Grace Tabellion arrived at Walsh University with a sense that the campus was already part of her story. Growing up in nearby Louisville, she attended alumni events and basketball games with her family. Her grandfather, great-aunt, and mother all attended Walsh, and those early memories made the University feel like a second home long before she enrolled.
Now a Biology Pre-Veterinary major with a minor in Behavioral Sciences for Healthcare in the Class of 2028, Grace is building her own legacy while pursuing excellence throughout her college journey.
“Walsh helped me realize that excellence is not only about academic achievement,” Grace said. “It is also about growth, perseverance, and using your gifts to serve others.”
Grace lives out that idea through active involvement across campus. Her academic work in the Honors Program and participation in student organizations challenge her to grow both intellectually and as a leader. She is active in the Pre-Healthcare Club and Science Club, works with the Campus and Community Events team, and serves as senator for the Volleyball Club, which allows her to participate in Student Government. Her academic achievements were recently recognized with induction into the Sigma Zeta Math and Science Honor Society.
While Grace thrives academically, she believes the greatest gift Walsh has given her is community.
“From the moment I stepped onto campus, I noticed how kind and welcoming everyone was,” she said. “I am surrounded by people who genuinely want the best for one another, and that kind of environment pushes you to grow in ways you might not expect.”
Campus Ministry has also played a meaningful role in shaping how Grace understands excellence.
“Campus Ministry has helped me grow in my faith and reminded me that excellence also means becoming a better person and lifting others up along the way,” she said.
That perspective has influenced the way she thinks about her future. Growing up on a small farm and participating in 4-H, Grace developed a love for animals early in life. Those experiences inspired her dream of becoming a veterinarian, a goal that remains at the center of her studies.
“My goal to give back to my community through veterinary work reflects Walsh’s strong value of service,” she said.
Her pursuit of excellence has also meant stepping beyond her comfort zone. The summer after her freshman year, Grace studied abroad in Gaming, Austria. Traveling overseas without her parents for the first time included unexpected challenges, including a delayed trip and a missed flight connection. Yet the experience became one of the most meaningful periods of growth in her life.
“Being on a different continent and far away from everything familiar was intimidating and exciting at the same time,” she said. “Once I arrived, I thrived. I grew in confidence and independence and made memories I will never forget.”
The trip also deepened her faith. Grace attended Mass in both Austria and France and experienced the Catholic liturgy in different languages and cultures. Those moments reminded her of the global unity of the Church and strengthened her personal relationship with God.
Faith continues to shape her life at Walsh. Through Campus Ministry and weekly Ignite worship and adoration, she has discovered new ways to live out her faith. While attending Ignite for the first time felt outside her comfort zone, it quickly became a meaningful part of her spiritual growth.
“Over time, it became something I look forward to every week,” she said. “It has helped me grow in my faith and maintain my relationship with God.”
Looking ahead, Grace plans to attend veterinary school after graduating from Walsh and earn her doctorate. She hopes to build a career caring for animals while supporting the people who love them, using her gifts in service to others.
