B.S. in Biology
Winfield, Ill.

Presentation Remarks:

Kristen, your record at Denison gives the lie to Woody Allen’s quip that “Ninety percent of life is just showing up.” Not only do you always show up, but you have always made a difference, imposing on yourself a self-discipline and a work ethic that has resulted in a truly stellar integration of scholarship and athletic achievement. As a Phi Beta Kappa biology major, Battelle Summer Scholar, and all-around departmental stand-out, you are a fearless pursuer of ideas in the classroom and laboratory. This is doubtless the basis for your receiving the departmental Academic Excellence Research Award. As a researcher you have honed highly developed skills. One faculty member in your fan club called your presentation of your summer research “inspirational,” and he reports another student’s remark after hearing you summarize that research: “That’s intense!” You carried that same focus and discipline to your swimming career, where you routinely knocked down school and conference records with an uncommon blend of intensity and grace — 24-time All Conference, 22-time All American, 4-time NCAA champion, 4-time NCAA record holder, 10-time varsity record holder, 11-time NCAC record holder, 4-time Academic All American, and 3-time ESPN Academic All American. But wait! there’s more! — you accomplished all this while serving as team leader and role model, the inspirational flag-carrier for a team that reached top national ranking. And you did it with modesty and concern for others. As Coach Parini says in his letter about you, “Rarely intrusive and always thoughtful, Kristen meets others on their terms without sacrificing her own; and, as a result, she is a person regularly sought out by other in times of difficulty.” In addition to your athletic commitments, you have worked for the DCA Food Pantry, assisted with Relay for Life, and volunteered for the Free Swim Lessons Program. You also were an active member of Mortar Board, ODK, and Alpha Epsilon Delta, the health pre-professional honorary society. Your Distinguished Leadership award reflects these and many other credits too numerous to mention here. Kristen, as a person who has made an art form out of showing up and making a difference, we know that the same traits that have made your star rise at Denison will make it shine ever brighter in your future.

Student Achievements:

Heritage Scholarship; Dean’s List; Department of Biology - Award for Academic Excellence, Research Award; Battelle Summer Research Grant; General Physics Excellence Award; General Chemistry Excellence Award ; Sigma Xi (Scientific Research Society); Phi Society; Phi Beta Kappa; Alpha Epsilon Delta (Health Pre-Professional Honor Society); Mortar Board (National College Senior Honor Society); Omicron Delta Kappa (National Leadership Honor Society); Denison Community Association (DCA); Relay for Life; Women’s Varsity Swimming – 24-time All-Conference, 22-time All-American, 4-time National Champion, 3 NCAA Records, 3-time Academic All-American, ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America At-Large First Team, Second Team, CoSIDA Academic All-District - 1st Team, National Records: 200 and 400 Medley Relays, 6 Varsity Records: 2 Individual (50,100 Free) and 4 Relay (200, 400 Medley and 200, 400 Free), Outstanding Performer of the Year, Freshman Performer Award, Outstanding Academic Award, Coaches Award; Denison Student Athlete Advisory Committee (DSAAC).