state of Washington where…

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Malamulo Mission in Malawi

Expedition Malawi 2023

Union College’s International Rescue and Relief (IRR) is a four-year bachelor’s degree training in emergency medicine, disaster response, and sustainable community development. Before graduation from the program, students are given a three-month overseas semester in…

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Photo of Kasondra Reel

Tethered to hope

A cliffside rescue began with rope skills taught at Union When Kasondra Reel signed up to spend her summer working with Big Lake Youth Camp in Sisters, Oregon, she had no idea she would be…

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Photo of Noah Kruzich

Building community and competency: welcome back, Noah!

Noah Kruzich is back at Union as the International Rescue and Relief Program’s newest lecturer and EMS coordinator. After graduating with an IRR degree in 2019, Kruzich worked as a paramedic in the emergency department…

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Photo of Allen Stafford and Christian Thomas.

Union students leapt to action in mid-air medical emergency

When a fellow passenger had a medical emergency on their flight, international rescue and relief senior Allen Stafford and junior Christian Thomas sprung into action.  Stafford and Thomas were flying home to Washington State for…

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IRR students report from South Florida

Our disaster response team in South Florida gives us a glimpse into the work they’re doing and what they need to finish the mission. To support the disaster response team, give online at uau.edu/disaster-response

Photo of the 2022 Disaster Response Team

Students respond to Hurricane Ian

Helping those who need it most When a natural disaster tears through communities, it doesn’t discriminate based on affluence, race, or socioeconomic status. Anyone in its path is affected. When disaster response teams arrive on…

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