Alexis Dunning: For the Kids

Name: Alexis Dunning

Year: Senior

Major: Microbiology

Hometown: Powell, Ohio

This week, Her Campus had the privilege of speaking with Alexis Dunning, who puts her heart and soul into making BuckeyeThon an incredible and memorable experience for both the students and the kids involved.

Her Campus: What clubs and organizations are you involved with?

Alexis Dunning: I am involved with the Ohio House of Science and Engineering as a chemistry and biology tutor and mentor to underclassmen, particularly those interested in a future in medicine. Also, each week I volunteer with two organizations—Kid-netic Energy and The James Cancer Hospital. But my main organization involvement is as the Vice President of Outreach and Engagement for BuckeyeThon.

HC: How did you get into BuckeyeThon?

AD: My BuckeyeThon experience actually started in high school. In middle school, I volunteered at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. I had the opportunity to interact with patients and families on every floor of the hospital. When BuckeyeThon approached the current BuckeyeThon President, Vick Chhabria, and me about starting a dance marathon with our high school service club, it was a very easy decision. When I decided to attend Ohio State, I knew that I wanted to be involved with BuckeyeThon.

HC: What has been the most rewarding experience you’ve gained through your involvement with the leadership of BuckeyeThon?

AD: I think the most rewarding experience I’ve gained is seeing the relationships I’ve helped form between students and the kids that I love. I really have enjoyed seeing students interact with the families at our many events. At our fashion show in November, it was so heartwarming to see attendees after the show come up to some of the kid models and ask for pictures with them. Moments like those are what I have spent a lot of my time trying to form.

HC: How do you hope to use your BuckeyeThon experiences beyond the dance marathon and college?

AD: My BuckeyeThon experience will be so valuable as I enter medical school next year. I hope to use the skills I’ve gained in working with people to create new programs and execute plans when I am working as a physician. I’ve learned a lot about how to be a good leader and what my leadership qualities are through BuckeyeThon, like how to honor the work of others, how to ask good questions, and how to think about ideas or problems in ways that extend beyond just the current situation or obvious outcome.

HC: What kind of legacy do you hope to leave at Ohio State?

AD: In most everything I do, I hope my legacy will lie in the people I have formed relationships with and have helped to make better future leaders and students. I hope to have a part in the success of future Ohio State leaders by providing them with insight on my successes and mistakes. This way, they can learn from them and not only create a better campus but also accomplish their own goals and find their own passions.

HC: Who is your biggest inspiration? Why?

AD: Probably all of the BuckeyeThon kids. Whenever I am feeling stressed about classes and the work I need to do, I think about all of the experiences I have had with them: conversations we’ve had about girlfriends, favorite cheese types, and who would win in battle – a flying or fire-breathing dragon? Those everyday, funny, and usually quite strange conversations remind me that through the eyes of kids, you can get through anything. They inspire me to keep working because if I didn’t do so much, I would not have had the opportunity to laugh with all of them and help more kids like them in the future.

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