Sophie Homolka

What’s your favorite class? Why?

Religion and Climate Change with Robert Kugler– This class was a one-time-offering and I had never taken a course about either of these topics before so it looked like a unique experience. I loved Kugler’s approach to teaching multiple viewpoints of such a hot-button issue and I came away with a plethora of new insights.

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

When I toured the school, I immediately fell in love with the campus and all its greenery. The opportunities available for studying overseas and school sponsored clubs and activities were also a huge draw for me.

What do you like or find most interesting about your major?

I love the professors in the department– they were ultimately the reason why I decided to become a math major. Their support and encouragement has been instrumental to my success here.

What do you like or find most interesting about your minor?

Though it is a relatively new program, the pre-health minor offers a great variety of courses to dip your toes into all sorts of health fields.

Tell us about your support systems and social outlets on campus.

My friends on the crew team are the best support system that I could ask for. We became close by virtue of spending hours each day together at practice. As our freshman season went on, we formed study groups, would eat many of our meals together, and spent more and more of our downtime together, eventually becoming a very tight knit group. They are the folks who hold me accountable for staying on top of my studies and helping me keep it together during hard weeks and I am forever grateful to have joined the crew team as I would likely not have met them otherwise.

How did you choose your overseas program? What did your overseas study add to your L&C experience?

I am planning to study overseas in Czechia in the spring of 2026. I had looked into going to university in Czechia while I was still exploring colleges, and I still love the idea of visiting central Europe and being able to explore its neighboring countries. I appreciate that I am able to receive a liberal arts education here at L&C and still experience a cultural exchange in a structured environment.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

Reach out to and lean on your professors and the larger Lewis & Clark community. College is hard and sometimes scary but the people around you want you to succeed.

Why do you love being on crew at L&C? How do you balance athletics and academics?

I am a coxswain on the Men’s Varsity Rowing team. I love being a part of the whole crew community and it is where I met my closest friends. Getting the opportunity to get out on the Willamette River several times a week is also a huge perk. I balance athletics and academics by prioritizing my academics first, and being a D3 athlete makes that mindset possible to hold myself to.

How did your financial aid package influence your decision to attend Lewis & Clark?

Without financial aid, I would not have been able to attend Lewis & Clark, and the package offered to me was my ultimate deciding factor to attend.

How did your New Student Trip with College Outdoors shape your experience as an incoming student?

I went on the Discover Coastal Rainforests and Beaches (DISCOCRAB) trip my freshman year. The trip definitely helped me to feel immediately connected to my peers and made me realize that I meshed well with other L&C students. Meeting upperclassmen that lead the trip also provided me with a sense of security, knowing that there were a handful of folks looking out for me on campus.

What’s one of the best spots on campus?

There is a little elevated patch of shade on the pathway down to the rose garden with two giant trees that is perfect for laying on the pine needles and reading with a yerba mate in.

What’s your favorite thing about living in Portland?

I love all the niche little shops in downtown Portland. My favorite is a place called Paxton’s Gate over on Nob Hill.

What’s one of your best Lewis & Clark memories so far?

The crew team made it to nationals my freshman spring, so we stayed on campus for an extra three weeks in the summer to train. It was a blast going on silly little daily adventures and laying by the reflecting pond in the gorgeous Portland summer sun. We got so close as a team and it was wonderful to be reminded of how strong of a support system I have in the L&C crew team.

Mathematics