Spring 2004

by Kathy Marshall

Each fall, approximately 500 first-year students arrive on campus, unique individuals who change the landscape of campus simply by their presence. By way of introducing you to the Classes of ’07, we’d like you to meet six of these young people.

Spirited Nazia Ahmad is from Pakistan and, through her affiliations across campus, offers the rest of the student body an opportunity to learn more about another culture and religion. Nazia observes her Muslim traditions and can be seen quietly returning to her residence before dark to say her evening prayers. She admits that it’s a bit difficult to hold true to all of her religious traditions so far from others who share them, but she says she’s figuring out how to manage that. Her new friends are helping; during Ramadan several students fasted with her to offer their support. Nazia is starting a Muslim Student Association on campus, has been nominated as treasurer of the International Student Association (ISA), is a member of the Koshare dance troupe and Model United Nations, and, during her first semester, earned a GPA of 4.075.	Confident Chris Hagar came to Hobart from Acton, Mass., to study political science, philosophy and computer science. An ambitious undertaking, but Chris is a dedicated student. Academic focus is not new to Chris. In high school, he was on the Academic Decathalon team that went to the national competition and placed among the top 10 schools in the nation. Chris works for the Division of Information Technology on campus and hopes to start a computer users’ group. He chose Hobart because of the programs it offers and for its size. He reports that he has not been disappointed – that his classes are stimulating, his professors accessible and the many speakers who visit campus motivating.
Determined When Caterina Saracino from Geneva, N.Y., was a child, she was burned over 40 percent of her body. At age 8, she was invited to attend a special burn camp at Camp Good Days and Special Times, where she thrived around other children in similar circumstances. As a young teen she attended the Finger Lakes Regional Burn Survivors’ Camp and again flourished. Caterina returned to camp later as a counselor, proud to mentor younger children. She thrilled at their growth and vowed to always be a role model to burn victims and others who have challenges to overcome. Caterina hopes to get involved in Habitat for Humanity and several club sports.	Engaged Christopher David from Silver Spring, Md., has played lacrosse since he was in second grade (his high school team finished in the top three nationally), and he’s playing it here. He plans to major in philosophy and probably will pursue a law degree, but right now politics is his consuming interest. It was his Introduction to American Politics course first semester that caused him to apply to Residential Education to start a political awareness and activism theme house next year, which has since been approved. “Professor (Craig) Rimmerman helped me understand how important it is for everyone to be civically engaged and politically aware and active,” Chris explains. “And since lacrosse takes up so much of my time, I thought living with others who also wanted to find time to engage in the political system would be a good way to do just that.”
Energetic Exuding energy with every word and movement, Jennifer Robustelli from Lewiston, Maine, personifies the notion that if you want something done, ask a busy person. Jennifer was an officer in the student council at her high school and was elected class president upon her arrival at William Smith. She enjoys the opportunities elected office gives her to enact change. In high school, Jennifer was a member of the law enforcement program, through which she did many community service projects, supervised dozens of younger cadets and learned about public policy and government. Since her arrival on campus, Jennifer is involved in the initiation of a Model United Nations program, and she hopes ultimately to get back into her music (she plays trombone and bass) and more involved in club sports.	Committed Hailing from Littleton, Colo., Joseph McDonald was active in high school, serving as student body president his senior year, playing on the baseball team and participating in the theater program and community service projects. Last fall, Joe was in the HWS theatre production of “Judgment Day.” He also plays baseball on a club team and enjoys his classes. But what Joe likes as much as anything is his involvement with the Jumpstart program, where he spends eight or more hours each week working with 3-year-olds at a preschool in Geneva. Joe’s favorite place to study – weather permitting – is one of Main Street’s benches overlooking Seneca Lake.