Senior Salute - Amanda Flory

Our "Senior Salute" series continues with Amanda Flory, an environmental geoscience and environmental studies major from Spokane, Washington. Flory is a member of the women's soccer team.

Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: I chose Wooster because of its strong academics and competitive teams. I also wanted to go to a college that had a small community with students and faculty from all over the world.

Q: What does being a Fighting Scot student-athlete mean to you?
A: It means working hard to develop yourself for your team, bringing a positive attitude, and uplifting your teammates. It also means being a hard-working student with good time management skills.

Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: My favorite memories are all the dinners at Lowry with my friends, especially the Thanksgiving dinners where we all come together, relax, and talk about our days. Another favorite memory was our Halloween practice this year where we all dressed up in costumes and competed in a small-sided tournament. My team for this tournament brought such great energy and I have never had that much fun in a practice before.

Q: What is the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster?
A: The community between all the sports and athletes is amazing. I know I can go to my friends on the track and field team or swimming and diving team and talk about our shared experiences as an athlete at Wooster.

Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: I was a member of GeoClub, Greenhouse, as-well as a member of Green Scots for the office of Sustainability.

Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: My advisor, Dr. Gregory Wiles, has really impacted my future career and academics. He gave me an amazing opportunity to go to Alaska to work on my Independent Study, which opened my eyes to research. My experience in Alaska has inspired me to continue research in grad school and beyond.

Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: I am studying how large volcanic eruptions influence climate patterns in the Gulf of Alaska by examining yellow-cedar trees as natural historians. Their annual growth rings serve as climate proxies, revealing North Pacific weather patterns dating back to the 1400s. This study will not only provide new data for the scientific community, but also gain a better understanding of global climate systems, and how they react to sudden changes.

Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: My team went on a trip to Spain in 2023. It was very fun, and I especially loved playing against a couple Spanish teams, seeing a LaLiga game in a small stadium, and seeing how the Spanish tailgate sporting events!

Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what advice would you give your first-year self?
A: Enjoy every moment with your friends and do not stress so much about the future. Take earth materials as a first-year and not as a senior.

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