Honors Program Profile Natalie Vogt

Jumping In: The Journey through Honors

A Profile of Natalie Vogt, Third-Year Honors Student

Meet Natalie Vogt, a junior  biochemistry major with a pre-veterinary concentration. Natalie chose Saint Francis University for its Honors Program, which she saw as a great way to continue the academic challenges she loved in high school as a National Honor Society member.  For Natalie, the program offered unique opportunities including discussion-based classes, research projects, and the chance to pursue a senior thesis.

Natalie appreciated how the program helped her step out of her comfort zone. “Discussion-based classes force you to put yourself out there,” she said. “It’s easy to get stuck in your major, but the program makes you see things differently.” One of her favorite experiences in the honors program was taking Music and Wellness with Professor Jim Donovan during her freshman year. She said it was a great way to adjust to college life while learning relaxation techniques she still uses today.

Natalie is currently working on a research project that examines the effects of caffeine on cataracts in cow eyes. While she hasn’t decided if this will become her senior thesis, she’s excited about the project and how it could apply to veterinary medicine. Last year she completed a directed readings course, where she researched the ethics of mortality and cancer’s impact on patients and families. She presented her findings at a research symposium, which she says was one of her proudest accomplishments.

Outside of academics, Natalie stays busy as a resident assistant in Clare Hall and a teaching assistant for organic chemistry labs. She also works in the admissions office and is always happy to help new students feel welcome on campus.

Natalie encourages future Honors students to be open to the program’s opportunities: “Some classes might seem unrelated to your major, but they can have lessons that surprise you,” she said. For Natalie, the Honors Program has been a journey of growth -- not just academically-- but personally as well. She’s looking forward to using everything she’s learned as she prepares for veterinary school.