Each fall, thousands of new Buckeyes begin their Ohio State journeys, bringing along their individual hopes, goals and dreams. Each Buckeye has something they want to learn, explore or experience, and each Buckeye has their own reason for choosing Ohio State. No Buckeye is the exact same person they were when they started.
Here, Buckeyes past and present share how Ohio State changed their trajectory and helped them pursue their passions.
Amalia Rodriguez-Giusti: Familiar grounds, new roots
Amalia Rodriguez-Giusti was born to be a Buckeye.
With two Ohio State professors as parents, she didn’t just grow up near the university, she grew up with it. Constantly visiting her parents at work, she knew that being a Buckeye meant thriving in a setting that already felt like home. Surrounded by the academic energy and endless opportunities of the campus, Amalia knew where she belonged.
Still, when she officially committed as a student, Amalia knew she wanted her experience to be her own. She spent so much time growing up around the university, and now it was time to finally find her place within it.
“Step outside your comfort zone — while a large university can feel overwhelming, the wide range of opportunities gives you the chance to find your place.”
Her journey began with getting involved. She found herself drawn to organizations that aligned with her values, particularly within the Latine community. Through her work with the University-Wide Council for Latinx Organizations (UCLO) and the Peruvian Association, Amalia began to establish roots. She even helped found the Eta Theta chapter of Lambda Theta Alpha, the only Latina sorority on campus. These organizations gave her space to grow as a leader and gain confidence.
“Being in spaces where I see my culture represented has been especially meaningful as a minority at such a large university,” she says.
While the campus had always been familiar, it wasn’t until she found this community that Ohio State truly began to feel like her own. Finding spaces where she felt connected, seen and understood made all the difference. Relationships that were built on shared culture, values and purpose became the foundation of her college journey. With a strong support system behind her, Amalia found it easier to face academic challenges and life transitions. She could lean on her community, just as they could lean on her.
“It’s a community that makes you feel like you’re part of something bigger,” she says.
Now, Amalia is preparing for her next chapter: pursuing a master’s degree in social work at Boston College. Her passion for advocacy and uplifting others was sparked through the communities she built, the leadership roles she held, and the cultural pride she embraced. Social work offers her a path to continue that impact, allowing her to dive deeper into understanding people and championing those who need support the most. — Jamie Hoelscher
Amalia on her Ohio State experience:
“Whether it’s insisting on saying ‘THE Ohio State University,’ marking out the letter ‘M’ during football season, or hearing the ‘O-H’ ‘I-O’ chants from students and alumni, there’s a sense of tradition and connection that you don’t find everywhere.”
Her advice to students:
“My advice would be to explore as many clubs and organizations as possible to find your community. Step outside your comfort zone — while a large university can feel overwhelming, the wide range of opportunities gives you the chance to find your place.”
Ella Higgins: Finding opportunities and a ‘family’ in Ohio
Ella Higgins always knew she wanted to become a veterinarian. Her love for animals ran deep, and she was determined to find a university that could not only prepare her for veterinary school, but also support her passions and help her grow.
At Ohio State, Ella found more than just a program — she found a place where her dreams could take root.
Coming from New Jersey, Ella didn’t know a single person on campus. It was daunting to leave behind everything familiar, but she saw it as an opportunity to start fresh and fully embrace all the university had to offer. Determined to make the most of her time, she dove headfirst into many opportunities.
“It can be scary at first, but pushing yourself to try new experiences is the best way to meet new people, and it’s how I made my closest friends here at Ohio State,” she says.
With this mindset, she quickly immersed herself in student organizations, joining the Pre-Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA), the Buckeye Dairy Club and the Biological Sciences Scholars Program. Each group gave her a new perspective, a new skill set and a new circle of people who shared her passion.
Her work also extended beyond the classroom. Through Ohio State’s equine-assisted services, Ella explored her interest in horses firsthand, engaging in their care, health and training.
“There is an immediate sense of belonging once you are able to call yourself a Buckeye.”
It was through these hands-on experiences that Ella discovered a growing interest in research. By connecting with faculty in the Department of Animal Sciences, she began assisting with a project focused on human-animal interactions. Soon, a deeper curiosity ignited, and after a year of learning from others, she began her own project as part of her pursuit of a research distinction.
Ohio State also gave Ella access to experiences she never expected. Through the Second-Year Transformational Experience Program (STEP), she studied abroad in Ireland, where she gained new insight into animal care from a global perspective. She trained her own cow for a dairy showmanship competition with Buckeye Royal, and she visited The Wilds, a safari conservation park, with her Scholars cohort. Each of these opportunities added something meaningful to her journey, shaping both her academic path and personal growth.
Yet, the heart of Ella’s Buckeye experience isn’t just the programs, the travel or even the animals — it’s the people.
“There is an immediate sense of belonging once you are able to call yourself a Buckeye,” she says. “Because once you join this family, you will find love and support no matter where life takes you.”
For Ella, Ohio State has been more than a stepping stone to veterinary school. It’s been a place where she’s built lifelong connections, discovered new passions and found a community that feels like home. — Jamie Hoelscher
Ella on her Ohio State experience:
“I have never experienced a more supportive and loyal community other than what you’ll find here at Ohio State. … As an out-of-state student who didn’t know anyone, the Buckeye community made it easy to connect with others. Networking, whether with fellow students, professors, or even employers, has always been a welcoming and enjoyable experience.”
Her advice to students:
“Making study groups within each of your classes, or at least having someone to sit next to in lectures, can make an overwhelming classroom feel small.”
Anitvir Taunque: Turning ambition into achievement
Biomed, scholarship, leadership, research. Repeat.
These are just a few words that describe Anitvir Taunque’s everyday mindset. At Ohio State, his nonstop pursuit of knowledge and leadership has earned him some of the highest honors the university can give. A Truman Scholar, Buckeye Leadership Fellow, Stamps Eminence Scholar and recipient of the President’s Buckeye Accelerator, it is clear that Anitvir’s ambitions have turned into achievements.
For Anitvir, becoming a physician is the dream. Drawn to Ohio State’s rigorous Biomedical Science Program, he sought an academic environment that would challenge him while also allowing him to make an impact beyond the classroom. Even with demanding coursework, he found ways to balance his college experience by channeling his interests into making a difference. A main focus for him came in the form of educating his community on health literacy.
Determined to bridge the gap between medicine and community education, he helped start up ServUS, a volunteering organization dedicated to improving public health awareness. He is also the founder and co-president of Red Saree, a nonprofit addressing heart disease in South Asian populations.
“When you look down the line, and see failure or fear, jump in anyways.”
While Anitvir’s growing involvement and passion provided a strong sense of purpose, his freshman year was also marked by an unforeseen personal challenge. Anitvir went back and forth from school when a mentor became ill, at times sidelining academics to be at his side.
While Anitvir acknowledges it was a difficult experience, it taught him that some moments in life require a shift in priorities. The experience, while emotionally taxing, strengthened his resilience and deepened his commitment to medicine, a field where perseverance and compassion are vital. It also shaped his vision of the kind of physician he hopes to become and made him deeply grateful for the support of his fellow Buckeyes that stood by him.
“Everything that I did from that point on, I did because I knew I really wanted to do it. I saw an impact down the line. It wasn’t just something I was doing for the sake of doing it.”
That mindset led him to receive the Truman Scholarship, a highly competitive award that recognizes outstanding leadership and public service. He credits his experiences, both academic and personal, for preparing him for the opportunity.
For Antivir, being a Buckeye is about all the connections you make and being a part of a network that supports and inspires. As he continues the road to medicine, he’s not just focused on the science of healing but on the people and communities he hopes to serve. — Jamie Hoelscher
Anitvir on his Ohio State experience:
“I can never walk through the (Ohio) Union without meeting somebody I already know, and I think that’s amazing because with a campus of about 60,000-plus students, somehow, I keep running into the people that I call my friends and my family. It really makes Ohio State feel so much smaller and so much more tightly knit.”
His advice to students:
“When you look down the line, and see failure or fear, jump in anyways. I truly think you can’t lose. Either you’ll win and get exactly what you wanted out of it, or you’ll get a lesson that will translate to future success.”
Tovah Kaiser: Forging her own path
It’s March 2024 at America First Field in Salt Lake City and the Utah Royals, a National Women’s Soccer League team, are set to play their home opener. Atop the stadium, whipping in the Salt Lake City wind, is a flag adorned with the team’s crest, a fierce crowned lioness. Under the flag stands the crest’s creator: Tovah Kaiser ’19.
“That was cool,” Tovah recalls. “I don’t bask in accomplishments much, but there are moments where I’m like, nobody else is doing this.”
Tovah is the founder of Tov Creative, a Philadelphia-based design studio that boasts clients like the Royals and Boston’s new women’s soccer team in one of the fastest-growing professional leagues in the U.S. Along with those soccer franchises, in just a few short years Tovah’s client portfolio already boasts businesses that dot the East Coast, ranging from restaurants to pet apps to geologists.
She’s also a budding professional singer and songwriter.
What’s interesting, however, is Tovah doesn’t have a design or business degree, nor did she take music classes at Ohio State. Instead, she graduated from Ohio State’s Knowlton School for Architecture.
However, following an internship after her sophomore year, she realized she didn’t want to be an architect. Being at Ohio State though, she had options. Hanging out with friends one night, someone suggested an entrepreneurship class through the Fisher College of Business because she was a budding entreprenur already. She’d create and sell T-shirts, watercolor paintings and beautifully custom-painted jean jackets, building a clientele off Instagram.
“You can take time and figure out what you want to do and you can do that at Ohio State. You have everything at your fingertips.”
The entrepreneurship course led students through startup accelerator life. Each student created and developed a business idea, but as the course progressed, the ideas were whittled away until a final one, the best one, survived. That semester, it was Kaiser’s, an app called Decide, which tapped into Gen Z’s fear of missing out and indecision.
During that time, as a senior, Kaiser also joined Fisher’s Business Builders Entrepreneurship Club, which brought in local business leaders. At one point, representatives from Columbus’ Civitas marketing agency impressed Kaiser enough for her to contact the firm.
A conversation later, Kaiser had an internship. Upon graduation, she landed a job as a designer, using her 3D skills while apprenticing as a graphic designer. That was before COVID-19 layoffs prompted her to forge ahead and open Tov Creative.
It’s a pretty wild story considering prior to her visit to Columbus at 17 years old, Tovah didn’t know the first thing about Ohio State. But one trip to the Columbus campus changed all that.
“Growing up, when I pictured college life, I pictured Ohio State,” she said. “Other places didn’t have that ‘Oval moment.’ I remember we snuck in the ’Shoe, and it was amazing. But also, Columbus. I remember walking around the Short North. It was just … I was impressed.”
As a freshman, Tovah quickly became immersed in life at Ohio State and found her path — well, many paths, many people. She also found a place for her musical gifts, playing with friends. That led to regularly playing with musicians around campus, Columbus open mic nights and even a gig in Cleveland.
She credits the Knowlton School for shoring up her intense work ethic, and Ohio State for opening up numerous opportunities to explore other passions and ambitions that have aided her successful climb. — Ross Bishoff
Tovah on the advantages of attending Ohio State:
“For someone like me, I was maybe going to go to art school, I took intro classes to journalism, I ended up in architecture. I don’t know any 17- or 18-year-old who knows exactly what they want to do with their lives. I didn’t. But honestly, in going to Ohio State, you don’t have to decide right away what you want to do. You can take time and figure out what you want to do and you can do that at Ohio State. You have everything at your fingertips. Anything you’re interested in, you have access to it and that is super powerful.
“Also, the people. There are people from everywhere at Ohio State. There’s a lot to learn from all the different types of people you’ll meet. You have options and access to so many things, that’s what Ohio State offers if you take advantage of it. Ohio State is an endless well of possibilities and people, you’ll never run out.”
Her advice to students:
“Just relax. Whatever you’re curious about or passionate about, keep following that and don’t worry so much about executing a plan. I used to think it would be this very linear thing, then you become an adult and it’s just a mess. So just relax and listen to yourself. Trust yourself. I needed to hear that when I was in school. I was so worried, what was I going to do? Am I doing the right thing? I wish someone would have given me reassurance that, yeah you are, you’re working hard on the things you care about and it’s going to lead you somewhere.”
Amani Kimball-McKavish: Buckeye spirit on and off the field
Being an athlete at a Big 10 school is no small feat, but Amani Kimball-McKavish isn’t just keeping up — she’s setting the pace. Whether she's dominating the lacrosse field, excelling in the classroom, or pursuing her entrepreneurial passions, it’s clear that her drive and dedication have helped her make the most of her Buckeye experience.
When Amani first toured Ohio State, she says she “fell in love with it immediately,” and that love has not wavered in her three years as a student-athlete on Ohio State’s women’s lacrosse team. For her, lacrosse is more than just a sport; it’s a family. This bond has given Amani the drive and desire to make her team and the Buckeye community proud, embracing every opportunity to lead, grow and leave an impact.
This year, she and the women’s lacrosse team made history, starting the spring season with eight straight wins.
“We are breaking records right now, and that all just stems from the love of being a Buckeye,” she says.
Despite the demands of a rigorous lacrosse schedule, she doesn’t feel limited in what she can explore, noting that Ohio State offers, “everything students need to succeed.” As a lifelong learner, she thrives in the balance between athletics and academics, allowing her to immerse herself in her business classes, pursue a Spanish minor and fuel her passion for entrepreneurship.
“We all share a common goal: to make Ohio State proud of us”
While athletics introduced her to the discipline and teamwork that drive her success, the classroom is where she found the space to grow, explore and set a precedent off the field. Through these experiences, she has built meaningful connections that have guided her toward discovering a path that makes her excited for the future. With this encouragement, she has earned multiple academic awards, including the Pace Setter Award, given to the top 1 percent of Fisher College of Business students.
She also won the President’s Buckeye Accelerator, an entrepreneurship competition, as a freshman with her startup, PROSscored. The platform helps schools and sports organizations build private broadcast networks to stream live games that also highlight behind-the-scenes content and student-athlete features. It was one of six student startups to earn $50,000, giving her the chance to develop the platform as well as enter a cohort, where she received mentorship and guidance on how to run a business.
“Going through that as a freshman and sophomore was such a cool experience,” she said, “especially because the people in entrepreneurship are so energetic and inspiring, and I loved being surrounded by that energy.” — Jamie Hoelscher
Amani on her Ohio State experience:
“I have family within the lacrosse team outside of school, and that connection’s a really cool part about being here. We all share a common goal: to make Ohio State proud of us.”
Her advice to students:
“Going into Ohio State can be intimidating, but getting to meet the group of incredible people who make your college experience unforgettable is truly special. You really get to see and experience what being a Buckeye is about. Whether that be friends, a teacher, a coach, or alumni, everyone is genuinely invested in helping fellow Buckeyes succeed.”
Kethan Mokadam: Mentoring minds and strengthening community
Sometimes, the right path finds you when you least expect it.
Starting his freshman year completely undecided, the possibilities were endless for Kethan Mokadam. But he knew that Ohio State was the place that would give him the freedom to explore what would be the right fit for him.
It was in a required exploratory learning class where he discovered a passion for social work. With this growing interest, Kethan decided to take an introductory social work class with Prof. Samantha Bates. Not only did this class help fuel his newfound interest, but it also let him connect topics he was learning about to his work as a track and field coach.
At the end of the semester, Bates reached out to Kethan about a project he might be interested in being a part of. This is what ultimately led him to LiFESports, an organization that uses sports as a tool for positive youth development. Kethan is about to start his fourth summer with the organization.
“Speaking to a lot of the connections between sport and mental health, and the issues that I saw in the system, I was very open about the things I saw in that class," he says.
As a mentor to young athletes, he focuses on their mental health and stress management, using his knowledge to support them in whatever they do. One way he does this is through the “Life and Leadership Series,” a play-based professional development program he helped design. Describing it as a “gamified component” to build developmental strategies, Kethan sees it as a fun and engaging way to connect with his students.
“You get out what you put in. You have to put in the effort, or at least put yourself out there, and it will come and find you.”
His dedication to leadership and service has earned him recognition from the ESPY Awards: Kethan was given the Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award, which celebrates individuals who use sports as a platform to uplift their communities and address societal challenges.
The mentorship and opportunities Kethan has received from the College of Social Work have been a significant factor in his college journey, but campus experiences have shaped it, too.
Ohio State sporting events, especially football games, have given him a deep sense of belonging — surrounded by fellow Buckeyes in the excitement of the games makes Ohio State truly feel like home. For Kethan, what makes the Buckeye community special is how he has been able to find people he can connect with and who will be there for him no matter what.
Now a graduate student, Kethan believes the key to the Buckeye experience is simple: “You get out what you put in. You have to put in the effort, or at least put yourself out there, and it will come and find you.” — Jamie Hoelscher
Kethan on his Ohio State Experience:
“The LiFESports program and the College of Social Work have been really cool to be a part of. Seeing the behind the scenes of what goes into this massive research program and non-profit has been really eye-opening in terms of a career of what I want to do moving forward.”
His advice to students:
“You make your own Buckeye experience, no matter who you are or what you’re looking for. Everyone’s experience is going to be unique but to make the most of it, just trying new things is part of that. It’s simple, but the fact that I have been able to do so many new things is something I’ve really enjoyed and has really shaped my college experience.”
Emanuel Tewolde: ‘Mentorship is everything’
Emanuel Tewolde didn’t have a second to relax. From the moment he set up his research poster at the Denman Research Forum, a steady stream of visitors came to him with questions.
He handled it all like a pro and was awarded a Denman runner-up honor for his research, which examined awareness gaps in central Ohio African American smokers to a proposed menthol cigarette ban.
Following that experience, he jetted to the International Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Conference in New Orleans, where he presented about two research studies he took part in as a student in the Min-Ae Song Lab. He then successfully defended his research thesis capstone project.
“The research wasn’t just for herself and the furtherance of her lab, but for my future and the future of my career.”
All in all, an impressive spring before he graduates in May. But instead of taking credit, Emanuel gives it all to his Ohio State mentors.
“Research changed the trajectory of my college career, it’s become the end-all for me,” says Emanuel, a public health major on a pre-med track. “In undergraduate, mentorship is everything. Your mentor is the reason you fall in love with research or you don’t.”
Emanuel spent the past two years in the Song Lab through the Marc-T34 program, which allowed him to become immersed in research, participating in the Menthol Ban Project, studying the effects of cigarettes and awareness.
Within Song’s lab, Emanuel learned the rigors of research, participated in various studies and was given opportunities to present about the lab’s work while receiving a publication credit.
“It’s all because of Dr. Song, she very much she puts in the work for her undergraduates,” Emanuel says. “She didn’t just tell me what to do and I did it, she explained why we were doing it and how it would help me later. The research wasn’t just for herself and the furtherance of her lab, but for my future and the future of my career.
“She was definitely a very great mentor. Both of my mentors were great mentors, in fact.”
His work in the Song Lab was a bit of a continuation of research from his sophomore year under the guidance of Ahmad El Hellani, also part of the Menthol Ban Project. Tewolde found El Hellani’s lab through the CREATES Undergraduate Program (Cancer Research Experience for the Advancement and Training of Emerging Scientists).
“Dr. El Hellani did a lot to immerse me in the project and other projects in his lab,” Emanuel says. “Even when it came to presenting, I learned so much. He genuinely became a good friend, it was a great experience.”
Tewolde went on to gain a research internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and recently was accepted to the American Cancer Society postbaccalaureate program for cancer researchers, which he will participate in during his gap years before attending medical school. His goal is to become a doctor who conducts public health-related research.
“Because I was gifted with such great mentorship early in my college career, it’s made me want to pursue it in the future as a doctor,” he says. “I want to be heavily involved in clinic but I also want to be working in public health-related research about issues that impact my patients.” — Ross Bishoff
Emanuel on his Ohio State experience:
“It’s been nothing short of amazing. The opportunities on this campus are limitless, whether it’s internships, study abroad, whatever your interests are. And the faculty in the College of Public Health are very accessible, easy to talk to, always willing to help.
“I’m in the College of Public Health Student Ambassador program and I’ve been fortunate to help students navigate what’s available here. This school is flooded with resources and opportunities and sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. I love the fact we have programs like this because I love helping people who were in my situation.”
His advice to students:
“Never leave any stone unturned. Apply for everything you’re interested in, don’t hold yourself back because you might be nervous you won’t get in. You don’t necessarily need to do everything but give everything a chance. And when you find what you like, stick with it, and be consistent because that’s the key to everything. Stay consistent with what you love, push through the difficult times and in the end, you’ll love that you stuck with it.”
Jonah Mikesell: Building an entrepreneurship mindset
A broken skateboard started it all.
Then in high school in Cincinnati, Jonah Mikesell’s electric skateboard busted, only he didn’t want to throw the electric battery pack out. He wanted to see if he could use it somehow.
Using the individual battery cells, he built a portable charger in an Altoids tin, posted it to Facebook Marketplace and sold it within 30 minutes. Next thing you know, he was selling his repurposed battery portable chargers on his Etsy store.
“When I got here at Ohio State, I was motivated to teach myself circuit design,” says Jonah, an electrical engineering major. “That was specifically so I could manufacture my products faster. I started in my senior year of high school but really picked up the pace here.”
His entrepreneurial mindset, buoyed by his electrical engineering skills, picked up big time at Ohio State. In one of his engineering classes — Empowering the Entrepreneurial Electrical and Computer Engineer — he led his team to replicate his Etsy store’s business model, the idea being to take decommissioned electric vehicle batteries and repurpose them for portable chargers, power stations, and residential energy storage
“There’s a ton of stuff you can do here at Ohio State. Take advantage of it.”
The idea and Shark Tank-style pitch at the end of the semester earned him first place in the class and motivated him to pitch during the Best of Student Startups (BOSS) competition. Again, he won, claiming $20,000 toward his venture and a golden ticket to compete in the President’s Buckeye Accelerator Finale to pitch his business again, now named Phoenix Battery Co.
At the Buckeye Accelerator, Mikesell and Phoenix Battery Co. got another boost when it was one of the ventures picked for the fourth cohort of the program, gaining $50,000 in funding in the process.
“I never really associated myself with having a legit business until I came to Ohio State,” says Jonah, who will continue to build Phoenix Battery Co. while working his new job at Raglan Motors in North Carolina upon graduation. “I just thought I had a side gig, but I found this path here. That class was where Phoenix Battery was born, and all I’ve gotten was encouragement since then.” — Ross Bishoff
Jonah on his Ohio State experience:
“My journey at Ohio State has been taking advantage of all the opportunities available to me and it’s got me where I am now. As a freshman, I immediately joined the underwater robotics team. I learned a lot there and it motivated me to learn circuit design. That helped me become a teacher’s assistant because I had taught myself circuit design. Then I joined the electronics club, which offers project funding for members. I used that funding to pay for circuit boards I had designed. My junior year I joined a brand new engineering design team called the Battery Workforce Challenge and became the electrical hardware lead.”
His advice to students:
“Extracurriculars are going to give you that step ahead when you go for a job. My full-time job search was so successful because I put my priorities into extracurriculars. So do something extra, join a club, join a team, be passionate about an idea. There’s a ton of stuff you can do here at Ohio State. Take advantage of it. That’s the biggest reason I chose a big university. You can find your niche anywhere you go.”
Madison Posner: A love for sports found a ‘new home’
When Madison Posner graduates in May, she’ll leave Ohio State with a wealth of hands-on professional experience as an athletic trainer and physical therapist intern.
The health sciences major not only volunteered with Ohio State’s football team, but had two internships in the pros. Last summer, she was a Sports Performance intern with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The previous summer, during the 2023 training camp, she was an Athletic Training intern with the Philadelphia Eagles.
“I thoroughly enjoyed both experiences and valued the opportunity to be in the training rooms of professional organizations,” Madison says.
Working alongside sports medicine staff in both training rooms, Madison assisted with rehabilitation and hydration during practice with the Eagles. She also worked preseason games on the sidelines. With the Diamondbacks, she assisted with player rehabilitation and learned about the organization’s treatment protocols.
Both opportunities, she says, simply came from networking. To get the Eagles gig, she submitted an application, while the Diamondbacks opportunity came from a relationship on campus.
“Take advantage of the four years you have at Ohio State . . . There are so many opportunities for students to find their passions on campus, it is about seeking them out.”
“I had the opportunity to work with the Diamondbacks through a connection my wonderful research advisor had, and I networked with him to secure the chance to travel to Arizona,” says Posner, who will be attending Duke’s physical therapy school after graduation.
That research advisor and mentor was James Onate, a renowned researcher in the field of human movement assessment with research that has made significant impact nationally and internationally.
Working within Onate’s MOvES research team,Posner oversaw her own research project examining injury patterns in pitchers’ arms, which earned her first place at the recent Denman Undergraduate Research Forum.
“My research focuses on Major League Baseball injury data. With the support of Dr. Onate, he encouraged me to take on an honors thesis on a topic of my choosing,” Posner says. “It has been such an amazing experience working alongside him and being able to complete research that I have such a passion for. This work has allowed me to gain skills as a writer, presenter, and researcher. I’m confident it will help me become a better future clinician.” — Ross Bishoff
Madison on her Ohio State experience:
“Coming from California, I found a new home in Columbus and have made such special connections. I chose Ohio State because I love the Midwest, and I wanted to find a school that had both strong academics and a great athletics department.
“Being able to volunteer with the Ohio State football team was definitely a highlight. I also enjoyed making connections in organizations on campus, Student-Alumni Council in particular. Also, attending sporting events (she was a member of Ohio State’s Block O club) was always something I enjoyed as a student, especially being able to travel down to Atlanta and attend the National Championship this past January.”
Her advice to students:
“Take advantage of the four years you have at Ohio State. Networking is such an important skill to have not only as a student, but as a future professional. There are so many opportunities for students to find their passions on campus, it is about seeking them out. I’ve always been told, ‘the worst they could say is no.’ It’s crucial to put yourself out there and be confident in your capabilities.”
Lauren Clar: Engineering a career where the sky’s no limit
Lauren Clar enjoys making things fly, understanding how they fly, and making them fly better. Drones. Rockets. Planes. You name it.
At Ohio State, Lauren wasted no time discovering what opportunities were available to meet her interests in aerospace engineering. Once she found numerous possibilities, she leapt into them and her career took off.
One of those included getting involved in Matt McCrink’s drone lab, where she incorporates her computer, electrical and aerospace engineering interests to work with UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles).
“His lab is incredibly collaborative,” says Lauren, a computer science and engineering major. “Grad students are always willing to help me and (McCrink) is always willing to teach about aerospace, electrical, anything. Every time I talk to him, it turns into a free college lesson because he knows every aspect of the things we’re working on. I’ve really enjoyed the learning experience and working with grad students on cool projects.”
“Don’t be afraid to reach out and make connections — that’s how I got to where I am today.”
Lauren, in fact, oversaw her own research project measuring the relationship between temperature and drift in measurements on a sensor that would be on a drone during other tests in the lab. It’s research that could prove crucial to discovering how drones interact in city environments. Her research was even featured at the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum this spring.
“It’s research that could allow us to better understand rotor mechanical power,” says Lauren, who will be building her own drone within the lab this summer.
Along with her lab experience, this semester Lauren is an intern in the soft matter research lab at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. Her previous internships included working in Denver at Special Aerospace Services and at Parker Hannifin as a mechanical engineering intern.
Each opportunity came from not being afraid to apply for these positions and following up with emails. Her position in Denver came from emailing the Chief Technical Officer, Tim Bulk, an Ohio State alum. She also got some help from Ohio State’s John Horack, who sent Bulk a reference for Lauren.
Horack knew Lauren fairly well, in fact. She reached out to him for advice on opportunities at Ohio State before she was even a freshman. It turned into a video call in which Horack recommended she consider the Buckeye Space Launch Initiative, a student organization for which Horack is the advisor.
Today, Lauren is the club president. — Ross Bishoff
Lauren on her Ohio State experience:
“Ohio State was definitely the best choice for me. Academically, it has such a broad range of topics available. I’ve taken many different classes and really been able to explore all of my interests because it’s such a large school with so many different opportunities. I major in computer science and I do a lot of work within aerospace because Ohio State is very strong in those categories, so I’m able to prepare myself for my future career in every way I want.”
Her advice to students:
“Making connections is very important. For my Stamps Eminence Scholarship, I was considering not even applying originally. Instead, I did and it’s been a big part of my college career. I gained a lot of my friends on campus through that program, and they were the ones who told us how to get connected with research. I was even able to use an enrichment grant (through the Stamps Eminence Scholarship) to go on the International Perspectives on Aviation study abroad trip last year to France, Spain and Andorra.
“Before I was even a freshman, I reached out to Dr. John Horack and asked him about aerospace opportunities and that’s how I got involved with the Buckeye Space Launch Initiative. Don’t be afraid to reach out and make connections — that’s how I got to where I am today.”
Mike Penka: Living and learning on the water
Mike Penka arrived at Ohio State with dreams of studying marine science. The problem? Columbus is a long way from any oceans.
However, a visit to Stone Laboratory on Lake Erie changed everything.
“I visited Stone Lab my freshman year and right away, I knew I made the right choice to come to Ohio State,” Penka says.
Penka gained summers on Lake Erie through a simple conversation with one of his professors, Lauren Pintor, associate professor of aquatic ecology, by simply asking if she knew of any professors looking for undergrad researchers.
“I loved every second of it. Going back each summer, I loved being on the water, doing research, and being part of that tight-knit community on the island. ”
“That led to the trajectory I’ve followed for the last three years at Ohio State,” Penka says.
Penka became a researcher in Suzanne Gray’s Aquatic Physiological Ecology lab for two summers at Stone Lab, performing his own study on the effects of lake turbidity on the reactions of fish. His findings led to three conference presentations and his senior thesis.
That work led to studying wetlands conservation this past summer with Ohio State’s Bob Gates — an associate professor of wildlife ecology and management — as part of the H2Ohio program.
Penka is currently exploring opportunities to work in water quality research in Maine or studying salmon in Alaska with an eye on gaining a master’s degree for a career with a wildlife agency. — Ross Bishoff
Mike on his experience at Ohio State:
“Right from the start, Stone Lab was huge in providing me opportunities and perspective. I loved every second of it. Going back each summer, I loved being on the water, doing research, and being part of that tight-knight community on the island. You’re rubbing shoulders with people from UNC, James Madison, different institutions doing research while other Ohio State students and professors are there with you doing research the whole summer. Everybody is there to learn. I learned the research process, I learned what science really is and I’ve been fortunate to take those experiences and run with them.”
His advice to Ohio State students:
“Focus on personal relationships. Not just with friends and socially, obviously that’s important, but give yourself a support network. Get to know faculty and professors. I’ve been a peer leader through SENR (the School of Environment and Natural Resources), we help mentor incoming freshmen and the biggest thing I’ve always emphasized is to talk to your professors. Find people who specialize in areas you are interested in and engage with them. They’re always willing to, and hoping that, students will ask them about their field and for opportunities. They love having an opportunity to engage with students in that way. That’s something a lot of freshmen don’t realize. I didn’t even appreciate that at first, but I figured it out pretty fast.”
Mehr Un Nisa and Fuanyi Fobellah: The science of space food
When Mehr Un Nisa first met with her Ohio State advisor, he asked her what her dream was. Her response? Work with NASA.
Maybe a bit off-beat considering she was studying food science and not, say, aerospace engineering. Only this being Ohio State, maybe outer space isn’t so out of reach?
Soon after that initial conversation, Nisa was hired for an important NASA research project: Testing out innovative food production technology for long-duration space missions.
“I will always see Ohio State as the place where I achieved my dream.”
“As a child, looking at all the magical things that happen in the stars, then learning what NASA does, it was all fascinating to me. Working with NASA became my childhood dream,” says Nisa, a graduate student in Ohio State’s Department of Food Science and Technology. “But before coming to Ohio State, I never thought food scientists could work with NASA. But Ohio State enabled me to do that.
“I will always see Ohio State as the place where I achieved my dream.”
Last summer, Nisa joined the Simunauts — simulation astronauts — four Ohio State students from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) hired as part of the final phase of NASA’s Deep Space Food Challenge.
Ohio State’s Simunaut team included Nisa; Charlie Frick, a senior majoring in animal sciences; Sakura Sugiyama ’24, a food science graduate; and Fuanyi Fobellah, a senior studying food business management.
“It was incredible to contribute to a project like this,” Fobellah says. “Knowing I was helping NASA, helping these companies improve their technology, it was amazing going to work every day. It really inspired me, opened my eyes to the possibilities of what I could do with my degree.” — Ross Bishoff
Mehr Un Nisa on her Ohio State experience:
“What makes Ohio State such a great institution is you don’t just get a great education, you get to apply what you learn. When I came here, I had the mindset of getting all the experiences I could because my long-term goal is to be a better food scientist through great research, and that’s what I got here. When I came to Ohio State, my dream was to one day work for NASA, but I didn’t really think it was possible. But because of my experiences here, it’s not just a dream, it’s a goal now. I’m one step closer.”
Fuanyi Fobellah on his Ohio State experience:
“It was an amazing experience, working with NASA. Knowing each day we were contributing to a large project like this was a great feeling, something you looked forward to each day. I never thought I’d come to Ohio State and get to work on a project like this. But it inspired me, it opened my eyes to new opportunities, new areas I can apply my degree to one day.”