Throughout the spring semester, we are honoring our senior student-athletes with a "Senior Salute" series. Today's featured senior is Grace Gascoigne, a biochemistry and molecular biology major from Rocky River, Ohio. Gascoigne is a member of the women's soccer team.
Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: One of the biggest things that stood out to me about The College of Wooster was the class sizes and accessibility of professors. Wooster offered me a chance to form meaningful relationships with my professors and peers. This in combination with the opportunity to play the sport I had grown up loving at a competitive level made Wooster my top choice.
Q: What does being a Fighting Scot student-athlete mean to you?
A: Being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster is about meeting people and forming relationships that will last a lifetime. Being friends with other student-athletes who understand the difficulties of balancing academics and sports helps us push each other so we can achieve all our goals without feeling alone or overwhelmed.
Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: Some of my favorite memories include meetings with my health coach patient. I have been able to form a really meaningful relationship with them and love our weekly meetings.
Q: What is the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster?
A: The best part of being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster is meeting all my best friends. It also offers a great stress outlet during long study days.
Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: Outside of soccer, I work a few jobs. I am an RA, STEM Zone Intern, peer health advisor, and have worked as a research assistant and lab teach assistant. I am vice president of the campus chapter of the Beta Beta Beta biology honor society, secretary for the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Club, and part of the Wooster Community Hospital Community Care Network Health Coach Program.
Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: Dr. Rebecca Williams has made a large impact on me. I have had classes with her since my first year and she has helped me develop into the student I am today. I have had research projects with her and have recently had one of our papers published. She is extremely supportive and dedicated to her students.
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: I utilized APEX (Wooster's center for Advising, Planning, and Experiential Learning) to have a summer opportunity funded at the Cleveland Clinic. I gained exposure interacting with patients and scribing visits and have been able to talk about this experience during medical school interviews.
Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: My I.S. investigates the evolution of a family of proteins called phosphagen kinases. I am looking at creatine kinases and its activity with differing quaternary structures.
Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: One of my top memories is traveling to Spain with my team. Specifically, I loved seeing the
city of Girona where we watched a Premier League match. After, we went into the Gothic Quarter where many Game of Thrones scenes were filmed.
Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what advice would you give your first-year self?
A: I would tell myself to take a second and enjoy experiences as they are happening. It goes by so fast.
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