Congratulations to Alder Strange who has been named the Junior Medalist for 2016-2017! For nearly 40 years, the University of Washington has celebrated the top undergraduate in each class by awarding them the President’s Medalist distinction. Recipients are selected by a committee for their high GPA, rigor of their classes and number of Honors courses. A biochemistry and musical theater double major, Alder also participates in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program. Through Honors, she’s taken advantage of several unique learning-beyond-the-classroom opportunities, including a natural history field study course and study abroad trip to Ecuador. Outside of class, you can catch Alder in one of her many co-curriculars: In the lab, as a researcher in Dr. Cole DeForest’s lab where she investigates the application of a new protein to the hydgrogel-based systems of drug delivery; on the soccer field, as a regular member of her pick-up soccer team; at her old elementary school with Professor Marjorie Olmstead, teaching math to students; and on stage, as part of the UW’s production of “Anything Goes”. With the long-term goal of being a pediatrician and researcher, she is excited to draw from her broad interests to find balance.