2017
TO THE CLASS OF
A
2017
bout six weeks ago, our office met to brainstorm ways to salute the Class of 2017 and highlight The Furman Advantage. As members of the graduating class and the communications team, we were given some freedom to help develop the project. Ultimately, we landed on the concept of an online magazine that would honor a handful of class members who exemplify Furman’s uniqueness. Each has taken a different path, but all are bound for greatness. In the coming pages they open up about their unique mentorships, opportunities, and the lasting connections they’ve made. Like them, we have all experienced something special at Furman. That’s what makes their stories relatable. We can all recall a faculty member who’s gone the extra mile, a spot on campus where we feel at home, and a memory from our time here that won’t soon be forgotten. The connections we make at Furman are part of what makes this place so special. And they are why pulling out of the front gates for the last time will be so bittersweet. This magazine represents more than a final creative project. It is our way of saying thank you to the Class of 2017.
Emily Stokes and Evan Talbert Roll Dins!
Emily
Evan
PHOTOS BY JEREMY FLEMING
Congratulations grads!
LDOC!
Features | 2017 Senior Spotlight
HOMETOWN
Nairobi, Kenya MAJOR
Physics and Computing/ Applied Math P O S T- G R A D U AT E C A R E E R PAT H W AY
Engineering/ Software Development CLOSEST FURMAN MENTOR
William Baker
of n i a t p a c r a Two-ye an Rugby Tea m. the Furm Go Dins!
Q&A
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Patrick Musau took his four years at Furman seriously. Very Seriously. self-described grinder, he was a mainstay in the Plyler Science Building. When he wasn’t buried in books and formulas, the Kenya native took his no-nonsense attitude and relentless work ethic to the Furman rugby pitch where he served as two-year captain for the Paladins. All of Musau’s hard work is paying off. The physics/ applied math double-major has his choice of select engineering graduate schools. In March, he was initiated into the Furman Quaternion Club, which is generally considered to be the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Furman man. And the Furman Rugby Team finished the 2016 fall season with a 13-1 record, advancing to the national championship game where the Paladins fell a few points shy of defeating Wisconsin Whitewater. He and his teammates recently traveled to the state capitol where they were publicly honored by South Carolina lawmakers. Now in the twilight of his Furman sojourn, Musau is finding time for something that has been low on his lengthy to do list: relax. With his days on campus running short and nostalgia setting in, it’s something he wished he could have made more time for. Who is your favorite #FurmanFamous person on campus, and how have they played a unique part in your Furman experience? PM: John Roberts was one of the first people I met at Furman, and from the very beginning he made me feel welcome and challenged me to be my best.
What will you most look forward to when visiting Furman as an alum in the future? PM: I love homecoming, and without a doubt I look forward to walking down the mall with old friends and reminiscing about the days. When you’re pulling out of the Furman gates for the last time, what memory will come to mind? PM: I think when I roll on out, I will think about the day when I drove in with my family and laid eyes on a place that would significantly impact me.
What would your senior self tell your freshman self? “I WOULD TELL MYSELF TO INVEST MORE TIME MAKING MEMORIES, INVESTING IN RELATIONSHIPS, PARTICIPATING IN RESEARCH, AND FINDING MY PASSIONS.”
And “relax”.
Features | 2017 Senior Spotlight
Schoen’s father was a career military man. So her family moved around a lot, never hanging a shingle at one place very long. But at Furman she found a home.
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er older sister Kacie ’14 attended Furman where she was an ROTC cadet. Madison followed in her footsteps. From the very beginning she felt the closeness of a nurturing community. “I think I’ve felt the most support of my involvement in ROTC from the girls in my sorority. Although the Army is a foreign subject to many of them, I feel as though they are always cheering me on.” The support, she says, comes from every corner of campus. “Bonnie McNair in the Dining Hall is one of my favorites,” says Schoen. “She is a hoot. She knows my breakfast schedule and lets me know when I’m late. I think that’s really special.” She also connected with Health Sciences Professor Matt Feigenbaum ’88, a Furman graduate and former member of the Army Rangers, a super-elite specials forces unit.
“I had the privilege of having Dr. Feigenbaum as a teacher in a couple of classes, starting with Wellness Concepts which I think is what really got me interested in being a Health Sciences major,” she says. “He would end a lot of classes with little pieces of life advice which I thought was really cool. His military background made him relatable to me, and I loved hearing all his stories about when he was a cadet at Furman.” Briefly describe your favorite Furman experience outside of the classroom. MS: Homecoming and pomping floats on the mall has been one of my favorites. Where are you most likely to be spotted on campus? MS: The far left elliptical in the PAC.
How would you define “My Furman” in your own words and experiences? MS: “My Furman” is all about having close relationships with your teachers and classmates. It’s having access to experiences you wouldn’t find at other schools. What are you most excited about after you turn the tassel? MS: I’m excited to test my limits. I know that my job for the next couple years will be challenging, but I am so eager to learn what I am truly capable of. How would you describe what it means to be a “Din” to a prospective student? MS: It’s someone with a passion for greatness and an undisputed work ethic.
Q&A
HOMETOWN
Leavenworth, Kansas MAJOR
Health Sciences P O S T- G R A D U AT E C A R E E R PAT H W AY
Active Duty Army Engineer Officer CLOSEST FURMAN MENTOR
Master Sergeant Luis Fragoso
“ D in s a re p ro u d o f w h a t t h ey a c c o mp li s h an d p us h e a c h o t h e r t o b e t h e ir b est . ” — M ad ison
Features | 2017 Senior Spotlight
The verdant lawns, manicured flower beds and immaculate buildings on the Furman campus are literally and figuratively a long way from Miquel Negrete’s hometown.
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e grew up on the mean streets of Chicago’s Southside. Negrete will be the first of his family to earn a college degree when he walks across Commencement stage May 6. “Growing up where I did, kids don’t really go to college,” he said. “They don’t have that opportunity.” But hometown mentors saw a different outcome for Negrete. Through a Chicago based non-profit he learned about Furman. Once here, he found more mentors. Negrete conducted public health research with Professor Meghan Slining and completed a community-based internship where he gave presentations in Spanish on healthy living. In four years, Negrete drank liberally from Furman’s fountain of experiences. He joined a fraternity (TKE), studied away in Spain, and yelled himself hoarse at more than a few athletic games (his favorites are basketball, rugby and baseball). The next leg of his journey will take him even farther from his hometown. “My plan is to serve in the Peace Corps for the next two years. I will be in Ecuador and will be working with communities on health topics.”
Describe your Furman experience in a hashtag. MN: #advantageous Finish this sentence. “You know you went to Furman when/if….” MN: You celebrate graduating by jumping in the fountains.
How would you describe what it means to be a “Din” to a prospective student? MN: A Din doesn’t just attend class. You attend sporting events and lose your voice yelling at the refs. A Din is an active member of the Furman community. If you were ever in a bind, which faculty/staff member would you most likely call for advice? MN: Dr. Slining, she is an amazing individual and puts everyone before herself. She always gives great advice and always has a positive attitude. She helped me find what truly matters to me which was pursuing a career in public health. What are you most excited about after you turn the tassel? MN: I will be the first in my family to graduate from college, and I know my family and friends are going to be ready to celebrate with me.
“Miguel’ ’s biggest strength is his M eghan Slining ability to meaningfully connect with community members. ” — Meghan Slining
Q&A
HOMETOWN
Chicago, Illinois MAJOR
Health Sciences and Spanish P O S T- G R A D U AT E C A R E E R PAT H W AY
Peace Corps in Ecuador, Master’s Program in Public Health CLOSEST FURMAN MENTOR
Meghan Slining
? Next step rps! o C e c a e P e Th
Features | 2017 Senior Spotlight
“Without Furman, d re e v o c is d e av h t ’ n ld u o w I my passion for public ly, service and travel so ear so my plan would be very d ifferent! ” - Kelsey
Q&A
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hen she first drove past Furman’s wrought-iron gates, Orr, who is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, figured she’d be an attorney. An internship at a local law firm did not spike her interest. But travel abroad (she participated in four different study away programs) did. A trip to the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference Summit helped to narrow her career choice. A public policy study away trip to Hawaii cemented it: foreign service and public administration. Orr took counsel from Furman Professors Cleve Fraser and Kate Kaup. Under their guidance, she received a fellowship that will help pay for graduate school at Columbia University in New York City. “I never expected that I would attend graduate school for a Master of Public Administration or that I would work abroad, but I am so excited for what’s to come!” Describe your Furman experience in a hashtag. KO:#thankFUl Where are you most likely to be spotted on campus? KO: Traditions Grille @ the Golf Club. If you were ever in a bind, which faculty/staff member would you most likely call for advice? KO: Because I know from personal experience that he gives solid advice and would do anything to help his students, I would call Dr. David Fleming. How would you define “My Furman” in your own words and experiences? KO: It’s being overwhelmed by opportunities you never knew ever existed, opportunities that force you to think smarter and grow wiser.
HOMETOWN
Winston- Salem, North Carolina MAJOR
Politics and International Affairs and Asian Studies P O S T- G R A D U AT E C A R E E R PAT H W AY
Earning a master’s degree before entering the U.S. Foreign Service CLOSEST FURMAN MENTOR
Shusuke Yagi
Shusuke Yagi
Features | 2017 Senior Spotlight
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Vandenberg’s first few days on campus were far from pleasant. native of Pennsylvania, he was introduced to the South’s strengthsucking humidity on an August afternoon during a lacrosse team fitness test. It was 99 degrees. While Coach Richie Meade scolded the team for their lack of conditioning, Vandenberg proved the point by surrendering his breakfast to the athletic field.
The next day was better. So were the next four years.
Vandenberg embraced the busyness that pervades student life. He majored in biology and spent many late nights in the library. Through the Heller Service Corps he found a way to serve others, and he also found a surrogate mother, Nancy Cooper (director of the service organization who is famous for doting over students). “Ms. Cooper is definitely the undercover president of Furman and like a second mother to me,” he says. As he prepares to open the next chapter of his life at medical school, Vandenberg understands that four years at Furman can be fleeting. The one-on-one time with professors, the Division I athletics and the cherished service work all come to an end when the tassel turns. And he has some advice for others who are about to begin the journey: “Have confidence because it will work out in the end if you put in the hard work. Live in the moment and enjoy your time here.” Describe your Furman experience in a hashtag. JV: #busy Finish this sentence. “You know you went to Furman when/if….” JV: You wondered how you could get on the Bell Tower’s aux cord.
How would you define “My Furman” in your own words and experiences? JV: The opportunity to be involved in the Greenville community, excel at academics, and play Division I college athletics at a beautiful southern campus. How did your experiences at Furman impact your plans to pursue pediatrics at medical school? JV: Great guidance from Dr. John Banisaukas, my pre-health advisor, helped me organize my four years at Furman to achieve admission into medical school. What are you most looking forward to when visiting Furman as an alum in the future? JV: Seeing the people. The bonds I have formed with my team, the people of the Heller Service Corps, and the academic faculty are what Furman is all about.
“When I think of Jonathan, many words such as character, love, integrity, and devotion come to mind. The most obvious thing I can say about Jonathan is that he gets his biggest successes and joys out of seeing others succeed.” — N A N C Y C O O P E R , Heller Service Corps
Q&A
HOMETOWN
Glen Mills, Pennsylvania MAJOR
Biology P O S T- G R A D U AT E C A R E E R PAT H W AY
Medical School
CLOSEST FURMAN MENTOR
Nancy Cooper
. k r o w d r a h e “....put in th ent and iL ve in the mom re. e h e m i ” t r u o y y enjo -Jonathan