Kamman amassed an incredible 42 college credits during his four years at Carmel Catholic through the school's dual-credit curriculum. That meant not only did Jeremy enter K-State as a sophomore, but it also allowed him to aggressively pursue a double major along with a pair of minor degrees.
“I’m in contact with a lot of my Carmel friends, and how well prepared we were for college is something we talk about quite a bit,” said Kamman from his summer residence in Manhattan, KS. “We try not to say it in public, but college seems a lot easier than high school because Carmel prepared us so well.”
Jeremy notes that his Carmel Catholic education taught him to take initiative and be a self-advocate, knowing that opportunities aren’t given to you and that you need to seek them out and work hard.
“We had more of a workload [at Carmel], and the block schedule better resembled an average college schedule,” adds Jeremy. “Upon graduating, I knew how to allocate time for homework and that the first thing you do as a freshman on campus is to join clubs, find leadership positions, and learn how fun it is to get involved.”
Since then, his brain has been immersed in everything from algebra to molecular and optical physics. Kamman spent the past summer researching computational material physics in Germany with the support of the German Academic Exchange Service, also known as DAAD, through its prestigious Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE Germany). He is eager to thank Mr. Titterton for helping him pass freshman algebra and to Ms. Bader, who was single-handedly responsible for getting him interested in physics.
“She was my mentor freshman year, nourished my curiosity about the natural world, and sponsored me to go to Fermilab, where I attended lectures I will never forget,” he said with a lump in his throat. “I was heartbroken when she passed away before I graduated.”
Currently a K-State senior, Kamman is working towards a degree in physics, a secondary degree in International and Area Studies, and a double minor in classical studies, including Latin and environmental geophysics exploration.
He finished his Latin degree last semester and hopes to finish his physics degree this semester, albeit if he can “survive my applied quantum mechanics class,” he laughs. “I’m finishing up the other two, geophysics and International and Area Studies, this semester and am a Kansas State nominee for the Rhodes and Marshall scholarship.”
So, the big question is: what will he do after he graduates?
“I strongly believe there’s a problem with the abuse and misuse of science and technology. Therefore, I would like to be an advisor to decision-makers and then advise and inform our policymakers on international policy or decisions. Ideally, I’d like to work as an advisor for NATO, the United Nations, or the U.S. government.”
With all that said, don’t make the mistake of calling Jeremy an overachiever.
“I don’t like the word overachiever,” he explains. “Because that implies an expectation of achievements that one should have. I am more like––I see an opportunity, and I take it. I don’t like standing around; I don’t like being idle or stagnant. I like to keep myself busy, as involved as possible no matter where I am and who I am with, and enjoy working with others to get them more involved.”