The University Honors Program (UHP) is a rich resource that fosters growth in students’ understanding of their vocations through a number of resources and programs. These opportunities involve looking at learned subjects through diverse lenses, studying under excellent mentors, and teaming up with other universities and organizations to provide a holistic education. Olivia Upchurch chose to take advantage of these programs as “another way to challenge [her]self,” and emerged from the experience with a renewed perspective on her life’s path.
Olivia is a senior honors pre-med major who enjoys cooking for her friends, doing group fitness, and watching movies. She is involved on campus as a co-president of the Multicultural Association of Premedical Students and member of Alpha Epsilon Delta Preprofessional Health Honors Society. Originally from Cleveland, Olivia hopes to eventually return and serve the community that shaped her.
Olivia’s passion for health began in childhood by the influence of her physician parents. As she grew older, that spark turned into a mission to improve healthcare access, particularly for rural communities like her own. She has always favored practical, on-the-ground approaches to promoting justice in healthcare and never desired to pursue research. But, encouraged by faculty that she admired, Olivia decided to take on an honors thesis exploring health literacy and well-being.
Olivia’s honors thesis ignited her love for research. She reflected, “The ability to get my toes wet in research was super impactful for my career.” Through the UHP and faculty who believed in her, Olivia was able to realize a passion she didn’t know was present in her heart. Sometimes a leader like Upchurch simply needs to be invested in before she can fully invest in a community of her own.
The UHP works to empower service-oriented students so that the beauty of UD’s community doesn’t just stay here, but is spread throughout the world. When asked where she feels called to serve, Olivia replied, “I am fulfilled to give back to the community I grew up in.” The University of Dayton’s mission is to build up leaders who will foster community wherever they are sent. Olivia Upchurch is an excellent example of how the UHP distinctively carries that out.