Jennie Katherine Ellis
Being accepted into medical school is quite an accomplishment for any student, but Jennie Katherine Ellis finds being admitted before she completes her general engineering degree at the University of Mississippi in May is especially satisfying.
“When I learned of my early admission to medical school, tears immediately flowed to my eyes and I was speechless,” said the New Albany native, who begins classes at the University of Mississippi’s School of Medicine in August. “It is an incredible feeling to have achieved something that I have strived for over the course of many years.”The 22-year-old senior, with an emphasis in pre-med and minor in psychology, said a lot of hard work and perseverance preceded her early acceptance. Following her application, she was still anxious about the response she would receive.
“I was filled with nerves,” Ellis said. “I had put an enormous amount of pressure on myself, and to see that I was accepted was a huge relief.”
Scholarly achievements are not new for Ellis. A Taylor Medalist and Engineering Outstanding Leadership Award recipient, her honors and awards include memberships in Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, the Society of Women Engineers, Engineering Student Body Freshman Mentors, Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, the Golden Key International Honor Society and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Ellis is also a member in Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Gamma Beta Phi Society and Alpha Lambda Delta. She is on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll and received the UM Chancellor’s Scholarship, UM Salutatorian Scholarship, UM Academic Excellence Scholarship and UM Freshman Leadership Scholarship.
“Still, my most proud personal/academic achievement has to be my acceptance to medical school. I was very fortunate to be accepted early and after only my first attempt,” she said. “Many students have to take a year off and try again. Hoping to not take a year off myself, I worked as hard as I could and it paid off.”
Following high school graduation, Ellis was set to attend the University of Alabama. At the last minute, she had a change of heart.
“I grew up surrounded by all things Ole Miss and was unable to let that go,” she said. “My experience here has been incredible. I have made friendships that will last a lifetime and had the opportunity to be involved in many aspects of our campus.”
The former Rebelette cheerleader said she is especially grateful for the faculty and courses in the Ole Miss School of Engineering.
“Through the School of Engineering, I have developed lasting personal and professional relationships with my professors,” Ellis said.
She said classes taught by Joseph Gladden, associate professor of physics and astronomy; Elizabeth Ervin, associate professor of civil engineering; and Paul Goggans, professor of electrical engineering, were particularly rewarding.
“These professors challenged me in their own ways and helped me learn and understand new ideas.”
In addition to her academic ability, Ellis has been involved in both the New Albany and Oxford communities. She has volunteered for Reading with the Rebels, Reading Is Fundamental, Mission of Hope: Haiti, the UM Big Event, Oxford Boys and Girls Club, Oxford Young Life, Pregnancy Test Center of Oxford, Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society, Feed the Hunger and VFW Post 4100 of Water Valley.
Though unsure of which field she wants to specialize in after medical school, Ellis said she is interested in psychiatry and ophthalmology.
“Both rely heavily on properties of physics and other ideas of engineering,” she said. ”I have already been able to make connections between my biological science classes and my engineering classes, and I cannot wait to carry those with me to Jackson next year.”
Ellis has had pre-professional work experiences at Rayner Eye Clinic of Oxford, Creekmore Clinic of New Albany and Flinn Clinic of Southaven. She is the daughter of Nancy Ellis of Collierville, Tenn.
