Despite his early academic accomplishments, Warren Treon had no desire to attend college or any other form of secondary education, but he quickly changed his mind when he dual-enrolled on the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Blue Ridge Campus.
"I took a math class and a psychology class and fell in love with college," Treon said.
Now, the Blue Ridge, Georgia, native has earned a degree in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry. Treon's goal is to become an optometrist.
"To me, the most interesting thing is how fast and precise the eye can focus," said the UNG senior who graduated in December 2020.
Treon credited the faculty and staff at UNG with helping him maintain his focus in science. He was involved with an undergraduate research project with Dr. Levi Miller, assistant professor of chemistry. And Treon is becoming a learning assistant (LA) for chemistry Dr. Megan Foley, assistant professor of chemistry.
An LA trains one-on-one with a professor for a lecture or lab class, and then helps other students understanding the concepts presented in class. LAs also take a pedagogy class to know how to teach the concepts in a clear and effective manner. The combination introduces students to teaching as a pathway in sciences such as physics or chemistry.
"I saw an opportunity to help me better understand the material and to teach it to students and help spark a passion in them that Dr. John Leyba, interim dean of the College of Science & Mathematics, sparked in me," he said.
Treon also served as president of the UNG Society of Chemistry Students chapter that saw a dramatic increase in its membership during his leadership.
"One year, we had one member come on a regular basis," said Treon, "The next year, we averaged 12-14 members. That's a big turnaround."
