Gifts to Department of Biology - Meet Kennedy contribute to...
Kennedy ’25 has always loved biology. Hope College’s excellence in the biology department helped nurture her interests and propelled her toward her dream career.
The senior from Grand Blanc, Mich., plans on attending dental school to earn her D.D.S. or D.M.D. She’s used her Hope education to pursue a pre-dental track. “The major aligns so well with the requirements for advancing my education in this field. Hope offers an incredible variety of courses that explore the many fascinating aspects of biology,” she explained.
Kennedy has made the most of her time at Hope. When she’s not in the classroom, she competes with Hope’s cross country and track teams in addition to serving as the vice president of Hope’s biology club, Tri Beta.
She’s also busy in the research lab. “I was able to conduct research with Dr. Benjamin Kopek on flockhouse virus in flies. It’s so easy to get interested in research at Hope,” she said.
She’s been impressed with the overwhelming excellence of the department. “I am truly passionate about the department because of its outstanding professors, the diverse range of classes it offers and the incredible opportunities available to students,” she enthused. “One of my favorite experiences was taking animal physiology with Dr. Dean Gibbons. The course was highly engaging, featuring hands-on lab activities like learning suturing techniques.”
Taking advantage of seminars and guest speakers that the department sponsors to supplement the classroom experience provides Kennedy and other students with many avenues to explore career paths. Her goal is to open her own dental practice one day.
She’s grateful for donors like you. “Your donation will provide students with deeper immersion in the field and unlock countless opportunities,” she explained. “We are grateful for your commitment to enriching our education and we’ll use the skills we’ve gained to give back to the community.”
Your gifts to the Department of Biology on Day of Giving create a ripple effect that lasts far beyond a student’s time at Hope. You are helping Hope maintain its strong reputation for undergraduate research while allowing students like Kennedy to chase their lifelong dreams.
