Throughout the spring semester, we are honoring our senior student-athletes with a "Senior Salute" series. Today's featured senior is Grace Lindgren, a mathematics major from Cheboygan, Michigan. Lindgren is a member of the women's golf team.
Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: I chose to attend The College of Wooster because of the location and the inclusive environment in both academics and athletics. The academics at Wooster are top-tier and the team camaraderie is unmatched.
Q: What does being a Fighting Scot student-athlete mean to you?
A: To me, being a Fighting Scot student-athlete means always giving 100 percent effort, not only for yourself, but for your teammates and coaches. Putting your teammates first is of utmost importance. All Fighting Scot student-athletes support each other at games, matches, tournaments, and other events.
Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: Some of my favorite athletic memories as a student at The College of Wooster include our team spring break trip to Hilton Head Island, breaking school records, and team dinners. My favorite academic memories include being able to take interesting classes outside of the Mathematics department and the research I have done. I also love the tradition of I.S. Monday.
Q: What is the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster?
A: The best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster is the team culture that I have been able to be a part of. Although I have only been here for two years, I have made friends that will last me a lifetime. I have also built amazing relationships with my coaches, faculty, and staff in the athletic department.
Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: Besides being a captain of the women's golf team, I am the co-president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the head campus captain of The Hidden Opponent program, and have played intramural volleyball. I am a member of Delta Theta Psi and a co-host of the Wooster-91 radio show "GPM in the PM" from 11 p.m.-midnight on Mondays. Lastly, I am a mathematics tutor at Wooster High School.
Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: The College of Wooster faculty member that has made the greatest impact on me is Libby Ladrach. Libby consistently brings a positive energy to our conversations and is always willing to help. She devotes a lot of effort into everything she is involved in. Libby is also a wonderful mentor to have.
Q: What other people or resources impacted your Wooster experience in a positive way and how did these people and resources set you up to be successful at Wooster?
A: Coach Lisa Campanell Komara and Coach Gary Welshhans have greatly impacted my Wooster experience in a positive way. By being there for me outside of scheduled practices and motivating me at tournaments, they have been there at the most important times. They have made me more successful because of their consideration and support.
Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: My Independent Study project focuses on neural networks and how to optimize them. In my project, I discuss artificial intelligence and how neural networks are involved in it. I use the example of optimizing a neural network through the process of gradient descent to delegate boundaries on the unit circle by distinguishing points that are either in the circle or not in the most efficient way. My project will include this example and more to show the best methods for optimizing neural network architecture.
Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: Some cool things I have been involved in at Wooster include sweeping Div. II Savannah State University at our match play event over spring break my junior year, breaking the team school record for a low round in Kentucky, and being co-medalist at the Westfield Collegiate Golf Classic.
Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what advice would you give your first-year self?
A: Because I entered Wooster as a junior, I would give my junior-year self this advice - if you want something, you must work for it. Nothing will be handed to you.
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