COSAM News Articles 2018 April Meet the spring 2018 COSAM Graduation Marshal, Abbey Phelps

Meet the spring 2018 COSAM Graduation Marshal, Abbey Phelps

Published: 04/19/2018

Abbey Phelps was selected to serve as the spring 2018 COSAM Graduation Marshal. Student marshals are selected by an awards committee from each college. To be considered, students must have completed a minimum of four semesters at Auburn University with a scholastic average of 3.40 (graduating cum laude) or higher and possess qualities of leadership, citizenship, character and promise of professional ability.

Phelps graduated with dual degrees in biomedical sciences/pre-physical therapy and Spanish. She plans to combine her passions in the healthcare field and treat both English and Spanish speaking patients.

“My cousin actually went here for graduate school and I came to visit her one weekend on my way to the beach over summer vacation,” said Phelps. “She showed me around campus and I really felt at home. Everyone was so inviting. I knew that I wanted to do something a little bit different, get out of my comfort zone, and I felt like Auburn was the best place to do it.”

Phelps came to Auburn from South Lake, Texas, knowing she wanted a future career in healthcare, and a back injury in high school led her to physical therapy.

“I’ve always had a knack for sciences and math and I’ve always been interested in the healthcare field,” she said. “It (the back injury) showed me what the physical therapy profession was all about. I immediately fell in love with it and knew that’s exactly what I wanted to study and pursue as a career.”

Phelps played soccer for 15 years prior to college. As an undergraduate, she dedicated her time to academics and various organizations such as the international buddy program, the physical therapy and occupational therapy club, and COSAM peer advisors. She still enjoys sports, especially soccer, and hopes to combine her passions for athletics and healthcare by working as a physical therapist for high school and college athletes.

During her time at Auburn, Phelps also went on a mission trip to Argentina, which she says ignited her love for the language and Central and South American culture. She is interested in the idea of working with a sports team that has Hispanic athletes so she can combine her love for physical therapy and Spanish.

Looking back at her Auburn journey, Phelps advises freshmen within COSAM to get involved and “take advantage of the wonderful advisors that are available.” She also notes that her greatest challenge was “coming to Auburn and not knowing a soul,” a decision she said she will never regret.

“I’ve made some lifelong friends in COSAM and a lot of them, like me, are trying to get into professional school,” said Phelps. “We have encouraged one another along the way, and I look forward to maintaining those relationships and friendships well into the future.”