Transferring and Finding Treasure
As her time at Elmhurst University comes to a close, senior environmental studies and economics double major Lucia Zdenahlik ’25 can look back on her college experience with no regrets – she really did it all.
A Supportive and Seamless Transition
When Zdenahlik first began her college journey, she was facing the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic as a senior in high school. With more questions than answers, she chose to attend her local community college, Oakton College, where she could further explore her interests and find her path.
She had always intended to eventually attend a four-year institution, so it was during an Oakton transfer fair her freshman year that Zdenahlik made her first Elmhurst connections. It was important to her to find a school that had a strong, reputable environmental studies program like Elmhurst does.
“There’s a really nice interdisciplinary environmental studies program,” Zdenahlik said. “I met with the head of the program, Dr. Kelly Mikenas, and she explained a bunch of information about the program requirements and the courses so I could plan ahead when I was at Oakton and make sure I was on track before transferring. There’s always cooperation and partnership between students and faculty working together to find solutions.” The faculty at Elmhurst are engaged scholars and practitioners in their fields, going above and beyond to ensure each student feels welcome in their class while gaining the best practices, knowledge and skills for a successful future.
Zdenahlik then found out about a generous scholarship awarded to one honors student at Oakton in partnership with Elmhurst. With her mind nearly set on Elmhurst, Zdenahlik not only applied for the scholarship, but also received it, which made her decision to become a Bluejay a no-brainer.
If Zdenahlik could describe her transfer process in one word, it would be supportive. She worked with Elmhurst admission counselors to ensure her transition from Oakton to Elmhurst would be as smooth and seamless as possible. That way, Zdenahlik could focus on getting acclimated to a new place and jump right into her studies.
“They were really on the ball,” Zdenahlik said. “If I ever needed something, they would answer their phone or reply to my emails very quickly, or even text me reminders, and I thought that was really thoughtful. They also worked with me to make sure all my credits transferred over. It was all easy—Elmhurst is very supportive, and it was overall a positive, informative and welcoming experience.”
Embracing Opportunities and Achievements
Since arriving on campus the beginning of her junior year, Zdenahlik has become a Udall environmental scholarship recipient, attended and presented at national conferences, studied abroad in Malaysia and Singapore, participated in independent research projects and spearheaded an initiative to help improve Elmhurst’s community garden, all in addition to attending her classes. Zdenahlik is also an Honors Program student, as well as a member of and peer mentor in the Promotion of Underrepresented Minorities in Academic STEM (PUMA STEM) Alliance.
“Once I transferred here, I feel like the programs really refined my skills and allowed me to get to that deeper understanding of the academic areas,” Zdenahlik said. With University support for experiential learning, Elmhurst students gain a professional edge that ensures they have the skills to succeed.
Supported Passions in a Diverse Community
As someone who is passionate about the environment, Zdenahlik naturally appreciates Elmhurst’s arboretum campus and its commitment to sustainability. But she has also seen that there is so much more to the University than simply being a nature-filled place—it’s also a caring community with a diverse student body that cultivates an inclusive space where all students feel supported to succeed.
“It’s a beautiful campus community,” Zdenahlik said. “It’s a diverse community, where you have both people who live on campus and commuters, transfer students and students who are here for all four years, and international students.”
Zdenahlik also likes that she can relate to and see herself in her peers.
“I feel like I meet other transfer students pretty often, and I appreciate that because I feel like we have mutually shared experiences of going through that process, so there’s an understanding there that I really like,” Zdenahlik said. “I love how Elmhurst encourages and embraces their transfer student body—it’s not looked down upon and I don’t feel like anyone would judge me. I feel comfortable here.”
Looking Ahead
With graduation quickly approaching in May, Zdenahlik is feeling grateful for her collegiate experience while looking forward to what’s next. After meeting with her PUMA STEM advisor about summer research opportunities, she secured an internship at Argonne National Laboratory, where she will be working in the environmental science department.
“Now that I have my internship and things are falling into place, I’m ready to move on and graduate,” Zdenahlik said. Resources and services such as PUMA STEM or the Russell G. Weigand Career Center for Professional Excellence (WCCPE) equip students like Zdenahlik with opportunities to engage in the relevant, hands-on practice needed to be prepared for whatever comes next.
Zdenahlik will be studying native grasses as an alternative to biofuels. She wants to bring her environmental studies and economics degrees together to further explore the economy’s impact on and relationship with the environment.
No matter where her path may take her now and later on, Zdenahlik’s future is bright.
Go Far. Do Well. Visit elmhurst.edu/Admission to take the first step towards your future.