Havasu Alumni

Olivia Del Gandio

Major: Biology

Hometown: Las Vegas, NV

What was your "aha" moment, when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in? (Might be at ASU or earlier)

I have wanted to be a scientist my entire life. I never questioned that I wanted to study science, and I’m so glad I chose ASU at Lake Havasu. The local environment provides plenty of opportunities for hands-on field study, which is always a blast!

Why did you choose ASU at Lake Havasu?

I chose ASU at Lake Havasu because it is a tight community, where everyone is family. You really get to make lifelong connections. It provides a unique opportunity to work very closely with your professors and classmates.

What's something you learned while at ASU, in the classroom or otherwise, that surprised you or changed your perspective?

ASU really helped me see the importance of education. Education and innovation are what lead to success.

Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?

Jeanette Nangreave really showed me the importance of having a solid support system. When there are people that have your back and really believe in you, windows of opportunity will open. Dr. Nangreave was absolutely my support system, and I am so grateful to her for helping me realize my dreams and find my path.

What's the best piece of advice you would give to those still in school?

Ask questions! I know it can be scary, but the more you engage, the more successful you will be! Never stop being curious. Curiosity leads to great discoveries.

What was your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?

I love the outdoor seating outside of our market. It is a great place to enjoy the sunshine and socialize.

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan to continue my education as far as it will take me. I plan to get a PhD, or maybe two!

If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

Climate change, without a doubt! Our planet is suffering, and we need to be doing anything we can to save it. We all live here, and we should all be doing our part to make it a safe and beautiful place to live. $40 million would definitely not fix the planet, but it would be a great start.

Jordyn Osborne

Major: 

Kinesiology

Hometown:

Puyallup, WA

What was your "aha" moment, when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in? (Might be at ASU or earlier)

I realized I wanted to study in this field when I realized I had a love for working out and sports. I grew up being active, and I did not want to stop being active once I grew up, so I realized I can just incorporate that into my career.

Why did you choose ASU at Lake Havasu?

I chose this campus because it was smaller and student-focused.

What's something you learned while at ASU, in the classroom or otherwise, that surprised you or changed your perspective?

I learned that college professors are not scary; they are actually really nice and helpful, and they just want to see you succeed. I realized this when all of my professors are really helpful and offer to help whenever they can.

Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?

Rebecca Lidstrom.

What's the best piece of advice you would give to those still in school?

Don't give up, you will get through it and it will be worth it. Take the leap of faith and do what you love, do not settle to make others happy.

What was your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?

The student center.

What are your plans after graduation?

Continue to grad school to get my doctorate.

If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

Student debt.

Amber Beecher

What is your undergrad degree/year?

Bachelor of Science in environmental science, 2019.

Hometown?

Menifee, California.

Are you currently in school pursuing another degree? What is your occupation?

Yes, I am currently a research assistant at the University of Toledo working on my Master of Science in biology with an emphasis in ecology.

Current location?

Toledo, Ohio.

Why did you choose ASU at Lake Havasu?

I chose ASU at Lake Havasu because I wanted to get hands-on experience in the field and have the wide range of opportunities available to me that are offered at this campus. I wanted to have the small class size experience to get the one-on-one interactions with the faculty.

Dream career?

Being on a boat researching harmful algal blooms on the Great Lakes.  

Any awards, certifications, publications or success stories we should know about?

• Dean’s List spring 2017, fall 2017, spring 2018, fall 2018, spring 2019 and summer 2019.
• Women’s Network Exchange of Arizona Scholarship Recipient, 2017.
• London Bridge Lions Club Scholarship Recipient, 2018.
• Research Experience for Undergraduates summer internship in 2018, a 10-week internship funded by the National Science Foundation at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.    

In general, what are you up to?

I am currently working on getting my master’s degree at the University of Toledo. My research is on harmful algal bloom toxicity in Lake Erie’s western basin. 

Morgan Beckwith

What is your undergrad degree/year? 

Bachelor of Science in biology, summa cum laude, 2017.

Hometown?

Lake Havasu City, AZ.

Are you currently in school pursuing another degree? What is your occupation?

I graduated from the Midwestern University physician assistant program in 2019. 

Current location?

Lake Havasu City, AZ. 

Why did you choose ASU at Lake Havasu?

I am native of Lake Havasu City and feel a sense of loyalty to the area. I worked on the fundraising campaign for ASU at Lake Havasu in high school and was impressed by the enthusiasm the team had for expanding quality education in a town like ours. Though I considered many universities, I was looking for an inclusive environment that valued students individually and knew this campus was the perfect fit.  

Dream career?

The one I'm in! I have a longstanding passion for increasing access to health care and am excited every day to be a part of the solution. 

Any awards, certifications, publications or success stories we should know about?

I earned a Master of Medical Science in physician assistant studies and am a nationally certified physician assistant through the NCCPA. 

In general, what are you up too?

I am a primary care provider for a local community health center. 

Christina Martinez

What is your undergrad degree/year?

Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, 2015.  

Hometown? 

Lake Havasu City, AZ.  

Are you currently in school pursuing another degree?

I graduated from Pacific University College of Optometry in May 2019. 

What is your occupation? 

Optometrist. 

What is your current location?

Lake Havasu City, AZ. 

Why did you choose ASU at Lake Havasu?

Lake Havasu City is my hometown, and I like to support local businesses as much as possible, so it was a no brainer to stay local and attend ASU at Lake Havasu. Another perk to attending ASU at Lake Havasu was that I was able to continue building ties within my community. As I was able to stay local and gain experience as an optometric technician, I was able to build professional relationships within my desired field. In fact, those relationships are the foundation of my current position.   

Dream career?

That’s a tough one. When I first graduated from high school, I thought I wanted to become a child psychologist, but within my first year of college I realized that was not for me. I explored the field of optometry while working as a technician at a local optometry office and found my “dream career.” So I am now living my dream! 

Any awards, certifications, publications or success stories we should know about?

I would say becoming an optometrist is my success story, as there was a long stretch of time where I had no idea what career I wanted to pursue. It was not until I was hired as a technician at a local optometry office that I realized this was the career for me. From there, I had to go back to school, essentially starting over because a lot of my credits that I had taken previously did not transfer. Eight years later, I became an optometrist. Although optometry school was one of the most challenging hurdles I had to overcome, I did it and now I get to live my dream. Along the way, I received several different awards and certifications, but graduating from optometry school trumps them all.  

In general, what are you up to?

I am currently working at Lake Havasu Family Eyecare. In my free time, I enjoy spending quality time with my husband, family and friends. My husband and I love spending time outdoors so we spend the majority of our free time camping, hiking and enjoying the beautiful lake.