Tag Archive for Class of 2016

Students Receive Patricelli Center Grants, Priebatsch Summer Internship

by Olivia Drake • June 17, 2014

This month, five Wesleyan students received Summer Experience Grants, supported by the Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship. The honor comes with a $4,000 stipend to supplement costs associated with a summer internship experience.

The grants are available for Wesleyan sophomores and juniors currently receiving need-based financial aid who plan to do socially innovative or socially responsible work during summer break.

The recipients include Theodora Messalas ’15, Dara Mysliwiec ’16, Keren Reichler ’16, Geneva Jonathan ’15 and Jared Geilich ’15. In addition, film major Aaron Kalischer-Coggins ’15 received a Priebatsch Internship Grant. All grantees report on their experiences on the Patricelli Center’s ENGAGE blog.

Theodora Messalas ’15

Sociology major Theodora Messalas is working with a food pantry, soup kitchen and women’s homeless shelter called Crossroads Community Services in New York City, exploring ways to implement successful social services in which the needs and preferences of the end-users are paramount.

“I am interested in finding out exactly how Crossroads is run in the hopes of one day spearheading my own similar organization,” Messalas said. “I want to see firsthand how they have translated the desire to provide food and shelter to underserved New Yorkers into a running operation that can actually get these services to people. I want to see all their successes, and I want to get to know the roadblocks that they meet.”

Biology and earth and environmental studies major Dara Mysliwiec is addressing food sovereignty in Lamas, Peru, using sustainable – and previously lost – indigenous farming techniques

by Olivia Drake • May 9, 2014

During the Academic Scholarships, Fellowships and Prizes Reception May 7, Yan Pui “Angela” Lo ’14, Julian Theseria ’14 and Paul Hanakata ’14 received honors. Lo received the Holzberg Fellowship for psychology research and the Frances M. Sheng Prize for Japanese language. Theseria received the Baden-Württemberg Connecticut Sister State Exchange Award and the Scott Prize for German Studies. Hanakata received the Bertman Prize for physics research.

Wesleyan hosted the Academic Scholarships, Fellowships and Prizes Reception for students May 7 in Daniel family Commons.

“We gather today to honor students who represent the highest ideals of Wesleyan University―intellectual curiosity, academic excellence, creative expression, leadership, and service. While celebrating these recipients of awards, prizes, and scholarships, we also honor and thank alumni and friends whose generous contributions make these prizes possible,” said Ruth Striegel Weissman, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The prizes and recipients are listed below:

Butterfield Prize

Established by the Class of 1967 and awarded to the graduating senior who has exemplified those qualities of character, leadership, intellectual commitment and concern for the Wesleyan community shown by Victor Lloyd Butterfield, 11th president of the University.

Andrew Trexler ’14

Nicole Updegrove ’14

Rachel Sobelsohn ’17, at right, was the recipient of the Susan Frazer Prize. The prize is awarded to students who have done the most distinguished work in the elementary and intermediate French language sequence.

Chadbourne Prize

The gift of George Storrs Chadbourne, Class of 1858, to that member of the first-year class outstanding in character, conduct, and scholarship.

Ya-Lih Horng ’17

Limbach Prize

Established in 1966 by Russell T. Limbach, professor of art, in memory of his wife, Edna Limbach. Awarded annually to the student who has contributed the most imaginative, generous, thoughtful, and understanding social service to the people of the City of Middletown and/or the Wesleyan community.

Joshua Krugman ’14

Catherine Marquez ’16

Wesleyan Memorial Prize

The gift of undergraduates in the Class of 1943 in memory of fellow students who made the supreme sacrifice in the Second World War, to the members of the junior class outstanding in qualities of character, leadership, and scholarship.

Gabriel Gordon ’15

Christian Hosam ’15

Academic Scholarships, Fellowships, and Prizes

Pictured are, at left, Benjamin Jacobs ’14, Benjamin Carus ’14 and Alex Iselin ’14. Jacobs received the Sheng Prize, a Fulbright Fellowship and the Hallowell Prize. Carus received the Plukas Teaching Apprentice Award and White Prize. Iselin ’14 received the Plukas Teaching Apprentice Award, Wilde Prize and White Prize.

George H. Acheson and Grass Foundation Prize in Neuroscience

Established in 1992 by a gift from the Grass Foundation, this prize is awarded to an outstanding undergraduate in the Neuroscience and Behavior Program who demonstrates excellence in the program and who also shows promise for future contributions in the field of neuroscience.

Adele Bubnys ’14

Rachel Rosengard ’14

Alumni Prize in the History of Art

Established by Wesleyan alumni and awarded to a senior who has demonstrated special aptitude in the history of art and who has made a substantive contribution to the major.

Isadora Dannin ’14

Read more →

Neuroscience Major Nakib ’16 a Slam Poet, Blogger, Sewing Expert

by Bill Fisher • November 8, 2013

A neuroscience major who is also pursuing the writing certificate, Rama Nakib ’16 comes to Wesleyan from Iraq. Around campus, she is a monitor in the Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery, performs slam poetry, writes for the student-run blog Wesleying, and is known for her sewing and tailoring skills, which she shares with other students. After graduation, Rama wants to pursue a medical career while remaining involved in activism for women’s rights in the Middle East.

Watch this video and more on Wesleyan’s Video @ Wesleyan site.

#THISISWHY

Paik ’16 on Varsity Crew Team, Member of WSA

by Bill Fisher • October 2, 2013

In this video, learn about Ellen Paik ’16, who comes to Wesleyan from Seoul, South Korea. A member of the varsity crew team and the Wesleyan Student Assembly, Paik said Wesleyan lets her explore the full range of her many passions. Watch this video and many more on the Video @ Wesleyan website.

#THISISWHY

Norman ’16 Photographs African Reefs through Summer Intern Program

by Olivia Drake • September 16, 2013

Photo by Hannah Norman ’16.

Hannah Norman ’16 spent five weeks this summer participating in a Fiona Ayerst Underwater Photography internship in Guinjata Bay, Mozambique.

The internship program introduces aspiring wildlife photographers and videographers to the art of underwater photography.

As an intern, she received special training and career guidance on how to develop from an enthusiastic amateur level to a professional level, capable of producing professional work and making a paying career out of this niche.

She explored the Manta Reef, a popular diving destination, and tidal flats near Inhambane, Mozambique. She also attempted to photograph whales and dolphins on an ocean safari.

View Norman’s photos in this online gallery.

Norman also works for the Office of University Communications as a photography assistant.

Wesleyan Slam Poets Place 13th in National Competition

by Olivia Drake • April 22, 2013

Wesleyan’s WESlam team placed 13th out of 59 college teams from around the country in the 2013 College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational, held April 3-6 at Barnard College in New York City.

Five students, Evan Okun ’13, Lily Myers ’15 , Zachary Goldberg ’13, Cherkira Lashely ’15 and Markeisha Hill ’16 competed on the team and Emily Weitzman ’14 coached. Lily Myers won the award for best love poem.

“‘Most moving’ was the response Wesleyan got from community ,” Okun said. “We were complemented for our creative manner in which we resisted the typical ‘slam-poem-formula’ that is often over dramatic and exploitative of personal trauma.”

Watch Zachary Goldberg, Evan Okun and Lily Myers perform “We Made It:”

3 Student-Athletes Participate in Soccer Night in Newtown

by Brian Katten • January 25, 2013

From left, Jen Brewer ’13, Madeline Keane ’16 and Kaylin Berger ’13 attended the Newtown Youth Academy Sports and Fitness Center for Soccer Night.

Three Wesleyan women’s soccer players, two of whom are graduates of Newtown (Conn.) High School, took part in Soccer Night in Newtown Jan. 7 as Newtown continued to heal from the tragic incident at Sandy Hook Elementary School Dec. 14.

Team quad-captain Jen Brewer ’13 of Sandy Hook, Conn. and Madeline Keane ’16 of Newtown, Conn. were joined by Kaylin Berger ’13 of Farmington, Conn., at the Newtown Youth Academy Sports and Fitness Center for the festivities.

Nearly 50 major professional soccer players, including Major League Soccer (MLS) stars Landon Donovan and Kenny Cooper, women’s national team standouts Kristine Lilly, Christie Rampone and Mia Hamm, and former World Cup talent Alexi Lalas all made appearances with well over 1,000 Newtown youth benefiting from the opportunity. Soccer games, autographs galore and other soccer-oriented activity took place during the evening.

The night was the brainchild of Connecticut native Chris Canetti, president of Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo.He got five of his players to sign on and the number grew to about 50 in the professional soccer community, including MLS player Marcus Tracy of the San Jose Earthquakes, a native of Newtown. Newtown’s soccer community rallied around its sport to aid the town.

“Growing up in Newtown, most kids start playing soccer in kindergarten,” said Brewer, who attended Sandy Hook Elementary as a kindergartener and first-grader. “We all play in the Park and Rec leagues. Then travel teams in U-10 and above keep us active. Being a ball boy or ball girl at the high school game was a big deal, too. Our girls team (at Newtown High School) won the state title this year.” Wesleyan assistant coach Brian Matzke, who is part of the Connecticut Football Club that helped sponsor the event, recruited the three Wesleyan women’s soccer players to help out.

Brewer, Berger and Keane were assigned to help with the autograph lines. “We got to talk with a few of the players afterwards,” Brewer added. “All the parents and kids were so appreciative. They were happy to just get away from eveything that had been going on and have fun for a while.”

Read more about the event in this Hartford Courant article and SI.com article.

#THISISWHY

Class of 2016 Participates in the Common Moment

by Olivia Drake • September 26, 2012

The Center for the Arts hosted the annual Common Moment for first-year students on Aug. 31. The event is part of Wesleyan’s Feet to the Fire initiative, which examines critical environmental issues from science to art. As part of the Common Moment showcase, the Class of 2016 divided into groups to learn traditional folk dances from around the world. One group of students performed a folk dance from North India, which was taught by visiting artist Rachna Agrawal.

by Olivia Drake • August 30, 2012

(NEW! Arrival Day video!)

Savannah Benis ’16 of San Diego, Calif. unloads her belongings during New Student Arrival Day Aug. 29. Benis, who is planning to major in film studies, is living in Clark Hall. “I’m so excited, but nervous,” she says.

At 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 29, Lorin Ferris ’16 of Bellevue, Wash. arrived on Wesleyan’s campus in a rented Jeep, packed with her West Coast belongings.

Susan Fife-Ferris and Frank Ferris of Bellevue, Wa. helped their daughter, Lorin Ferris ’16 move into her Butterfield Residences. “I really like my room. It’s a lot bigger than I though it would be,” Lorin says.

“I brought my entire closet,” she says, standing among disheveled heaps of half-unpacked suitcases and boxes in her Butterfield Residence room. “Most of this stuff is clothes and jackets … also bedding, sheets and towels. I did some shopping here (in Connecticut), but I brought a lot with me, too.”

“You couldn’t have brought anything more,” says her father, Frank.

Lorin, who plans to major in mathematics, was one of 756 students who joined the Class of 2016 on New Student Arrival Day. Of these, 64 students are from international countries. An additional 58 transfer students moved into Wesleyan residences on Arrival Day and participated in New Student Orientation.

While students decorated their new home-away-from-home and mingled with their new hall-mates, parents participated in question-and-answer workshops presented by the Dean of Students and Dean for the Class of 2016.

Wesleyan President Michael Roth delivers the President’s Remarks for Families.

Wesleyan President Michael Roth and other university administrators welcomed parents and new students during the President’s Remarks for Families.

New Student Orientation, ongoing through Sept. 2, includes information sessions on community standards and responsibilities, resident hall community standards, computer set-ups, money management, studying abroad, working with faculty advisors, course selection and major requirements, health and wellness, Wesleyan libraries, spiritual life, student activism and more.

Savannah Benis ’16 of San Diego, Calif. came to Wesleyan for its superb film program and academic reputation. Her parents, Cherri and Rick, helped move Savannah (and her six suitcases) into her Clark Hall room on Arrival Day.

“It’s going to be hard seeing her leave, but I’m really glad she chose Wesleyan,” Rick Benis says. “All the alumni we’ve spoken to, and everyone else that knows about Wesleyan really loves it, and this is just the type of atmosphere and (student body) size that Savannah wanted.”

Max Atkinson ’16 of Dunnellon, Fla. received Arrival Day help from his parents Mia and David. The family drove to Connecticut in three days and unloaded Max’s belongings in his West College residence.

His grandfather, John W. Atkinson, was a member of the Class of 1947. “I’m sure if he were alive, he’d recommend Wesleyan to me,” Max says.

More photos of Arrival Day are below and in this Wesleyan Facebook photo gallery.

Max Atkinson ’16 of Dunnellon, Fla. received Arrival Day help from his parents Mia (pictured) and David.

by Olivia Drake • August 30, 2012

Sixty-four international students hailing from Algeria to Zimbabwe joined the Class of 2016. International Student Orientation began Aug. 26. The program is designed to introduce international students to campus life at Wesleyan and ease their transition to the United States. Students took campus tours, went shopping, learned about writing programs, health matters, counseling and psychological services, performed a skit, and attended a workshop on managing U.S. academic and Wesleyan culture. The international students transitioned into New Student Orientation on Aug. 30.

Photos of International Student Orientation are below: