Courtney Wilcox is a California native, but her family roots run deep in Selma.

“My mom graduated from Selma High School and her family, my grandparents, aunts and uncles, still live there,” Wilcox said.

The 21-year-old will graduate with a Bachelors of Science degree in International Studies and Medicine from Johns Hopkins University on May 26 at 8 a.m. Wilcox, who has a 3.3 grade point average, will graduate with more than 1,000 undergraduates Thursday.

Dorothea Wilcox, Courtney’s mother and a University of Southern California graduate, is more than excited.

“The fact that she’s furthered her education is an accomplishment in and of itself,” Dorothea said. “She wants to be productive and help her peers and society and we’re very proud of her.”

Upon graduation, Courtney will complete a two-year assignment with Peace Corps and work abroad with HIV patients.

She eventually wants to attend medical school at USC or the University of California at San Francisco.

Wilcox has one younger sister and she encourages others to have the right combination of work and play.

“Work hard and do your work and then play later,” Courtney said. “If you have the right combination of those factors, you’ll be a success.”