After Savannah Noll decided on her career path in physical therapy, she made a goal to get there: graduate school at UNC-Chapel Hill. But long before she settled onto Franklin Street, Noll was an exercise science major with a concentration in pre-physical therapy at USC Upstate.
Noll, a student-athlete, transferred to Upstate from Longwood University. The strong recruiting process and the proximity to her home in Charlotte, NC, brought her to the campus: “I felt like I would succeed—even if I wasn’t just playing soccer at Upstate. I felt like it was an environment where I could be successful.”
Her interest in the principles of movement attracted her to physical therapy. She enjoyed courses like microbiology and exercise physiology. She also gained meaningful research experience by studying her lifelong sport, soccer.
She conducted hydration testing on the team along with professor Patrick Saracino and a graduate assistant. They used player catapults, or tracking vests, to capture the data.
Part of her research earned a Magellan award through USC Columbia. She also presented her research at the Upstate Research Symposium and won best student poster in 2025.
Noll says her time Upstate prepared her well for graduate studies. Along with research, she spent time on her application with Georgia McClintock in Career Management and worked closely with Saracino, who was also her faculty advisor.
Her internship and field experience were also crucial for grad school prep, from the observation hours and connections made.
“I was able to get that experience, make connections, get perspective, and then receive advice from current physical therapists in a field that I think I wanted to participate in,” Noll said.
Junior year, Noll completed her field experience at ATI Physical Therapy. She interned with Athletics in the training room at Upstate senior year.
After graduating in 2026, she was accepted and enrolled in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at UNC.
The program is eight semesters (or three calendar years) long. In the early part of her first semester, Noll has been navigating foundational courses while anticipating clinical placement.
“I’m looking forward to getting knowledge that will make me successful in clinical situations. Knowing how to apply, ‘Oh my shoulder hurts,’ to, ‘What could that possibly be from? And how I can make it better.’”
She is enjoying her cohort and says everyone is dedicated to patient care and “gaining as much knowledge as possible.”
“We’re doing this to enhance the lives of others. So, it’s really nice to have all the same goals, knowing we’re going in all the same directions.”
“Even my roommates now, we’re studying before class. So, we’re all determined,” Noll said. “We all want to be the best we can be, and it’s not like you’re trying to be competitive. It’s not for us; it’s for other people.
Get in the spotlight.
Each month, we spotlight one of our alumni to learn about their experiences since graduation. Through their stories, often in their own words, we discover the impact Upstate has made on their journeys.