On a Roll at Davidson: Savannah Vonesh ’26

James B. Duke Scholar Savannah Vonesh ’26 applied to Davidson from her home in Richmond, Va., during the pandemic. Though no official campus tours were operating, she came down and did her own tour, set up Zoom meetings with a few professors—and she was sold.

“I remember thinking it was the prettiest school, and I could tell the professors were very attentive and would make sure students got what they needed out of their time at Davidson,” she said. “That has held true; there are so many opportunities I’m not sure would have been possible at a larger school.”

The opportunities have been aplenty already, and she’s only in year two. The newly declared biology major conducts research alongside Professor Susanna Wadymar and is thinking she’ll pursue entomology in graduate school and pursue an ecology/biodiversity path long term.

“I’ve always been interested in animals and plants, but I’ve been able to understand these interests more deeply at Davidson,” said Vonesh “And even though I’m focusing on science, I’m still able to take courses and pursue other interests on the side; I love English and am part of Libertas, a literary magazine, and am taking a poetry class.”

She also held an internship last summer in Spain where she taught English—an opportunity made possible through a Dean Rusk Grant.

Outside of academic pursuits, Vonesh’s current claim to fame on campus is as co-captain of the college’s roller derby team.

“I played the sport as a child and again during the gap year I took after high school,” she said. “It’s been wild to see people infected with the “derby bug” and exciting to get people involved in this unique sport. Many of us might not have otherwise gotten involved with sports at Davidson.”

The new team’s schedule kicked off last month, following several scrimmages and practices.