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I’m a fourth generation UNC student, originally from Lincoln, Nebraska. Both my parents are teachers and I’d like to teach physics at the college level. I originally came to UNC because they have a really great Education program. The Physics department is pretty small, so all my professors know me on a first-name basis. They’re always available to meet in their offices and we interact outside the classroom quite a bit. They’re all amazing.

This summer, two other UNC students and I did a week-long workshop at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. We built a payload and launched a sounding rocket. This summer we’re doing an extension of that project, an analytical model for liquid fuel slosh experiment. It’s really, really neat. I’ve worked with the Colorado Space Grant Consortium on this project, as well as high altitude balloon launches. That organization is working to find ways for undergraduates to have access to space, which is pretty amazing and several UNC students have been able to do cool, hands-on projects thanks to their help.

My favorite thing about UNC is the opportunity for undergraduate research. I have friends studying physics at other schools and they’re undergraduate career is mostly about going to classes. At UNC, the physics faculty really supports undergraduate research projects. That’s what different about UNC, they really encourage exploration. You go to them with an idea and they say, “Great, here’s how I can help.”

I’m really focused on my academics, but I like to have fun and get outside when I’m not studying. I was on an intramural flag football team last semester. I think we were the only team with a losing record, but that was a lot of fun. I also played Baritone in the marching band for a while. I enjoy hanging out with friends, playing video games or Frisbee. There’s lots of great outdoor space on campus and I like to get out and enjoy the Colorado air.

One of the coolest things I’ve gotten to do at UNC was the Soliya Connect program through the Honors Department. We had the opportunity to tele-conference online with students in Europe and the Middle East. Once a week we’d get together and discuss world issues. It was really eye-opening to hear the opinions of students my age that live in all different parts of the world.