Christina Sabat '17

Even before she was a student at Oakcrest, Christina Sabat ’17 knew she wanted to be a veterinarian — and when she was looking for a high school to attend, she kept this goal at the forefront of her mind. 

“I knew Oakcrest would prepare me for college, while also nurturing me into the person I wanted to become,” she said. 

Today, Christina is in her second year of veterinary school at Purdue. 

“At Oakcrest, I blossomed into a confident, intelligent woman who had the qualifications to compete on an international level,” she said. “I applied for Purdue University’s Veterinary Scholars program which would provide pre-acceptance into veterinary school after meeting rigorous academic requirements during my undergraduate studies at Purdue.” 

The program, which only offered 10 slots to incoming freshmen, is very competitive. 

“Although it was daunting, the opportunities that were available at Oakcrest made it possible for me to present a well-rounded portfolio of achievements and gave me the strength and self-confidence to present myself well during my interview,” Christina explained. 

While at Oakcrest, Christina says one of the most important classes she took was AP Chemistry, which she said taught her to think critically in her science courses. “I also learned how to perform experiments, write lab reports, and comprehend and evaluate scientific papers.” 

Christina also founded a Veterinary Medicine Club while a student at Oakcrest, and was a co-captain of the Oakcrest Varsity Volleyball team. She also acted in the school musicals and was a member of Science Olympiad, Spanish Club, and several honor societies. 

Some of the Oakcrest teachers who influenced her deeply and to this day are Ms. Christine Nussio and Dr. Claraines Deeb. 

“Ms. Nussio’s classes were always so fun, and she helped me learn history in an engaging way. She could always put a smile on my face,” Christina remembers. “Dr. Deeb was also a favorite because she formed a strong bond with me and my classmates in her AP calculus and honors physics classes. Her mannerisms and jokes made us laugh and eased the challenges of her classes.” 

Ms. Nussio, who is now the Upper School Director, said that it is a joy to see Christina following her dreams.

"I remember Christina was planning to study veterinary science even early in high school," she said. "I was impressed by how hard she worked and the interest she took in our history classes, AP European History and AP U.S. History. I see it as a great example of liberal arts learning that she saw the good of a well-rounded education in both the humanities and the sciences. She pushed herself to excel in both and saw the value of everything she studied." 

One of Christina's favorite Oakcrest highlights is the friendships she formed with her classmates, especially during her senior year, she said. 

“Oakcrest shaped me by helping me become the confident, hard-working woman I am today. The opportunities that Oakcrest provided for me to explore myself and my passions helped me learn who I wanted to be. I realized that anything I put my mind to, I can do,” Christina explained.