Kevin Dong says he’s been a Hawkeye fan his whole life.

So, when choosing a college, the Estherville, Iowa, resident didn’t have to think too hard about where to go. It also didn’t hurt that he knew he wanted to be a pharmacist and the University of Iowa’s College of Pharmacy is ranked No. 18 in the country.

“Growing up in a small town, Iowa felt like a big enough university where I could get all those big university experiences but also have that small-town feel where everyone was super nice and welcoming,” Dong says.

After seven years in Iowa City—three years of undergrad and four of pharmacy school—Dong will graduate with a PharmD and head to Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center to complete a PGY1-PGY2 Health System Pharmacy Administration Leadership residency program and a master’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences.

“Even though I’m going somewhere else for residency, I can say with 100% certainty that I will be cheering for the Hawkeyes even if we’re playing against each other,” Dong says. “You will definitely see me in a Hawkeye sweatshirt on game day.”

What are your some of your earliest memories on campus?

My earliest memory was going to an Iowa football game. That was the first time I’d been to an Iowa football game in person, and I really got to see the intensity that the Hawkeye fans bring into the stadium. That’s something that you never really get a full idea of watching on TV. But being immersed in that atmosphere, you really feel the Iowa Hawkeye fans’ loyalty to the team.

What’s been your favorite memory during your time on campus?

My favorite memory here will be the pharmacy balls. Every year, the pharmacy school hosts a pharmacy ball for all the faculty and all the pharmacy students. I was lucky enough to be a part of the planning committee. Being able to plan that with all my classmates and having a good time with all the professors and all our friends, and also getting to meet the underclassmen as well, that was just a great night, a great party.

What has surprised you most about your time at Iowa?

I think what surprised me most about Iowa is how well Iowa prepares you for the real world. Going through residency interviews this year, I noticed that I was much more prepared than some of the other candidates that were interviewing. I felt like Iowa really did a good job preparing me to answer all the clinical questions that they throw at you on the spot. Even at big medical institutions like Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, I felt like I was really prepared for those interviews.

How would you describe what it’s like to be a part of the Hawkeye community?

I would say that being part of the Hawkeye community, you just really get a sense of camaraderie. When I was traveling for interviews, I would have my Hawkeye gear on and people would stop me in the airport to tell me, “Go Hawks!” Or they would stop me on the street and ask me what I’m studying. It’s that “Iowa Nice” and feeling that everybody is part of this community. And Hawkeyes are all over the world. I went on a trip with my parents back to China in early middle school and I had a Hawkeye shirt on, and someone knew the University of Iowa because they had gone to school here.

What has provided you with the greatest sense of belonging at the University of Iowa?

It was when I got to meet my classmates for pharmacy school. It was just all these people who had similar interests and similar career interests all coming together, and we all really connected. Pharmacy school can be hard to get through, and we all got close and got through it together. I feel like a lot of my classmates and I will be longtime friends.

Who has been the most important mentor you have found here?

I’ve had a lot of great mentors here at Iowa, but I would say the important mentor for me is David Weetman. He’s one of the pharmacy administrators here at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, and he’s also the father of my roommate. He’s been really instrumental in me choosing the pharmacy administration pathway that I’m wanting to go down. I’ve also gone with him to tailgates, so I’ve gotten to know him not just on a professional level but also a personal level.