Kendall Annetti
"The experience that Annetti is gaining now is preparing her for her career as a doctor, and she would definitely recommend the program to anyone interested."
Animal Sciences and Integrative Biology
Hometown: Park Ridge, IL
For Kendall Annetti, of Park Ridge, IL, being a James Scholar is about doing what she loves, while gaining valuable experience and recognition through her project.
Annetti became a James Scholar her freshman year by submitting an application to Academic Programs. After receiving notification that her application was approved, Annetti began working on fulfilling her James Scholar requirements immediately.
During the past three years, she has taken chemistry 102, chemistry 104 and ACES 399, an honors seminar course to fulfill her honors course requirements. James Scholars must have one honors course per year. Annetti said she hopes to take ACES 399 next semester, too.
Annetti’s research project consists of surveying blood parasites in waterfowl and game birds in Illinois.
“I really enjoy ornithology and parasites,” she said. “Since I want to go to vet school, we tried to focus the project on a health related topic. A survey of the avian blood parasites in Illinois hasn’t been conducted in roughly 60 years, so we thought it would be a neat project to do.”
The research project component of the James Scholar Program pairs scholars with a faculty member to guide them in their studies. Annetti works with Dr. Nohra Mateus-Pinilla, who works with the Illinois Natural History Survey.
The experience that Annetti is gaining now is preparing her for her career as a doctor, and she would definitely recommend the program to anyone interested.
“It’s a great opportunity to talk with professors and faculty, not to mention you get to register early for classes,” Annetti said.
Annetti, of Park Ridge, IL, is double-majoring in Animal Sciences and Integrative Biology. She plans on graduating in December 2012.
