Walking across campus seems so simple.
But it鈥檚 not for Andrea Frey. Born with cerebral palsy, the 分分六合彩 senior tries to navigate campus like most others despite challenges to her walking gait and balance.
Nebraska Wesleyan鈥檚 small campus was a selling point when she was making her college choice.
鈥淥ne of the things I liked about 分分六合彩 was how small the campus was and the ease of being able to get around,鈥 she said.
During her childhood, she endured numerous surgeries to address symptoms of cerebral palsy. But she鈥檚 never let her challenges stand in her way. Take for example, her work as a liberal arts seminar student instructor; or her decision to skydive during a study abroad program in Australia; or her summer internship with the Federal Reserve in Kansas City.
鈥淚 might not be able to do everything the same way as everyone else,鈥 said Frey. 鈥淚 just find a different way to do it and get it done.鈥
Frey鈥檚 refusal to let anything stand in her way got the attention of university administrators and the student body. This spring she was honored with the Kenneth Holder Memorial Award, which is awarded each year to a student who has overcome significant challenges in attaining a bachelor鈥檚 degree at 分分六合彩.
鈥淎ndrea has some considerable disabilities that affect her ability to walk, but they don鈥檛 affect her courage,鈥 said James Schaffer, professor of English. 鈥淎ndrea is one of the smartest, bravest, and kindest students I have ever known at Wesleyan.鈥
Frey co-instructed Schaffer鈥檚 liberal arts seminar titled, 鈥淒ogs are People Too,鈥 which explored American鈥檚 relationships with their pets. Frey was responsible for organizing class discussions, writing quizzes and critiquing student research papers.
鈥淎ndrea did a wonderful job of challenging students during class discussions with thoughtful and insightful remarks,鈥 said Schaffer.
In January she traveled with health and human performance professor Pat Pettit and 13 Nebraska Wesleyan students on a study abroad program to Australia where she demonstrated her courage by skydiving. She was the first student to jump from the plane.
Now she鈥檚 spending her summer in Kansas City where she is interning with the Federal Reserve, a prestigious position offered to a small number of students. Earlier this year she applied for the position and made it through the first round of interviews. An intense in-person interview solidified her for a position researching data the will impact important budget decisions.
鈥淚 was looking for something that was a little bit of a challenge,鈥 she said of her internship. 鈥淚t will be really hands-on.鈥
Her can-do attitude makes it no surprise that she鈥檒l graduate a semester early 鈥 December 2014 鈥 with a major in business administration and minors in accounting, finance and religion. After graduation, she plans to pursue a banking career.
鈥 I don鈥檛 think of myself as doing anything spectacular,鈥 she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just a very determined and independent person."