Pre-Veterinary Student Spolight: Amelia DiPaola Robinson 

 

(May 22, 2024) -- After receiving her diploma last week at the Jordan College’s commencement ceremony, #FresnoStateGrad Amelia DiPaola Robinson has another big event this week when she competes in the NCAA Track and Field Championships early this Thursday, May 23 in the West Region Opening Round in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The Fremont native ranks 18th in the hammer throw in the West Region, and will aim for a top-12 finish to advance to the NCAA event final in Eugene, Oregon in June 5-8.

Earlier this month, she finished third in the hammer in the Mountain West Championships - one of three, top-four conference finishes in the event career-wise, to go with eight more conference meet scoring honors in the shot put and indoor weight throw. 

The returning honorable mention All-American’s personal best hammer throw mark of 206-4 (62.89 meters) from late April also ranks her fifth in school history, and she also stands top 10 in school history in the shot put (49-3.5 / 15.02m).

The academic all-conference selection has also served the Fresno State athletic department as its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee service chair, and held a similar role with the same conference student committee.

This fall, the Magna Cum Laude pre-veterinary recipient looks forward to veterinary school at the University of Minnesota, and thanks our Fresno State Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education faculty for all their guidance and support.

Look for more meet information and a link to live hammer throw results on Thursday morning (which starts at 6:30am Pacific Time) at: https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/2024-ncaa-west-first-rounds

 

Q: Why did you choose to attend Fresno State, and how did you pick your major?

“Growing up, I knew I wanted to be involved in medicine, and my love for animals is the reason for deciding on pre-veterinary medicine and dreams of becoming a veterinarian. I was fortunate enough to join the track team here at Fresno State, and the pieces began to fall into place when I started my degree.” 

 

Q: Which classes and faculty members have had the biggest influence on you while at Fresno State?

“Dr. O’Bannon and Dr. Iared have been extremely influential in my education and future career path as practicing veterinarians and my teachers. I have learned a tremendous amount of information inside and outside of the classroom about the realities of my future career.”

 

Q: Talk about any campus farm units you have worked at and skills you have learned that you can apply to your career.

“One of my favorite classes at Fresno State was Beef Production with Mr. (Ryan) Person. It was my first taste of hands-on animal care and management because I grew up in an area where agriculture is/was not prevalent. I was pushed out of my comfort zone to give shots for the first time, perform pregnancy checks for the first time, castrate a bull for the first time, and tag cows for the first time. I will start veterinary school in the fall of this year, and the plan is to be a large food animal veterinarian, where I will use all of these skills consistently.” 

 

Q: What clubs and organizations at Fresno State have you been a part of?

“I am a student-athlete on the track and field team here at Fresno State. In my time, I have been a 4x NCAA Division I qualifier in the hammer throw, and am currently finishing my last year of my eligibility. I am on the Fresno State all time top ten list in all of my events, including shot put, weight throw, and hammer throw. (Read more about her Fresno State career, and see her all-time collegiate marks.)” 

“On top of being an athlete, I have also been an executive member of the student-athlete affinity group called SAAC, which stands for Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. I have been a Mountain West Conference Representative, a community service chair, and the president of this group where I connect student athletes to our community, to the campus, and to each other.” 

 

Q: What’s your potential next career step?

“I recently accepted my seat at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine!  Classes start this August so I will be moving very soon. In school, my plan is to focus on food animal medicine and emergency medicine.”