Students from Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources took their classroom knowledge to the field for
summer internships and paid positions across the country, gaining valuable experience, hands-on training and career guidance. The FNR Field Reports series will offer updates from those individuals as summer positions draw to a close.
Mallory Wagner, a junior majoring in aquatic sciences – fisheries with a minor in communication, acted as a Boiler Gold Rush Team Leader this summer, helping welcome a new class of Purdue students to the university.
The Chicago, Illinois, native was inspired to take the position by her own experience at Boiler Gold Rush as a freshman.
“I participated in BGR as a freshman and thought it was an incredible experience,” Wagner said. “I learned so much about Purdue and loved meeting so many new people. From then on, I knew I wanted to return to BGR as a team leader myself and share my love of Purdue with others.”
As a BGR team leader, Wagner served as a guide and mentor for incoming freshmen and transfer students. She helped introduce new students to the campus and share with them everything that she loves about Purdue.
“My favorite part of being a team leader was being able to use my past experiences to help guide new students,” she shared. “I remember when I was an incoming student, I was unsure of what to think of Purdue -- it was a huge, overwhelming campus with thousands of new people -- however, my team leader helped me to realize just how incredible Purdue is, and how everyone has a place on campus. Being able to do the same for new students was such a rewarding experience. I will never hesitate to share with others just how much I love this campus and the people I've met here.”
Although the position required her to endure long, hot days on campus, Wagner said being with her group of new students and friends who were also team leaders made it all worth it. She said what stood out to her the most about working with BGR this summer was how passionate fellow students are about Purdue and its traditions.
For her part, Wagner was able to share about her involvement in the American Fisheries Society, for
which she is the outreach officer for the second straight year, as well as in the Phi Sigma Rho sorority, intramural sports and as an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Tomas Höök’s lab. She also was able to talk about her study abroad experience in Sweden.
While she wasn’t able to apply FNR skills or classwork directly in her summer position, the experience helped solidify her career plans in the field.
“I wasn't exactly able to apply FNR studies per se, however, I was able to offer my group of new students the same thing FNR faculty and staff offered me when I transferred into Forestry and Natural Resources my sophomore year,” Wagner said. “They welcomed me with open arms and helped me to truly find my place at Purdue and learn all about the incredible opportunities FNR had to offer me. As a team leader, I strived to do the same for my new students, not just for FNR, but for Purdue as a whole.
“I've always been passionate about leadership and education, and now I know for a fact that I want to go into a career that allows me to teach others about natural resources and allows me to share my passions with others.”
A collage of photos of Mallory Wagner at the 2024 Boiler Gold Rush event. Top row: By crossing the tracks to the south, a student signifies the beginning of a lifelong relationship with Purdue. Incoming freshmen ceremoniously cross the tracks each fall during Boiler Gold Rush. Row 2: A photo of Mallory and fellow BGR participants. Mallory takes a selfie with a fellow BGR leader; Mallory and a fellow BGR leader with their poles to mark their groups; Mallory and her group at an event in Ross-Ade Stadium. Row 3: Mallory's BGR group having fun at events on campus. 
