Today’s Streaks Alumni Profile features Mandy Rinker from the GHS class of 1995.
Mandy was on one of the greatest Streaks girls basketball teams- the 1995 Silver Streaks, which lost in the Super-Sectional. Mandy was a post who played with great energy and was a team-first player.
I absolutely enjoy doing the Streaks Alumni Profiles. It is fascinating to read about the graduate’s memories of Galesburg and GHS, and to read about their careers.
Mandy’s career is absolutely fascinating, I am so glad that she was willing to take the time to do a Streaks Alumni Profile. She is an inspiration to all of us!!
Sports/Activities at GHS
Volleyball (Freshman-Junior), Basketball (4years), Track (Freshman-Junior)
Favorite Teachers/Classes
All of Mr. Peachy's classes. I still remember some of the little sayings he would teach us to remember things like Mitosis.
Best Memories Growing Up in Galesburg and Attending GHS
As a younger kid I remember having so much fun walking to and from Silas Willard after school.
In high school one of the coolest things to happen was when President Bill Clinton came to GHS. As a senior I was able to be on the gym floor and be able to shake his hand.
I really enjoyed the time we spent during basketball playing the games, riding on the buses to and from games (especially to Quincy since we got to ride on a charter bus instead of a school bus). I really enjoyed all the summer camps, especially Michigan camp, and the summer leagues.
Education after GHS
B.S. in Animal Science, University of Illinois 1999
Career
Elephant Keeper Houston Zoo
What are you up to these days?
These days I'm pretty busy with work. When not at work I like to spend time with my friends, travel, and catch up on TV shows.
You have one of the neatest jobs ever. How did you get into this career?
I got into this by getting my B.S in Animal Science. After college I got a job as Farrowing Manager at a hog farm outside Milan Illinois. While working at the Hog farm I started volunteering at Niabi Zoo in Coal Valley Illinois. With all that animal experience and education I was able to get hired on at the Living Desert in Palm Desert, CA, where I was able to work a large variety of exotic animals.
After about 5 years I got hired on at the Houston Zoo and have been there for almost 20 years. In those 20 years I have been involved with at least 9 elephant births, had the opportunity to help the OKC Zoo with their 1st elephant birth, assisted with 1 major elephant surgery, helped with the research for the EEHV vaccine for elephants, assisted with many medical procedures, I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot of other fun things as well. If anyone wants more information about any of these things please feel free to reach out to me.
What are 5 things about elephants that most people don't know?
1. The adults eat about 150-200 pounds of food/day.
2. They poop 200 pounds/day, they have a very ineffective digestive system
3. They have over 10,000 muscles in their trunk.
4. They are naturally buoyant, when you see them swimming underwater they are working to do that.
5. They are NOT afraid of mice. They get scared by things they don't know are there. I have walked up behind and elephant and started talking which startled her because she didn't see me coming up.
Advice to Today’s Students/ Athletes
Enjoy your time in school/sports, you never get that time back. Don't take life too seriously, always remember to have fun at what you are doing. When life gets too hard/stressful just remember the goods times you have had and the possible good times you can make happen in the future.
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