Micaela Coleman '10

Majors: International Studies and Economics

Take a leap: Micaela has taken her passion for politics to internships at the Ohio House of Representatives and State Representative. And she has taken it to a whole new level as an intern for the late Senator Ted Kennedy in Washington, D.C. Throughout the six-week internship program, Micaela supported the Senator's office with various projects and tasks.

But this isn't the only leap she's taken. Micaela stepped out of her comfort zone and headed to the Dominican Republic through an academic exchange program during her third year. She focused on international development throughout her 15 credit hours of study and applied her classroom knowledge on field trips across the country. "It changed my life. This was the most important thing I've done, " she said. "I'm thankful to Otterbein to allow me to have the opportunity. "

Get engaged: Micaela is making the most of her Otterbein days by getting involved with numerous on campus activities, including gospel choir, residence life leadership, Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Lambda Delta national honors societies, Host and Tour, and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in South Carolina and Ohio through the Center for Community Engagement. "Volunteering has contributed the most to what I'm going to do in the future," she said. "It is very humbling to work in Habitat for Humanity. It made me feel blessed. "

Why Otterbein: Micaela was drawn to Otterbein's small class sizes and individual attention she would receive from her professors. "I didn't want to be just another number. I wanted to stand out, " she said. Micaela said Otterbein feels like her family. "I feel like I've grown up here with the relationships I've had with my friends and professors, " she said. "It's molded me. I don't think I'd be the same person I am today. "