As a Lilly Scholar, what made you pick Butler University? 

I was looking into a lot of schools across the Midwest during my senior year of high school, and a lot of different schools stood out to me for different reasons. However, Butler was the only one that truly felt like the right fit. From my first tour here, I instantly loved the campus and all the opportunities that would come with being a student here. I really like the small school feel that Butler has while also having every opportunity that a big school would offer, especially with us being so close to downtown Indianapolis. 

Also, since Butler is a smaller school, there is much more emphasis on the community aspect which I have always loved. Across all aspects of campus, it is easy to find people to connect with and to find your support system.

Have you taken part in any internships or research opportunities? 

This past summer, I interned under the Global Center for Species Survival (GCSS) at the Indianapolis Zoo. For this internship, I worked with their Freshwater Species Coordinator Monni Böhm who was a great mentor. We worked on a project to map and catalog freshwater species across the globe by their endangered status so that environmental organizations in those areas could create conservation plans for these species. I was also able to visit a few local projects the GCSS is working on in our own backyard to bring conservation here to Indianapolis. 

I have also been able to travel abroad in my time here at Butler. Over this past winter break, I spent some time in Chile for a chemistry course looking at how the environment has been affected by mining operations and human activity throughout the country, as well as taking a closer look at the cultural aspects of the nation.

Which faculty member has inspired you the most and why? 

For my First-Year Seminar course, I had Dr. Darryl Pebbles for the Modern American Memoir course. All year, we had great discussions in class, and he was always happy to chat with us about anything going on. Even though I am no longer in that course, he still makes a point to stop and talk to me when I see him around campus, and is always so sincere. I think that just reflects our professors as a whole; they are always great resources and truly show they care about their students.

Find out more about Butler’s Lilly Scholars.