Seniors reflect on Commencement

Degree: Psychology and Medicine, Health and Society
Plans for next year: Play basketball overseas
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Going to Costa Rica
Favorite class: Social Psychology
Favorite professor: Ashleigh Maxcey
Favorite non-athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Playing in the snow sophomore year when it snowed several inches on campus
In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Exciting
Favorite place on campus: The wall in front of Wilson
Favorite place in Nashville: Enoing at Centennial Park
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: I will miss the Vandy bubble! Everyone seems to be on the same page with things and everyone seems pretty close to one another; everyone knows everyone because campus is so small.

Degree: Medicine, Health and Society (undergrad); Marketing (Master’s)
Plans for next year: Full-time marketing position in Nashville
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: In 2017, making it to my first national meet my senior year alongside my teammates Courtney Clayton and Simone Charley. We competed against the top 16 athletes in the country in each event and all three of us earned All-America status.
Favorite Class: Advanced Marketing (undergrad); Consumer Behavior (Master’s)
Favorite Professor: Russell McIntire (undergrad); Kelly Goldsmith (Master’s)
Favorite non-athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Spending time with friends and family while exploring Nashville and all it has to offer
In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Bittersweet
Favorite place on campus: Indoor track
Favorite place in Nashville: Percy Warner Park
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: Definitley all of the people and the relationships I’ve been able to form, both in the athletic department with other athletes and administrators, but also on campus with professors and fellow classmates.

Degree: Medicine, Health and Society and English; minor in Chemistry
Plans for next year: Attending graduate school to attain my Master’s degree at Vanderbilt through the BA/MA MHS 4+1 program.
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Competing in the SEC Championships the last two years with my younger brother, Glen Brown, who swims for Kentucky.
Favorite non-athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Receiving my acceptance into my MHS 4+1 Master’s program at Vanderbilt because I can obtain another degree from my university and live in the growing city of Nashville.
Favorite professor: Andrea Hearn
In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Exhilarating
Favorite place on campus: My sorority — Alpha Delta Pi — house and Grins Vegetarian Cafe
Favorite place in Nashville: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in Hillsboro Village
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: Cannot answer this question yet because I am fortunate to study at Vanderbilt for another year.

Degree: Masters in Medicine, Health, and Society
Plans for next year: Play professional soccer and apply to grad school.
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Qualifying for the NCAA tournament and beating Ohio State in the first round
Favorite class: I’ve taken a lot of great classes at Vandy, so this one is hard. I would say it’s a five-way-tie (haha) between: Prison Life, Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the US, Neuroscience, Racial Domination Racial Progress, and Social Psychology.
Favorite professor: This is another hard one. I would say it’s a three-way-tie between: Dr. Noble, Dr. Cooter, and Dr. Woods
Favorite non-athletic memory: Going to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Retreat and having my life changed forever
In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Nostalgic
Favorite place on campus: Grins
Favorite place in Nashville: Nama Sushi
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: I will miss the people the most…we really are one big family.

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Economics and Educational Studies
Plans for next year: Working as a Client Enablement Specialist for Qualtrics in Utah
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Racing at Penn Relays in front of 50,000 people with my best friends
Favorite class: Astronomy
Favorite professor: Professor Douglas Granier, a truly inspiring professor with incredibly valuable and unique insight into the educational world. He is a wonderful person who truly cares about his students!
Favorite non-athletic memory at Vanderbilt: A spring break camping trip in 2016 with my closest friends and teammates where we slept in a treehouse.
In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Powerful
Favorite place on campus: Light Hall
Favorite place in Nashville: The Humane Society
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: The community and endless stream of support. I will truly miss the teammates that guided me, supported me and enjoyed life with me here. There’s nothing like it!

Degree: Economics & History; minor in European Studies
Plans for next year: Undecided
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Winning the 2017 SEC Championship
Favorite class: Intermediate Microeconomics
Favorite professor: William Caferro
Favorite non-athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Playing paintball as a team
In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Unbelievable
Favorite place on campus: Rand Area
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: My teammates

Degree: Economics and Political Science; minor in Spanish
Plans for next year: Management Consulting for McKinsey and Co. in New Jersey
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Long team runs.
Favorite class: Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory with Rupinder Saggi and Topics in American Government: Building a Better Congress with Alan Wiseman.
Favorite professor: David Maraniss
Favorite non-athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Unsuccessfully running for Student Government President and all the people I met along the way
In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Empowering
Favorite place on campus: Library Lawn
Favorite place in Nashville: Three Brothers Coffee
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: The people and interconnectedness of campus

Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Plans for next year: Graduate school at Vanderbilt in MHS 4+1 program
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Being a relay member on our distance medley relay team last indoor SEC Championships and watching my teammates boldly lead the pack as we passed the baton to each other and placed in the top six
Favorite class: Introduction to Nutrition and Health
Favorite professor: Professor John English, who I had for Public Speaking as a freshman. Phenomenal man!
In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Liberating
Favorite place on campus: SLC circle during the sprint overseeing the beautiful trees
Favorite place in Nashville: Nashville Delicatessen before they discontinued their “we dare ya” breakfast sandwich. Now, I enjoy Juice Bar in Hillsboro Village! I love their smoothie bowls.
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: Traveling, competing with and cheering on my teammates. It has been a privilege!

Degree: Economics; minor in Spanish
Plans for next year: Taking the summer to consider an internship in finance
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Winning the Las Vegas Collegiate Shootout as a team my freshman year
Favorite Class: Spanish for Business and Economics. This class was a ton of work, but the information we learned was so interesting and will be incredibly applicable to what I want to do with my Spanish minor in the future.
Favorite Professor: Heraldo Falconi. He is the BEST! I had two classes with him, Intermediate Spanish Writing and Spanish Advanced Conversation, and he sponsored my Spanish independent study.
Favorite non-athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Getting to enjoy Nashville as a city and all the different restaurants around here.
In one word, what does it feel like to be graduating: Fulfilling
Favorite place on campus: Grins
Favorite place in Nashville: L.A. Jackson (most beautiful view of the city)
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: Having all my friends so close together.

Degree: Economics
Plans for next year: Playing professionally
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Winning the SEC Championship in 2017
Favorite non-athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Move-in as a freshman
Favorite professor: Tim Larsen
Favorite class: Sports Economics
What it feels like to be graduating: Exciting and sad
Favorite place on campus: Alumni Lawn
Favorite place in Nashville: Bridgestone Arena
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: The comaradarie and easiness of everything

Degree: Human and Organizational Development
Plans for next year: Play professional basketball overseas
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Making semifinals of SEC Tournament at Bridgestone Arena
Favorite class: Criminology
Favorite professor: Professor Woods
Favorite non-athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Seeing Future at Rites of Spring my sophomore year
In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Surreal
Favorite place on campus: Top of Memorial Gym
Favorite place in Nashville: Kayne Prime
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: My teammates and friends

Degree: Sociology; minor in Corporate Strategy
Plans for next year: Pursue a career in the NFL and start my own retail business
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Beating Georgia in Athens in 2016 on the Bulldogs’ Homecoming.
Favorite class: Blackness in U.S. Pop Culture
Favorite professor: Laurie Woods
Favorite non-athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Becoming a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Transformational
Favorite place on campus: The Rec Center
Favorite place in Nashville: The Gultch
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: My friends, who have become my family

Degree: Chemical Engineering; minor in Chemistry
Plans for next Year: Move to San Francisco with friends
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Winning the 2018 NCAA Championship
Favorite Class: Race, Gender and Sport
Favorite Professor: Amy Cooter
Favorite non-athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Winning ‘Dancing with the Dores’
In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Finally
Favorite place on campus: K.C. Potter Center
Favorite place in Nashville: Humane Association
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: Being around so many intelligent and multi-talented people

Degree: Human and Organizational Development
Plans for next Year: Moving to Chicago this summer to work in consulting at PricewaterhouseCoopers. I will be living with Marley Sternberg!
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Almost beating Florida this past season by a final score of 11-10.
Favorite Class: HODH Social Norms & Health Behaviors or Public Policy
Favorite Professor: Leigh Gilchrist
Favorite non-athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Any moment spent with my teammates/best friends, exploring Nashville, and living here with twin sister Kayla this past summer.
In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Bittersweet
Favorite place on campus: The Commons
Favorite place in Nashville: Percy Warner Park
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: My athletics family and the comfort and feeling of home.

Degree: Medicine Health and Society; minor in Psychology
Plans for next year: Play professionally overseas or take a gap year and attend pharmacy school
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Our SEC Tournament run my sophomore year.
Favorite class: Healthcare in France class, in which I learned about healthcare and health in different countries.
Favorite professor: Professor Sharon Shields, who taught a class centered around service learning. She was very caring, friendly and knowledgeable.
Favorite non-athletic memory at Vanderbilt: The opportunity to travel. We went to New York and saw The Lion King on Broadway and took a team trip to Costa Rica. I also studied abroad in France.
In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Honorable
Favorite place on campus: Either the third floor of Central Library (my favorite spot for between-class naps), Memorial Gymnasium or the Hendrix Room at McGugin Center, where we get free food!
Favorite place in Nashville: There’s a spot in Nashville called “love circle” that overlooks the entire city. I often go up there during the day or night to relax and center myself.
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: Oh, let me see… the free food, the free gear, the free love from your favorite people (I love free things). Although my family is in Mississippi, I will miss the fact that Vanderbilt really felt like home.

Degree: Economics
Plans for next year: Playing professionally
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Beating Kentucky at home sophomore year
Favorite class: Sports Economics
Favorite professor: Professor John Vrooman
Favorite non-athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Our team trip to Maui during my sophomore season
In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Exciting
Favorite place on campus: Papa John’s
Favorite place in Nashville: Nama
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: The relationship I formed with teammates, friends and staff throughout my four years

Degree: Medicine, Health and Society
Plans for next year: NFL
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Beating Tennessee at home to close the 2016 regular season
Favorite class: Special Education 1010
Favorite professor: Dr. Gilbert Gonzales
Favorite non-athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Living with my friends
In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Exciting
Favorite place on campus: Alumni Lawn
Favorite place in Nashville: Taqueria de Sol
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: The community

Degree: Medicine, Health and Society
Plans for next year: Playing professional tennis
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Winning the NCAA Championship in 2015
Favorite class: Human osteology
Favorite professor: Tiffiny Tung
Favorite non-athletic memory at Vanderbilt: The snowstorm that canceled classes and allowed us to make snowmen for two days.
In one word what does it feel like to be graduating: Accomplished
Favorite place on campus: Bamboo Bistro
Favorite place in Nashville: Nashville Humane Association for Animals
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: Being surrounded by a community that offers love, support and inspiration.

Degree: Medicine, Health and Society
Plans for next year: Attend UT Martin to pursue a graduate degree in mechanical engineering
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Winning the Clemson Regional in 2017
Favorite class: Country Music
Favorite professor: Dr. Elizabeth Essin
Favorite non-athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Moving into Towers once the spring semester is over when the whole team lives in one building
Favorite place on campus: Rand
Favorite place in Nashville: Centennial Park
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: I will miss spending time with the guys on the team

Degree: Molecular and Cellular Biology; minor in Chemistry
Plans for next year: Travel to Prague and compete in pro tournaments in Europe
Favorite athletic memory at Vanderbilt: Clinching the match against Alabama on Senior Day during my junior season after saving match-points
In one word, what does it feel like to be graduating: Enthusiastic
Favorite class: Directed Lab Research
Favorite professor: Barbara Fingelton
Favorite place on campus: The Commons
Favorite place in Nashville: Percy Warner Park
What will you miss most about Vanderbilt: I will miss my friends, my coaches and mentors and the good food!