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counseled with family and academic advisors before deciding to pursue a biology major that would put her en route to becoming a doctor. For Ash, this felt like the right fit. Ash Bechtel answers a question from a first-year student during the Welcome to PLU panel on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. “I’ve always been attracted to the sciences – especially those that have to do with the human body,” she says. Because Pacific Lutheran University expands learning beyond concentrations, Ash enrolled in biology classes

work for an aerospace company. After I graduate I will be applying for those jobs, depending on how long the team needs me at NASA to work on our project. I have really enjoyed working there, and would love to continue that work. Whatever I end up doing after graduation, I would like to stress the support my family has given me in getting to where I am today. I am very grateful for them. Read Previous Wild Hope Fellow Nick Etzell ‘23 helps peers with vocational discernment Read Next Musician turned

business and econ majors, Oxford trip, and PLU experience as a first generation Chinese immigrant Read Next Big picture learning: Physics major Julian Kop ’24 studies the universe and his family background at PLU LATEST POSTS Three students share how scholarships support them in their pursuit to make the world better than how they found it June 24, 2024 The Passing of Bryan Dorner June 4, 2024 Student athlete Vinny D’Onofrio ’24 excelled in biology and chemistry at PLU June 4, 2024 Ash Bechtel ’24

health care would be the ultimate goal, but then a couple of classes focused on plant development and global agriculture grew a new passion“I have a family history of agriculture, my grandfather used to have apple orchards in Eastern Washington,” she said, explaining why her PLU biology classes resonated with her. “From that point forward, I began to pursue plant biology, as I had both personal and academic passion in the subject.” On her way to her degree, Davis completed a capstone project on plant

interesting capstone and what’s next after graduation. Why did you choose PLU? PLU felt like a good distance from home — not next door, but not too far from family. I really liked the atmosphere and culture on campus and the opportunities it gave me to be involved in more than just my academics. What led you to your majors? I knew coming into PLU that I wanted to major in environmental studies and probably double major with another program. Spring of my freshman year, I took a first-year experience course

Gombe Stream National Park, where renowned primatologist Jane Goodall began her work studying chimpanzee social and family life in 1960. While in the country, Webb’s independent research project looked at the conservation program run by the Jane Goodall Institute in Kigoma. It focuses on community development and education as the backbone of environmental conservation. “For someone who is interested in chimpanzee conservation, it’s a place you have to go,” Webb explained. Webb visited the national

poverty, hunger and environmental degradation, he stressed. It is among the women in Africa that Lewis said he’s found his heroes. When the mothers infected with AIDS die, it’s been the grandmothers who have stepped up to raise the orphans and have formed a new family, he said. Currently, there are 14 to 15 million AIDS orphans in Africa, a number that will grow to 18 million in three years. “These women have become the heroes of the continent,” he said. But, he added, they need our help. Read

our students, off of the song ‘Get Your Head in the Game,’ from the play ‘High School Musical.’ “We all liked it, so we said ‘Let’s go for it,’” he said, of an event that is in the planning stages all year long before the big weekend. In all, up to 1,000 people can visit the campus during the weekend. Homecoming weekend, which gears up Thursday with the RHA Songfest, is packed with events for alumni and the entire family, including the football game and gala on Saturday. Here is a rundown of

Seattle and Melbourne, Australia. A self-described geek and math lover, Tilden said he decided to go to PLU because he thought of becoming a teacher, and the school had a good reputation. But once at PLU, he changed his mind. “I noticed all the accounting majors had job offers waiting for them in the fall of their senior years,” Tilden laughed. Today he serves on PLU’s board of regents. As he settles into his office, he looks at pictures of family members that crowd for space around his computer. They

environmentally friendly innovations.” Sheri Tonn, PLU’s vice president for finance and operations, said she was not surprised by PLU’s high ranking and very pleased with the outcome. “We are very, very pleased to attain this mark, and want to keep the caliber of sustainability to a high level on campus,” she said. She credited the work of the PLU community for the high rating, as well as an initial sustainability water grant by the Russell Family Foundation in 2001. Christine Cooley, PLU’s newly-hired