According to Rachael, growing up in a small town where everyone helped each other and put the needs of others first instilled in her a love of service at a young age. Since then, Rachael said she has always looked for ways to volunteer, help others, and help the community.
Plans After College
Rachael chose to major in Mathematics because she always enjoyed her math classes in high school. After doing research, she realized how flexible math majors can be when choosing a career field. Last year, Rachael was awarded a pilot slot as part of UMD's Air Force ROTC program. After graduating from UMD, she will go to undergraduate pilot training to pursue a career as a US Air Force pilot.
Making a Difference
"Because of the Darland All-American scholarship, I can now focus on giving back through my volunteer work instead of focusing all of my time on working and making enough money to pay my rent, tuition, and food," said Rachael.
Favorite Activities
Her favorite thing about UMD is the community, class sizes and the faculty. "I love the environment here and I'm grateful the class sizes are small because I get to know my professors and get one-on-one help," she said.
Rachael is also involved in the Arnold Air Society club on campus. Their main goal is to complete at least one service project per semester that will benefit the AFROTC detachment, university campus, or community. She credits the club with motivating her to do more volunteer work and helping her get the Darland All-American Scholarship.
Learn more about UMD's Department of Mathematics and Statistics.