Major: Nursing
Hometown: Scottsburg, Indiana
High School: Scottsburg High School
Being a Bepko Scholar to Rachael means "devoting yourself to lifelong service and fostering an attitude of continual growth for both yourself and the community around you." She is most passionate about women's health and gender inequality within the health care field. At IU Indianapolis, she hopes to explore research opportunities that relate to women's health and advance equity in the health care system. During high school, she was part of an active student-led philanthropic organization, the Youth Grantmaking Council, associated with the Scott County Community Foundation, where she not only volunteered to help with various projects around the community but also was introduced to the grant-making process. She collaborated with her peers to evaluate community grants. One of her favorite projects that she granted was "Life Skills in the Community," where the children with special needs in her county were able to embark on outings to learn useful skills, which are often overlooked, for their future. In her family, Rachael is the youngest in her family, and she has always looked up to her older siblings. She gives them credit for driving her academic success.