Download Class of 2016 - Class of 1957

CLASS OF 1957 SCHOLARSHIP FUND
March 25, 2015
Dear Members of the Class of 1957,
As I reflect on the past year, I am filled with appreciation. I cannot thank you enough for your
generosity, as you make it possible for me to attend Dartmouth College. During my official visit
to campus as a recruit for the women’s basketball team, I got a sense that Dartmouth is very
special. Everything that I was looking for—unparalleled academics, NCAA Division One
athletics, a recreational area, spiritual and service opportunities, and a strong feeling of
community—seemed to come together in the New Hampshire wilderness. It is a place of
diversity, not only demographically, but also in thought and opinion. The professors and students
at Dartmouth push me to grow every single day. I am grateful for all of the traditions at
Dartmouth, especially Homecoming, because it connects people of all ages from every corner of
the planet. It is the Dartmouth family at its finest!
Academics continue to be the most important aspect of my life at Dartmouth. I persistently work
towards my goals, overcoming challenges and celebrating successes. Last winter I was pleased to
receive my first citation (Biology 12: Cellular Structure and Function) for being an “inquisitive
and fearless student” who was “always eager to ask questions and bold about answering”
questions posed by the professor. As a junior, I am getting close to completing the requirements
for both my neuroscience major and religion minor. Additional pre-medicine classes fill my busy
schedule. Each quarter at Dartmouth teaches me valuable information that is preparing me for
life after I leave Hanover. After graduating from Dartmouth, I plan to attend medical school. I
dream of someday becoming a pediatrician and providing healthcare to children around the
world.
I was able to experience life as a doctor for two months while volunteering in Peru last spring as
a Tucker Fellow. Part of my time was spent helping doctors in an under-resourced medical
clinic, while the rest of my volunteer time was spent teaching special needs children at the Don
Jose de San Martin School for the Disabled. My opportunity to travel to Peru truly changed my
life, teaching me valuable lessons about compassion and service.
My extracurricular involvement at Dartmouth has changed quite a bit this past year. I am no
longer on the Dartmouth women’s basketball team, but I have been able to fill my time with
many other enriching activities. I am doing biological research in the Gladfelter Lab, where I
have recently started a project analyzing Whi3 protein aggregations. Currently, I am mutating the
genetic composition of the protein to determine how various components affect the amount of
aggregation. In addition to my research commitment, I am involved in various faith and service
based groups on campus. The most recent group that I joined was the Dartmouth Random Acts
of Kindness Club. I love showering the campus with appreciation, love, and inspiration!
In the interest of maintaining students’ privacy, do not publish or distribute without first obtaining permission
from the Office of Donor Engagement and Stewardship (603)646-4083.
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As I come to the final days of my time at Dartmouth, I hope to make the most of every
opportunity. Thank you again for your generosity. If you would like to contact me, you can reach
me by email at [email protected] or by phone at 208-720-5299.
Hearts and High Fives,
Kaitana Martinez ’16
In the interest of maintaining students’ privacy, do not publish or distribute without first obtaining permission
from the Office of Donor Engagement and Stewardship (603)646-4083.