Unconventional Students 2021

Unconventional Students at Rice: Jaylen Carr combines academia and video games

When Rice News met Jaylen Carr ’21 at Owl Days in 2017, he was excited about Rice’s combination of academic curiosity and camaraderie.

Unconventional Students at Rice 2021: Christen Smajstrla inspires the next generation

After getting her two degrees from Rice, she would return to her Central Texas hometown of Schulenberg and become a school teacher. But somewhere along the way through her years at Rice, something changed.

Unconventional Students at Rice 2021: Nithya Gillipelli bridges the gap between languages

In junior high, Nithya Gillipelli fell in love with the Spanish language and Hispanic culture. 

Unconventional Students at Rice 2021: Izzy Samperio gets ‘cute and gnarly’ in the arts

During the summer of 2017, Izzy Samperio got a head start on her college education before she was even enrolled at Rice. She attended a weeklong Black Humanities Seminar taught by Alexander Byrd.

Unconventional Students at Rice 2021: Khayla Patel runs with a purpose

When Khayla Patel’s parents pushed her to try track and field at Houston’s Memorial High School, she had no idea it would lead her to Rice. “I tried one practice and I fell in love with it,” she said. “And that's where my running career set off.” Under Rice women’s track and field coach Jim Bevan, the cross-country runner has achieved All-Conference USA status, won the Rice Invitational and helped her team win a conference championship.  

Unconventional Students at Rice 2021: Zach Alvear finds fulfillment in academics and music

When Zach Alvear ’21 entered Rice as the Spring (Texas) High School valedictorian, he quickly found out he was in for a challenge.  

Unconventional Students at Rice 2021: Madison Morris has her eye on Mars

Madison Morris ’21 knew two things about herself early on in life: She had an interest in space exploration and she loved Rice University.

Unconventional Students at Rice: Nyakwol's unconventional path to college football

When George Nyakwol ’21 steps onto the field at Rice Stadium, it’s a far cry from the soccer field his family used to play on in Sudan.  

Unconventional students at Rice 2021: Nia Prince wants to impact the world

Nia Prince ’21 had an idea of what she wanted out of her Rice education, but really didn’t know how to get there.  

Unconventional Students at Rice 2021: Norman Zheng finds balance

When Norman Zheng ’21 came to Rice he wanted to be pre-med, but he did not think there would be hands-on experience in his first year.  

Nicole Lennon kills it on and off the court at Rice

Maria Garza-Lennon recruited Rice long before her daughter Nicole was recruited to be a volleyball player for the Owls.  

Elhadji Diop does it all at Rice

Normally, a stage name is reserved for actors and musicians, but Elhadji Diop has created such a name for himself at Rice

Chloe Oani seizes every opportunity at Rice

Chloe Oani ’21 moved all around the world as a child because of her dad’s job, so when it came time to make her own decision about where to attend college, she took it very seriously.