Why did you choose to come to Iowa?

I got recruited to come to Iowa by the women's basketball staff, and they have an excellent tradition of the program here. I was excited to come play for them and to be a part of a really, really good team.

What are some of your earliest memories on campus?

When I came to campus, it was in the summertime, and I was living in the dorms with the two other incoming women’s basketball freshmen. We would ride around on our little mopeds and go and try all the food spots in Iowa City, and it was so much fun.

What was your most memorable experience or your best memory?

My best memory would have to be the two national championships that my team competed in. How we helped change the trajectory of women’s sports was so special and created history here at this university. Getting to travel with my team and compete at the highest level in front of millions and millions of viewers was really unmatched.

What’s the best way to describe what it’s like to be a Hawkeye?

In athletics we say, “Win. Graduate. Do it right.” And I think the biggest part of that is working hard and earning what you’re given. I think that Hawkeyes do that absolutely the best. The Hawkeye community is just so supportive and so uplifting and so fun to celebrate with. It’s been really special being here.

Is there an experience or moment during your time at Iowa that helped you feel like you belong here?

I found a lot of different communities here on campus, whether it was with my team or in the classroom or through different student orgs and leadership positions. There’s just so many different things to try and new people to meet. And I’m so thankful for all of that.

Who was your most important mentor here, and what role did they play in your experience?

I would say that I have two mentors. Coach Abby Stamp was my position coach, and we built up a great relationship over the past four years. She really helped me grow as a player and as a person. And then in the classroom, Professor Chris Stoakes has really helped me out in navigating my future career path. I’m really thankful for that.

What do you think you got out of your experience here at Iowa that you wouldn’t have gotten if you had picked another school?

I think that the lasting community has been really rewarding. When we travel around and play in front of so many different fans across the country, it’s just really cool to see how Hawkeye fans travel and stay together even after graduating.

What’s your biggest takeaway or the biggest thing you’ve learned?

The biggest thing I’ve learned while being here is just to be patient and trust the process and know that if you put in the time and put in the work and if you’re a good person, then good things will come to you. That was very hard for me to learn early on, but staying patient and knowing that good things were coming was a big gift for me.

Who would you like to thank during commencement?

I want to thank my family, my coaches, my professors, my teammates, my friends, and Hawkeye fans for making this such a wonderful experience and for supporting me through it all.