ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú

• Hometown: Waconia, Minnesota
• Class: 2026
• Majors: Biology, Premedical and Pre-Health Studies (co-major)
• Minor: Spanish
• Other Activities, Honors, and Awards:
  • Co-president of the Anatomy and Physiology Club (APC)
  • Co-president of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA)
  • CAS Student Ambassador
  • Resident Assistant
  • Research Assistant - Harding fat lab
  • Intramural hockey and soccer
  • 4 time President's List recipient - 4.0 GPA
  • Robert E. Hayes Scholarship - given to a junior premedical student for academic achievement
  • Joseph A. Culler Award - awarded in recognition for excellence in physics as a non-physics-major
  • Prodesse Quam Conspici RA award - awarded for demonstrating dedication, service, and accomplishment as an RA with great humility.

Why ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú?

What ultimately made me choose ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú was the incredibly high quality of academics, extracurriculars, and campus life here at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú. I knew that ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú was an incredibly successful university in regards to premedical students, which I knew I wanted to pursue. I was also aware of the wide range of opportunities here at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, and I knew that if I took my own initiative I could achieve anything I wanted. Another factor was the size of ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú. I think it's the perfect size - not too big, not too small. The sports, faculty to student ratio, and student satisfaction were all additional factors that attracted me to ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú. Finally, how amazing this campus is!

How did you choose your major?

I knew I wanted to go into a science-related field, as my favorite classes I took in high school were AP biology and anatomy. In fact, one factor that played into my final decision to attend ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú was the high quality of resources we have here such as laboratory equipment, newly renovated buildings, etc. I had a conversation with my pediatrician and my orthodontist, as I was torn between pursuing a premedical or pre-dental route, but I ended up choosing the premedical route and I couldn't be more glad. As a result of this, I chose to elect the Premedical and Pre-health Studies co-major along side my B.A. Biology major.

Key Moment at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú

Someone who has shaped my ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú experience immensely is Prof. Paul Harding. I reached out to Prof. Harding my first semester of freshman year with hopes of sitting down to talk with him about his research lab. Not only did he grant me the time to talk with him - as a brand new freshman with no experience at all - but he also offered me a place in his lab. Since then he has entrusted me with many responsibilities, and he has greatly expanded my knowledge of the field I plan on going into. Furthermore, Prof. Harding has recommended me for countless honors such as becoming a CAS student ambassador, scholarships, speaking at panels with prospective students, and many more. He has truly looked out for me throughout my entire time here at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, and he has always supported me through every step. It's people like this who make ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú so special. I can't thank Prof. Harding enough for what he's done for me, and he truly has had an especially positive impact on my life.

Other Notable Experience

I am involved in research through Prof. Paul Harding's fat lab. We conduct research on the cellular reprograming of white adipose tissue (WAT), which is bad fat linked to type II diabetes, into brown adipose tissue (BAT), which is good fat that produces heat. Through my time working in this lab, my curiosity and desire to expand my scientific understandings has multiplied time and time again. It has led me to have a continuous drive to learn more - instilling a life long inclination for learning within me. I am co-president of two organizations: the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), and the Anatomy and Physiology Club (APC). These two roles have greatly enhanced my leadership capabilities and have also grown my desire to aid all those I can on their journey through college. Whether that is providing information about medical school admissions, or recommendations about teachers to take, I have found myself able to help those who are in places in their collegiate paths that I have already gone through. In particular, APC is incredibly enjoyable for me as we do many hands on activities such as shark dissections and BLS certification. AMSA is incredibly insightful for me as we have physician, medical student, and medical school admission representatives come to speak with our members. Additionally, I am a resident assistant (RA) in the premedical/pre-health living learning community (LLC) at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú. This has provided me the ability to help facilitate the transition to adulthood for freshman students, and has also provided me many opportunities to aid these students with their questions about their career path. As a part of my position as an RA in the premedical/pre-health LLC, I am also the premedical/pre-health LLC liaison so I am fortunate to have the ability to host suture clinics as well as have a voice in programs that are put on for the LLC.

Another ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Moment

Aside from academics and clubs, I am involved in intramural hockey and soccer. I joined soccer for the first time last semester as a result of my close friends who have all been playing for their entire lives (this is my first time playing). I am from Minnesota, so naturally I have been skating for longer than I have been walking so I was incredibly excited to join an intramural hockey team. Last season, we were the champions of the elite league (most competitive out of five total intramural hockey leagues)!

Advice to Prospective Students

I would say that at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, truly anything is possible. There are so many opportunities available for you, all you need is the initiative and you can make anything happen. The professors here are incredibly passionate about what they teach, and they're even more passionate about seeing their students succeed. There are an incredible number of support resources here at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, so you never have to feel like you're alone, and the sense of community at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú is second to none. You will make some of the best memories of your life at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, and you'll meet people you'll have a relationship with for the rest of your life. At ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, we all support each other and I have zero regrets with my decision to come here. If I had to do it all over again, I would want it to turn out the same way every single time.

What are your career goals?  

After graduating ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú I hope to attend medical school, then residency, then possibly a fellowship, and then become an attending physician. I'm not 100% positive what type of physician I hope to be yet, but I am pretty sure I want to pursue a procedural speciality (surgery, interventional cardiology, etc.), and I want to sub-specialize in pediatrics.