Energetic Orkin Wins Goldwater Award
By Eva Emerson and Nicole St.Pierre
When USC College student Melissa Orkin applied for a Goldwater Scholarship, she wasn’t expecting much. “I didn’t think it would come to this, but I thought I’d apply anyway,” she says. “I was really surprised.”
Orkin received a call from her mom in late March with the news that she had won. Chosen out of 1,093 students across the United States, the junior premedical student majoring in biology with a minor in business is one of only 300 students nationwide to receive the award. Named after the late Senator Barry M. Goldwater, the scholarship was designed to encourage students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering, and includes a $7,500 prize that can be used for tuition, books, or room and board.
Those who have seen this scholar at work in the lab or volunteering at USC community-service events were hardly shocked. “Melissa not only has intellectual prowess and well-rounded leadership, but is gracious with both,” says Jon Burdick, former associate dean of College recruitment and retention, who nominated Orkin for the award. “She is confident enough not to overpower you with talk or struggle to make sure you’re impressed. That rare gift enhanced her strong application and astounding research.”
Since the beginning of the fall 2002 semester, Orkin has been working on a challenging research project with neuroscientist Michael Quick, associate professor of biological sciences. Her project focuses on the neurotransmitter serotonin and its involvement in depression.
In that time, Orkin has realized that she wants to pursue a career that combines medicine with biomedical research. “I definitely want to be a clinician and find a way to do research,” says Orkin, a member of the biology honors program with a 3.93 GPA.
Inspired by her pediatrician grandfather, Orkin has dreamed of becoming a physician—and a pediatrician, in particular—since childhood. As a senior in high school, she was accepted into the baccalaureate/M.D. program run by USC College and the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Based on an exemplary academic performance and application, students in this program are guaranteed acceptance into the Keck medical school before they even start their undergraduate studies, allowing the high-achieving students to explore subjects beyond their premedical studies.
Orkin decided to minor in business in part because of her father’s influence—as an accountant, he often commented on the lack of business and organizational acumen he observed in doctor’s practices. Orkin says she wants to be able to understand that side of things as well as the clinical aspects.
“Plus, it’s a nice change of pace from biology,” she says.
Recently, Orkin traveled to Uruguay as part of the Alternative Spring Break project, where she and her peers worked with a Jewish community and helped to build a soup kitchen in an impoverished area.
In addition, she has been a Joint Education Program volunteer; a Trojan Health Volunteer, where she worked at the Orthopedic Hospital close to campus; and an active member of USC Hillel, particularly in the SC Tzedek community service program. In her first year at USC, Orkin helped found a Jewish sorority, a social and philanthropic group that has grown to 35 members.
Although she has very little free time, Orkin does pause to hang out with her friends, see her boyfriend (at rival UCLA) and visit her family (laundry basket in tow) at least twice a month. She grew up in the San Fernando Valley and graduated from Calabasas High School.
Orkin describes herself as a serious student and credits her success to her ability to plan ahead and work hard. “I’m good at doing things in advance and not procrastinating,” she says. “I’ve never pulled an all-nighter. I need my eight hours of sleep.”
The summer after her sophomore year, she studied for the August sitting of the MCAT, completing the difficult medical-school admissions test well before most of her peers.
Although a place is held for Orkin in the Keck School of Medicine—which is among her top choices—the scholar wants to keep her options open. If she doesn’t attend Keck, she’s at least sure that she will stay in the Golden State. “I can’t handle the cold,” she exclaims.
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