Mary Huegel ’26 exemplifies the balance of academic excellence and athletic dedication through the close-knit environment at Gettysburg College.
As a member of the volleyball team and an aspiring doctor, Mary Huegel ’26—a biochemistry-molecular biology major from Marlboro, New Jersey—embodies what it means to be a dedicated student-athlete at Gettysburg College.
During the 2024 volleyball season, Huegel received numerous honors and recognitions: Scholar-Athlete of the Year, First-Team All-Conference, Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll, NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team, and All-Region Honorable Mention. “I wouldn’t have gotten these awards without my teammates,” she shared. “Winning is more than enough, but it's nice to get recognition and realize my hard work is paying off.”
Huegel chose to attend Gettysburg for the tight-knit, supportive atmosphere, which remains her favorite aspect of the school. “I love our small college community,” she said. “Six of my professors were in the crowd at one of my games this season. It was cool to see that not only am I making valuable connections here, but people are also caring about my athletic pursuits. It gives me a great sense of purpose and belonging.”
Outside of volleyball, Huegel is the director of academic affairs and director of alumnae engagement for Alpha Delta Pi, a supervisor at the Jaeger Center front desk, a teaching assistant for organic chemistry, and the vice president of the Sceptical Chymists club. She also works in a research lab with Biology Prof. Melanie Eshelman on cancer research that she began this past summer with the Cross-Disciplinary Science Institute (X-SIG).
“College was a big adjustment at first, but meeting so many people and getting involved in many different things has been awesome,” Huegel reflected. “Now, I get sad whenever I go home for breaks and get excited whenever I come back to campus.”
After graduation, Huegel hopes to attend medical school and continue pursuing her passion for studying infectious diseases. “I have wanted to be a doctor since I was in sixth grade,” she explained. “I love the aspects of helping people and solving puzzles. I have never imagined myself in a different career.”
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By Brooke Askin ’25
Photos by Amber Tetmyer ’27 and submitted by Mary Huegel ’26
Posted: 04/09/25