Newswise — Studying slug caterpillar ecology during her sophomore year earned Susannah Leahy the prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship that allowed her to track invasive lionfish off the North Carolina coast with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration researchers. Ms. Leahy will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in biology and will spend the summer at Dauphin Island Sea Lab in southern Alabama. In the fall, as a GW Dorothy M. and Maurice C. Shapiro Traveling Scholarship recipient, she will head across the globe to James Cook University in Townsville, Australia, where she will study the factors affecting damselfish survivorship and recruitment to the Great Barrier Reef. Outside of her studies, Ms. Leahy also has found time to train and run the Marine Corps Marathon, complete a scientific diver course, receive certification as a paraglider pilot and train for a sprint-distance triathlon.
Finding time to balance has been key for senior Collin Stevenson. As captain of GW's varsity cross country team, a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and a three-time trip leader for the Alternative Spring Break program to New Orleans for post-Katrina reconstruction, Mr. Stevenson possesses what he calls an "insatiable desire to improve himself." He inspires his fellow students to service, encouraging them to recognize the needs of Washington, D.C., in areas such as the environment, poverty, education, health and elderly issues. Through his work with LIFT-DC, he helps connect low-income and homeless individuals and families with social services. Stevenson will graduate with a bachelor's degree in international affairs. Mr. Stevenson has been named a GW Presidential Administrative Fellow, a two-year program that provides graduate students work experience within the University, as well as tuition and housing stipeds. He will pursue a Master of Arts in international affairs.
Undergraduate Naomi Rapp and graduate student Cosmin Florescu will address nearly 5,000 of their fellow graduates at GW's Commencement on the National Mall May 17. Ms. Rapp plans to address her classmates about "what is next." A biomedical engineering major, she championed the formation of Alpha Omega Epsilon—a female engineering sorority—to help break the gender stereotype in a male-dominated field. Following graduation, Ms. Rapp plans to travel and admits she is not actively job searching. Mr. Florescu was born in Romania and grew up in southern California. During his time at GW, he conducted a team research project in Mozambique and assisted with various development projects in Ethiopia. Mr. Florescu will graduate with a Master of Public Health degree in Global Health and a Master of Arts degree in International Development Studies. After graduating, he will attend a post-baccalaureate pre-med program and go on to medical school. He hopes to someday train physicians in developing countries in order to build local capacity and ensure a sustainable model of development. Through his Commencement address, he plans to send a positive and reassuring message to his fellow graduates who may be concerned about job prospects in this economy.
For the second year, GW is participating in the nationwide Green Graduation Pledge. More than 400 GW seniors have already signed up with more students expected to join throughout Commencement Week (more than double the pledges in 2008). By engaging in the Green Graduation Pledge, seniors promise to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job they consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organization for which they work. These seniors will wear green ribbons on their graduation gowns.
GW senior David Anderson knew he would face an uphill battle this year. Mr. Anderson, the 2009 Senior Class Gift coordinator was looking to improve on last year's class fundraising, when a record 25 percent of seniors donated to help raise more than $26,000 for the GW Spirit Fund. In April, the 2009 committee announced that fundraising had already eclipsed the 26 percent senior giving mark. By May, the Class of 2009 raised $55,355.86 from a record 29.6 percent of the class, and its chosen tagline, "We're Kind of a Big Deal," aptly fits.
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