Landon W. (IN A NUTSHELL)

Landon is attending Stanford University pursuing a degree in Human Biology with a concentration in Neuroscience and Neurodegeneration. In 2020, he graduated from Shelbyville High School in Shelbyville, Indiana as Valedictorian and three-year varsity football team captain. Coming from a predominantly blue-collar background, Landon is a first-generation college student and the first student from Shelby County to attend Stanford. In high school, he was involved in many extracurriculars that both enriched his interest in STEM and contributed to his community, including Math Academic Team, Drug-Free Youth Council, and Peer Mentoring. Amid the outbreak of the COVID pandemic in March 2020, Landon spearheaded the creation of an interactive map to connect community members to resources like food banks and homeless shelters. Landon's passion for medicine emerged when recovering from a severe brain injury sustained during a football game. During the six-month recovery period that sidelined him from ordinary high school life, Landon developed a curiosity about brain health and neurodegeneration. This interest blossomed over time, and during college, Landon joined the Camarillo Lab, where he now researches brain injury biomechanics. His work with the lab has contributed to three journal publications and two funded research opportunities. Additionally, Landon is involved with Stanford Synapse, a student-led support group for individuals struggling with brain injury. When he is not studying for his premed courses or participating in extracurricular activities, Landon enjoys being with friends and family, working out to classic rock, watching Stanford football, and exploring Northern California through hiking. He champions an 'active learning style' emphasizing high student engagement with material and deliberate practice to reinforce concepts. Landon is excited to help other students find their spark and welcomes their curiosity with open arms.