We asked the campus community to nominate seniors who are deserving of recognition, so we can showcase how much the Class of 2020 means to UConn. We’ll be posting interviews with selected seniors as our Senior Spotlight series. Enjoy.
Meet Kayla Lancor!
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When are you graduating?
May 2020
What are you studying?
Diagnostic Genetic Sciences (DGS)
Hometown?
White River Junction, VT
What on-campus activities/organizations are you involved in?
Pi Beta Phi, Club Softball, intramurals, and I worked at CVS Pharmacy in my downtime.
What is your favorite “hidden” spot on campus?
The fountain and benches in front of the NextGen field/Alumni Center and behind the UConn Foundation building. I would always walk to class through there freshman and sophomore year.
What has your day-to-day been like since virtual classes and social distancing were introduced?
My major requires us to do a six-month internship from January to June, so I have been at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. Most students at internships/clinicals around the world have been doing work online/have been sent home, but I am still at my site.
I have been helping the Clinical Genomics and Advanced Technology Lab and techs with validating multiple COVID-19 assays and researching more about the virus. When I am not working, it has definitely been a change since I used to drive down to Connecticut every few weekends to visit friends, but I have been facetiming a lot of people to stay in the loop.
Are there any campus traditions you missed, and any that you might want to take part in as an alum?
I never got my senior button or shirt, because in the fall I always had classes or work during the time and I have been out of state all spring semester. I am looking forward to coming back in October for Homecoming and possibly graduation and just being able to catch up with everyone.
If everything could go back to normal for one hour today, what would you use that time for?
I would use that time to fly to a warm location and meet up with everyone I miss and can’t wait to see when this is all said and done.
What are your plans for after graduation?
I have been accepted into an online Master’s program through Manchester University in Indiana and plan on getting a Master’s of Science in Pharmacogenomics while working full time hopefully at DHMC or another laboratory.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully as a researcher in a biopharmaceutical lab finding new personalized therapeutics for patients.
If you could thank one person for their help throughout your time at UConn, who would it be and what would you say?
I would thank my sorority, Pi Beta Phi. All the amazing women I have met through this organization helped me find myself and have pushed me to be a better person. They have been there for the last four years for me. They have been great sisters who are always there for me, give great advice, make me laugh, and are always down to grub out. So I just want to say I miss you all and can’t wait to meet up again very soon, make more memories, and help each other through life.
What’s a piece of advice you’d like to share with the Class of 2024?
It is okay to not know what you want to major in or to change your mind. It is completely normal to change majors. I was a CHEG major and essentially went from chemistry to biology. I am super happy how my four years turned out, but you just have to trust yourself enough to know you will find out what you do and do not like and who can help you along the way. Join clubs, organizations, and Greek Life because this is the time to try new things and meet many new people. It will challenge you and make you the person you want to become while also making lifelong friends/bridesmaids, etc. UConn is lucky to have you, Class of 2024.
Anything else we should know about you? Fun facts, hidden talents, favorite memories, advice, etc.?
My freshman year I went to the SUBOG concert in Gampel and saw Brad Paisley. I was in the front row, and he stole my phone to videotape the students and sang right into my phone.