7 minute read
Senior Stories
Soaring Toward Breaking Into Aerospace Journalism
Name: Bill Bennett
Advertisement
Hometown: Athens, PA Major: Physics Notable UD Memories/Achievements: rugby; liberal arts classes, including Early Modern Lit with Dr. Wegemer; junior and senior classes coming together in support of a grieving classmate Future Plans: pursuing doctorate in aerospace engineering at the University of Notre Dame
In all his time spent on physics, Bill Bennett, BS ’20, found himself missing the liberal arts he had grown to love in the Core Curriculum, so he made sure to keep taking some humanities classes as well. • “Bill’s love for the whole range of the arts and sciences was evident from his freshman year, and he always structured his studies in physics to include ‘fun’ electives such as Early Modern Literature — a course for English majors — or the Thomas More course that required reading 10 books,” said Professor of English Gerard Wegemer, Ph.D. • “Dr. Wegemer taught us about the intellectual battle between the Western tradition and modern ideas,” said Ben nett. “That class really broadened my ability to think critically about texts and showed me that the liberal arts have high stakes.”
Delving Into Investment Banking
Name: Andrew Butler
Hometown: Irving, TX Major: Business Notable UD Memories/Achievements: studying in Rome; friendships formed; education received; successful internships Future Plans: working as a Goldman Sachs analyst
Andrew Butler, BA ’20, is not only grateful for the community he found, but also very thankful for the unique education he received. UD’s business program is unusual in that it mandates that each business major take a class in a variety of different fields (e.g., accounting, marketing, ethics). • “I think this curriculum leaves its students well equipped to become versatile managers who have a critical understanding of their organization’s different parts as well as a broad outlook on it as a whole,” he said. • “Andrew is an exceptional student — a rare example of someone who can hear something in a lecture or read it in a textbook and immediately un derstand how to apply it in a real professional setting. His skill set is very diverse; his work ethic and overall demeanor set benchmarks that his peers can aspire to,” said Associate Professor of Business Michael Stodnick, Ph.D.
Name: Mary Rose Corkery
Hometown: Mansfield, MA Major: Politics Notable UD Memories/Achievements: friendships formed; complementary classes and liberal arts education; running cross country; early mornings at the Cap Bar; participating in the Alexander Hamilton Society; being a fellow of the American Public Philosophy Institute Future Plans: beginning a fellowship as a Daily Caller reporter
Mary Rose Corkery, BA ’20, especially loves UD’s approach to politics — the way the politics classes taught her a philosophy of being human, then gave her a practical application of this knowledge. • “Mary Rose was a delight to have in class,” said Associate Professor of Politics Richard Dougherty, Ph.D. “Her vital interest in the political, social and religious issues of the day sparked a genuine desire to understand the roots of the Western and American political tradition. Her familiarity with that broader tradition will undoubted ly, in turn, serve her well in her postgraduate years.” • “The reason I chose politics is because it well manifests the philosophy of man into a practical art and purpose,” said Corkery.
Transcending Science
Name: Ana Henriquez
Hometown: San Antonio, TX Major: Biology/Latin concentration Notable UD Memories/Achievements: snow in Rome; realizing the value of UD’s curriculum; researching with professors; receiving the Goldwater Scholarship; representing her class as valedictorian Future Plans: pursuing doctorate in cell and molecular biology at the University of Texas Southwestern
When Ana Henriquez, BA ’20, started at UD, she embraced the opportunity to research with professors, beginning with Associate Professor and Chair of Biology William Cody, Ph.D., and his Molec ular Microbiology Lab. • “Ana had already learned what was written on the page, so she always came to my class eager to discuss what was written between the lines,” said Cody. “While others were look ing to consume knowledge, she was looking to produce it.” • “UD has taught me how to defend the pursuit of knowledge as a good end in and of itself,” said Henriquez. “This provides meaning to my work and fortifies my love of scientific research and education.”
Pursuing Cybersecurity
Name: Adella Klinte
Hometown: Austin, TX Major: Business Notable UD Memories/Achievements: friendships formed; good relationships developed with professors; planning open-mic night for Charity Week; TGITs Future Plans: pursuing Master of Science in cybersecurity through UD’s 4+1 Program
Adella Klinte, BA ’20, loves everything about UD’s business program, but what she finds most incredible are the professors. As Klinte maneuvered her way from the world of science to business, she took advantage of the small student-to-faculty ratio, seeking help from her professors, and they never failed her. • “Dr. Stodnick gave me a passion for business and effort, J. Lee gave me a passion to be a bet ter person, and Dr. Jacocks raised my voice,” she said. “They make all their students feel heard.” • “Adella was always a high-energy student, and her positivity was infectious,” said Professor of Management J. Lee Whittington, Ph.D. “She has a strong work ethic. She was able to maintain her commitment to the courses while working multiple part-time jobs, along with significant internships.”
Mentoring Middle School
Name: Marge Novacek
Hometown: Menomonee Falls, WI Major: Interdisciplinary Studies Notable UD Memories/Achievements: studying in Rome; successful student-teaching semester Future Plans: teaching middle school in Irving ISD
Marge Novacek, BA ’20, knows that her career will be much more than simply passing along knowledge. She is excited to start her job in Irving ISD, teaching and mentoring. • “Kids in middle school are entering a more independent stage of life, which means they need good role models,” she said. • “When I first heard the name ‘Mar garet Novacek,’ I thought of a kindly older woman,” said Assistant Professor of Education Carmen Newstreet, Ph.D. “When I met Marge, I realized that the ‘old soul’ was indeed part of the beautiful young UD student. Marge worked hard to master her education and math courses. That pedagogic content knowledge combined with her humble, quiet warmth will make her a wonderful middle school teacher who will be appreciated by both students and administrators as an exceptional servant leader.”
Loving Literature
Name: Maria Rossini
Hometown: Richardson, TX Major: English
Notable UD Memories/
Achievements: Junior Poet; writing for OnStage; editing for the University Scholar; participating in Sigma Tau Delta; Cap Bar conversations Future Plans: continuing on to graduate school at the University of Virginia for a master’s in English
Maria Rossini, BA ’20, believes that the pursuit of a further degree in English will give her greater knowledge not only of English, but also of life. • “Maria was a wonderful student in my classes, with exceptionally clear, precise writing; her analytical and interpretive skills are first rate,” said Associate Professor of English Greg Roper, Ph.D., BA ’84 (and a UVA alumnus himself). • “The study of English feels like learning how to love — it’s difficult, it’s ambiguous, it’s challenging, but the time and the effort you take to understand a book trains you to put time and effort into life, too,” explained Rossi ni. “A book is in some ways like a friend that you learn to love, and it can teach you how to live and love life.”
Googling Success
Name: Yeabkal Wubshit
Hometown: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Major: Computer Science
Notable UD Memories/
Achievements: playing soccer for UD; being on the Computer Programming Team; serving as secretary and vice president of the Student Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) chapter at UD; summer 2018 internship at Google Future Plans: working as a Google software engineer
Although Yeabkal Wubshit, BS ’20, had previously planned on becoming an architect, he chose to take a few classes in computer science at UD and soon became fascinated by the different and efficient ways in which computer programming allowed him to solve problems. • “For hard work, tenacity, talent and a desire to learn, you cannot find a better student of computer science than Yeabkal Wubshit,” said Associate Professor of Computer Science Robert Hochberg, Ph.D., with whom Wubshit had 10 classes. • Wubshit sees that not only did UD help him build a strong foundation in computer science, but it allowed students to “freely explore their personal, academic and career interests through computing.”
