Undergraduate Spotlight: Caitlin Solis

The Resilience of a Scientist

The journey to a Bachelor’s degree in Physics is rarely a straight line, but for senior Caitlin Solis, it has been a masterclass in perseverance, advocacy, and making every moment count. A native of California and a military spouse, Caitlin transferred to K-State in 2021, bringing with her 46 credits and a determination that has left an indelible mark on the department.

Caitlin’s path has been marked by significant personal challenges. For several years, she has battled health issues that severely impacted her mobility, requiring the use of a wheelchair. Despite these obstacles, she remained deeply embedded in the life of the department.

Her resilience was officially recognized in 2024 when she received the Division of Academic Success and Student Affairs (DASSA) Extraordinary Student Award. This honor, which included a $500 scholarship, is reserved for students who maintain academic success while overcoming significant life hurdles.

Caitlin’s presence was felt across almost every facet of K-State Physics as she was a leader in the physics department and the local community. She served as a lab instructor for General Physics (both in-person and online) and as a secondary instructor for Engineering Physics studios. Her leadership skills were on display as she served the Undergraduate Physics Club as president for two consecutive years. Caitlin was awarded a College of Arts and Sciences scholarship to work with Physics Education Research faculty member J.T. Laverty and also conducted research with AMO physicist Meng Han. In addition, whether it be at Open House or after-school clubs, Caitlin was consistently the first to volunteer to share her love of science with the Manhattan community whenever a request for assistance with one of our outreach opportunities went out.

After graduation, Caitlin is looking toward the West Coast to join her husband, Jesse, in the Seattle area when he returns from his current deployment. An adventurer at heart, she plans to make the cross-country move with her four dogs and a cat. While she originally hoped to camp out in her vehicle along the way, she decided to forego that plan after a trial run over spring break, during which one of her pets decided to embark on an independent adventure of his own!

Looking ahead, Caitlin hopes to attend graduate school in the future. In the meantime, she is making plans to launch her own tutoring business in the Seattle area. The department has no doubt that her upward trajectory will continue.

"Caitlin never gives up on her dreams, nor does she stop working to improve the lives of others," noted department head Tim Bolton. We are incredibly proud of everything she has accomplished here at K-State and look forward to seeing the "Universe" open its next chapter for her.