Cara Nickolaus is in her junior year at Washington University in St. Louis, studying math and economics. After earning her Ph.D. in Economics, she plans to work in academia or for the government. Each week, Cara tutors fifth and sixth grade students at the St. Louis KIPP Charter School, where she finds great inspiration in the teachers she works alongside. Most attended impressive universities, but then chose to teach middle school students in the troubled inner city, giving hundreds of children much brighter prospects for success.

Cara also participates in Washington University Undergraduates for Socioeconomic Diversity, where she too can advocate for low and middle-income students. WUFUSED has shown her the struggles faced by people of different economic backgrounds, and the issue of income distribution is something she would like to continue to study in her career as an economist.” She feels that she, like many young people, has generally been on the receiving end of society’s services, from public schools to public parks. “Public service sets the stage for a lifetime of social contributions that will ensure the next generation is privileged to enjoy the same benefits as my generation.”