From the moment Zoe Lehtonen stepped on the University of Delaware’s sprawling Newark campus at a Decision Day event, she knew that’s where she wanted to spend her next four years.

“Walking around the beautiful campus and talking to students, UD had that big school/small campus feel, and I fell in love with it,” she said. 

But talking to students sealed the deal for her. 

“I remember I felt so overwhelmed on other college tours. I couldn’t see myself there,” she recalled. “Hearing UD students’ perspectives, words of advice and encouragement really influenced my decision to come here because I could see myself in their shoes.”

The senior medical diagnostics major has never forgotten that moment and seeks ways to impart the same feelings to prospective students, taking part in Decision Days on campus whenever possible. 

“Mentoring students on Decision Days allows me to give back what people have given me and help them succeed,” she said. 

As a first-year student, Lehtohnen was a Department of Medical and Molecular Sciences ambassador. Surrounded by seniors, she was eager to share her wisdom and inspire others — who were likely overwhelmed like her — to go to UD. 

“I just love this school so much,” she said. “It makes me so happy that I can give back and give to them what they gave to me.”

She even convinced her younger sister, who had sworn off UD, to go there; Tia Lehtonen is now a sophomore marketing major at UD’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics. 

“Tia came to campus and, like me, knew this was immediately where she needed to be,” Lehtonen said. “I didn’t know anyone at this school when I came here, and it makes it so much better having family here.” 

Now, Lehtonen is president of the registered student organization Lori’s Hands, a chair in her sorority, a STAR Ambassador and a member of the College of Health Sciences (CHS) Student Advisory Committee (SAC). 

Her biggest piece of advice for first-year students: “Check your email.”

That’s how she learned about many of the fantastic opportunities she now participates in at UD. 

“My involvement in so many different areas on campus has opened doors for me, and it’s made me a good representative who can provide strong feedback on what students genuinely think,” Lehtonen said. 

As a sophomore, she joined the CHS Student Advisory Board and looks forward to the group’s monthly meetings. 

“We talk about the challenges in healthcare and reflect on how we can be better prepared to meet those challenges as future health professionals,” she said. “It also allows us to share ideas with Dean Farquhar about curriculum improvements and acknowledge the amazing opportunities within CHS. The Student Advisory Committee brings CHS together and makes it feel like a place where you can have an impact.”

She also appreciates the opportunity to meet with top industry leaders in the field of health through the CHS SAC.  

“They’re very influential, and it’s a unique experience that’s not open to everyone,” Lehtonen said. “These leaders share their knowledge and provide encouragement and support.” 

Lehtonen plans to go to medical school, and at Decision Days, she tells anyone who will listen that the medical diagnostics major will prepare them well. 

“I see so many similarities in UD’s medical diagnostics curriculum and the curriculum in the medical schools I’m interested in, so it aligns very well,” she said.  

She is a peer mentor for the Center for Health Profession Studies and plans to take her MCAT this spring. During her gap year, Lehtonen intends to return to her hometown of Rochester, New York, where she’s created a fellowship to work as a scribe and technician at a local ophthalmologist’s office. There, she’ll prep patients for surgery and research new procedures. 

“Part of the reason I want to go into medicine and healthcare is because I enjoy helping other people, and I want to see others succeed,” she said. 

Lehotnen also works for a lab off campus, Act Solutions, where she makes sunscreen and moisturizers and volunteers with Lori’s Hands, an experience she’s found particularly impactful.

“Volunteering with Lori’s Hands has been the most incredible opportunity to make a difference in the community,” she said. “Medical school admissions want to see longevity and purpose in volunteer hours. Lori’s Hands has allowed me to make meaningful connections while providing me with a unique perspective on aging. It’s made me a more empathetic person.” 

When Lehotnen wakes up each day and looks at her calendar and, often, her résumé, she sometimes can’t believe all she’s accomplished these past four years at UD.  She advises prospective and fellow students to stay busy and maximize their time at UD. 

“One small step every single day makes such a difference in the end — even little things like checking your email or applying for a scholarship,” she said. “You’ll end up going a mile further than you expected.”