AMY PAVLOV '08

"College is free form. It's up to you to create your own experience. How big you dream will determine how grand your experience will be." Amy Pavlov's advice to prospective students is exemplified by her first three years at Marygrove and is indicative of the reason she was selected to receive the Distinguished Alumni of Tomorrow award.

Although Amy is the daughter of Marygrove alumna Marilynn Schreiner Pavlov '71, her choice of Marygrove was not automatic. Her siblings had attended larger state universities but a campus tour sold Amy on the value of the small campus, the individual attention and a program that suited her goals as well as a scholarship offer.

Once enrolled, she hit the ground running. As a first-year student, Amy earned the award for having the highest grade point average and, as a sophomore, she was the recipient of the St. Catherine Medal. She completed her junior year as an English major with Biology minor and a GPA of 3.904. It is no surprise that she has been on the National Dean's List every year. Each of the awards was accompanied by a scholarship in the name of the donor. Amy is a student representative on the Academic Events Committee and served on the presidential search committee. She was on hand as a volunteer for the inaugural events for President David Fike last May. She is an admissions tour guide as well.

An Honors Program student, officer and a co-curricular coordinator, Amy was invited to present a paper at Purdue Calumet on health fads in literature. She wrote on hypochondria in "Emma" and alcoholism in "Wuthering Heights." On another trip, Amy traveled with Professor Maureen DesRoches to several towns in the English countryside and London on the spring break study abroad program. Amy traveled to Puerto Rico on a service learning trip last year. The group worked at a San Juan homeless shelter as well as with a local organization on the island of Vieques. "It was an amazing experience that showed me yet again that all people have worth and importance no matter where they came from," says Amy.

Academics aside, Amy is one of the College's most involved and active students. She works in the office of Enrollment Services for Dean Sally Janecek who says, "Amy's infectious smile and cheerful disposition is witnessed daily on the campus whether she is in class, working or just hanging out with friends...she truly enjoys life and being with others. Her competence, commitment and compassion are demonstrated daily and are truly a part of her inner spirit." Dean Janecek was a classmate of Amy's mother.

In reflecting on the College, Amy said, "Marygrove has challenged me to grow. It welcomed me as a daughter. It makes me view others and situations with greater compassion and has challenged me to look at the other side of things."

Commenting on her daughter's selection, Maryilynn Pavlov says, "From the moment she set foot on the campus of Marygrove College as a freshman, I could see that she and Marygrove were a good fit. In my opinion, her life at Marygrove has been the embodiment of what the award is all about: academic accomplishment, leadership and service qualities that she will take with her and use to better society long after she has graduated from Marygrove."

Amy returns the compliment. She says that her mother set the example of the strong, intelligent, competent woman that she wants to become. She offers high praise for all of her professors and cites Dean Janecek and Dean Ambrose for opening many opportunities for which she is very grateful.

Amy participated in Marygrove's Academic Symposium last year and helped to plan the Founders' Day program last November. She won the McCombs Currier award in 2004 and squeezed in time to produce pottery accepted in the student exhibition. Amy also represents the student body on the Marygrove Alumni Board. Amy continues to be active in the campus ministry program.

Dressed as a 19th century woman, Amy spent the summer on Mackinac Island as an historic house interpreter and talked to visitors about what it was like to live in the 1820s and 1880s.

Amy loves fresh flowers, sunrises, good conversations and especially her family and, as a typical college student, longs for extra sleep.