VDPAM Undergraduate Research Assistant for the Swine Medicine Education Center (SMEC), Chantz Nittler, was recently honored as a Student of Distinction during Iowa State University’s National Student Employment Week, which celebrates the contributions of student employees across campus.
A transfer student and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Chantz discovered Iowa State’s Scientific Visualization (SciViz) program after returning to school and realizing his interests in art and science could align into a career.
For the past two years, Chantz has worked with SMEC, creating digital illustrations, graphics and video content for online lectures, procedural manuals and research visualization. The role has offered valuable hands-on learning opportunities, including illustrating materials for Certified Swine Sample Collectors, and completing the certification personally to better inform the work.
Chantz’s recognition reflects his creativity, dedication and the meaningful impact student employees have on Iowa State’s teaching and research mission.
April 2026