Emily Ogburn transferred to CU Boulder from a local community college in order to study evolutionary biology and with a goal to prove that she “could do anything [she] set [her] “heart and mind to”. Emily worked with graduate student Chiarra Forrester for two years on Niwot Ridge, first as a research assistant and then as the lead on her own research project. As a research assistant for a demanding project requiring 20+ miles of hiking per week, Emily maintained a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and an incredibly positive attitude in the face of harsh conditions and long days. She quickly proved herself as someone who could lead other undergraduates, showing incredibly strong communication and leadership skills, and simultaneously improving the research through keen observations. In her last year, she took on her own project as an REU student, investigating how early snowmelt influences plant-pollinator interactions. Emily created a positive learning community for, and is admired by, all those around her, from undergraduates to faculty members, all while working tirelessly outside of school.