Student Spotlight Profiles

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  Ashtyn (Smits) Gutzman
  Agricultural Business Management major, Sustainability certificate

  Gutzman, who grew up on a dairy farm near Cambria, Wisconsin, has always been passionate about the impact farmers have on the lives of others. While pursuing an Agricultural Business Management degree and a Sustainability certificate, she held a series of experience-building internship positions: as a sales intern at SeedLink LLC, in the tax and accounting department at Compeer Financial, and in the crop insurance department at Compeer Financial. All of her schooling and intern experiences came in handy when she and her fiance purchased a farm in early 2020. The two married in summer 2020. Gutzman hopes to find a position working directly with farmers to assist with their crop insurance or lending needs. Gutzman was named a Renk Scholar, an honor given to high performing UW–Madison students with an interest in agriculture or agribusiness.

• 
  Jessica Liu
  Biochemistry major

  While following a pre-med track, Liu pursued undergraduate research, taking a position in the lab of Mike Cox in the Department of Biochemistry. She conducted research on the molecular basis of the bacterium E. coli’s resistance to ionizing radiation, research that could lead to the creation of new medical therapies such as probiotic supplements for patients undergoing radiotherapeutic treatment, as well as new approaches to remove radioactive compounds from contaminated environmental sites. Liu plans to go to medical school. In recognition of her overall academic excellence, Liu was selected to receive the 2020 Alpha-Helix Scholarship, which is awarded to one CALS undergraduate student each year studying biochemistry, microbiology, genetics or nutritional sciences.