Incoming Freshman Alexandra Robey Honored For Passion in Chemistry

Chemistry a drag? Not to Alexandra Robey, incoming freshman at Lebanon Valley College.

Hailing from Jarrettsville, Md., Robey is a first generation college student who plans to pursue studies in chemistry with a secondary education certification. Her love of chemistry developed from a number of life experiences, including a high school passion for the role chemistry plays in environmental issues.

A graduate of North Harford High School, an agricultural school complete with several barns, ponds, and a water treatment plant, Robey became highly involved in environmental initiatives. Coming from such a rural setting with a strong focus on farming developed her interest in sustainable agriculture. 

“My time in high school brought awareness about the health of the environment around us,” said Robey. She has a particular interest in the chemical compositions of fertilizer and other products for agricultural use, as well as the development of safer alternatives. In fact, her particular interest in environmental chemistry garnered her a scholarship awarded by a locally-owned pest control company near her high school that focuses on organic-based and bay-friendly services.

Robey’s interest in chemistry also stems from a family connection to kidney disease, specifically, the role chemists play in creating life-saving antirejection medicine needed for a successful kidney transplant. Through her studies in chemistry, she hopes to someday contribute to the fight to cure kidney disease. 

Though Robey doesn’t know for sure where her passions will take her, whether it be in a lab, a classroom, or in the field, she knows that her college education will be a strong foundation from which she can build upon.

“I look forward to pursuing these passions at LVC,” says Robey, who is getting a head start by participating in the summer Research First program. “A big part of why I chose LVC was that I knew I’d get a lot of hands-on experience and research to prepare me for my career, and I look forward to developing my interests when I get there this fall!”