FINALIST - 2005

Sarah Hazel An ideal implies one who is regarded as a standard or model of perfection. I do not feign perfection; however, I have made my college experience here at Lafayette my ideal experience – an experience I had never expected--and one that I will never forget. I entered college as a serious student and athlete and anticipated soccer and academics comprising the whole of my Lafayette existence for four years to come. As time went on, I realized how much college had to offer, but more importantly what I had to offer college that I did not have in my original game plan. I moved on from varsity athletics and became involved in campus service activities such as student governance, where I was able to grow creatively, as leader, and as part of a group. I was granted membership as a student on a Trustee Committee, which enabled me to gain a wonderful opportunity to express my student opinions and to gain a sense of the impact students can have if only we just voice our interests. My activities prove I have had a taste of the various organizations and programs that make Lafayette College the lively multifaceted institution it is. While maintaining a high overall GPA in my Government and Law major and English major, I have gone far beyond just work in the classroom. I have had the great opportunity to form relationships and work with faculty through the EXCEL program in both departments, and have had a difficult but enriching experience this past year working on my honors thesis. I have also learned how to reach out to the community as a mentor for youth and as Community Affairs Chair, as well as a large student community with my involvement in Greek Life. Also, although the first-year students from my orientation group could explain that I was everything but perfect (I botched our first ice breaker and dropped them off at the wrong building), they would certainly also describe my enthusiasm and love for my home over the past four years as genuinely flawless. For these reasons, I believe my wide experiences make me a qualified candidate for this prize. I am not the ideal student, the ideal athlete, the ideal artist, or the ideal leader. I think I have a little of all those things which has helped me to make the most of my time here, to meet wonderful people, to persevere through changes in my life and to try new things – to have an experience that I can truly describe as ideal.

 

Majors: Government and Law and English
Thesis Topic: "Victoria Cross and the Edwardian Discussion of Sexual Equality, Marriage, and Motherhood"

Academic Activities/Awards:

• Dean’s List: Fall 2004, Spring 2004, Fall 2003, Spring 2003, Fall 2002, Spring 2002
  Received Study Abroad Grant: Summer, 2004
• Bronze Medal Athletic Honor Role: Fall 2001
  Gold Medal Athletic Honor Role: Fall 2002, Spring 2003
  Silver Medal Athletic Honor Role: Spring 2002
• EXCEL Scholar with Professor Blake in the English Department
  Research Assistant: Research with professor in the English Department. Searched for historical references in magazines to miscegenation, organized and summarized articles, read romance fiction of the early 1900’s and analyzed ways in which these works dealt with inter-racial romances during colonization. Worked individually and with professor. Summer 2003
• EXCEL Scholar with Professor J. Miller
  Research Assistant: Research with political theorist specializing in Politics of Fashion in the Government and Law Department. Searched for historical references concerning the use of dress to create unity during social movements. Worked individually and with Professor. Spring 2004, Fall 2004, Spring 2005
• Pi Sigma Alpha:
  National Government and Law Honor Society
  Spring 2004 - present
• Emil V. Novak Prize:
  Awarded for academic excellence in the government and law department and citizenship in the Lafayette community
  Spring 2005

Campus Service Activities

• Freshman Class Council Member
  Fall 2001, Spring 2002
• Student Government Member
  Vice President of Student Body
  Spring 2003 – Fall 2004
  The Vice President oversees all associate representatives and students who sit on faculty committees. The Vice President also helps approve the representatives’ projects and interacts with the student body as well as the faculty to ensure that progress is made on campus.
• Community Affairs Chair
  Spring 2004
  As Community Affairs representative I was responsible for student-community relations and Lafayette-Easton community relations including helping to organize community outings within Student Government Wellness Day, the Blood Drive, and remaining in close contact with the Landis Community Outreach Center.
• Student Life Representative
  Fall 2003
  Acted as initiator and coordinator in the area of extracurricular and nonacademic activities. I was responsible for major social events such as the pep rally, and school-wide barbeque. In addition, I served as the liaison between Freshmen Class Council and Student Government and as the advisor to FCC.
• Sexual Assault Task Force
  Fall 2003 - Spring 2004
  Worked with other student leaders and Cindy Adams in the counseling department to organize and publicize sexual assault speakers, programs and sexual assault awareness on campus
• Trustee Committee Student Member (Academic Affairs)
  Fall 2004-present
• First Year Orientation Leader:
  Fall 2004
  Lead a group of first year students in the orientation process
• Lafayette Leadership Institute:
  February 2003, 2004
  Attended one-day leadership conference
• Senior Class Fund Drive
  Spring 2005
  Worked on a team to collect donations for the senior class of 2005

Community Service Activities

• Participated in Lafapoolaza, Spring 2003
• Peer Mentor through Women’s Varsity Soccer Team
  Spring 2002 – Fall 2002
  Spent time with Lehigh Valley female youth and served as a sports and student mentor

Athletics

• Women’s Club Soccer Team
  Fall 2003
• Women’s Varsity Soccer Team
  Fall 2001-Spring 2003

Special Interest Group Activities

• Kappa Kappa Gamma Member
  Fraternity Educator          Fall 2003 -Spring 2003
  Social Chairman          Fall 2004 – Spring 2004
  Scholarship Committee Member          Spring 2004- Fall 3004
  Standards Committee Member          Fall 2003, Spring 2005
• The Marooned
  Fall 2004
  Contributor to first edition