Honor Society® member
Sam Lasher
Lab Animal Technician at University of Rochester School of Dentistry and Medicine
- wildlife and fisheries science
- Class of 2025
- Syracuse, New York
Member since November 2023
About
I am a 25 year old transfer student pursuing Wildlife Science at SUNY ESF after transferring from Monroe Community College. Due to financial hardships, I was unable to have a traditional linear educational journey. To afford MCC, I took a year off school to work two full-time jobs, and after MCC, I continued to work full-time so I could afford my education. Additionally, during the 2020 pandemic I was severely abused, another factor that hindered my academic journey. I am an autistic female who identifies as non-binary, and was a victim of the special education program where I was denied an education and subject to abuse. It has been very difficult for me to get to the point I am at today due to these uncontrollable aspects, however I am still choosing to pursue a higher education and pave a better future for myself. These struggles have strengthened me and allowed me to have a greater appreciation for what I worked for entirely myself. I still struggle with the effects of C-PTSD, along with the other conditions I have that label me as neurodiverse. I choose to use my experiences to better the lives of others in similar positions to me, and I hope to take these skills into my future career to help improve a world that wasn't designed for people like me.
Education
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Monroe Community College
Environmental Science
2019 – 2020
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Monroe Community College
Biology
2017 – 2019
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Monroe Community College Honors Institute
Honors Institute Courses
2017 – 2019
Honors and awards
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phi theta kappa honor society
Was a member from 2017-2020
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honor's institute
I graduated in 2019 from MCC with the Honor's Instutute certificate, given when an undergraduate student completes advanced coursework while pursing their degree.
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dean's list
I was on the Dean's List from 2017-2020
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Certification of Excellence at Academic Convocation
At convocation the Certification of Excellence was awarded to the top 1% of Monroe Community College's 2019 graduating class.
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JG Wentworth Scholarship Recipient
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Scholars Day Presenter and Scholarship Recipient
I presented at the Northeastern Regional Honors Council in Baltimore and at MCC's Scholar Day, to which I won a scholarship.
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presidential scholarship
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4.0 gpa
I had a 4.0 GPA from 2017-2019
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top 10%
I was in the top 1% of MCC's 2019 graduating class, making me a part of the 10%.
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national honor society
I was a member of the National Honor Society the 4 years I was in Fairport Senior High School
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honor society
I am a member of the Honor Society at SUNY ESF
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SUNY ESF Alpha Xi Sigma Honors Society
Honor Society fraternity at SUNY ESF
Goals and interests
- Career goal
I am still determining what I would like to do with my degree. I would like to do field research at some point in my career, and to do work that would benefit the environment while also improving the lives of those facing hardships. I have an interest in environmental law and policy, and will pursue those careers if I am given the opportunity to study. If I don't work directly with laws and policy making decisions, and I would like to work close with these organizations, doing what work I can to benefit a mutual cause.
- Graduate school interests
I would be interested in studying environmental law and natural resource policies. With that skill set, I would like to study implementations of policy that concern conservation and equity.
- Outside the classroom
I enjoy drawing and other forms of art. I am proficient at video editing and do it as both a hobby and career in advocacy. I collect Tamagotchi, a vintage toy that was released in both Japan and the United States, and archive the franchise. I enjoy finding new places outdoors to walk and collect plant life.
Experience
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Lab Animal Technician
University of Rochester School of Dentistry and Medicine
Mar 2021 – Jul 2023
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Peer Navigator
Monroe Community College First Year Experience
Jun 2018 – Dec 2019
Languages
- English (US) Fluent
- Spanish Beginner
