At first, Ambrose junior Sara Oberhoffer seems like a fun-loving, bubbly college girl. Get to know her a little better, and you’ll learn that she is really much more than that.
A native of Dubuque, Iowa, Sara has found much success here at SAU and is contributing to campus in ways that often go unnoticed and unappreciated.
In the fall of 2010, some of the teachers in the kinesiology department mentioned to some of the students that the Kinesiology club was currently inactive. They wondered if anyone would be interested in getting it up and running again. Sara and a few of her classmates stepped up.
“It sounded like something this campus could benefit from so I volunteered.”
Now, Sara is co-president of the very active and very visible club with over 150 members. Anyone from any major who is interested in being involved with a club that promotes a healthy and active lifestyle is welcome in Kinesiology club.
Sara’s role in the club keeps her very busy. She is involved in planning meetings, and her job is to ensure that the club provides many chances to be active around campus.
“I work to ensure that the club is active providing its members with community service opportunities as well as chances to be involved in the planning and organization of events on campus.”
However, Kinesiology club co-president isn’t Sara’s only leadership role on campus. She is also a member of the Biology Club Executive Board, as well as the Student Alumni Association Retention and Recruitment Committee.
She is also president of the new Dance Marathon Organization on campus. This is an event that raises money for Iowa Children’s Miracle Network. This April will be Ambrose’s first Dance Marathon event.
Sara is excited for the opportunity to allow students “with a great opportunity to become involved in something bigger than ourselves.”
Extra-curricular activities are clearly a passion for Sara, but she also has time to go above and beyond in academics, as well. She has been accepted to the Track I program for the Doctorate of Physical Therapy here at Ambrose. In order to prepare for her graduate work, Sara is doing independent study cadaver dissections and is an Anatomy and Physiology teaching assistant.
In the chemistry department, Sara is working on a research study. This has given her the opportunity to present her work at the Undergraduate Scholars Conference.
“My goal is to have it published in a journal.”
When looking to the future, Sara has the next few years planned out. She intends to enroll in SAU’s Doctorate of Physical Therapy program, which will take about two and a half years to complete.
“I hope to get a job practicing physical therapy near my hometown, and I can’t wait to be out in the ‘real world.”