The Westfall Scholars luncheon is a biannual award ceremony recognizing the graduating students for the Fall and Spring semesters from each academic department who have the highest cumulative GPA. David Westfall is the founding dean of the College of Science. During his tenure as dean, he created this award (formerly called the Dean’s Senior Scholars) to honor the College of Science’s top graduating students and their selected faculty mentor. The award was later named in his honor upon his retirement in 2007. Westfall taught at the University, was the founding dean of the college and continues to encourage its students through this event which honors fall and spring graduates.

The scholars each spoke in front of family, friends, and their faculty mentor. The event was also attended by the College of Science associate deans, Acting Dean Katherine McCall, and David and Shirley Westfall. The Westfall Scholars share their future plans, advice and goals below.

Henry Tang, Department of Biology

What are your plans after graduating?

UNR had really accelerated my passion for medicine through not only the service and leadership experience that I have gained but also most importantly, the friendships and mentors that I have developed a strong connection to along my journey. I hope to attend medical school to become a physician that will serve my community, to help alleviate any suffering anybody may be experiencing.

What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?

Develop new connections. Develop new relationships. Continue developing existing relationships and connections. I couldn't have done it without the support of the people around me. College is nothing like high school. The level of education and the amount of new people you will meet skyrockets. Having the support of friends and mentors, new and old, really helped me succeed in college. Having their support really pushed and motivated me.

Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

I hope to see myself having gone through 4 years of medical school and years of residency to become a physician and specialize in a field that I am happy to be in. I hope to be working alongside other physicians to help those in my community.

Julia Davidson, Department of Chemistry

What are your plans after graduating?

After I graduate, I plan on researching the effects of wildfire smoke as a lab technician at Desert Research Institute. Next Fall, I plan on applying for a Ph.D. in geochemistry.

What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?

My advice to incoming freshmen is to actively learn what you are passionate about. Talk to professors, apply for internships/jobs, and develop connections with quality mentors. Since we have been in school our whole lives, it can be hard to imagine all the possible degree-related careers out there. I strongly recommend talking to professors and internship supervisors about their life stories/experiences to learn what they have considered doing or have done with their degrees. Internships/jobs are also great for developing a general idea of what you like/dislike to do early on. 

Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

In fifteen years I hope that I will be using my chemistry knowledge to better understand and protect the natural world. It is awful to watch the effects of pollution and climate change unfold before me, so I would like to do my part to remediate the issues at hand. I hope that I will be working together with other scientists, educators, science communicators, and policymakers to motivate change.

Andrew Azar, Department of Geography

What are your plans after graduating?

I am planning to continue on with education. I'm going to pursue a master’s in Urban and Regional Planning.

What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?

Make the most of your general ed courses. You may be tempted to see them as just requirements to complete, but if you embrace them as an opportunity to fill the holes in your major requirements then you'll set yourself apart. Choosing a minor that supplements your major can also do that for you.

Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

In fifteen years I hope to be working in a private sector job related to transportation or environmental planning.  I'm not sure where or what job exactly just yet. That decision is still to come.

Blake Shane, Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering

What are your plans after graduating?

After graduating, I plan to continue working in field operations with the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, helping maintain the seismic network for Nevada and the ALERTWildfire camera network for several states.

What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?

For incoming freshmen, the best advice I can give is to find the people and activities which motivate you to do better. In the midst of the stresses of performing well in school, it is easy to forget to take care of your mental health. Having people there to remind you to take some time for yourself, to have fun, or to pursue hobbies is so important. I definitely have not been very good at this myself, but I have been lucky to have these kinds of people in my life. Whether directly or indirectly, they are the reason I was able to continue performing at a high level academically.

Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

Honestly, fifteen years is a long way down the road – and I’m just building that road as I go along. So, I don’t know where I’ll be, what I’ll be doing, or even what I want my life to look like in fifteen years. My main hope is that I have found fulfillment in my work and created more relationships with more wonderful people. The rest can fill itself in as it happens!

Tanner Miller, Department of Mathematics and Statistics

What are your plans after graduating?

I plan to take one UNR mathematics course as a non-degree-student and continue working as a student in the Math Center and Department of Physics during the Spring 2022 semester. During this time, I will apply to UNR to pursue a graduate degree in Statistics and Data Science for the Fall 2022 semester.

What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?

Reach out to your professors, faculty, and fellow students. Seek help at the various resource centers if needed or to just meet other students at UNR. There is an extensive support system within the university that too few students know of and use. The Math Center, the Writing and Speaking Center, the Tutoring Center, and numerous other places all have the common goal of student success.

Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

It is hard to say where I will be in fifteen years, especially since so many things can change in such a short amount of time. That being said, I know in fifteen years I will be continuing my education in some form, either through private study or with academic and industry colleagues. Additionally, I plan on continuing to work on my hobbies to ensure a well-rounded enjoyment of my time.

Madelyn Norberg, Microbiology and Immunology

What are your plans after graduating?

After graduating I plan to get a certification in phlebotomy and begin putting in applications for medical school.

What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?

To any college freshman, make sure you’re taking the right classes and not paying for doubled up requirements as no one else will be checking for you.

Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

In 15 years, I would love to have my own practice with a connected gym free for patients.

Casey Crawford, Neuroscience

What are your plans after graduating?

After graduating, I plan on studying for the MCAT and eventually attending medical school. 

What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?

Advice I would give to an incoming freshman would be to get involved in a club or sports team to find like-minded friends. I've found that the people you surround yourself with make all the difference in the college experience. 

Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

In 15 years, I see myself as a surgeon and conducting research that will make progress in the medical field. I hope to make a discovery or develop a technique that will save lives. 

Daniel Tooker, Department of Physics

Daniel has applied to graduate school and will likely pursue an advanced degree in math or physics.

Megan Lovell, Department of Psychology

What are your plans after graduating?

I intend to continue on in my studies. I've come to learn that my strength is in writing, and the best way for me to make a difference is through that medium. I've long ago learned that mental health is imperative for success, but many of us struggle with it daily. Therefore, I plan on attending an MFA program to continue mastering my writing skills so I can incorporate psychological themes into my stories.

What is the most important piece of advice you’d give to an incoming college freshman?

Get to know your professors. They want to see you succeed. They understand the college struggle more than anyone else. And more often than not, they are willing to meet you where you are.

Where do you see yourself in 15 years?

Surrounded by friends and family. Perhaps as a best-selling author, perhaps as a child psychologist, perhaps as a literary agent, or perhaps even back in the medical laboratory. At this point, I am open to all options because life is short and plans change. Rigidity is the destruction of creativity, and my ability to be creative has gotten me to where I am now.