Profile: Andrea Luthi

Andrea Luthi, senior chemistry, biology and Spanish major, will be graduate in May with three degrees after only six years. Luthi has made her mark on a total of three different academic departments during her time at Emporia State.

“We all like to claim a piece of Andrea,” said Dewayne Backhus, chair of the physical sciences department. “We respect the fact that she has been an excellent student in three areas.”

Balancing three majors has been a challenging experience but each field of study has been enjoyable for Luthi.

“Science classes can be in depth and a lot of information so when that gets to be too much, Spanish is relaxed and creative,” Luthi said.

Surprisingly enough, Luthi did not come to ESU with a strict plan for her studies. When Luthi arrived at ESU in 2002, she planned to take a variety of classes in different areas, confident that the right major would make itself known.

During her second year, Luthi established her major as biology and added a chemistry major the next year. It was her major in Spanish that came about in a less conventional way.

Luthi had taken a few Spanish courses in high school and was still interested when an opportunity arose to study at a language school in Mexico. In the summers of 2006 and 2007, Luthi attended language schools in Mexico and in Ecuador.

While abroad, Luthi was able to work on her Spanish speaking skills and experience a new culture. One of her favorite memories was when she first visited a rainforest, something she said is like nothing she had ever felt before.

“I’d never been completely in nature before,” Luthi said. “There was no traffic or yelling or the sounds of people. It was quiet except for all the natural noise like birds. It was so far away from civilization.”

The courses Luthi took in Mexico and Ecuador enabled her to easily fit a third major into her already packed schedule. When she returned, Luthi discovered she wasn’t far from having a degree in Spanish, so she decided to commit to the program. Luthi said that a love of learning made the challenge of three majors seem manageable.

“She’s a Renaissance woman,” Backhus said. “We respect the fact that she has been an excellent student in three areas. Exceptional students stand out.”

Luthi was named the Dwight and Ida Curry Newburg Outstanding Senior at the Newburg banquet on Monday. The award is given to a senior at ESU who has been proven to be an asset to the university.

“She received that award for all of her work she has done throughout her education,” Backhus said.

Luthi was not even aware she was receiving the award when she arrived at the ceremony that evening. She knew she was on the nominee list but did not know until the actual award was given that she would be one of the recipients.

“It was really exciting,” Luthi said. “There were 21 great nominees who have done some excellent things. It was pretty amazing.”

In her free time Luthi enjoys hanging out with her friends and family and reading, though she admits her schedule prohibits her from reading much outside of textbooks. She also enjoys working with her church. Luthi sings at nursing homes with her church, works with senior members of the congregation and participates in many other general volunteer activities.

After graduation Luthi plans to attend Northwestern in Evanston, Ill. to get a Ph.D. in chemistry. After completing her formal education she hopes to work in environmental biology or chemistry and make her way back to South America, this time for good.

Above all, Luthi would like to have time to travel and see other cultures in addition to working in the science fields. Living in South America would offer her a chance to live in the midst of the language she has come to love.

As her time at ESU comes to a close, Luthi believes the key to success lies in involvement and cites her relationship with her professors as a big part of her college experience. Luthi said that she believes that taking the time to get to know professors as friends makes a huge difference. She also said her experience abroad is something that has made college memorable.

“It may seem like a big undertaking but you learn so much that you cannot learn in a classroom,” Luthi said.

As for her professors, Luthi’s overall personality and work ethic have made a lasting impression on various departments.

“She is the salt of the earth,” Backhus said. “She is very unassuming but very successful. A good work ethic can enable a person to excel and Andrea has shown this.”