This spring, more than 6,100 University of Iowa undergraduate, graduate, and professional students will earn their degrees. Along the way, they’ve engaged, excelled, and stretched themselves in ways that embody what it means to be a Hawkeye.

Take Adam Heflin, who lives with his family near his hometown of Clear Lake in north central Iowa. He is completing Iowa’s Master of Science in Nursing: Entry into Practice program, where he’s gained exposure to cases and resources that he says he likely wouldn’t have encountered elsewhere. A first-generation student, Heflin is eager to bring that experience back home and serve rural Iowans as a bedside nurse.

Aspiring writer Ben Ahlrichs of West Des Moines, Iowa, came to the UI to immerse himself in the university’s literary culture. What he didn’t expect was just how accessible the writing faculty would be — even running into them at coffee shops — or how many opportunities he’d find beyond the classroom. The English and creative writing major says he feels well prepared to begin an MFA program in poetry.

Darlyn Mendoza saw the crucial role pharmacists played during the pandemic and knew that was the career path she wanted to pursue. A native of Des Moines, Iowa, she chose Iowa for its strength in health care. Not only did she complete a PharmD, but she also developed leadership skills that she says will help her advocate for patients. She’s thrilled to remain in her home state for a pharmacy residency.

While Taylor McCabe of Fremont, Nebraska, helped power two memorable runs to NCAA championship games, she was also working toward a different kind of goal: building the world’s tallest skyscraper. The Hawkeye athlete is earning a degree in civil engineering with a focus in pre-architecture and a minor in art and plans to pursue graduate study in structural engineering.