Dean's Award: Kelly Christensen
Awarded to the outstanding senior in each department.
Kelly Christensen
Hometown: Ririe, Idaho
Graduation: Spring 2016
Why did you choose the University of Idaho?
My dad is a Vandal alumni, so I heard him talk about the university growing up. When I came up to visit I fell in love with UI and Moscow. The town is beautiful, and the school is small enough to ensure that you don’t become just a number, but big enough to allow for personal growth. It’s the perfect balance!
Awards
Kelly is also the recipient of the Department of Mathematics' Outstanding Graduating Seniors Award and the Department of Physics' George and Della Luke Award.
Favorites
Class?
Mathematical Biology
Professor?
Steve Krone
Lab?
Physics 213 (I had the best TA!)
Research Project?
Dr. Steve Krone’s work. I have been lucky enough to get to work with him on modeling bacteria and phage interactions. It was been amazing to learn from him.
Studying
What is your favorite study tip?
Take dance breaks! It can be really easy to wear yourself out when trying to study for test, and after a while all the information starts to blend together. I like to get up and move around after I’ve been working for an hour or two. It brings the positive vibes back!
What is your go-to study snack?
Popcorn and lemonade
Campus Life
What UI memory makes you laugh the most?
There are so many! I think one of my favorites is from freshman year. My roommate and I had Honors Chemistry 111 and 112 together. We had a ritual of blasting music and dancing around our room before going to take a test. Before one particularly difficult test we decided to take the music with us to the test. So we blasted Eye of the Tiger on our walk from the Tower to Renfrew and then took song requests when we got to the classroom. I still try to get in a dance session before any test I take.
Dorm or Greek?
Dorms! (and off campus as well!)
Intramural Sports or Student Clubs?
Student clubs. There is a club for everything! I got involved with UI Science Outreach and I have been able to go to elementary schools in the area and bring science to the kids. It is one of my favorite activities.
Tell us
What are your plans for after graduation?
Right after graduation I am going to Pittsburgh to serve as the student leader for UI’s Summer Alternative Service Break trip. Then I’m going to be getting my master’s in mathematics at UI in the fall!
What should incoming first-year students know?
Take classes outside of your major. They help keep you sane and get your brain working in a different way. There is so much to learn out there and college is the perfect place to dive into different subjects. You might find new ways to tackle problems in your own field by looking at them through the lens of another discipline. Some of my favorite classes have been ones that had nothing to do with math.
What advice to you have for other students in your major?
Don’t forget how beautiful mathematics is. It can be found in everything around you. It can be discouraging when people talk about how much they hate the subject you love, so try to remember why you got into in the first place. Go talk to the professors! The math department has amazing faculty. They are always excited to talk about their research with anyone who is interested. And most importantly, show all your work. Partial credit is real, and it is a life saver.
