This spring, Lydia Periconi graduated from Penn State and the Schreyer Honors College with two bachelor's degrees—one in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences and one in Spanish. While she is sad to see her time at Penn State come to a close, she is incredibly excited for her next chapter: attending veterinary school, a lifelong dream. She will be pursuing her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech. Additionally, she was accepted into the dual-degree program, where she will earn a Master of Public Health (MPH) alongside her DVM over the next four years.

Following veterinary school, Lydia hopes to focus on endangered species, infectious diseases, and the One Health initiative—the principle that human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected. She is also eager to use her Spanish language skills to work internationally in Spanish-speaking countries, combining her passion for language with her interest in global medicine. She is excited to see where this journey will take her. Congratulations Lydia!