Akasha is a first-year student from Chicago, Ill., who hopes to focus on community education and serving underprivileged communities. She has been working as a veterinary assistant at an emergency practice and plans to continue honing her ER skills while exploring other fields by interning at Lincoln Park Zoo and applying for master’s on public health degree program.

Kayla, a first-year student from Belleville, Ill., who is a graduate of the University of Findlay in Ohio, is interested in small animal and zoological companion animal medicine. She volunteers for the ambassador program in the college’s Wildlife Medical Clinic.