Meredith Marcks (‘28), a Biology major with a concentration in Biomedical Sciences, is a member of the newly re-established St. Norbert Pep Band. The pep band is a small band that plays marching band-type music to entertain the crowds at sporting events. Marcks plays the snare drum.
With an extensive background in music, Marcks knew that she “didn’t want to lose the passion” in her transition to college. When she heard that SNC was starting a pep band, she jumped at the opportunity as well as joining the concert band. She has over 14 years of experience playing the piano and has played various percussion instruments since 8th grade. In high school, Marcks was a drum major in her school’s marching band.
The SNC pep band practices once a week for 2 hours, which is a change from her high school experience, where marching band meetings were more frequent, meeting three times a week. The pep band had a successful first semester, performing at volleyball, football, and basketball games.
Marcks appreciates the liveliness of pep band performances, where the crowd’s energy fuels the band’s enthusiasm, creating a high-energy atmosphere at the event. Beyond the pep band, Marcks plays a variety of percussion instruments, such as mallets, drums, and auxiliary with the concert band. She enjoys the contrast between the traditional focus of the concert band and the pep band’s high-energy performances
In the Honors program, Marcks lives in a dorm with other first-year Honors students, Bergstrom Hall. The first few weeks in this dorm included many spontaneous social events, encouraging students to meet new people. Being in this environment has made her college transition easier in many ways, including her experience within the pep band. The group contains a majority of upperclassmen, which can be intimidating for first-year students. However, having met many new people in Bergstrom and around campus, she found it easier to connect with these new individuals in the pep band.
In addition to her musical commitments, Marcks is involved in several other activities on and off campus. She is a member of the Hispanic Heritage Month committee, Cru, a faith-based organization, and serves as a tour guide for the SNC admissions office. Off-campus, she is a certified nursing assistant at a pediatrics clinic near her hometown, where she nurtures her passion for caring for children.
Given this passion, Meredith plans to pursue a career in pediatrics after graduating from St. Norbert College. She plans to care for patients as a physician assistant, as it allows her to start practicing medicine and caring for patients more quickly than studying in medical school or pursuing a doctorate degree. “I want to get right into the field and start making a difference,” she shares.
With her dedication to music, academics, and community, Marcks exemplifies the core values of a St. Norbert and Honors student. Whether she’s energizing the crowds with the pep band, preparing for her career in healthcare, or fostering inclusion through her commitments on campus, Marcks brings a spirit of passion and enthusiasm to everything that she does.
