The Power of a Liberal Arts Education

Story by Wallis Shamieh ’15; profiles by Meg DePanise ’15

A liberal arts education offers students more than just a well-rounded college education. It’s a robust, integrated learning experience that teaches students to connect knowledge, think creatively and follow their passions. It is not an education based on learning individual components necessary for a career or trade, but rather, on learning how to bring together information from across disciplines—including humanities and the social and natural sciences—for the most powerful education experience possible. The idea isn’t just to memorize facts and figures, but to co-create and innovate with professors and classmates.

“There’s often a misconception that students do not select majors in a liberal arts education,” said Lisa Littlefield, Ph.D., director of the Hood College Career Center. “However, students do select majors, with general education courses surrounding them. By combining majors, minors and general education coursework, students develop a unique skill set that sets them apart from competition in the job market.”

A liberal arts education encourages students to develop critical thinking skills and gives them a global perspective, an invaluable asset with countless applications. According to the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AACU), the essential learning outcomes of a contemporary liberal arts education include “knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world, intellectual and practical skills, personal and social responsibility, and integrative and applied learning.” These skills are necessary for students to succeed no matter their chosen professions, and teach them to adapt, change and transform as they progress through their lives and careers. In today’s job market, employees will make on average five to seven career changes in their lifetime, and thus will require these skills for decades to come.

“There’s two types of thinking. Convergent and divergent,” says David Gurzick, Ph.D., associate professor of management and chair of The George B. Delaplaine Jr. School of Business. “Rather than focusing on convergent thinking, which is trying to find a single good answer, there’s an emphasis on divergent thinking in the liberal arts—looking at things from every angle and creating new ideas that stem from others in creative ways.”

HOW DOES A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION FIT IN THE CONTEXT OF TODAY’S GLOBAL JOB MARKET?

Due to innovation and technology, the global job market is changing faster than ever. Medical knowledge doubles every eight years, and technology is growing even faster. These kinds of advancements make it difficult to predict the kinds of jobs that will be available even five or 10 years from now. Therefore, employers place a high value on employees who can easily adapt. In addition to becoming an expert in the major they’ve selected, students are learning the skills necessary to navigate career changes in a global marketplace.

A survey released by the AACU in 2018, titled “Fulfilling the American Dream: Liberal Education and the Future of Work,” outlines the skills that executives and hiring managers value most across all majors: oral communication, critical thinking, ethical judgment, working effectively in teams, written communication, and real-world application of skills and knowledge.

“When hiring, executives and hiring managers place a high priority on graduates’ demonstrated proficiency in skills and knowledge that cut across majors,” the survey states, “and hiring managers are closely aligned with executives in the importance that they place on key college learning outcomes.”

The job market is becoming increasingly global, so it’s vital for students to develop a worldwide mindset in order to succeed. Understanding diversity and different cultures is emphasized in a liberal arts education, through learning foreign languages and in study abroad programs.

Jay Harrison, Ph.D., chair of the history department, says that, “As a corporate program manager in my previous career, people who can appreciate the views of persons different than themselves are the persons companies want to hire to ensure their growth and success.

That is the global perspective the liberal arts gives students: a greater, nuanced view of human experience beyond their own perspective and time, such that they can appreciate just how diverse societies are and yet how common are the needs of human beings.”

Many Hood students, regardless of major, have had the unique opportunity to study abroad through a number of programs in France, Germany, Morocco, England, Italy, Australia, Korea and more. These exciting travel experiences not only teach students self-sufficiency and oftentimes foreign language skills, but also broadens worldviews.

“Business is becoming increasingly globalized, and companies are in need of minds that can thrive in a complicated, international and fast-paced marketplace,” adds Gurzick. “The liberal arts education at Hood addresses issues of globalization and diversity head on—connecting them to world cultures and exposing them to the challenges of dealing with divergent, and often competing, viewpoints. This prepares our students for tackling the pressing, contemporary issues they’ll face.”

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS TO FOLLOW THEIR PASSIONS?

In addition to these crucial skills, employers look for passionate people with a purpose. Such employees not only advance the company, but advance society through civic engagement. In the 21st century, businesses and organizations are increasingly socially minded and benefit from employees with a similar mindset.

“It’s so important to pursue your passions. Students are going to be working for a long time, and it can be a sentence or it can be an exciting journey,” said Littlefield. “You want to have knowledge in a number of areas so that as you mature in a career and you decide you want to make changes, you’re able to do so with flexibility. The liberal arts can prepare someone to pursue multiple passions that are going to keep them invigorated in their work.”

A liberal arts education and its high-impact experiences, such as internships and study abroad, can help students determine what they are passionate about. Like study abroad, internships are a central part of the self-discovery process. It’s an opportunity for students to put their classroom skills to the test in a real-world scenario.

“Oftentimes, internship experiences help people decide what they don’t want to do, which is equally important,” said Dr. Littlefield. “It gives them a chance to explore not just occupations but their own values and capabilities.” In addition to preparing students for a lifetime of careers, a liberal arts education produces informed citizens who are able to sustain our democracy and pursue the greater good. The word ‘liberal’ comes from the Latin word liberalis, meaning pertaining to freedom—and in the context of liberal arts, describes the education of a free citizen, one who contributes to society.

“History informs us of not just facts but also the ways we can analyze the past to understand the present,” said Harrison. “Knowing the ways to approach the past enables one to understand why modern cultures, languages, governments, and societies work as they do, and how they came to be. If one understands that, then one is better informed as to what may be encountered as one tries to change current social constructs to better our way of living in the present.” A liberal arts education aligns well with the social entrepreneurial spirit, thanks to its emphasis on creative thinking, leadership, resourcefulness, social missions and civic engagement. It gives students the power to identify needs both in their communities and in the world, and rise to meet that need.

This past spring, three Hood students, Mackenzie Clark ’20, Jenna Frick ’21 and Delanie Diverio ’19, launched Astraea, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing menstrual hygiene products to those in need. As part of Hood’s chapter of Enactus—a global platform dedicated to developing entrepreneurs in the name of social welfare—the organization will distribute bright pink boxes around the Frederick area, so people can take or leave products as they need. Through Astraea’s website, local businesses can sponsor a box on their property or in their business, and be added to the map of box locations. (see this story in Newsmakers on p. 4)

These women are far from the only entrepreneurs on campus. Hood hosts an annual pitch competition, an opportunity for Hood students, alumni, faculty and staff to pitch their business ideas to the Hood Pitch Competition Committee. After a rigorous selection process, four finalists are chosen to compete in front of the judges. First, second and third places receive cash prizes to fund their business ideas. This past year, Ken Rupert ’12, took first place for his financial training program that combines concepts taught in martial arts with financial literacy.

“We infuse liberal arts and an entrepreneurial mindset. It permeates through all of our classes,” said Gurzick, in reference to the classes at the newly established George B. Delaplaine Jr. School of Business at Hood. “A student can have an idea in their dorm room that turns into a Fortune 500 company after graduation. Business is the most powerful force in the world, and if we can instill a mindset of ownership in our students, then we’re able to create a generation that will take the reins. Not only will they do financially well, but they can do good for society, too.”

WHAT DO HOOD GRADUATES DO WITH A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION?

A liberal arts education gives students the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to become lifelong learners and to thrive, regardless of the career path they follow. It allows students to find and pursue their passions, explore the world and progress society for the better.

“Many students focus on the destination, not the journey. For them, the magnificent power of their liberal arts experience at Hood may go unrecognized until after graduation,” said Provost Debbie Ricker, Ph.D. “As they begin their careers and their professional lives evolve, they witness firsthand countless ways in which their holistic academic experience at Hood has, and will forever, shape them. And, that makes us all Hood Proud!”

Countless Hood graduates have had the perseverance, insight and purpose to go where their interests have taken them. For many, as their passions have developed and changed, they’ve found themselves in professional roles much different than their major field of study, thanks to the invaluable skills they’ve learned along the way. Explore some of the personal stories Hood graduates have shared with us about how they have made the most of their liberal arts education.

ALUMNI PROFILES

A PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR BREAKING INTO VOICE ACTING

Amanda Cavanagh ’14 earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and spent time working in the mental health industry, but after discovering her employer’s values did not align with her own, she decided to leave and take the first leap in pursuing another passion—voice acting.

“I remembered that I had other skill sets I learned from Hood,” she said. “I was a trained vocalist, and had understandings of administrative business that I could use to start my own business.”

Right now, she narrates audiobooks and commercials and performs music, and she’s continuing to branch out.

“I started to have my name given out to independent authors who were more than happy to know that my background in mental health could help bring characters with real struggles to life,” she said.

Cavanagh says she had always dreamed of becoming a voice actor. She was the first manager of the game room, located in the basement of Cloblentz Hall, and recently reached out to some connections she made while working there.

Be open to learning many things; life takes you on paths you only fleetingly thought about.

—Amanda Cavanagh ’14

“Many of them remembered me as the young college student who wanted to sing opera in video games,” she said. “They now know me as someone who is recording in studios as a peer.”

Her goal is to someday be hired to voice act in a Valve video game, alongside one of her past mentors, opera singer and voice actor Ellen McLain.

Despite her negative experience with her first job in mental health, Cavanagh also plans to return to Hood for her master’s in clinical psychology.

A RETIRED NAVY CAPTAIN WITH A LOVE FOR ALPACAS

Sue Korff Hammer ’69 majored in psychology and minored in Spanish, but her first job was at an insurance company. The position came much to her own surprise, considering she applied for a human resources job. Turns out there wasn’t an opening in that department, but she scored high on the math section of the employment exam so the firm offered her a job as an auditor.

“In those days, employers asked female college grads how many words a minute they could type, and I didn’t want to sit at a typewriter all day,” she said. “The joke was on me—I ended up sitting in front of a 30-pound calculator.”

Hammer left that job when she discovered her male counterparts’ initial salary was 50 percent more than hers after two years, despite her outstanding performance evaluations. That’s when she found the Navy.

“The Navy had the same pay scale for men and women, which was a great incentive for me at that time,” she said.

Hammer was an unrestricted line officer, so she was assigned a different job and duty station every couple of years. She was preparing for command, which is the pinnacle of success.

“The moving and changing of jobs helped you widen your knowledge and usefulness to the organization while exposing you to different geographical areas and cultures,” she said. “I never got bored!”

Her commitment and intelligence got her noticed, and she was selected for Naval Postgraduate School. While other students struggled through the coursework and required tutoring, she handled it well. She says she attributes her successful career to her liberal arts education.

“Although it was almost 10 years since Hood, I soon learned the value of my education,” she said. “We had courses in economics, accounting, management, statistics, operations analysis and calculus as a foundation before getting into the meat of computer science.”

Now retired and living in the historic Fredericksburg area of Virginia, Hammer is enjoying yet another unexpected line of work.

“As for alpaca farming, it gave me a completely new challenge to learn as much about farming, breeding, and camelids and chickens while being an outdoor job with animals,” Hammer said. “I enjoyed taking all sorts of classes and learning something completely new.”

Professionally, she hopes to draw down the herd at Wildwood Alpacas and retire from selling and showing animals by the time she’s 75.

“Personally,” she says, “my goal is to keep my health, strength and endurance so I can continue to do the labor-intensive things I enjoy the most like operate farm equipment, mill lumber on my sawmill and continue to enjoy my collector car hobby.”

It’s always a little scary to leave a job you have mastered, but I was anxious to prove my worth as a hard and smart worker in a maledominated world. Hood gave me that strength and confidence to go for it.

—Sue Korff Hammer ’69

A MUSICIAN, ENGLISH TEACHER AND POLITICIAN

Ken Kerr ’81 is proof that we don’t have to pick one thing to do for the rest of our lives, but instead we can have a range of interests and jobs over a lifetime. From musician to IT professional to teacher to state delegate, he has pursued each of his callings.

Kerr says he wasn’t even looking at colleges, but Hood found him at the Carroll Creek Dam. Between 1977 and 1981, the corner bar was packed day and night with people enjoying each other’s company and the live music. It was 1978, and he had just completed his coursework at Frederick Community College and was playing in a rock-and-roll band.

“I had no clear plans for what was to come next,” he said. “The band was on break, and there was a man sitting at the end of the bar when I went to get something to drink. He said, ‘You know, if you really want to be a musician, you need to get your education.’”

It was Hood professor Bill Sprigg. Weeks later, Kerr found himself sitting in Brodbeck Hall at 8 a.m. on a Monday morning. Professors Sprigg, Chuck Warner and Noel Lester became his teachers and mentors.

“As a musician, the most important skill (after mastering the instrument) is to listen to others—know what’s going on around you, learn to improvise, anticipate unexpected changes, give others their moment and make them sound better, wait your turn, and be ready when your moment arrives,” Kerr said. “That approach and those skills have served me well professionally.”

While he will always cherish his music and still plays all the time, he saw he needed something else to pay the bills, so he became an elementary school teacher, then worked in IT for 10 years, before getting his master’s degree and becoming a college English professor. Now, in addition to teaching at Frederick Community College, he also serves in the Maryland General Assembly as a state delegate representing Frederick County.

He says his musical skills are particularly helpful in politics: “I believe it’s important to be versatile—learn new styles, learn new instruments and experiment. But, there are some styles of music I just don’t care for. There are some musicians I like working with and seek out—and others who are just no fun to play with. Depending on what type of performance is coming up, I know who I want to collaborate with, who is the best fit for the performance, how well the musicians are going to work together to achieve the desired result. That is how I approach politics in the Maryland General Assembly. Putting together a piece of legislation is like putting together a band.”

I very much feel that I use the entirety of my life’s experience and education to make good policy decisions to help my district, Frederick County, and Maryland.

—Ken Kerr ’81

AN OPERATING ROOM NURSE WHO LEFT HER ACCOUNTING CAREER

Marla DiPasqua Sulmonte ’92 left Hood with majors in fine art and management with a concentration in accounting, but now she’s an operating room nurse at Frederick Memorial Hospital.

As a nurse, she enjoys learning something new every day and takes pride in being able to help patients and their families get through stressful days.

“I have about five minutes to convey competence and confidence, and to try to put patients and their loved ones at ease,” she said. “I feel privileged when I realize they’ve put their trust in me.”

Sulmonte herself was forced to do the same when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2005. She experienced firsthand the importance of caring, compassionate nursing, as she underwent months of chemotherapy and appointments.

“One of my nurses, Pia, changed how I felt about nursing. It wasn’t at all like the depictions I’d seen on TV and in the movies,” she said. “Within minutes of meeting her, I watched Pia put my family at ease with her quiet, gentle kindness. Through my most difficult times at the hospital, her presence helped me and my parents.”

From that moment on, Sulmonte knew she wanted to pursue nursing. She came back to Hood to get the classes she’d need to qualify for the nursing program at Frederick Community College, all while continuing to work at Uncle Ralph’s Cookie Company where she’d been a bookkeeper since 1986.

She feared that perhaps she was too old for nursing school and wouldn’t be taken seriously, or that her introversion would prevent her from fully participating in classes.

“But I made myself participate, and it turned out I wasn’t the oldest student in the class,” she said. “My classmates welcomed me into study groups, and many of us are still close friends. All of my fears were unfounded, which taught me that my ‘discomfort zone’ was a place I could push through.”

Sulmonte was recently trained in STEALTH technology, a type of surgical navigation, and plans to pursue professional certification in her field, called CNOR, this year.

“There’s always room to grow in nursing, and I find that exciting,” she said. “I’m grateful to have a job that I love and that keeps me on my toes. I couldn’t ask for more!”

At Hood I learned how to think critically, nurture my intellectual curiosity, and take on challenges —all of which helped me transition from a career in accounting to a career in nursing. Plus, I can play a mean game of Jeopardy!

—Marla DiPasqua Sulmonte ’92

A POLITICS MAJOR TURNED EVENT PLANNER

Sharia Barksdale ’06 majored in political science, but by her senior year, she realized she no longer enjoyed it and couldn’t see herself pursuing that career. Luckily, she also had another realization.

“Because I was so involved on campus, I realized the only thing that brought me true joy was planning events for my respective groups on campus,” she said. “I then set forth to find any and every odd event job or internship I could find to see if I really enjoyed this field. After about the third gig, I knew the hospitality industry was my calling!”

Barksdale went on to earn her master’s of tourism administration in event and meeting management from George Washington University and is now an Events Industry Council certified meeting planner.

“I was terrified that I wasn’t good enough because it was such a drastic change from what I had been previously pursuing,” she said. She researched for hours a day the top vendors, price

points, industry trends, statistics and standards. “Being prepared ultimately became my workaround for the fear.” Now, she’s CEO of Eclectic Fête, which offers full-service logistics and décor design services for avant-garde events and weddings; manager of meetings at the American Institute of Architects; and Washington, DC area director of the Say I Do! LGBTQ Wedding Expo.

“I am an introverted extrovert by nature, so being a planner allows me to equally be a hermit when I’m managing intricate logistics, and to be the conductor of organized chaos on-site at events,” she said.

In the next few years, she plans to transition her small event company into a full-service event production company. In addition to producing large-scale international events, she wants to create an “urban business incubator” that focuses on the start-up phases of entrepreneurship.

Don’t be afraid to flip your life upside down to be happy. Reinvent yourself every chance you get if it means living a more fulfilled life.

—Sharia Barksdale ’06

AN ENGLISH MAJOR WHO BECAME A PIONEERING SEX THERAPIST

Lois Hoffberger Blum Feinblatt ’42 has always been a trailblazer. She recently celebrated her 98th birthday, and just a few years ago, retired from working as a psychotherapist at Johns Hopkins University.

In 1966, when women were more typically stay-at-home moms, she was working in Baltimore’s Department of Welfare screening every couple in the city who was interested in adopting a child. She was the first woman in her family to have a job out of the home.

“I saw an advertisement in the newspaper that Johns Hopkins wanted to train married women over 35 who have successfully raised a family, into therapists. I knew I wanted to be a psychotherapist,” she said.

She was 45 years old at the time with three kids—Patty, 17; Jeff, 19; and Larry, 23. She was one of eight selected from more than 400 applicants and held the position for 16 years.

By 1970, Hopkins was looking to start a Sexual Behaviors Consultation Unit based on the pioneering sex researchers William Masters and Virginia Johnson, who had shocked the public with candid and demystifying talk about orgasms and sexual dysfunction.

“This was a great job. I had over 40 years working with all kinds of patients: women, men, straight, gay, transgender,” she said. “You get training to drive a car but not to have a successful relationship.”

She says she attributes “love, luck and diet” to her longevity and it’s of the utmost importance to “know yourself.”

“Identify your passion and follow the things you like most in life,” she said. “Get involved with the community, organizations and a field or mission that you feel strongly about. Get to know others. My practice grew because of my relationships and all the referrals I received because of these relationships.”

Embrace change. I have seen remarkable change in my lifetime—from the pre-birth control era to internet porn addictions, from abstinence before marriage to legal gay marriage and marrying outside of one’s religion and race. The liberal arts education helped me embrace change and be a life long learner.

— Lois Hoffberger Blum Feinblatt ’42

A FITNESS INSTRUCTOR WITH A PASSION FOR INSPIRING OTHERS

Blaine Daisey ’17 majored in integrated marketing communications, but he’s finding his passion in a career in aquatics and fitness as a Zumba instructor and swim coach for the YMCA in Lewes, Deleware.

“It was not until senior year when I walked across that stage and had a moment of clarity, that no matter what, I wanted to inspire others,” he said. “I had always asked myself how I would do that. And now, I know.”

While he might not be working in marketing like he once thought he would, he says he still applies the skills he learned in his classes in his everyday work.

“Communication and connection play a vital role when I’m coaching group exercise classes, and I’m very grateful that Hood, and my beloved professors, provided me with the necessary skill set and tools to inspire others.”

In addition to finding joy in motivating others, Daisey also appreciates the flexibility and opportunity to travel that comes with instructing.

“My parents have always told me to pursue what I love most, and I never would have guessed it would revolve around the aquatics industry, let alone dance fitness,” he said.

It was a Zumba class at Hood with instructor Jessica Roderick ’19 that he calls “the highlight of his college career” and attributes to him finding his calling.

“Throughout the semester, I wanted to continue to learn more,” he said. “Jess told me what to do to become an instructor, and I ended up taking a course right over in Germantown! I’ve never looked back since.”

Daisey aims to further progress in his fitness career while continuing with the Aqua Zumba and Strong by Zumba programs.

“I have actually been recently licensed for HIIT (high-intensity interval training). It’s definitely a change from your average cardio class, but I definitely want to grow and see where this takes me,” he said. “I want to continue to inspire others!”

Communication and connection play a vital role when I’m coaching group exercise classes, and I’m very grateful that Hood, and my beloved professors, provided me with the necessary skill set and tools to inspire others.

—Blaine Daisey ’17

AN AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR COMPETITOR AND SOFTWARE DEVELOPER

Chris DiGangi ’12 majored in mathematics and economics at Hood, went on to earn his master’s in mechanical and aerospace engineering at George Washington University and work at Deloitte, a top accounting organization. He never would have guessed where his career would take him next.

“I left a very good job as a senior consultant at Deloitte where I had a challenging work environment with great co-workers,” he said. “However, I think that if you ever have the chance to work in a field that you are extremely passionate about you, just have to go for it. It was definitely scary to leave a very high-paying job for something that wasn’t quite as high, but at the end of the day happiness is more valuable than money.”

For DiGangi, happiness is being a part of Ultimate Ninjas LLC, where he’s a software developer and gets to train to compete on the hit TV show, American Ninja Warrior.

“I enjoy working in a technical field that also matches my passion outside of the workplace,” he said. “Ultimate Ninjas is a chain of gyms in the Midwest based on American Ninja Warrior, and I

get to be a part of the gym and help teach kids about Ninja, while also using my technical expertise to create apps and build websites to grow the business.”

He didn’t study software development in college, but with his Hood education, he had the proper skills and discipline to learn it. As for competing on American Ninja Warrior, he started when he was a senior at Hood, and his passion for it continues.

“It has been the most gratifying aspect of my life as I’ve seen the show grow and I watch kids all over the country get more involved in Ninja and more active in general,” he said. “I love being a part of the show, and it’s something I train extremely hard for.”

DiGangi hopes to keep growing and excelling in his career, continue to learn new technologies, and of course, compete. “I’d like to continue to qualify for the national finals and hopefully beat stage 3 and climb that rope for one million dollars!” he said. “But in reality, I just hope to continue doing well on the show and getting more opportunities to push the sport forward and inspire kids and adults to be active and healthy!”

I certainly didn’t expect to be working for a ‘ninja’ gym, but I think when you have a liberal arts background, you are exposed to so many different things, and it helps to make you more adaptable.

—Chris DiGangi ’12

AN ENTREPRENEUR COMMUNICATING THROUGH CHOCOLATE

Asimina “Mina” Apostolidis ’93 left her successful career in public relations to become the head chocolatier and owner of MINA Handmade Chocolates. Her chocolate creations are inspired by her travels and life in Greece,

“Offering a chocolate that is handmade, inspired by my life is, after all, a way of communicating,” she said. “Making people happy when they devour them, seeing the smile on their faces, providing them with information about the origins of the recipe and the story behind each creation.”

At Hood, Apostolidis majored in communications, focusing on print media and public relations. She worked in both the tourism and education industries in high positions, but with an encouraging push from a friend in 2008, she decided it was time to chase another dream.

“One of my strong points and something I always loved doing was communicating and being around people,” she said. “After having worked for 10 years in public relations, then being a home-stay mom, and a part-time chocolatier, I decided to switch careers and do another thing I have always loved doing, which is chocolate creating and entrepreneurship.” Even during her time at Hood, Apostolidis was making chocolates. “I’d go to Safeway to buy dark chocolate and almonds, that I would roast in the microwave of Smith Hall, and I would make chocolate rochers for my friends there,” she said.

As she was preparing to launch her brand, she had some doubts, but she always reminded herself she was very good at her trade. Others started to notice, too. Harper’s Bazaar, Greek edition printed in 2010, “Apostolidis’ chocolates have a finesse and balance in taste that we find in French and Spanish chocolatiers.”

Her greatest fear, however, came when she moved from Greece, her homeland, to Belgium, the land of chocolate.

“A Greek in Belgium making chocolates, with her own brand...” she said. “However, I always believed in what I was doing as my chocolates are unique in taste, inspired by the Mediterranean and my voyages in life, and of top quality.”

Mina’s rum-aromatized dark chocolate ‘Amelia’ truffle was created in memory of her mentor, professor Juana Amelia Hernandez. Hernandez was Mina’s first Spanish teacher, and she inspired Mina with her stories about growing up in Cuba.

“Dr. Hernandez was sharing her memories from her Cuba, and she mentioned Cuban rum, so for me, since then, rum is Cuba. This is the explanation behind the choice of the name,” she said. “It came spontaneously, and I am very happy I had the opportunity to honor her in my own way forever. Amelia is one of my best sellers.”

Remember to be grateful, have faith and that life is an occasion—rise to it!

—Asimina “Mina” Apostolidis ’93