Nikki Kriskovich graduated this spring with the Marlene Moore Academic Award, a memorable time at UP, and an exciting journey ahead!
As an undergraduate, Nikki knew that she wanted to work in the field of healthcare, but she also knew that she was not interested in attending medical school. With this in mind, she began her time at UP with a Bachelor of Arts instead of a Bachelor of Science. However, around the end of her freshman or beginning of sophomore year, she started to develop a love for fitness and nutrition, and decided that physical therapy was the career she wished to pursue. Immediately, Nikki began researching the required prerequisites for programs and found that she would easily be able to meet them with a BA degree. Although she contemplated switching to a BS degree a few times, but it just did not seem necessary. Overall, when asked about her final decision, she commented that, “continuing with a BA allowed me greater flexibility and choice in classes than a BS would have. Part of the BA degree I enjoyed was experiencing upper division classes outside my primary major; this also easily enabled me to pick up the neuroscience minor. My BA degree, I feel, is ultimately going to allow me to accomplish what I want to accomplish in both my educational and professional careers, just as much as a BS would have – but perhaps with a little bit less stress as an undergraduate student.”
Nikki admits she was “shocked” when she received an email from Dr. Van Hoomissen informing her that she had won an award from the Biology Department. She added that, in all honestly, though she knew she had worked hard the past four years, she did not think that anyone else had noticed—and that was fine with her! She knew she worked hard to get where she wanted to be and was not in need of recognition for what she would have done regardless. That being said, she added that, “I feel so humbled and honored to have received the Marlene Moore Academic Award. I know that many of UP’s graduating biology majors are so extremely intelligent and talented, and to have been selected among them to receive this award was an incredibly pleasant surprise.”
Though some days were definitely a mix of emotions, overall she has been extremely satisfied with her choice of picking UP for her undergraduate degree. She feels “so very blessed to have been given the opportunity to attend UP” and that “the professors and staff here truly care about your success and well-being both as a student and as a person.” Nikki recalls that there was never a time she did not have someone to turn to for help, advice, or just a friendly conversation. Furthermore she believes that the education she has received here is unmatched. As she heads off to graduate school, she feels prepared and has UP and its wonderful staff to thank for that! As she moves on to new opportunities, she has the comfort of knowing that even after she graduates, she will always have a place she will be welcome, and that is something priceless in itself.
After graduation she is planning on moving back to her home in Northern California for the summer. At the end of August, she will be moving to LA, and will start the physical therapy doctoral program at USC. The program will take three years, including summers. She is not exactly sure where she will be following that! Though she knows she will have to start small, her dream is to eventually become a physical therapist for a professional sports team… Hopefully one day you will see her on the NFL sidelines!