Major: Mathematics (BS)
Emily Horton ’18 started college as a biomedical science major. But after two semesters of organic chemistry and an advanced calculus class, she decided to pursue mathematics.
“[Math] made more sense to me at that point,” she said. “I think it’s a very creative subject, and most people don’t look at it that way. Finding a solution or writing a proof takes lots of creativity and determination.”
A couple of years later, Horton’s math major and interest in biomedical science led her to a summer internship opportunity at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
During the internship, which was funded by the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, she worked with scientists who were studying emotion using data recorded about the facial expressions subjects made while watching films.
Horton was a Westover Honors Fellow, an experience she described as “really influential to me,” and a Bonner Leader. With Bonner, she volunteered at area nonprofits, including a community garden, soup kitchen, and the local humane society.
During her senior year, Horton was named the 2017 Richard Clark Somerville Scholar, the most prestigious academic award presented at Lynchburg. She later earned a master’s degree in mathematics from Virginia Commonwealth University and currently works as a statistician for the federal government.
