Biography

Rachel is the very first Wells Scholar from Stevenson High School, where she excelled in academics and participated in a variety of extracurricular activities, including Varsity Fencing; Ethics Bowl; and the Women’s Leadership and Feminism Club, which she founded herself. Not surprisingly, if she could have dinner with anyone in the world, she’d pick The Notorious RBG, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in order to thank her, since Rachel sees herself as a beneficiary of the judicial feminista’s groundbreaking efforts on behalf of American women. Rachel is surrounded by other strong women in her daily life: she’d like to thank her mother and her grandmother, in whose kitchen (Rachel’s happy place!) she can often be found drinking tea, eating macaroni and cheese, and absorbing such wisdom as “if you don’t know what to say, just smile.” Her current book recommendations include global and historical titles such as The Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. Rachel will major in international studies and looks forward to studying abroad through one of IU’s many overseas studies programs. She will hold the LaVelle Fortenberry #1 scholarship.