Cajon High 

Gemma graduated from CHS in 2014. In addition to juggling a busy acadmic schedule as an IB Diploma Candidate, she played the violin in the school’s orchestra, participated in Academic Decathlon, and was the Secretary of the National Honor Society. She attributes her success during high school to her strong support network of family, peers, and teachers.  

 

After graduating from CHS, she participated in a summer research program at Loma Linda University (LLU) focused on dietary preventative treatments for rats with spinal cord injury. The research aimed to explore ways to help veterans suffering from traumatic spinal cord injuries and the resulting side effects. The program provided a unique opportunity to learn about biomedical science research, while networking with highly esteemed professionals and colleagues in the field.

 

Upon completing her program, Gemma went on to the University of California, Santa Cruz to pursue a Bachelors Degree in Neuroscience with 16 credits thanks to her IB Exams.This past summer she returned to LLU to participate in the Undergraduate Training Program, where she was able to build upon the research she started in 2014. As a result of her extensive research contributions, her mentor included Gemma's name in the list of contributors for her thesis.