Undergraduate Spotlight: Adam Collins
The Physics of Perseverance: From the Front Lines to the Classroom
Most students consider a heavy course load and a part-time job a "busy" schedule. For senior physics major Adam Collins, "busy" meant balancing a full-time overnight shift as a paramedic at Irwin Army Community Hospital on the local military base at nearby Fort Riley, while tackling the physics classroom by day—all in addition to his role as a husband and father of three.
“He is the most remarkable physics major I have worked with in my 40-year career,” said department head Tim Bolton. It was a high bar, but one Adam cleared with ease.
Adam’s path to K-State was anything but traditional. After high school, he followed a call to service, enlisting in the Army in 2012 as a combat medic. His service included an eight-month deployment to Afghanistan, where he provided life-saving treatment to U.S. and NATO soldiers, Afghan civilians, and adversaries alike—often making split-second, life-or-death decisions under hostile fire.
Upon his discharge in 2015, Adam’s focus shifted to building a life for his family. He became a paramedic and eventually relocated to Kansas to serve the Fort Riley community.
During the downtime of his shifts at Fort Riley, Adam’s interest in math and science began to resurface. Despite a long lapse between high school and higher education, he dove headfirst into the K-State physics program, starting with college algebra and working his way through the curriculum.
Adam’s presence in the classroom was a catalyst for his peers. Embodying the mantra, “If you want something done, ask a busy person,” Adam didn't just participate in the department—he shaped it. In his final spring semester, he successfully petitioned the department to offer a nuclear physics course to better align with his career goals. He also remained a fixture at the annual K-State Open House, volunteering his rare free Saturdays to share his love of science with the public.
In the spring, Adam was named a recipient of the prestigious Anderson Senior Award. This annual honor, presented by the K-State Alumni Association, recognizes just four graduating seniors who have made a meaningful, lasting impact on the university community during their undergraduate years.
Adam didn't leave his physics knowledge in the classroom, either; he actively leveraged his coursework to improve the care provided by his EMS team. According to Fort Riley’s Chief for the Department of Emergency Services, Adam delivered multiple lectures for the Continuing Medical Education program, explaining the physics behind mechanisms of injury and tissue damage, injury patterns and clinical considerations, and radiation events and preparedness drills.
By bridging the gap between physics and emergency medicine, Adam provided exceptional care for thousands of patients while raising the bar for his entire medical team. He was recognized by the Irwin Army Community Hospital Commander for his extraordinary efforts, who called his actions a powerful example of medical readiness in motion.
Whether he was treating a patient at 3:00 a.m. or solving a complex equation at 10:00 a.m., Adam Collins represented the very best of the K-State spirit. His undergraduate journey served as a powerful reminder that with enough grit and determination, there are no bounds to what a student can achieve. Adam’s journey in physics did not end at K-State—he has made plans to continue pursuing a graduate degree in physics this coming fall.