Here’s a quick glimpse at one of many impressive outcomes HPU graduates achieve.
Name: Ava Taylor, Class of 2024
Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Major: Biology, minoring in mathematics
Post-graduation plans: Ava is attending Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where she will be pursuing the Master of Science in engineering in biomedical engineering with an emphasis on innovation and design.
How HPU helped you get there: “The faculty members at the Wanek School of Natural Sciences are the reason I have been able to achieve my goal of attending this specific graduate program. These faculty members are experts in their field, irreplaceable in their teaching abilities and are eager to not only share their exciting knowledge with their students but to mentor and guide their students. These faculty members were deeply invested in me, not only in my academic journey and professional goals, but also in my personal life. The ability to drop by their offices, pick at their brilliant brains, hang back with them after class, etc., is the reason I was able to learn so much from them as they helped me prepare for and get to graduate school.”
Most impactful mentor at HPU: “Dr. Nathan Hedman, has been my most impactful mentor at HPU. He is the director of the Honors Scholars Program. I have had him as a professor for numerous classes, but more than anything, he has been a lifelong mentor to me. From ‘advice-walks’ along the promenade, to dropping by his office to chat, to spending Easter with his family, to representing the Honors Scholars Program alongside him, he as been a fundamental part of my HPU experience. I know I will stay closely connected with him in the many years to come, and will continue to call him up in the middle of life’s great celebrations and life’s difficult crises. I attribute much of the person I have grown into throughout college to the impact that Dr. Hedman’s kind, fun, thoughtful, intellectual, curious and compassionate character has had on my life.”
Most impactful moment at HPU: “My HPU experience shaped me into who I am today in more ways than can be listed here. Although I cannot name a singular impactful moment, my impactful experience was one of meaningful relationships: deep mentorship with my faculty, lifelong friendships with my peers, and empowering teammate dynamics with my colleagues. I am forever grateful for HPU, and I cannot imagine where I would be in my life if not for all that I gained and gave in my four years there.”
How has HPU’s inspiring environment contributed to your success? “The facilities in the Wanek School of Natural Sciences are outstanding, the beautiful walk around the promenade is easy to enjoy, and the wonderful places to eat each day are fun to hang out at with friends. I will surely miss that special environment!”
What are the life skills HPU helped you develop that prepared you for long-term success? “Four life skills in particular stick out here: self-advocacy — to put your shoulders back, chin up, assert your needs, and maintain a modest but confident presence; resourcefulness — to be aware of and thoughtfully use the many resources around you; creative problem solving — to think differently, with logic, analysis and creativity, to approach complex problems in new and refreshing ways and; relationship-building — to recognize the immense importance of engaging with the people around you and to prioritize building meaningful relationships with all different people.”
What are the values and virtues HPU’s campus helped you develop that you’ll take with you after graduation? “The primary virtue of mine that was nearly entirely developed on HPU’s campus was my understanding of and development of my faith. I was not exposed to Christianity much before college, and HPU was where I learned who God was and what His call on my life was. I committed my life to Jesus in the second semester of my freshman year, which largely defined my college experience. Thanks to HPU, I am leaving my undergraduate education with the single most important component of my character and life: complete reverence of and gratitude for the God of the universe and of my life!”
Advice for underclassmen: “Invest genuinely in relationships – all kinds of relationships – for you never know how much they will mean to you and where they will take you.”
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