The GAAP Board is made up of approximately 15 students who work year-round to plan GAAP events. Applications for the board are available in April each year.
ACTIVITIES: GAAP, Student Credit Union, GU Alumni, Blue & Gray Tour Guides, Housing Office
Hey future Hoyas! My name is Jeff Bailin and I'm currently a senior in the McDonough School of Business majoring in Finance and Accounting. I live a half hour outside of Chicago in Clarendon Hills, IL and graduated from Hinsdale Central High School. Here at Georgetown, I'm involved with GAAP, the Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union, Blue and Gray Tour Guides, and work for the Housing Office. There are a myriad of student groups and activities for every possible interest here at Georgetown, so it's easy for everyone to find a niche. Being in D.C. has provided me with the opportunity to hear speakers ranging from Kofi Annan to Robin Williams, see the monuments and museums, and explore one of the best cities in the country. Leaving my friends and family in the Midwest was a tough decision, but I can't imagine having gone anywhere else. Georgetown really has a great combination of academics, atmosphere, location, and athletics that is tough to beat. If you have any questions or would just like to chat about what it's like here at Georgetown feel free to email me!
E-mail: jeb85@georgetown.edu
ACTIVITIES: GAAP, Student Activities Commision, New Student Orientation
Hey, future Hoyas! My name is Meredith McGrath, and I am a senior English major in the College. I am from Glenview, IL, a suburb north of Chicago, and I am a proud member of the Loyola Academy Class of 2006! Here at Georgetown, I am Vice President of the GAAP Executive Board, a Board Member on the Student Activities Commission, a New Student Orientation Captain, and a George F. Baker Scholar. I became involved with GAAP because of my own experience on a GAAP Weekend when I was a senior in high school. It confirmed what I had suspected throughout my college search - that Georgetown was the perfect place for me! I have been exposed to so many fascinating people and experiences since my arrival. Whether conversing with a professor or classmate here on the Hilltop or venturing into D.C. to participate in the political and cultural scene, being a Georgetown student opens the door to countless opportunities to grow, learn, and have fun. I hope the GAAP Weekends we've planned give you a taste of what Georgetown has in store for you! Best of luck in the college process and HOYA SAXA!
E-mail: mgm38@georgetown.edu
HIGH SCHOOL: International School of Brussels, Belgium
ACTIVITIES: GAAP, Georgetown Alumni, Student Federal Credit Union, Blue & Gray tour guide, Capella Group "Superfood"
My name is Matt McKenna and I am a senior in the McDonough School of Business majoring in Finance and International Business and hoping to minor in Economics. I am from Mahtomedi, Minnesota; however, I graduated from the International School of Brussels, in Belgium. In addition to being on the GAAP board I am involved with the Georgetown Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union as a Loan Officer within the credit department, and as an Operations Manager. I am also a Blue & Gray tour guide and sing base for the coed a capella group entitled "Superfood." My other interests include traveling and playing every intramural sport Georgetown has to offer
E-mail: mm657@georgetown.edu
My name is Justin Chen, and I'm from the Bay Area, California. I am a senior in the McDonough School of Business, majoring in Finance and Accounting, and pursuing a career in investment banking. After applying to thirteen schools, the college decision was an extremely difficult one. I'm sure many of you high school seniors are facing the same daunting task and trying to decide how to make the best choice. In the end, I based my decision on my actual college visits, and Georgetown's GAAP open house weekend proved to be the tipping point. The visit confirmed all the great things that the you hear and read about, but I was really able to experience an atmosphere and community that no book or website could describe. The sense of student initiative and community is unparalleled, resulting in over 200 student clubs, GUASFCU (the largest student-run financial institution in the country), The Corp (the largest student-run company netting $4 million in revenue), and much more. After having such an incredible experience here, I have joined the GAAP Board in an effort to show prospective students what Georgetown is truly about. I encourage you all to attend one of these open house weekends and enjoy!
E-mail: jac266@georgetown.edu
ACTIVITIES: GAAP, Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union
Hey, future Hoyas! My name is Kristine Cudahy and I’m a sophomore here at Georgetown. I’m in the McDonough School of Business, and am majoring in Finance and Accounting. I am from Stevensville, MI, which is a small town on the coast of Lake Michigan, about an hour and a half outside of Chicago. Here on campus, I am currently involved in GAAP and am a manager in the operations department of the Georgetown University Alumni and Student Credit Union. This is my first year on the GAAP board, and I’m so thrilled to share my favorite parts of Georgetown with all of you! I decided to join GAAP after my own experience on a GAAP weekend my senior year in high school. My weekend on the hilltop was the deciding factor in my own college decision, and I could not be happier with the choice I made! Georgetown is the perfect place for me! Georgetown is much more than a great university, to me, it’s home. The opportunities to learn and grow here are endless, and I’ve found that I learn just as much from my peers as I do from my professors. I hope the GAAP Weekends we've planned let you experience just how great Georgetown is and feel free to contact me with any question you may have. Best of luck in the college process and HOYA SAXA!
E-mail: kmc86@georgetown.edu
ACTIVITIES: ESCAPE leader, GAAP, Habitat for Humanity Alternative Spring Break, Georgetown Discovery Initiative
Hey there future HOYAS! My name is Louis DiPaola and I’m a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences hoping to double major in Classics and Government. I was born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey and graduated from Saint Peter’s Prep in 2008. There are so many different reasons that Georgetown stood out as the school for me. Initially it was because I am a history buff and being in a location steeped in such a rich historical tradition was a huge draw for me. However once I got to campus and began meeting the people here I started to realize that what made Georgetown such a unique school was its students. There are few places that can boast as interesting and eclectic mix of people as Georgetown does. Here you will meet some of your closest friends and have the opportunity to grow and learn more about the world.
It is hard to ever be bored at a school like Georgetown which offers tons of clubs and activities ranging from intramural sports to volunteer organizations to an international relations club. When you do decide to venture outside of Healy Gates you will discover tons of political and cultural activities that come along with being located in the epicenter of American politics. My experience at Georgetown thus far has been incredibly interesting, educational, and most of all FUN! I encourage you all to come visit one of the GAAP weekends and I hope to see you around campus. HOYA SAXA!
E-mail: led44@georgetown.edu
Hi everyone! My name is Sarah Hadjian and I am a junior English major in the College. On campus, I am involved in ESCAPE, New Student Orientation, DC Reads, and GAAP. I am from North Andover, MA, which is located about 40 minutes north of Boston, and I went to North Andover High School. I mainly applied to schools in the Boston area, but there was something about Georgetown that made me break my close-to-home rule. I’m so glad I followed my gut, because after attending GAAP Weekend, I was completely sold on Georgetown. The three things that immediately stood out to me about Georgetown were the strength of academics, the beauty of the campus and the Georgetown neighborhoods, and the perks of living in DC. One year later, I am still impressed with these components, and I’ve added a few things to my list. Few other schools can offer the benefits of living just a short metro ride away from the immense history, beauty, and power of the nation’s capital. In the past two years, I’ve sat in on the Supreme Court, seen the Dalai Lama speak on the steps of the Capitol, attended an opera at the Kennedy Center, and witnessed President Obama being sworn into office. In addition to the amazing opportunities afforded by living in DC, Georgetown is home to a unique and spirited student body and a wealth of activities and organizations to get involved in on campus. Georgetown attracts an incredibly diverse and talented group of young people from all over the United States and the world, and I really believe that exposure to people with different experiences than my own will be one of the most valuable things I take away from my time at Georgetown. Plus, as the number one university in DC, there is a never-ending stream of prestigious guest speakers coming to campus. And, if that wasn’t enough, there is nothing like attending a Georgetown basketball game surrounded by hundreds of screaming Hoya fans. If you have any questions about life as a Hoya, please feel free to contact me! I’d love to hear from you!
E-mail: seh52@georgetown.edu
HIGH SCHOOL: The American School in London (London, England)
ACTIVITIES: The Hoya, Blue & Gray Tour Guides, GAAP
Hi guys! My name is Meghan Keneally and I am a senior in the College and I am hoping to complete a double major in Government and Art History with a minor in French. As you have probably heard, Georgetown is a very "international" school, with students traveling from many different states, countries and continents to study here: I am one of those students. I have lived in London, England for the last ten years of my life, but I was born in Sleepy Hollow, New York, so I am a dual citizen of the US and the UK. Even though I went to an American school for middle school and high school, I still wondered if I would fit in well at a school where the vast majority of students were born and bred in the states. Luckily, I was completely reassured when arriving to campus- everyone is so welcoming and eager to meet kids from different places and backgrounds, which made it easy for me to feel right at home. Georgetown really embraces the idea that we are part of a global community, and as a result, we have a number of very strong study abroad programs. I spent six weeks of this summer in Paris taking classes about Politics in the EU, and I am studying in Strasbourg, France for the fall 2008 semester- I will really get the language down by then! While on campus, I am very involved in a number of activities, including The Hoya (a campus newspaper), Blue and Gray Tour Guides, New Student Orientation, and of course, GAAP. Hope that has given you a little insight into the students you will find here- and you can get a better feel for yourself on a GAAP weekend, so please use the resources available to you to learn more about Georgetown!
E-mail: mk455@georgetown.edu
ACTIVITIES: GAAP, New Student Orientation, Georgetown Program Board, Interfaith Council
HI HOYAS! My name is Margaux McGrath, and I’m from Glenview, IL, a suburb north of Chicago. I’m a sophomore in the College with an English major and a Spanish minor. In addition to being a GAAP Board member, I am the Community Outreach Chair for the Georgetown Program Board, a New Student Orientation Advisor, and a member of the Interfaith Council. I will always remember walking through Healy Gates on my GAAP weekend and being enthusiastically welcomed. I was instantly captivated by the spirit of Georgetown! It is that Georgetown spirit which fills the heart of every Hoya and makes Georgetown such a unique and dynamic place to learn and live. I found my home at Georgetown, and I know you will too! I’m excited to welcome you to Georgetown, and please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions. And remember, “the yell of all the yells, the yell that wins the day, is the HOYA HOYA SAXA of the dear old Blue and Gray”!
E-mail: mrm99@georgetown.edu
ACTIVITIES: International Relations Club, GAAP, NAIMUN, The Corp, the Admissions Office
Hi future Hoyas and fellow Kansans! My name is Elise McKenna and I am currently a sophmore in the McDonough School of Business as well as Pre-Med. I graduated from Blue Valley North High School in Leawood, Kansas. Georgetown is truly the most amazing school and holds many to you are one of a kind. Opportunities on campus are endless. My biggest problem is wanting to be involved into many things! I am involved in International Relations Club, GAAP, NAIMUN, and work at The Corp and in the Admissions Office. "The Corp" is the largest run student company in the United States. From the CEO to the cashiers, every Corp service is entirely student run. The countless number of opportunities available at Georgetown makes it easy for everyone to find their niche. Georgetown's unique location also provides many one of a kind experiences. This year my friends and I woke up at 3 a.m. to attend Obama's inauguration and could actually see him from our spot on the lawn. Whether its visiting a Smithsonian, interning on the Hill, or attending concerts at the Verizon center DC's vibrant history and city life will always leave you with more activities than you will have time to complete. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions! I am always happy to help and always welcome an opportunity to talk about the school I love. I look forward to welcoming you to Georgetown next year!
E-mail: esm43@georgetown.edu
ACTIVITIES: GAAP, New Student Orientation, ESCAPE, Hoya Blue, Chinese Student Alliance
Hello future HOYAS! My name is Emily Merki and I am a junior in the School of Foreign Service with a focus in Social and Political Thought. I hail from Amarillo, TX, which is literally just a dot on the map. To go from being pretty much in the middle of nowhere to (what I consider) the most exciting and thriving city in the country has been a thrill, and an adjustment. The reason I love GAAP is because it’s the organization that was the first, not only in my Georgetown experience, but in my experiences with visiting colleges, to really make me feel at home. I got to see the big picture – the well-rounded college life that Georgetown students lead – and I liked it! Since that Open House weekend, I’ve become a Georgetown fanatic, intent on recruiting everyone I can! I’ll be an Orientation Advisor for New Student Orientation this fall, as well as a leader for a freshman retreat program called ESCAPE. I’m also proudly involved in Hoya Blue, our student spirit group on campus, so you might see my painted face on TV if you’re watching a Georgetown basketball game (which you should), and the Chinese Student Alliance (attending language dinners and planning social events). I would love for you to contact me with any questions you have about Georgetown, living in DC, or just college in general! GO HOYAS!
E-mail: ekm28@georgetown.edu
ACTIVITIES: GAAP, New Student Orientation, GU Hindu Students Association
Hello, future Hoyas! My name is Aparna Ramesh, and I am a junior in the School of Foreign Service. It's been more than a year since I made my first trek across the country, from my hometown of Davis, CA, to the front gates of Georgetown University. That was my own GAAP weekend. After a couple hours of exploring the campus, I found myself sitting in Georgetown's beautiful Dahlgren Square. Little did I know that, a couple months later, I would return to the square to read through my Global Capitalism book while listening to the rush of the fountain. As my first year began, I increasingly found myself in Dahlgren: dancing around the fountain with friends, lying down on the bench for an afternoon nap, and slipping on the pavement as I witnessed my first snow. Now, without fail, whenever I'm at Dahlgren, I look around the square with one thought: 'I can't imagine anywhere else I'd rather be'. So whether you find yourself lobbying in the halls of the Capitol, participating in a discussion in Tony Lake's proseminar, dancing to Bhangra in the university show 'Rangila', or curling up on that bench in Dahlgren Square, you will find your place here at Georgetown University. Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: atr9@georgetown.edu
ACTIVITIES: GAAP, Blue and Gray Tour Guide, SFS Academic Council – Diplomatic Ball Committee, National Society of Collegiate Scholars
Hi Future Hoyas! My name is Tamara Smallman and I’m a Senior in the School of Foreign Service, majoring in Culture and Politics with a focus on Political Psychology. Attending the GAAP Admitted Students’ Weekend just two years ago is what solidified coming to Georgetown for me. I’d planned on attending Georgetown’s GAAP weekend and then driving down to attend another university’s admitted students’ weekend; however, after the activities of GAAP weekend were complete, I told my parents that there would be no need to make our next trip. I’d fallen in love with Georgetown. After spending two years at Georgetown, it has become clear to me that I could not imagine attending college at any other school. (After all, at what other school could you say you sat in the front row of a live taping of “Hardball with Chris Matthews,” heard speakers from Bill Clinton to Robin Williams and witnessed, in person, an unforgettable basketball victory that sent Georgetown to the Final Four, all in your first year as a college student?). I am beyond proud to be a Hoya. I love attending college in the heart of Washington, DC and having a distinct campus environment at my fingertips as well. I love the classes I've taken here and the people I've encountered from countless different backgrounds, states and countries. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, but just a warning...The love I have for Georgetown is definitely contagious, so after contacting me, there is a good chance that you too will want to become a part of the Georgetown experience. Best of luck and HOYA SAXA!
E-mail: tss29@georgetown.edu
