Amazing student(s)

Spring 2012 graduates, their friends and familes have all been blessed with beautiful weather the past few days as anticipation grows for tonight's graduation ceremony at the stadium. The campus is teeming with visitors being given imprompu tours of favored haunts by excited grads-to-be - the orderly line at the arch for photos is a testament to patience and a gentle nature that many will hopefully be able to remember in later, more, trying times.

Convocation ceremonies I've personally attended this week have served as a great reminder of the highy accomplished students all around us. Double majors, multiple award winners, scholarship recipients... so many students are doing what they should while they're at UGA - seizing the opportunities at their disposal, cultivated by faculty and staff on campus but dependent on the committment and determination of the students themselves. Then I see on UGA Today  that another just such one of these exceptional Franklin students is featured. Meet Danielle Sobol:

 

Expected graduation:

Spring 2012

Degree objective:

B.S. in Biology, B.S. in Psychology, minor in Spanish

University highlights, achievements and awards:

The vast amount of opportunities available at UGA and throughout the Athens community allowed me to discover my true interests and potential. Upon arriving at the university, I quickly joined organizations such as Alpha Omicron Pi, ugaMiracle, a learning community and the Boys and Girls Club. I am proud of what these organizations stand for and enjoy learning from other dedicated members. I also chose to explore the medical side in Athens. Volunteering in four different hospital departments at Athens Regional Medical Center and following multiple physicians strengthened my passion for medicine. In order to gain more hands-on experience with helping patients, I next traveled to Costa Rica and Nicaragua as part of a service learning trip. The ability to work alongside native physicians, attend medical sessions at night, visit the Nicaraguan Children’s Hospital and utilize my Spanish in a health setting made me even more excited to become a physician in the future.

After returning from my trip abroad, I wanted to explore the research side of medicine. Through the UGA Honors Program, I participated in CURO as an undergraduate research assistant in the infectious disease lab. Here, I dedicated my time to Respiratory Syncytial Virus and microRNA research while forming close relationships with truly talented researchers. I also completed an honors capstone the summer after my third year which focused on cardiovascular disease. This capstone, along with a GPA I never expected to earn in college, will allow me to graduate with Highest Honors this spring. After graduation, I plan to volunteer at Camp Braveheart for children affected by heart complications. I volunteered for this camp last summer and loved seeing the children’s pure joy as they spent the week with other campers facing similar challenges. When the summer comes to a close, I will begin medical school and cannot wait! 

Congratulations to Danielle and all of her classmates of 2012. Very well done and the best of luck as you move onto the next, new exciting stages in your lives. Oh, and stay in touch.