2015-Mary Higgins
Mary Higgins
First Major: Biology
Minor: Mathematics
Thesis: Differential Gene Expression of Myd88-low Cell Lines
Personal Statement
To me, the Lafayette ideal is not an individual pursuit, but a group one. Thus, I measure myself both by how I have helped others to grow into active, engaged citizens and how I have allowed my peers to influence my own development, for we need each other to reach our full potential and the full potential of our community.
I am grateful to the Kaleidoscope facilitators, and to the community members who speak out against injustices they face, for challenging me to grapple with the concepts of power and privilege and whether I stand as an ally or a bystander. I am inspired by the student-athletes I cheer on in Pep Band who, win or lose and regardless of margin of victory, fight for every point until the very end. I am thankful for the friends and mentors who encouraged me to explore new paths and strive for more than I thought I was capable of.
As a leader and participant in MOSAIC programs, I hope I have conveyed to my fellow volunteers the dignity of each person we work with, regardless of ability, and the power of empathy, respect, and listening with the intent to understand rather than to be understood. In ASB, I’ve sought to show trip leaders how to grow a dream into a reality through meticulous planning and to plant and nourish the seeds of civic engagement. As a researcher and Supplemental Instructor, I’ve tried to emphasize the importance of critical thinking, show how to reduce complex topics to understandable components, and share my curiosity and passion for understanding thoroughly the fundamental mechanisms behind biological systems.
My peers have instilled in me the confidence to lead, humility to change, drive to learn, and dream to inspire. I hope I have done the same.
Academic Activities/Awards – Total Years Involved
- EXCEL Research 1
From May 2012 to April 2013, I conducted research with another student under Dr. Robert Kurt of the Biology Department and Dr. Chun Wai Liew of the Computer Science Department. We designed an experiment to test for heterologous desensitization of T cell receptors and chemokine receptors in T cells of 4T1-tumor bearing mice. Additionally, we created a computer model to predict results under varying levels of desensitivity. This project culminated in an oral presentation at the 2013 meeting of Pennsylvania Academy of Science. - Honors Thesis 1
For my senior honors thesis, I am working under Dr. Robert Kurt to analyze differential gene expression of Myd88-low 4T1 cell lines using total RNA sequencing, bioinformatics tools, and qRT-PCR. - Summer Undergraduate Research Program,Wayne State University School of Medicine 1
The summer after my sophomore year, I assisted Dr. Li Li of the Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics in her research to determine the molecular mechanisms of SM22 responsible for phenotypic modulation in vascular smooth muscle cells. During this 12-week program, I initiated work on developing a stable cell line for high throughput screening to detect drugs that prevent aortic aneurysms by upregulating SM22. I presented my results at a minisymposium. - Summer Undergraduate MSTP Research Program, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine 1
The summer after my junior year, I conducted research in Dr. Kai Tan’s lab. I used the CRISPR technique to disrupt the RUNX1 gene in K562 cells in order to study its role in megakaryopoiesis and presented a poster at the summer research symposium. Additionally, I participated in several workshops about MD/PhD programs and physician-scientists and shadowed ER doctors and an cardiac electrophysiologist. - SEES Research Assistant 1
During my first year at Lafayette, I assisted a senior civil/environmental engineering student in using denitrifying bacteria to create a biofilm for his thesis research. This was coordinated through a mentoring program by the Society for Environmental E - 2014 Goldwater Scholar 1
In spring 2014, I was awarded a Goldwater Scholarship, the premier undergraduate award given to students in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. - Marquis Scholar 4
Lafayette’s highest academic scholarship (offered to the Class of 2015). - James J. Kerrigan Memorial Scholarship 4
Awarded by Merck & Co., Inc. for academic excellence and service to the school and community. - Dean’s List 4
Qualified for Dean’s List every semester for achieving a GPA of 3.60 or greater. - Externship
I completed a 5-day externship during the interim of my junior year where I shadowed a doctor conducting medical research in liver diseases and managing end-stage liver disease at Montefiore Medical Center.
Campus Service/Activities and Awards – Total Years Involved
- Music Appreciation Floor (MAFia) 4
I have been a member of MAFia for four years and resident on the floor for three years. I have helped organized and participated in various events and programming, including the production of the Best School Ever music video, Lip Sync Competitions, performances at the Williams Center for the Arts, music video exploration nights, and the writing of the new spirit song “All for Lafayette.” - Biology 101 and 102 Supplemental Instructor 1
I attended all classes, developed study materials for students, organized and led review sessions twice a week, and held office hours twice a week. During this time, I worked with students to ensure they understood all concepts and helped them develop study skills. - Bioinformatics/Computational Biology Student Panel 2
I served on the 2013 student panel that met with candidates for a Bioinformatics professor position and gave feedback to the faculty selection committee. I also served on the 2014 panel for a Mathematical Biology professor position. - Peer Adviser 3
I have served as a Peer Adviser for the Classes of 2016, 2017, and 2018. This entailed answering questions from incoming first-year students regarding housing, course selection, academics, and the college transition process in general. - Lafayette Leadership Institute 2
I attended the Lafayette Leadership Institute my sophomore and junior years to develop leadership skills. - Finding We Retreat 1
I participated in the 2012 Finding We Retreat, where campus leaders gathered together to discuss social justice issues pertaining to the Lafayette community and different barriers within the community. - Hoff Awards Committee 1
My junior year, I was asked to serve on the Hoff Awards Committee that selected award recipients and coordinated presentation of the awards at the ceremony.
Community Service – Total Years Involved
- Alternative School Break (ASB) 4
ASB organizes week-long service trips for teams of 12-15 students over interim and spring break. Each team meets weekly prior to their trip to learn about a specific social issue and meets after their trip to plan a re-orientation project. I have participated in four ASB trips and served in various Executive Board positions for three years.
Trip Participant, 2011-2014: I served on the 2012 Tennessee trip to work with a Cherokee community, the 2013 trip to mentor children at the Newark Boys & Girls Club, the 2014 Chicago urban poverty and education reform trip, and the 2015 childhood obesity and self esteem trip.
Travel Coordinator, 2012-2013: I arranged all travel, food, housing, and paperwork logistics for two international and four domestic trips.
President, 2013-2014: I oversaw seven executive board members and five trip leaders in organizing five service trips for 60 Lafayette students.
Student Intern, 2014-2015: I developed the intern position and worked with the Executive Board and six trip leaders to organize two international and four domestic trips. I oversaw all travel, food, housing, and paperwork logistics and completed additional special projects. - Best Buddies 4
Best Buddies facilitates friendships between college students and adults from the community who have intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. I’ve been matched with a buddy since my first year at Lafayette. We attend group events together and go on individual outings. I have also assisted in planning “Spread the Word to End the Word” Day to end the derogatory use of the word “retarded’ on Lafayette’s campus. Additionally, I was an officer my sophomore year and helped plan monthly group events. - MOSAIC Staff 3
I joined MOSAIC Staff (formerly known as Landis Staff) my sophomore year as an America Reads*Counts Program Coordinator. The past two years, I have coordinated a music therapy volunteer program at Sharing the Caring, a day center for senior citizens with memory disorders. As a Program Coordinator, I recruit and train volunteers, plan weekly activities for my program, organize education and reflection events, attend monthly staff and team meetings, hold a weekly office hour, and receive social justice training. - Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week 3
My first year at Lafayette, I participated in the Midnight Run by preparing and delivering bagged meals to individuals who are homeless in Philadelphia. As part of my MOSAIC Staff responsibilities, I was on the team that planned and executed H&HA Week junior and senior year. Junior year, I organized an event where students made 80 scarves to be handed out on the Midnight Run. Senior year, I helped organize the Box City event. - Literacy Day 2
Literacy Day is an annual event where approximately 65 local children and teenagers come to Lafayette for a day to participate in literacy-related workshops and activities. As part of my MOSAIC Staff responsibilities, I helped plan and execute Literacy Day sophomore year by helping to secure funding for the event, working with campus groups to plan literacy-related activities, and helping facilitate the Teen Conference. - Pre-Orientation Service Program (POSP) 2
As an incoming first-year student, I participated in POSP, where I learned about civic engagement, social justice, community service models, and the Lafayette and Easton community. Specifically, I volunteered with the Teens in the Community (TIC) Camp. As a sophomore, I served as the Assistant Director/Director of First Year Students and was responsible for marketing, volunteer recruitment and selection, assisting the Executive Director, and acting as a liaison between participants and staff. - Lafapalooza 3
I helped organize Music Appreciation Floor volunteer groups for Lafapalooza sophomore and junior years to help with painting rooms at the Safe Harbor, an emergency/transitional shelter for homeless individuals, and gardening at the Children’s Home of East Senior year, I volunteered at Firth Youth Center. - Service Above Self Award 1
I received this at the 2014 Hoff Awards Ceremony. It is “presented in recognition of the individual or individuals who best exemplify the qualities of caring and concern for others in service activities.”
Special Interest – Total Years Involved
- Concert Band 4
I have played flute in Concert Band for four years and served as Principal II Flute during the Fall 2013 and Spring 2015 semesters. As a Principal, I helped lead sectional rehearsals, performed solos, and facilitated communication between the section and the director. - Leopard Pride (Pep Band) 4
I have played flute and piccolo in the Leopard Pride for four years, performing and cheering on the teams at home football games as well as men’s and women’s home basketball games. - Usher for the Williams Center for the Arts 3
I have worked as an usher at the Williams Center for the arts for three years. My responsibilities include setting up the lobby, tearing and counting tickets, seating patrons, monitoring the audience, and solving customer concerns. I have also ushered for Marquis Players shows and the 2014 All-College Honors Convocation. - Contemporary Music Ensemble 1
I was invited to play flute and piccolo in the Contemporary Music Ensemble for the 2015 spring semester. The ensemble rehearses on a weekly basis pieces composed by Lafayette students for our spring concert. - Arts Society 1
My senior year, I joined Arts Society and have participated in multiple events, including our fall picnic, a progressive dinner, the Homecoming TexBrex breakfast, etc. - Interim Trip; Turkey: The Cradle of Civilizations 1
I participated in an interim to Turkey my sophomore year where I learned about the rise and fall of civilizations through the lens of art history. - Interim Trip; Envisioning Environmental Science: Rock, Landform and Water Interactions in New Zealand
I participated in an interim trip to New Zealand my senior year where I learned about water quality and various geological topics, including volcanoes, glaciers, floodplains, and the rise of the Southern Alps.