Class of 2021: Valerie Doornbos

We celebrate the Class of 2021, what they have achieved during their years at Ripon and what they hope to achieve in the next chapter of their lives.

Valerie Doornbos ’21 of Allendale, Michigan, is majoring in environmental studies and history with a minor in Spanish. She will attend graduate school in geography and environmental sustainability at the University of Oklahoma-Norman.

“The most important lesson that I am taking from my college experience is that if you work hard and have determination and grit, you can achieve your dreams,” she says.

Her favorite memories at Ripon involve working with former Director of Sustainability Alice Reznickova. “Through my time as an intern, we were able to create a spreadsheet to track everything that would be needed to attain a STAR (Sustainability Tracking and Assessment Rating) for Ripon. As part of this, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability) Conference in Spokane, Washington, which was an awesome experience.

“I also thoroughly enjoyed working with Dr. Brian Smith (professor of religion) on a research proposal which I had the opportunity to present at the 2019 MAAR (Midwest American Academy of Religion) Conference in Muncie, Indiana.”

To read stories about other members of the Class of 2021, visit ripon.edu/class-of-2021.

Posted April 2, 2021 in Class of 2021, Student.

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