Honors Ambassadors Summer Orientation 2014

Sophie Amado

Graduation Year: 2014

Major: English & Spanish

Honors Experience: Daum Residence and Centerstone, Honors Student Staff Programmer, Honors Courses, Gradation with Honors, Honors Seminar TA

Sophie’s visit to Hollywood during Spring Break this year

“Writing and traveling are my passions. In the fall, I'll be going to Spain to teach high school students English through

the Fulbright program. After that, I'm going to Columbia College in Chicago for their Creative Nonfiction Writing MFA program. Iowa has been the best institution for preparing me for my post-college life that involves my interests. When I'm

not studying or working, I'm trying out a new recipe, taking a walk, or playing pool.”

-Sophie Amado

Samantha Crooks Graduation Year: 2015

Major: Speech and Hearing Science, Spanish

Honors Experience: Honors Primetime, Honors First-Year Seminar, Honors Courses, Honors House, Summer Ambassador, Study Abroad, Research, ICRU Fellow, Honors Thesis

Me when I was hiking in Domincal, Costa Rica

“Outside of the Honors Program, I enjoy being active, whether it's spending time outdoors, running or playing sports. Aside from being active, I have a love of traveling and immersing myself in different cultures. When I graduate I plan to get a

Masters in Speech Pathology and after I want to spend a couple of years teaching English in Spain.”

-Samantha Crooks

Timothy Fuqua Graduation Year: 2017

Major: Human Physiology & Music Performance, Pre-Med Track

Honors Experience: Honors Courses, Graduation with Honors, Summer Research, Honors Primetime, Summer Ambassador

“I love to make music, go on runs and play tennis! I am a volunteer and Nursing Assistant at UIHC, as well as an

activate participant in Dance Marathon. Right now, I am assisting in a research group studying a developmental

protein in Drosophila Larvae. I plan on graduating with Honors in Human Physiology and Clarinet Performance, and

hopefully going to medical school to become an Otolaryngologist.”

-Timothy Fuqua

Katie Hixon Graduation Year: 2014

Major: Biomedical Engineering, Human Psychology, Mathematics

Honors Experience: ICRU, Honors Summer Ambassador, Student Advisory Committee, Honors Courses, Honors Designation, Contract Courses, Honors Thesis

I love traveling and being outside. My most recent hobby is trying to keep my 5 month old bunny from chewing every

phone charger I own. I will be attending Saint Louis University in the fall to pursue a PhD in Orthopedic Tissue

Engineering.

- Katie Hixon

Nate Hua Graduation Year: 2015

Major: Chemistry & Biochemistry, Theater

Honors Experience: Honors Courses, Daum Honors House, Honors Peer Advisor, ICRU Student Research

Eating oceanside in San Diego. SB2K14!

“I love acting, I'm a standardized patient (an actor who portrays sick people) over at the Carver College of Medicine, I'm a huge fan of The Office, Netflix is 50% of my life, I'm a huge Green Bay Packers fan, I'm an avid exec member for Colleges Against Cancer (we plan Relay For Life here at

Iowa!), a hater of cancer, I volunteer at Wild Bill's Coffee Shop (check it out next year on campus!), and I do research on

protein active site dynamics in the department of chemistry under Professor Chris Cheatum! Welcome to Iowa!”

-Nate Hua

Casey Inman Graduation Year: 2017

Major: Human Physiology & Pre-Medicine Track, Spanish

Honors Experience: Honors Seminar, Honors Designation Projects, Research, Honors Primetime

(Left) Having a blast with the Medicus Premedical Society in the Homecoming Parade

“Rollerblading, ice skating, playing soccer, reading, cuddling with my cats, and going on walks with friends are some of my

favorite ways to spend my free time. I also love all of the student organizations I am involved with, including Medicus

and Student Philanthropy Group. My goal is to attend medical school after I graduate.”

-Casey Inman

Alexis Koch Graduation Year: 2017

Major: Health and Human Physiology

Honors Experience: Honors First-Year Seminar, Honors Courses

A picture of me trying to hold the Chicago Bean

“I really like to run, bike, and swim. I participated in Project Marrow, Medicus, WISE, Relay for Life, Health Ninjas, Ski and Snowboarding Club, and was a part of the Associated

Residence Halls Senate and Daum Government.”

-Alexis Koch

Emily Levine Graduation Year: 2015

Major: English & Violin

Minor: Latin

Honors Experience: Primetime, First-Year Seminar, Honors classes, Daum Hall and Centerstone Resident, Daum Hall President, Research Fellowship

"Being involved with Honors at Iowa my first two years in school really opened me up to all the academic possibilities here which can help me excel. I am planning to graduate with University Honors and Honors in both my English and Violin majors, and then go to graduate school for Music History and Library Sciences. Working towards these goals has made me a more responsible student, but has put me in touch with innumerable amount of amazing and motivated people. I love sharing my passion for academic writing, music and travel (and cats!) with all the amazing peers I have come to value here."

-Emily Levine

Austin Marcolina Graduation Year: 2014

Major: Human Physiology, Sports Studies

Honors Experience: Honors Primetime, Honors Courses, Honors Designation/Contract Course Projects, Honors Peer Advising, Honors Summer Ambassador, Research, and Study Abroad

This was taken during my study abroad experience in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. During the weekends, we were able to get out of the

hospital and travel to different areas in Southern India.

“Outside of the Honors Program, I am actively involved with Dance Marathon, Student Philanthropy Group, and Phi Eta

Sigma Honors Society. My personal interests include staying active, playing and listening to music, spending time with

friends, and enjoying everything that Iowa City has to offer!”

-Austin Marcolina

Nicholas McCarty Graduation Year: 2017

Major: Microbiology

Honors Experience: Honors Courses, ICRU Academic Year Research

"Playing tennis, reading books about Ancient Rome and eating are my favorite things in the world. I plan on

graduating with Honors in Microbiology and pursuing an MD/PhD program in the future, continuing the diabetes research I currently conduct. I'd like to work for Doctors

without Borders for a few years after residency."

-Nicholas McCarty

James Ottavi Graduation Year: 2015

Major: Analytical Economics

Honors Experience: Honors Courses, Honors Primetime, Daum Honors House

This is min Arizona, showing my University of Iowa and Dance Marathon pride!

“I am a person who finds himself interested in many different areas of study, which has somewhat contributed to switching

my major around 5 times. However, I find a great deal of interest in talking about religion, travelling, and philosophy,

while also reading interesting articles about progress in the STEM fields. I am involved with psychology and public

health research, Dance Marathon (and Dance Marathon the Marathon), my fraternity (Delta Tau Delta), MEDLIFE,

Medicus, and am hoping to be studying abroad within the next year in Italy. After school, I am hoping to be able to

spend a couple years travelling around the world before I find a job as an analyst or go to graduate school.”

-James Ottavi

Tom Rigg Graduation Year: 2016

Major: Psychology & Philosophy, Informatics, Human Relations

Honors Experience: Honors Primetime, Honors Designation, Contract Courses, Honors Internship, Honors First-Year Seminar

“In my free time I love to read, write, and be with my friends, usually at a coffee shop. I enjoy everything about counseling

others - I currently work in a Psychology lab focused on postpartum depression and plan to create a psychology thesis

project based off of the work I will be doing this summer in my honors internship working with women who have suffered domestic violence. I hope one day to have my own counseling

private practice.”

-Tom Rigg

Monisa Saravanan Graduation Year: 2017

Major: Human Physiology & Psychology , Pre-Med Track

Honors Experience: Honors Primetime, Honors First-Year Seminar, Honors Peer Advising, Honors Courses, Honors Experiential Learning

“I love being with people, but I especially love children. I enjoy hanging out with my friends. I am a member of Medicus and I plan on pursuing the Pre-Med track. I hope that in the future I

will becoming either a physician or a pediatrician.”

-Monisa Saravanan

Elizabeth Sturms Graduation Year: 2017

Major: Finance & Economics

Honors Experience: Honors Primetime, Honors First Year Seminar, Honors Peer Advising, Honors Courses, Looking forward to Honor Experiential Learning while completing an internship

“I chose to study finance and economics because one day I hope to manage the finances of a non-profit organization. When I’m not in classes or studying, I love attending the

different free activities this campus has to offer – my favorite events being the dance performances held in North Hall! But as much as I enjoy being on campus, the one thing I miss the

most from home is my dog, so I frequently text my parents for photo updates.”

-Elizabeth Sturms

William Tollefson Graduation Year: 2015

Major: Biomedical Engineering

Honors Experience: University Honors, Engineering Honors, Honors Contract Coursework, Research with ICRU, Honors Summer Ambassador

“If I am not in class or working at the lab, I am probably either partaking in some sort of volunteer activity or playing music. I love playing any of the brass instruments, but mostly place my focus on the bass trombone. One of my favorite parts

of the Univeristy of Iowa is the face that I have been able to develop a lot of new relationships with people from all sorts of different backgrounds; after all, brass musicians are typically

quite different form medical researchers!”

-William Tollefson

Samantha Westphal Graduation Year: 2017

Major: Human Physiology

Honors Experience: Honors Primetime, Honors First-Year Seminar, Honors Courses

“I’m involved with Dance Marathon and volunteering at the hospital – which I love! I enjoy hanging out with friends,

traveling, being outside, reading, and eating desserts. I like helping others and as of now I plan on becoming an

Occupational Therapist.”

-Samantha Westphal

Emily White Graduation Year: 2015

Major: Health and Human Physiology, Global Health Studies

Honors Experience: Honors Primetime, Honors First-Year Seminar, ICRU Fellow, ICRU Ambassador, Honors Contract Course, Honors Seminar, Hawkeye Undergraduate Research Association Co-Founder

At the General Hospital in South Hampton, UK about to present on the topic of The Patient

Protection and Affordable Care Act

“I enjoy discussing and exploring questions around medicine, and am interested in health policy development and

evaluation. I truly believe in the unity of knowledge, and think there is much to be gained from interdisciplinary

collaboration. I am currently working on projects in Palliative Medicine, Family Medicine, and the Department of Human

Physiology. I currently am applying for a Fulbright to study at Oxford before attending medical school.”

-Emily White

Taylor Wyatt Graduation Year: 2015

Major: Anthropology, Global Health Studies

Honors Experience: Honors First-Year Seminar, Honors Contract Courses, Honors Coursework, Internship, Daum Honors House, Centerstone Apartments

“I love my job at the Iowa Children’s Museum, and I hope to one day pursue a career in Museum and Aquarium education for youth. Outside of school and work, I spend my weekends

with the University of Iowa Old Gold Show Choir Student Organization. Founding this choir was one of the most

exciting and fun parts of my college career, and I love every minute of it. I also participate in community theatre.”

-Taylor Wyatt