Lori Scardino
- Eau Claire, Wis.
- B.S. in biology and chemistry
- What's next: Working in biomedical research and pursuing her doctorate at UW-Madison
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UW-Eau Claire photo by Rick Mickelson |
The word people most often use to describe Lori Scardino and her accomplishments is amazing. Despite a difficult childhood that include being placed in foster care when she was 15, and later a divorce that left her a single parent of two young daughters, Scardino began rewriting her own story when she returned to UW-Eau Claire as a chemistry major and proved herself to be a gifted undergraduate researcher as well as a committed and active member of the campus community. She will graduate summa cum laude with departmental honors in both biology and chemistry.
Her other accomplishments here have included being awarded the Phillip J. Chenier Scholarship and the David and Alice Katz Scholarship in 2004-05 and the Kell Container Scholarship in 2005-06. And somehow, while volunteering for numerous on-campus and off-campus organizations, she also managed to pick up another major in biology. This year has been a particularly stellar one for Scardino. In February she was not only named Regional Student Leader of the year by the Golden Key Honor Society, she was also among an elite group of only 20 college students nationwide to be named to the 2007 All-USA College Academic First Team. And in May, she received the best news of all when she was awarded a Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship and Award of Excellence that will enable her to pursue a doctoral degree in cellular and molecular pathology at UW-Madison.
Chemistry professor Dr. Scott Hartsel, one of Lori's most important teachers, mentors and research collaborators, is one of the those people who has used the word amazing to describe Scardino, noting that in addition to her academic accomplishments, she is a very involved parent who spends much time volunteering for her daughters' school and other activities.
"Frankly, I don't know how she does it all," Hartsel has said.
Scardino herself credits Hartsel for helping to change her life.
"I was a single parent, I had been out of school for 10 years and I didn't have much money," Scardino has said. "I didn't even consider graduate school. Then I met Dr. Hartsel and everything changed."
More on Lori Scardino
Future plans: I look forward to a relaxing summer with my girls and getting settled into our future home of Waunakee before beginning graduate work in biomedical research this fall. During my first semester rotations I plan to explore opportunities in immunology and oncology research. After I receive my Ph.D. and complete postdoctoral research I would like to become a college professor and combine my love of science with my desire to teach. I would honestly love to come back to UW-Eau Claire to be a professor! I welcome a challenge and look forward the possibilities that lie ahead so no matter where I end up I can envision a bright future as a scientist and an educator.
What she liked most about her time at UW-Eau Claire: I have so many wonderful memories and a tremendous sense of accomplishment because I was so active on campus and in the community. However, the best thing I did as an undergraduate was participate in collaborative research! I like the size of our campus and the individual attention it affords students that would not be possible at a larger university. I appreciate the opportunity to work with faculty and the open door policy of my professors. I also enjoyed getting to know fellow students, many of whom I have developed lasting friendships with and will stay in contact with for the rest of my life.
Highlights of life at UW-Eau Claire: I participated in collaborative research in chemistry, biology and mathematics. I presented my research at four international scientific meetings (Boston, San Diego, Salt Lake City and Washington, D.C.) and 14 regional and local meetings. My work was the basis for two patent applications and has been published in the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry.
I was actively involved in many organizations and served as an officer for several: American Chemical Society-Student Affiliate president, Sigma Gamma Zeta II president, Golden Key vice president, Mortar Board vice president, PreMed Club president, chemistry tutoring coordinator, Student Advisory Council to the Dean of Arts and Sciences delegate, and chemistry demo show coordinator. I have also been a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Circle K, Molecular Movement, Kappa Mu Epsilon, Beta Beta Beta and Omicron Delta Kappa.
I volunteered — a lot! Just to list a few of my off-campus volunteer activities: Girl Scout leader for two troops (66 and 254), Lakeshore Elementary PTO treasurer, Defibrillator Action Committee founder and co-chair, Habitat for Humanity volunteer, Recycle for Sight Eau Claire coordinator, Lakeshore Elementary classroom volunteer, American Cancer Society volunteer, three-time Arthritis Jingle Bell Run-Walk participant, Feed My People Food Bank food drive organizer, and Give-A-Kid-A-Book volunteer. I also regularly donate my hair to Locks of Love.
Proudest college accomplishments: My proudest accomplishment will always be raising my daughters, Alexandra and Olivia. My earliest award at UW-Eau Claire was the Goethe Institute Award for Excellence in first-year German. I am very grateful to have received a number of scholarships. I am also very proud of how much I have grown in my field and as a person while studying at UW-Eau Claire.
Advice for incoming students: Get involved! Take ownership of your education and make the most of your time here! Get to know students, staff and faculty. Take advantage of the amazing opportunities UW - Eau Claire offers, from collaborative research to the study-abroad program. Try new things! Be open to opportunities you may not even know exist right now. Live each day to its fullest and always take time to help others!
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