Wake Forest’s small student population, involved faculty and resources for research drew Hannah Martin to attend the college so near to her home.

“Both of my older siblings went to Wake Forest, so I didn’t necessarily want to follow in their footsteps unless I knew this was the right place for me,” Martin said.

The university would indeed turn out to be the right fit for Martin’s many talents and interests.

Although she’s a chemistry major, Martin also achieved minors in biology and in music in pursuit of a post-grad position in medical school.

“It was pretty much a no-brainer that I wanted to study pre-med at Wake Forest,” Martin said, “but I was really surprised that I was able to continue with my other passions. It’s one of the really cool things about attending a liberal arts college.”

Those passions include violin and horses. Martin is highly involved and devoted to the student orchestra as well as the club Equestrian team.

“I didn’t think I could continue with the Equestrian team or with violin lessons here,” Martin said. “Being able to immerse yourself in something you love without making it a major focus has been amazing. I’ve gained so much confidence and met many new people through my activities.”

Besides her involvement in extracurriculars, Martin has also excelled in the lab, where she studies biochemistry.

“Getting involved with research freshman year was so important to my gaining of first-hand knowledge. Learning alongside of grad students really gave me a model to follow,” Martin said.

Martin received the Beckman Scholarship and began research the summer after freshman year, an experience that made her seriously consider a career in biochemical research.

“I love that research allows you to apply what you learn in the classroom to problems in the real world. The chemistry department faculty really want you to apply your learning to your life and your future goals,” Martin said.

While speaking about Martin’s contribution to her lab, professor Patricia Dos Santos lauded her work-ethic.

“Hannah is a brilliant student who exemplifies well the ideal Wake Forest student with a wide range of experiences during her college years,” Dos Santos said. “For me to be able to mentor talented and motivated students like Hannah while watching them develop as scientists is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job.”

Martin demonstrates an insatiable appetite for learning. Throughout her four years, she has also shown great commitment to her multiple interests, including research, Equestrian and violin.

Having completed many applications, Martin now looks forward to the next step in her education — a placement in medical school.

“I do not know where or what kind of medicine I would like to study,” said Martin, “but I do feel confident that I am well-prepared to do research during and after graduate school.”

Martin credits the chemistry department for her preparations to do research and clinical medicine in the future.

“The chemistry department is great for the same reason that Wake Forest is great,” Martin said. “The faculty have been amazing because they go beyond what’s expected and really seek students out to help,” Martin said.