About Me

Profile

About:

I was born in Montgomery, Alabama, but with both parents in the Air Force, we didn’t stay there for very long. After spending three short years near Boston, we arrived in my hometown: San Antonio, Texas.

Family is very important to me, and their support constantly encourages me to try my hardest in everything that I do. I have an older brother, Greg, who has been my best friend since I can remember. I also have two amazing parents who lead by example, showing me the importance of hard work and dedication. They always say that we are not just a family, but a team. "Team Schmelz" has given me the strength to take on the world, but they've also given me a loving home that's worth returning to.

I'm currently in my third year at the University of Texas, where I am double-majoring in physics and astronomy. This basically means that I spend all of my time studying! I've been very involved with the "Freshman Research Initiative" program, both conducting research and mentoring new students. My main focus has been the study of dark matter through large-scale computer simulations. During the summer of 2013, I had the amazing opportunity to be a research intern at the University of Tokyo, where I worked on a high-energy astrophysics project. I'm very excited about where my studies will take me in the future.

Why I Ride

I ride for my mom, who was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer about four years ago. Thankfully, she is in remission now, but I can still remember how sudden and frightening the news was. She is a strong, caring woman, and seeing her in the hospital was a foreign experience. I try to be mindful of the fact that while my mother’s battle with cancer may have been won, there are many more cancer patients who cannot be forgotten.