Undergraduate Beau Bryan isn’t much for doing things halfway. He started taking pre-med college classes while he was still in high school. He graduated as his high school valedictorian in spring 2003, finished his associate’s degree as salutatorian, and started UGA in fall 2003 with 72 credits—enough to hold junior class standing. An accomplished pianist, he debuted as a soloist with the Macon Symphony Orchestra at age 15. He could go anywhere for college, but with family ties to UGA dating back to 1904, the choice of where to study was obvious.
Hometown:
Cochran, GA
High School:
Bleckley County High School
Degree objective:
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Bachelor of Science in Cellular Biology
Other degrees:
A.S. (Pre-Medicine), Middle Georgia College/Georgia Academy of Mathematics, Engineering, and Science, 2003
Expected graduation:
May 2007
University highlights, achievements, awards and scholarships:
I received my associate’s degree in pre-medicine with Highest Honors (2nd in my class) along with my high school diploma (Valedictorian/STAR Student) in 2003. I am now starting my second year at UGA with 109 hours of credit (4.0 GPA). I just finished a 2004 BHSI CURO Biomedical Summer Research Fellowship with Michael Pierce in UGA’s Complex Carbohydrate Research Center. Additionally, I have been a Presidential Scholar every semester I have been at UGA, and I am in the UGA Honors Program. I have received the Robert C. Byrd Scholarship, the UGA Charter Scholarship, the Georgia Governor’s Scholarship, and the National Merit State Farm Companies Foundation Scholarship.
Family Ties to UGA:
All my immediate family members are UGA alumni. My extended family legacy is extensive and dates back to the turn of the twentieth century with my great-great grandfather, John V. Arrendale (B.S.A, Agriculture, 1905). My maternal grandmother, Janie P. Taylor (B.S.H.E., 1952; M.Ed., 1976) and paternal grandfather, Jasper C. Bryan (B.S.A., 1949, Agriculture) also attended along with numerous extended family members. My first cousin Kelli Scott finished her Psychology degree just this summer! Immediate family members are my father, Randy H. Bryan (B.B.A, 1975, Insurance and Risk Management), my mother, Dawne Warren Bryan (B.S.Ed., 1974, Elementary Education), and my brother, Zack C. Bryan (B.S.A.E, 2000).
I chose to attend UGA because…
…immense and diverse academic opportunities, coupled with my family legacy and the good ol’ Georgia tradition, make the University of Georgia the perfect choice for my undergraduate experience.
My favorite things to do on campus are…
…meeting and talking with my fellow students, especially during meal times. The campus is the best place to do this.
When I have free time, I like…
…making time to read my Bible daily, and I also enjoy playing the piano. (I debuted my concert career as a soloist with the Macon Symphony Orchestra at age 15.) Worship services and fellowship in the College Ministry at Prince Avenue Baptist Church are some of my favorite times every week. Playing praise and worship every week is currently my primary piano outreach, and it is just one way I am blessed to serve on leadership in this college ministry. Offering one’s gifts and talents back to the Lord is so important, and the opportunity to serve at PABC has truly been a blessing in my life.
The craziest thing I’ve done is…
…narrowly missed a low-flying crop duster with a golf ball fired from the edge of a cotton field behind my house. My best friend and I used a driver.
My favorite place to study is…
…in one of the conference rooms of the Student Learning Center where I can write out the material I am learning on the dry-erase boards.
My favorite professor is…
…Dr. Huabei Guo, a research associate with whom I work in Dr. Pierce’s laboratory. His patience and understanding have taught me all I know about applied biochemistry, molecular biology, and cellular biology, and I am greatly indebted to him. In addition to Dr. Pierce himself, who continually affords me great opportunities in research, I must mention Dr. Claiborne Glover of biochemistry and Dr. Richard Harris of classics as outstanding professors in their respective fields.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with…
…C. S. Lewis, the author of Mere Christianity, whose works were critical to deepening my understanding of love, hope, and the purpose of life.
If money was not a consideration, I would love to…
…prepare several piano recitals and concertos so I could tour all the great concert halls of the world, while financing frequent reunions for my college friends at the places I visited.
After graduation, I plan to…
…enter medical school to pursue a career in clinical medicine and/or public health. Direct patient care has always been my dream. I also hope to continue playing the piano for the rest of my life.
The one UGA experience I will always remember will be…
…the snow day graciously given us this past year; I will do well to remember that Myers Hall honors students armed with snow-balls are forces to be reckoned with indeed!