OLD GOLD&BLACK W A K E
F O R E S T
U N I V E R S I T Y
CLASS OF
VOL. 95, NO. 30
T H U R S D AY, M AY 3 , 2 0 1 2
oldgoldandblack.com
2012
Graduation Issue
Page 2 Thursday, May 3, 2012
Old Gold & Black Graduation
Dear Class of 2012, It may seem unlikely, but in a few short weeks, you will walk across the Quad for the last time as graduating seniors. The past four years have been a time of immense intellectual and personal growth. You have discovered your interests and passions, made life-long friends and had incredible experiences both on campus and abroad. During your time at Wake Forest, you’ve seen the arrival of a new Provost, ups and downs in athletics, the renovation of the Benson University Center and a plethora of construction projects that will transform the campus. We at the Old Gold & Black would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on this critical milestone in your life. After graduation, you will go on to become teachers and lawyers, doctors and scientists, artists and engineers. But you will always share the bond of having attended Wake Forest. As a final farewell to you, the Old Gold & Black has produced our sixth annual Graduation Issue to profile 33 outstanding students, who have been chosen by their respective department chairs not only for their academic prowess but also for their sizeable contributions to the university community. Within these pages, you will find students who have conducted independent research in the Galapagos Islands and the Amazonian rainforest. They have attended conferences in Germany and established their own start-up companies. After graduating from Mother, So Dear, these extraordinary students are going on to attend such illustrious
Congratulations, Class of 2012!
Justus Ruff/Old Gold & Black
Dear Class of 2012, It may seem unlikely, but in a few short weeks, you will walk across the Quad for the last time as graduating seniors. The past four years have been a time of immense intellectual and personal growth. You have discovered your interests and passions, made life-long friends and had incredible experiences both on campus and abroad. During your time at Wake Forest, you’ve seen the arrival of a new Provost, ups and downs in athletics, the renovation of the Benson University Center and a plethora of construction projects that will transform the campus. We at the Old Gold & Black would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on this critical milestone in your life. After graduation, you will go on to become teachers and lawyers, doctors and scientists, artists and engineers. Your paths will likely take you all over the country, and it is possible that your career choice will change. But you will always share the bond of having attended Wake Forest. As a final farewell to you, the Old Gold & Black has produced our sixth annual Graduation Issue to profile 33 outstanding students. These students have been chosen by their respective department chairs not only for their academic prowess but also for their sizeable contributions to the university community. Within these pages, you will find students who have conducted independent research in the Galapagos Islands and the Amazonian rainforest. They have at-
tended conferences in Germany and established their own start-up companies. After graduating from Mother, So Dear, these extraordinary students are going on to attend such illustrious institutions as the London School of Economics, University of Notre Dame, University of California-Santa Barbara and Georgia Tech and work for companies like BMW, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs. These students are the recipients of both prestigious scholarships, like the Goldwater and Fulbright, and countless fellowships to programs to both abroad and all over the country. Although there is no way to recognize each of the outstanding seniors on campus, we hope that this issue demonstrates the wide breadth of majors that the university boasts and the tremendous feats accomplished by all the graduating students over their four years here. While working on this special issue, the editorial staff of the Old Gold & Black was truly awestruck by the extracurricular, academic and humanitarian achievements accomplished by this distinguished class. It has been a pleasure getting to know you over the past four years, and we know that you will go on to make a tangible impact on whichever field you choose. Congratulations on this incredible milestone, and thank you for everything you have contributed to the university community during your four years here.
Best, Meenu Krishnan Editor-in-chief Old Gold & Black
Old Gold & Black
The Graduation Issue Meenu Krishnan Editor-in-chief
Renee Slawsky Ken Meyer Print managing editor Online managing editor Production: Matt Poppe, Hilary Burns, Ian Rutledge, Daniel Schwindt, Max Wohlmuth, Ty Kraniak, Julie Huggins, Ade Ilesanmi, Amber Burton and Molly Dutmers Photography: Clare Stanton, Jenn Paradise, Demone Jackson, Mary Katherine Curvino, Maggie Pyle, Kirsten Hutton, Madeline Baker, Howard Graves
The Graduation Issue is a special publication of the Old Gold & Black, published by Stone Printing of High Point. If you have any questions are comments, email krism9@wfu.edu. To subscribe, please send $35 to P.O. Box 7569, Winston-Salem, NC 27109. © 2012 WFU Media Board. All rights reserved.
Graduation Old Gold & Black
Thursday, May 3, 2012 Page 3
Photo courtesy of Mark Gerelus
WHAT’S INSIDE: Letter from the Editor 2 Photo Collage | SG President Letter 4 Accountancy | Anthropology 5 Art History | Biology 6 B.E.M. | Chemistry 7 Classical Studies | Communication 8 Computer Science | E. Asian Studies 9 Economics | Education 10 English | Finance 11 Bucket List 12
French | German HES | History Mathematics | Mathematical Bus. Mathematical Economics | Music Physics | Philosophy Political Science | Psychology Russian | Religion Sociology | Spanish Studio Art | Theatre Women’s and Gender Studies
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
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Graduation Old Gold & Black
LETTER FROM SG PRESIDENT
Photo courtesy of Her Campus
“We became a family by experiencing all that our Mother, So Dear has to offer.”
Dear Class of 2012, organizations and while it’s hard to remember Congratulations on all of your hard work, what it was like four years ago, we are all one in achievements and accomplishments over the the same — we all came in as Demon Deacons past four years! and we will all leave as Demon Deacons. It is difficult to believe that we are graduating I’ve enjoyed serving as the Student Governfrom college. It seems like it was just yesterday ment president this past year and I thank each that we were merely first-year students who came and every one of you for your constant help and onto campus wide-eyed, nervous and excited support. It has meant a lot to me to know that for what the future held. you all care about this university just as much The friendships that we made at Wake Forest as I do, especially during the difficult times this will last us a lifetime. Our first-year roommates past year. I thank you for your leadership on and hall mates are in so many of our memories this campus; younger students look up to you and were with us through many of our college and aspire to be in your shoes one day. They “firsts.” know that we aren’t perfect but they idolize our We made many of our friends during pre-ori- roles as students and as individuals. As we transition into the next chapter of our entation programs, orientation week and even in those first-semester lives, know that you classes. But we concan reach out to any tinued to meet new of your classmates people and to develop for help. It will be Hometown: Roanoke, Va. deeper relationships difficult to leave our with each other every Alma Mater but I am Major: History day. I never got tired certain that each and of meeting someone every one of us has a Position: Student Government Presnew — someone that bright future of ahead ident 2011-12 had the ability to exof us. Our work ethic pose me to new things and determination Post-Grad Plans: Information Sysand new ideas. alone will allow for tems Fellow 2012-13 We have all endured us to be at the top a lot as a class. From of any field. Just studying abroad to remember, that you losing loved ones to will never be alone making new friendin this world — you ships and sustaining old ones, we’ve overcome will always have the Wake Forest community tough times and celebrated victories. Our class behind you every step of the way. has also seen many changes to campus — the I want to ask all of you to do just one thing SAT requirement was eliminated, we saw new for me — please remember and keep in touch buildings go up, we’ve had a multitude of dining with your classmates, friends and peers. We changes and many more but we’ve gone through all share a unique bond that Wake Forest gives it all with grace and poise, always putting one us and it’s that mystical quality that will unite foot in front of the other while looking into us for years to come. the future. We became Demon Deacons by the simple We’ve made mistakes but we’ve learned from nature that we were all accepted into this unithem. We’ve been role models to younger stu- versity, but we became a family by experiencing dents, and we’ve looked up to older students all that our Mother, So Dear has to offer. for guidance and advice. There is nothing that Go Deacs! our class cannot do. We’ve all joined different Nilam A. Patel
Four Years Later... 2008
2012
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GRAY GARNER | ACCOUNTANCY “[He] also always managed to maintain a positive attitude and put a smile on his face – even during Gray Garner grew up a three hours’ drive from the most stressful and chaotic times.” Garner, however, is more than just a truly exWinston-Salem in Greenville, N.C. The youngest of three siblings, Garner famil- ceptional student. The Wesley Foundation, a iarized himself with the Wake Forest campus by United Methodist group on campus, provided visiting his brother and sister, both of whom at- Garner with a valuable support system of friends tended the university, and attending various De- and quickly became an important part of his life. mon Deacons sporting events. Quickly, Garner “Wesley helps by plugging you in early as a freshrealized he too belonged here. Garner enrolled in man with people who share your values,” Garner said. “That helped me to grow as a person and in the university in the fall of 2008. Garner had always been interested in business. a way, it defines who I am.” “[Garner] is very much a family man,” Larry Specifically, Garner was drawn to accounting for its practicality. “Whoever comes through the [Wake Jones, the university Wesley Foundation campus Forest Accounting] program always has a job lined minister and someone whom Garner considers to up, even in this economy,” he said. This past be a spiritual mentor, said. “He is very devoted winter, Garner comto his whole family and pleted a half-semester values greatly their influinternship program ence. He is not someone in audit for Dixon who pushes his faith onto Hughes Goodman, Hometown: Greenville, N.C. people, but he is someone a public accounting whose faith and Christian firm in Raleigh. Extracurriculars: Wesley Foundaconvictions are central to Garner embraced tion who he is as a person.” this opportunity to Garner’s favorite memfind practical appliPost-Grad Plans: Assurance staff of ory about Wesley is playcations for the conDixon Hughes Goodman ing quarterback for their cepts that he learned Intramural flag football in the classroom. “At championship team this the start of the internpast fall. “[Garner] fanship, you don’t know cies himself as the next anything and you’re Cam Newton,” Jones not expected to know anything,” Garner said. “If you just go in with a joked. Garner offered his advice to future freshmen. good attitude and are willing to ask questions, it “Develop relationships with your professors and works out well.” Although Garner was extremely modest when ask them questions; they’re willing to help,” he said. “For me, the key was the ability to find an answer asked about his academic achievements, those people who had gotten the opportunity to work when it’s not in front of you in a textbook, per se. with Garner took a different approach. Andrea It’s really helpful to ask questions, but you have to Kelton, an assistant professor in the Schools of learn how to ask questions when you’re not sure Business, was grateful for the opportunity to “brag about something.” For Garner, learning to ask questions has paid on a truly exceptional student.” “[Garner] was always hard working, motivated, off. In October 2013, Garner will join his brother and willing to put in that extra effort it takes at Dixon Hughes Goodman, a private accounting to succeed and to stand apart from your peers,” firm in Winston-Salem, where he recently accepted a full-time position on the assurance staff. Kelton said.
By Scott Frankel | Staff writer
Jenn Paradise/Old Gold & Black
“He is very devoted to his whole family and values greatly their influence.”
LILY KESSINGER | ANTHROPOLOGY By Yasmin Bendaas | Staff writer
Photo courtesy of Lily Kessinger
“She will make a difference in the communities in which she lives and works.”
and enjoys sharing what she has learned through her diverse academic experiences,” Paul Thacker, Lily Kessinger was first drawn to Anthropology professor of anthropology, said. “She is able to when she took Jeanne Simonelli’s “Peoples and bridge scientific and humanistic perspectives at a Cultures” class her sophomore year. Her piqued level beyond most undergraduates.” With the Department of Anthropology recoginterest in the subject led her to take more courses including another favorite, “Artifact Analysis” with nizing Kessinger as such a notable undergraduate student, professors are equally sure she will be an Paul Thacker. Kessinger credits such passionate and engaging outstanding graduate student. “She has already been accepted to a M.A. program faculty for her decision to declare a major in Anthropology, in addition to another in English. It was in publishing at Emerson College,” Hewamanne this combination of passions that distinguished her said. In many ways, Kessinger’s accomplishments from other students. Sandya Hewamanne, profes- in Anthropology have prepared her for publishing. “Her honors thesis also took on the publishing sor of anthropology and honors thesis mentor for Kessinger, said that reading her papers is what she industry and looked at how it targets certain books most enjoyed about having Kessinger as a student. for a particular demographic — such as tweens — and evidenced how such “They are wellefforts contribute to creatorganized, theoretiing identity positions such cally precise and wellas ‘twi-hards,’” Hewamanne argued,” Hewamanne Hometown: Smithfield, R.I. said. said. “But most of all Hewamanne also said that Extracurriculars: WFU Press Intern, they are written with the Director of the Emerson a passion and intensity Winston-Salem Rec League Soccer, M.A. Program personally that makes her arguAARF Volunteer emailed her to thank her ments come alive. She “for directing an excellent is an excellent writer.” Post-Grad Plans: M.A. program in and well-qualified student Beyond the classPublishing & Writing at Emerson like Lily to their program.” room, Kessinger also Similarly, Thacker said, “I used her strong writCollege have confidence that Lily ing skills and abilities will succeed in her graduate to analyze literature training. But most imporand form her honors tantly, I know that Lily will thesis, titled “Vampires, Werewolves, and Eternal Love: The Con- continue being a good participant-observer and anthropologist engaged with the world around her. struction of a Twihard Identity.” In her thesis, which Kessinger has been research- She will make a difference in the communities in ing and writing since last October, she uses ethno- which she lives and works.” Although Kessinger is entering the realm of pubgraphic data to explore how readers of the Twilight novels appropriate and synthesize values and ide- lishing post-college, she said that in the future, more als of the series, how readers integrate romance schooling in Anthropology is a strong possibility. “Anthropology drew my attention because it made and sexuality within their personal fantasies and intimate relationships and how Twilight reflects me think differently — it challenged me and inand influences self-image and participation in the spired me while also allowing me to explore my interests in things like mysticism, media influence, community. Although Kessinger’s thesis is based in cultural the wear on ancient pottery, and young adult novels,” Kessinger said “My best experiences at Wake anthropology, she has excelled in all subfields. “She has a genuine and deep intellectual curiosity have been in the Anthro Department.”
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Graduation Old Gold & Black
JULIA YOUNG | ART HISTORY By Molly Dutmers | Asst. life editor
Clare Stanton/Old Gold & Black
“I could never really make it [art], but I fell in love with being able to talk about it.”
worked as his research assistant this past year. She helped Lubin delve into a new area of study: Julia Young came to Wake Forest as a field modern Italian art. Lubin will be teaching a hockey recruit, but, she is leaving as a distin- course on this topic next year when he is the resident professor at Casa Artom in Venice next guished art historian. Young grew up playing field hockey and after year. Young will be joining Lubin in Venice playing in high school and in the Olympic De- next year. When Lubin saw Young’s passion for art hisvelopment Program, she was recruited to play goalie at Wake. However, a bad back injury tory while they were conducting their research, ended her career and she turned her interest he recommended her to a friend who is the director of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection from athletics to art. Young grew up in the Washington, D.C., and for an internship. This internship program is discovered her passion for art at a young age. very competitive and prestigious. “Julia applied for it and was selected,” LuShe was able to visit some of the country’s finest art museums like the National Gallery bin said. “And now she has a wonderful opof Art in D.C., and she fell in love with the portunity to spend the next six months of her life interacting with world of paintings famous works of and pictures. modern art in an unShe decided to Hometown: Washington, D.C. believable setting on major in art histhe Grand Canal!” tory when she took Extracurriculars: Varsity Field Young will leave for AP Art History her Venice shortly after senior year of high Hockey (2008-09) and “Weed Whackgraduation. school. “I could never ers” (Field hockey service initiative) During her time really make it [art], but as an intern, Young I fell in love with being Post-Grad Plans: Interning at the will be responsible able to talk about it,” for gallery tours, adYoung said. Peggy Guggenheim Collection in missions, and exhiDuring her time Venice, Italy bition preparations. at the university, she In addition to these was able to further texts, every intern at develop her passion the Guggenheim is refor art history. She particularly enjoyed her classes with Harry sponsible for a 45 minute seminar discussion on Titus, professor of Art History, and David Lu- the art-related topic of their choice. “I’ve been beginning to prepare my presentation, which bin, Charlotte C. Weber Professor of Art. Young was a student in Titus’ “Greek Art,” will be on Italian Futurism and the Machine “Romanesque Art,” and “History of Landscape Age,” Young said. Young is unsure of her plans after Venice. Architecture” classes. “Maybe I’ll be working at a gallery, or perhaps Young took Lubin’s seminar on the French avant-garde artist Marcel Duchamp last spring have found myself going back to school.” Young and since then, he has been her go-to professor. said. “I really am not sure!” However, she is very interested in having a She took his American visual arts class this past career in art advising. “I hope that in 10 years semester. “He’s been my mentor,” Young said. After taking the Duchamp seminar, she then I will be on the road to reaching that career contacted Lubin about researching art, and she goal,” Young said.
AMY LIANG | BIOLOGY By Julie Huggins | Asst. news editor
lish major, thinking that because she was planning to go to medical school, she should study She’s studied the link between homelessness something she would not encounter again in and diabetes, the effect of acute stressors in an academic setting. But after finishing the series Planet Earth in a relation to yawning in birds and the social representation of 19th century English prostitutes month, Liang was hooked on animal behavior. She had always been interested in biology, and in British literature. She’s filmed her own documentary on what found that she wanted to do field research to learn more about animal behavior. it’s like to be homeless in Winston-Salem. “We don’t get a lot of students that say ‘evoShe volunteers almost every weekend with Wake Saturdays, works with Campus Kitchen lutional biology is really interesting to me,’ and is a member of the Volunteer Service Corps. especially not with this student body, so that She can swing dance, ballroom dance and really stood out as special,” David Anderson, lindy hop. She can also drink six cups of coffee professor of biology, said. With the help of Anderson, Liang began to without feeling the effects. Saying she’s accomplished is an understate- study the connection between yawning and stressors in birds. ment. Over spring break, “Amy is an extraorLiang accompadinary humanitarnied an expedition ian,” Tom Phillips, Hometown: Kingsport, Tenn. of graduate students head of the Wake Forto the Galapagos Isest Scholars program, Extracurriculars: Ballroom Dance lands for her first ever said. “She’s a good Club and Volunteer Service Corps field research experirole model for all of ence. us, at any age. There “For me, being able are many people of Post-Grad Plans: Travel to Korea to to go to the Galapagood will, there are teach English to high school students gos was awesome.” many self-sacrificing as a Fulbright Scholar Liang said. “Seeing people here, but there the stars and seeing are very few I know the Milky Way was that do so to the level breathtaking. In of commitment that this one spot, evoshe has.” And yet Amy Liang, a biology major from Kingsport, Tenn., lution is completely in control; man has almost would say her proudest college accomplishment zero influence on what goes on there. It was was “being able to catch house sparrows. They really profound, and really awesome.” Next year, she will travel to South Korea to really like popcorn, which I discovered on my teach conversational English to high school own.” “The other things I’ve been proud of, I really students as a Fulbright Scholar. Over the course of four years, Liang has achave to give credit to other people. A lot of the things I’m proud of are things that made me complished more than most college seniors. step out of my comfort zone and that I needed When asked what she would do if she could help with. Luckily, a lot of the professors are so do it again, Liang responded, “I would take willing to help out. All I had to do was go to more literature classes. I don’t regret switching them with my crazy ideas, and they could either my major from English to Biology, but I really help or knew someone who could,” Liang said. wish I had taken more literature classes. “Well that, and learn to skateboard.” Liang started her college career as an Eng-
Demone Jackson/Old Gold & Black
“A lot of the things I’m proud of are things that made me step out of my comfort zone.”
Graduation Old Gold & Black
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JACKIE SWOYER|B.E.M. By Jenn Leser | Opinion editor
summer working for Frito Lay. She excelled so highly, in fact, that she was given a full-time When she first arrived at Wake Forest, Jackie job offer at the end of the summer, making her Swoyer from Cincinnati, Ohio, thought she senior year slightly less stressful. would end up on a liberal arts path, with a To anyone attempting to make that same focus on journalism. What happened instead, decision about business or liberal arts, Swoyer however, was entirely unexpected. has some advice for you. “Going into Wake, I thought I was going to “Anyone who’s debating business should look do something with journalism or communica- at the BEM program because you really can pull tions or economics and take the very liberal arts from any kind of department,” Swoyer said. approach,” Swoyer said. “It really brings what Wake Forest is all about One person Swoyer credits with helping her into one particular program.” with her decision was Lynn Zimmerman, the Swoyer’s involvement at Wake has included associate director for undergraduate student ser- Delta Zeta, where she served as PR and Acavices in the business school. Making that choice demics chair, as well as founding the Marketto attend the business ing club. Perhaps school, according to her favorite Wake Swoyer, wasn’t an experience was the easy one. Her high State Farm marketschool career had Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio ing competition. left her convinced “It was a marketing Extracurriculars: PR and Academthat she would end and sales competiup on the liberal arts tion but I ended up ics Chair of Delta Zeta, Marketing track, as BEM wasn’t going to the compeclub even an option when tition and winning she started Wake as a the whole thing as a Post-Grad Plans: Working for Frito freshman. junior,” Swoyer said. Lay After doing some “It really proves investigating, though, that you can’t let Swoyer found her anthose opportunities swer. pass you by. I think “The fall of my I won 6000 dollars sophomore year, I met with Lynn Zimmer- and all because I responded to that email, all man in the office at the business school and because I didn’t have anything to do that afterjust started asking her questions about it,” noon. I think if every student took the time to Swoyer said. try and go for one huge thing that they might “I said ‘I’m on the fence; I was taking account- usually pass by, that makes a huge difference.” ing but I was also taking a 200 level econ class It is clear that her four years here at Wake have so I was trying to compare the two of them.’ also made a difference on those around her. She started telling me about BEM, and I think “Jackie Swoyer is an amazing young woman it’s just the coolest major in the world.” that I have had the pleasure of knowing over As she started to consider the finance track the past four years,” Zimmerman said. after interning at Merrill Lynch for the summer “Her enthusiasm for learning, her willingness after sophomore year, as well as that fall semester, to help and mentor others, coupled with her Swoyer went back to thinking about her pas- positive disposition, are the characteristics that sion: marketing. From there, she obtained an I wish all students possessed. I will greatly miss internship with PepsiCo, where she spent last her presence in our school next fall.”
Jenn Paradise/Old Gold & Black
“B.E.M really brings what Wake Forest is all about into one particular program.”
ALEX ZEITANY|CHEMISTRY By Emily Burniston | Staff writer
Mary-Katherine Curvino/Old Gold & Black
“It’s hard to balance between what I want to do and what I need to do.”
something,” Zeitany said. So, she started the Young Adult Cancer Awareness Society (YAAlex Zeitany missed her sorority chapter meet- CAS), a group which focuses on raising funds ing. Looking ahead to her busy schedule in the and awareness for young adults with skin canfuture, Zeitany asked her cousin for advice on cer.Despite her obvious contributions to the choosing a medical school. However, being a Wake Forest community, friends say her most medical resident himself, he had a short window important one is her evident positivity. available to talk to her, which coincided with “While her academic record is nearly flawless, her meeting. what I feel makes her such a value to this com“My cousin said he only had time for a phone munity is her humility and personal attitude,” call at 6:00 my time,” Zeitany said. senior Seth Bernstein said. “It has been a joy But being busy will not be something new for spending time with Alex.” Zeitany when she gets to medical school. As a Throughout her college career, professors and Chemistry major with a minor in Biochemistry, fellow students continue to take notice of her she admitted her biggest challenge at Wake has hard work and interest in learning. been narrowing down the number of activities “Alex is on the ball, she is responsible and orgashe actually has time nized, quick to catch to do. on to new scientific “There are so many concepts, asks ingreat opportunities sightful questions Hometown: Denton, N.C. here,” Zeitany said. keeps up with the “It’s hard to balance material and grasps between what I want it at a deep level,” Activities: Chi Omega sorority, lung to do and what I need Angela King, chemcancer research, translator at the to do.” istry professor and Outside of the classZeitany’s major adCommunity Care Center room, Zeitany’s schedviser said. While she ule is packed and remains passionate includes work as a about science, she Post-Grad Plans: Medical school chemistry tutor, varhas impressed prosity cheerleading (she fessors with her acawas captain her junior demic performance year), Chi Omega soin all of her classes. rority, lung cancer research at the medical school “She was in many ways one of two or three and serving as a translator at the Community students who emerged as leaders in class disCare Center. Oh, and she also started and now cussion,” Ana Wahl, a sociology professor serves as the president of her very own cancer who taught Zeitany for a divisional class in awareness organization. her sophomore year, said. “My guess is that “She’s uncompromisingly dedicated to what- many of the students in that class still remember ever she commits herself to, but she never pre- those conversations and Alex’s role as a leader tends she can tackle more than that,” senior in discussion.” Jessie Ammons said. “Lucky for all of us, she Zeitany says she owes much of her success to can tackle a heck of a lot.” Wake Forest faculty and programs that encourOn top of all she was already doing, after in- aged her along the way. terning with an oncologist after her sophomore “I was very successful but a lot of that was year, Zeitany felt called to action against cancer. thanks to help I got,” she said. “So I guess I “I couldn’t know it was going on and not do would like to say a special thanks to them.”
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Old Gold & Black Graduation
NAOMI MAXA | CLASSICAL STUDIES By Ade Ilesanmi | Opinion editor
Photo courtesy of Naomi Maxa
“Naomi was a joy to have in class. She is an intelligent, conscientious student.”
with some of the faculty who taught her. James Powell of the Classical Studies department first Naomi Maxa, a Classical Studies major with taught Maxa during his Classical Epics course. “Naomi Maxa is a fine example of a student a minor in Linguistics, was born in Hyden, Ky. Her decision to attend Wake Forest was due, in who concentrated on Classics not to become part, to the fact that she wanted to be far away a professional classicist but to acquire a solid from her hometown of Lenox, Iowa, but mainly liberal arts education,” Powell said. “She has because she and her father attended a tour of brought an inquiring mind and an agreeable colleges and universities in North Carolina, measure of free-spiritedness to her work in the and after visiting Wake, the decision of where department.” Maxa gushed about another professor in the to apply and subsequently attend was not a Classical Studies department, Michael Sloan, difficult one to make. Maxa did not always want to major in Classical with whom she has taken two classes. Maxa’s Studies. In fact, she intended on majoring in enjoyment of his classes did not go unnoticed. “Naomi was a joy to have in class; she is an Health and Exercise Science until the fall of her sophomore year when she took a Classics class. intelligent, conscientious student whose inclass contributions “I took the class enhanced the learnbecause I knew a lot ing experience for of people who were all,” Sloan said. “I taking it at the time, am confident that and I ended up really Hometown: Lenox, Iowa Naomi is well preliking it,” Maxa said. pared to engage and To Maxa, one of positively impact the Extracurriculars: Classics Honor the most interesting world that awaits her. aspects of her major Society, Phi Mu and Intervarsity Her cheerful disposiis how she has been tion and inquiring able to combine the Minor: Linguistics mind will be particuknowledge she gained larly missed.” from it with what While Maxa is she learned from her a member of the Linguistics minor. Classics Honor She possesses a deep Society, her work appreciation for the poeticism of translations and for the different on campus has not been limited to Classical interpretations that can be made of classical Studies. She is also a member of Phi Mu and texts. She is also fascinated by the contrast be- Intervarsity, and she works in the Registrar’s tween how current scholars view classical my- Office of the law school. “I realized how much everything was up to thology and how it was viewed by the ancient me in terms of whether and how I wanted to classics themselves. “I think it is so interesting how we just look at enjoy my experience here,” Maxa said. “I also mythology as cool stories, but the ancients legiti- wish I had not taken my lighter semester for mately based their systems of values and morals granted.” Some of Maxa’s greatest memories on these myths,” Maxa said. “The Classical gods from her time at Wake include running through were not particularly moral figures, so one can the sprinklers on the Mag Quad at 2:00 a.m., only wonder how moral the people were.” Part living on the Phi Mu halls, going to friends’ of what has contributed to Maxa’s enjoyment homes during short breaks and meeting their of her scholastic endeavors is her relationship families.
JESSIE AMMONS | COMMUNICATION edition of Wake Student was really special to her. “It was so cool to have a tangible product to leave Senior Jessie Ammons is a charismatic North a lasting impression at Wake,” Ammons said. One of Ammons’ professors, Justin Catanoso Carolinian who has really made the most of her four years at Wake. Ammons is a Communica- said that she has a great capacity for attention tion major with double minors in Journalism to detail. “Jessie is clearly passionate about editing and and Entrepreneurship. She is from Wake Forest, N.C. and applied to putting out the work to produce good stories,” four of the most prominent schools in North Catanoso said. In addition, Ammons studied abroad through Carolina as a senior in high school. Ammons wanted to stay close to home and spent a lot Boston University in London during the fall of of time under the large magnolia trees of the her junior year. Ammons said this was a fantastic experience old campus in Wake Forest. “I know that sounds so cheesy, but seriously, and was a good way to see the world “outside Wake just felt familiar, welcoming and right,” of the Wake bubble.” “Going abroad is less stressful than being at Ammons said. She said she also really liked Wake and is a nice the idea of being at breathe of fresh air a private school that to rejuvenate you, would encourage but it made coming relationships unlike home so wonderful,” Hometown: Wake Forest, N.C. any she had ever exAmmons said. “I apperienced at her large, preciated everything public high school. Extracurriculars: Wake Student Ediabout Wake when I Once she was settled torial Board, Chi Omega got back.” into this “beautiful As far as post-grad campus,” Ammons plans go, Ammons decided to major in Post-Grad Plans: Interning for plans to intern for Communication beCharleston Magazine Charleston Magacause it was the only zine this summer in department she loved Charleston, S.C. academically. She beShe feels confident lieves that communithat this will turn cation is the driving into a job opportunity for the fall. force behind our society today. “Charleston is a town with a soul and I’m “I was going to major in English but it just seemed so dusty — I didn’t see the connection all about vibes and souls,” Ammons said. “It has character, ambience and a pretty thriving to the rest of my life,” Ammons said. Ammons said that “Mass Communication publishing industry.” Unlike many of her journalism peers, Ammons Media” and “Linguistics” were her favorite classes at the university. She has valued the did not want to go to New York — she is truly opportunity to take so many different classes a Southern girl at heart. Ammons is truly passionate about this univerin different areas of study. Beyond the Communication department, sity and said she has never been so challenged, Ammons has been involved with Wake Stu- encouraged and inspired as she has in the past dent and Chi Omega sorority during her time four years here. “I have come into my own here, and I think at the university. “Wake Student was my baby,” Ammons said. She explained that the final print I will forever love Wake for that.”
By Hilary Burns | Life editor
Photo courtesy of Jessie Ammons
“Jessie is clearly passionate about editing and putting out the work to produce good stories.”
Graduation Old Gold & Black
Thursday, May 3, 2012 Page 9
RICK FREEDMAN | COMPUTER SCIENCE By Ann Bauer | Staff writer
puter code. Freedman hopes to test whether a computer can learn to “use intelligence rather When asking Rick Freedman about his cur- than a formula and actually understand the rent projects, one does not expect the breath- code” in order to fix these errors. “Rick is basically asking, can machines underless, passionate outpouring of ideas, concepts and ventures. This year alone, Freedman has stand language? Those are unanswered quesbeen working on two honors theses, for both tions. And we need young students like Rick to look into this,” Torgersen said. Computer Science and Mathematics. Freedman has also been working with WilThis has not stopped him from taking on other projects, including developing his own liam Turkett, professor of Computer Science, programming language for beginning computer to reprogram the “iRobot Create,” a small robot science students, serving as the president of similar to the Roomba. Freedman says they the math club, and captaining the university’s created a new interface for the Create. “Dr. Turkett and I are working on developing computer science programming team. “There’s just too many things to enjoy out there to limit a simple programming language for introductory computer science courses,” Freedman said. myself to one area,” Freedman said. “The students can “He is always exhave a more handscited about incoron experience by porating things he learning about has learned in other Hometown: Winston-Salem, N.C. programming concourses to the work cepts and seeing the being done,” Daniel Extracurriculars: President of Math results in the physical Cañas, professor of Club, Captain of Computer Science world.” Computer Science, Programming Team Turkett agreed. “It said. is our hope that we Of these many Post-Grad Plans: Pursuing a Ph.D can design the sysprojects, Freedman tem so students in singles out the field of in Computer Science with a focus on the introduction artificial intelligence Artificial Intelligence course could work (AI) as a particular with the robots, interest. even with little to “You can take AI no background in and combine it with other fields in Computer Science and Math- Computer Science or programming,” Turkett ematics and create synergistic reactions,” Freed- said. Freedman’s final major project this year inman said. “AI is used everywhere.” His Computer Science thesis project focuses volves working with Sriraam Natarajan at the on AI, in particular the ability of computers to medical school on Statistical Relational Learnlearn new information and gain understanding, ing. Freedman would advise new students with a field termed “machine learning techniques.” an interest in Computer Science that it’s not “Rick is absolutely fearless in wading into in- just about programming, but about language sanely difficult projects,” Todd Torgersen, his and systems. Next year, Freedman will begin thesis adviser, said. work towards a Ph.D in Computer Science, For his project, Freedman theorized that ma- focusing on artificial intelligence. chine learning techniques could be applied to “I can grow old and retire knowing the world problems with compilers, computer programs is in good hands with conscientious students which translate programming language to com- like Rick,” Torgersen said.
Mary Catherine Curvino/Old Gold & Black
“Rick is absolutely fearless in wading into insanely difficult projects.”
JAMES CHURCHILL | E. ASIAN LANGUAGES By Meenu Krishnan | Editor-in-chief
Photo courtesy of James Churchill
“[He is] the only undergraduate linguist ... who dove bravely into [an] alien setting.”
“James was fearless even as a freshman, when I taught him,” Billy Hamilton, professor of RusJames Churchill, who graduated in December, sian and Linguistics, said. “He distinguished never really considered Wake Forest a serious op- himself from all others by becoming the only tion when he was applying to colleges. Luckily, undergraduate linguist I know of who dove though, Churchill decided stop by Winston- bravely and totally into a completely alien setSalem on the way from one college to another. ting. There are many definitions of bravery. “I decided to stop by and I immediately fell This definition, the one James matches, is my in love with the campus,” Churchill said. After favorite.” meeting professors in the Chinese and linguistics Apart from his impressive studies in languages departments as well as sitting in on some classes, and linguistics, Churchill was also a member of Churchill was attracted to the close-knit nature the club gymnastics team, Reformed Univerof the academic community. sity Fellowship (RUF) and the Chinese Culture “I really connected with the professors, who Club. exhibited a far deeper interest in their stuIn addition, he was an R.A. in Taylor Hall. dents than I had witnessed at other colleges,” “My most memorable out-of-class experiences Churchill said. “I think it was this latter facet of were Taylor R.A. Staff bonding times,” Churchill Wake that ultimately persuaded me to go here.” said. “They were like my second family.” For most students, East Asian Languages Yaohua Shi, associate professor of East Asian would likely be seen as an extremely chal- Languages and Cultures, praises Churchill’s lenging and even “laser-like focus and unlikely major. dedication.” For Churchill, “James came to Wake however, lanForest with a clear interguages — both est in foreign languages Languages known: Chinese, ancient and modand linguistics, and he ern — have been a Arabic, French and Japanese never wavered,” Shi said. longstanding love. “I can’t think of anyone When Churchill more deserving of this Post-Grad Plans: Pursuing an M.A. first arrived on honor. James’ motivacampus, he origiin Linguistics at the University of tion level and seriousnally intended to Georgia ness of purpose was pursue a major in unsurpassed.” Latin. Churchill was offered “But somea scholarship to pursue time within the an M.A. in Linguistics at following year I the University of Georsuppose I decided I wanted to try my hand at a modern language, gia, and he plans to start there in Fall 2012. “Wake taught me the importance of relaand Chinese seemed to fit the bill,” Churchill said. “In short, the simplest and truest expla- tionships, and that our relationships form the nation I can give for my choosing a major in framework wherein we apply our specific skill Chinese is that God in his good Providence sets and talents,” Churchill said. decided I should major in Chinese.” “So often we pursue our interests with only Churchill, however, has not only been lim- me in mind, when in fact our knowledge, skills, ited to Chinese. He has also enrolled in Arabic, and careers mean nothing if we fail to share French and Japanese classes. them and use them with other people.”
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Old Gold & Black Graduation
KAYLA SHIPLEY | ECONOMICS By Matt Poppe | Executive sports editor
Madeline Baker/Old Gold & Black
“Kayla’s the type of student who makes my job as a professor so rewarding.”
said. She is now the CEO of the fund and puts a great deal of time into the program. Shipley also Kayla Shipley of Westminster, Md., knew com- involves herself in multiple community service ing into Wake Forest that she wanted to study eco- programs including being the co-coordinator of nomics. As a rising senior in high school, Shipley SPARC, a pre-orientation program. Shipley was was one of 30 seniors from around the country grateful for the leadership skills that she was able to obtain from being a part of the program. selected by the BB&T Economics Institute. “This year, being a senior and getting to know “That really secured my interest in economics,” Shipley said. “I think unlike most people, a lot of those new freshmen and just having the I knew coming into Wake Forest that I wanted benefit to kind of touch their lives and know that they will grow to be successful leaders was to become an econ major.” Shipley’s academic interests go beyond just eco- a really cool experience,” Shipley said. Shipley points to a moment in her senior year nomics, however. She is also a Music Performance as one that stands out academically. Shipley, along major at the university. The senior is involved in multiple ensembles on with three other seniors, a junior and a faculty campus as a clarinet player. In addition, she is a adviser started a group sponsored by a division of BB&T in which they Presidential Scholar studied major historiin Music and percal papers related to formed her senior economics. They were honors recital just Hometown: Westminster, Md. then able to meet for a month ago. dinners to discuss and Shipley, however, Extracurriculars: Music debate the papers. was eager to combine “It was really cool in both of her interests Performance and Wake Forest that it really wrapped in her senior honors Student Fund up all of the things you thesis. She used the have learned in your opportunity to comPost-Grad Plans: Bank of America classes,” Shipley said. bine her two majors in Global Risk Analyst Program, Ph.D. “It’s great to be with in an interdisciplinin economics other intelligent, ecoary study in which nomic-minded indishe studied the viduals. It was a super effects of primary nerdy experience, but and secondary muit was a lot of fun too.” sic education funding on symphony attendance After she graduates in May, Shipley plans to in metropolitan areas. “It’s been really rewarding to tie in both of spend the next two years at Bank of America in those aspects and look at cultural economics, their Global Risk Analyst Program. She also looks to continue her passion for ecowhich isn’t necessarily something I would take a class on and not something that I intend to nomics as she plants to attend graduate school specialize in graduate school, but really just a and receive a Ph.D. in economics. “Kayla possesses the rare combination of hardfun opportunity,” Shipley said. Shipley is very involved on campus as well. In working toughness, inexhaustible energy, intellecthe past two years, she has initiated the Wake tual ability, and creativity,” John Dalton, assistant Forest Student Fund, a student-run mutual fund. professor of Economics, said. “Getting to know “It started as a way to have econ majors more her during her time at Wake Forest has been pure integrated in the business world, but we later joy. She’s the type of student who makes my job opened it up to business majors as well,” Shipley as a professor so rewarding.”
REBECCA KOZA | EDUCATION By Nia Lesesne | Staff writer
going to class and dance team practice. Nevertheless, she managed to balance her dual lives as Meet Rebecca Koza: teacher by day, student a teacher and a student, and did so well in her and a member of the dance team by night. capacity as a student teacher that she won the Although, four years ago she did not imagine Jerry A. Hall Award for Excellence in Student that she would be doing what she is doing now. Teaching. In addition to this exhausting yet rewarding “I was originally not going to go to Wake Forest, and then I walked on the campus for experience, Koza has also worked closely with campus day and it just felt right,”Koza said. Michelle Klosterman in an independent study “So I chose to come here on my gut feeling and course. In this course, Koza and Klosterman are working with the Amazon Aid Foundaluckily that has worked out for me.” After beginning her freshman year, one activ- tion, a non-profit organization that seeks to ity that Koza was instantly drawn to and has raise awareness about conservation issues in the continued throughout her four years here has Amazon rainforest, and Courtney Elementary, been dancing on the dance team. “My favorite a rural school in Yadkin County, to design and memory is definitely the first time I got to dance teach inquiry-based elementary science lessons around an Amazon at the football game,” theme and using Koza said. “It was just the resources proincredible and a lot of vided by AAF. those girls ended up Independent Study: Working with “Becky is naturally becoming my best the Amazon Aid Foundation and creative and motivatfriends for the next ed and seeks opporCourtney Elementary four years.” tunities to grow and Unlike her unwavExtracurriculars: Dance team develop her skills deering commitment spite her busy schedto dance, Koza disPost-Grad Plans: Elementary school ule,” Klosterman said. covered her passion “She is well beyond teacher, Masters and Ph.D. in educafor education later her years in terms of in her college career. tion, professorship level of responsibilShe originally came to ity and thoughtfulWake Forest thinking ness so I think she that she was going be a would be a great Communication mateacher and an asset at any school.” jor and go into broadcast journalism. Looking back on her time at Wake Forest, Koza But during her sophomore year, she took “Intro to Education” to fulfill one of her divisional is grateful for her experience because without requirements, and she was immediately drawn it she would not have realized her passion for education and had the encouragement and supto the subject material. “I remember thinking, ‘why am I not in this!’ port of professors pushing her to be the best I just immediately became so passionate about possible teacher. Now, thanks to her experience in the education it, and I’ve never looked back,” Koza said. Two years later, Koza had the opportunity to department, Koza dreams of first becoming a use the strengths and talents as well as mentor third, fourth or fifth grade teacher and using others through her student teaching experience. arts integration to teach different subjects. Later she wants to get her Ph.D. and Master’s In this experience, she was a student teacher for fifth grade gifted students as well as a third degree in education and become a professor, grade science enrichment class in addition to just like the ones that influenced her.
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Koza
“I just immediately became so passionate about it, and I’ve never looked back.”
Thursday, May 3, 2012 Page 11
Graduation Old Gold & Black
EMILY HERSHMAN | ENGLISH By Hilary Burns | Life editor
“Among the students I have taught in the last 10 years, she is easily among the best and Emily Hershman is a senior from Leesburg, I have had many good students here at Wake.” Va., who is certainly passionate about her EngShe said that Wake Forest has taught her to lish major. She kept up her family’s tradition of work extremely hard and accomplish amazacademic excellence and attended her parents’ ing feats such as completing a senior thesis on alma mater. Irish playwright Samuel Beckett and on theorist Hershman has spent her entire life reading, but Theodor Adorno. she fell in love with the English department after “I spent a lot of Saturday mornings in the taking two poetry classes her sophomore year. library,” Hershman laughed. “I already knew English was something I was Hershman also has double minors in Women very interested in, and [these classes] allowed me and Gender Studies and History. She said it was to develop a groundwork for literary analysis,” really interesting to combine these fields because Hershman said. it gave her an interdisciplinary perspective. Hershman values the faculty in the English “My focus was primarily literary,” she said. department and feels her writing has improved Hershman will be heading to the University tremendously over the of Notre Dame after past few years because receiving a fellowof their help. ship in the English “If you are willing to department. She work really hard and will also enter Notre Hometown: Leesburg, Va. work with your proDame’s doctoral fessors to write great program to study Minors: Women and Gender Studies papers, then I have 20th century British and History found that they will and Irish literature. meet you half way,” Hershman plans to Post-Grad Plans: Pursuing a Ph.D Hershman said. be in an academic Hershman said that position or even an at the University of Notre Dame while she was home administrator for a over Christmas break, university someday . she was working on Hershman said her senior thesis and her advice to incame across a paper coming first years she wrote her senior year of high school on a would be to hang in there. similar topic. “The transition to college can be really dif“The improvement was incredible,” Hersh- ficult but once you find what you really want man said. “There was a profound difference in to decide what you want to study, it gets a lot my writing, and I really think it is because of better.” my professors here at Wake.” Holdridge said that Emily is an excellent stuOne of Hershman’s English professors, Jef- dent of English and will be a fine scholar in any ferson Holdridge, said her warm personality field she chooses. “softened the most formidable aspects of her “Time will tell where her heart and ambitions intellect.” lie,” Holdridge said. “Her ability to take a complicated idea preHershman said she is so grateful to have been sented in class and to return with four such ideas able to participate in her family tradition of moments later was enough to drop my jaw and attending Wake Forest and looks forward to the jaws of other students,” Holdridge said. her bright, literary future.
Howard Graves/Old Gold & Black
“Time will tell where her heart and ambitions lie.”
ALEX POMPEY | FINANCE By Jenn Leser | Opinion editor
Clare Stanton/Old Gold & Black
“It’s good to work early, but it’s important to enjoy yourself.”
“Getting to know the guys overall, making extremely good friends, being in a leadership Some people come to college having abso- position year after year and then finally being lutely no idea what they want to do with the president definitely equipped me very well rest of their lives, let alone what to major in. for working a very high-stress, competitive But senior finance major Alex Pompey from industry,” Pompey said. In addition to serving as president of his Scranton, Penn., could best be described as fraternity, Pompey was also president of the the exception to that rule. “I actually decided senior year of high school finance club, a mentor for freshman boys, a [to be a finance major],” Pompey said. “I was member of the club golf and an R.A. for two in my kitchen and my dad told me what Gold- years. A finance schedule alone is challenging man Sachs was and it’s been my goal to work enough, but with all of the extracurricular acthere ever since I was 17.” tivities he took part Getting on the fiin, he still found a nance track, which way to manage his included his favortime. ite class and “the “I did the reverse only class worth Hometown: Scranton, Penn. [of the typical stutaking at Wake,” dent],” Pompey Extracurricular Activities: Qualitative Analysis, said. Pompey made sure to Lambda Chi Alpha, Finance Club, “For the first get as many outside Resident Adviser two years I studexperiences as posied, studied, studsible to supplement Post-Grad Plans: Working at ied and sacrificed his classroom learnGoldman Sachs a lot of the social ing. experiences in “Starting junior Wake which was a year, I flew up to huge mistake. I got New York and what I wanted, but spent 12-14 days there in the fall semester, literally knocking I could have done both. The next two years I on doors to get in and meet as many people have done zero in work since I already had a job and it didn’t matter. That’s been the best as possible,” Pompey said. “I was able to go on the trading floors of 13 part. It’s good to work early, but it’s important or 14 of the largest banks in the world and I to enjoy yourself.” Pompey decided to take advantage of his was able to do that through the Wake alumni network and through family contacts. That’s remaining days of the “carefree college envihow I got my resume and my face in front ronment” before the working world began, of people. It was more than showing what and after graduating early, spent the last four months backpacking through Australia and I know, but about how badly I wanted it.” But Pompey did a lot more on campus New Zealand, Southeast Asia and Europe. As he sets off to start work at Goldman Sachs, than just take finance classes and intern for prestigious firms like Ernst and Young and his dream job, Pompey knows that it was his experiences at Wake, as well as those in the Morgan Stanley. His most valuable experience at Wake came finance industry through Wake connections, from his fraternity, Lambda Chi Alpha, of that helped make the past four years such a great journey. which he served as president for a year.
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Old Gold & Black Graduation
The WAKE BUCKET LIST How much have you done at Mother, So Dear? q Been in the tunnels q Had class outside in the sunshine q Seen Maya Angelou on campus q Ran from the A.L.E. q Been to the top of Wait Chapel q Gone on a late-night Subway run q Played in the sprinklers at 3 a.m. q Gone sledding on pit trays in the snow q Spent the night in the ZSR q Swung on one of the campus’ seven swings q Seized the Quad q Been on television at an athletic event q Had a good discussion over a pitcher of beer with a professor at Shorty’s q Gotten tired of Chick-fil-A q Studied abroad q Gone to Pledge Night q Danced to a song being played on the bells q Been featured in the Old Gold & Black q Shag danced at Shag on the Mag q Visited Old Campus q Had a party on your favorite campus roof q Gone to a Greek date function q Been prescribed magic mouthwash q Gone on a mountain or beach weekend q Collected a set of pit flatware q Had a long conversation with a shuttle driver q Maria from the Mag Room learned your name and hugged you
q Tailgated at a Demon Deacon game q Claimed your favorite study spot, and used it q Studied/sunned on the Upper Quad q Gotten an unreasonable parking ticket — or maybe 12, and been really mad about it q Climbed a magnolia tree q Been officer of a club q Eaten a Wake Forest waffle q Admired the school’s extensive art collection q Taken a service learning course q Eaten dinner at a professor’s house q Enjoyed a Pit Sit for hours on end q Had drinks on the Shorty’s patio q Had your hair cut by Dean Shore q Had your picture taken by Dean Shore q Gone to a SpringFest Concert q Gone to at least one game for every major sports team, and even some not major ones q Perfected your favorite omelette recipe q Listened to a WakeRadio show q Discovered the awesome Harry Potter Room in Tribble (you know what we mean) q Gone to aWake All Night q Done all the work on a group project q Watched WakeTV q Mastered the art of JSTOR research q Been delirious from a lack of sleep q Enjoyed your time at Wake Forest and looking forward to your future as an alumni!
Graduation Old Gold & Black
Thursday, May 3, 2012 Page 13
The W-S BUCKET LIST How much of the Dash have you discovered? q Visited the Reynolda House Museum q Had late night Waffle House q Done trivia at Foothills on Thursday q Taken a dip in Reynolds fountain q Had lunch at SimplyYummy q Been to a Dash game q Gone to Opera House on a Thursday night q Explored Bethabara park q Hiked at Chimney Rock q Gotten confused by the split in Hanes Mall q Been up Deacon Tower q Had dessert at Midtown Cafe q Seen a movie at a/perture q Been to Rock the Block downtown q Gone on a DADA gallery hop q Enjoyed a night at Last Resort q Been to a concert at Krankies q Gone to the Dixie Classic Fair in the fall q Seen an expensive movie at The Grand q Seen a $4.25 movie at Carmike q Played pool at Rec Billiards q Tried every flavor of Cook-Out milkshakes q Picked your favorite house on Stratford Road q Gone to the Miller Rhodes Art Center q Admired your peer’s work at START gallery q Seen the modern art at SECCA q Seen a show at the W-S School of the Arts q Gotten a ride home from the sketchy cab driver q Camped at Pilot Mountain q Taken an unnecessary carriage ride down Fourth Street at Chrismastime
q Wandered through Reynolda Gardens q Toured Old Salem q Shared chips and a pitcher at Putters q Seen the animals at the Asheboro Zoo q Hiked at Hanging Rock q Had a sandwich from Rose’s Deli q Shopped at a farmer’s market q Walked to Reynolda Village q Gone out in Greensboro q Appreciated the Avenue of the Arts q Had brunch at Noma q Seen a show at the Stevens Center q Been to an event at the Millennium Center q Danced at Club Odyssey q Had dinner with your parents at Village Tavern q Enjoyed the fall leaves at the Graylyn q Bowled at AMF q Seen the pirate ship (off of Robinhood Road) q Overpaid for a drink at Tate’s q Been on a freshman year outing to The Loop q Seen the Old Campus q Been to Winston-Salem State University or Salem College q Had ice cream at Kernel Kustard q Bought way too many unnecessary items from Target because everything is so cute there q Gotten hit by a dart at Rec’s Billiards q Been afraid of townies q Gotten a speeding ticket on University q Been terrified by the Business I-40 exit for Cherry Street
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SARAH SENTER | FRENCH By Jenn Leser | Opinion editor
Maggie Pyle/Old Gold & Black
“Study what interests you and that you enjoy.”
recently ran her first marathon earlier this semester. Although it may not seem like it, studyFor many students, following your heart and picking a liberal arts major ing French gave Senter the opportunity that doesn’t easily lend itself to a job is a to intern in a unique industry. “Last summer, I worked in D.C. with tough choice to consider. But for Sarah Senter, that decision was a nonprofit that does HIV education in the right one to make. Originally intend- Africa, because I’ve kind of toyed with the ing to get on the business school track, idea of doing the international nonprofit the senior from Browns Summit, N.C., route, hopefully using language skills,” who knew that “it was always Wake,” met Senter said. “That was really good. It was a really with Byron Wells, chair of the Romance Languages department to discuss whether interesting experience and I got to help French was worth pursuing as a major. translate some of their documents be“Dr. Wells is really great, and he’s al- cause they were trying to set up an office in Haiti.” ways been there Ta k i n g if I have questhose skills tions,” Senter with her, said. Senter plans “A lot of peoHometown: Browns Summit, N.C. to work with ple ask, ‘What the French are you going to Extracurriculars: French tutor, Phi government do with a French in the fall to major?’ and I asked Mu, Alpha Phi Omega teach Engthat. He was really Post-Grad Plans: Teaching English lish in Lille, good about tella city in ing me to ‘study in Lille, France northeastwhat you love, ern France, you’ll find a job to which she after.’” credits takAfter hearing ing a TSOL that, Senter has thrown herself fully into French, recently linguistics class as being a useful tool, finishing her honors thesis this past se- her favorite outside of the French classes. As she looks to the future, it is clear mester. But her devotion to the language hasn’t that choosing her passion over a major that seems to guarantee jobs was the right stopped there. In addition to studying abroad the sum- decision for Senter. Senter’s experience mer after her freshman year in France, she shows the liberal arts majors shouldn’t be has also been a French tutor for the office ignored if they are doing what they love. of Academic Advising for the past three Her advice for future students struggling years, which she points out as a great way with that tough decision about which to get paid to do what she loves. What direction to choose? “The job will work free time that she does have is spent being itself out,” Senter said. “Don’t just be a business major because an active member of Phi Mu sorority and Alpha Phi Omega, the service fraternity, you think it’s going to get you a job. Study as well as running half-marathons; she what interests you and that you enjoy.”
MICHELLE LANGE | GERMAN By McKenna Begin | Staff writer
said. “I fell in love with the language, the culture and the country.” At the university, Lange’s favorite courses After first taking German in middle school, Michelle Lange knew that she loved the lan- were German Business I and II, taught by Wigguage, but she didn’t know how to incorporate gers. Currently, she is enrolled in a seminar focusing on monsters in German literature it into her college experience. With the help of her professors and an in- with Tina Boyer, assistant professor of German. “It is fun to have the class with all German credible work ethic, Lange was able to find a perfect match: a double major in German majors because we have gotten to know each and Business & Enterprise Management with other well from having so many German classes together,” Lange said. a concentration in German business. Though Lange was originally looking to move Lange, a native of St. Louis, Mo., originally placed out of German and did not take it dur- to Germany, she found it difficult to enter the ing her freshman year. However, she quickly job market there. Therefore, she set her sights on German picked it back up after realizing how much companies in the United States. she missed it. Next year, Lange Heiko Wiggers, aswill be moving to sistant professor of Spartanburg, S.C., German, introduced Hometown: St. Louis, Mo. where she will be her to the option of working at BMW double majoring in Manufacturing in a BEM and German. Second Major: Business & Entertwo-year rotational “I think one of prise Management program. the most interest“I’m really excited ing things about Extracurriculars: Track, Kappa because I will use GerMichelle is that Kappa Gamma man to communicate she didn’t know with BMW Headshe would major in Post-Grad Plans: BMW Manufacquarters in Munich German when she turing Program in Spartanburg, S.C. and even around the started at Wake Forplant,” Lange said. est,” Wiggers said. “BMW also en“Her German was courages internaalready quite good when I met her, and by taking more courses, tional work experience, so it is likely I will she decided that German would be the right have the opportunity to work in Germany in the future.” major for her.” The German department is also proud of As a member of the track team and Kappa Kappa Gamma, Lange learned to manage her her new job. “I think it’s fantastic that she got a position time quickly. She soon found that although she had a considerable amount of work, she at BMW,” Wiggers said. “It will be very good for future German students who double major actually enjoyed what she was studying. Due to her interests, Lange decided to study in business and German, since we now have abroad in the summer and attended the Goethe a contact.” Ultimately, Lange has found her unique maInstitut in Göttingen. “It was unique because the students come jor combination to be a perfect fit. “I’ve always been passionate about German,” from all over the world so the language that everyone has in common is German,” Lange she said. “I’m so happy I made that decision.”
Clare Stanton/Old Gold & Black
“I fell in love with the language, the culture and the country.”
Graduation Old Gold & Black
Thursday, May 3, 2012 Page 15
COURTNEY WHICKER | HES By Ty Kraniak | Asst. sports editor
Over the past few years, Whicker noteed her close connection with faculty. In particular, For Health and Exercise major Courtney Whicker fed her personal relationships with Whicker, graduating from Wake Forest rep- both Shannon Mihalko and Gary Miller of the resents a bittersweet accomplishment in her HES department. Whicker sought refuge in her faculty and even life. The Lexington, N.C., native applied as an Early Decision applicant just four years ago attended an intellectual conference with a few and notes that Wake held a lot of importance of her professors. She notes that professors, even though they in her life for the past few years. However, she is looking forward to being may be tough, are really quite comedic and are finished with the heavy workload and having fun to be around. “I went on a conference with my professors a break from structured classes. Outside of excelling in the classroom, Whicker this past spring and got to see them in a social is a member of Kappa Delta sorority and also setting, which was a lot of fun,” Whicker said. served as the President of the Allied Health “Just spending time with professors outside a Student Association and the Student Health class like going on a big trip with them was one of my favorite Advisory Committee. activities. They’re She was also a memall hilarious.” ber of the Young When asked as to Adult Cancer AwareHometown: Lexington, N.C. how Whicker wants ness society. to be remembered, “I’ve done a bunch Extracurriculars: President of Althe senior said, “I of things on campus, lied Health Student Association, want to be rememand I’ve enjoyed them President of Student Health Commitbered as someone who all,” Whicker said. was very hardworkOne of the great tee, Kappa Delta Sorority ing, yet enjoyable to Wake traditions that be around.” Whicker will miss is Post-Grad Plans: Perform clinical As a triathlon Shag on the Mag. She research in the field of bioethics athlete and a high has fond memories of achieving student going each year with at Wake Forest, her KD sorority sisthere is no questers. Her friends and the relationships she formed tioning Whicker’s work ethic. “I have worked with Courtney on several while at Wake are among the things that she will miss most while being away from Mother fronts the past few years,” Miller, HES professor, said. so dear. “She is an extremely involved and hardwork“Socially, I really liked Shag on the Mag and hanging out with a lot of my friends in my soror- ing student. She is the model student for what ity. I will definitely miss them a lot next year,” is good about Wake Forest.” Following graduation, Whicker plans on Whicker said. “I have 10 really close friends that are all scattering. Some of them are staying engaging in clinical research in the field of around here and others are going very far away.” bioethics. She is also considering pursuing a Whicker related the importance of the loca- Master’s degree in exercise science at a school tion of Wake Forest. She has always desired to located in the state of North Carolina. After be close to her home and visit her old stomping all, for Whicker, there’s nothing like being close to home. grounds quite frequently.
Kirsten Hutton/Old Gold & Black
“She is the model student for what is good about Wake Forest.”
HANNAH BERKOWITZ | HISTORY By Ian Rutledge | News editor
Kirsten Hutton/Old Gold & Black
“Hannah is an outstanding history major and exceptional young woman.”
and I so value what I’ve learned from them.” Berkowitz said. Her professors have valued Hannah’s presence For Hannah Berkowitz, graduating from in their classes as well. “Hannah is an outstandWake Forest represents a close to an enjoyable and successful undergraduate experience. Grad- ing history major and an exceptional young uating a year in advance, this history major and woman,” Michele Gillespie, Kahle Associate native of Pittsburgh, Penn., has learned much Professor of History, said. “She is one of the from her time at Wake and looks forward to an most capable, self-directed and independentexciting future outside the university. Neverthe- thinking students I have ever taught.” Outside of the classroom, Berkowitz has been less, Berkowitz did express how much she will involved in several campus organizations. She miss being a student at Wake. “It sounds crazy now because it seemed so has served as a member of Hillel (the Jewish miserable at the time, but I’ll really miss the student association), Phi Alpha Theta (the Hisnights I spent staying up with my friends till 4 tory honor society) and volunteering at a local a.m. doing a strange combination of studying, Hispanic community center. Looking forward, Berkowitz will be workschmoozing and eating junk food,” Berkowitz ing for Teach for said. America in New Starting as most York City next freshmen do, Berkowyear. There she will itz began her college Hometown: Pittsburgh, Penn. teach first grade to career unsure of what children in underto major in. However, Extracurriculars: Hillel, Phi Alpha privileged commushe quickly found her Theta, volunteering at a local Hisnities. passion in the history “Teach for Amerpanic community center department. “After takica is very fortunate ing Dr. Rupp’s course on Post-Grad Plans: Working for Teach to have her, and her the History of European future students are Jewry, I realized that I for America teaching first grade in especially lucky,” had found my real New York City Gillespie said. academic passion,” Hannah will be exBerkowitz said. ceptional at whatShe excelled within ever she sets out to in a wide variety of classes in the department and was able to quickly do,” Gillespie said. Although Berkowitz is excited to head on to able to form a number of close relationships with new experiences she will miss her friends and the professors within the department. “The history department is full of really won- time here at Wake. “One of the best things derful professors, and I’ve been lucky enough to about college has been having friends around become close with a number of them,” Berkow- all the time with whom to share everything,” itz said. “Dr. Rupp, Dr. Caron and Dr. Gillespie Berkowitz said. Her professors are excited about the prospects have stood out in particular for me, because their classes have been really critical in how I her future holds as well. “Hannah is a deepthinking, sharply analytical scholar who writes think about history.” Berkowitz found these relationships with pro- and speaks with clarity and acuity. Having her fessors to be extremely valuable and beneficial. in class was a delight,” Gillespie said. “I can “I’ve loved being able to spend time with them, imagine her linking academia and social justice both in academic and more personal settings, all throughout what will be an exciting career.”
Page 16 Thursday, May 3, 2012
Old Gold & Black Graduation
ANQI ZOU | MATHEMATICAL BUSINESS By Meenu Krishnan | Editor-in-chief
Clare Stanton/Old Gold & Black
“I have no doubt that she’ll make significant, valuable contributions to her field in the years to come.”
of these three incredible individuals,” Zou said. “Anqi found her passion at the intersection of Anqi Zou had a longer trip to campus than business analytics, computer science, and the life sciences,” Bridges said. “Given her combinamost Wake Forest students. Originally from Beijing, China, Zou came to tion of intelligence, enthusiasm and dedication, the university for its unique liberal arts educa- I have no doubt that she’ll make significant, valuable contributions to her field in the years tion. “To me, it was quite experimental to pursue an to come.” For Zou, her daily interactions with undergraduate degree at a liberal arts institute professors have been her most memorable academic experiences. here,” Zou said. “I am very impressed by how much the fac“At that time it didn’t have any international students from mainland China and the ulty members care about individual students’ interests and concerns,” constantly-rising Zou said. ranking added Cho highlights Zou’s mysteriousness to hard work, ethic and this school.” Hometown: Beijing, China determination, and emAs a double maphasizes that her double jor in Mathematimajor provides her difExtracurriculars: Alpha Kappa Psi, cal Business and ferent perspective from Computer Science, Research in Computer Science her peers.“I believe that Zou has been able to her strongest quality is merge science, techPost-Grad Plans: Pursuing master’s her ability to create her nology and business own path based on her together. degree in Comp. Sci. and Engineering intellectual curiosities,” “I have always with specialization in HPC Cho said. “Even after liked math and fulfilling the requirequantitative analments of both majors, ysis, and I would she decided to take adlike to know how to use math and science to optimize business ditional upper division computer science and physics courses for fun.” initiatives,” Zou said. Zou’s work with Cho’s research group on an In addition to her academic studies, Zou has been a member of the Alpha Kappa Psi profes- interdisciplinary project was competitively selected to be presented at the world’s leading sional business fraternity for three years. “Through AKPsi, I met intelligent and pas- computer science conference in the field. “I cannot wait to hear what she does next,” Cho sionate peers, experienced and influential professionals, and caring and genuine mentors,” said. After graduation, Zou will be pursuing her master’s degree in Computational Science and Zou said. Through her combination of computer sci- Engineering with a specialization in High Perences and analytics, Zou is uniquely poised to formance Computing (HPC) at Georgia Tech. “I want to learn more about cutting-edge make a impact on the business world. Zou cites Samuel Cho, assistant professor of technologies and explore how to apply them Physics and Computer Science, Sheri Bridges, to real-world problem solving,” Zou said. “Wake associate professor in the Schools of Business, has taught me so much, including how to be a and Umit Akinc, her adviser, as key mentors part of a community, how to be a person with integrity, how to view the world from a global during her undergraduate career. “I would not be who I am today without any perspective, and much more.”
GEORGE STORY | MATHEMATICS theorem and prove it,” Story said. “It’s basically just a way to count these certain structures in For many students the mere mention of weighted voting systems.” Part of Story’s success derives from his intense Mathematics provokes groans, but for senior Mathematics major George Story, this field is curiosity and work ethic. “He enjoys thinking about his work, and that a deep and rewarding passion. Story entered the university as a freshman enthusiasm has only grown over the course of not entirely sure as to what he wanted to study. the year,” Jason Parsley, associate professor of Story started out in the Physics department, mathematics, said. “The other night, but soon found his he became fascinattrue passion. ed by something we “I originally took discussed last week Math 113, multiHometown: Apex, N.C. and stayed up all variable calculus, benight trying to prove cause it was required Extracurriculars: Orchestra, Jazz it.” for the Physics maStory is also deeply jor and I thought Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching committed to music. it would be useful,” Band He plays trombone Story said. “I had Dr. for numerous conCarmichael and I recert bands and enally enjoyed that class Post-Grad Plans: Become an sembles including much more than any actuary the orchestra, jazz class I had yet taken band, the wind enat Wake and it came semble and marcha lot easier to me so ing band. I changed my major.” “The band directors here, Dr. Bowen and Story has recently been pursuing research as Mr. Morgan, are great,” Story said. “It’s been part of his Honors thesis. The specific area of mathematics Story is a really nice break from math, to go play muanalyzing is Voter Theory which attempts to sic and they’ve really been growing the band understand how numerous types of voting sys- program a lot here.” After graduation Story plans on becoming tems work in a variety of applications. Story, in particular, is looking at one model an actuary, a person who calculates risk for insurance companies. of voting systems called weighted voting. Looking back on his college career, Story felt “For my senior thesis I am working on voting theory with Dr. Parsley and Dr. Mason,” that the university had helped him develop tremendously. Story said. “When I came into Wake Forest I had no Their research examines the underlying processes of weighted voting, which occurs when a idea what I wanted to do and I really wasn’t certain number of voters have different weights, as developed as a person,” Story said. Story claimed to be more closed-minded much like when stockholders vote on a motion when he first came into college, as many stuin a company. Although most undergraduate research in dents are, because he had his own views that mathematics is not expected to develop new had not been challenged yet. “I had Dr. Whitaker for religion in Intro to ideas, Story has developed a new concept for Buddhism and he was one of those professors this theory. “During this research, I was able to find a new who made me rethink a lot of things,” Story said.
By Daniel Schwindt | Asst. news editor
Photo courtesy of George Story
“He enjoys thinking about his work, and that enthusiasm has only grown over the course of the year.”
Graduation Old Gold & Black
Thursday, May 3, 2012 Page 17
RYAN STEVENS | MATHEMATICAL ECONOMICS By Meenu Krishnan | Editor-in-chief
pression alongside Robert Whaples, professor of economics. “Spending the first session last summer delvHailing from Plano, Texas, Ryan Stevens heard ing into the Great Depression with Professor about Wake Forest through word-of-mouth. “I went to a relatively small Catholic high Whaples was really rewarding,” Stevens said. school that really prided itself on its student “He has a limitless resource of historical insights teacher relationships and small class sizes, so it and was very good at pointing me down the seemed a natural choice for me,” Stevens said. path of successful historical investigation.” Besides his extensive work in the field of eco“Furthermore, I had a few very influential teachers, who had either gone to Wake or heard nomics, Stevens also served as an economics good things and really shepherded me to make tutor and worked in the lab of John Petrocelli, assistant professor of psychology, during his it my choice.” Stevens became interested in economics dur- time at Wake Forest. “Ryan’s ambition and interest are truly uning the height of the financial crisis in 2008. “I began avidly reading blogs and academic ar- paralleled with respect to any undergraduate ticles published on the subject, and determined student I’ve met,” Petrocelli said. “He is not only a thinker and it was a subject area I a talker, he is a doer. would like studying,” I am confident that Stevens said. Ryan’s willingness Stevens studied Hometown: Plano, Texas to sacrifice the time mathematics during and effort to contribhis high school caExtracurriculars: Tutoring and lab ute to science and his reer and decided to work passion for ideas will combine it with his take him far.” interest in economPost-Grad Plans: Studying econoAfter graduation, ics when he arrived metrics and mathematical economStevens will be atat Wake Forest. tending the London “Not really explorics at the London School of EconomSchool of Economing the subject area ics ics. while in college, I “Ryan is perhaps decided adding maththe most well-read ematics to the degree undergraduate stucouldn’t hurt,” Stevens dent I’ve ever met,” Petrocelli said. “He goes said. Stevens cites Frederick Chen, associate profes- above and beyond, and he sets his own stansor of economics, as one of his mentors during dards.” At the London School of Economics, he plans his undergraduate years. “Ryan is intellectually mature and very well- on completing a Master’s degree in Econometread,” Chen said. “Talking to him about be- rics and Mathematical Economics. “Wake has shown me the supply of opportunihavioral economics is like talking to a graduate student or another professor. For the most part, ties is higher than one would expect,” Stevens I view him more as a collaborator than as a said. “However, one must really work to find those student.” “Ryan knows how to learn,” Chen added. opportunities. While many times life’s successes are the result of random chance, the role of “He loves learning for its own sake. One of Steven’s most memorable and worth- hard work, dedication and drive should never while experiences was researching the Great De- be discounted.”
Photo courtesy of Ryan Stevens
“The role of hard work, dedication and drive should never be discounted.”
JACOB EICHHORN| MUSIC By Daniel Schwindt | Asst. news editor
Photo courtesy of Jacob Eichhorn
“I just remember from a very early age being in love with classical music.”
“It was the culmination of everything that I’ve been doing for the past four years and it For senior Jacob Eichhorn, music is not just a went really well,” Eichhorn said of the recital. major, but a passion that weaves itself into the “I was really nervous during the first movement of the first piece. I’ve never been that nervous pattern of his life. Through his passion for music, Eichhorn has in my life, but once I made it through that first become one of the premiere musicians at the movement, I got comfortable and was able to enjoy it.” university. Not only is Eichhorn a phenomenal performer, At a young age, Eichhorn fell in love with music and took up the clarinet, which is his primary but he also excels in musical composition. Eichhorn has even written composition for public instrument though he also plays saxophone. “I just remember from a very early age being performances by university ensembles, a rarity in love with classical music,” Eichhorn said. “My for an undergraduate student. “We have few dad would say that there was one Mozart piece student composers whose works are performed while they are still a student here,” Carter said. I would play over and over again.” With support from his parents and his band Eichhorn, who is a Music and English double major, also incorinstructor, Eichhorn porates his love for began developing his writing into his comown unique style. positions. When he arrived “My friend had a at the university as a Hometown: Greensboro, N.C. double bass recital freshman, however, and he asked me to Eichhorn was unsure Extracurriculars: Music compose a piece for of what direction he composition his recital,” Eichhorn should take. said. “I used a poem “I think musically I Post-Grad Plans: Applying to by Walt Whitman as came to Wake not really an inspiration and graduate school after a gap year knowing what I wanted a starting point. I to do,” Eichhorn said, wanted to explore “and music was a great what Walt Whitman outlet to have somedoes in the poem and thing that I love so recreate it, in a way, much that it doesn’t musically.” Eichhorn’s love for music has caused seem like it’s a class.” Since this revelation, Eichhorn has delved him to immerse himself in the medium. “Some intensely into the art of performance while at students see music as very goal oriented,” Young said. “With Jacob, I see him immerse himself the university. “He is in such demand as a performer and an in the emotional side of music.” After graduation, Eichhorn plans on taking integral part of the ensembles here,” Stewart a gap year and then wishes to apply to graduCarter, head of the music department, said. On April 13, Eichhorn also performed in the ate school for the 2013 term where he hopes to continue his musical studies. “There are so Presidential Scholars Honors Recital. “All the practice and work he put into the many opportunities available to him, and that’s recital really turned on his performance. It was partly because of his superior work ethic,” Young one of the best student recitals we have ever said. “He’s somebody we all envision making heard,” Eileen Young, clarinet and saxophone strides in music, as either a performer, teacher or composer.” instructor, said.
Page 18 Thursday, May 3, 2012
Old Gold & Black Graduation
AMELIA ZAKOUR | PHILOSOPHY By Renee Slawsky | Print managing editor
Clare Stanton/Old Gold & Black
“I thought of philosophers as bearded old men in tweed.”
me. As someone who has struggled with depression, I know how much state of mind matters. Philosophy is often thought of as one of the “It ends up being intimately related to phimost elusive areas of study. losophy as well.” But for Amelia Zakour, philosophy has been Zakour likes to express her eye for aesthetics a vital part of her college career. through her personal style blog, “Sweet DisposiHailing from Fairfax Station, Va., the soon- tion” on Blogspot. to-be-graduate has shown exemplary ability in Outside of studying philosophy, Zakour enjoys philosophizing. all things Harry Potter. In addition to her philosophy major, Zakour “I’m a huge Harry Potter dork,” Zakour said. will also be graduating with minors in psychol- “They are my go-to summer books. ogy and studio art. “I actually wrote my personal statement for “[Philosophy] really fell into my lap,” Zakour college application, including Wake, on Harry said. “Before coming Potter.” to Wake, I hadn’t any During her time at exposure to philosothe university, Zakphy. Fall of freshman our said her favorite Hometown: Fairfax Station, Va. year, I took Professor memories are “those Miller’s intro course lazy weekends when and fell in love with the sun is shining, Minors: Studio Art and Psychology the discipline. I would the campus smells find myself thinking like freshly cut grass, about the material all the and the biggest dePost-Grad Plans: Teaching English time outside of class and cision you have to wanting to learn more.” make is wheter to go in Spain Zakour named modto Wolfie’s or Brynn’s.” ern thinkers such as Upon graduation, Phillipa Foot and Zakour plans on Susan Wolf as her teaching English in favorites, though she Spain this fall. also reveres the ancients. When asked what she sees herself doing in 10 She is thankful for all of the professors she has years, she responded, “It’s really impossible to say. had in the philosophy department. I could never have imagined that these past four After having her mother pass away unexpect- years would unfold as they did, but I’m excited edly, Zakour said, “I received so much support to see what’s next.” and empathy from faculty and friends. My profes“Before taking philosophy, I thought of philososors were beyond understanding, some gave me phers as bearded old men in tweed blazers who their cell phone numbers or offered their own smoke pipes in their private libraries,” Zakour personal stories.” said. Regarding her seemingly incompatible minors, “While there definitely are those types, what Zakour said, “I’m trying to keep as many pos- I love about philosophy is its capability to be sibilities open as I can. Art has always been a pragmatic and applicable in a very real way. passion of mine. “It seeks to address questions about who we “I have been drawing as long as I can remember are, why we are here, how we should be living and even before that. Psychology piqued my in- our lives, and these are the questions we want to terest in high school and it continues to fascinate answer at the end of the day or the end of a life.”
CLAIRE MCLELLAN | PHYSICS By Ken Meyer | Online managing editor
For that creativity and enthusiasm, McLellan has been awarded several scholarships and fellowships. At Wake Forest, she received the Carswell-Mullen Could California’s Silicon Valley one day be called Scholarship during her junior year, an award given to Organic Valley? That question has largely guided Claire McLellan upperclassmen who demonstrated outstanding achievement during their first years at the university. through her physics career at Wake Forest. She was awarded the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship McLellan came to Wake Forest four years ago certain for her undergraduate research and won the National of her future as a Physics major. Once she jumped into physics professor Oana Jur- Science Foundation Fellowship in March 2012. These scholarships made McLellan more competitive schescu’s organic electronics research group, that decias she applied for graduate programs across the country. sion was only solidified. McLellan will be attending the University of CaliThe study of organic electronics examines new avenues fornia at Santa Barbara as for building electronic devices a Broida Fellow. She will out of organic materials, and continue her study of orthis search has driven McLelganic electronics there as she lan’s study of physics. Hometown: Winchester, Va. pursues a Ph.D. The material silicon has Looking back over her time traditionally been used in Minors: Math and Chemistry at Wake Forest, McLellan electronic devices because it remembered the friendships is among the best semiconducExtracurriculars: Interned with the she made with students and tors of electricity for computGovernment Accountability Office professors. ers, but it requires extremely “I was always hyper-fohigh temperatures to melt Post-Grad Plans: Organic Electroncused, but I learned to pridown into circuit boards. oritize and make time for ics Ph.D. study at UC-Santa Barbara McLellan explained the great social organizations search for a different organic at Wake,” McLellan said. material to use in these elecMcLellan served this year tronics with a simple analogy. as president of the Society “Why use a jet plane when of Physics Students. There she helped bring the organiyou could use a bicycle?” McLellan said. Organics though not as strong semiconductors meet zation together for social events including a mountain many of the needs we have for our electronics and weekend retreat. McLellan joined the Wesley group, the campus’s are much easier to use in fabrication requiring lower United Methodist Campus Ministry. temperatures. “Wesley was always very supportive and open, a place During her time in Jurschescu’s research group, McLellan has coauthored two journal articles on organic elec- where you could always really talk with your peers,” McLellan said. tronics. McLellan even offered advice for incoming freshShe has given presentations at important international scientific meetings. These meetings include the Plastic men and underclassmen on how to get to know your Electronics conference in Dresden, Germany and the professors. “Did you know that you could actually take your American Physical Society March Meeting in Dallas, professors to lunch? I’ve never had a professor turn Texas. Jurschescu described McLellan ’s passion for this re- me down when I asked. The Pit will even pay for it!” McLellan went on to encourage students to look for search. “Mentoring Claire was a rewarding and enriching these avenues to try new things at Wake. “Try something experience,” Jurschescu said. “Her maturity, creativity, new,” McLellan said. “Become diverse. Embrace all the dedication and enthusiasm in research are remarkable.” different cultures at Wake Forest.”
Madeline Baker/Old Gold & Black
“Try something new. Become diverse.”
Graduation Old Gold & Black
Thursday, May 3, 2012 Page 19
BROOKE GILMORE|POLITICAL SCIENCE By Meenu Krishnan | Editor-in-chief
commitment to service, both on campus and in the Winston-Salem community. “Brooke is one of those students who is not Hailing from Belmont, N.C., Brooke Gilmore came to Wake Forest for its perfect balance always the first to speak, but really thinks about what she wants to say first and has a commandbetween small size and ample resources. “I knew I was looking for a small school, and ing presence when she does,” Browers said. In the spring of 2011, Gilmore’s interest in that community aspect of the university was Spanish led her to study abroad in Salamanca, really important to me,” Gilmore said. Gilmore cites her interest in people as a key which she refers to as a transformative experifactor in deciding to major in political science. ence. “It was a really liberating experience, one of “I love studying government and its interactions with people,” Gilmore said. “It’s always the first times I was literally by myself,” Gilmore said. “I think I learned a lot about the kind of been interesting to me.” Gilmore’s interests in public education, multi- person I am, and I met some amazing people while abroad whom culturalism and raI might not have met cial politics led her otherwise.” to original research Hometown: Belmont, N.C. Apart from her during both the commendable acasummers and acaSenior Thesis: “The Structure of demic performance, demic semesters. Inequality in America: How Do PovGilmore has served During the sumas the senior co-chair erty, Violence, and Poor Health Care mer 2010, she conof PREPARE’s execuducted research Affect School Performance” tive board, the student alongside Cathmanager of the Benson erine Harnois, asPost-Grad Plans: M.A. in Copy Center and the sistant professor of Management program at the univertour coordinator of the Sociology, on mulsity Schools of Business Gospel Choir, which tiracial feminism. travelled to New York “Dr. Harnois City and Philadelphia emailed me asking over spring break. if I was interested “Brooke’s maturity is unmatched, and she is in doing research. The topic was something completely foreign to me,” Gilmore said. “The very self-aware,” Alta Mauro, Director of the faculty has been really accessible and supportive Office of Multicultural Affairs, said. “When Brooke establishes a goal, she charts of my interests.” Gilmore recently completed her senior thesis, a course and sticks to it. Her future is exceptitled “The Structure of Inequality in America: tionally bright.” Gilmore was awarded a Corporate FellowHow Do Poverty, Violence, and Poor Health Care Affect School Performance.” For Gilmore, ship to attend the one-year M.A. in Managethis was a highly rewarding academic experience, ment program at the Schools of Business after graduation. as it was wholly self-directed. “Wake forces you into situations where you “When I turned it in, I had that feeling that I’d done something, that I’d really accomplished have to perform,” Gilmore said. “The rigor of it pushes yourself to be the best you can be. something,” Gilmore said. Michaelle Browers, associate professor of Situations are going to be stressful, but you political science, highlights not only her out- know at the end of the day that you’re going standing academic performance but also her to get through.”
Meenu Krishnan/Old Gold & Black
“Wake Forest forces you into situations where you have to perform.”
| |PSYCHOLOGY MEAGHAN GARTNER By Nia Lesesne | Staff writer
Photo courtesy of Meaghan Gartner
“I became really interested in how people think and why they do the things they do.”
around the fact that there are so many different diagnoses,” Gartner said. “It also gives you a Meet Meaghan Gartner, a psychology major perspective on how difficult a mental illness with a minor in anthropology from New Jersey. is on someone.” When Gartner first stepped onto Wake ForIn addition, Gartner has faced the challenge of est’s campus she immediately got a good feeling preparing for and presenting her honors project about the environment and wanted to attend. on counterfactual thinking before the entire Four years later, on the verge of graduation psychology department. she believes that this decision has paid off. As This honors project, an experiment titled a freshman, she was nervous but extremely ex- “No Pain No Gain: Negative Affect, Anticicited about college life and the new academic pated Learning, and the role of Perceptions challenges she was about to face. of Counterfactual Thinking” deals with how “I was preparing for [moving in] mentally but people mentally simulate alternatives to reality it’s something you can’t really prepare for, and and lay their beliefs on the consequences of just have to experience,” Gartner said. counterfactual thinking. Amidst the chaos of freshman year, one thing One of her faculty mentors on the project, stayed constant in John Petrocelli, said, Gartner’s life: her “We ran the study love of psychology. twice and had some “I took AP psycholHonor Project: “No Pain No Gain: encouraging results ogy in high school, the first trial, and Negative Affect, Anticipated Learning, and I became really then we tweaked it and the role of Perceptions of Counterinterested in how a little bit and now factual Thinking” people think and why I believe we actuthey do the things they ally have something do, so I always knew worth publishing.” Minor: Anthropology it was something I Petrocelli said he wanted to pursue appreciated working Post-Grad Plans: Human Capital Anfurther in college,” with Gartner on this Gartner said. project. “She persealyst for Deloitte in Washington, D.C. Her experience veres, she’s persistent with her grandparand has her own inents, one who sufdependent thought,” fered from Parkinson’s and another who suffered Petrocelli said. “It’s well thought out and she from Alzheimer’s, drew her further to the field can think deeply about multiple psychologiof psychology. cal concepts at once, so she was really great to However, her minor in Anthropology came work with.” unexpectedly. Now facing graduation Gartner already has a “I took an introductory course in Anthropol- job lined up in Washington, D.C., with Deloitte ogy and found the subject material to be really as a human capital analyst. interesting,” Gartner said. After all of her success and challenges at Wake Once Gartner declared a major in psychology, Forest, Gartner has the following advice for she took many different classes in different fields those considering a Psychology major. but one class has stood out to her as her most “Go for it! If you have an interest in psychology challenging: abnormal psychology. and want to pursue it, definitely reach out to “This sub-field of psychology is really de- professors and get involved with what they’re tail oriented, and it’s hard to wrap your head doing if you think it is interesting,” Gartner said.
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Graduation Old Gold & Black
MICHELE FERRIS | RELIGION zones, “take a religion class and see how it affects you in ways you never thought about.” As a self-described “non-traditional student” Ferris truly enjoys learning from a different Michele Ferris is certainly not your average angle, her main interest being American religious history of the 19th century. Wake Forest senior. She finds that the tales of immigrants enterAfter starting out with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at a rather large public ing America during that time period to be university years ago, Ferris decided that she fascinating. Each person copes with change differently in regards to faith, and that is where was not truly living her life’s passion. Engineering was simply too restricting for she draws her own inspiration. “She examines fascinating topics in religious her lively spirit, and she craved the liberty of some sort of self-expression. She went on to studies — body modification, early Mormonhomeschool her beloved daughter, who will Chinese relations in Utah, the theater in John be attending Wellesley this fall, for close to Calvin’s Geneva — in complicated ways, and 10 years until realizing her true calling was has written an honors thesis on an oft forgotten and misunderstood 19th century Jewish to teach as a proutopian commufessor. nity,” Neal said. Two years ago, “However, more she decided to Hometown: Winston-Salem, N.C. than this, Michele come back to has greatly enriched school to pursue Former schooling: Started a bachthe classes of which a path toward a she has been a part, Ph.D in Religion. elor’s degree in electrical engineerand enhanced the “Michele exhibits ing department as a passion for studywhole.” ing religion and a Post-Grad Plans: Attend graduate Coming back to commitment to school at the University of Chicago school at a small excellence that for a Ph.D. in Religion private university inspires,”Ferris’ has been a challenge trusted advisor, for Ferris, but one Lynn Neal, said. handled with grace. Ferris defiShe carries herself nitely inspires. With her sheer excitement for all that the with composure and still manages to enter department of Religion has to offer, she is a an encounter with a welcoming smile. Ferris’ thirst for success will take her to a refreshingly bright woman with fervor for all variety of places. that the human mind has to offer. In the fall, she will be attending graduate “I love being able to think about what my thoughts on a topic are and what I really en- school at the University of Chicago to pursue joy is to hear what everyone else is interested a Ph.D. She will continue on to pay forward the gift in,” Ferris said. “That intellectual exchange of knowledge as a professor, perhaps maybe is what I love.” Ferris continued on to praise the study of even one day returning to Wake. Ferris inspires hope to all who aspire greatreligion, finding it to be connected to such a variety of concentrations in the academic ness no matter what the age, “Do what you world. She constantly makes it a point to en- want to do now, you have time... be brave courage others to step outside of their comfort and pursue something you love.”
By Elaheh Ziglari | Staff writer
Clare Stanton/Old Gold & Black
“Do what you want to do now, you have time... be brave and pursue something you love.”
CHARLIE COUSAR | RUSSIAN thing that you just don’t see very often. With Charlie it’s not just about the language. He Russian is not for everyone. For many, it is has really thrown himself into learning about the language of vodka and matrushka dolls, the culture.” Cousar spent a year abroad in Russia, staying Soviets and cosmonauts. However, for soonto-be-graduate Charlie Cousar, Russian is in St. Petersburg for two semesters and doing infinitely more than that. It all started when an internship at CityBank in Moscow, where Cousar, a Jacksonville, Fla., native, met William he had a multitude of enjoyable experiences. “Charlie really seems to want to know what Hamilton, Russian and linguistics professor. “I had him for Intro to Linguistics freshman the Russians know, and that excites me because year and thought he was hilarious,” Cousar said. it means he’s wants to take that extra step, see “He is definitely one of the more brilliant what’s around the next corner. I like his sense people at Wake Forest. I’ve always been fas- of adventure.” His favorite memory from Moscow is when he cinated by cultures and world affairs but, in this case, I just wanted to be in another one coached a Russian lacrosse team there. Cousar also shared some of his other favorite expeof Hamilton’s classes.” riences while he Something more has been at Wake than just Hamilton’s Forest, including exciting nature and the time he was teaching ability must Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla. playing night golf have been present for behind the Miller Cousar to continue Other activities: Reading books Center and subsehis education in Rusabout history, traveling, playing laquently commansian language, culture crosse, member of Sigma Nu fraterdeered a golf cart. and literature. When asked if Regarding his fanity there was anything vorite part of studyhe wanted reading Russian, Cousar Post-Grad Plans: Traveling to St. ers to know about said, “There is never Petersburg for graduate school him, Cousar ana dull moment in class swered, “I don’t with Shaw or Hamenjoy answering ilton. They’re always questions about enthusiastic and they find ways to make it fun and interesting for us.” myself. It’s like going to see the dentist.” However, he did hint the he enjoyed activities Both Shaw and Hamilton had equally kind like travelling, reading books about history, words for their student. “Charlie has employed the ‘whole person’ playing lacrosse, being a member of Sigma Nu approach to learning Russian,” Hamilton said. fraternity, watching Martin Scorsese films and “After being fed the basics here as a sophomore eating Chipotle. After graduation, Cousar plans on spending in our first year sequence, he disappeared into Russia on study abroad for one entire year. He one last summer at home in Jacksonville, Fla., hadn’t planned to stay that long, but he ‘caught and then heading back to St. Petersburg for the bug’ and thus set a new WFU Olympic a year-long business and language graduate record on ‘most sustained learning in the native school program. In 10 years, Cousar sees himself working for Russian environment’.” “Charlie is a real go-getter,” Shaw, professor a Western corporation “in Russia somewhere, of Russian, said. “That kind of hustle is some- or maybe an NGO in Washington, D.C.”
By Renee Slawsky | Print managing editor
Clare Stanton/Old Gold & Black
“Charlie has employed the ‘whole person’ approach to learning Russian.”
Graduation Old Gold & Black
Thursday, May 3, 2012 Page 21
MICHAEL ROBINSON | SOCIOLOGY By Charlie Frankel | Staff writer
wanted to major in Sociology. Robinson was interested in the class because he found it very Living in Charlotte, Michael Robinson had easy to relate to many of the topics, as well always been a Demon Deacon fan so coming to as Wahl herself, as she turned down medical visit and feeling the positivity from the students school opportunities to pursue a career in the on campus were all that he needed to convince Sociology department instead. Wahl describes Robinson as “super smart and him that this was the school for him. Sociology, Chemistry and Spanish seemingly a really good guy. He has an incredibly broad have very little in common, except for the fact and diverse network of friends, which I think that all three interest Robinson. Robinson has reflects his willingness to invest in relationships.” been able to integrate his interests through She also noted, “he is cool without trying to various classes and activities, as he is a Sociol- be — most recently, he has been wearing a pair ogy major and Chemistry and Spanish double of Buddy Holly-esque glasses that further lend minor, all while remaining on the rigorous pre- him that hipness he unassumingly possesses.” Outside of the classroom, Robinson also has med track. Saylor Breckenridge, professor of sociology, been able to give back to both the Wake Forest and Winstonsummarizes RobinSalem community. son’s ability to inteHe has worked grate his interests with with First Year in his academics .“His Hometown: Charlotte, N.C. Focus, a group deinterest in medicine signed to help young and public health Extracurriculars: CHARGE, First freshmen males adhas meshed very well Year Focus, volunteering as a Spanish just to campus life, with the WFU sociolinterpreter and he volunteers ogy department and regularly as a Spanish he has excelled at inPost-Grad Plans: Working as a interpreter at a comcorporating these incorps member for City Year in Seattle, munity care clinic. terests into his work, medical school in 2013 A d d i t i o n a l l y, including his Honors he works with project which examCHARGE (formerines linkages between ly LEAD), which race and the timing helps to develop and manner in which freshmen and sophomores’ leadership skills. health care is accessed,” Breckenridge said. Robinson will miss the camaraderie with felFor example, Robinson interned with the Red Cross when he studied abroad in Salamanca, low students that he has developed over the Spain. He has taken classes such as “Sociology past four years. He said, “Wake is a small enough school that of Aging,” where issues like health care for the elderly, the social costs of Alzheimer’s Disease you’re never in a new place, but big enough that for family members and more tie into the So- you’re always making new friends.” Robinson will spend the next year working ciology and pre-med crossover. Robinson knew all along that he wanted to as a corps member for City Year in Seattle, a eventually go to medical school, but he also city which he did research in during the sumwanted to take advantage of his liberal arts mer of his junior year and wanted to return education. During his freshman year, he took to eventually. He will apply to enter medical “Social Problems” with Ana Wahl, professor schools in 2013 with the goal of eventually of sociology, and immediately knew that he working as a physician.
Clare Stanton/Old Gold & Black
“He has an incredibly broad and diverse network of friends. He is cool without trying to be.”
CHELSEA PRIVETTE | SPANISH By Amber Burton | Asst. life editor
Photo courtesy of Chelsea Privette
“Many times the most challenging things are the most rewarding. ”
She would see her primary teacher and suddenly be motivated to push forward and succeed in The lights dim as Chelsea Privette stands in her goal of becoming fluent. Now, years later, Privette has become prothe middle of the stage. She is performing a praise dance for a room full of prospective and ficient and tutors in the Romance Language fellow university students. Her audience does department. “Her Spanish is good, pronuncianot know that she is perhaps one of the most tion and proficiency is at the highest level of successful and proficient Spanish majors at the all the majors,” Gonzalez said, when recalling the reason for choosing her as a tutor for the university. “Quiet and unassuming” is the description department. Gonzalez is not the only professor who admirgiven by her longtime professor Luis Gonzalez. She is the co-chaplain of the university’s gospel ers Privette’s consistent performance. “I’ve been choir and holds leadership within the univer- impressed with her general intellectual curiossity’s new singing group, Intimate Praise, all ity, particularly as it pertains to learning about while working a job, an internship and writing Spanish language and culture,” Irma Alarcón, an honors thesis. Despite her busy schedule, “she professor of linguistics, said. “I’m sure I speak doesn’t miss class,” one of her most recognized for many of her other professors when I say I’ll miss seeing Chelsea on campus.” traits according to Gonzalez. Some of her most Privette humbly esteemed work is an smiles when asked extended research to highlight her paper she recently acaccomplishments. Hometown: Durham, N.C. complished. “In the “When I came in research paper she [to the university], I Extracurriculars: Co-Chaplain of wrote, she was able to was on the 300 level,” University Gospel Choir, Intimate discuss different [conPrivette said. Praise singing group troversial] points… all The thought of in Spanish,” Gonzalez arriving to college said. Such an assignwith the ability to Post-Grad Plans: Pursue a career ment is often chalimmediately take as a bilingual speech therapist lenging for students advanced language to execute in their classes is daunting own native language, to students, since yet alone in another. these classes are Privette looks forward usually filled with to presenting her research paper in the fall at a upperclassmen or native speakers. Privette attributed her strong background and Foreign Language Association of North Carofoundation in the Spanish language to a love of lina (FLANC) conference in the fall. “She is language at an early age. Privette received a lot of the first to do so by herself,” Gonzalez shared. support from a middle school Spanish teacher. Presenting at FLANC is a task done alongside a “She was an older lady from Puerto Rico, and professor. After receiving her certificate in Spanwhat I appreciated about her was that it was ish interpretation upon graduation, Privette not all about vocabulary and verb forms, but plans to move forward to acquire a career as also Puerto Rican culture,” Privette said with a bilingual speech therapist. “Many times the a smile. She remembers wanting to give up on most challenging things are the most rewardthe language in high school after thinking that ing. When you look back into the progress that she had reached her plateau of learning Spanish. you’ve made, you amaze yourself,” Privette said.
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Old Gold & Black Graduation
AMANDA BOWERS | STUDIO ART By Ian Rutledge | News editor
Clare Stanton/Old Gold & Black
“There is no other calling for me. I have been an artist my whole life.”
abled children), a Blood Drive volunteer, a Piedmont Earth Day Fair staff member, For Amanda Bowers, graduation is the a New and Transfer student advisor and closing of a series of exciting experiences a member of the Art NOW club. Bowers remarked that she will miss all and the beginning of a new life outside the unique opportunities that Wake Forthe safe realm of the university. This Haiku, HI native entered the uni- est has offered over the past several years. “My favorite Wake Forest memory is versity four years ago knowing the studio art department was where she would find being a featured artist on ESPN for the Wake Forest vs. Notre Dame Football her academic home. “There is no other calling for me. I have Game. It was something that ESPN has never really been an artdone before ist my whole so it was really life and am great that I was Hometown: Haiku, Maui, HI ready to be a able to incor‘professional’ Extracurriculars: START Gallery porate my art artist,” Bowwith sports,” ers said. Student Advisory Committee, Project Bowers said. Outside of Pumpkin, Student Union, H.O.P.E., “I was on the classroom, Art NOW club TV, I got to Bowers is inmeet the revolved in Post-Grad Plans: Ideally build her porters in the multiple onstadium box, own raft and go on adventures campus orand chill out ganizations. with the crew She is the PR in the ESPN and Markettrailer. Where ing Manager for the START Gallery Student Advi- else could I have done this? Such a cool sory Committee, a member of the Project experience.” Bowers has not yet fully decided what Pumpkin staff and a member of Student she plans to do following graduation. Union. “Ideally, build my own raft and go on She also works as a member of H.O.P.E. (a group that works with mentally dis- adventures,” Bowers said.
MACKENZIE FINNEGAN |THEATRE By Dean Guerra | Staff writer
The Anthony Aston Players has thrived under her presidency with other executive board Mackenzie Finnegan is a Theatre and Elemen- members saying, “Mackenzie is one of the best tary Education double major from Orlando, Fla. examples of a liberal arts education. She excels Mackenzie, or “Mack” as she is known around both in education, and in theatre… her adthe theatre, did not come to Wake Forest to vocacy for the arts has been so important and major in Theatre but was bitten by the drama inspirational since I’ve known her.” “What’s great about the theatre department is bug after auditioning for her first play. Ever since she has acted in numerous produc- that everyone realizes that all aspects of our lives tions here at Wake Forest includingThe Case of are interconnected,” Finnegan said. “Professors the Crushed Petunias, Good Neighbors, Sonnets in theatre relate our experiences to whatever for an Old Century, Smash, The Grapes of Wrath we’re working on. They encourage us to ask the big questions, delve into issues we aren’t sure and Emilie, to name a few. Sharon Andrews, associate professor of di- how to tackle and give us the tools we need to recting and acting, said of Finnegan, “Direct- figure it out.” “She is a terrific ing Mackenzie is like human being, a walking into a deep really gifted direccave. Sometimes only tor and actor, and she knows how to Hometown: Orlando, Fla. someone with an navigate the winding absolutely killer— tunnels. Extracurriculars: President of Anand very dry sense— “Twice I have had thony Aston Players, director, light of humor,” Cindy the pleasure of watchboard operator Gendrich, professor ing her find the gems of Theatre Arts, said. in the heart of charTheatre Shows: Emilie Du Chatelet, “I just hope she’ll acters who could not find a way to use Ma Joad, The Case of the Crushed Pebe more different, all her talents and Ma Joad and Emilie tunias, The Grapes of Wrath to keep spreading Du Chatelet. Both that Mackenzie times she emerged Finnegan warmth from the deep place and talent around where she works to portray complex and passionate women with the world.” For the future Finnegan says, “I plan to teach tremendous artistry and skill. And she always at the elementary level in Orlando and hope found the humor!” Finnegan has served in many other capaci- the school I teach in has a theater program I ties including director of Land of the Dead, can get involved with. Theater is one of the which she won an award for from the University greatest teaching tools there is. Directing and Theatre, as well as light board operator and set teaching lend themselves to each other in so builder for her own shows. She has served as many ways and I can’t wait to explore them an invaluable member of the Anthony Aston more in my own classroom and hopefully on Players (the theatre service organization at Wake the stage as well.” Clearly, Mack is loved throughout the theatre Forest) for the past two years, including this department and will be greatly missed. Howyear as president. Finnegan is one of those people you meet and ever, her legacy, her warmth, advocacy for the instantly like. She is laid back, yet a very hard theatre, strong talent and hard work in AAP will be here for years to come. worker with a tenacious attitude for success.
Clare Stanton/Old Gold & Black
“She is a terrific human being, a really gifted director and actor.”
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AMY GARDIN | WOMEN’S AND GENDER STUDIES By Daniel Schwindt | Asst. news editor
“As I went on and took more classes I learned that these weren’t issues that just pertained to The first day of classes for any freshman can me, but these were issues that pertained to the be nerve-wracking, but imagine if you were the world and I wanted to help tell people about only freshman in a class full of upperclassmen. some of these issues,” Gardin said. Amy Gardin found herself in exactly that Gardin has been true to her word, advancsituation just four years ago. ing the causes she cares about through service As a freshman, Gardin signed up for what and the arts. she thought was a regular English class. Little “I think Amy really embodies the principle did she know, however, that this class would of Pro Humanitate,” Mary DeShazer, professor set her on her journey as the first Women’s and of English and Women’s and Gender studies, Gender Studies major and a scholar. said. “She’s a believer in social justice and she’s “I didn’t know that what I’d signed up for was engaged in using the arts for consciousness raisa Women’s and Gender studies class,” Gardin ing and enhanced awareness of women’s issues.” said. “Once I got in I was, because I was the Gardin co-directed the Vagina Monologues only freshman, scared out of my mind, but this year and used street performances in the some of the books and Pit and around poetry, the works we campus to show read in that class really that little things have come to be some can build up over Hometown: Clemmons, N.C. of my favorite works a period of time to throughout my career become a rape. Extracurriculars: Co-director of the at Wake Forest.” Gardin has also Gardin did not deVagina Monologues, writer of LGBTQ helped to write and spair as many freshpublish a new style of literature man would likely children’s book that is have done. aimed towards LGPost-Grad Plans: Attending pubInstead, she found BTQ families, for lishing school at New York University herself enjoying the which she has won material, and she felt a Chambers Grant. a great deal of sup“We’re going to port from both her write more stories classmates and her and these books are professor. going to be customizable because we really think “[The class] really helped me to develop a that children in these LGBTQ families don’t sense of self in a classroom setting and to start have literature that applies to them,” Gardin to develop my own voice and my own opinion,” said. Gardin said. Gardin was also selected as one of the three Gardin has taken what she has learned in finalists for the senior orations delivered at the the classroom and used it to fight for what Founder’s Day Convocation. she cares about. Gardin plans to attend publishing school at “After I took that first class, I started to real- New York University over the summer, but her ize that I liked Women’s and Gender studies major life goal is not to make huge amounts because the issues that were being discussed of money. in the books really pertained to me and to my Rather, when asked what she is going to do own struggles and struggles that I knew of,” after graduation, Gardin, with a sly smile, reGardin said. sponds, “Live happily.”
Photo courtesy of Amy Gardin
“[The class] really helped me to develop a sense of self in a classroom setting.”
“ You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.” - Dr. Seuss