.   She graduates from Hamline on Saturday and will go to the U of M Graduate School. Just an FYI – here is an article about her that was on the NCAA web site.
Pitcher Jessalyn Weaver started 66 games in her three-year career with the Hamline University softball team, but it’s her next start that might be the most impressive of all.
This fall, she will begin work on a Ph.D. in the biochemistry, molecular biology and biophysics program at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
Weaver will continue research begun while an undergraduate student at Hamline, which is located in St. Paul.
“The focus of the lab is on beneficial mutation and innate immunity, specifically for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),†she said. “The project that I have been working on and will continue to work on as a graduate student is elucidating the binding characteristics of two proteins involved in the HIV infection and replication.â€
Weaver, who transferred to Hamline from Wisconsin-River Falls before the start of her sophomore year, posted a 3.75 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry. She received the Ruth Sullivan Award, given to the Hamline junior biology student of the year and a Walter A. Kenyon Award for outstanding senior biology students.
On the field, Weaver posted a career record of 44-28 with five saves in 86 appearances. Her career earned-run average is 3.15, and she struck out 259 batters in 452.0 innings pitched.
“Not only have I enjoyed my academic experience at Hamline, but I have also really enjoyed playing softball,†she said. “Being a student-athlete was challenging, but it would have been much more difficult if I wouldn’t have had such great professors who understood my commitment to my sport and such great coaches who understood the importance of academics.â€
For more on Weaver’s experience at Hamline and her work at Minnesota, read her post available at the “Inside Piper Athletics†blog.