A top scorer on the Lebanon Valley College women's basketball team, a study pod leader and tutor, a member of multiple student organizations, a first-year mentor—and, oh, a biology major with plans to pursue a veterinary career.

To say Daelyn Stabler '23 is involved on campus is an understatement. 

"I do better when I have a busy schedule because it forces me to have certain times when I need to sit down and do my work," said Stabler. "I knew I was a student first, but having the opportunity to play basketball, be a member of clubs such as Cause for Paws and Colleges Against Cancer, and participate in volunteerism was huge for me. 

"While the opportunity to be involved is present at a lot of smaller schools, I feel LVC truly values and encourages students to be involved in various disciplines around campus, building a tight-knit community."

On the court, Stabler ranks among the team leaders in scoring, rebounding, and steals, often stuffing the stat sheet during games as a strong all-around player. She also achieved Middle Atlantic Conference Academic Honor Roll accolades each of her first two seasons.

In the classroom, Stabler is focusing on her biology major with a pre-veterinary focus. Growing up with an interest in animals, Stabler only latched on to the idea of a career as a veterinarian in high school and her LVC experiences have only deepened that desire.
 
This spring, Stabler is juggling two internships, one at the nearby Annville-Cleona Veterinary Associates and the other with ZooAmerica at Hersheypark where she has observed physical exams and medical treatment of Canada lynx kittens, a peregrine falcon, a Gila monster, and other animals.

"I have learned that research is an important aspect of the field to understand how other people have treated certain animals because they do not make antelope- or bear-specific medicine. I am always thrilled when I can apply information from my microbiology, chemistry, or animal behavior courses to understand diagnoses and treatments. I love the time I spend at both locations. My experiences outside the classroom have reinforced the decision that I am on the right path," said Stabler, who admits she chose LVC because of its strong science department and high graduate school acceptance rate for its undergraduates.

Heading into her senior year, Stabler is starting to prepare applications for a veterinary graduate program, focusing on a position as a wildlife or zoo veterinarian and caring for animals in a way that supports the environment, public education, and human welfare.

Her passion for animals has carried into her active involvement with the Cause for Paws club on campus and is just one of the many aspects of student life she treasures.

"My memories of family game nights with my friends, playing very competitive Uno with my basketball team, or walking into a professor's office with one question, but staying for an hour just to talk have been the more casual pieces of LVC that have made my college experience wonderful," she said.

"I would tell a student considering LVC to visit and meet the people. Feeling the sense of community is not something you can do authentically through the website. Second, choose LVC, and take advantage of the ability to create your own path, making your education and involvement your own, because you never know what you will learn or who you will meet. You have the freedom to do that here, and the people at LVC will support you 100 percent."