Chemistry Major Jalicia Ruttino Named Margaret Boyd Scholar

Jalicia Ruttino

Jalicia Ruttino, a Forensic Chemistry major, is a new member of the Margaret Boyd Scholars Program, Ohio University’s first and only women’s scholars program.

• Margaret Boyd Scholars Program announces new class

In Her Words

Hi! I am Jalicia Ruttino, and I’m studying forensic chemistry here at Ohio University. The most common response I get to that statement is “Oh geeze” and that pretty much sums up my feelings about it too. Just kidding, I’m so excited about it! I’m actually using it as my pre-med so I can hopefully become a Medical Examiner in the future. I’ve always loved the medical field, but I realized that even though you can’t always save someone you can always help to bring closure and justice.

Along with my challenging major, I am involved in a few other things on campus. I have found wonderful friends through my a capella group, The Picardy Thirds. We sing pop music that many of the people in the group actually arrange! I also have achieved two leadership certificates from the Career and Leadership Development Center. These are “Twenty-first Century Leadership” and “Professional Leadership Development”. I hope to continue to be involved on campus during the rest of my career here at OHIO.

Aside from life at OHIO, there are some other things to know about me. I grew up in a small town called Bellevue, Ohio about 30 minutes from Cedar Point. My family is super important to me. My parents, Denao and Jackie Ruttino met in the military when they were young, and are continuing their educations to this day. This has made me as driven as I am, because they are consistently bettering themselves and supporting each other through it. My sister, Jenea Ruttino will graduate from the University of Akron in the spring with a nursing degree, and I am so excited to see her thrive in her career. I am devoted to music, and I actually taught myself to play the bassoon! (Everyone’s favorite instrument!) I have a great love for pasta, especially gnocchi and eat it every chance that I get. I am a little picky about the sauces though, as my mom has always made homemade sauce for my family!

I’m super excited to be a member of the 2016-17 cohort of the Margaret Boyd Scholars Program and look forward to the opportunities and friendships that it will bring for all of us!