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Bryn Ashland

2,415

Bold Points

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

Bio

First year student at Carleton College, aspiring to a career in environmental or natural science. Avid competitor; passionate about swimming, skiing, and nature.

Education

Carleton College

Bachelor's degree program
2023 - 2027

Mankato East Senior High

High School
2019 - 2023

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Bachelor's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Biology, General
    • Natural Sciences
    • Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Environmental Services

    • Dream career goals:

      Unknown

    • Commissary Employee

      A&H Hermel
      2024 – Present10 months
    • Youth Conservation Corps Memeber

      Mobilize Green
      2022 – 2022
    • Pollinatior

      Corteva Agriscience
      2021 – 2021
    • Pollinator

      Corteva Agriscience
      2020 – 2020

    Sports

    Alpine Skiing

    Varsity
    2018 – 20246 years

    Awards

    • Most Improved
    • Varsity Letters
    • Captain

    Swimming

    Varsity
    2017 – Present7 years

    Awards

    • Most Improved
    • Team Spirit
    • Varsity Letter
    • All Conference Honorable Mention
    • All City
    • All Confrence
    • Most Valuable Player
    • Academic All State

    Track & Field

    Junior Varsity
    2023 – 2023

    Arts

    • Mankato East Planetarium Club

      Astronomy
      Fall Show 2019 , Winter Show 2019, Winter Show 2021, Spring Show 2021, Winter Show 2022, Winter Show 2023, Asteriods 2023, Exoplanets 2023, Art Show 2023
      2019 – Present
    • Hoffman Road Company

      Theatre
      5 showings of the Adams Family
      2022 – 2022
    • Mankato East High School

      Concert Band
      Four or more concerts, as well as eight or more Pep Band performances per year.
      2019 – 2021

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Independent Project- Invasive Species Removal — Removed plants, enlisted other volunteers
      2022 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Salvation Army — Ringing collection bells during the holiday season.
      2019 – 2022
    • Volunteering

      Southern Minnesota Food Recover — Ingredient preparation and meal packaging.
      2019 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Camp Invention — Guided +20 3rd and 4th graders through stem focused classes. Mentored two middle school leaders in training.
      2022 – 2022
    • Volunteering

      Kiwanis International — Rebar and Display Removal
      2019 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Hosanna Lutheran Church — Worker
      2020 – 2021
    • Volunteering

      My Place — Mentor
      2021 – 2021

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Peter T. Buecher Memorial Scholarship
    Winner
    The ability to harness momentum is a valuable skill that can be applied both in swimming and in life. As an accomplished swimmer, I have come to understand that the seconds spent pushing off the wall during a race can make a tremendous impact on the outcome. However, the physical push-off alone is not what determines success. It is the mental preparation and focus that goes into each turn that truly matters. Similarly, in life, success is not just about the actions we take, but also about the mindset we bring to each situation. Through my experiences in swimming and community service, I have learned the importance of preparation, and determination. As a five-time varsity letter winner in both Swimming and Alpine Skiing, I have experienced both individual and team success. However, what I cherish the most is the time I spend supporting my teammates and giving back to my community. One of my earliest community service experiences was helping to run a Junior High swim meet. Shortly thereafter, I timed at a swim meet for senior citizens. During both meets, I could clearly see the impact my presence had on the athletes, and I took delight in supporting my teammates and neighbors. These meets taught me that swimming is not just a sport, but a lifetime activity, and that caring for the people around you is equally important. Since then, I have become a member of the National Honor Society, which has given me numerous opportunities to engage in community service. I am expected to complete six hours of community service each semester. I am proud to say that I have completed almost fifty hours of community service this semester and over one hundred hours this year. I have had the opportunity to participate in numerous community functions during this time including leading elementary school students through a STEM day camp, removing invasive plants, and preparing meals for community distribution. Through these experiences, I have learned about the challenges my community faces and the solutions that can be put in place to address them. Moving forward, I plan to build on the determination and preparation I have learned to expand the impact I can create on my community. In college, I intend to study environmental science and get involved in efforts to preserve natural resources, engage the community in nature, and create a more sustainable future. By pursuing my passion for environmental science, I aim to make a positive difference in the world and help preserve the planet for future generations. I will continue to apply the principles I have learned through swimming to my future endeavors. I understand that success is not just about the outcome, but also about the journey and the values that guide our actions. I believe that determination, preparation, and a focus on making a positive impact on others are the key to garnering success, both in swimming and in life. I am committed to building on the momentum I have created and using my skills and passions to create a better future for all.
    SkipSchool Scholarship
    A book about free diving is the reason I'm awake at one in the morning. The book- Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and what the Ocean Tells Us about Ourselves by James Nestor. This book answers more questions than I ever thought to ask, and presents exhaustively researched information in an interesting and approachable manner. I believe that science should be engaging and accessible for everyone, regardless of education or experience, and James Nestor was the first scientist to show me how to do that.
    Bold Books Scholarship
    Two summers ago, I was looking for a way to become a more competitive swimmer. After five years, I was stuck, so finding a way to breathe less was an intriguing idea. I read Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and what the Ocean Tells Us about Ourselves by James Nestor, and what I learned spanned far beyond a competitive edge. Deep begins by exploring freediving- the effect on the body, and the influence of the ocean, before moving deeper. James Nestor brought discussions of sharks, echolocation, Tibetan Buddhist monks, whale communication, and the source of life on earth to the front of my mind, where they remain. Since reading Deep, I have begun apnea training- the practice of strategically holding one’s breath to acclimate the body to increased levels of carbon dioxide, or decreased levels of oxygen- to improve my breath-holding capacity. In the year and a half of training, my breath-holding capacity has increased by more than 290%, but more importantly, Deep taught me to look at the world critically. I have become more interested in my science classes, something my grades are reflecting on, and I began to seek out more information in a wide variety of subjects. After Deep, I read Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, also by James Nestor, as well as innumerable books about whales, jellyfish, biology, ecology, and astronomy. After two years, it’d be an understatement to say I learned a lot, but no matter what, it all comes back to Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and what the Ocean Tells Us about Ourselves.