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As a first-generation student with little familiarity about the college experience, Courtney Valmore was determined to make the most of her four years on campus.

That’s certainly been the case by reviewing what she has accomplished through her sophomore year studying chemical engineering at the nation’s top-ranked college for science, engineering, and mathematics.

After all Valmore is student body president, organizer for new student orientation activities, and a member of the Noblitt Scholars’ inaugural Class of 2024 and Student Government Association’s Mental Health Committee.

There’s more, lots more …. the professional chair of the Alpha Chi Sigma chemistry fraternity, and member of the , Engineers Without Borders and American Institute of Chemical Engineers. She previously has been a tutor for the (for 6-12^th grade students.

“I’m driven to help others,” she says.

That’s why she was willing after being elected president of her first-year class to send an email message to Rose-Hulman President Robert A. Coons sharing feedback about how the institute’s COVID-19 pandemic health and safety protocols were impacting her first-year resident hall classmates. 

“I believed the president needed to know what students were feeling about this challenging situation," Valmore said. "Everything was strange. He replied quickly and appreciated learning about students’ feelings about campus developments.”

Now, as Student Government Association president, she has an open line of communication to Coons, Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students Erik Hayes and other members of Rose-Hulman’s leadership cabinet. Her one-year term started on March 1 and will continue through February 2023.

“I want to grow and keep constantly moving forward,” said the Indianapolis native, a graduate of Herron High School. “I’m not a conventional STEM student. I’m from a high school that specialized in the arts and am an only child who was raised by a single mom. That’s why I don’t want to watch things happen. I want to be involved in them … Rose-Hulman has been a place of opportunities for me and others. I like that I know everyone here on a first-name basis.” 

Also well-known is Valmore’s 2-year-old Golden Retriever, Chicken, an emotional support animal rescued from a local humane society shelter. They lived together on campus last year, but now reside in an off-campus apartment.

“I’m a strong advocate for student mental health issues and I don’t know how I would have made it through Rose-Hulman so far without Chicken. He immediately brightens a tough day. Everyone loves him and he really looks forward to being on campus,” she remarked. 

Valmore’s outgoing personality and can-do attitude was recognized among first-generation Indiana college students receiving Realizing the Dream $3,000 scholarship from Independent Colleges of Indiana, through Lilly Endowment Inc. support. Students were selected based on their outstanding achievement during the first year at their colleges or universities.

She is now striving to accentuate her chemical engineering degree by minoring in economics and eventually adding a master’s degree in engineering management through Rose-Hulman’s new R squared concurrent academic degree program. She also is gaining valuable work experience through internships with Eli Lilly and Company (this summer), Endress+Hauser (last summer) and Praxair Surface Technologies (2019-20).

“I have wanted to be a chemical engineer since I was 8 years old, playing with a chemistry set on weekends. Now, I’m looking forward to being a summer intern with an innovative pharmaceutical company and, hopefully, examining some future possibilities in environmental engineering,” she said. “I’m always looking forward.”

Learn more about Valmore at her Noblitt Scholars profile.