Class of 2019: Brandon Rozanski

Brandon Lee Burreece Rozanski is a Biology/Pre-Med major from Severn, Maryland.

When I took my first step on the Hill, I was: an ambitious 17-year-old high school student prepared to make a lasting impression on the ROTC program with a strong interview for a national scholarship. The same ambition and keen sense of optimism has not left, but actually grown since that first step.

The me who will ring the Old Main bell on Commencement Day is: a student who has taken advantage of every opportunity that has come his way. Most importantly, I have evolved into an individual who is prepared to be a part of something bigger than himself. I have equipped myself with a well-versed bag of tools that will allow me to positively impact people not only in our own country but around the world. The wide-eyed freshman who rang the Old Main Bell freshman year is now ready to ring the bell on Commencement Day, turning the page to a new chapter in my life full of helping others around the world and becoming the best version of myself.

Aha moment: Something that absolutely blew me away that I did not know prior to arriving at McDaniel was the fact that McDaniel College is the only DIII school in the nation to rank in the top 10 of college tailgating. This was a cool fact that not many schools can brag about, and I know this ranking is rightfully deserved after attending multiple games.

Footprints I’m leaving on the Hill: I am leaving a legacy behind that paves the way for future students to go down the same path. I not only excelled in ROTC, recognized as the #6 ranked Army ROTC Cadet in the nation, but academically. The hard work, the sleepless nights and ambition to maximize all that McDaniel had to offer, allowed me to achieve my dream of attending the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine. I am also leaving footprints that encourage students to take every opportunity that comes their way and learn how to become a part of something bigger than yourself. These were the two core elements that made my time at McDaniel memorable and impactful.

Professor who most influenced who I have become and my mentor, for life: Biology professor Cheng Huang is one of the primary reasons for the success I have experienced and without his guidance, compassion and the high standard he kept me to, I would not have become the same student. He is the embodiment of what it means to be a part of the Green Terror family, and I will forever be in debt to him for all his above and beyond help.

Took me totally by surprise: The history of the McDaniel Army ROTC program. I had no idea that we currently serve as one of the oldest programs in the nations, with this year commemorating the 100th year anniversary. Several exceptional officers have been produced from this program, many who have gone on and become one- and two-star generals.

My favorite spot on campus: The college golf course. I am a huge fan and player of golf. Once the weather in the spring comes around, that’s where you will find my friends and I at least twice a week.

Real world experiences: I have participated in several medical internships — Maryland Primary Care Physician Internship, Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Internship at Fort Stewart, Georgia, and the University of Maryland Medical Center, Shock Trauma Internship. For research experience, I had the opportunity to conduct ecological restoration research at Haines Branch, a recently restored stream in Union Bridge, Md., and developmental biology research on the development of red blood cells in Zebrafish. My favorite internship, by far, was the AMEDD Internship. For an entire month, funded by the U.S. Army, I worked under several physicians and surgeons. I not only gained insight into the different fields of medicine offered in Army medical facilities but was able to assist during surgery. Most importantly, I was able to get a glimpse into what my future holds in store as I begin fulfilling my dream of becoming an orthopedic surgeon.

What’s next: I will be attending medical school at the Uniformed Service University of Health Sciences, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Bethesda, Md. My entire schooling will be paid for by the U.S. Army where I will go on to serve our nation, foreign and domestic, as a world class physician. I plan on specializing in orthopedics, trauma focused, so I am prepared to give quality care to those in harm’s way.