PascalineGrace Phongo is a neuroscience student at Parkland College, part of the Parkland Pathways program to UIUC. The Rantoul, Ill. native is pursuing the pre-medical track with the long-term goal of becoming a neurosurgeon, a goal inspired by her personal experience with a concussion which impacted her academics, athletics, and social life. This sparked a curiosity about the brain and a commitment to help others navigate similar challenges.
An advocate for equity in healthcare, PascalineGrace is passionate about ensuring patients from underrepresented communities feel seen, heard, and understood in medical spaces. Her drive to serve is matched by her record of leadership and campus involvement. She previously served as secretary for both Parkland’s Student Government and the Black Student Association. She now serves as Student Trustee for the Parkland Board of Trustees.
Outside the classroom, PascalineGrace enjoys baking, working out, and playing volleyball. She participates in two campus ministries, Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) and The Vineyard College (TVC). She values time spent with loved ones as grounding and motivating. She brings the same resilience to her studies as she does to her personal passions, striving for a future where science, compassion, and representation intersect in her role as a future neurosurgeon.