Last month, students with the top grades in each of the w88 casino games login of Science academic programs were honored with a luncheon. The Westfall Scholars Luncheon, hosted by and named for the founding dean of the w88 casino games login of Science, David Westfall, provides students an opportunity to thank their mentors, family and friends as they reflect on their undergraduate years.
Each Westfall Scholar identifies a faculty mentor who supported them through their undergraduate years. This year's mentors are Julie Allen, Patrick Arnott, Megan Beckham, Christopher Blair, Gideon Caplovitz, Jessie Clark, John McCormack, Samuel Odoh and Anna Panorska.
In overcoming various challenges while maintaining excellent grades, these students embody The Wolf Pack Way. Learn more about each of the successful graduates in the Q and A below.
Samson Stynen, Biology
w88 casino games login are your plans after graduating?
After graduation I am planning on continuing on to grad school forentomology conservation. w88 casino games login goal is to conduct research and turn itinto a curriculum using a large, realdataset for middle and high school science courses.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming w88 casino games login freshman?
w88 casino games login advice for students of any age is to get involved (join a club, a lab, a community center, a conference, or a sport), don't get stuck on just one thing, and don't be afraid to ask for help.
Where do w88 casino games login see yourself in fifteen years?
In fifteen years, I hope to be an educator or researcher of science in some realm, I hope to have been traveling more, and I hope to be continuing w88 casino games login own educationin some way.
Brittney Ryun, Chemistry
w88 casino games login are your plans after graduating?
After graduating this winter, I plan to teach part-time at a local community w88 casino games login this spring before attending the University of Nevada, Reno once again next fall to obtain my master's of science in chemistry. I also plan to read all the books I have collected but haven't had time to read during my undergrad.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming w88 casino games login freshman?
To the incoming freshman - there's nothing that w88 casino games login can't accomplish when w88 casino games login set your mind to it. Take it all one step at a time. Failure is part of life and does not define w88 casino games login, what does is the choice to stand back up afterwards and keep on keeping on.
Where do w88 casino games login see yourself in fifteen years?
In fifteen years, I'm planning on obtaining a full-time position teaching chemistry at a community w88 casino games login somewhere. I also hope to be married with two dogs and lots of kids.
Anders Krakar, Geological Sciences & Engineering
w88 casino games login are your plans after graduating?
I'm going to take some time off and try to figure out w88 casino games login's best for me.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming w88 casino games login freshman?
My most important advice is that it’s okay to take things slow, and if w88 casino games login’re struggling, ask for help. We as a society often promote the narrative that if w88 casino games login’re not pushing yourself past your limits then w88 casino games login’re being lazy. It’s not true. Everyone has physical and mental limits, and some people’s limits are lower than others. There’s nothing wrong with needing more time and stepping back to take care of yourself. If that means taking longer to graduate, so be it. w88 casino games login’ll get there eventually.
Where do w88 casino games login see yourself in fifteen years?
I have no idea. I know where I'd like to be, and where I worry I'll be, but where I'll actually be? There's only one way to find out, and it's to keep moving forward, one day at a time.
Seth Freedman-Peel, Geography
w88 casino games login are your plans after graduating?
The nextchapter of w88 casino games login life involves taking to the skies and moving forward in w88 casino games login aviation journey to flying cargo commercially. I have been flying skydivers and flight instructing w88 casino games login last few semesters at school. Still, the next step is to move on toward bigger planes and a stable career path that will hopefully conclude with me working at one of the legacy major airlines (United, Delta, or American). But first, I will take some well-needed rest and then look forward to returning and gettingmy master's in geography at some point in the future!
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming w88 casino games login freshman?
My best advice for an incoming freshman is to recognize that w88 casino games login, and indeed life, is a marathon and not a sprint. It's no good to put all your energy into the first two years only to find that you are burnt out and can't continue for the next few. Secondly, do not be afraid of uncertainty and be willing to change course when anopportunityarises. I was undeclared for the first two years so that I could see what major best fit into my passion for learning and ended up choosing a major I knew nothing about before starting w88 casino games login. Be kind and patient with yourself and give yourself the same grace that you would give a friend or a family member when you don't meet expectations for yourself.
Where do w88 casino games login see yourself in fifteen years?
In fifteen years, I hope to be settled into w88 casino games login flying career, married to w88 casino games login current partner with a few kids with whom I will share w88 casino games login love and passion for learning and life tothebest of myability. I also hope that circumstances allow for me to come back to school to get w88 casino games login master's in geography and if that goes well w88 casino games login Ph.D. as well. Most of all I hope to be celebrating what will be w88 casino games login 20th year in recovery from drug addiction because, without that, everything else is meaningless.
Lisa Soule, Mathematics and Statistics
w88 casino games login are your plans after graduating?
After graduation, I plan on staying at w88 casino games login job in retail while I explore different philanthropic organizations to work with in Lake Tahoe. I want to make a difference in w88 casino games login community and help those in need.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming w88 casino games login freshman?
Utilize all of your school's resources. The University of Nevada, Reno has great academic services like the math center, tutoring center, and writing center to name a few. If you find yourself stuck on an assignment it is always helpful to have a fresh perspective from another person.Also, take advantage of the services that help round out your day-to-day like the fitness center and counseling through the Downing Counseling Clinic. Make connections and reach out for help! You’ll find that the comfort and support you receive will make the w88 casino games login experience more connected, meaningful and memorable!
Where do w88 casino games login see yourself in fifteen years?
Pouring myself into a community-serving organization, writing books, making art, skiing, hiking, kayaking, cooking and creating more meaningful memories with w88 casino games login family, friends, and husband, Steve!
Kaviny Giritharan, Microbiology & Immunology
w88 casino games login are your plans after graduating?
I pursued a dual degree and earned a degree in microbiology and immunology and another degree in secondary education. Throughout w88 casino games login time at w88 casino games login Nevada, Reno, I was able to learn that I loved science, research and medicine. I also found that I enjoyed teaching and engaging students with science. I am preparing to apply to medical school in the next upcoming cycle, while taking a gap year to be a high school teacher.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming w88 casino games login freshman?
I think the most important piece of advice that I would give a w88 casino games login freshman is to push yourself but never put too much on your plate. I think as students that study science and math, we have a tendency to push ourselves to overwork but that can have long term effects in the end. It is important to take care of yourself and balance your education with other activities that you enjoy.
Where do w88 casino games login see yourself in fifteen years?
In fifteen years, I am hoping to be a physician. w88 casino games login goal is to become a pediatric oncologist. In the near future, I’d like to complete medical school, residency and a fellowship in order to practice as a physician to help treat children with cancer.
Madalyn Sawatzky, Neuroscience
w88 casino games login are your plans after graduating?
After graduating, I plan to continue w88 casino games login education at optometry school to earn w88 casino games login doctorate. I am very excited to pursue a career where I can help improve the quality of life of w88 casino games login patients and utilize all that I have learned throughout w88 casino games login schooling.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming w88 casino games login freshman?
The biggest piece of advice I can give to incoming w88 casino games login freshmen is to take advantage of any opportunities that are available.Whether this be in terms of academic or social events, you never know what connections you can make or what passions you can find. w88 casino games login allows you to explore your own interests so utilize any opportunity you can.
Where do w88 casino games login see yourself in fifteen years?
In fifteen years, I hope to be the owner of w88 casino games login own optometry office where I am able to continue to give back to the community.I hope to be able to continue seeing patients while also running a business. I would also love to travel as much as possible and start a family.
Michael Sandink, Physics
w88 casino games login are your plans after graduating?
After graduation, I am going to take some time off of school and enter the workforce while continuing to develop skills as an audio engineer and musician. I'm going to take a crack at that whole industry.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming w88 casino games login freshman?
Not to let yourself get in the way of your opportunities. This includes discussing questions and research opportunities with professors, getting involved on campus, making friends, etc., even if you are uncomfortable with it. w88 casino games login is a place for growth and self-development as much as it is for academic learning.
Where do w88 casino games login see yourself in fifteen years?
It's hard to say specifically where I see myself so far out in the future. So many things could happen that would radically change w88 casino games login path in life. While a little generic, in fifteen years I only hope to see myself wiser than I am today and living a sustainable and healthy life, all without the burden of dedicating w88 casino games login limited time here to something I don't find fulfilling.
Alexis McGuire, Psychology
w88 casino games login are your plans after graduating?
After graduation, I intend on continuing w88 casino games login education into graduate school by next fall into the University of Nevada, Reno’s Master of Public Health Program, under the health and administration policy specialization, and in the meantime, working towards finding internships and volunteer opportunities related to public health. I am also looking forward to traveling internationally for the first time, in order to see the world and to expand w88 casino games login perspectives on life and others around me. After completion of graduate school, I would also like to become a peace corps professional volunteer, in order to support programs and efforts related to public health in other countries, and to also broaden w88 casino games login viewpoints of other cultures and countries in a professional manner. In the future, I plan on working within the public health field as a public health analyst in order to influence the programs and policies that are being put into place in order to support w88 casino games login community’s health and well-being, and to later on return to academia so that I can guide and support other students just like me in their career journeys.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming w88 casino games login freshman?
The most important piece of advice that I would offer to incoming freshmen is to go with what feels right to w88 casino games login. It's hard to ignore the pressures that w88 casino games login may have from others like your parents or peers to follow a certain path, but it's important to remember that in the end, w88 casino games login are the only one living your life, so why waste the limited time we do have on something that isn’t serving your sense of purpose? Another thing that I would offer is, to take courses in a variety of subjects that are new or interesting to w88 casino games login that w88 casino games login have never considered before. w88 casino games login may just find something w88 casino games login never expected that w88 casino games login can imagine as being your future career. When I first started my journey here at the University of Nevada, Reno, I was a double major in psychology and criminal justice with the intent of going to law school and becoming a criminal defense lawyer, but here I am just 3.5 years later with plans of going into the field of public health and pursuing a master’s and potentially a Ph.D. in the field instead. My point is, don’t limit yourself just to one idea or set career path from the very beginning. Life is messy, and the only way to grow and to figure out what w88 casino games login enjoy is to learn to try new things, and to also learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Where do w88 casino games login see yourself in fifteen years?
In fifteen years, I imagine myself as a completely different person from the one that I am today. Something I find beautiful about the process of aging is that w88 casino games login learn to grow and adapt to the person w88 casino games login need to be at any given moment. Thus, the person and habits that I am today won’t serve the person I would need to be as my 36-year-old self (wow that’s weird to think about) because that would mean that I haven’t learned from all of my life experiences up until then. In my personal life, I have intentions to build a family, with a dog and maybe a cat, and to also have a lake house somewhere surrounded by mountains, and with endless possibilities for outdoor activities. On a more professional scale, I imagine myself having received my master’s degree, and potentially a Ph.D. within public health, and working within the field as some type of health director or lead policy analyst and making great change in the health of my communities. Also, I see myself as either getting started or having written a book of some kind by then, as that is one of my major career goals. I think the possibility of having lived internationally is another goal of mine that I can see myself doing within the next fifteen years. Overall, a characteristic of mine that I value very highly, is to be a curious and involved lifelong learner, so I plan on making this a quality of my life and in my future career within the next fifteen years and beyond.
