The executive board of Her Campus at Purdue is very excited to announce the April recipient of our member of the month award, Katherine Raykova. Katherine has been a wonderful, dedicated member to our chapter. Despite being off campus for the semester due to a co-op, Katherine has remained an active member of Her Campus at Purdue. Therefore, we couldn’t imagine a better choice to receive the honor of Member of the Month and are so delighted to share her with all of our readers. To get to know our April Member of the Month a little bit more, read the interview below!
What is your name, major, and year in school?
My name is Katherine Raykova. I’m a junior majoring in Mechanical Engineering and English Literature.
Where are you from?
I’m from the suburbs of Detroit, MI.
How long have you been a member of Her Campus at Purdue?
I joined HC during fall of 2020!
What is your favorite thing about being involved with HC at Purdue?
My favorite thing about HC at Purdue is how positive and inviting everyone is. I also love reading everyone’s articles every week.
Why did you choose to join HC at Purdue?
I first joined HC because I was looking for a club that would allow me to write and have fun, as a break from my engineering course-load. Everyone was so welcoming and excited, so I knew it would be a club I would love being a part of!
What do you like to do outside of school?
Outside of school, I like to explore new spots around town with my friends and hang out. I love to read, write, do yoga, go to the gym, and be outside. I also like to do DIY/craft projects sometimes.
What is your favorite class you’ve taken at Purdue?
I think my favorite class so far has been toy design (ME 444). It was great because I got to work on fun projects and actually learned a new CAD software really well in the process. It was cool using the 3D printers and other resources in the ME building as well.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
If I could go anywhere right now, I would probably pick South Africa. Or Ireland.
What kind of music do you love to listen to?
I love most generations of rock music (prior to the 2000s), metal, Bob Dylan, Amy Winehouse, and Florence + the Machine.
Favorite place to shop?
My favorite place to shop around campus is Vons, mainly for books and crystals. For clothes, I usually like to thrift, but I like Madewell for new pants. For food, Trader Joe’s.
What do you want to do after you graduate?
After I graduate, I want to work for a year or two, and then go to law school to become a patent attorney.
What is your biggest goal for your future?
My biggest goal is to write, and publish, a novel!
What is one thing about you that surprises people?
People usually think I have my act together, but I’m naturally extremely disorganized and need to bullet journal religiously to keep my life from actually falling apart. Thankfully, it works most of the time.
What would you tell someone thinking about joining HC at Purdue?
Join!! Everyone is really nice and it’s a lot of fun.
Is there anything else you want our readers to know about you?
Fun fact about me is I love to garden and have pet chickens at home!
Follow Katherine on Instagram @katraykova