 |
Shannon White '10: "You can learn
about anything at R-MC
if you are motivated enough." |
“The thing I find so amazing about R-MC is that professors really get to know their students,” says
Shannon White ’10. “When I graduate in May one of the hardest things I will do is say goodbye to my professors. I have shared a lot of great times with them and will be forever grateful for their impact on my life.”
Great Opportunities White grew up in Ashland, Virginia, and although she lived close to the campus all her life, “I never imagined I would attend R-MC,” she says. “But I was aware of the great opportunities that existed at R-MC, so during my senior year of high school, I applied on a whim and was invited for an interview, and I fell in love with the community. The students were very welcoming and the professors were so easy to communicate with and so approachable.”
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The Outdoor Classroom With majors in biology and environmental science—and a philosophy minor to boot—White’s academic pursuits keep her busy in and out of the traditional classroom. “One of my favorite aspects of R-MC is the potential to do field work,” says White. “In a lot of larger schools, information is presented through lectures or readings only, but a lot of my biology and environmental studies classes teach by doing. I spent almost my entire freshman year working on a local stream; I went out every week to the environmental studies field station for a course in ecology; I took a weekend trip along the James River; and I spent many hours on the Eastern Shore for my upper-level environmental studies class. The experience you gain in the field is much more fun and enriching than lectures alone, and it is something that you don’t experience at larger schools where class sizes are so big.”
Making a Difference White is passionate about preserving the environment and has been involved with several campus organizations throughout her academic career. She served as president of Students for Environmental Action (SEA) and participated in Macon a Difference Day, a campus-wide community service day that strives to clean up and beautify the campus and the greater Ashland community. White is also the chair of the Academic Integrity Council. She has been a member of the Honors Association since her freshman year, and she is a member of Beta Beta Beta and Chi Beta Phi, which are honorary science fraternities. “And in my ‘spare time’ I tutor chemistry, biology and environmental studies for the Higgins Academic Center!” she says.
Falling in Love with Research White has a special appreciation for research. “I have been one of the lucky few to do three Schapiro Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) projects,” says White. “In my freshman year, Dr. Gowan (biology) asked if I would be interested in studying fish in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It sounded like fun—a lot of camping and spending time outdoors. At the time I had no idea that I would fall in love with research and I never imagined that I would now be pursuing a career in fisheries biology. I loved that first year so much I decided to work with Dr. Gowan again in Harrisonburg in summer 2008 and then again in Colorado in summer 2009.” SURF was introduced in 1995 as an endowment to support scholarly undergraduate research by R-MC students in all disciplines. The initial gift for this program was made by Benjamin Schapiro ’64 and his wife Peggy.
“Beyond the amazing experiences of SURF, the research also showed me a career path that I am absolutely devoted to,” says White. “I came into R-MC thinking I was going to go pre-med, but Dr. Gowan helped me realize that my true interests are in fish biology. A lot of people critique small colleges for less-diverse class offerings, but my experience shows that you can learn about anything at R-MC if you are motivated enough.”
Future Opportunities White’s post-R-MC plans have also been shaped by her research experience. “The SURF program has made many opportunities available for me after I graduate,” she says. “By attending meetings and presenting my research, I have met professors at graduate schools who got to know me personally, before I even started applying. The opportunities I’ve had at R-MC give me a huge edge in the graduate-school applicant pool. I have done many research projects, will have published scientific papers, and am skilled in a lot of areas in my field, all before earning my bachelor's degree. I have been invited to give presentations to such organizations as Trout Unlimited. That invitation was based on another presentation I had given, and most people at Trout Unlimited were shocked to find out that I was only a junior in college.”
Award-winner White is the recipient of a Presidential Scholarship, has been on the dean's list every semester, and received the Douglas Ford Phi Beta Kappa GPA Recognition Award. In addition, she is the recipient of the Research Award for Excellence in Biological Research. “I have presented my research at various conferences, including the Virginia Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, where I won the Student Best Paper award in 2008 and 2009, and I was awarded the Robert E. Jenkins Undergraduate Scholarship,” says White.
No Time for Sleep The tireless White leads an incredibly busy life. “My daily schedule is a bit unusual in that I get to Copley at about 6:30 a.m.—and sometimes as early as 4:30 a.m.—to start work on my senior research project. The earliest I leave Copley is 6:30 p.m.,” says White. “In Dr. Gowan's lab I have a desk—it’s a lot like having my own office. My schedule is a bit crazy, but I love it. I am so fortunate to find something I am so passionate about that I could work on it for hours and never get tired.”
Inspiration White is thankful for the guidance she’s received from R-MC professors. “Dr. Gowan has been a huge inspiration to me,” she says. “He is extremely passionate about teaching and helping students and has really helped me become excited about my future career path. He has spent countless hours helping me pursue my passion for all topics related to fish. He gives me textbooks to read and doesn’t mind sitting down and discussing anything I might find interesting. I've spent many hours in his office discussing fish, or life in general, over a cup of coffee. Dr. Gowan and the entire R-MC faculty put in a lot of time helping their students succeed.”
Future Plans White’s future shines as brightly as her gleaming smile. “I am definitely going to graduate school to get either a master's or Ph.D. in fisheries science,” she says. “I am currently searching for a school, but have already been offered a graduate assistantship at Virginia Tech. I’m so thankful to Randolph-Macon College, and so excited about the future!”
For information on R-MC’s Schapiro Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program, visit
http://www.rmc.edu/why-rmc/programs/surf.aspx For information on R-MC’s biology department, visit
http://www.rmc.edu/academics/biology.aspx For information on R-MC’s environmental studies department, visit
http://www.rmc.edu/academics/environmental-studies.aspx For information on R-MC’s philosophy department, visit
http://www.rmc.edu/academics/philosophy.aspx
For more information about the breadth of programs and opportunities available at Randolph-Macon or to schedule a campus visit, contact our Admissions Office at (800) 888-1762 or at admissions@rmc.edu