Ellis Alley
Hey, I’m Ellis Alley and I’m a freshman at UW hoping to study astronomy and physics. I’ve always been fascinated by space. However, I didn’t decide to pursue astronomy until my sophomore year of high school when I took an Astrophysics elective. I’m originally from Birmingham, Alabama and I enjoy horseback riding, fencing, playing piano, and hiking. I’m super excited to be in this year’s Pre-MAP so I can learn more about research and programming and I hope it will lead to many more research opportunities.
Danbi Kim
Hello! I’m Danbi, and I’m a first gen & transfer & international student! I was born and raised in South Korea but I’ve lived in different countries in my teenage years after dropping out of high school. I grew up loving the night sky and the outer space, but I never got into math and science until I took an astronomy class as a science elective while I was finishing my college degree in graphic design. I ended up changing my major to physics and started over from scratch. I’m a sixth year junior now applying for astronomy & physics double major with a minor in data science. I plan on pursuing computational astrophysics in the future. I’m also heavily interested in astronomy outreach and physics education, and I like volunteering for STEM public outreach.
Felix Knowlton
Hi, I’m Felix! I’m a freshman at UW who is interested in astronomy. I’m not sure yet if it’s the right major for me, but I’m hoping this class will help me determine that. In my spare time, I like reading, playing games, and making crafts. I also love music and am hoping to join at least one choir or orchestra in my time here at UW.
Allie Lewis
Hi! My name is Allie Lewis. I’m a freshman from Bremerton, Washington. I have always enjoyed the subjects of maths and sciences, specifically Astronomy – which I plan on majoring in here at UW along with Physics. After my Washington Aerospace Scholars residency last summer my interest in space has only grown deeper. I’m specifically interested in black holes and dark matter. I’m excited to be a part of Pre-Map where I get to dive into astronomy research! Outside of school, I enjoy reading, baking, volleyball and traveling.
Kyleigh Medard
Hello! I am Kyleigh Medard. I am a third-year at the University of Washington majoring in Astronomy and Physics and minoring in Japanese Language. My mother was in the military; we moved around a lot so I tend to say I am not really from anywhere but I lived in Texas for about 8 years. I have a lot of artistic hobbies, such as playing the violin, drawing, singing, acting, writing, etc. I am really excited to learn about interstellar objects and what more can be discovered!
Ellianna Nestlerode
Hi! My name is Ellianna Nestlerode, and I’m a second-year student at the University of Washington majoring in Physics/Astronomy. I’ve always had a keen interest in astrophysics for as long as I can remember, and am looking forward to getting to take part in some research here at UW! Some of my favorite memories from growing up involve my dad taking me and our telescope out of the city to observe the stars, so I can’t wait to turn this lifelong hobby into a job later on. When I’m not focusing on school, I love to hike, paint, read, and hang out with my friends.
Ishaani Purang
Hi everyone! My name is Ishaani, and I’m a freshman at UW. I was born in Seattle but grew up in New Jersey and then California; I’m from the Bay Area. I’ve loved both space and the ocean since childhood, so when I learned about astrobiology in my junior year of high school — a field which partly studies ocean worlds in order to develop an understanding of life in space — I decided to pursue it. Right now I’m a pre-sciences major, but I hope to study math (another one of my favorite subjects), astronomy, and physics in the future, and then do a PhD in astrobiology after graduating. When I’m not studying, you can find me reading, listening to music, or baking.
Amelia Ross
Hello, my name is Amelia Ross and I am a freshman at UW! My hometown is Wilbur, Washington, and I grew up stargazing. This led to a fascination with space and the unknown, which is why I plan on majoring in astronomy. Outside of school I like to dance and read, or snuggle with my cats. I also love to explore, and I’m excited to discover the universe with Pre-MAP!
Samuel Stromness-Pettey
Hello! My name is Samuel, and I’m a first year student at UW intending to major in Astronomy. I’ve live my whole life in Salt Lake City, Utah, and am very excited to get used to the much more wet and rainy climate of Seattle. I’ve always loved astronomy, and my dad had me watching Nova documentaries far before I could really understand them, and I’ve never stopped being interested since! I love reading books on topics in astronomy and physics, and am always watching for new image releases from the JWST. Outside of astronomy, I love to play tabletop/board games, video games, and read!
Tyler Vallas
Hello! My name is Tyler Vallas and I am a freshman this year at UW from the greater San Diego area! Although I am studying astronautics in the engineering department and am therefore not studying astronomy directly, I plan to learn as much as I can in astronomy throughout my journey here at the university. With a plan to minor in physics, I hope to one day study and work with rocket propulsion in my career. I’ve grown up loving everything about space, and considering my interests in astronomy and undergraduate research, I felt that Pre-MAP was an opportunity that I could not miss out on. In my free time, I love to hang out with friends, explore the outdoors, hike, ski, and so many other activities.
Sophia Watts
Hi! My name is Sophia Watts, I am a freshman at UW this year. I hope to major in astronomy and physics; currently I am in pre-sciences. I grew up in the Portland, OR area. I have always been interested in anything STEM related and I became fascinated with astronomy in high school. In the future, I hope to be apart of astronomy research and pursue my passions in the field. For now, I am excited to be in pre-map to get an introduction to astro research with a mentor and learning how to conduct research. Outside of academics, I really enjoy art, music, movies, hiking, and just being outside.