Rachel Nicole Dunn
2009 Wildlife Conservation Featured Student

Who Am I?

My name is Rachel Nicole Dunn.  I was born in Shreveport and was the first child of my parents, Eddie & Vicki Dunn.  I grew up in the small town of Sarepta, Louisiana, where I graduated High School in 2005.  I am now a senior at Louisiana Tech majoring in Wildlife Conservation with a minor in forestry.  I plan to graduate at the end of the next Winter Quarter 2010 and hopefully be employed by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a Wildlife Biologist.  I would like to get a job here in Louisiana for a while; however, I would ultimately like to settle somewhere near the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee.

Why Tech and Wildlife Conservation?

I've wanted to attend Louisiana Tech since about 9th grade when my school came to LA Tech campus for the High School Literary Rally.  I really liked Tech because the campus wasn't too big or too little.  I've always been very interested in biology, animals, and the outdoors so I chose wildlife conservation as my major.  I love doing anything outdoors from just enjoying nature and watching the sun set to hunting and fishing.  Coming from a small town, I can truly say that South Campus here at Louisiana Tech really feels like home.  After you've been here about a year you begin to recongnize and know more and more people in your wildlife and forestry classes.  The faculty and staff here are also so friendly and they know students by name.

My Mentors and Friends

I personally believe one of the biggest parts of your college experience is the people you meet along the way.  I've made so many friends here in Ruston and I know it is going to be sad when I have to move somewhere else.  I don't think it's possible to list one person who truly shaped who I am today, but I think it was a group effort on behalf of all of my professors and friends.  I am so thankful for the time my professors spent with the classes making sure to pass their knowledge to us.  It is rare to find people as passionate about their work as the professors here in the Forestry Department. I knew when I came to Tech my professors would teach me so much; however, I didn't realize how much I would learn from my friends as well.  I can't even imagine how many group projects or late night study sessions we've all been part of whether we really wanted to be there or not, 3 a.m. isn't always fun when there is a deadline for an assignment or test the next day.  Once again, I believe my education at Louisiana Tech was only made complete by the professors here and my friends I've met along the way.

Favorite Quotes

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow.  Learn as if you were to live forever." - M. K. Gandhi

"You see things; and you say 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?' - George Bernard Shaw

Christine Ann Smith
2009 Wildlife Conservation Featured Student

Who Am I?

My name is Christine Ann Smith.  I was born in Monroe and I am the second child of my parents, Stephen and Linda Gowan.  Since both of my parents worked for General Motors I had to move around a lot when I was in school.  We eventually moved to Ida, Louisiana, and I graduated from North Caddo High School in 2005.  I am now a senior at Louisiana Tech majoring in Wildlife Conservation.  I plan to graduate in the spring of 2009 and hopefully be employed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a Wildlife Biologist.  I would like to get a job here in Louisiana since I will be getting married to the love of my life, and fellow Forestry student Daniel Browne on June 6 of 2009.

Why Tech and Wildlife Conservation?

I've wanted to attend Louisiana Tech since 12th grade when I shadowed Frank Reger, a game warden, for career day at school.  I've always been very interested in the outdoors and I have a strong passion for wildlife so I chose Wildlife Conservation as my major.  My brother also graduated from Tech, so I knew that the school was really good.  I really liked Tech because the campus wasn't too big or too little.  The faculty and staff here are also very friendly and they make it a point to know the students by name.

My Mentors and Friends

There is no possible way that I could name just one professor or friend that has helped me to get to where I am today, all of the professors have been a tremendous help, and I know that I will be sad to say goodbye to them when I graduate this spring.  Since coming here to Tech, and south campus, I have made so many life-long friends.  Whether it's late night study sessions for a final exam with Dr. Holley, or all of the funny situations from summer camp, it has shaped me to be the person that I am today.

Favorite Quotes

"In Wildness is the Salvation of the World." - Henry David Thoreau

"In every walk with nature, one receives far more than one seeks." - John Muir