Congratulations to the seniors graduating from the University Honors Program this spring. We are proud of your accomplishments and wish you the best in your next adventure.
View who's who by college:
Agriculture & Life Sciences | Ivy College of Business | Design
Engineering | Human Sciences | Liberal Arts & Sciences
Missed the convocation ceremony? Watch it now: Spring 2023 Honors Convocation
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Justin Biggerstaff
Norwalk, IA
Animal Ecology
Honors Project: The Effect of Climate Change on Tree Swallow Breeding Phenology in Central Iowa
Moment of pride: Getting the opportunity to get published in 2 scientific papers
Post-grad plans: Graduate school, after a gap year
Bennett Fate
Glen Ellyn, IL
Environmental Science (AGLS), Biology (AGLS)
Minor in Spanish
Participation & Awards: Stewart Research Grant Recipient, Student Enrichment Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Investigating the Effects of Varying Biochars on Seedling Root Rot in Soybean Plants Innoculated with Pythium sylvaticum
Moment of pride:
Post-grad plans: Working for the Bureau of Land Management in Oregon
Abigail Fowler
Cedar Rapids, IA
Microbiology
Minor in Global Health
Participation & Awards: Mentor Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Characterizing the Growth and Differentiation of Adult Hippocampal Progenitor Cells on Gelatin Scaffold
Moment of pride: Being copresident for the ISU Pre-Health Conference for two years and serving as a mentor in my lab
Post-grad plans: I will be attending Boston University's Program in Biomedical Sciences to pursue my PhD
Alexandria Geary
Buda, IL
Animal Science
Minor in Microbiology
Honors Project: : Use of Biologically Relevant Enrichment to Improve Nursery-Aged Pig Weaning Transition
Moment of pride: Placing 6th in trampoline at the National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Clubs national meet
Post-grad plans: Attending Veterinary School at Lincoln Memorial Univeristy in Tennessee
Jonah Gray
Ames, IA
Environmental Science (AGLS), Agronomy
Minor in Sustainability
Participation & Awards: Mentor Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Temperature Sensitivity of N2O Production in Response to a Changing Climate and Agricultural Drainage
Moment of pride: 4 years as an improv comedian in Grandma Mojos
Post-grad plans: Phd in Ecology at Pennsylvania State University
Seth Harbecke
Sycamore, IL
Biochemistry (AGLS)
Minor in Agronomy
Participation & Awards: UHP Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Simple Sugar-Based Fertilizer Impacts on Corn Growth and Nutrient Content
Moment of pride: President of Students for Salt Company
Post-grad plans: Returning home to farm
Karly Jans
Clutier, IA
Biology (AGLS), Animal Ecology
Participation & Awards: UHP Grant Recipient, Student Enrichment Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Investigating Job Satisfaction in Iowa Veterinary Clinics
Moment of pride: Presenting my research on mental health in veterinary clinics at multiple conferences.
Post-grad plans: Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine
Emma Kelley
Central City, IA
Animal Science
Minor in Agronomy
Honors Project: Examining the Impact of Heat Stress on the Diaphragm
Moment of pride: Equestrian Club - Eventing Team Co-Public Relations Chair
Post-grad plans: Master's at Virginia Tech or Texas A&M in Muscle Physiology
Brier Klossing
Mount Pleasant, IA
Biology (AGLS), Animal Ecology
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader
Honors Project: Analyzing the Coyote-Fox-Domestic Cat Relationship
Moment of pride: Receiving the NOAA Hollings scholarship
Post-grad plans: Texas State University, Master’s of science in conservation and population biology
Hannah Kramer
Dubuque, IA
Horticulture
Minor in Entrepreneurship
Honors Project: Determining the Effectiveness of an Isotridecanol Additive on Reducing Fertilizer Concentrations for Greenhouse Crop Production
Moment of pride: Vice-President of Horticulture Club
Post-grad plans: Master's of Horticultural Science at Iowa State
Kamryn Lesle
Manning, IA
Animal Science
Honors Project: Effect of Fecal Microbiota Transplant on Sow and Piglet Microbiome
Moment of pride: My capstone project
Post-grad plans: Internship in Animal Science and potentially vet school or graduate school
Jaime Lyke
Schaumburg, IL
Animal Science
Honors Project: The Evolution of Veterinary School Hopefuls
Moment of pride: Animal Science Peer Mentor
Post-grad plans: Attending UIUC Veterinary Medical School Fall 2023
Megan Marchese
East Moline, IL
Animal Science
Honors Project: Effects of Transportation Stress on the Development of Leaky Gut Syndrome in Cattle
Moment of pride: Being an undergraduate research assistant
Post-grad plans: Iowa State Veterinary School
Alex McDougall
Melvin, IA
Agricultural & Life Sciences Education
Minor in Agronomy
Honors Project: Lesson Materials for Inclusivity in Career and Technical Education Classrooms
Moment of pride: CALS Student Council Awards Committee Chair, Ag Ed Club President
Post-grad plans: Ag Teacher/FFA Advisor at Humboldt High School
Joan Meis
Le Mars, IA
Microbiology
Minor in Emerging Global Diseases
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader, Honors Ambassador
Honors Project: The Role of Bacteria in Drosophila Immune System Development
Moment of pride: Working in Dr. Ryan Smith's Medical Entomology lab
Post-grad plans: Masters in Speech Language Pathology
Bailee Morris
Danville, IA
Animal Science
Minor in Leadership studies
Honors Project: An Investigation Into Biofilms and Their Impact on Animal Reproduction
Moment of pride: Co-chairing the Midwest Symposium for the Pre-Vet Club and having a successful event with attendees from 6 different states
Post-grad plans: Veterinary school at Iowa State University
Sydney Paris
Mansfield, IL
Microbiology
Participation & Awards: Honors Peer Advisor
Honors Project: Improving Resources for Domestic Abuse Survivors within Iowa State University and in the Ames Community
Moment of pride: Receiving the Wallace E Barron All-University Senior Award
Post-grad plans: Veterinary school at Cornell University
Elizabeth Parra
Estero, FL
Animal Science
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader
Honors Project: Measuring the Presence of Neutralizing Antibodies to Determine the Efficacy of a PRRSV Subunit Vaccine
Moment of pride: Working on research with Dr. Suzanne Millman to improve the lives of laying hens
Post-grad plans: University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
Gale Prow-Miele
Phoenix
Biology (AGLS)
Minor in Animal Science
Honors Project: Ace Project
Moment of pride: Being a part of the Ace Project and training my own service dog
Post-grad plans: Work as a lab technician for a year and then start a master's in animal nutrition
Kseniya Ratneva
Buffalo Grove, IL
Animal Science
Minor in Biology
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader
Honors Project: Inside A Dog's Mind
Moment of pride: Being an FHP Leader and working with the service dogs in-training through the ACE project
Post-grad plans: Attending UW Madison School of Veterinary Medicine to pursue mixed animal vet medicine
Jordan Rindels
Rockford, IL
Animal Science
Minor in General Business
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader, FHP Undergraduate Assistant
Honors Project: Improving Animal Welfare Through Outreach
Moment of pride: Being a UA for the Honors Program! It was amazing to help grow and rebuild the community post-COVID and is something I will always be proud of.
Post-grad plans: Pursuing a PhD in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Carlie Seuferer
Jewell, IA
Biology (AGLS)
Honors Project: Benefits of Pacemakers in Patients with Diagnoses Other Than Arrhythmias
Moment of pride: Involvement with Kappa Delta Sorority and serving as an Army National Guard medic while also a full-time student
Post-grad plans: Medical School
Elizabeth Smith
Waterloo, IA
Environmental Science (AGLS)
Minor in Sustainability
Honors Project: Developing Techniques for Improving Rooting Volume in Kamuli District, Uganda
Moment of pride: Interning with the Office of Sustainability since my sophomore year
Post-grad plans: Pursuing a dual master's program in Community & Regional Planning and Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State
Kristin Van Buren
Loretto, MN
Animal Science
Honors Project: Factsheets On Pitbulls and Expectations When Adopting from an Animal Shelter
Moment of pride: Graduating Summa Cum Laude
Post-grad plans: Currently in the job search process
Lilly Welsh
Epworth, IA
Environmental Science (AGLS), Global Resource Systems
Minor in Sustainability
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader
Honors Project: Using Black Walnut Tree Rings as an Indicator of Water Table Levels
Moment of pride: Interning at an agricultural cooperative in Spain
Post-grad plans: Working as a Water Resources Coordinator at HDR in Des Moines
Erin Zeka
Fort Dodge, IA
Biology (AGLS)
Honors Project: Effects of Singing on Spatiotemporal Parameters During Complex Walking Tasks
Moment of pride: Being involved in Dr. Stegemoller's research lab since starting through the First-Year Honors Mentor Program
Post-grad plans: Working in a research lab while deciding on a graduate school program
Ivy College of Business
Ellie Braksiek
Cedar Rapids, IA
Accounting, Marketing
Honors Project: Importance of Financial Literacy in our Education System
Moment of pride: Finishing all the requirements for the Honors Program and my involvement in the Ivy College of Business
Post-grad plans: Position with PwC
Morgan Hawkins
Iowa City, IA
Management, Entrepreneurship
Minor in Psychology
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader
Honors Project: The Impacts of Gender-Based Language
Moment of pride: Serving as the student marshal for the Ivy College of Business at the graduation ceremony
Post-grad plans: Sales District Leader for PepsiCo
Alison Hendrix
Sioux Falls, SD
Marketing
Honors Project: Orphanage Trafficking
Moment of pride: Being selected as one of the Outstanding Senior Marketing Students
Post-grad plans: Marketing research internship and Kent Corporation
Kayla McCormick
Steward, IL
Accounting
Minor in Agricultural Business
Honors Project: Experience of Current and Aspiring Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)
Moment of pride: Helping new students transition to Iowa State in my roles as a Cyclone Aide and Business Learning Team Peer Mentor
Post-grad plans: Iowa State MAcc Program
Sydney Pantini
Creston, IA
Marketing, Management
Participation & Awards: UHP Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Perceptions of Warmth and Credibility of Virtual Assistants
Moment of pride: Receiving an University Honors Program research grant
Post-grad plans: Master's in higher education student affairs at Iowa State
Jillian Schulte
Keota, IA
Marketing
Minor in Management, Sales Certificate
Honors Project: Panic at the Grocery Store! What is Panic Buying, and How Does it Affect You as a Consumer?
Moment of pride: Winning the MKT 342 Pella Sales Competition and being named an outstanding senior in marketing
Post-grad plans: HNI Developmental Training Program
Elizabeth Voegeli
McCook Lake, SD
Finance, Management
Minor in Apparel, Merchandising, & Design
Honors Project: The Negative Impacts of Destructive Leadership on the Individual and the Organization
Moment of pride: Completing my research project
Post-grad plans: To be determined!
Lauryn Woerdeman
Ankeny, IA
Management
Minor in Sociology
Honors Project: The Psychological Contract: Iowa State and COVID
Moment of pride: Graduating in three years and studying abroad
Post-grad plans: Working as an associate project manager for Turnberry Solutions in Des Moines, IA
College of Design
Brandon Edwards
Peoria, IL
Architecture Professional Degree
Minor in Spanish
Participation & Awards: Mentor Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Quantifying the Bubble: From Analog Form Finding to Digital Representation
Moment of pride: Studying abroad in Italy and passing Comedy College
Post-grad plans: Working in Industry
Lucy Hawblitzel
Western Springs, IL
Graphic Design
Honors Project: Creating an Information Driven Packaging Design for Kombucha
Moment of pride: Making my own Kombucha brand and being on the design social club executive team
Post-grad plans: Working as a Visual Design Analyst at Avanade in Chicago
Megan Kavlock
West Des Moines, IA
Architecture Professional Degree
Minor in Horticulture
Honors Project: Wayfinding and Branding The Great American Rail Trail
Moment of pride: Becoming a certified yoga instructor and teaching at State Gym
Post-grad plans: Working as a Landscape Designer at Artis in Austin, TX
Ryann Kullmann
Upper Dublin, PA
Industrial Design
Minor in General Business
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader
Honors Project: The Necessary Interaction Between Designers and Engineers
Moment of pride: Being a Salt Company leader, as well as a peer mentor for design students.
Post-grad plans: Salt Coordinator at Cornerstone Church of Ames
Lindsey Reyes
Mahtomedi, MN
Art: Integrated Studio Arts
Participation & Awards: UHP Grant Recipient
Honors Project: On Moonlight's Edge
Moment of pride: My growth as an artist
Post-grad plans: Applying for a TA position teaching art through Artist Year
Kalie Sigman
Dubuque, IA
Interior Design
Minor in Urban Studies
Honors Project: Architectural Reflections: A History of Maltese Nobility During an Age of British Influence
Moment of pride: Forming a close relationship with an admired faculty member who has helped with advice, research, and making connections outside of the university
Post-grad plans: Working as an interior designer with Hirsch Bedner Associates in San Fransico
Samuel Torrens
Schaumburg, IL
Architecture Professional Degree
Minor in Urban Studies
Honors Project: Is 3D Printed Concrete an Economical Construction Method?
Post-grad plans: Architectural Designer at ASK Studio in Des Moines, IA
Kyra Troendle
Madrid, IA
Community & Regional Planning
Honors Project: Integrating Nature Education and Park Play in Small Towns
Moment of pride: Being a student ambassador for the College of Design
Post-grad plans: Master of Historic Preservation at the University of Colorado Denver
College of Engineering
Nathan Butler
Riverside, IA
Mechanical Engineering
Minor in Computer Science, Cyper-Physical Systems
Honors Project: Systems Engineering Toolbox Development within Context of Lunar Robot
Moment of pride: My time with the Cardinal Space Mining Club - it's been very rewarding to see everyone's hard work pay off over the years
Post-grad plans: Obtain my M.S. in Robotics
Matthew Decker
Philo, IL
Civil Engineering
Minor in Economics
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader
Honors Project: Synopsis on the Affects of CSB-18-167
Moment of pride: CCEE Undergraduate Researcher-Best Undergraduate Research Project
Post-grad plans: Project Engineer with Alberici Constructors-Hampton VA
Adam Eichhorn
Ames, IA
Materials Engineering
Minor in Spanish Language and Culture for Professions, Nondestructive Evaluation
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader, Mentor Grant Recipient, UHP Grant Recipient
Honors Project: The Effects of pH and Surfactant on the Stability of BaTiO3 Nanoinks
Moment of pride: 1st Trombone Captain in the Cyclone Marching Band
Post-grad plans: Attending University of Michigan - Ann Arbor for Materials Science & Engineering
Jaden Forde
Denver, IA
Software Engineering
Minor in Cyber Security Engineering
Honors Project: Visualization of Engineering Statics Concepts to Assist Student Learning
Moment of pride: Leading the Robotics Club to compete at the Autonomous Snowplow competition in Minneapolis and placing 5th
Post-grad plans: Software Engineer at John Deere
Arvid Gustafson
Iowa City, IA
Software Engineering
Minor in Mathematics, Economics
Honors Project: A Federated Machine Learning System that Protects Privacy and Defends against Poisoning Attacks
Moment of pride: Involvement in the Web Development Club
Post-grad plans: Position with Federated Mutual Insurance in Owatonna, MN
Abigail Hammer
Bettendorf, IA
Aerospace Engineering
Minor in Computer Science
Participation & Awards: Mentor Grant Recipient, Student Enrichment Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Exploiting Assume-Guarantee Contract Patterns to Optimize the Discovery of Design-Space Dependencies
Moment of pride: Published author; student employee of the year; internships at NASA, Boeing, and Collins Aerospace; and head peer mentor f or Aerospace Engineering
Post-grad plans: Carnegie Mellon University, Computer Science PhD program
Khanh Hoang
Des Moines, IA
Aerospace Engineering
Participation & Awards: Mentor Grant Recipient, UHP Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Autonomous Flight for a Quadcopter Drone
Moment of pride: Being a member of the Make to Innovate: Boeing Experiemental Flight Development team
Post-grad plans: MS in Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University
Joshua Holtzleiter
Burnsville, MN
Mechanical Engineering
Minor in Spanish
Participation & Awards: Mentor Grant Recipient, Honors Ambassador
Honors Project: Development and Characterization of a Condensation-based Device for Collecting Aerosolized Nanoparticles
Moment of pride: Obtaining a leadership position in the Supplemental Instruction Program
Post-grad plans: Working in Industry
Shawn Husgen
Rochester, MN
Chemical Engineering
Minor in Biomedical Engineering
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader, Mentor Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Reducing the Size of Polyanhydride Nanoparticles for Sustained Release Kinetics
Moment of pride: Member of CBE Department's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Post-grad plans: Consultant Engineer at FM Global
Mira Johnson
Huxley, IA
Civil Engineering
Participation & Awards: Mentor Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Stretchable Capacitive Strain Sensors for Civil Engineering Applications
Moment of pride: The connections and friends that I've made in ASLE
Post-grad plans: Structural Engineer at AECOM in Des Moines, Iowa
Andrew Larkin
Council Bluffs, IA
Biological Systems Engineering
Minor in None
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader
Honors Project: Wall-E Trash Towers: An Exploration of Modern Day Waste Production
Moment of pride: Leader of Philanthropy Committee
Post-grad plans: Seeking a position with an environmental consulting company
Aline Milach Teixeira
Johnston, IA
Chemical Engineering
Minor in Biochemistry
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader, FHP Undergraduate Assistant
Honors Project: Investigating the Septu Antiphage Defense System
Moment of pride: Being an FHP leader and Honors UA (and Emily's Snapchat BFF)
Post-grad plans: PhD in chemical engineering at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech)
Andrew Mord
Cedar Falls, IA
Mechanical Engineering
Minor in Music Technology
Participation & Awards: Mentor Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Concentration-dependent Structural Evolution of Electrostatically-levitated Sodium Sulfate Solution Drop Using in Situ Micro Raman Spectroscopy
Moment of pride: Releasing my own album and interning for NASA!
Post-grad plans: Working for NASA in Virginia this summer and then at John Deere
Isaac Petersen
Cedar Rapids, IA
Mechanical Engineering
Participation & Awards: Mentor Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Design Exploration for a Fully Articulated Human Finger Model of Hand Prosthetics
Moment of pride: My four years of involvment with the Cardinal Space Mining Club and leading the team to win 2nd place at the NASA Lunabotics Competition as the systems lead
Post-grad plans:
Connor Ryan
Underwood, IA
Electrical Engineering
Honors Project: Software-Defined Radio Imaging Radar
Moment of pride:
Post-grad plans: Electrical Research Engineer at Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories
John Scalise
Mequon WI
Mechanical Engineering
Honors Project: Drivetrain Design of a Lunar Mining Robot
Moment of pride: Space Mining Club Mechancial lead
Post-grad plans: Mechanical design engineering at PAR Systems in the Twin Cities
William Sibilski
Ramsey, MN
Aerospace Engineering
Minor in Astronomy & Leadership Studies
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader, Mentor Grant Recipient
Honors Project: To Leave or To Stay
Moment of pride: Joining the Acacia Fraternity, which has really affected my time here at Iowa State
Post-grad plans: Systems Test Engineer with Raytheon Missile and Defense in Tucson, AZ
Katie Wyatt
West Des Moines, IA
Industrial Engineering
Minor in General Business
Participation & Awards: Mentor Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Predicting Urgency of Echocardiograms at Mayo Clinic for Improved Scheduling
Moment of pride: My time as a Cyclone Aide and receiving second place in an international simulation competition for IE 413
Post-grad plans: Business Process Analyst at Principal Financial Group
William Zogg
Blue Grass, IA
Computer Engineering
Honors Project: Visualization of Machine Learning Accelerator
Moment of pride: Serving as tenor sax captain in the Cyclone Marching Band
Post-grad plans: Pursuing an M.S. in Computer Engineering at Iowa State
Joe Zuber
Marengo, IA
Computer Engineering
Honors Project: Understanding the environment with LiDAR
Moment of pride: Student Government Engineering Senator 2021-22
Post-grad plans: Pursuing an M.S. in Computer Engineering at Iowa State
College of Human Sciences
Nayeli Acosta-Aviles
Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico
Apparel, Merchandising, and Design
Minor in Entrepreneurship and Textile Design
Honors Project: Boriquen
Moment of pride: Design Director for The Fashion Show
Post-grad plans: Still being decided
Brooklyn Bakke
Carroll, IA
Kinesiology & Health
Minor in Spanish
Honors Project: Taking Action Against Diabetes in Native Americans: A Systematic Review
Moment of pride: My honors project research and class presentation
Post-grad plans: Chiropractic School at Parker University in Dallas, TX
Alli Gustafson
Ankeny, IA
Elementary Education
Minor in Learning Technologies
Honors Project: Effectiveness of Literacy Curriculum in K-2 Education
Moment of pride: Serving as a Technology Integration Specialist at Zearing Elementary
Post-grad plans: Teaching in an elementary classroom and being the Girls Tennis coach at Ankeny Centennial High School
Sydney Kilfoyl
Hastings, MN
Event Management
Minor in Spanish
Honors Project: The Ugly Truth of Imperfect Foods; The Effect of Undesirable Food Qualities on a Consumer's Intention to Purchase
Moment of pride: Getting to perform at Carnegie Hall with the Iowa State Singers
Post-grad plans: Corporate events management position in the Twin Cities
Priscilla Lee
Schaumburg IL
Kinesiology & Health
Honors Project: Working Memory Difference Between Monolingual and Bilingual Learners
Moment of pride: Presenting my research at the state capitol
Post-grad plans: Applying to medical school
Erin Lowe
West Des Moines, IA
Elementary Education
Minor in Learning Technologies
Honors Project: Supporting K-3 Students Who Struggle in Mathematics
Moment of pride: My academic accomplishments, being Cyclone Alley codirector, and service on the Student Alumni Leadership Council executive committee
Post-grad plans: 3rd Grade Teacher at Hillis Elementary in Des Moines, IA
Audrey McMillan
Victoria, MN
Apparel, Merchandising, and Design, World Languages & Cultures
Minor in General Business
Honors Project: Consumer-Driven Strategies for Increasing Innovate 1858's Market Penetration and Long-Term Brand Reach
Moment of pride: Role as a Managerial Producer for The Fashion Show
Post-grad plans: Assistant Merchant for Abercrombie & Fitch at their Global Home Office
Alex Mohr
Denison, IA
Kinesiology & Health
Minor in Nutrition
Honors Project: The Pressure of Returning Athletes to Play Post-Injury
Moment of pride: Graduating Summa Cum Laude
Post-grad plans: Attending physical therapy school at DMU in Des Moines
Hana Qamhieh
Ames, IA
Kinesiology & Health
Honors Project: The Effects of Group Therapeutic Boxing on Mobility in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease
Moment of pride: Undergraduate research in teh neurophys lab
Post-grad plans: Medical school at Des Moines University
Emma Roush
Keswick, IA
Kinesiology & Health
Honors Project: Development of a Functional Myoelectric Prosthetic Device from a 3D Printed Hand Prototype
Moment of pride: Being involved on the bionics research team with Dr. Haen
Post-grad plans: Physician's Assistant School
Yara Salti
Ames, IA
Kinesiology & Health
Honors Project: Effects of Group Therapeutic Boxing on Motor Symptoms for People with Parkinson's
Moment of pride: Being a peer mentor for the freshman Kinesiology learning community
Post-grad plans: Working as a Patient Care Tech at Mary Greeley Medical Center during my gap year for medical school
Megan Sapita
Sycamore, IL
Kinesiology & Health
Minor in Psychology
Honors Project: The Effects of Outreach Groups on the Overall Health of Person with Parkinson’s Disease
Moment of pride: My honors project research with Dr. Elizabeth Stegemoller
Post-grad plans: Attending Physical Therapy School
Emma Schluttenhofer
Clarion, IA
Elementary Education
Minor in Endorsements in Reading and Language Arts
Honors Project: Critical Literacy for Elementary Children
Moment of pride: Completing the Honors Program
Post-grad plans: Find a teaching job in a small rural district
Pauline Scribano
Norwalk, IA
Nutritional Science (H Sci)
Minor in Microbiology
Participation & Awards: UHP Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Resistant Starch and DNA Methylation in Diabetic Rats
Moment of pride: Academic achievements
Post-grad plans: Study abroad in Japan and then starting work
Jennessa Sharratt
Fort Eustis, VA
Dietetics (H Sci)
Minor in None
Honors Project: The Use of Technology to Deliver Virtual Grocery Store Tours
Moment of pride: Outstanding Dietetic Student Award in 2022 from the Iowa Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Post-grad plans: Masters of Clinical Nutrition at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Sura Smadi
Ames, IA
Kinesiology & Health, Music (Curriculum)
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader, UHP Grant Recipient, Honors Ambassador
Honors Project: Salivary Cortisol Levels of Marching Band Members
Moment of pride: Leadership position in marching band, being an FHP leader, completing two unrelated degrees, and continuing to be involved music after high school while growing my love for science
Post-grad plans: Applying to medical school and spending the year working in the health field and traveling
Mackenzie Thompson
Grimes, IA
Kinesiology & Health
Minor in Psychology
Honors Project: Complex Gait and Singing in Healthy Young Adults
Moment of pride: Earning the Germaine G. Guiot Senior Award
Post-grad plans: PhD in Occupational Therapy at Colorado State University
Caroline Wallace
Eagan, MN
Apparel, Merchandising, and Design
Honors Project: Puppetry as Fashion Communication
Moment of pride: Attending and exhibiting at the International Textile and Apparel Association
Post-grad plans: Undecided
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Allison Abel
Byron, IL
Biological/Pre Medical Illustration
Minor in Microbiology
Participation & Awards: UHP Grant Recipient
Honors Project: 3D Models as a Tool for Learning Dogfish Shark Anatomy: An Analysis of Student Satisfaction
Moment of pride: My involvment in the Biological and Premedical Illustration Club
Post-grad plans: Scientific Illustrator at iso-form
Kiernan Adair
Johnston, IA
Genetics (LAS)
Minor in Psychology
Honors Project: Role of Gap Junction Proteins on Left-Right Axis Development in Zebrafish
Moment of pride: Helping students develop their research projects as a TA in Biology 423L
Post-grad plans: Pursuing a Master's Degree in genetic counseling
Brianna Baker
Kingsley, IA
Psychology
Honors Project: Effects of Second Language Learning on Anxiety and Depression
Moment of pride:
Post-grad plans: Begin my master's program in neuropsychology in the UK
Jacob Beattie
Pleasant Hill, IA
Mathematics, Computer Science
Honors Project: Information, AI, and their Application to Card Games
Moment of pride: Successfully earning 2 degrees and being treasurer of the Math Club
Post-grad plans: Interning at Kingland
Claire Beaudry
Cook, MN
Philosophy
Minor in Philosophy and Classical Studies
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader, Mentor Grant Recipient
Honors Project: The Unpainted and Painted Sculptures of Antiquity
Moment of pride: Socrates Scholarship Recipient, Eta Sigma Phi Latin Society
Post-grad plans: Find out what I want to be when I grow up!
Emma Brady
Grayslake, IL
Geology
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader, Mentor Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Science Hall Display Case Redesign
Moment of pride: Marching Band Student Staff Member, Tau Beta Sigma National Band Service Sorority President, and Outstanding Undergraduate Award Recipient in the Geology Department
Post-grad plans: Employed with the Applied Geomorphology Lab at Iowa State
Makenna Brunson
Hagerstown, MD
Psychology, Women's and Gender Studies
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader
Honors Project: Reachable Minds
Moment of pride: Being able to teach FHP twice!
Kathryn Burns
Dubuque, IA
Political Science, World Languages & Cultures
Minor in Women's and Gender Studies
Honors Project: Media and Political Party Polarization
Moment of pride: My roles with Kappa Delta Sorority, Student Alumni Leadership Council, and as a Carrie Chapman Catt Legacy of Heroines Scholar
Post-grad plans: Work on a campaign
Gabrielle Finberg
St. Ansgar, IA
Biology (LAS)
Minor in Pharmacology and Toxicolgy
Honors Project: Thermastop rt-PCR Analysis
Moment of pride: President of Friends of MSF
Post-grad plans: Medical School
Reece Gardner
Mount Pleasant, IA
Biochemistry
Minor in Pharmacology and Toxicology
Participation & Awards: Mentor Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Preventing Aspartimide Formation using a Thioimidate as a Protecting Group
Moment of pride: Graduating with my sanity left somewhat intact
Post-grad plans: Pursuing a PhD in chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Benjamin Goodall
Cedar Rapids, IA
Computer Science, Mathematics
Honors Project: Molecular Programming Teaching Tool and Serious Games
Moment of pride: Developed a small game for my honors project
Post-grad plans: Work for QCI in West Des Moines as a software developer
Emily Gress
Bennington, NE
Biology (LAS)
Minor in Animal Science
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader, Honors Ambassador
Honors Project: The Effects of Biological Sex on Heat Stress-Mediated Alterations in Protein Synthesis
Moment of pride: My involvement in Best Buddies and the relationships we have been able to facilitate
Post-grad plans: Applying to physical therapy school
Peyton Hamel
Littleton, CO
English
Minor in Biology
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader, Mentor Grant Recipient, Outstanding FHP Scholarship Recipient
Honors Project: The Modern Retelling of Frankenstein
Moment of pride: Research fellowship in Idaho for molecular biology
Post-grad plans: Developing a comprehensive short story writing portfolio
Jamie Hefley
Rochester, IL
Biological/Pre Medical Illustration
Honors Project: Illustrations for DNR Water Trail Interpretation Panels
Moment of pride: President of the biological/pre-medical illustration club
Post-grad plans: Painting murals for the Humane Society in Oahu, Hawaii, and applying for graduate school
Nethmi Hewage
Matara, Sri Lanka
Chemistry
Minor in Mathematics
Honors Project: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Transport Properties of Ag6Ge10P12-xAsx
Moment of pride: Being named a Goldwater Scholar
Post-grad plans: Chemistry PhD at Columbia University, New York City
Evan Hilton
Des Moines, IA
Computer Science, Bioinformatics & Computational Biology
Honors Project: For a Better Vote: Assessing Alternative Voting Systems
Moment of pride: My performance on the Putnam Mathematical Competitions
Post-grad plans: Job search!
Alex Huynh
Des Moines, IA
Computer Science, Mathematics
Honors Project: Investigating Skin Cancer Diagnosis with Machine Learning: A Comparative Study of Feature Selection and Feature Extraction Techniques
Moment of pride: Graduating with a 4.0 GPA, securing an internship every summer, and passing some crazy hard classes
Post-grad plans: Software Engineer at Veeva Systems
Franchesca Johnson
Harper, IA
Public Relations
Minor in Leadership Studies and Speech Communication
Honors Project: Crafting Your Personal Brand
Moment of pride: Serving as president of ISU's Public Relations Student Society of America
Post-grad plans: Human Resources Specialist at Baker Group in Ankeny
Abigail Keiser
Cedar Falls, IA
Biology (LAS)
Minor in Spanish
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader, UHP Grant Recipient
Honors Project: The Effects of Footwear and Barefoot Conditions on Balance Performance in Slacklining
Moment of pride: Being a member of Phi Beta Kappa during my Junior year and the scope of what I’ve accomplish: history, translation, and economics courses in the Spanish language; research both in and outside of my field of study, including in printmaking design
Post-grad plans: Physical Therapy School
Zoey McEvoy
West Des Moines, IA
Linguistics, Mathematics
Minor in TESL
Honors Project: University Level Spanish Students’ Perception of Stop Consonants In-context and Isolation
Moment of pride: Becoming president of No Re-Choir-Ment A Cappella and making lifelong friends.
Post-grad plans: Teach English in Japan through the JET program
Emma Miller
Iowa City, IA
Genetics (LAS)
Minor in Psychology
Honors Project: Testing the Impact of tp53R216W on Proliferation
Moment of pride: Being a Genetics Peer Mentor and helping incoming students
Post-grad plans: Genetic Counseling
Delaney Murphy
Carson, IA
Criminal Justice, Psychology
Minor in Sociology
Honors Project: Consent on a College Campus: Do People Recognize It?
Moment of pride: My honors project research conducted with Dr. Bouffard
Post-grad plans: Working while preparing for graduate school
Rebekah Muta
Ankeny, Iowa
Psychology, Criminal Justice
Minor in French, Political Science, Sociology, Philosophy, and Women and Gender Studies
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader
Honors Project: The Different Effects of Incarceration on Older Populations
Moment of pride: Being in Phi Beta Kappa and Cardinal Key Honor Societies
Post-grad plans: Law school (institution to be determined)
Erika Nelson
Cedar Rapids, IA
Chemistry, Microbiology
Participation & Awards: Mentor Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Investigation into Morphological Characteristics, Host Range, and Viral Infection Parameters of Erwinia persicina
Moment of pride: Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
Post-grad plans: Research Associate for Kemin in Des Moines
Eva Newland
Norwalk, IA
Journalism & Mass Communication
Minor in Genetics
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader
Honors Project: The Proposal Process: How Writers Get Their Start
Moment of pride: Having two original classes created based on my ideas
Post-grad plans: Attending law school to study medical ethics
Anna Olson
Boone, IA
Journalism & Mass Communication, Political Science
Minor in Women and gender studies
Honors Project: The Teaching of Women’s History in Iowa High Schools
Moment of pride: The Hugh S. Sidey Journalism Award, which included the opportunity to attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington DC. I also interned in the U.S. Senate and for the Iowa Attorney General.
Post-grad plans: Drake Law School to study public interest or media law
Shawna O'Malley
Iowa City, IA
Biology (LAS)
Minor in Genetics and Economics
Honors Project: Genotype Me
Moment of pride: My involvement in Pre-Dental Club and my development of a new lab module being implemented into the cirriculum at ISU
Post-grad plans: Attending Dental School at Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Boston
Matthew Pealer
Cedar Rapids, IA
Political Science
Minor in History
Participation & Awards: UHP Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Examining the Relationship between Misinformation and Social Dominance Orientation
Post-grad plans: Gap year, after which I plan to attend graduate school
Natalia Rios
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Political Science, Public Relations
Honors Project: Rural Legal Deserts in the U.S.
Moment of pride: Harry S. Truman Scholarship and restarting the Political Science Club
Post-grad plans: Intern at the Pentagon (Department of Defense)
Feben Ruscitti
Oak Lawn, IL
Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies
Minor in Geology
Honors Project: The Effect of Bone Particle Size on the Accuracy of Stable Isotope Analysis in the ISU Paleoecology Lab
Moment of pride: National Liberal Arts Honors Society (Phi Beta Kappa) and National Classical Studies Honor Society (Eta Sigma Phi)
Post-grad plans: Doing archaeological excavations at Teotihuacan before beginning work in Cultural Resource Management
Lydia Samuelson
Des Moines, IA
English, Technical Communication
Minor in Biology
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader, Mentor Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Honey Bee Diversity
Moment of pride: Writing a full-length silent theater production that will soon be performed on a weekly basis
Post-grad plans: Production Director at a Summer Camp
Julia Sarcletti
Waconia, MN
Curriculum & Instruction, Sociology (LAS)
Minor in Leadership Studies and Political Science
Honors Project: Plea Bargaining and the Right to Trial by Jury
Moment of pride: My time spent as a section leader of the color guard in the Iowa State marching band
Post-grad plans: Attending the University of North Dakota School of Law
Grant Schnoebelen
Cedar Rapids, IA
Economics (LAS), Political Science
Minor in None
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader
Honors Project: Impact of Recessions and Public Spending on the Price of Road Construction
Moment of pride: My honors project research
Post-grad plans: Position with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to work as a Financial Institution Specialist
Nicholas Serck
Norwalk, IA
Chemistry
Minor in Animal Ecology
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader, FHP Undergraduate Assistant, Mentor Grant Recipient
Honors Project: The Synthesis and Study of Planar Chiral Macrocyclic Metacyclophanes
Moment of pride: My time as a Chemistry Peer Mentor, an FHP Leader and an undergraduate assistant
Post-grad plans: Attending the University of Washington in Seattle to puruse a Ph.D. in chemistry
Matt Shafer
Solon, IA
Biology (LAS)
Minor in Microbiology
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader, Mentor Grant Recipient, Outstanding FHP Scholarship Recipient
Honors Project: Creating Curriculum to Inspire Young Scientists
Moment of pride: Receiving the Stupka Leadership Award for my involvement with the Stupka Symposium
Post-grad plans: ISU Master of Arts in Teaching program
Ashlan Simpson
West Des Moines, IA
Statistics, Mathematics
Minor in Data Science
Participation & Awards: Mentor Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Two-Stage Approach to Handwriting Analysis in Forensic Evidence
Moment of pride: Phi Beta Kappa Edward Allen Scholar, Cardinal Key Honors Society, president of A Novel Idea, and Treasurer of the Economics Club
Post-grad plans: Statistics PhD at Univeristy of Michigan
Joslyn Sperry
Norwalk, IA
Anthropology
Minor in Classical Studies, Religious Studies, Event Management
Honors Project: Religious Analysis of Teotihuacan and the Huichol through Symbolic Art
Moment of pride: Being invited to join Phi Beta Kappa
Post-grad plans: Gap year prior to doing a master's program in museum studies
Kennedy Spurlin
Hartford, SD
Biology (LAS)
Honors Project: Designing an Optimal mRNA Vaccine for HPIV-3
Moment of pride: Leadership in Student for St. Jude, Dance Marathon, and NCORE-ISCORE program
Post-grad plans: Still in the works
Alexis Steinhoff
Sparta, WI
Biology (LAS), Mathematics
Participation & Awards: Mentor Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Alternative Splicing of A and D Homeolog Genes during Fiber Development in Gossypium Hirsutum
Moment of pride: 2 published research articles and 2 others in preparation
Post-grad plans: University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Ph.D. program in Genetics and Epigenetics
Dana Thacker
Johnston, IA
Data Science, Mathematics
Minor in Music
Honors Project: Data Analysis of Nursing Program Research Project
Moment of pride: 4 years in the Cyclone Marching Band and my leadership role in the alto saxophone section
Post-grad plans: Full time position as a data wrangler at Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Elise Thrap
Bondurant, IA
Geology, Anthropology
Minor in Geographic Information Science
Honors Project: Exploitation of Birds by Late Prehistoric Villagers in Central Iowa
Moment of pride: Being inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society
Post-grad plans: Work for a couple years before applying to graduate school
Grace Tracey
Marion, IA
Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies
Participation & Awards: F21
Honors Project: The Feminine Perspective of Death: Classical Greece
Moment of pride: Vice President of Operations at my sorority Kappa Alpha Theta
Post-grad plans: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Law School
Hannah Van Sickle
Cedar Falls, IA
English, Linguistics
Minor in Technical Communications
Participation & Awards: Mentor Grant Recipient
Honors Project: Reshaping the Sketch Handbook
Moment of pride: Service as the Poetry Board Editor for Sketch, the student literary journal, for several years
Post-grad plans: Hoping to find a position connected to technical writing or writing center work
Stephanie Warnstadt
Sioux City, IA
History, International Studies
Minor in Middle Eastern Studies and International Agriculture
Honors Project: Creating Relevant and Relatable Literature for College Students Learning Arabic
Moment of pride: Receiving the Excellence in Arabic award
Post-grad plans: Attending Law School at Florida International University
Kathryn Wittrock
Urbandale, IA
Biochemistry, Microbiology
Minor in French
Honors Project: Animal Nutritionists at Iowa State University
Moment of pride: Receiving the Wallace E. Barron All-University Senior Award
Post-grad plans: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Nicole Young
Council Bluffs, IA
English
Minor in Psychology, Technical Communication
Participation & Awards: FHP Leader
Honors Project: Lineage: A Horror Collection
Moment of pride: Receiving Pearl Hogrefe Creative Writing Junior and Senior Scholarships
Post-grad plans: Working as a Production Associate at Elsevier