Ke'alohi Diehl isn’t waiting until graduation to make a difference—she’s already doing big things in her first year at Radford University. A pre-nursing student in her second semester, Diehl is passionate about helping others.
Diehl has always been drawn to helping people, a passion that led her to pursue nursing. "I had experiences when I was younger in hospitals just because some of my family members were there," she shared. "It’s definitely one of my biggest draws to help people, especially because when you're in a hospital, it's not normally the best day of your life."
Her journey to Radford University started with a chance encounter. "I ran into a recruiter at a community college I was going to. They were very kind, very nice, and they explained the nursing program to me, and I just fell in love with it," she said. But it wasn’t just the nursing program that drew her in—Radford’s growing mock trial team was another major factor.
Diehl competed in mock trial for two years in high school, even reaching the state competition. That’s when she had a moment of realization. "This was just before I talked to the recruiter about Radford. It felt kind of like destiny that the mock trial team was there judging and helping run the tournament," she recalled.
Since joining the team, Diehl has helped Radford make history. "This year, we made Radford history. We ended up making it to ORCS, which is the competition just before the national competition. It’s been a lovely season, and definitely, we can go up from here."
Beyond academics and competition, Diehl has embraced campus life. "There's a new river not too far from here, and it's beautiful. Also, there's a lot of little events that student life holds," she said. One of her favorite spots? The Esports Center. "They have tons of computers, Xboxes, PlayStations, and basically, you can just go there and take a deep breath and relax."
Looking ahead, Diehl hopes to merge her interests in nursing and criminal justice, eyeing a career as either a forensics nurse or a nurse working in a jail. "Those are definitely the two careers that I am most excited for," she said.
For future Highlanders, she offers simple but meaningful advice: "If you're considering going here, I would definitely say Radford cares. Radford has so many opportunities and ways to help you if you just ask and seek them out."
Diehl’s first year has been anything but ordinary, and with her determination, there’s no doubt she will continue to make an impact—both at Radford and beyond.