Taylor Montgomery ’22 (Sid Rich) grew up in Humble, Texas, on the outskirts of Houston proper. Rice’s prestigious reputation, beautiful campus and friendly students made her choice of college easy. The Rice Investment made her top choice a reality.
"My parents knew I had ambitious college aspirations, and knowing they didn’t have to worry about me financially was a huge relief," Taylor said.
She has embraced the Rice experience wholeheartedly by volunteering for O-Week, hosting campus tours and serving as an advisor for prospective students and freshmen. Taylor loves to dance and found a creative outlet as co-captain of the Rice Owls Dance Team.
“I loved O-Week so much I ended up volunteering the next two years,” Taylor said. “I think it is so important to be there for the students and make sure they know that it doesn’t matter what you’re interested in pursuing – you will get the support you need. I think it’s one of the best parts of Rice.”
With this support behind her, Taylor had the resources, confidence and skills to pursue her dream career. She was accepted into the Rice-UT Public Health Scholars Program, which allows students to enroll in courses at the UT School of Public Health during their senior year. She will spend one additional year as a student at UT Health after graduation to complete a master’s degree in public health. She is also looking forward to a summer internship with Baylor College of Medicine in their bioethics and health policy department — an opportunity facilitated by a Rice professor.
“My dream job is to be a bioethicist and research health policy, and Rice is helping me get there,” she said. “I’m super excited about the internship opportunity. The Rice community — the rigorous academics and the support structure — has made me the student I am today.”
"I’m so grateful to Rice donors for giving me the opportunity to be able do the things I dreamed of," Taylor said. "Without them, I really don’t know where I would be. They made it possible for me to take advantage of all the opportunities and avenues for success at Rice."
With generous support of the Rice Annual Fund, the university continues to offer Taylor and other Owls the best in residential college life, student activities, teaching and research. Learn more about how your gift to the Rice Annual Fund can make an impact.
