Flashback: All-County Academic Team: Veterinarian dreams take grad to CMU

All-County Academic Team: Veterinarian dreams take grad to CMU

Livingston Daily
by Lisa Roose-Church
June 8, 2014
Brittany Schepak has known since she was a little girl that she would be a veterinarian.

It became her passion as she discovered biology and anatomy, the two fields that merge together perfectly for vets, she said.

"As long as I can remember, I've had a love for animals," the 18-year-old graduate of Kensington Woods High School said. "I've always wanted to help them out."

Schepak's pursuit of that dream will take her to Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, where she received a full-ride academic scholarship. She plans to relocate to North Carolina State University once she completes a preveterinarian program at CMU.

Schepak, a member of the Daily Press & Argus' 2014 All-County Academic Team, attended Howell Public Schools for elementary and middle school. She chose Kensington with her parents' encouragement for high school because she wanted a more personalized "small-school feeling," she said.

"I like how teachers were so involved in students' lives and how (students) accepted one another without prompting and without fights or anything," Schepak said. "The work load is a little tough, but I love learning."

Schepak, who earned a 4.213 grade point average, also wanted to participate in school activities, and she joined Leadership Club and National Honor Society as well as served on student council. Schepak also served as a peer tutor and was named to the honor roll all four years of high school.

Schepak counts among her favorite teachers Shawn Pollman, who helped her in math classes. She said Pollman also helped her navigate the scholarship path as well as accompanied her on college tours.

"Math is my most troubling area, and it's also one of my strongest areas," she said. "Without (Pollman), I wouldn't have succeeded like I have. ... She's been an amazing teacher, and the fact she cares about her students and she's willing to help them out. I plan to keep in contact with her for a long time."

Schepak also plays the piano and works at Pet Supplies Plus.

She lives in Genoa Township with her parents, Suzanne and Tony Schepak, and her twin sister, Mariah Schepak. The family also has two turtles, a parakeet, five cats and a hamster.

Contact Daily Press & Argus reporter Lisa Roose-Church at 517-552-2846 or lrchurch@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @LisaRooseChurch.