Maria applied to the Honors College as an incoming first-year because she wanted a unique academic experience and a strong sense of community. “I was seeking a rigorous academic experience,” she says, “and I thought the Honors College would help me grow and connect with people who share similar goals.” Reflecting on her time in the program, Maria notes how the Honors College has helped her thrive. “The smaller classes have given me more attention and helped me learn the material better,” she says.
Maria also looks back fondly on her experience living in the honors residence halls during her first year. “I really enjoyed living in the honors dorms,” she says. “I was in West Hall, and that’s how I met a lot of my friends that I’m still friends with now.” For Maria, those early connections “provided support and a network” that has continued throughout her time at OSU, giving her “confidence to take on new challenges.”
When she began thinking about her thesis, Maria found the process daunting. “I had no idea how to even start looking at scientific papers or how to read them,” she says. At first, she considered focusing on swallows, inspired by an URSA Engage program she participated in as a first-year student. But when it came time to choose a thesis topic, she shifted her interest to soil. “I found soil science more interesting, and the further I got into my thesis research, the more exciting it became,” she says.
Maria describes her path to soil science as a series of “chance” events. During her first summer at OSU, she participated in an internship at the Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center, working with soil scientist Carlos Bonilla to collect and analyze soil samples. The experience motivated her to take a soil science class the following term. “That was when I knew I wanted my thesis to focus on soil,” she says. “I asked my internship supervisor, Carlos Bonilla, whom I had worked with at HAREC, if he wanted to be my mentor, and then we brainstormed a project together.” As the project evolved, it became Preliminary Long-Term Modeling of Soil Organic Matter Content in Irrigated Potato Cultivation.
Looking ahead, Maria plans to complete her honors thesis and graduate with her H.B.S degree and G.I.S. certificate in winter 2026. As she applies to Ph.D. programs, she credits the Honors College for preparing her. “Writing an honors thesis has been a very good experience,” she says. “I feel confident applying for graduate school knowing I have experience with scientific writing and the research process.”
Maria advises incoming honors students to take full advantage of the opportunities available to them. “Internships are very valuable for potentially finding a mentor,” she says. She also encourages students to explore fields that are unfamiliar or interesting. “OSU is diverse. There are so many fascinating classes to choose from, especially from the Honors College!”
