Lauren Sexton
Lauren Sexton, a member of the Honors College from Williamstown, will graduate with a degree in biology and minors psychology and music performance with a focus in violin.
She is a Presidential Student Ambassador, violinist in the School of Music string ensembles, and has served as a member of the Mountaineer Fentanyl Education Task Force and Red Cross Club of WVU. Sexton is also an inaugural cohort member of the Project 168 Society.
With passion for music, Sexton, who began playing the violin at the age of 3, was also a member of the WVU Chamber Ensembles.
Sexton has maintained a 4.0 grade point average while engaged in rigorous coursework, conducting undergraduate research and performing approximately 500 community service hours through the Appalachian Prison Book Project and Rosenbaum Family House, among several other organizations, while also providing music to local nursing homes
Community service has been a priority and the cornerstone of her life for many years, teaching her compassion, determination and how to persevere. Overall, she has completed more than 2,000 service hours since middle school.
Her purpose is to be a change agent in West Virginia and give back to the people of her home state.
For the past two years, Sexton has also served as a patient care technician at the Camden Clark Medical Center, a “life-changing opportunity” that has taught her how to serve others with humility — a trait she said she believes is crucial to her future career as a physician.
One of only four undergraduates accepted into the Robichaux Eye Research Lab, Sexton began conducting research her freshman year as part of the Research Apprentice Program. She studied the molecular cause of eye disease and blindness using advanced microscopy techniques and presented her findings at the WVU Undergraduate Research Symposium and co-authored a published research paper.
Her most meaningful experience has been her opportunity to support WVU Medicine Children’s through the Miracle Network Dance Marathon, where she has served as a dance participant and member of the executive board and finance division. As the top MountaineerThon individual fundraiser for two consecutive years, she said she feels gratified to have contributed to the mission of bringing quality care to her home state for children and their families.
Sexton is a 2021 Bucklew Scholar and Eberly College Scholar who has completed the Certified Student Leader and Honors Foundation programs.
Gaining admission through the Early Decision Program, she will attend the WVU School of Medicine in the fall. Ultimately, she plans to work as an ophthalmologist in West Virginia.