My name is Evan Park and I use she/her/hers pronouns. I grew up in bend, Oregon. Freshman and sophomore year I attended Bend Senior High School (Bend, OR). Junior and senior year I attended American Overseas School of Rome (Rome, Italy). I chose to pursue chemistry because I am very intrigued by the ability of chemistry to observe and predict reactions at the molecular level, and how widely this skill can be applied. After learning about the scientific explanations behind climate change and environmental disasters, I decided that it was my goal to use chemistry to solve these problems someday. I chose OSU because the environment and community are so welcoming and conducive to growth, and the science programs here are challenging and distinguished. I also chose to come here for the opportunity of trying out for the rowing team with no prior experience, which has proven to be an amazing experience after three years of learning how to row, excelling within my team, and even competing at the international stage in the sport. Post-graduation, I am planning on attending a graduate program to pursue a master’s degree in chemistry. I will use my final year of NCAA athletic eligibility to continue rowing at the collegiate level, and potentially pursue athletics at the national team level after that. Outside of school and rowing, I enjoy playing bass guitar with my friends, being in nature, and playing with my roommate’s cat. My favorite book is And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, because it leaves you with so many questions and ideas that you can read it over and over again! My favorite food is authentic Italian cacio e pepe pasta. I am proud to announce that I broke the OSU women’s rowing 2000 meter erg record this February, thanks to the support and encouragement of my coaches and teammates. The Oregon State women’s rowing team has offered me an amazing environment to explore and exceed my own expectations of myself both physically and mentally, and I have learned countless lessons about grit, teamwork, and the rewards of raw, hard work. Last summer, I was accepted into the Under 23 National Team selection camp, where I made the top boat, the women’s open weight 8+, and travelled to Plovdiv, Bulgaria for the Under 23 World Rowing Championships. After winning our first heat in a comeback race, my boat won in the finals by open water, taking home gold medals for the USA. My experience there is reflective of the daily hard work, time management, and effort that I put in at OSU, balancing my chemistry demands, 9 rowing practices per week, and holding an executive role on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as a Student Athlete Leadership Team representative.