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C/I 11D: The
Environment: Issues and Choices
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C/I 11D: The
Environment: Issues and Choices
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Student Leaders
Nathan Drake, Carrie Tibbals, Kathryn Turner, Joan Youngblood
| Nathan Drake | Hello all, my name is Nathan Drake. I am twenty years old and a junior at Austin College. I came to Austin College because I believed that such a small liberal arts school would foster and expand my talents and interests. I stayed at Austin College because this belief has proven true. I plan to major in Physics and Mathematics – Spanish as well, if I can fit it all into four years. I spent my first JanTerm in Costa Rica, discussing Spanish politics and learning to cook with my host mother, a TV cooking chef. Last JanTerm I wandered across Europe, seeking historical WWII sites over eight countries. For the first time I felt absolute sorrow, attempting to understand the European Holocaust firsthand. These experiences have helped me understand my life’s purpose and place in the world.
I have a wide range of interests. I raced motocross in high school. I’ve played the piano for fifteen years and taught guitar for five. I scuba dive and swim, as well as wakeboard and slalom ski in the summer. I love snowboarding and mountain biking, though there aren’t many places to do either in Sherman. I fly model airplanes and hope to have my pilot’s license by the end of the school year. I love surfing and have made several of my own boards. My friends and I play racquetball together every week. I love to read, especially classic fiction and modern nonfiction. I spent this summer working at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. I analyzed images, looking for dust devils in the North Polar Region of Mars (and found them!). It was exciting work that has never been done before. I worked hard to be a part of such an amazing experience and am pleased with all the friends, contacts, and knowledge it brought me. If you’ve ever had dreams of soaring through space, JPL is the place for you. This summer I also took up the incredibly expensive hobby of skydiving. |
| Carrie Tibbals | Hello! My name is Carrie Tibbals. I am an only child from Dallas, Texas and a graduate of Plano West Senior High School. I am a senior majoring in Biology, minoring in Spanish and I plan on entering the Austin Teacher Program next year. After graduating I would like to be a middle school science teacher. At Austin College I am on the Service Station Board and served as the board co-chair my junior year. This year I am a Religious Life intern on campus so I am involved with the Activators program as well as the departments' other programs. I am also a member of this year's Senior Committee and of a sorority. When I am not in class I enjoy playing Frisbee, flying kites with my roommate, playing sand volleyball (even though I'm not so great), hiking, snow skiing and going to the lake campus. I also love to travel! I think Jan Term is one of the greatest things about Austin College. My freshmen year I took Scuba diving and we went to Cozumel for the last week of class. My sophomore year I went to Hawaii to study the natural history of the islands, and last year I took World War II in Europe and we visited several countries in Europe. This year I am going to New Zealand and Hawaii. All of my family and friends are incredibly jealous and cannot believe we have these great opportunities. I am really excited about being a CL and I think we will have lots of fun! |
| Kathryn Turner
ext. 2774 Baker 305 |
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Hi! My name is Kathryn Turner. I’m from Oklahoma City and am a sophomore at AC. I came to Austin College after a very lengthy search of seemingly every college in the Oklahoma-Texas-Louisiana area. There were two things that drew me to AC: the Jordan language house and the Environmental Studies program. I’m currently a resident of the language house where I attempt to communicate in Japanese. In January, I plan to travel to Tokyo, Japan through a Jan-term course to experience Japanese culture and improve my language skills. I have yet to declare a major, but am strongly considering Environmental Studies and Biology. During the school year, I’m involved in a project at a wildlife refuge to restore native prairie. Last year I became an avid bird watcher through participation in weekly bird surveys at the wildlife refuge. I love to be outside and enjoy hiking and also climbing trees. I like to swim, and am a member of the AC swimming and diving team. Go Roos! In my free time I enjoy playing the tenor saxophone and painting. Over the summer, I participated in an internship through the environmental studies program at AC. I worked with plant breeders at the Land Institute in Kansas who are conducting research on perennial grain crops. The ultimate goal of the Land Institute is to create a completely sustainable agricultural system. This was an incredible experience and I would love to talk to you about it anytime. After college I plan to go join the Peace Corps and perhaps continue my education by attending graduate school. I’m really looking forward to meeting you and learning more about your interests. I hope you’ve had a great summer and are looking forward to an exciting year. |
| Joan Youngblood | Hi there! My name is Joan Youngblood. I am from Rogers, Arkansas (that’s right, I’m one of those non-Texans). This is my senior year here at Austin College. I’m majoring in Biology and Spanish and just spent the past year learning to really speak spanish in Granada, Spain and immersing myself with environmental and sustainability issues in a small community outside of San Jose, Costa Rica. So that means that I am returning to AC this semester after a year long separation, and I am excited to become reacquainted with life here along side all of you. There are so many opportunities to become involved, and the more you get involved in, the more new people you meet. During my first 2 years here I was involved with a few theater productions, the Sneed Environmental Research Station (a beautiful chunk of prairie that AC is in the process of restoring), MAC tutoring (math help for local high school students), and Clyce Hall Council. I love to run, swim, and bike. I love to see new and interesting places both abroad as well as here in the great state of Texas. I love to learn and discuss (especially if I can do either in spanish!). I really encourage all of you to pursue any and all interests you have here at AC. This small community is such a great place to explore what you can do and where you can go. There are great professors and great opportunities in all areas. You just have to figure out what you want to try. And then do it. |
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