Donor Impact
Alex Hoffmann
Alex Hoffmann
Graduation year: 2016
Alex
Hometown: Spokane, Wash.
It's amazing to think what can happen in the course of only four years. In that short period of time, I entered Whitworth as a first-generation college student, and I'm now leaving for a seat at one of the best medical schools in the country. Along the way I've grown intellectually and personally, having grappled with important questions and explored a plethora of subjects and ways in which to express my ideas. None of this would have been possible but for the supportive environment Whitworth has been for me along the way. I owe a great deal to the donors who have made my educational experience possible.
I chose Whitworth for a number of reasons. I knew I wanted to study biology and become a doctor, and Whitworth's brand-new science building was incredibly attractive. Looking into the pre-medical program, I saw Whitworth had a track record of consistently placing students at top programs around the country. On top of that, I met the director of forensics (speech and debate), Dr. Mike Ingram, who invited me to be a part of his reboot of the Whitworth forensics team. The liberal arts spirit is so alive at Whitworth that all of my professors encouraged me, a hard science major, to participate on the team, and I've now competed four years running. My experience on the team has by far been the highlight of my time at Whitworth. I've been able to engage in important dialogues, to compete with the sharpest minds from across the country and even internationally, and to refine useful speech communication skills I will carry with me as a physician. Of highest importance, Whitworth's generous financial aid package made this all accessible to me, which secured my place as a Whitworthian for life.
The day that my life changed was the day I received my first acceptance to medical school. It represented years of dedication, long nights of studying, and sacrifice that had gotten me to that point. Of equal importance, my acceptances to medical school highlighted the fantastic utility of the liberal arts education I was receiving at Whitworth. Medical schools are looking for “well-rounded” applicants. This doesn't necessarily mean the smartest or those with extensive clinical shadowing experiences. My acceptances demonstrated to me that the diversity and breadth of a liberal arts education like the one I've received at Whitworth is valued in the real world. In interviews at medical schools I was consistently asked about my participation on the speech and debate team, my work on the student symposium lecture series, and my volunteer work; interviewers wanted to know the impact of these experiences on my wish to be a physician. All of these experiences are indicative of the culture at Whitworth, where students are encouraged to step outside their majors and their comfort zones, to push the boundaries and to synthesize content across multiple disciplines.
To the donors who have helped make my dream of becoming a doctor come true, all I can say is thank you. Your financial contributions have allowed someone like me, a first-generation college student, to achieve something I never thought possible. You've had an impact not only on my life, but on the lives of my current and future family and on the lives of the patients I am eager to begin serving. You truly make the mission of Whitworth come alive through its students, and we are all incredibly grateful for that.