Each semester, graduating students who have earned the highest GPA in their academic programs are celebrated at the Westfall Scholar Luncheon. Past Westfall Scholars have gone on to have successful careers postgraduation, and this class is no less promising.
The Westfall Scholars were previously known as the Dean’s Senior Scholars, and the award was renamed upon College of Science Founding Dean David Westfall’s retirement. Westfall, his wife Shirley and their daughter Alison attended the luncheon this year to learn more about the Spring 2024 class of Westfall Scholars. Each of these scholars embody The Wolf Pack Way.
Robbin Singh – Biology
What are your plans after graduating?
My plan after graduating is to return to Visalia, California and spend time with my family during my gap year. During this time, I would like to reunite with old friends and travel.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?
The most important piece of advice I'd give to a college freshman is that as the goals you set for yourself become more difficult, there will be times when you try your absolute best and do not receive your desired results. This is okay! As long as you continue your efforts, you will certainly succeed. This happened to me many times, and over time I shifted my perspective of these events from "failures" to "obstacles." Even more so, I believe we are our own worst critics, so avoid comparing yourself to others. Show up, do your best, and you will achieve.
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
In 15 years, I see myself married, with children, and practicing as a physician of my desired specialty, whatever that may be! Additionally, I see myself still climbing the ladder, and aiming to achieve whatever goals I have set for myself.
Adryahn Bodyfelt – Biology
What are your plans after graduating?
After careful consideration, I have made the final decision to attend Creighton School of Dental Medicine. While I was faced with a difficult choice among several excellent schools, Creighton stood out to me as the best fit for my long-term goals of establishing a comprehensive private practice in dentistry. I truly believe I have reached this point in my education thanks to the supportive family dynamic within the Wolf Pack community during my undergraduate years. This same sense of community and support resonated with me during my tour of Creighton School of Dental Medicine, and I am excited to pursue my next professional goal surrounded by an amazing community in Omaha, Nebraska!
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?
The most important advice I'd offer to incoming college freshman is to fully embrace the present, including the challenges it brings, and to prioritize finding your community. While striving for big goals, it's crucial to recognize that the journey won't always be easy. Challenges are part of the process, designed to push you beyond your limits and help you achieve new heights professionally. However, surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals who share your drive and dedication will make all the difference. Some of the most memorable moments in college will occur during late-night study sessions bonding over shared experiences and ambitions. These are the connections that will endure beyond graduation and play a pivotal role in reaching your professional aspirations. The sense of community fostered within the Wolf Pack is what makes it truly special.
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
In 15 years, I envision myself continuing to collaborate closely with the dear friends I've made here at the University of Nevada, Reno, especially within the healthcare sector. I aim to nurture these professional relationships to foster collaboration between doctors, physician assistants, and dentists. My dream is to lead multiple private dental practices, with the aspiration of establishing clinics in both Tennessee and Florida.
Brianna Blazek – Physics major, minors in math and astronomy
What are your plans after graduating?
To continue doing research in physics, and to apply to graduate schools for astrophysics.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?
Be open to change! If you find something you're particularly interested in, follow that path and see where it leads. It may seem like a hassle to change course, however staying with something that doesn't motivate you will be much more draining. Not every class will be your favorite, but thinking about what those classes are building up to and being excited for what's to come is what's important.
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
Doing research in astrophysics (wherever that may lead me)!
Phillip Damke – Chemistry and math major
What are your plans after graduating?
I will be attending the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry starting in the fall. There is a lot of fascinating science being worked on there that I aim to be a part of over the next five years.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?
I think the best advice I can give is to make use of the resources on this campus. Classes aren't meant to be easy and so making use of the programs/centers on campus can be a big help. Especially for STEM degrees, the math center and PASS provide a lot of extra exposure to a subject and can make it much easier to learn. Office hours are also great for this, and professors really want you to use them.
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
I hope to finish my graduate studies on time and either work in industry or for a national lab. Where I end up doesn't matter too much so long as I'm working on the frontiers of chemistry, and hopefully having some fun along the way.
DiDiAlice Coker – Biology and wildlife ecology and conservation major
What are your plans after graduating?
After graduation, I'll be attending graduate school. I'll be starting the Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Master's program at the University of Nevada, Reno, conducting research with Dr. Davide Baldan. We hope to investigate parental care and pairing habits of Italian rock sparrows in the face of climate change.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?
Looking back, I wish I hadn't let anxieties and self-doubt stop me from pursuing experiences. In my case, I really wanted to get involved in research but didn't feel confident enough to make it happen. It took lots of insistence from peers and mentors, but things have turned out better than I could have imagined. The hardest part is always taking the first step. Just send that email; start that conversation; attend that meeting or event.
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
In 15 years, I want to still be conducting research on animal adaptations to anthropogenic change. Though I don't know if I'll stay in academia, I hope my work is meaningful wherever I end up. What is most important to me is that my research contributes to global conservation and a future where humans interact more sustainably with wildlife.
Mason Franklin – Math major, minor in physics
What are your plans after graduating?
Immediately after graduation, depending on what my schedule looks like, I will be tutoring at the TMCC Tutoring and Learning Center over the summer, and collaborating with Summer Bridge unless I become unavailable due to other obligations! I've applied to graduate school at the University of Nevada, Reno, and have plans to attend the University for my Mathematics Ph.D.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?
College is perhaps not for everyone, but maybe it can be. Attempting a college degree is a very ambitious goal to undertake and is a brilliant way to find out for oneself. I have a strong passion for mathematics, so it is easy to become invested in my major and become fully intellectually engaged in my studies. Not everyone will go into their major with that kind of passion, and my advice there is that. . .you may have to work harder than I ever have if there is no passion. For mathematics, if I weren't passionate about it, I'd perhaps find the major harder. Do not let this discourage you: perhaps you can handle that just fine, or perhaps (even better): learn to find meaning and passion in the everyday routine you develop over the semester, even in the mundane and the beautiful.
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
I see myself teaching, definitely. I've always wanted to teach advanced mathematics at the university level, where in the world I don't know. I take life one week at a time and looking anymore than five years ahead always scares me. In five years, I see myself getting close to wrapping up my Ph.D., and thinking about where to live with my fiancée of four years (which at the time, would be nine years). Vaguely, I would also be interested in expanding my mathematical career, whether that is teaching, research, both, etc.
Hannah Kaiser – Psychology and English literature majors, minor in human development and family science
What are your plans after graduating?
After graduating I am pursuing my M.A. in English language arts and secondary-education teaching licensure at the University of Colorado, Boulder. This is a one-year master’s program after which I will go on to teach middle or high school English. It has been a dream of mine to attend CU Boulder since I was an eighth grader googling "colleges in the mountains." This dream began to become reality my sophomore year of college as I discovered CU Boulder's MA + teaching licensure program centered on diversity and equity in secondary education. This path of study unites my passion for education with my desire to work toward social justice and equity. One of the highlights of my college career has been opening my acceptance email to this school I have been dreaming of attending since I was fourteen, and it was my time at University of Nevada, Reno that allowed me to get there.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?
To be fully transparent, these are not my words, but a piece of advice given to me my freshman year of college. I was struggling to decide on my future career path, or even what major I most wanted to pursue. I had met with my advisor Kety Luna at least five times already, and each time I came in with a new plan for what I wanted to study and do with my life. In the midst of my confusion and uncertainty, she spoke words that have guided my undergraduate career, words I wrote on a sticky note and keep posted on my wall to this day.
Kety's message goes as follows: Enjoy your education! Keep finding your passions, in and out of the classroom. Keep taking classes you enjoy. Keep exploring your strengths. You have time, you don't have to have everything figured out right now.
So to every freshman I say, follow what brings you joy inside and out of the classroom. It's okay if you don't know where this passion will take you, but keep following it, trusting it will take you somewhere wonderful. In the process, in the hard moments and uncertainty, and in the good moments too, you will learn and grow in ways that will one day take your breath away.
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
In fifteen years, I am not sure where I will be. If I learned anything as an undergraduate student, it was that life takes you to many exciting, and often unanticipated, places if you will let it. If four years ago you told me I would be pursuing a master’s degree from CU Boulder, I would have been shocked. Now, I can't imagine taking any other path. This being said, as of right now, I can imagine that I will still be living in Colorado, working either in secondary education as an English teacher or in higher education as a professor teaching and doing research in literacy or diversity and equity in K-12 education. Wherever I end up, I'm walking into this future filled with nothing but excitement, knowing that whatever happens I'm walking on a path defined by my purpose of making a positive difference within my community, a path towards what brings me joy.
Raphael Cohen – Microbiology and immunology major, minor in Spanish language and society
What are your plans after graduating?
Following graduation, I plan to attend medical school and work towards my goal of becoming a physician.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?
Seek moments where you might be uncomfortable and don't be afraid to take new risks. College is the perfect place to learn about oneself and explore interests you might not know about. It is important to take this opportunity and use it to grow both personally and professionally.
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
In 15 years, I see myself practicing as a physician, taking care of those in my community and continuing to learn with every opportunity I get. Additionally, I see myself continuing my passion for world travel and using any free time to discover the diverse cuisines and cultures outside of the U.S.
Hailey Bogle – Geography major, minor in statistics
What are your plans after graduating?
After taking some time to rest, I'll be springing right back into action with my flight training. That's right, yours truly is a Private Pilot (cue the Top Gun music) and ultimately, I'm shooting to train for a career in the aviation industry. In the meantime, I'll be committing to a full-time position at my job and living my best life.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?
There's an excellent quote from Winston Churchill that sums up how I'm going to answer this question: "Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." Don't be afraid to fail! I beat myself up countless times my freshman year. College is a time to explore your passions, make mistakes, change your major (precisely four times if you're me...), take chances, and have fun doing it. There are going to be times when you want to pull out your hair and kick and scream, but it won't be for naught. Also, strive for that light at the end of the tunnel but don't lose yourself in looking ahead. The present is a beautiful thing and if you're anything like me, I'm constantly looking towards the next new and best thing. Don't neglect what's happening in the here and now!
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
Now this is a tough question. The beast of Hailey Bogle is an ever-changing being and incredibly hard to predict even within the year... however, I know for a fact that some things are going to stay constant: I know I want to be happy with my life and passionate about my pursuits. I also know that my family and friends are everything to me, so I hope to be surrounded by wonderful people that bring me an immense amount of joy. In terms of my career... who knows at this point. My current trajectory is to be a flight instructor and teach the world's future pilots, but I'm open to any and all opportunities. Really, I just hope to make a difference in my community in whatever way I can.
Lauren Muff – Math major, minor in biology
What are your plans after graduating?
After graduation I will work on finishing up the final prerequisites for medical school while playing one more season of collegiate soccer. I hope to gain some clinical experience and apply for medical school after a gap year.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?
The most important piece of advice that I would give to an incoming college freshman is to put forth your best efforts in all that you do. There are so many people and resources out there for engagement in academics, athletics, and campus events. It is also important to focus on building relationships with other students and professors to learn from one another and make the process more gratifying.
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
In 15 years, I see myself working in the healthcare field with a valued patient base. I hope to end up in Reno because I love the area and would love to develop a career in my hometown close to family.
Saad Chowdhry – Biology major, minor in public health
What are your plans after graduating?
I will be starting as a first-year medical student in the fall here at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?
Never be afraid to ask for help and guidance. Reach out to mentors and professors for guidance and opportunities that help shape and grow oneself as a student and as a leader.
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
I hope to be practicing medicine here in Nevada, helping realize UNR Med's goal of a Healthy Nevada.
Nayana Singh – Biology major
What are your plans after graduating?
After graduating, I will be applying to medical school with the hopes of becoming a physician for a veteran’s hospital. My goal of becoming a physician for a veteran’s hospital is driven by the death of my cousin after his service in the US Army. I believe veterans sacrifice so much for the safety of our country and are a population that is near and dear to my heart.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?
My advice to incoming college freshman is to build relationships with peers and professors. College is so much more enjoyable when we have the support of others! Also, prioritize your mental and physical health by eating healthy and working out because this will improve your academic performance and make you feel happier. Lastly, focus on your goals and don't settle for anything less than your best!
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
In 15 years, I envision myself as a dedicated physician specializing in serving veterans, with aspirations of becoming Chief Medical Officer. I also see myself happily married, starting a family and having a couple dogs who share my love for running.
Laura Kess Ho – Biology major, minors in Japanese and business administration
What are your plans after graduating?
After graduating, I will be attending dental school at Midwestern University in Arizona.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?
Make sure to stay organized and manage your time well to avoid becoming overwhelmed-- personally, I live on Google Calendar. Your time in university will fly by and you want to be able to cherish it while you can!
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
In 15 years, I hope to be working at my own dental practice and enjoying hobbies, great food, and travels with friends and loved ones.
Madison Sandoval – Metallurgy engineering major, minor in mining engineering minor
What are your plans after graduating?
After graduation, I plan to enter the industry and work in a field that I love: Metallurgy. I am currently exploring several job opportunities within the mining and battery recycling sectors. Additionally, I intend to remain active in organizations such as the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME), the Women's Auxiliary to the American Institute of Mining Engineers (WAAMIE), and Women in Mining (WIM).
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?
Never be afraid to ask questions or seize opportunities. By doing both, you will fuel curiosity, excitement, and open doors to numerous opportunities in the future. I would not have progressed as far in my college career if I had not embraced these principles. This advice, given to me during my freshman year, has carried significant weight in everything I have done and will continue to do. It plays a vital role in expanding your network.
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
I still see myself learning new things every day and growing in every possible way, whether it is in my career, community, or personal life. I value the continuous effort to expand my horizons and hope to carry that throughout life. I hope to still be pursuing what I love, metallurgy, and maintaining a presence in mining organizations. Furthermore, I aspire to give back to the community and to Mackay. I am grateful for all the opportunities I have received during my time in the Mackay School and want to pay it forward to future generations of miners.
Lulu Liu – Biology
What are your plans after graduating?
I plan to pursue a MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering starting this fall.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?
Having a solid support group is so important for succeeding in college! Find like-minded people that will push you to be a better person.
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
I see myself working as an environmental consultant, doing pro bono projects in wastewater treatment for third-world countries.
Micah Woodruff – Neuroscience and biochemistry and molecular biology majors, minor in microbiology and immunology
What are your plans after graduating?
After graduating I intend to continue my research on campus while preparing to apply to MD/PhD programs. Ultimately, I aspire to be a physician-scientist, translating basic science for clinical application.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?
The most important piece of advice that I can give is to stay faithful to the little things. Focus on the opportunities given to you and don't get distracted by what other people are doing. The big picture will become clear with time.
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
In 15 years, I hope to have completed medical school in addition to receiving a PhD. I hope to be a resident physician and continue my active research the molecular neurosciences.
Jazmin Rios Rodriguez – Psychology major, minors in cultural anthropology and human development and family science
What are your plans after graduating?
After I graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno I plan to gain professional experience working with families and children by entering the workforce. I plan to apply the knowledge I learned during my time at the University to effectively communicate and further comprehend the dynamics of what constitutes a family within our society. Afterwards, I am determined to return to my studies and earn a master's degree from the Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling program here at the University.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?
It seems like the concept of time is significantly valuable. There is a great emphasis on following a path that produces results within a given time frame. It is important to recognize that not everyone's journey will be identical. There are different experiences that will lead to an individual's success. Therefore, the advice I would offer is to stress less over the passage of time, but instead to focus on the efforts that are made within that time. Another aspect I would like to highlight is the need to manage time appropriately. That is, to know when to set aside time from assignments and projects to focus and cultivate an interest or a hobby.
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
It is difficult to know how my life may unfold within the upcoming years. However, ideally, in fifteen years I would like to be a licensed counselor offering services to families within Northern Nevada. I am committed to pursuing a career that effectively provides resources for children, families, and couples.
Corinne Masegian – Psychological science major, minors in sociology and human development and family science
What are your plans after graduating?
I will be starting work as a survey researcher/analyst this summer, and likely finishing up some research I've been doing with the psychology department at the University. I'm also looking forward to hopefully spending a lot of time outside and with my family, and catching up on a lot of projects, like finally learning how to bake sourdough bread, getting to write more, and catching frogs.
What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?
I have three! Though my first piece of advice depends on the field of study you're going into, I would highly recommend getting into research early. The University of Nevada, Reno has so many opportunities to work with faculty and get funding to participate in research, including programs specifically for freshmen and sophomores. I had an amazing experience with the labs and faculty mentors I worked with, and doing research with them not only led to more work opportunities, but also helped me really figure out what part of the field of psychology I was most interested in. Second, don't think you're locked into any one path right away. There's plenty of time to explore different options, and if you're getting a gut feeling that maybe there's something better out there for you (like a different major!) don't be afraid to change now - better now than much later down the line. And finally, spend some time in the libraries. If you have a hard time with research, go see a reference librarian and have them show you the basics (they are so nice!). It makes papers SO much easier later on. And there are so many resources there beyond books and journals (though there's nothing wrong with books and journals) - I didn't discover the bins of craft supplies at the DeLaMare library until shockingly late!
Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
In 15 years, I hope to be living somewhere surrounded by nature, with a big garden, close to both my family and ideally a ski hill. A long-term goal of mine is to get a master's degree, likely in psychology or possibly library science. I'd like to be in a career I find fulfilling and interesting, which I hope to be entering after graduation. One day, I think it would be very fun to teach. I harbor a dream of being a high school psychology teacher, since my own high school psychology teacher taught me so much about how interesting this field is and sparked my passion for it. Nothing's set in stone yet, but I can't wait to get started!
