It is always humbling to receive a note from a student. The students often surprise me in the ways they deliver their notes to me. Some use a traditional paper thank-you note. Research students send a text or a “shout-out” over Facebook. Other students send a heartfelt email. Some even scribble a note on the bottom or back of their final exams. All are appreciated. Here is a collection of some of these special notes from students.
Research students:
- Kristen Clemons was a McNair Scholar in my lab from May 2014 until her graduation in May 2016. Kristen found her love for microbiological research as a result of working in my lab. She is now a graduate student at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston. She gave me the first note after her first summer of research and the second after she graduated from ACU. I had the pleasure of watching Kristen transform from a quiet, unconfident person to a strong, focused researcher. After her first summer of research with me, she decided to pursue graduate school. I strongly encouraged her to apply for prestigious undergraduate research internships for the next summer. She was not excited about this, because it took her far out of her comfort zone, but that is what she needed. She came back from that experience a changed person. She was accepted into the doctoral programs at the Ohio State University and UT Health Houston.
- Kathryn Davis was my very first research student at ACU. She posted this picture and note on Facebook.
- Kathryn (Katie) Preston was McNair scholar in my lab from May 2014 until her graduation in May 2016. She and I spent many hours writing and revising her manuscript for publication which was finally accepted.
I have selected several other notes from students from different courses that I have taught.
Microbiology students:
- Sarah Bishop
- Jocelyn Groves
- Chris Hughes was a student from Hardin-Simmons University that needed to take microbiology in order to graduate and start pharmacy school. He scribbled this note at the bottom of his final exam.
- Anna Watson
Former Anatomy students now in medical school or dental school:
- Ana Arango
- Lydia Brown
- Blaine Gilbert
- Kristin Goodwin was my research student as well as anatomy and microbiology student. She texted me this note in her first semester of dental school.
- Carter Hayes
- Jake Hutto
- Chris Porter
Other students:
- Tina Johnson
- Tanner Morris
- Kristhel Porta
- Abigail Rogers was a student who was in Dr. Lee’s Field Biology class that stayed in the Huddleston family cabin in Angel Fire, NM.
Faith Integration:
- Derek Odelusi wrote this email in response to me thanking him for volunteering to pray for another student in class. He also added a reflection on an activity we were doing on how faith integrates into future career.
- Christina Paul sent this email to me in response to my sharing views on evolution and faith in BIOL 101.
