It's been a busy four years for Albuquerque native Maggie Jones. The senior animal science major has been incredibly active throughout her undergraduate years, which have been steadily focused on preparing her for a career in veterinary medicine.

She conducted undergraduate research in Tech's natural resources management department and interned for U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) in Washington, D.C. In addition last fall Jones interned at the New England Aquarium's marine mammal and sea animal rescue facility outside of Boston, working with rescued sea turtles. Jones said the facility had a record-breaking year, helping more than 250 sea turtles during her time there.

"Rescue and rehabilitation as a veterinarian is what I want to do, and I got that out of the internship," Jones said. After a summer trip to the Galapagos Islands, she plans to attend Colorado State Veterinary School in the fall.

Even though Texas Tech University wasn't where Jones first envisioned herself, now she can't imagine her life anywhere else. "It's heartbreaking for me to leave," she said of her upcoming graduation this week (May 18).

Despite its size, Texas Tech "definitely has that small-school environment," Jones said. "I have professors that really care about me. But I also got something that I didn't know I wanted, and now I know I couldn't live without; the atmosphere of a huge university with the traditions and culture that comes with the Red Raider family."

Reporting by Callie Jones

CONTACT: Leslie Thompson, chairman and professor, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University at 806-742-2805 ext. 224 or leslie.thompson@ttu.edu

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Editor's Note: for more information, go to http://today.ttu.edu/2013/05/a-home-away-from-home/