Kate Wubbenhorst – Cornell
Meet Kate Wubbenhorst, a persistent and committed student, whose passions span from the environment down to the art of music. Wubbenhorst was accepted through early decision to Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, where she will be majoring in environmental science. Wubbenhorst’s decision to apply Ivy League was that it was the best school for what she wanted to do, not just its prestige. “Don’t be intimidated or too focused on the labels of a school,” she said. “You will know if it is truly the right fit for you,” While academics played a huge role in her decision to attend Cornell, Wubbenhorst’s journey was equally defined by the extracurriculars that fueled both her leadership and creativity. During her time, she’s made a mark as not only the FFA president, but also as the high-spirited drum major for the band, something she says helped showcase her ability to lead and stay deeply involved within her community. But it was through these roles – especially FFA – that Wubbenhorst began to discover her passion for animal science, a path that became clearer with each experience. “Volunteering at the zoo my freshman year then joining the vet med program, helped me decide that I wanted to go into Vet-Med and specialize in wildlife,” Wubbenhorst recalled.
As she prepares for Cornell, she’s ready to take on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead:: whether in the lab, on the field, or leading a team, there’s no doubt she’ll continue to make an impact wherever she goes.
Zoe Villalobos – Columbia
Meet Zoe Villalobos, a visionary artist with a passion for both creativity and the arts. As a dedicated member of the National Art Honor Society and the driving force behind Art Club, she has spent the past four years not only refining her own artistic voice, but also creating a space for others to express theirs. Villalobos always knew she wanted to do something with art, and that vision soon became true when she became inspired by her art teacher, Mr. Styles, to apply to two schools – Columbia and USC: “Art was always the one thing I wanted to do as a dream career, and he [Mr. Styles] definitely pushed me in making that decision to apply,” she recalled. The application process was extensive, requiring Villalobos to submit a full portfolio of her work to both schools, a challenge she fully embraced. When reflecting on the experience, she offers one piece of advice to any aspiring artist when applying to programs: “I wish I would have started working on my portfolio sooner, because in the end, I was just scrambling trying to get things together,” she said. Although both schools carry strong programs in the visual arts, her decision came down to whichever program offers her the best financial package –ultimately, Columbia giving her a full-ride scholarship for her undergraduate program whereas she would have to take out various loans for her education at USC.
But despite where she would go, we know Villalobos will shine bright through the incredible opportunities to foster growth and creativity not only as an artist, but also as a student.
Matthew Wu – Yale
As the Valedictorian of the Class of 2025, it is safe to say that Matthew Wu may know a thing or two about academic success. As the Vice President of the Environmental Club, Wu has been frequently involved in his community in regards to the current climate change crisis, “it was important to me to be a part of the climate community, especially working on solutions to address climate change,” he explained. As a sophomore , Wu was one out of ten individuals selected as National Field Representatives of Our Climate, an organization that works with students across the country to empower youth and promote science-based climate change policies. “We collaborated with other organizations, worked on mobilizing young voters in the midterm election, and organized support for legislative actions with letter writing campaigns and social media posts,” he explained. In the summer of junior year, Wu was also selected to be one of three national programming interns, continuing his mission to amplify the impact of their work on climate policy.
When the time came to start applying to colleges, Wu recalled being impressed by Yale’s strong academics and its tight-knit community: “I wanted to attend a college with a strong community that could provide me with the resources to learn and grow.” During his time in college, Wu plans on majoring in economics, specifically macroeconomics – and how society functions the way it does based on the behaviors of both individuals and firms. Wu’s economics teacher, Mr. Jump, recalls “He was always very sharp and organized, completely detail oriented with all his work,” With his passion for climate advocacy and curiosity, Wu is bound to make the most out of his next chapter at Yale – where his dedication to both scholarship and service will no doubt continue to thrive.