Hometown: Washington, Illinois

Major: Chemistry

Future Plans: Earn a doctorate in chemical engineering

Hometown: Geneva, Illinois

Major: Political Science and Legal Studies

Future Plans: Law school

Hometown: Flora, Illinois

Major: Political Science

Future Plans: Career in politics

Hometown: O’Fallon, Illinois

Major: Information Systems Security

Future Plans: Work as a security analyst

Hometown: Waterloo, Illinois

Major: Business Administration

Future Plans: Pursue a master’s degree at UIS

Hometown: Aurora, Illinois

Major: Biology (Pre-Med)

Future Plans: Become a general physician

Hometown: Oswego, Illinois

Major: Business Administration

Future Plans: Work for a government agency or a nonprofit

Hometown: Alton, Illinois

Major: Biochemistry PreMed

Future Plans: Attend medical school

Makayla Cox has seen COVID-19 in the lab and on the front lines. She works as a medical laboratory technician for the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and as a medical scribe in the Emergency Department at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.

At IDPH, she processes COVID-19 tests and helps with research and development. “I have had the opportunity to learn new research techniques that help to make testing more efficient” she said.

Hometown: Aurora, IL

Major: Political Science

Future Plans: Attend law school to study family and immigration law

Hometown: Lake Zurich, IL

Major: Environmental Studies

Future Plans: GPSI Program