Throughout the spring semester, we are honoring our senior student-athletes with a "Senior Salute" series. Today's featured senior is Alex Gasper, a biochemistry and molecular biology major from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Gasper is a member of the baseball team.
Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: Wooster gave me the opportunity to continue playing baseball and get a great education. I really enjoyed the feel of the campus and the dynamic of the baseball team.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a Fighting Scot student-athlete?
A: Being a student-athlete makes the college experience much more fun. Playing baseball brought me together with some of my best friends and has allowed me to meet lot of new people.
Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: Any time that we are able to bond as a team and be together. The Florida trips as a first-year and sophomore year were a great experience.
Q: What's the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster?
A: You get to continue playing the sport you love and come together as a family with your team. You get to meet a lot of new people and be part of a great community of student-athletes.
Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: I am a senior admissions intern, a health coach through a partnership with Wooster Community Hospital, and I am involved in the Pre-Health Club.
Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: Coach (Barry) Craddock and Coach (Matthew) Johnson have made a huge impact on me. They push me every day to improve myself in all aspects. They help to make the team one big family unit.
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 Independent Study advisor, Dr. Marie Southerland, has been great to me this year and has been very helpful. Similarly, Ms. (Melanie) Schultz in admissions has always seemed to brighten my day when I have been working as a tour guide or as a senior intern.
Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: I am looking at the relationship between cancer and bacteria. I am testing a chemotherapeutic drug on bacteria to determine if it can have antimicrobial activity and am determining if the drug can be delivered in the form of a hydrogel.
Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: I researched regenerative medicine for two summers in a lab at the University of Pittsburgh. This has been a great experience as I was able to learn new techniques and apply what I have learned in classes. Working as a senior intern in admissions has been fun and I have enjoyed interviewing prospective students.
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 tell myself to not question myself and to not be as reserved. Take chances and be outgoing.
Follow Wooster's baseball team on social media!
Fans can follow Wooster's baseball team on Twitter and Instagram.
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.