Hundreds of Michigan Tech undergraduates cross the threshold from college student to graduate each semester. Meet Jessica Gadbury and Riley Stichter, two biological sciences students who graduate with the Class of 2024 this month, as they share a look back at their journeys, what kept them going through challenges and obstacles, and what drives them to make the world a better place.
How Huskies Find Their Path
Medical laboratory science (MLS) major Jessica Gadbury ’24 hails from southeast Wisconsin and began her path into the health sciences as an elementary school bookworm.
“From a young age I remember looking at photos in an anatomy textbook,” Gadbury said, “I had one for kids and I thought it was the coolest thing. I would stay up late with a little light reading it.”
She went on to experience Tech’s Summer Youth Programs for both medical laboratory science and forensic science. The program let her explore both Tech and her long-term interest in science, so when the time came for college, she knew where she wanted to be.
“Jess is a silent warrior in all things biology, particularly Medical Lab Science, and when it comes to helping other students. It didn’t take long to see a fire light in Jess when she realized she had found her place AND that she was really good at it!”
Human Biology major Riley Stichter ’24 from Dayton, Minnesota, was already exploring pre-medical and pre-dental tracks through high school courses long before she’d heard of Michigan Tech.
“I wasn’t necessarily exactly sure what I wanted to do going into college. I just knew that I wanted to go into healthcare because I love science and I wanted the opportunity to help different people,” said Stichter.
When one of her volleyball teammates committed to Michigan Tech’s team, she took a closer look and was immediately interested in the strong STEM programs, outdoorsy community, and close access to hiking trails. Stichter was later also recruited to Tech to play volleyball.
Overcoming Challenges and Celebrating the Small Moments
Gadbury’s journey wasn’t a straight shot from admission to graduation. As a self-identified introvert, Gadbury said acclimating to living on campus was tough.
“When I came in as a first-year, in the first couple of months I was incredibly homesick. I had such a hard time settling in and getting the feeling that this is where I am supposed to be. Now, I have the feeling that I am not ready to go yet. I’m so sad to be leaving college. I guess I didn’t even really expect to have settled in so well,” she said.
After initially being accepted into the medical laboratory science program, Gadbury changed her major to the more general biological sciences for two years before deciding to move away from research and back to her original major.
“I had this epiphany at three in the morning, I realized ‘I don’t know where I’m going!’,” said Gadbury, “I wanted something with a pretty direct goal, something where I could see an end point and I thought MLS was very good for that.”
Claire Danielson, MLS Program Director, witnessed Gadbury’s transition between majors firsthand.
“We first met when she switched her major from general biology in 2022. She wanted to make a difference in patients’ outcomes but not necessarily interact with them directly. She was eager to learn and excited to come into a program where she felt more aligned with her goals,” said Danielson, “Over time, I’ve watched Jess not only develop a deeper understanding of the medical laboratory, but also grow as a leader and a mentor to her peers.”
Gadbury found her sense of belonging in the MLS program with friendly instructors and a close-knit student community. Even after stepping back into MLS she brought her love of biology with her and became a tutor at the Biological Sciences Learning Center (BLC). Biological Sciences Teaching Professor Brigitte Morin knew Gadbury would be a great fit for the BLC and as an undergraduate teaching assistant for her basic medical lab techniques course.
“From student to employee to teaching assistant, each layer of Jess has unfolded and it’s been exciting to see where her excitement peaks,” said Morin. “Watching her work with my undergraduate students and seeing her light up when they understand a concept makes my day.”
There is no single big moment that defines her time at Michigan Tech, Gadbury said, “For me it’s more of the little things like playing Rock Band IV with all of my friends, going downtown, and getting a coffee after class.”
Stichter found university-level science courses and acclimating to college life challenging at first, but by the end of her freshman year had established a routine and study methods that have carried her through her time at Michigan Tech.
Morin witnessed Stichter’s resilience through the early challenges. “Riley is incredibly good at compartmentalizing, so each interaction with her has seemed like there was never a care in the world,” Morin said, “However I know that the life of a student-athlete is stressful for many reasons and watching her juggle all those things with grace has been incredible.”
Stichter discovered her strengths and capabilities.“I wouldn’t have anticipated how manageable the curriculum is, or how it really is what you make of it. I’ve been exposed to so many different opportunities because I was able to seek out and balance those activities on top of all the school work I was doing. If I was in high school thinking about the future, that isn’t something I would think I’d be able to do, especially while playing volleyball.”
Where doors were not already open for her, Stichter made windows. As a member of the Pre-Health Association at Tech (PHAT) since her first year of college, she advocated for increased representation of pre-dentistry within the organization. Her advocacy led to creation of sub-committees for each separate discipline within PHAT which Morin said, “allowed for both cohesion and independence amongst all members. Riley took the lead for the pre-dentists, and the rest is history.”
Stichter said she made her small-moment memories watching meteor showers and the northern lights with her teammates. She also worked as a Husky Connect mentor through the Center for Diversity and Inclusion. “Coming from a diverse background I knew I wanted to be involved in some way but I wasn’t sure how.
Eventually I saw a job posting to be a mentor and I heard I would be able to mentor incoming students from diverse backgrounds, so that really interested me,” said Stichter.
She also got involved as a tutor at the Biological Sciences Learning Center, as those courses came more naturally to her and she wanted to help others gain confidence in their biology skills. Morin, who has worked closely with Stichter through the learning center, said she’s continuously impressed with Stichter’s ability to spread confidence and genuine positivity.
“Riley has always struck me as someone who is confident, but over the years I’ve seen her come even more into her own and find an empowered sense about her. Riley has become a senior-BLC coach who I can trust and rely on to step in no matter the need. Her steadiness translates to those around her and helps them feel confident, too.”
Giving Back in Small Ways Makes a Big Impact
Gadbury also joined the co-ed service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega through a friend of a friend as a way to share kindness with her community, campus and chapter. During her time with the organization, which has varied from 10 to 15 members, members, have volunteered with food pantries, raked leaves for local residents for the annual Make a Difference Day, and regularly cleaned up nails and other metal scraps from Breakers Beach near the north entry of the Keweenaw Waterway.
From serving as a volunteer to working in the service industry, Gadbury’s experiences have given her a realistic approach to changing the world. “Giving people more empathy would help in so many ways,” she said. “Thinking of people outside of your scope. I think living in a small town we can get a very narrow vision. It makes a difference, being more open-minded and empathetic to people that we’re not as familiar with.”
These small interactions sharing kindness with strangers prepared Gadbury for another important career step during her time at Tech, when she attended the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Sciences conference in Appleton, Wisconsin.
“Now I am very deliberate in going out of my comfort zone,” said Gadbury, “I realize the importance of it now. It is like trying new foods. If you don’t try it, you may never know it is your favorite food.”
Stichter also found opportunities to try new experiences, like volunteering at a free dental clinic near her hometown. The summer after her first year at Tech, she looked up every free clinic in her area and emailed each one until a door opened for her.
“Do not be afraid to be proactive, whether it’s reaching out to professors about research, looking for volunteer opportunities, or sending mass emails to different organizations,” Stichter said, when asked to share her advice for incoming Huskies. “I have been lucky to receive a lot of amazing opportunities because I’m willing to talk to different people or put myself out there.”
The experience inspired her to choose a path in dentistry, with aspirations to work in the public health sector.
“You never truly know the barriers or what patients are going through until you are able to volunteer in until you volunteer in a community health clinic and see it for yourself,” said Stichter, “I found that really beneficial, especially knowing that it exists within my community, where most dental practices are focused on patients who have a reliable form of transportation and have insurance to pay for it. Not everyone has that.”
What’s Next for Our Students?
Both Gadbury and Stichter have big plans after graduation.
Gadbury will begin her six-month practicum in Marquette followed by a board certification exam. Once that’s completed she hopes to remain in the Upper Peninsula and find steady employment in a hospital lab. She’s exploring possible specialization in microbiology or moving up in management for her long-term career goals.
Michigan Tech Medical Laboratory Science Program Coordinator Sarah LewAllen said Gadbury always stood out as exceptionally inclusive and welcoming.
“Over time, I’ve gotten to know Jess better through conversations in my lab courses and in passing. My connection with Jess is meaningful because she is someone I can wholeheartedly trust,” said LewAllen. “She is by far one of the most participative students I have ever had the pleasure of teaching. She is an excellent springboard for discussions in class because she isn’t afraid to say something wrong.”
Stichter’s path after graduation include attending four years of dental school starting in fall 2025. Her long-term goal is to work in public health, ideally at a federally qualified health center.
Kemmy Taylor, Pre-Health Programs director, said Stichter demonstrates how students focused on health-related careers can thrive at Michigan Tech.
“Riley’s growth as a future dentist highlights the expanding role of health professions at Michigan Tech. She is a shining example of the high-caliber students we are proud to cultivate here, and I do not doubt that her future in dentistry will be defined by the same compassion and dedication to helping others that she has shown throughout her time here,” said Taylor.
About the College of Sciences and Arts
The College of Sciences and Arts is a global center of academic excellence in the sciences, humanities, and arts for a technological world. Our teacher-scholar model is a foundation for experiential learning, innovative research and scholarship, and civic leadership. The College offers 33 bachelor’s degrees in biological sciences, chemistry, humanities, kinesiology and Integrative physiology, mathematical sciences, physics, psychology and human factors, social sciences, and visual and performing arts. We are home to Michigan Tech’s pre-health professions and ROTC programs. The College offers 24 graduate degrees and certificates. We conduct approximately $12 million in externally funded research in health and wellness, sustainability and resiliency, and the human-technology frontier.
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