Where are you from?
I was born in Canada, but my family moved to South Africa when I was nine years old. We moved to Missouri in 2001, so I finished high school in the States. I don't identify myself by a nationality, though one day I would like to choose a land and call it home. Usually I just say "I came by ship, and with a ship's company, sailing the winedark sea for ports of call on alien shores," which is a passage from Fitzgerald's translation of the Odyssey.

What is your major/minor?
I am currently pursuing the B.S. Mathematics and B.S. Economics.

What do you aspire to do after graduation?
I plan to attend graduate school, achieve doctoral qualifications in a subject, and become a professor. I would like to teach in southern Europe and/or the Middle East.

What notable opportunities have you participated in at SU?
I have served on the Learning Communities' Activities Board for two years, and came to that organization through the Interfaith Learning Community in which I lived during freshman year. I take piano lessons through the Setnor School of Music and regularly accompany the cantors at Catholic Masses in Hendricks Chapel. I have also played some rugby or the 'Hammerheads' SU Rugby-Football club, and I use the gymnasium regularly. This semester I was a facilitator for the Calculus I section of the Academic Excellence Workshop. AEW is a program run by the Engineering College to supplement students' education in the core subjects of engineering. I also sing in the SU Oratorio Society, which is an enjoyable and relaxing experience. Finally, I have taken advantage of several significant opportunities for community service, including the teaching of chess to elementary school students through Hendricks Chapel's 'Students Offering Service' Chess Camp for Kids, and most recently the relief efforts in New Orleans through SU's Ali Brandi Catholic Center.

What inspired you to attend Syracuse University?
My father encouraged me to apply here, and the receipt of the scholarship convinced me to attend.

How has the Coronat Scholarship affected your college experience?
It has removed for me the many financial barriers that college students face today, and has allowed me to focus on my studies and future without the concern of rising debts. Furthermore, the Scholarship has afforded me some privilege in the way of recognition by faculty.

Do you have plans to maximize the opportunities presented by the Coronat scholarship?
Certainly. For one thing, I am continuing to fill my course schedule with variety and depth. During the summers I am able to continue my education with study abroad programs, additional courses and funded research. Finally, I plan to attend graduate school, which is perhaps the most valuable opportunity made available to me by the Scholarship. The expense of an undergraduate degree is so great that many cannot continue on to graduate school and must find a place in the working world immediately, but with the Scholarship I can further my education without financial burdens.

What has been your favorite academic experience at SU?
Several excellent courses I have taken include Honors Introductory Economics, Calculus II, Honors History of the Ancient World, and Computer Organization & Assembly Language.

What has been your favorite non-academic experience at SU?
Participating in the relief efforts in New Orleans with other students from the SU Catholic Center was perhaps the most rewarding and educational non-academic experience I have had so far. We learned so much about the need for and the joy of community.