Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø

Hometown: Valsayn, Trinidad and Tobago

Majors: Economics and Communication Studies (Intended)

Campus Involvements: Residential Assistant, Student Manager for Men's Basketball, Office Assistant for Men's Basketball, Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø Impact Fund, Sports Management Club, Athletic Communications Broadcast Assistant, Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø Consulting Group, Intramural Basketball Referee, Intramural Basketball

"My goal is to work in sports business and sports finance. I feel that Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø's small size, combined with the resources available to students, creates a unique environment where there is an abundance of opportunity for those who are passionate about their path. My professors have been incredibly supportive and have taken the time to engage with me not just as a student, but as someone with distinct goals and interests. Through experiences such as the consulting group and other opportunities on campus, I have been able to explore those interests in meaningful ways. For me, Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø is special because it provides the resources, mentorship, and community that allow students to pursue their own unique ambitions."

Hometown: Morganton, North Carolina

Major: English

Campus Involvements: Track & Field Team, Sports Editor of The Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍøian, English Tutor at Angels & Sparrows, Connor Eating House Member 

"I took my writing course Fall of my freshman year at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø, and in no way can I claim to have been a "stand-out student" or exceptionally memorable within this class. However, Fall of my sophomore year, over a year removed from my writing course, hurricane Helene hit my hometown located in Western North Carolina. This wonderful writing professor reached out to me having remembered my brief introduction at the beginning of the course where I shared that I was from the Western part of the state. She not only was checking in to know if my family and home were alright, but offered any extra help she could to assist whether it be power, water, or emotional support. This interaction, one of many alike, exists as an incredible encapsulation of the intentionality, care, support, and community that you will find at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø."

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Major: Political Science
Advising Track: Pre-Law

Campus Involvements: Student Body President, Union Board Co-Sponsorship Chair, Pre-Law Society, Orientation Team Mentor, Terry Fellow, Campus Tour Guide, College Crisis Initiative (C2i)

"Growing up just five miles from campus, I often hear people express surprise that I chose to attend Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø so close to home. But being immersed in the Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø community from an early age only strengthened my bond with the college and fueled my desire to be a part of this exceptional place. Many of my babysitters, neighbors, and teachers were Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø graduates, and from an early age, I saw firsthand what it meant to be a Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø student: the caliber of individuals who chose this school and the remarkable people it fosters. I have never encountered a community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni so deeply committed to one another, whether in the classroom, through extracurricular pursuits, in the professional world, or through our shared values, such as the Honor Code. I knew I wanted to be a part of this vibrant, supportive environment, where the community is built on genuine connections and a shared commitment to each other’s success."

Hometown: Manhassett, New York

Major: Political Science
Minor: Communication Studies

Campus Involvements: Club Golf Social Media Chair, Admission Tour Guide, Digital Learning Assistant with the Library, Data Collector for College Crisis Initiative (C2i), Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø Reads Volunteer, Rusk Eating House Member

"During my college search, I knew I wanted a small, liberal arts school with good academics and a welcoming community. Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø checked every box on my list for a perfect school, however, my older sister was at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø and I wasn't sure I wanted to go to the same college as her. My senior year of high school, I helped her move into her sophomore year dorm. I was able to meet many of her classmates and realized the standout group of people that came to Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø. Meeting such a welcoming community and getting a sort of 'behind the scenes' view of Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø from my older sister made me realize that it was truly a school where I could envision myself among the study body, and although I was hesitant about going to the same school as my sister, my love for Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø overpowered my nerves, and I couldn't have made a better choice!"

Hometown: Charleston, South Carolina

Majors: Educational Studies and Hispanic Studies

Campus Involvements: QuestBridge Scholars Network, Warner Hall Eating House, Summit Outpost Barista, Teaching Spanish in Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø Elementary School Volunteer, Information & Ticket Office Attendant, Student Initiative for Academic Diversity Committee, Spanish Apprentice Teacher, Union Board Concert Committee

Fluent In: Spanish

"Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø has genuinely become my home away from home after these short two years of my life. I have built and been surrounded by a community in which loves to see me thrive, grow, and be successful. Those that surround me consist of people that appreciate the work that I do and genuinely love to see me grow. It feels amazing to have a neighborhood or people that when you walk to class or a meeting, want to see you smile and like saying hello. For these and many other reasons, I am so grateful I chose Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø and continuing to grow my love and appreciation for it."

Hometown: Hartwell, Georgia 

Majors: Communication Studies and English
Pre-Advising Track: Pre-Law

Campus Involvements: QuestBridge Scholars Network, Rusk Eating House Executive Board Member, Student Union Information Desk and Ticket Office Attendant, Moot Court Treasurer, Union Board Concert Committee member

"I believe the phrase "let me know if you need anything" really encapsulates my experience thus far at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø. From my peers and friends to professors/staff members to alumni I meet, most everyone is always truly willing to lend a helping hand (and they aren't just offering to be nice, they really mean it and follow through!). Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø is a great community/"family" full of people willing and able to help out. Being a part of something where I have the opportunity to exchange help and collaborate with people who are so talented and passionate about the things they do is simply more than I could have ever asked for in terms of a college community and alumni base, especially since these are connections and skills that will follow through to my professional life and career as well!"

Hometown: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Majors: History and Communication Studies

Campus Involvements: Rusk Eating House, Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø Reads, Green Dot Ambassador, Student Government Elections Council, Pickleball Club

"When you arrive on campus as a freshman, you are assigned a Holistic Advisor. My advisor was a faculty member, and during our first in-person meeting just a few days into my time on campus, she immediately asked me: "Are you eating? Are you sleeping? Are you making friends?" This interaction showed me that professors and staff here care about students as whole people, not just for their academic achievements. While being away from home for the first time can be daunting, that conversation made me feel like I already had a strong support system at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø. It demonstrated early on how deep the connections in this community run and how genuine student-professor relationships are. My holistic advisor happened to be a history professor, and today, she is my major advisor!"

Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee

Majors: English and Africana Studies

Campus Involvements: Resident Life Office Resident Advisor, Patricia Cornwell Creative Writing Scholarship, Bonner Scholar, Posse Scholar, PUFF (Ultimate Club Frisbee), Black Student Coalition, Race and Campus History Tour Guide & Researcher, You Are Not A Stanger Here (YANASH), Queers & Allies (Q&A), Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø Theatre Department, Adopt-a-Grandfriend

"Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø offered me a foundation, time, resources, and finances to explore who I was and hoped to become. During my time as a Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø student, I explored my passions through a wide-range of opportunities, accessed through academic, career, spirtiual, and personal exploration. In the process of doing so I learned that while having resources and finances remove various barriers and promote access, it is all about the people who help you find and secure it. To be more specific, Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø doesn't soley have great resources, it also has remarkable people who are willing and dedicated to helping you access them. Therefore, I firmly believe that the Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø community is what truly sets the institution apart. If I were to list my accomplishments during my time here beside each would be the name of someone who supported me in seeing it through. I know that I would not have grown as tremendously and courageously as I did during my time here without such intentional and thoughtful support."

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Major: English
Minor: History

Campus Involvements: President of Rusk Eating House, Editor and Chief of Hobart Park Literary Magazine, Writing Center Consultant, The Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍøian Staff Writer, WALT 1610

"Starting off my first-year at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø, I was painfully shy. A few weeks into the semester, one of my professors took notice to my shyness and asked me during an office hours session why I seemed so apprehensive to participate in class. I was shocked that she had noticed this habit and explained to her what I was feeling, and she offered me a piece of advice that has stuck with me throughout my time here. She told me 'no one here is waiting to watch you fail, your contributions are what make the class work, your contributions and ideas are valuable.' With just a few words, she completely changed my mindset on academics. Instead of hiding in the corner out of fear of saying something silly, I began to take risks in the classroom. This advice greatly fostered my academic and personal growth during my time at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø as it pushed me to believe in my own academic abilities and my role as a valuable part of the campus community. This instance is one of many examples I have of how the Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø community of students and faculty have made me feel welcome, comfortable, and important during my time here. I'm about to begin my senior year, and I definitely feel like this support has helped me grow into a more well-rounded and confident individual because of the overwhelming support I have felt as a student. I know that when I graduate, I will leave as a better version of the shy girl that I was my first-year."