Midland senior Laaron Backry was not always an award winner in the political science field. During her freshman year, Backry was a biology major – a biology major who didn’t like math.

“Ever since I was 8, I dreamed of being a doctor, a surgeon specifically,” Backry said. “And that was what I was going to do and what I was going for, but I got here and I was miserable in science. And then math kicked my butt.”

During a period of indecision, Backry took a class in constitutional development that was suggested by a friend.