To Margarita Lopez ’22, pursuing a career as a physician assistant is more than having a good job. It’s about paying it forward as a First Generation Initiative Scholar.
In high school, Carol Dao ’20 favored mathematics over science. Then, a biology class introduced her to a whole new world of lab work. Now a senior First Generation Scholar at Saint Mary’s University, Dao will be heading to the Medical Laboratory Science Program at Mayo Clinic this summer.
Senior Danielle Franke was able to uniquely blend her biology and Spanish majors through an eight-week summer internship in Spain last summer. At a medical clinic in Spain, she received an invaluable clinical experience before she prepares to apply to medical school. It also allowed her to have a fully immersive experience as the only staff person who was as native English speaker.
Biology students have been inducted into the Beta Beta Beta Honor Society, and several biology and biochemistry students have presented their research, with Ben Borash receiving top honors for his presentation about rattlesnakes.
On Nov. 9, students from the biology anchor course, Environmental and Human Health, and the history anchor course, Make a Place in History, attended a Hmong New Year Celebration hosted by the Hmong American Student Association at Winona State University.