Even in STEM, graduating with Honors can carry you far. Ryan Bax, who majored in biology and minored in chemistry, graduated with Honors in 2021 and is now completing a MD/PhD program at Loma Linda University. 

He said that he wanted to be part of the honors program while an undergraduate because it would “open doors” that would allow him to gain experiences and build relationships with faculty. 

His best memory of being in the Honors program was when he participated in the 2019 Jan Term Smithsonian trip to Washington D.C. While the program did take a few turns due to the federal government shutdown (which closed the Smithsonian museums), Dr. Putzke quickly instituted a new plan: exploring the city. “This made the trip adventurous and fun,” Ryan said. 

Ryan did not find the Honors program only fun and games, however, as he had a hard time finding ways to complete all the needed honors credits before he graduated. “There were not a lot of STEM course options when I was at Whitworth. But as I got to know the Honors professors, they helped make it possible for me to convert some courses into Honors courses for me to get those credits.” 

While an undergraduate, Ryan was able to do Honors research with Dr. Putzke. This research opportunity helped him figure out that he wanted to do basic science research as a part of his career. Ryan presented his research at multiple regional and national conferences, which he believes allowed him to see what a career in research can look like. 

After Ryan graduated, he worked for a year as a surgical tech. Now he is in his first year at Loma Linda University. He believes the honors program “made me more competitive for my applications into medical school both directly and indirectly through the experiences it gave me.” 

For any student contemplating whether or not to be part of the honors program, Ryan offers these words of advice: “I would highly recommend joining the honors program. The requirements can seem a little daunting at first, but the relationships you will build with the professors in the honors program are extremely valuable as they will go out of their way to help you achieve your goals even after you graduate.”