Throughout the spring semester, we are honoring our senior student-athletes with a "Senior Salute" series. Today's featured senior is Claudia Partridge, an economics major from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Partridge is a member of the track & field team. 

Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster? 
A: I chose to attend Wooster because of Coach Julius Higginbotham.  

Q: What does it mean to you to be a Fighting Scot student-athlete? 
A: It means I am part of a great community of student-athletes.  

Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster? 
A: My favorite memories are having a jumping squad for the first time in my track and field career, going to Myrtle Beach with the team as a first-year and sophomore, competing in relays with my teammates, and declaring my major.

Q: What's the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster? 
A: Having discipline in your schedule. Being a student-athlete at the College allows me to focus on school while still competing in track and field. It has provided me with a support system and a continued reason to go to class.  

Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport? 
A: I'm involved with the Black Women's Organization, Wooster Women & Gender Minorities in Economics, and the Black Student Association.

Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why? 
A: Coach Julius Higginbotham and Coach Dennis Rice have been really supportive throughout my time here. They were both really supportive when I was struggling in online school during COVID-19.   

Q: Which other people or resources impacted your Wooster experience in a positive way and how did these people/resources set you up to be successful at Wooster? 
A: My academic advisor Dr. (Matthew) Histen has been very helpful in planning my schedule and advising me what classes to take. He also got me started as a teaching apprentice in the economics department.

Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project? 
A: I am looking at the relationship between medical expenditure and air pollution.  

Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: I was able to study abroad in Scotland even during COVID. I was very lucky to still be able to go because most programs were canceled. It was a wonderful experienced and I learned a lot about myself in the time I spent overseas.  

Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what is one piece of advice you would give your first-year (freshman) self? 
A: I would say to take as many classes outside of our major as possible. You may never have an opportunity to dive into a subject completely different from your major. College is the time to explore and open your mind to different perspectives and disciplines.  

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Interested in becoming a Fighting Scot? 
Prospective student-athletes can click here to request more information from a coach, click here to view the virtual campus tour, and click here to learn more about admissions events, tours, and visit programs.