Student Spotlight: Noel Rozic
Introduce Yourself
My name is Noel Rozic. I am a senior and I am planning to graduate in the spring. My major is biological pre-professional and I have a minor in chemistry, and I am also planning to graduate from the OHIO Honors Program.
Tell us about your research or project work you’ve been engaged with as a Voinovich Scholar.
I am part of the Partnership for Community-Based Prevention team and did a research project on the feasibility of implementation of QPR at Ohio University within the pre-professional clubs. QPR is an evidence-based gatekeeper suicide prevention training program, and a gatekeeper is not just someone who knows about a topic, it is somebody who knows and can act. QPR not only teaches the recipients about suicide but how to prevent suicide. And QPR stands for Question, Persuade, Refer. Within this project, I researched other gatekeepers, specifically suicide prevention training programs, and how it was received between general college students, medical students and physicians.
Why do you feel it's important for OHIO students to participate in public service?
The rates of suicide, especially in Appalachia, are sky high. The rates of poverty are sky high compared to everywhere else. And as students who are learning and engaging in this community, we need to give back.
How has the Voinovich Scholars program supported your personal and professional growth?
I do a lot of different things in the Voinovich School. There was that research project and the other half of my time I have spent working with the Ohio Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Prevention and Promotion. There is a wide range of things you can do as a Scholar, and specifically, within the Partnership for Community-Based Prevention team. Everyone is open to letting you do what you want to improve on. I told them that I needed to improve on Excel because I was bad at it. So, I was able to spend a lot of time using Excel and now I want to say I am a pro at it.
Tell us about being selected to participate in the Student EXPO Showcase for President Gonzalez’s Investiture Week, presenting your award-winning research to Ohio University's Board of Trustees.
It was such an honor to present my research at the President’s Investiture. I enjoyed engaging with faculty about my research as well as hearing about the other talented students and their projects. This was a wonderful opportunity to highlight the amazing work of OHIO students from all disciplines.
What are your future career goals?
My future career plan is hopefully getting accepted into medical school. I am looking to stay in Ohio and maybe even OHIO's medical school.