Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - University of Wisconsin-Platteville senior Jennifer Roedel has always enjoyed being around children and after seeing her cousin struggle with diabetes at an early age, she wants to help. So much so that she plans on becoming a pediatrician.

Roedel, who will graduate this semester from UWP with a degree in biology, has been selected as one of this semester's Super Seniors and will receive lifetime membership in the UWP Alumni Association.

Becoming a pediatrician has been a longtime goal, and Roedel hopes to fulfill that goal by studying at the University of Wisconsin Medical School after graduation. Roedel first got interested in medicine after working at a pharmacy in high school.

"I knew I wanted to do something in health care, but I didn't know what," Roedel said.

Early in her career at UWP, she began studying biology, entered into the pre-medicine program, and was later certified as a nursing assistant. During summer breaks she has worked at hospitals and care-giving facilities both in Platteville and in her hometown of Horicon. Working in different environments has really helped her pinpoint what area of medicine she enjoys the most.

"Get involved as much as you can. Try to gain as much health care experience as you can. It has helped me make the decision," she said.

The attention she has received from professors at UWP has been a big benefit as well.

"I liked the smaller campus. Professors take an interest in who you are," Roedel said. "All of the biology professors I've had have been very supportive and caring of their students."

Professor Wayne Weber's human anatomy course, where students study human cadavers, has been a particularly helpful class.

"We are just appreciative of the people who donate their bodies so we can learn," Roedel said. "I'm really glad UWP offered that this semester because I think it will make me more prepared for medical school."

While at UWP, Roedel has participated in, among other things, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society. She has also volunteered as a telephone operator for a pregnancy helpline, offering resources for expectant mothers and nervous soon-to-be fathers. She said her own parents, Martin and Karen Roedel of Horicon, have been instrumental in her success.

"My parents being teachers, I think I learned good study habits," Roedel said.

So good, in fact, that she has maintained a 3.9 grade point average in college, has been named to the Chancellor's List five times while at UWP and will graduate this December, a semester earlier than most. Still, while achieving so much success at UWP is certainly an accomplishment, it's only the beginning of Roedel's journey in higher education.

"Three and a half years went really fast," Roedel said. "Still, I've got a lot of school left."