Class of 2025: Mackenzie McCarter

Extremely anxious and lacking confidence.

So proud of how much I’ve grown over the last four years.

I studied abroad with Italia Culinaria: Food Tour for 2025 Jan Term. This was my first time traveling out of the country and it was INCREDIBLE. I loved not only how I formed lasting friendships with fellow students whom I didn’t already know, but also how I was able to hear from community members who joined the trip (alumni, faculty, etc.) about their experiences on the Hill and general outlooks on life. 

I also lived on campus for 10 weeks for the Student-Faculty Collaborative Summer Research Program, performing research with Professor Allison Kerwin on the impacts of insecticides on the development of Cassiopea xamachana. From that, I was interviewed by the Carroll County Times.

I was initially planning on pursuing a Biology major with the intention of going into forensic science. However, I took Molecular Biology in the spring of my first year and immediately knew that I had found my passion. Molecular Bio just “clicked.” Shortly after, I declared a Biology major with a specialization in Molecular Biology and fell in love with DNA, RNA, proteins, and research!

I’ve held a few leadership positions over my four years here. I’ve been a peer mentor for the Honors Program, TA’d for Biology and Chemistry courses, served as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative for tennis, and held a position on the executive board for Beta Beta Beta (Biology Honors Society) for three years. I hope to have served as a role model for upcoming students. I’d like to be remembered for my dedication to academics, and my kindness and compassion as I’ve navigated leadership roles.

So many professors have had profound impacts on me during my time at McDaniel. Dr. Heather Burley was my advisor and lab professor my first year, and she has continued to support me for the duration of my time here. Her door is always open, whether I’ve needed to vent about a stressful class for a few minutes or just wanted to chat. Every time I swing by her office, I feel very much that she’s supported me from my first days on the Hill and has watched me “grow up,” gain confidence, and figure out my future career goals. Honorable mentions include Dr. Susan Parrish and Dr. Dana Ferraris.

Genetics with Dr. Cheng Huang. That class was extremely challenging, but I can honestly say that I learned more about myself and my ability to work through complex problems in Genetics than in any other class I’ve taken.

I was a four-year starter on the women’s tennis team and the tennis representative for SAAC. I was in a variety of honors societies, some of which I held leadership roles in: Honors Program peer mentor; vice president of Beta Beta Beta; Gamma Sigma Epsilon (Chemistry Honors Society); Phi Alpha Theta (History Honors Society); and Omicron Delta Kappa and Trumpeters. On campus, I had a few jobs including being a four-year laboratory assistant for the Biology Department, a Student Accessibility and Support Services notetaker, and a laboratory teaching assistant for General Chemistry I and II, Molecular Biology, and Principles of Biology.

While touring campus, I often heard that I’d “find my home on the Hill.” At the time, it seemed like a line to draw in prospective students. By the spring of my sophomore year, I really took a look at my life on campus and realized that those students were being totally genuine. I have found my home on the Hill through lifelong friendships, memories and laughs shared among peers and professors, and vast involvement. This campus will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Caseys’ Corner. I am a coffee addict and whenever I need a quiet-ish study spot to get me out of my room and focus for a few hours, I’ll treat myself to an iced coffee and do my work in Caseys’.

Having an opportunity to dive into research experiences has been incredible — whether through literature review papers or performing hands-on research, I’ve learned that there is so much potential in research. Questions spur others and it was really cool to learn about diverse topics such as the effect of telomerase on mice physiology and neurology, and the filtration capabilities of marine sponges!

“Effect of Malathion on the Development of Cassiopea xamachana.”

In the Florida Keys, insecticides are sprayed in an effort to combat rising populations of virus-carrying mosquitos. It is widely known that insecticides have adverse environmental impacts. My capstone is about how Malathion, a common insecticide, alters the metamorphosis and survival of the upside-down jellyfish and how these results can be used to understand how ecologically important corals may be adversely affected as well.

I plan on gaining some research and/or lab experience through work or an internship during a gap year, after which I will be applying to Ph.D. programs in Cancer Biology. I love to travel and would like to take advantage of any opportunity that comes my way to experience other cultures.

I have friends here who are athletes, and I plan on returning to the Hill to support them at their games or matches. I already have plans to return for Homecoming next year, and I would love to keep in contact with some of the Biology and Chemistry faculty as I embark on the next steps of my academic and career journey.

I received the Educators Legacy Scholarship as well as a need-based grant. This financial aid allowed me to choose the college that I knew was the best fit for me without worrying about finances. I had a goal of making it through my undergraduate years without acquiring any student loan debt, and I have achieved that goal thanks to McDaniel as well as outside scholarship organizations.