For Kendall Annetti, resident of Park Ridge, being a James Scholar is about doing what she loves, while gaining valuable experience and recognition through her research project which consists of surveying blood parasites in waterfowl and game birds in Illinois.

Annetti became a James Scholar her freshman year by submitting an application to Academic Programs. After receiving notification that her application was approved, Annetti began working on fulfilling her James Scholar requirements immediately.

During the past three years, she has taken chemistry 102, chemistry 104 and ACES 399, an honors seminar course to fulfill her honors course requirements. James Scholars must have one honors course per year. Annetti said she expects to take ACES 399 next semester, too.

“I really enjoy ornithology and parasites,” she said. “Since I plan to go to vet school, I wanted to focus the research project on a health related topic. A survey of the avian blood parasites in Illinois hasn’t been conducted in roughly 60 years, so it was a fun, interesting and worthwhile research project to do.”

The research project component of the James Scholar Program pairs scholars with a faculty member to guide them in their studies. Annetti works with Dr. Nohra Mateus-Pinilla, who works with the Illinois Natural History Survey.

The experience that Annetti is gaining now is preparing her for her career as a doctor, and she would definitely recommend the program to anyone interested.

“It’s a great opportunity to talk with professors and faculty, not to mention you get to register early for classes,” Annetti said with a smile.

Annetti, a Maine South High School graduate, is double-majoring in Animal Sciences and Integrative Biology. She will graduate from UIUC in December 2012.

(Information for this article credited to University of Illinois' College of ACES and Kendall Annetti)