FINALIST - 2007

Jacqueline M. Golden A wise professor once shared with me the African proverb, “Mountains do not meet, but people do.” Over the past four years, I have learned that the beauty of attending Lafayette College lies not only in the academic challenges but, more importantly, in the sense of community that is shared amongst the members who comprise our unique home on the hill. Much of my time throughout college has focused around the desire to build community not only on College Hill but throughout Easton and the world. As a resident adviser for two years in Easton Hall, I enjoyed creating a small community at Lafayette and acclimating the first-year students to the campus. As a coordinator at the Landis Community Outreach Center, I was able to bring Lafayette students into the Easton community to tutor and mentor the Spanish-speaking children in our local elementary schools. Also, as part of the executive board of Alternative School Break, I was able to help students discover different parts of our country and world through weeklong service projects. I believe that the personal relationships formed and communities created through service are invaluable resources for individuals as they move onto future endeavors. While I am not sure exactly what constitutes the “Ideal Lafayette Student,” nor am I sure that such an individual exists, I do know that Lafayette would not be the same without the effort and passion that students give to our community every day. It is my hope that through the activities I have pursued in the past four years, perhaps one student had an easier transition to college, one child has a dream of attending college, and that the Lafayette community will remain a part of my life indefinitely.

 

Major: Biology
Thesis: Expression of Chemokines in OTII Bone Marrow-Derived Dendritic Cells Following Stimulation Through TLR2 and TLR4


Academic Activities

• Charles A. Dana Scholar - Students chosen based on demonstrated academic excellence, good character, and leadership involvement in campus and/or community service activities (2,3,4)
• Sigma Xi - Member of National Scientific Research Honor Society (4)
• EXCEL Research Scholar - Participated in EXCEL research with Dr. Robert Kurt in the biology department on the metastasis of breast cancer (2)
• Lehigh Valley Research Scholar - Conduct clinical research in conjunction with the OB/GYN residents at Lehigh Valley Hospital (4)
• Teaching Assistant - Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (4)
• Albany Medical Center Undergraduate Summer Research Program - Conducted research in the Immunology and Microbial Disease Department on antibody mediated resistance to an infectious biothreat agent for a 10-week period (3)
• Interim Abroad - Kenya and Tanzania (4)
• Pennsylvania Academy of Science - Oral Presentation on the "Production of Chemokines Following Stimulation Through TLR2 and TLR4 in Bone Marrow-Derived Dendritic Cells,” (4)
• Abstract published in the Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science entitled "Production of Chemokines following stimulation through TLR2 and TLR4 in Bone Marrow-Derived Dendritic Cells,” Vol. 80, March 2007 (4)
• Dean’s List (1,2,3,4)

Campus Activities

• Head Resident Adviser - Fisher East, Fisher West, Rubin, Kamine, PT Farinon, and Conway House (4)
• Resident Adviser - Easton Hall (2,3)
• Student Government - Freshman Class Council (1)
• Residence Hall Council - Member and Adviser (1,2,3,4)
• Alternative School Break, Vice President - Served on the executive board of ASB to help coordinate service projects for Lafayette students both in our country and abroad (2,3)
• Resident Adviser of the Year - Awarded by Office of Residence Life (3)
• ASB Gallup, New Mexico - Participated in week long service project with the National Indian Youth Leadership Program which focuses on providing children with opportunities to excel outside the classroom.

Community Service

• Landis Community Outreach Center - Community Service Assistant, Director of Ingles Numero Uno - a biweekly afterschool tutoring program for Spanish speaking elementary school students in the Easton School District (1,2,3,4)
• Landis Community Outreach Center, Pre-Orientation Service Camp - Arrived on campus a week before classes began to particpate in Habitat for Humanity for one week (1)
• Volunteer - Adopt-a Grandparent, Art for the Young at Heart Volunteer, and Adopt-a-Class, volunteered for these Landis Center Programs on a weekly basis (1,2)
• Volunteer for various one day service projects including Midnight Run, Lafapalooza, Blood Drive Committee, AIDS Walk, Relay for Life (1,2,3,4)
• Literacy Day Committee - Organize logistics of Literacy Day for children of the Easton community to come to campus for an afternoon of reading and fun activities (2,3,4)
• Alternative School Break (ASB) - Gesundheit Institue, West Virginia - Service trip focused around affordable healthcare. Assisted in constructing, farming, and various projects on site (1)
• ASB Lagunitas, Honduras - Served as Team Leader for service project focused on sustainable development of rural Honduras. Constructed a grain house for a local community (2)
• ASB Gallup, New Mexico - Participated in week long service project with the National Indian Youth Leadership Program which focuses on providing children with opportunities to excel outside the classroom (3)
• First Book Committe - Member of committee which grants books to low-income organizations in the Easton community (2,3)
• Aaron O. Hoff Service Above Self Award - Presented in recognition of the individual or individuals who best exemplify the qualities of caring and concern for others in service activities (3)

Athletics

• Lafayette JV, Club, and Intramural Soccer (1,2,3)
• Student-Athlete Academic Honor Roll - Gold Standing (3)
• Intramural - Bowling, Mini-golf, Softball (1,2,3,4)

Special Interest

• Alpha Phi Sorority - Served as Rho Gamma during recruitment period. (2,3,4)
• Search Committee, director of the Landis Community Outreach Center - Served as student representative on the search committe for the director of the Landis Center (2)
• National Residence Hall Honorary - Organization responsible for recognizing members of the Lafayette Community for leadership and programming (2,3)
• Newman Association, Volunteer Coordinator - Organized volunteer projects for members of Newman (1,2)