With another Commencement behind us, High Point University graduates will be commencing prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other esteemed organizations thanks to their journey at HPU. Here’s a glimpse of one extraordinary member of the Class of 2021:
Name: Kristen Korankyi
Hometown: Jamestown, North Carolina
Major: Pharmacy
Post-graduation plans: Korankyi will be working at the Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy as a clinical pharmacy resident and instructor. She will instruct first and third year pharmacy students and provide ambulatory care pharmacy services at Progressive Community Health Services in downtown Milwaukee. While pursuing her residency training in academia and ambulatory care, she is also enrolled in courses at Concordia University to pursue a master’s in education.
How HPU helped you get there: “The welcoming learning environment allowed me to make the most of my academic and professional experience at HPU. I felt comfortable to be able to explore different areas of interest to me that would allow me to be engaged in my learning. Through my involvement in peer tutoring and a number of community service experiences, I realized that I had a passion for teaching and wanted to do this as a graduating health care professional. I frequently went to the Office of Career & Professional Development for assistance in CV and letter of intent preparation. Ms. McLeod was friendly and gave me her time to ensure that I had the best presentation of myself to potential employers. ”
Most impactful mentor at HPU: “I cannot be more grateful or thankful for all of the mentors I had at HPU. It truly took a village of committed professors, student instructors and my fellow classmates to help me find my true potential. Among many of the awesome instructors who helped me get to where I am today, I acknowledge the work of my undergraduate chemistry professors; Dr. Knippenburg, Dr. Fogarty, Dr. Fowler and Dr. Blackledge. I appreciate the interest they took to me as a student and really helped me to see that I enjoyed chemistry and science. Although I was not a chemistry major, I satisfied my love of the subject by tutoring students during chemistry learning labs, even as I was doing my graduate pharmacy coursework at HPU. As far as my graduate coursework, I thank Dr. Lingle for making that crucial phone call to me which made me enroll at High Point University to pursue a pharmacy degree. Becoming immersed in a program that offers so many experiential learning opportunities, made me realize the potential I had to giving back to my community by becoming an instructor for future pharmacy students. ”
Most impactful moment at HPU: “The most impactful moment I had at HPU was being able to contribute to helping my fellow students as a peer tutor.”
Advice for underclassmen: “My advice for underclassmen is to take advantage of new opportunities that come your way. You never know where you will end up at the end of your college experience. Embrace the growth and changes you will go through as a student. You will come out in the end feeling successful.”