The NAU Review — Grad becomes advocacy leader, scouts cook at NAU, a circuitous journey to graduation, extraterrestrial geology, Grad excited for medical school and elevating excellence

Jess Harmon tried a couple different colleges before she found her home at NAU—a circuitous journey, considering she grew up here. But Harmon, a member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, wanted to see what else was out there. When the pandemic brought her home, she found what she was looking for—role models who looked like her, leadership opportunities, professors who cared and the opportunity to rise through the ranks of ROTC, becoming Cadet of the Year. After graduation, she’ll be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

Melissa Briggs’ college career has kept her busy. She did undergraduate research that took her all over the county, got an internship assisting in autopsies with the Coconino County medical examiner’s office, studied abroad and worked as a supplemental instructor. Now the Honors College student, who graduates this weekend with a degree in biomedical science, is getting ready for the next step in life—medical school. “One of my favorite things about my time as an undergraduate student was the opportunity to let my ambitions and curiosity run wild,” Briggs said. “My eagerness to learn and grow never went unrewarded!