The College of Charleston’s fourth class of William Aiken Fellows will graduate on May 11, 2013. These students, all members of the Honors College, were selected for the Aiken Fellows Society based on their superior performance both inside and outside the classroom. More information about the Aiken Fellows.
In this year’s class, 10 out of the 12 had some sort of international experience as an undergraduate. All participated in impressive research projects with faculty at the College, the Medical University of South Carolina, or another institution. This class features one Rotary Global Scholar recipient, one Fulbright recipient, and two Bishop Robert Smith Award winners. All of these students have had a tremendous impact on this community through internships and other leadership roles.
Jeffrey (Jeff) Brooks is an International Business and Spanish double major with a minor in Finance from Newark, Delaware. Jeff is in the process of applying and interviewing for jobs in the corporate finance and banking industry. Thanks to funding from the School of Business, Jeff studied abroad in Guadalajara, Mexico. While there he worked as a research intern studying lean thinking in area hospitals. During his time at CofC, Jeff served as a peer instructor for Spanish conversation courses, was a member of the College of Charleston Swim Club, and was a member of the Schottland Scholars program through the School of Business.
Lauren Krouse is an English major with a focus in Creative Writing from Knoxville, Tennessee. She has completed her work at CofC in three years. This fall, Lauren will move to Lebork, Poland to teach English. During her time at CofC, Lauren published several stories in local publications. A travel memoir of her study abroad experience in Spoleto, Italy was featured in the College of Charleston magazine last fall.
Chelsea Michael is an Arts Management and Studio Art double major from Duluth, Georgia. Chelsea is currently applying for arts-related jobs in Charleston and plans to apply for a graduate program in the arts management field beginning in 2014. Last summer, she earned a fellowship to intern at the Sotheby’s Institute in New York City. Through the Arts Management program Chelsea has interned with two local galleries including the Halsey Institute. Along with her work in arts management, she also served as an Honors Peer Facilitator.
Chelsea Montgomery is a Political Science and German double major with a minor in German Studies from Aiken, South Carolina. Over the past year Chelsea has discovered her passion for medicine and will spend the next year completing her pre-medicine course requirements and studying for the MCAT. She plans to combine her interest in global studies with medicine by eventually working with refugees and displaced persons. While at CofC, Chelsea studied abroad twice in Germany (once on a William Aiken Fellows Society Summer Enrichment Grant) and spent a summer in Peru teaching English. She has been an active member of the German Club and the Baptist Collegiate Ministries.
Lydia Nickolas is a Geology major from Austin, Texas. This summer Lydia will continue her work in campus sustainability through an internship with the Office of Sustainability and apply to graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in water resources. Lydia’s involvement with sustainability and water issues extends both locally and internationally. At CofC, she has served as the president of the Geological Society, a volunteer with the Green Hearts Project, and an intern with the Office of Sustainability. Through a program with the Geology Department she traveled to India to explore issues of water pollution and with the Center for Civic Engagement she participated in two service trips centered on food security.
Mallen Urso is a Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies double major from Clover, South Carolina. As the 2014 election season is gearing up, Mallen is pursuing a position working on a campaign following graduation. Mallen worked on numerous campaigns as an undergraduate, most recently with Paul Tinkler’s campaign for SC state senate. Through the Honors College Washington Semester program, she was able to combine her interest in politics and women’s issues with an internship at the National Women’s Caucus. She also served both as the president of the Honors Student Association and the Student Alumni Associates.
Alice Van Arsdale is a Classics major with minors in Theatre and Art History from Naples, Florida. Following graduation she will move to New York City to gain experience through an internship at an area museum. She will then apply to graduate school in either Art History or Museum Management. While at CofC, Alice interned in the Marketing and Events Management Department at the Gibbes Museum of Art. She also served as the treasurer of the Classics Club and was a member of Center Stage. During the summer of 2011, she explored her interest in roman architecture through a study abroad program in Rome, Italy.
Dyanne Vaught is an Economics and Mathematics double major with a minor in Discovery Informatics from Lexington, South Carolina. Dyanne recently accepted a position as a research assistant at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston starting after graduation. Last summer, Dyanne interned with the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in their Research and Statistics department. While at CofC, she served as an Honors Peer Facilitator, a tutor in mathematics and economics, and as a crisis counselor for People Against Rape. She also had the opportunity to study abroad at the London School of Economics. Dyanne was a finalist for a UK Fulbright grant.
Levi Vonk is an International Studies major with a minor in Spanish from Kingsland, Georgia. This summer Levi will intern at the University of Maastricht School of Governance with support from a William Aiken Fellows Society Summer Enrichment grant. Following his internship, he will attend the University of Sussex on a Rotary Global Scholar grant. He started his own organization in Charleston, Hispanic Outreach and Literacy Advancement (HOLA), working towards bettering the lives of migrant Hispanic workers. During his summers, he interned with Student Action with Farmworkers in North Carolina. Levi was recently awarded CofC’s most prestigious award, the Bishop Robert Smith.
Anneke Wilder is a Biology major with a Studio Art minor from Spartanburg, South Carolina. Upon graduating, Anneke hopes to return to Spain to teach English for a year through a Spanish government program. She will then pursue graduate studies either in scientific illustration or environmental studies. While at CofC, Anneke was able to study abroad in two different countries, Spain and Panama. She completed internships with both GreenBy3 and the Mount Pleasant Land Conservancy. Through support of a National Science Foundation grant she studied the effects of environmental contaminants on frog reproduction. Anneke will continue her research this summer through a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Beverley (Liza) Wood is a double major in Political Science and Biology from Boardman, Ohio. Starting in the fall, Liza will attend the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands on a Fulbright grant to study sustainability science and policy. While at CofC, she interned at the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium and Lowcountry Local First and served as an Honors Peer Facilitator. Liza’s bachelor’s essay focused on alternative agriculture movements in Thailand. She presented her work at both national and international conferences, and currently has a manuscript in the final stages of review. Liza was recently awarded CofC’s most prestigious award, the Bishop Robert Smith.
Morgan Zipperly is a Psychology major with a Neuroscience minor from Mobile, Alabama. After touring Europe this summer Morgan will work as a research specialist at the Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs at MUSC. She will take the next year to apply to MD/PhD programs to pursue her career in academic medicine. Since the summer after freshman year, she has been a researcher at MUSC. Her research has mainly focused on addiction studies. During the summer of 2011, she participated in a summer neuroscience seminar in Germany with other CofC students and faculty. On campus, she has been actively involved as the president of the Neuroscience Club, a member of the Psychology club, and a volunteer with numerous organizations.