Choosing where to go to college is “a big deal,” says Psychology (BS) - Health Studies major Lukas Warren, and he advises prospective students to select the institution where they most see themselves able to thrive.
“My hope is that every prospective student can see the endless amount of opportunities at Appalachian,” said Warren, who wants to be a health care provider someday. He plans to apply to physician assistant school after graduation in 2017.
“At Appalachian, this degree offers so much freedom, for no matter what your post graduate plans are. I have had to the opportunity to learn and conduct research with faculty who really care about their students.”
In addition to his studies, Warren is busy as a campus leader. He is vice president of the Appalachian Student Ambassadors, who serve as student representatives for the Office of Admissions, the Alumni Association and the Office of the Chancellor. He is also a founding member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity and plays on the Men’s Club Volleyball team.
Warren also is involved with Scholars with Diverse Abilities (SDAP), an innovative campus program that provides students with intellectual disabilities access to a two-year college education. Volunteers like Warren tutor the SDAP scholars and help them attend class, participate in recreational activities and go to social events.
“I learned so much from interacting with students. I have taken classes in human growth and development and can apply so much material from that class in daily interactions,” Warren said.
As part of the Ambassador program, Warren and three other Appalachian campus leaders traveled to South Africa in the summer of 2015 to participate in University of the Free State’s Global Leadership Summit.
Appalachian was among 13 colleges and universities in six countries to send students to the two-week event focused around themes of transformational leadership, citizenship, social justice, complex societies and sustainability.
While there, Warren said he also observed the disparity that can occur in relation to health care. “This only made me more passionate about eventually entering the health care profession,” he said.
