Several factors played a role in Kaitlin Smith’s decision to attend College of Saint Mary. The Fort Calhoun High School graduate wanted to play collegiate soccer, have a transformational educational experience in a close-knit community and be close to home.
“This felt like the school for me,” Kaitlin said.
Kaitlin was first drawn to attend CSM by the Flames soccer team. While her high school didn’t have a soccer program, Kaitlin played club ball year-round.
“It was an easy transition from club to college,” she said.
Kaitlin had also learned about the University’s prestigious Marie Curie Scholarship, which provides significant support and resources to outstanding young women pursuing STEM majors – biology, chemistry, math, or human biology.
Marie Curie Scholars receive up to $20,000 annually for four years in gift aid. In addition to having access to substantial financial resources and facilities, participants also receive free tutoring, have opportunities for undergraduate research, and have access to top programs like the National Institute of Health and NASA research fellowships.
Kaitlin applied for and was awarded the scholarship. She still remembers the day she received the phone call. “I saw the call come in on my phone. I ran upstairs to my mom, and we played it on speakerphone together,” she said. “My mom started crying. For me, it was such a cool experience. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
CSM’s small class sizes were a fit for Kaitlin.
“Coming from Fort Calhoun, I’m used to class sizes of like 10 people. That’s always something that’s fit my personality,” she said. “Having a close relationship with your teacher and being able to ask them questions or just talk to them about life.”
A biology and psychology major, Kaitlin values those relationships with her professors at CSM.
“I’m the type of student that I walk in on the first day of class, and I want to sit in the front row,” she said. “I want to be in the conversation with the professor as they are teaching.”
Kaitlin is also an INBRE Scholar, a program created to expose students to professional biomedical research and build a statewide biomedical research infrastructure between undergraduate and graduate institutions. Students enter the program after completing their sophomore year of college upon the recommendation of their college professors. It is a two-year comprehensive training program designed to prepare students for graduate school. Kaitlin is doing research in a prostate cancer research lab at Buffett Cancer Center.
Though she lives on campus, Kaitlin is just a short 30-minute drive from home. Still, as a resident advisor, she spends a lot of time on campus and enjoys what it has to offer outside of class, whether that’s sitting in the prayer garden or visiting the library to work on homework.
“If you take a minute and look around, you notice the beauty of campus,” she said. “I think it’s in the perfect place in Omaha.”
In addition to her roles on the soccer team and as an RA, Kaitlin is president of the Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT), a member of Do Unto Others (DUO), Student Senate, a leader of the Elementary Science Outreach Program, and a member of the Honors Program.
Her biggest love for CSM, she said, comes from the small campus.
“I love community and support. I think that’s something you get at CSM, no matter what major you’re in. That’s something you just don’t get at big universities and even other smaller colleges.
“There’s so much support for women and wanting to build educated women to go out in society. That’s the whole goal of CSM. That’s something you just don’t take for granted when you come here,” she added.
Following graduation, Kaitlin plans on attending medical school and hopes to become an emergency medicine doctor.
