Honors College sisters stride side-by-side throughout undergraduate careers

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For seniors Monica and Regina Barron, IUPUI has been a road they never had to walk alone. Aside from shared genetics, the two are recognizable in the Honors College for their synchronicities in academic excellence and the obvious connection they share.

The sisters are a duo within a set of triplets in a family of nine children. The oldest of the triplets, Bernadette, also attends IUPUI in the School of Education. Monica and Regina find their home away from home in the School of Science, both studying Medicinal Chemistry. The two also work on projects in the same research lab, studying with Dr. Frédérique Deiss in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology.

They do practically everything together, share books and class schedules, and can even finish each other’s sentences. While the two Chancellor’s Scholars have walked side by side during their undergraduate career, they have different plans for after graduation in May. Regina hopes for acceptance into medical school while Monica will apply to graduate school.

Regina

Regina would describe herself as an intelligent person that has a lot of follow through but tends to be a little unconfident. She describes her sister as more assertive, extremely intelligent, and choleric in nature. Her hobbies include reading, walking, etymology, and looking up random scientific facts. She enjoys learning and recently became interested in echidnas, a type of mammal. The closeness to home, affordability of tuition, and reputation of IUPUI as a public university led her to apply to the university and the Honors College. She majors in Medicinal Chemistry and studies electrochemistry in a lab. Regina has also been involved with Gennesaret Free Clinics, which provides healthcare and easily accessible services to people in need. One meaningful memory from her undergraduate career is when she was accepted into IUPUI’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), which allowed her to study under Dr. Ian I. Suni at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. In ten years, Regina sees herself wrapping up a residency, working as a physician, and staying in Indiana.

Monica

Monica would describe herself as a rather choleric, headstrong list-maker. She describes her sister as very independent and as someone who works toward goals in order to make opportunities happen. Her hobbies include stargazing, finding constellations, reading, walking, and Sonic video games. She applied to IUPUI because it is an affordable college within close proximity to home and because the Honors College offered her the Chancellor’s Scholarship. She majors in Medicinal Chemistry and studies microfluidics in a lab. Monica has also been involved with the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, which provides food and self-help programs to people in need. A pivotal point in her undergraduate career was her cornerstone course, which led to research, entrance into Dr. Deiss’s lab, an internship, and a research opportunity under Dr. Punit Kohli at Southern Illinois University through IUPUI’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). In ten years, Monica can see herself working professionally after graduate school but has strong hopes for marriage and children.

Favorite memory together?

One time when the sisters were little, Regina became confused and thought she was Monica!

Favorite thing about being a triplet?

They are very connected, agree on important things, and can tell what the other is thinking. Monica says, “It’s like every day is a sleepover and your best friend is right there.”

The least favorite thing about being a triplet?

It can limit individuality and all would share the blame when one was in an argument with parents.

Strangest question someone has asked?

When the sisters and siblings were in a large stroller, a pedestrian once asked, “Are they quadrupeds?” Quadruped – noun:  an animal having four feet.