NAME: Carlos Hernandez

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: International Politics

HOMETOWN: Phoenix, AZ

HIGH SCHOOL: Washington High School

ACTIVITIES: Chapel Choir, College Republicans, Diplomatic Ball Committee, Georgetown Scholarship Program, Discovery Initiative Ambassador

Hello, future Hoyas. My name is Carlos Hernandez, and I am a junior in the School of Foreign Service majoring in international politics, exploring foreign policy and policy processes while concurrently pursuing a certificate in European studies. I plan to focus on transatlantic relations, specifically the US-NATO dynamic and how cooperation between the two can provide leadership with current challenges, particularly in the Middle East. I am originally from Phoenix, Arizona and graduated from Washington High School. I spent two years as a commissioner for the City of Phoenix on educational policy and also represented the city on official delegations to China, Mexico and the Czech Republic.
I currently work for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as a student information officer. I am also a student ambassador for the Discovery Initiative which links current students with alumni to learn about their Hoya experience. On campus, I am active in various organizations. I am the past director for external affairs of the College Republicans and chaired the Georgetown Students for McCain group during the historic presidential campaign of 2008. I sing in the Chapel Choir every Sunday at the 10pm mass in Dahlgren Chapel; it is a great way to unwind while producing great music. Finally, I am in the Georgetown Scholarship Program and have served two years on the Diplomatic Ball Committee.
Georgetown offers many opportunities for engagement partly due to our amazing location. Washington, D.C. is a great city with many cultural and political events. During my off time and summers, I work as an associate with Impacto Group, a strategic communications and market research firm focusing on the emerging Hispanic market and the community's influence on politics. As of July 2008, I sit on the board of directors of Sister Cities International, a global non-profit organization for citizen diplomacy.
Above all, my time at Georgetown has allowed me to create lasting relationships with my friends, classmates, coworkers, professors and administrators. Coming to the Hilltop will always be an adjustment, but the transition is facilitated by all of the great people on campus. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. I look forward to welcoming you into the Georgetown family.
E-mail: ch342@georgetown.edu

NAME: Patrick Go

SCHOOL: McDonough School of Business (MSB)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: Marketing and Operations & Information Management

HOMETOWN: Redwood, CA

HIGH SCHOOL: Bellarmine College Preparatory

ACTIVITIES: The Corp, MSB Technology Center, and Financial Management Association

My name is Patrick Go, and I am from Redwood City, a suburb in between San Francisco and San Jose. I graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory, a Jesuit high school in San Jose, and am a junior in the McDonough School of Business. I currently work two jobs, one in the IT + Marketing department of the Corp, the largest student-run company in the world, and the other at the MSB Technology Center. Additionally, I am the Junior Vice President of the Financial Management Association, an organization dedicated to providing opportunities for Finance majors to learn more about the field and to network with professionals in the industry. While I’ve only been on campus for two years, I feel like Georgetown has always been my home. And though I miss the warm California weather, In-N-Out Burger, and watching my Golden State Warriors, Georgetown is a great place to spend your next four years. One of the best things about Georgetown is that the immediate area around the campus, which has the feel of a small town but is only a short distance from a city that offers so much to do. If you want to catch a glimpse of the monuments, explore the Smithsonian museums, or just spend a night out with your friends in our nation's capital, Georgetown's location makes it all possible. Whatever you're interested in, I am certain that Georgetown as well as DC will offer many opportunities for you to explore your interests. Whether you're looking for an internship in DC or wanting to write for the sports section of the student newspaper, The Hoya, Georgetown has something for you. With such a wide variety of clubs and organizations, you're bound to find something you enjoy as well other people who share the same interests. However, the best part of Georgetown is that it truly does make for the ideal college experience. With about 1,600 other individuals in your class, you will always see a familiar face when you walk across campus yet continue to meet new people every day. At Georgetown, you will be exposed to people from all walks of life and learn from their experiences. But regardless of how different your backgrounds may be, you will always share the common bond of being a Hoya. If you have any, and I really do mean any, questions, do not hesitate to e-mail me even if you just want to talk about your senior year. Good luck and Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: pg97@georgetown.edu

NAME: Caitlin Collis

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2013

MAJOR: International Politics

HOMETOWN: Toronto, Ontario

HIGH SCHOOL: Havergal College

ACTIVITIES: GAAP, Blue and Gray, Habitat for Humanity, International Relations Club

Hey! My name is Caitlin Collis, and I am from Toronto, Ontario. I am a freshman in the School of Foreign Service, and I am currently contemplating a major in International Politics. In the few short weeks that I have been on the Hilltop, I have mastered the metro, explored the Air and Space museum, taken the classic tourist photo in front of the White House and visited the monuments…twice! From having an internship on Capitol Hill to having lunch in Chinatown, there are more benefits to living in D.C. than will fit on your Pro/Con list. Georgetown offers the perfect blend of a traditional college campus, with a beautiful town just outside the gates and a metropolitan city a few subway stops away. Furthermore, people at Georgetown just love being at Georgetown. I went to a high school with a lot of spirit, and I wanted to find a university with a similar atmosphere. The phrase Hoya Saxa isn’t just a slightly peculiar combination of Greek and Latin, it is a way of life. I wear my Georgetown clothing with pride, I have learned the fight song and I can’t wait to attend my first Georgetown basketball game! There are also so many opportunities for students to get involved both on and off campus. This year, I am involved in GAAP, Blue and Gray (tour guide program), Habitat for Humanity and the International Relations Club. You can truly make your Georgetown experience your own. The decision to study in another country can be daunting, but Georgetown has a very diverse student body and a great support network for international students. During International Pre-Orientation, I had a chance to meet students from all over the world, as well as a few fellow Canadians. Please don’t hesitate to e-mail me if you have any questions. Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: cac257@georgetown.edu

NAME: Roisin Pelley

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2010

MAJOR: Culture & Politics

HOMETOWN: Greenwood Village, CO

HIGH SCHOOL: St. Mary's Academy

ACTIVITIES: HOPE, GUASFCU, Diplomatic Ball Committee, STAND

Hi future Hoyas! My name is Roisin Pelley and I am a Colorado Hoya. The only place I love as much as Colorado is definitely Georgetown. While the East Coast can be a big change, Georgetown is definitely worth it. I am a junior in the School of Foreign Service majoring in Culture and Politics and there is no better place to be. While at Georgetown, I've gotten to see speakers from Madeline Albright and Condoleezza Rice (who both went to high school in Colorado!) to Hayden Panettiere, watched Georgetown beat UConn by three points, and jogged to the White House. Georgetown is a wonderful place to be with different offerings for everyone. I'm involved in HOPE, which is a community service organization on campus, as well as GUASFCU, an entirely student-run bank. If you are ever missing the mountains too much, Georgetown also has a great outdoor club, which can ease the pain with some of their great overnight camping trips.
Washington DC is a different city than Denver, but it's an exciting place to be with great restaurants, shopping, and sights to see. I intern in the city at an international nonprofit and many of my friends have gotten the chance to intern in Congress. I love being at Georgetown because I get to meet people from all over the world and live in an international city that is a short train ride to Philadelphia and NYC. Best of all, whenever you miss home, there is a Chipotle five minutes from campus. I am so glad to call Georgetown home and I hope you will also!
E-mail: rmp34@georgetown.edu

NAME: Whitney Kamin

SCHOOL: McDonough School of Business (MSB)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: Undeclared

HOMETOWN: Greenwich, CT

HIGH SCHOOL: Rye Country Day School

ACTIVITIES: GAAP, Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, Hoya Blue

My name is Whitney Kamin. I am from Greenwich, CT, about forty minutes outside of New York City. I am a junior in the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown majoring in finance and management and minoring in psychology. I honestly could not see myself at any other college or university—my decision to attend Georgetown was the best decision I have ever made. Other than being involved in GAAP here on campus, I am also a member of Hoya Blue—the organization responsible for promoting Georgetown spirit throughout campus and at different sporting events. In addition, I am a member of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, a nationally recognized fraternity that presents many opportunities to further business knowledge as well as making valuable connections in the business world. I am also involved in the MSB Peer Advisor Program, an organization whose goal is to match incoming business school students up with student advisors to help them through their first year. Outside of academics and organizations, there is plenty of time to relax and have fun—the campus as well as the town of Georgetown and the city of Washington offer so many great opportunities. I believe that Georgetown can truly be considered a work hard, play hard school! Please feel free to email me if you have any questions about academics, life at Georgetown, or anything else! I would be happy to help, and I always welcome an opportunity to talk about how much I love Georgetown! I look forward to seeing many of you next year when you decide to make Georgetown your new home!
E-mail: wak8@georgetown.edu

NAME: Ashley Kempczynski

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2012

MAJOR: Government & Psychology

HOMETOWN: Newark, DE

HIGH SCHOOL: Christiana High School

ACTIVITIES: GAAP, On the Docket (Supreme Court Society), Habitat for Humanity, DC Schools Project, College Democrats, GU First Book

Hey future Hoyas! My name is Ashley Kempczynski (I’m on the left, by the way. =D), and I am a sophomore here at Georgetown from Newark, Delaware. For me, Georgetown was the perfect distance. It is far enough away to provide a change and an independent experience, yet it is close enough to make a quick trip home on the weekends or for the holidays. Right now I am probably going to be a Government and Psychology double major, but one of the great things about Georgetown is that you are encouraged to take lots of classes and explore all of you options before making a final decision about your major, which gives you a more well-rounded education while also preventing the annoying hassle of switching your major later in your college career.
Not surprising, I love everything about Georgetown. Even before completing a full year, I already called this place home. The campus is beautiful, the location amazing, the students so driven and diverse; there really is no place quite like it. Whether it is screaming for the Hoyas as they move closer to March Madness, having late night discussions in the dorm about the implications of North Korean policies on global nuclear proliferation, sitting in on a Supreme Court case, studying at the Library of Congress, or taking a break at one of the dozens of museums and attractions that DC has to offer (mostly for free!), I enjoy every minute of being here. Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like at another school. Would I have such caring professors who make themselves available between advising the president and consulting on CNN? Would my closest friends be from all over the country and the world? Would I be just a short Metro ride away from the nation’s capital, yet have the buffer of a historic neighborhood? The answer, I find, is no. Nowhere else would I get the opportunities provided to me here. This is already shaping up to be the best for years of my life at the best possible place. I hope you feel the same way and join the rest of us Delaware Hoyas. If you have any questions about Georgetown, or anything in general, please don’t hesitate to email me. I’d love to talk to you more about life here on the Hilltop. HOYA SAXA!
E-mail: ank22@georgetown.edu

NAME: Kelleigh Cosentino

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2012

MAJOR: Undecided

HOMETOWN: Gaithersburg, MD

HIGH SCHOOL: Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, Washington, DC

ACTIVITIES: International Relations Club, Delta Phi Epsilon Professional Foreign Service Sorority, Habitat for Humanity, Breast Cancer Awareness, DC Reads

When half the appeal of college is hundreds of miles between yourself and your parents, accepting admission to a school in your own city may seem like the last thing you’d ever do. I would know. Not only did I spend my four years of high school in the same city as Georgetown, I spent them on the same block. I went to Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, an all girls high school that is just across the fence from Georgetown University. (Literally. Girls have been known to climb the fence to get out of mass, assemblies, Grandparents’ Day, etc.) When I started the college application process fall of my senior year, I wasn’t sure where I was planning to go, but I knew where I wasn’t going. Georgetown. No way was I going to put myself within a 50 mile radius of my parents, at a school where I could see my high school teachers on a coffee break at Saxby’s and where nearly half of my classmates had applied. Eight years on the same block? No, thank you. Nevertheless, my college counselor and my parents, seeing my criteria for a school and my academic interests, convinced me to apply. When it came down to decision time in April, I was struggling. I was sick and tired of hearing everyone tell me that Georgetown was the perfect fit for me. I wanted to make this decision on my own. And I came close to rejecting the acceptance out of spite. I wanted an exciting college experience, with tons of new people to meet and places to explore. I didn’t want high school part two. When it came down to it though, everyone was right. Georgetown was the right school, and I couldn’t turn my back on it because I was worried that I couldn’t forge a unique path for myself.
When I pulled up to campus the day of move-in, with hundreds of the older Georgetown students welcoming me with screams of “Hoya Saxa” and “Welcome to Georgetown!”, I knew I made the right choice. And as the school year progressed, I didn’t feel like I was stuck in a continuation of high school. Thanks to my complete lack of directional prowess, my new friends were introducing me to some of DC’s greatest discoveries. The resources available to Georgetown students, including the brilliant faculty and the diverse array internships in the city, are endless and widespread, providing for a plethora of brand new experiences. As my friends from high school, on various breaks, would come home to visit, I could see myself beginning to grow through their eyes. I wasn’t living my life to get to the next stage. I was choosing a path based on what I wanted. At one basketball game, amidst the roars of the student section, sitting next to an Arabic Studies major from South America who spends her free time participating in the performance arts, I finally got it. There is truly something for everyone. At Georgetown, you can be anyone you want to be. And DC is only an asset. Sure, your parents might be closer than you’d like. But hey, lugging your dirty clothes to a communal laundry facility and eating in a dining hall gets old after a while. Sometimes a trip home is much needed.
E-mail: kmc69@georgetown.edu

NAME: Laura Brace

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: Anthropology, minor - Spanish

HOMETOWN: Egham, Surrey, England

HIGH SCHOOL: ACS Egham International School

ACTIVITIES: Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity, AGAPE Retreat Program, Salt and Light Catholic Pre-Orientation Leader, GAAP

Hi everyone! My name is Laura Brace and I’m a junior in the College majoring in Anthropology with a Spanish minor. I’m a dual US/UK citizen and I have spent most of my life living near London, where I attended an international school. I remember being worried about feeling out of place at a US university but it’s easy to feel at home here. There are a lot of international students here, and many people have lived abroad or speak other languages. You will find that American students are extremely welcoming and are very interested in other cultures. There are also a lot students from the UK here! So, if you ever do feel a bit homesick, there will always be someone with a stash of Cadbury’s or who knows the results of the latest Premiership clash. Having Washington D.C. on your doorstep is another great advantage. It’s a very international city—the seat of international organizations, and home to diplomats from around the world. The city is an incredible resource for Georgetown students. During my first semester here I was able to participate in an International Development Dinner on campus that boasted leaders at the forefront of international policy. There were guests from organizations like the US State Department and the World Bank. At Halloween (which is huge here in the States!), it is a Georgetown tradition to go trick-or-treating along Embassy Row, stopping to get sweets from international diplomats! Georgetown students get the best of both worlds—the strong community of a campus university, with all that a big city has to offer right on our doorstep. Although a move across the Atlantic can be intimidating, I know that you will fall in love with Georgetown.
E-mail: lab77@georgetown.edu

NAME: Christina Taranenko

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2013

MAJOR: Mathematics & Economics, minor - Russian

HOMETOWN: London, UK

HIGH SCHOOL: The American School in London

ACTIVITIES: Hilltop Consultants, GAAP, Russian Club, Tennis Club, ESCAPE

Hi future Hoyas of the US and world! I am Christina and I attended the American School in London. I grew up in California, New Mexico, and New Jersey, but I was born in the Ukraine. I applied to Georgetown as Mathematics major, but since coming here have decided to include Economics as a second major and Russian as a minor. Georgetown accommodates every passion and interest you can think of, and if you cannot find a group that does, you can easily start your own! Every day that I walk through campus, I fall in love more and more with Georgetown and its people. I found that the professors here are very approachable and encouraging and will always make time to talk to you if you need it. On campus, I am part of the Hilltop Consultants, who provide business strategies for non-for-profit organizations. The surrounding Georgetown and greater D.C. area create an exciting student environment - you will never be bored while you are here. Please feel free to e-mail or Facebook me, I would love to answer any questions you have about Georgetown!
E-mail: ct283@georgetown.edu

NAME: Brittney Liu

SCHOOL: McDonough School of Business (MSB)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: Marketing, Operations and Information Management

HOMETOWN: Orlando, FL

HIGH SCHOOL: Trinity Preparatory School

ACTIVITIES: Alpha Kappa Psi, GAAP, OPIM Majors Group

Hey there! I’m Brittney Liu, and I’m originally from Orlando, FL. I’m currently a junior in the McDonough School of Business, majoring in Marketing and OPIM (Operations and Information Management). Since arriving at the Hilltop, I honestly could not see myself anywhere else but Georgetown. I’m currently the Vice President of Technology of Alpha Kappa Psi, the oldest and largest co-ed professional business fraternity in the United States, in addition to being fairly involved with GAAP and the OPIM Majors Group. I’ve had the chance to experience a completely different city with so much to offer in addition to a totally different climate. Snow was a completely foreign concept to me! The main streets of Georgetown are a short walk away where you can shop, grab a bite to eat, or even go on a run. Not only that, but you have an entire, huge city to explore with so many exciting events going on year-round. You’ll get a chance to meet so many people who are equally motivated and driven as you from around the world and learn from so many excellent professors. There are also so many different clubs, organizations, and activities. The options here are virtually limitless. I truly believe the people I met here will be my friends for life, and there’s no one else I would rather share my college experience with! The whole college process is intimidating, but in the end, I hope you choose to be a Hoya! Don’t worry if you’re still undecided about what you want to do because once you arrive here at Georgetown, you’ll have enough time to try out a little bit of everything and find what you like. I would love to help you out if you have any questions so please feel free to email me!
E-mail: byl2@georgetown.edu

NAME: Angela Morabito

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2013

MAJOR: Culture & Politics

HOMETOWN: Marietta, GA

HIGH SCHOOL: Walton High School

ACTIVITIES: Compass Fellows, Adelfi, GAAP

Hoya Saxa, y’all! My name is Angela Morabito and I am a freshman in the SFS. After I graduated from Walton High School in Marietta, Georgia, I was psyched about coming to Georgetown to be a part of a world city! It was a big change going from the suburbs of Atlanta to Washington, D.C., but the Georgetown community is here for incoming students every step of the way. Since I have only been on the Hilltop for a short time, I am still exploring Georgetown and learning about all the school (and D.C.!) has to offer...there has not been a single day since I’ve been here when I have not learned about a different student organization or event! I am a part of the Compass Fellowship, which teaches fifteen students about social entrepreneurship through speakers and mentorship. I am also a member of Adelfi, a community service sorority. I am planning on majoring in Culture and Politics, and there is no better place to study international relations than in our nation’s capital! Georgetown’s size means that you will meet new people all the time, but you will see familiar faces everywhere you go. What makes Georgetown awesome is the people: I have made great friends, and our faculty is fantastic! If you have questions about life as a Hoya, send me an email- I would be happy to help!
E-mail: alm237@georgetown.edu

NAME: Ko Eun Lee

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2012

MAJOR: International Economics

HOMETOWN: Honolulu, Hawaii

HIGH SCHOOL: Iolani School

ACTIVITIES: Asian American Student Association, DC School Project Student Tutor, GAAP, SFS Academic Council Special Events Committee

Hi future Hoyas! My name is Ko Eun Lee and I am currently a freshman in the School of Foreign Service. I am from Honolulu, Hawaii and graduated from ‘Iolani School. After applying to more than ten schools, deciding on which college to attend was extremely difficult for me. In the end, however, I was attracted by Georgetown’s wonderful surroundings and its renowned academic programs. As a freshman, I am still in the process of adjusting college life. Going to school so far away from home is not always easy, but I have come to love Georgetown and am proud to call it my second home. If you have any question or just want to talk about Georgetown, don’t hesitate to contact me! HOYA SAXA!
E-mail: ke144@georgetown.edu

NAME: Geneve Bergeron

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2010

MAJOR: Government

HOMETOWN: New Lenox, IL

HIGH SCHOOL: Lincoln-Way Central HS

ACTIVITIES: Delta Phi Epsilon Professional Foreign Service Sorority, College Admissions Committee, GAAP

Hey guys! My name is Genève Bergeron and I’m a senior in the College, majoring in Government and minoring in Arabic and Philosophy. I graduated from Lincoln-Way Central High School in the far southwest suburbs of Chicago. Although cheering on my beloved Cubs is my chief commitment, I find time to serve as president of my fratority, which holds events on campus for women interested in international relations. I've found it extremely easy to adapt to life at Georgetown; since coming here, I've interned at NGOs, worked on political campaigns, and met some of my best friends. Georgetown's academic caliber is unparalleled, and I'm not shocked when I see my professors quoted in the Washington Post and the New York Times. The small size on the campus is also a huge plus, and I can always count on seeing a familiar face on my way to class. Washington, DC is a great place for anyone, but especially for a political junkie like me: I've watched congressional hearings on the Hill, been to book signings with my favorite authors, attended black-tie galas at the National Press Club, and spotted senators sitting courtside at Hoya basketball games. There's always something to do here, and most of it is only a short walk or Metro ride away. Shoot me an email with any questions you have about life at Georgetown... I'd love to convince another Illinoisan to join us here!
E-mail: gcb37@georgetown.edu

NAME: Jennifer Zhu

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: International Economics with concentration in Finance & Commerce

HOMETOWN: Downers Grove, IL

HIGH SCHOOL: Downers Grove North High School

ACTIVITIES: Delta Phi Epsilon Professional Foreign Service Sorority, DC School, SFS Peer Mentors, GAAP, CSA

Hi! My name is Jennifer Zhu and my hometown is Downers Grove, IL. I graduated from Downers Grove North High School and am currently a junior at the Georgetown’s School of Foreign. I am an International Economics major aspiring to pursue an International Business Diplomacy certificate. Since I have been at Georgetown, I have gotten involved with the Chinese Student Association, Delta Phi Epsilon Professional Foreign Service Sorority, GAAP, SFS Peer Mentors and tutoring ESL to new immigrants through the DC Schools Project. I have also been very fortunate to find a variety of part-time jobs since arriving on campus including: an energy company in the city, a Georgetown Economics professor, the Career Center, and MSB as a faculty assistant. I have also found great internships with both Citi Smith Barney and Wells Fargo my freshman and sophomore years at Georgetown. I promise Georgetown is the place to be. Here you can find a beautiful campus and town, while being fairly close to a great city with many things to do, from going to the museums or monuments to experimenting new restaurants. However, I have to admit that what I love the most about being at Georgetown is the sense of community on campus along with the bustling city life right outside the front gates. Personally, many of the friendships I have formed here are from many different places around the world. Some of them seriously have never seen snow before in their lives! Coming from Chicago, needless to say, I adjusted to the weather a lot better than others did! I hope to hear from you soon as I try to answer any question you might have, do not hesitate to email me even if you just want to chat or ask me about my experience here! Good luck and HOYA SAXA!
E-mail: jwz4@georgetown.edu

NAME: Ohm Gore

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: Government

HOMETOWN: West Lafayete, IN

HIGH SCHOOL: West Lafayette High School

ACTIVITIES: GAAP, Philodemic Society, Georgetown Voice, InterHall, Tocqueville Forum, Carroll Fellows Initiative

Greetings, fellow Hoosiers, from the Hilltop! My name is Ohm J. Gore, and I'm currently a junior at Georgetown University. As a student in Georgetown College, I'm majoring in Government and minoring in Spanish and Economics, taking advantage of the University's emphasis on providing a broadly-focused education. I am a 2007 graduate of West Lafayette High School in West Lafayette. At Georgetown, I'm involved in several on-campus activities along with GAAP. I participate in the Philodemic Debate Society, a weekly debate group; InterHall Council, a group that plans and funds on-campus programs in order to promote campus-wide unity; Georgetown Urban Debate League Alliance, a group run through the Center for Social Justice that judges area debate meets; Tocqueville Forum on the Roots of American Democracy, a program in the Government Department that sponsors lectures on political philosophy; and Carroll Fellows Initiative, an honors program open to students from all schools at Georgetown that fosters leadership and research skills. Apart from these, I am a Resident Assistant for freshmen in Harbin Hall and a member of the Global Changemakers, a British Council project for youth activists from around the world. Through this latter program, I spoke at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, in January of 2009. I came to the Hilltop both for the academics and the location. As I mentioned above, Georgetown has a great emphasis on the liberal arts. And as for the location, Georgetown is in Washington, D.C., meaning I can spend my free time at a museum on any topic imaginable, in Congress or the Supreme Court listening to deliberations, catching a concert at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, or dining at one of the great restaurants in the area. The location of this place is also advantageous in that we have a ton of speakers come to campus. So far, I've attended talks by recognizable names like Rupert Murdoch, Zalmay Khalilzad, Alan Dershowitz, Christopher Hitchens, Bill Richardson...oh yeah, and some guy named Barack Obama. If you have any questions about life or academics at Georgetown, feel free to e-mail me. Even if you don't have any questions, feel free to e-mail me anyway, as it's always nice to hear from fellow Hoosiers. Thanks for considering Georgetown, and Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: ojg@georgetown.edu

NAME: Kelsey Hendricks

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2012

MAJOR: Government & History

HOMETOWN: Louisville, KY

HIGH SCHOOL: Kentucky Country Day School

ACTIVITIES: GAAP, GU College Republicans, D.C. Reads, Hoyathon, and Hoya Blue

Hey Future Hoyas! My name is Kelsey Hendricks and I’m currently sophomore here at Georgetown! I'm from Louisville, Kentucky by way of Texas and graduated high school at Kentucky Country Day School. I am currently majoring in Government in the College and I absolutely love everything about Georgetown. I could not be any happier with my choice to attend Georgetown and love everything that it has to offer. One of the hardest things for me, before making my choice to come to Georgetown, was dealing with the distance between D.C. and Louisville. In the end, it's the perfect distance. Not all the way across the country, but only a short hour and a half flight back to the Bluegrass state. In addition, the big city feel, in addition to Georgetown’s suburban campus, makes me feel right at home! There are endless opportunities to explore and take advantage of in D.C., but also on campus as well. On campus I am involved not only in GAAP, but also in the College Republicans, D.C. Reads (a program that helps inner-city children with reading skills), Breast Cancer Outreach, and Hoya Blue. When I arrived on campus at the beginning of my freshman year, I quickly made many friends from around the world, grew accustomed to big city life, and found that attending Georgetown basketball games might be the most fun I will ever have in my life. Georgetown was definitely the perfect choice for me. It's academics, opportunities, and people have made the start of my college experience extraordinary. I hope that in the end you all will make the right choice and become a Hoya! Hope to see you on the hilltop soon! Hoya Saxa.
E-mail: krh27@georgetown.edu

NAME: Eric Begoun

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2012

MAJOR: Undecided

HOMETOWN: Metairie, LA

HIGH SCHOOL: Jesuit High School

ACTIVITIES: The Hoya - Photography, Blanket New Orleans, School of Foreign Service Academic Council, Center for Social Justice Alternative Spring Break Leader, GAAP, GU Relay for Life, International Relations Club, Georgetown College Democrats, Hoya Blue

Hello future Hoyas! My name is Eric Begoun, and I am a sophomore at Georgetown in the Walsh School of Foreign Service. I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and I graduated from Jesuit High School in New Orleans. While I love my hometown and am very proud to be a Louisianian, I have had to most amazing experience living and studying at Georgetown in Washington, DC. I made the decision a long time ago to move far away from home for college, and I could not be happier with my choice. Applying to college was a difficult process for me because I am so indecisive (I applied to more than 20 colleges!), but one day in April I got the gut feeling that Georgetown University was the perfect place for me. Almost every day that I am at Georgetown, I wake up in anticipation of all the exciting and interesting things that I will learn in my various classes and lectures on campus. Outside of the classroom, I am involved with many organizations at Georgetown including staff photography for The Hoya (the largest newspaper on campus), Blanket New Orleans (a group dedicated to raising awareness for post-Katrina New Orleans), and the Communications Committee for the SFS Academic Council. It would take me forever and a day to describe all the many activities that I am involved with on campus since there is so much to do, and I have found in my time at Georgetown that most other Hoyas are the exact same way. Besides campus life in and out of class, Washington, DC, has so much to offer. From the Smithsonian and the National Mall, to shopping on Wisconsin and M in Georgetown, to ethnic and cultural dining on U Street or Dupont Circle, I have found that there is more to do in the city of Washington than I could ever hope to conquer. It took some getting used to living in a large city after coming from a suburban area in Louisiana, but the adjustment to big city life and public transportation was easy. Georgetown has the college campus feel within its neighborhood, but it is easy to explore the wide expanses of the Washington Metro Area. (And where else can you walk from your dorm to an Inauguration of a US President in less than an hour?!) Hoya Basketball games at the Verizon Center are what get many students through the busy work weeks, and every student is connected with our common love for cheering on our fellow Hoyas on the court (WE ARE...GEORGETOWN!). People in Louisiana often ask me why I chose to go so far away to such a different place for college, and the answer is simple. Georgetown has become home for me, and I believe that any student here would tell you the same thing. It's not just sitting out on Healy Lawn on a sunny weekend day, riding the Metro down to the Capitol Building, or running from ICC to Walsh for your next class, it's the people that make Georgetown all that it is and more. The friends that I have made are from all different backgrounds, places, interests, and colleges within Georgetown, but I know that they are what make Georgetown so special to all of us Hoyas, myself included. If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact me! Laissez les bon temps rouler and HOYA SAXA!
E-mail: eab55@georgetown.edu

NAME: Ridge Blanchard

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: Government

HOMETOWN: Lafayete, LA

HIGH SCHOOL: St. Thomas More Catholic HS

ACTIVITIES: GUSA Senate, Sigma Phi Epsilon, New Student Peer Advisors, ESCAPE Team XVIII, GAAP

Hey guys! My name is Ridge Blanchard, and I am a junior here at Georgetown. After two years here at Georgetown, all I can say is “wow”! Georgetown is such an amazing place, and I could not see myself anywhere other than here! That said, coming from a small town in Louisiana to D.C., my transition to Georgetown was a very interesting experience but a great one nonetheless. I came to Georgetown in hopes of making friends from around the world, living in a fabulous city, and having a blast, all while being challenged both in and out of the classroom, and Georgetown did not fail me! Different as it is being away from home, I am involved in various activities and did all of the above. Georgetown is the type of place that simply keeps you wanting more, and it never stops giving. From the many friends I made to the various activities that Georgetown has allowed me to partake in, this university has truly changed my life. It truly is my second home, a home that I have come to know and love, and a home that I know you will enjoy as well. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns that you might have! Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: rmb63@georgetown.edu

NAME: Andrea Bommarito

SCHOOL: School of Nursing and Health Studies (NHS)

YEAR: 2010

MAJOR: Nursing

HOMETOWN: Hampden, ME

HIGH SCHOOL: Hampden Academy

ACTIVITIES: Residence Life, Pep Band, Relay for Life, InterHall, GAAP

Hello all! I’m Andrea Bommarito from a little town called Hampden, ME; if you’re not familiar it’s right next to Bangor, part of eastern Maine. I’m currently a senior in the NHS and loving it! I major in Nursing and am also working towards a certificate in International Health. I absolutely love Georgetown. Although there aren’t many of us Mainiacs, it’s very exciting when we meet, and nice to wait in the airport with fellow Georgetown students and share cabs. My freshmen year was a great experience here, and I made fast friends. By quickly joining activities like pep band I got to know a lot of freshmen as well as upperclassmen, and made the best of the sports opportunities at Georgetown. With the pep band I was able to travel to the Big East competitions and the NCAAs both my freshmen and sophomore years. I have also been an RA in Village C West, a first-year residence hall, for the past two years, and now in Nevils, which has given me a lot of opportunities to make connections with people and departments on campus. I have been the Mission chair for Relay For Life for the past two years, am now a Senior Advisor, and devote a great deal of my time to the American Cancer Society. Georgetown has given me so many chances to explore new talents and interests as well as develop those that I already had. It is a stimulating work environment filled with unbelievable motivated people and a vast variety of options for social and intellectual interactions. I have never been bored for a minute at Georgetown, and am so happy for the challenges and pleasures I find on campus and in DC. In short, Georgetown is amazing, and I encourage you to email me if you have any questions- if not, I hope your decision is a definite yes!
E-mail: alb76@georgetown.edu

NAME: Erin Kilbride

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2012

MAJOR: Arabic & Government

HOMETOWN: Portland, ME

HIGH SCHOOL: Cheverus HS

ACTIVITIES: Hoya Blue, Lecture Fund, Freshmen Class Committee

Hey Future Hoyas! My name is Erin Kilbride and I’m a freshman in the College. I grew up in Portland, Maine, went to Cheverus High School, and danced at Maine State Ballet for fifteen years. I’m the oldest of five kids, and my younger sisters and brothers are definitely what I miss the most when I’m at school. I lived my whole life in Maine, but my home is now definitely the Hilltop! I’m a Government and Arabic double major, which, yes, is insanely hard but I also love learning such a different language. I’m a Justice & Peace Studies minor, which involves fascinating new classes and perspectives on international relations. Outside of class, Georgetown has hundreds of amazing groups to get involved with. The first thing I joined on the Hilltop was Hoya Blue, and now you can find my best friends and I with wigs and face paint in the front row of every basketball game! I also applied and interviewed for the Georgetown University Lecture Fund, the group that brings all the big speakers to campus and organizes the lectures. I’m the Spirit and Publicity Chair for Freshman Class Committee, so I send out the mass emails to our class and promote our events on campus. I try to get off campus whenever I can, because going to school in DC is a once in a lifetime experience, from museums to shopping on M-Street to going for runs to the monuments. Since coming to Georgetown last August, I’ve fallen in love with every aspect of being a Hoya; with acapella groups cheering us up in the library at 3am, brilliantly entertaining professors, basketball obsession, and of course our fantastic coffee shops, Georgetown is busy, exciting, and new every day. If you have any questions or just want to chat about Georgetown, please contact me!
E-mail: eak62@georgetown.edu

NAME: Elizabeth Seaman

SCHOOL: Georgetown College

YEAR: 2012

MAJOR: Philosophy

HOMETOWN: Millersville, MD

HIGH SCHOOL: St. Mary’s High School, Annapolis MD

ACTIVITIES: Premed Society, Players Children’s Theatre, GAAP, Undergraduate Research Conference, Math and Science Hands-On Enrichment (GUMSHOE), Hospital Emergency Room Volunteer, Students Stopping the Trafficking of People (SSTOP), The Pulse Pre Med Society Journal Writer, NSO Orientation Advisor, Nomadic Theatre, Fashion for Education, Astronomy Society, Intramural Soccer, Art Aficionados

Hello Future Maryland Hoyas! My name is Elizabeth, I am a Sophomore in the College, and I absolutely love Georgetown and I cannot believe how quickly my freshman year went by! I am originally from Millersville, Maryland (half way between Annapolis and Baltimore). Georgetown is the perfect distance away - close enough to go home easily when I want to, but far enough away to really grow up. I went to a very small high school, and I was a little worried about making the transition to college, but I am having a great time here, and adjusting quite well. I love being in DC, the nation’s capital and a very exciting city, but still having the feel of a close community. The decision to come to Georgetown was pretty easy for me, I had loved Georgetown since my childhood and I was thrilled to gain acceptance. So far, Georgetown has been everything I expected it to be and more. My freshman year I was able to attend conferences and rallies, hear President Obama speak at Georgetown, present my independent research and be active in various theatrical endeavors. I love having a small enough school that it is easy to be actively involved on campus, and I have already enjoyed working with many different clubs and theatrical endeavors. I am a Pre-Med Student interested in neurology, and I know I eventually want to go into Cognitive and Behavioral Science, but I also recently developed an interest in Bioethics, which is why I am pursuing a philosophy major. Every day when I walk across campus, I fall more in love with Georgetown, I can’t imagine being anywhere else. I love being able to walk across campus and actually greet people on my way to class, I love the school spirit here, and of course watching Georgetown Basketball games. There are so many great, unique opportunities here, and I would love to talk to you and answer any questions you have or just to chat, hope to see you on the Hilltop!
E-mail: els37@georgetown.edu

NAME: Stacy Siegel

SCHOOL: Georgetown College

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: American Studies

HOMETOWN: Baltimore, MD

HIGH SCHOOL: Pikesville High School

ACTIVITIES: The Corp, Blue and Gray, Relay for Life, GAAP

Hi future Hoyas! My name is Stacy Siegel, and I’m from Baltimore, Maryland. I was really nervous about coming to Georgetown in 2007, because I was the only one from my high school on campus. I think of it as an amazing opportunity to become my own person here, away from the same people I saw everyday for years. I love being in DC, because the city holds unique opportunities that are impossible to find anywhere else in the world. This past summer I interned at the Department of Justice and learned more than I ever thought was possible in three months. The city offers so much to Georgetown students, from internships on the Hill to business opportunities. I am an American Studies major, with minors in Biology and Philosophy. Myself, and three group mates have been dedicating our entire semester to creating a film documentary about a certain historical aspect of DC, and we are taking full advantage of the resources available to us in the city. I’m involved with the Corp, GAAP, Blue & Gray, and Relay for Life. For example, More Uncommon Grounds (MUG), a service of the Corp, hired me in the fall of my sophomore year, and I am now the Director of Operations of MUG. My responsibilities include training employees, finding ways to improve efficiency, and ensuring all appliances, hardware, and tools function at their performance capacities. It’s amazing to think that an undergraduate can have that kind of responsibility with just a year of experience. I hope you fall in love with Georgetown just like I did and that you come to find the Hilltop your home away from home. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at any time. Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: sls99@georgetown.edu

NAME: John Madore

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: Neurobiology (Howard Hughes Scholar)

HOMETOWN: Bridgewater, MA

HIGH SCHOOL: St. Sebastian's School

ACTIVITIES: Pre-Med Society, College Democrats, GAAP, and Georgetown Scholarship Program (GSP)

Hi all! My name is John Madore, and I am from Bridgewater, Massachusetts. I graduated from St. Sebastian's School in 2007, a small, independent Catholic school where I was captain of the soccer team and active in other extra-curriculars. At Georgetown, however, I have been able to pursue a wide variety of interests and meet incredible people from all over the world. I am currently a junior in the Georgetown College, and am a declared major in Neurobiology, minor in French, and am following the pre-medicine curriculum. I also am in the Howard Hughes Research Program, and am very excited to be spending the next three summers at Georgetown performing undergraduate research with Dr. Neale. After attending Catholic school for 12 years, I thought I never wanted to attend Catholic school again! However, my mind was completely changed after I was accepted to Georgetown and visited for a GAAP accepted students weekend. Everyone who I met was so open and friendly, and my friends at Georgetown are brilliant but completely down to earth and real people. Not everyone is from Massachusetts at all, and I like it this way. Professors here are inspiring, and take the time to get to know each student. There is a really strong community feeling to Georgetown. The campus is beautiful, and I can't speak enough to having the entire city of Washington, DC literally right outside our gates. It holds so many incredible opportunities. If you have any questions at all about going to school away from Boston, being pre-med, or anything to do with Georgetown or my experience so far, please email me! I would love to answer your questions and to help you make the decision that I made last year to attend Georgetown. I love Georgetown and know you will too. Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: jcm239@georgetown.edu

NAME: Jennifer Dixon

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: English & Theology

HOMETOWN: Royal Oak, MI

HIGH SCHOOL: Royal Oak High School

ACTIVITIES: On the Docket, Hoya Blue, GAAP, Georgetown Catholic Student Association (CSA), New Student Orientation (NSO), College Republicans, Freshman ESCAPE Leader, 8pm Mass Choir, Spiritual ReFreshmenT Leader, Jesuit Heritage Week

Hello Future Hoyas and Fellow Michiganders! My name is Jenny, and I am currently a Junior in College, majoring in English and Theology. I am from Royal Oak, and was a member of the first class of Royal Oak High School. I clearly remember the first day I walked through the gates of Georgetown on my GAAP weekend. Turning to look at my parents, I knew that my decision was made, and to this day, I do not regret one minute of it. Georgetown has taken hold of me in a way that no other place has. There is a contagious energy that runs through the campus, getting both students and professors excited about every cause under the sun. Whether its the political race, the crisis in Darfur, Hoya basketball, or just Chicken Finger Thursday, Georgetown is just the place to excite you. At Georgetown, there are so many activities, clubs, classes, and sports that it’s difficult not to find your own unique niche. Within days I was overwhelmed with the fast-paced world of Washington, DC, but although it’s far from our lakes, I have grown to love it. The opportunities on the Hilltop are endless, providing top-notch academics, multicultural experiences, and chances to see speeches by some of the most renowned men and women from fields of all kinds. On campus, I’ve seen Condoleezza Rice, Ron Paul, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden to name a few. Of course, that's only within the gates. A quick metro ride provides easy access to the center of the city, where you just might get the chance to be present at a landmark oral argument of the Supreme Court, see the Dalai Lama, or play football on the Mall. Georgetown offers its students countless opportunities to become involved in life outside of the dorm, but the best part is that it’s your choice. Georgetown has the potential to be everything you want it to be. Take a look and you might find that the endless college search can be less about statistics, and more about finding a place to call home. After all, we Michiganders have to stick together. Who else can create slightly awkward silence by answering the question "Where are you from?" by simply holding up their hand and pointing? Don't hesitate to email me and ask me any questions that concern you about dorm life, academics, moving from home, East Coast life, activities, or anything else under the sun! I am more than happy to help, and I hope that your college search leads you to a place where you can feel just as excited about Georgetown as I do. I hope to hear from you soon!!!
E-mail: jmd227@georgetown.edu

NAME: Geoffrey Bible

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2012

MAJOR: International Politics

HOMETOWN: Saint Cloud, MN

HIGH SCHOOL: Saint Cloud Apollo HS

ACTIVITIES: GAAP, GU College Republicans, The Georgetown Voice, Diplomatic Ball committee

Hello Future Hoyas! My name is Geoffrey Bible and I am a sophomore in the School of Foreign Service from Saint Cloud, MN. After only being here for a year, I can already definitively say that coming to Georgetown was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The opportunities that this school provides are amazing: the academics, the activities, and the location. The professors at Georgetown are some of the best in the country. There are so many activities on this campus, everyone will be able to find something that interests them, and if not, they can create their own group. I personally am involved in GAAP, the College Republicans, the Georgetown Voice newsmagazine, the Georgetown Day Committee, and I am the co-chairman of the Diplomatic Ball Committee. The District is an amazing place to go to college because the opportunities are endless. In this city, there is always something going on. If you like the fine arts, Georgetown is only a short walk away from the Kennedy Center. And if you are like me and love politics, the opportunities presented are very unique; as a freshman, I had an internship on Capitol Hill that would be nearly impossible to have at most other universities. Moving from Minnesota to the District is definitely a change, but it is a change for the better (especially the weather here in the winter). Feel free to ask any questions you might have, and I hope that you choose to attend Georgetown. HOYA SAXA!
E-mail: gdb32@georgetown.edu

NAME: Michael Counihan

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: International Economics

HOMETOWN: Columbus, MS

HIGH SCHOOL: The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science

ACTIVITIES: Army ROTC, Student Movement for Real Change, Mission 3, Student Safety Advisory Board, GAAP (State Chair for Mississippi), and the Irish American Society

Hey ya'll! My name is Michael Counihan and I'm from Columbus. I graduated from the Mississippi School for Math and Science in '07, and am now a sophomore in the School of Foreign Service. Currently, I'm undeclared, leaning towards International Political Economy and a Certificate in International Business Diplomacy (I seem to have an affinity for blended disciplines). Offered a list of clubs longer than the National Mall, I was able to settle down with less than ten. Army ROTC commands the largest share of my involvement, but every minute in the HOYA Battalion is a thrill. I've also gotten involved in other groups: the Student Movement for Real Change, which is currently building a water pipeline and purification system for a village in Kenya and developing an entrepreneurship curriculum for Sierra Leone; Mission 3, which delivers fruit grown locally and without the use of residual pesticides to residents of the Georgetown area; the Georgetown Student Safety Advisory Board, which is dedicated to the safety of our fellow students; the Irish American Society, which explores Irish culture and current affairs; and finally, GAAP, to which you've already been introduced. If you didn't see anything that interested you in my activities, connect to http://www18.georgetown.edu/explore/organizations/ and check out what other Hoyas are up to! Georgetown offers superb academics and top-notch student clubs, but another aspect which sets it apart is the location. Being nestled in D.C. gives Hoyas access to events, people, and experiences not available anywhere else in the world. In my first six weeks, I was able to hear talks given by the former Chair of the British Intelligence and Security Committee, a Somali novelist, a former director of development research at the World Bank, and the Northern Ireland Minister for Regional Development. My peers have had internships with their Senators, the State Department, the Supreme Court, Goldman Sachs, the White House, and various NGOs and have been placed in Russia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Morocco, and Brussels. D.C. is a metropolitan city, but Georgetown is located in the Georgetown neighborhood, which is about as cozy as most towns in Mississippi. I used to love visiting the antebellum homes in Columbus: crepe myrtles against white siding, porches that creaked no matter how softly I stepped, and that wonderful smell of history. Here, the houses are closer together, and they're in a different style, but they have that same character that Waverly and Riverview possess. Walking to pick up dry-cleaning is actually enjoyable because of the neighborhood! If you've got any questions about Georgetown, D.C., or college in general, feel free to email me. Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: jac276@georgetown.edu

NAME: Susan Movitz

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: Biology

HOMETOWN: St. Louis, MO

HIGH SCHOOL: Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School (MICDS)

ACTIVITIES: Mock Trial, GUSA Senate, Eco-Action

Hey everyone! I’m Susie, a junior in the college majoring in Biology and minoring in environmental studies. I’m from St. Louis, Missouri and went to high school at MICDS. I have had such a fabulous experience at Georgetown so far because there are so many opportunities to meet new people, experience new things, and take classes that have truly opened my eyes to life outside of Missouri. Especially being from the Midwest, it was great to be exposed to so many different cultures and be able to have so many new experiences on campus. Every semester I make new friends and learn so much more from my classes and peers. The teachers are always accessible and the students are willing and eager to work together and form study groups, instead of being overly competitive.
I also love living in the city! Although St. Louis is one of the largest cities in Missouri, moving to DC has been one of the most beneficial transitions in my life. There are so many opportunities to go off campus and try new restaurants, hear great music, go dancing, get an internship—whatever you feel like doing, you can probably find a place to do it in DC. And if you don’t feel like venturing too far off campus, there are always a myriad of activities on campus to get involved with. Feel free to email me if you have any questions—I love talking about Georgetown and getting other people as excited as I am about this amazing school! HOYA SAXA!
E-mail: smm97@georgetown.edu

NAME: Dena Soffer

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: English

HOMETOWN: St. Louis, MO

HIGH SCHOOL: John Burroughs School

ACTIVITIES: GAAP, Georgetown Club Field Hockey, Blue & Gray Tour Guide, DC Schools, Yates Lifeguard

Hello! My name is Dena Soffer and I am from St. Louis, MO. I am currently a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences and interested in majoring in English and minoring in Spanish and Economics. I could not have made a better choice that Georgetown. Ours is one of the most beautiful campuses I have ever seen, overlooking the Potomac and DC. I chose Georgetown because I wanted to attend a college where I would get a great education and have a fun and exciting social life—at Georgetown you can certainly find a good balance. People love it here. It is so nice to have all of the opportunities of the city at your fingertips while being able to come back to a safe, traditional college campus that already feels like home. My transition from the Midwest to the east coast has been very smooth. I have met so many nice and interesting people, and my professors have made an effort to get to know me personally. My favorite part of Georgetown so far is definitely the people I have met and the friends I have made. Aside from participating in GAAP, I also am on Georgetown’s club field hockey team, a Blue & Gray tour guide, and a tutor for DC Schools. There are so many opportunities to get involved here at Georgetown. We have such a diverse and varied student body, but I can honestly say there is something here for everybody. Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: des44@georgetown.edu

NAME: Kyle Berkley

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: Regional Studies with a focus on Western Europe

HOMETOWN: Las Vegas, NV

HIGH SCHOOL: Green Valley High School

ACTIVITIES: GTA Sorority, Irish Dance Team, GAAP

Hi! My name is Kyle Berkley, and I'm from Henderson, right outside of Las Vegas. I graduated from Green Valley High School as part of the International Baccalaureate Program, and currently I'm a junior in the School of Foreign Service. I’m majoring in Regional Studies with a focus on Western Europe, specifically in France and Italy. Here at Georgetown, I've gotten involved in the Jewish sorority GTA, as well as the Georgetown Irish Dance team, and I work part time in the Office of Campus Ministry. There is such a variety of activities and organizations to become involved with here on campus, it's impossible not to find something that you're interested in.
Picking a college is undeniably one of the hardest decisions you'll make this year, but for me at least, Georgetown was definitely the right choice. The thing I love most about Georgetown, aside from the gorgeous campus and exciting basketball games, is the diversity which is present here. It's hard to walk across campus without hearing at least one or two different languages being spoken, and there are clubs and organizations for almost any culture imaginable. The people at Georgetown come from so many different backgrounds and have had such different experiences, that getting to know new people, and hear their stories is half the fun of attending school here. There's a huge international community on campus as well, and students, especially in the SFS are encouraged to spend a summer, semester or year studying abroad. This year I’m planning to study in Lyon, France, where I’ll be living with a family, and taking classes at the university there (and hopefully putting my French to good use!). But Washington DC is also culturally diverse. Whether driving past the embassies, taking a trip to Chinatown, or going to one of the many festivals and events that take place on any given weekend, DC has something for everyone. The more monuments I visit, the more museums I tour, and the more things I see, just make me love Georgetown and DC more and more.
Washington DC is definitely a big change from life in Nevada though, and I know that moving across country can seem scary and overwhelming. But honestly, the people at Georgetown are so warm and friendly, and life as a Georgetown student is so fast-paced and exciting, that it's hard to not feel at home here. If you have any questions about what life as a Hoya is like please just ask! I'd be glad to try and answer your questions or just talk about college in general. Good luck with your applications and congratulations if you've been accepted!
E-mail: kab229@georgetown.edu

NAME: Roshan Vora

SCHOOL: McDonough School of Business (MSB)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: International Business & Finance

HOMETOWN: Wayne, NJ

HIGH SCHOOL: Wayne Valley High School

ACTIVITIES: Georgetown Colligate Investors, the Hoya, Mission Three, the Astronomy Club, Hoya Blue, and International Relations Club

Hello! My name is Roshan Vora and my hometown is Wayne, New Jersey. I graduated from Wayne Valley High School and am currently a junior at Georgetown University, in the McDonough School of Business. This year I declared myself as an International Business / Finance double major and I am currently looking for a minor, maybe government. I've always enjoyed being involved in many things and am able to continue that at Georgetown. The moment I entered Georgetown, I realized that the university as well as the city offer way too many opportunities that I couldn't wait to experience. This year I was a part of the Georgetown Collegiate Investors, the Astronomy Club, Georgetown University Legislative Advocates, Hoya Blue, and International Relations Club. I also run the business office of The Hoya, Georgetown’s Newspaper and serve as the Business Director. Last summer, I also studied abroad in Hong Kong for 5 weeks as part of the University Summer Study Abroad Program. Georgetown offers everything. From the small campus feel to the big city atmosphere, I enjoy every minute I spend here and I am sure that you will too. Being in Washington D.C. we are allotted so many opportunities. We have amazing speakers every week (like President Obama) and our professors are some of the best in the world. I promise you that at Georgetown you will have an amazing time making great friends, going to the spectacular basketball games, meeting people from around the world, having motivating professors, and taking advantage of all the opportunities available at Georgetown. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to email me! I look forward to talking to you and hopefully seeing you here at Georgetown. Hoya Saxa!!!
E-mail: rav23@georgetown.edu

NAME: Kaitlin Woo

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: Mathematics

HOMETOWN: West Windsor, NJ

HIGH SCHOOL: West Windsor-Plainsboro High School

ACTIVITIES: GAAP, Catholic Campus Ministry, research in statistics, Office of Student Affairs, math tutor

Hi! My name is Kaitlin Woo and I’m from West Windsor, New Jersey. I graduated from West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South and am currently a junior in Georgetown College. I am a mathematics major with a Spanish minor. The transition from high school to college can be tough, but the Georgetown community is a great place to be because of the close bond we all feel. The opportunities here and in DC are endless. I have met some brilliant and friendly people who come from all different backgrounds. I have worked with and gotten to know some intelligent professors who have taken an interest in helping me further my education. I’ve already been here for two years, but there are still more organizations I’d like to get involved with on campus. There just isn’t enough time in a day! DC is also an awesome place to be; being at the National Mall for Obama’s inauguration and working at the Embassy of Guatemala are just two opportunities I’ve had in this city. Next spring, I plan to study abroad in Spain. Anything is possible at Georgetown. The “Work hard, play hard” mentality makes Georgetown an amazing place to be. I'd love to answer any questions you have, so just e-mail me. Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: kmw64@georgetown.edu

NAME: Jeffrey Wray

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: Culture & Politics

HOMETOWN: Princeton, NJ

HIGH SCHOOL: Princeton High School

ACTIVITIES: Sigma Phi Epsilon, Georgetown Running Club

Hi, my name is Jeffrey Wray, and I am a member of the Georgetown class of 2011 in the School of Foreign Service. I am from Princeton, NJ, where I graduated from Princeton High School in 2007. I chose Georgetown University because I have been interested in international relations for years, and I am now majoring in international politics while obtaining a certificate in Arab Studies. Once I arrived at Georgetown, I knew I made the right decision not just because of the incredible educational atmosphere, but because of everything else that Georgetown has to offer. I am a brother in the Georgetown chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon, a member of the Georgetown Running Club, and I work part-time at the Georgetown Running Company. There are countless other activities to suit every interest from political organizations to theatre and dance groups, intramural sports to school newspapers, and much more, you can easily find an extra-curricular activity that you will love. Beyond the university, Georgetown is a fantastic place to live and learn because of the location. In the nation's capital there is always a museum or monument to visit, and there are tons of great restaurants and take-out places within walking distance from campus. For special occasions or whenever you want to explore beyond cafeteria food, Italian, Thai, Indian, American, seafood, and much more are just a few blocks away on M Street. Outside of its excellent cuisine, Georgetown hosts many great political and international speakers; over the past couple years, Condolleeza Rice, Joe Biden, President Obama, and many others have spoken at open events. However, what I believe to be Georgetown's greatest assets are the other students who you will meet during your years here. The diverse student body, including many international students, gives you an opportunity to interact with your peers from around the world who have fascinating experiences to share. And everyone on campus absolutely loves being here just as much as you will. I hope you decide that Georgetown University is the place for you; I know that it is for me. Please e-mail me with any questions, concerns, or if you just want to talk and I will get back to you as soon as I can. Good luck and Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: jdw66@georgetown.edu

NAME: Rob Zochowski

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2012

MAJOR: Economics

HOMETOWN: Chatham, NJ

HIGH SCHOOL: Delbarton School

ACTIVITIES: Relay for Life, Chemistry Tutor, GAAP

Greetings from the Hilltop!! I know that each of you is at a very hectic juncture in your lives: caught between youth and adulthood, between your parents’ vision of your future and your own. I distinctly remember feeling panic about how my choice of school would impact my life both in the present and in the future. However, here at Georgetown I have found nothing but happiness. Georgetown is a very diverse place, not simply in terms of race, but also in interests, political and social ideology, religious views, and personal goals. Furthermore, Georgetown seeks to promote thoughtful refection on different perspectives with an array of speakers and events. I have personally heard Michael Bloomberg, Barack Obama, Tony Blair, and Madeline Albright speak on campus, and I have attended several cultural exposés including the Asian Student Festival. The people that I have met here are wonderful. My Georgetown friends have supported me through difficult personal times as well as celebrated my successes. The Hoya camaraderie is unmatched. There truly is nothing like attending a home basketball game with your best friends after waiting hours in the cold to get front row seats. Whenever you meet a Hoya somewhere else in the world, there is an instant connection. I wish you luck in your college search and I welcome any questions about Georgetown.
Cheers, Rob Zochowski
E-mail: trz3@georgetown.edu

NAME: James Saucedo

SCHOOL: McDonough School of Business (MSB)

YEAR: 2013

MAJOR: Operations & Information Management, Finance

HOMETOWN: Las Cruces, NM

HIGH SCHOOL: Oñate High School

ACTIVITIES: Leadership in Education about Diversity (LEAD), College Democrats, GU Pride, Just 1 Day, H*yas for Choice, UNICEF-Georgetown, Community Scholars, Kiwanis International

Hey there fellow New Mexicans and prospective Hoyas! My name is James Saucedo, and I am currently a freshman in the business school planning on a double major in operations and information management and finance, with a minor in Mandarin. Investment banking is a career interest of mine, but I would like to eventually work with a venture capital firm that benefits local entrepreneurship in Latin America. I am from the lovely city of Las Cruces where I attended Oñate High School. While I love New Mexico and miss green chile just about as much as I miss my friends and family, I felt at home as soon as I stepped on campus; I cannot imagine myself at any other university. Situated on a gorgeous campus in the heart of our nation’s capital, Georgetown is truly the American university. From the stimulating academics, to Georgetown’s 200+ student organizations, and the hundreds of free public events each month all over D.C., it is simple to find your niche. I hope you enjoy your final years in high school and choose to join the 200-year old tradition that is Georgetown University. If I can help you in any way, please don’t hesitate to shoot me an email. HOYA SAXA!
E-mail: jrs268@georgetown.edu

NAME: Joseph Gambino

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2010

MAJOR: International Politics

HOMETOWN: Plandome, NY

HIGH SCHOOL: Chaminade High School

ACTIVITIES: GAAP, NSO, GU College Republican, Residential Judicial Council, Students for McCain, International Relations Club, On the Docket

Prospective Hoyas! My name is Joseph Gambino and I am a senior in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. I can't believe it has already been three years since I graduated from Chaminade High School in Mineola, NY. In the SFS, I am an International Politics major with a concentration in Security Studies. I came to Georgetown because it is simply the best for international affairs and foreign policy, no questions asked! During the spring of my junior year I was studying overseas at King’s College London, in their War Studies program. Within my first week here, I began to take advantage of everything Georgetown had to offer as a community. I am extremely active in conservative politics and one day want to shape US foreign policy in the upper levels of the Department of Defense. As well as being on the board of the College Republicans and the Judicial Hearing Board, I am also a council member for the Residential Judicial Council, which is a way for me to give back to the Georgetown Community. One of the best things I do though is NSO, or New Student Orientation. This is one of the best things you can possibly do on campus—helping to welcome the new students properly. And of course, I am the current State Chair of New York for GAAP, Georgetown's Admissions Ambassador Program. Without a doubt, everyone will find something that fits exactly with his/her interest. There is no better place to give four years of your life than Georgetown. In fact, I love it so much that I’ll be attending Georgetown University Law School after this year.
The campus sports a breathtaking view of the Potomac as well as magnificent architecture, both old and new. Aside from campus, the neighborhood is terrific. You will find everything you ever need within reach of a GUTS bus. M Street proudly boasts all different types of restaurants and shops and we even have a movie theater a couple of blocks away. And then of course there is the city…Washington, DC! It is the political capital of the world and the best place to come for internships and future careers. Most recently, I’ve interned at both the Heritage Foundation and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. We have numerous embassies from around the world all along Embassy Road (which is great during Halloween!). But my favorite part about life at Georgetown is the Basketball team. I definitely recommend that you all take a trip down here during the spring and come to one of the games and experience Hoya Paranoia for yourself! And you'll be surprised how many New Yorkers there are at Georgetown. I had seven on my floor alone in freshman year! I hope you decide Georgetown is the place for you and look forwarding to answering any other questions you might have. HOYA SAXA!
E-mail: jcg48@georgetown.edu

NAME: Mary Jeffrey

SCHOOL: School of Nursing & Health Studies (NHS)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: Nursing & International Health

HOMETOWN: Manhasset, NY

HIGH SCHOOL: Manhasset High School

ACTIVITIES: GAAP, Step Team, Best Buddies

Hey guys! My name is Mary Alaina Jeffrey and I'm from Manhasset, New York. I graduated from Manhasset High School = and am currently a junior in the Georgetown School of Nursing and Health Studies. I am a Nursing major, and pursuing an International Health certificate. I was always involved in various clubs in high school, and Georgetown has far surpassed the options of groups that high school could provide. No matter what your interests are, there's a group for you. I joined a few clubs freshman year, including the AIDS Coalition, Adelfi, and GAAP. I’m now a member of the Step Team and Best Buddies as well. The many organizations are a great way to meet new people that share similar interests as you. Georgetown really is an amazing place to be. The campus is beautiful, particularly buildings like Healy Hall and Copley Hall. The actual town of Georgetown and the surrounding DC area is also great; there are plenty of things to do off-campus, such as visiting historical sites, shopping, and going to concerts. There are lots of opportunities to see fantastic speakers or go to various rallies and public events. What I personally love most here is the sense of community. I've never experienced such camaraderie between so many students. People aren't afraid to be themselves and everyone is very passionate about what they do. If you have any questions, or just want to chat, feel free to e-mail me. Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: maj43@georgetown.edu

NAME: Chrissy Maio

SCHOOL: McDonough School of Business (MSB)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: Finance

HOMETOWN: Brewster, NY

HIGH SCHOOL: Brewster High School

ACTIVITIES: GAAP, Alpha Kappa Psi

Hi! My name is Chrissy Maio and I am a junior in the business school at Georgetown. I haven’t declared a major yet, but I am planning on Finance with a minor in French. I’m from Brewster, NY which is about an hour or so north of New York City. Other than GAAP, I’m involved with Alpha Kappa Psi, the professional business fraternity, which offers many opportunities and connections in the business world, and Georgetown’s Best Buddies program. Georgetown is an absolutely amazing place and I am so glad that I chose to come here. I had a really hard time deciding on what college to attend, but after I came to a GAAP weekend the decision was easy. I fell in love with the beautiful campus, the surrounding area with all of its shops and restaurants, but most of all the strong sense of happiness and pride that everyone has in being a Georgetown student. Everyone on campus couldn’t wait to answer questions and talk about why they love Georgetown so much - and now after coming here I understand exactly why. It’s great to be at a school where everyone loves it so much. If you have any questions at all about life at Georgetown, the area, academics, or anything else you can think of feel free to email me! Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: cem87@georgetown.edu

NAME: Remy Wainfeld

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2012

MAJOR: Psychology

HOMETOWN: New York, NY

HIGH SCHOOL: Regis High School

ACTIVITIES: Blue & Gray Tour Guide Society, Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School Tutoring Program, New Student Orientation, Georgetown College Peer Advisors, Spanish Language Exchange Program, Capital Educators SAT Tutoring

Hello prospective Hoyas! My name is Remy Wainfeld and I am from Merrick, New York. I graduated from Regis High School in Manhattan, but I am currently a sophomore in Georgetown College, pursuing a major in psychology and two minors in Spanish and theology. I chose Georgetown because of the countless opportunities its intimate and close-knit community and its cosmopolitan location offer students. As a Jesuit university, Georgetown promotes service for others and cura personalis (care of the whole person—mind and body). Through the Center of Social Justice, I participate in a high school tutoring program at a Jesuit high school for underprivileged students. As well, other activities, such as a capella groups, sports teams, dance troops, and culture clubs encourage students to care for their minds and bodies. Georgetown’s location in Washington gives students a chance to explore all the political and cultural venues in the city. I love that I can tour the monuments, visit the National Gallery and have a traditional Ethiopian meal all in one day after classes. While Georgetown is the place where I learn, it has also become the place where I live—I know my experience at Georgetown will form the person I become. I hope that you all get a chance to visit this dynamic university and I look forward to meeting prospective students and answering any questions you may have!
E-mail: rfw5@georgetown.edu

NAME: Kate Garner

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2012

MAJOR: Undecided

HOMETOWN: Charlotte, NC

HIGH SCHOOL: Myers Park High School

ACTIVITIES: Sursum Corda Literacy Program, GAAP, Hoya Blue

Hey guys! My name is Kate Garner, and I am a freshman in the college. Although I am currently undecided Pre-med, it looks like I will end up majoring in Spanish. I graduated from Myers Park High School in Charlotte last year. I can definitely say that coming to Georgetown has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. There is just so much that Georgetown and Washington, DC have to offer. There is always something to do, and the sense of community here is so strong. I know many of you may be hesitant to leave North Carolina and your friends that stay in state, but I can assure that Georgetown is worth it! The campus is beautiful, the environment is buzzing with energy, and the people are some of the friendliest you will ever meet. One of the main things that I am involved in here on campus is the Sursum Corda Literacy Program, a tutoring program based in DC's Sursum Corda neighborhood. Twice a week I go and tutor kids at a community center in the neighborhood. I have gotten to know some great kids this way, and it has been a way for me to get to know the actual city surrounding me! I am also involved in Hoya Blue, the spirit organization that promotes fan participation in all sporting events. Clubs like these have been a great way for me to adjust to life here on the hilltop and to get to know some amazing people! I know choosing what college to go to next fall may be difficult, so if you have any questions do not hesitate to constant me! I hope to see you on the hilltop sometime soon!
E-mail: kig2@georgetown.edu

NAME: Cameron Williams

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: English

HOMETOWN: New York City, NY & Winston-Salem, NC

HIGH SCHOOL: Deerfield Academy

ACTIVITIES: GAAP, Blue and Gray, DC Schools Project, The Hoya

Hey everyone! My name is Cameron—I'm a junior in the College, majoring in English and minoring in French. I grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, then went to high school at Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts, and now live in New York City. I could not be happier here on the Hilltop! To start, I love Georgetown's location. When I pass by one of the quads, or run into a friend in a campus coffee shop, I really feel the closeness of our college community. Almost every Friday afternoon, I walk down to the streets of Georgetown, which are full of great shops and restaurants. Whether it’s watching a Hoyas basketball game at the Verizon Center, or visiting my favorite paintings in the National Gallery, I also take advantage of the opportunities in downtown D.C. Most importantly, though, the people who make up our Georgetown community are wonderful. My professors are impressive scholars, but are also sincerely interested in teaching undergraduates. In fact, my English professor last spring held one Friday afternoon class in his garden! My friends here are both smart and passionate. Meeting and talking with new people from all over the world, both in and outside of the classroom, has absolutely been one of my favorite parts of Georgetown so far. I hope that as you learn more about Georgetown, you will grow to love it as much as I do! I would love to answer any questions you may have about anything! Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: cew45@georgetown.edu

NAME: Tyler Bilbo

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2012

MAJOR: Government

HOMETOWN: Tulsa, OK

HIGH SCHOOL: Holland Hall School

ACTIVITIES: GU Pride, Georgetown College Democrats, Blanket New Orleans

When I came home to Tulsa, Oklahoma last Christmas, my parents were taken aback when I started referring to Georgetown as home. After just one semester, however, I truly felt like I had established a home away from home. For a leftist political junkie in a conservative state like Oklahoma, I felt like I had entered heaven upon my first few weeks at Georgetown. Although I fit right in at Georgetown with my love of politics, I soon discovered that not everyone was just another political geek like me. This diversity in the student body is what separates Georgetown from so many other institutions. Yes, we have a long way to go in terms of racial and socio-economic diversity but when my high school friends ask me to describe a typical Georgetown student, I’m never able to cough up a response. That inability to stereotype my fellow Hoyas is a testament to our diversity. We are all so different and our differences create a unique college environment that you can’t find anywhere else. In Oklahoma, few college-bound students leave the state. While our state university’s offer a fantastic education, I want more of my fellow Oklahomans to experience the richness of my Georgetown experience. From our large population of international students to our world class faculty, there’s so much at Georgetown that students at my state universities simply don’t experience. With GAAP, I look forward to encouraging prospective Hoyas from my home state to venture out of Oklahoma and experience the hilltop.
E-mail: tjb57@georgetown.edu

NAME: Samuel Osea

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2012

MAJOR: Undecided

HOMETOWN: Tulsa, OK

HIGH SCHOOL: Victory Christian School

ACTIVITIES: GAAP, GU Club Tennis, GU Club Filipino, GUSIF

Georgetown has exceeded my "small-town" expectations in every way imaginable. The liberal arts education and the College give me the opportunity to not only take a wide array of interesting courses but also the chance to meet and work with fantastic people in the MSB, SFS, and NHS. Although we are in different academic schools, we all have the same foundation which we share throughout our four years at Georgetown because of that education. And those people, us, I cannot even begin to describe. Experiencing and learning about them and other ideas outside my comforting bubble has been at times a strenuous but fulfilling journey. I've learned more about myself in one year at Georgetown than in 18 years back home. And this can only happen at Georgetown, a world-renowned institution who fosters the education of the whole person.
Living in DC has been quite the experience in and of itself. It's definitely not like Oklahoma; I can say that for sure. At times overwhelming, the city has a lot to offer when I need to get away from the stress of academics. It's great that I have so many options from the Smithsonian to the monuments and even to M Street in the neighborhood of Georgetown. Georgetown has truly become a second home and an experience that I never want to end.
E-mail: sjo25@georgetown.edu

Hey fellow Oregonians! My name is Anna Thomas, and I’m a current member of the Georgetown School of Foreign Service class of 2011 and a graduate of Grant High School in the wonderful city of Portland. Here in DC, I’m majoring in International Politics with a concentration on Security Studies, and I’m hoping to earn a certificate in International Development as well. In addition to GAAP, I spend time planning speaking events with the Georgetown Lecture Fund, researching at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, and compiling asylum case briefs at a legal advocacy firm. I also hold an internship with the Department of Defense. In my free time, I can usually be found wandering M Street, making Arabic flashcards at the Library of Congress, or reminding people that I’m from “Or-e-GIN”, not “Or-e-GONE”. To put it lightly, I love this place. The decision to travel nearly 3,000 miles across the country for college was huge, but one I have never regretted. Yes, it was difficult to say goodbye to all the bicycles and Birkenstocks, but I have found that the Georgetown crowd is not so different from the people I grew up with (popped collars aside). When I visited Georgetown in April of my senior year, any doubts I had were washed away by the welcoming students, beautiful campus, incredible city, and top-notch academics. Very few universities can rival Georgetown in its perfect combination of trendy neighborhood, scholarly prestige, and energetic student body; fewer still (if any) are able to toss basketball, Capitol Hill, and Madeleine Albright into the mix as well. Simply said, Georgetown has it all… and is more than worth the distance. I hope you will all consider being a part of the amazing, exciting, and unforgettable experience that is Georgetown, and I look forward to answering any of your questions!
E-mail: aot2@georgetown.edu

NAME: Emily Blynn

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: STIA - Biotechnology & Global Health

HOMETOWN: Villanova, PA

HIGH SCHOOL: The Agnes Irwin School

ACTIVITIES: Blue & Gray, GAAP, New Student Orientation, Georgetown Ballroom Dance Team

Hi! My name is Emily Blynn and I am a member of the SFS class of 2011. I grew up in Villanova, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. I went to the Agnes Irwin School in Rosemont, PA for thirteen years, and was very excited to go to Georgetown and finally meet some new people! I have loved everything about my experience here. In my first few weeks of school I met friends who I know will be my friends for the rest of my life. Because we are located in the nation’s capital, we draw students from all over the United States and the world, and I have loved learning about everyone’s unique backgrounds and cultures. Even though we come from all over, the sense of school spirit and camaraderie is definitely unrivaled. From basketball games to Georgetown Day (our big celebration of school spirit on the lawn) the community is so fun-loving and welcoming that it has really become easy to call Georgetown home. Being from the suburbs, I wasn’t sure I wanted a city school, but once I got on campus and saw students lounging on the front lawns, I was able to forget I was in the middle of a huge metropolis. There is so much to do one campus, and Georgetown makes it very easy to participate in as many activities as you choose. I am involved in New Student Orientation, Blue & Gray (our tour guide program), I volunteer with GAAP, and I participate in various dance groups on campus. There really are groups for anything with which you could want to get involved. Even though I’m busy on campus, since I’ve gotten to Georgetown I have also come to love D.C. With the Metro so close by it is easy and affordable to get to anywhere I want to go. The opportunities the city has to offer for internships, entertainment, restaurants, museums, etc. are really endless. I love talking to prospective students about life at Georgetown, so please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions about anything at all. Hope to see you around campus soon!
E-mail: ehb5@georgetown.edu

NAME: Paul Courtney

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: Classics & English

HOMETOWN: Plymouth Meeting, PA

HIGH SCHOOL: Plymouth-Whitemarsh HS

ACTIVITIES: College Academic Council, College Republicans, GAAP

Hi, my name is Paul Courtney and I’m a sophomore in the College majoring in Classics and English and minoring in Government. I grew up in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, just northwest of Philadelphia, and graduated from Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School in 2007. I find it so hard to believe how quickly my first year at Georgetown went, especially given that Georgetown really feels like it has been my home for such a long time (my Mom got upset when I started referencing campus as “home” during Christmas break). Georgetown is such a welcoming community. There are so many organizations on campus, truly something for every interest, in which you can immediately become involved. I became involved in College Republicans early on in my freshman year and now serve as the Chairman. I also serve as a Class of 2011 representative on the College Academic Council and am involved in GAAP. Through such extracurricular activities, during NSO (New Student Orientation), in your classes, in your dorm, and even at Leo’s (the dining hall), you make a lot of good friends quickly. Coming from a medium-sized high school, I was unsure what to expect size-wise from Georgetown. What I found is that campus is really the perfect size: not too large, but big enough that you always see new people among the familiar faces. When I visited Georgetown as a junior in high school, I knew immediately that is where I wanted to go to college and ended up applying Early Action. I really love Georgetown– campus is beautiful, secluded from the city and yet a mere Metro ride away from the heart of DC and all the resources our nation’s capital has to offer. With spacious lawns, trees, flowers, beautiful architecture and a stunning view of the Potomac, it’s easy to forget you are in a city (my interviewer called this the “urban-suburban feel”). Yet there are so many opportunities just outside the gates – internships on the Hill, at the White House, at CNN and Fox News, and so many other places. People from the political world come to the Hilltop, too – this year I saw many speakers, including Rep. John Campbell, Rep. Chris Shays, former Sen. Rick Santorum (from Pennsylvania!), DNC Chairman Howard Dean, Gov. Bill Richardson, Rep. Ron Paul, and Sec. Condoleeza Rice. Even if you don’t go to see a speaker, you’re likely to see someone important on campus. I hope that you decide that you too want to be a Hoya, and that you will love Georgetown as much as I do (if that’s possible). If you have any questions, feel free to email me – I look forward to talking to you. Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: pvc2@georgetown.edu

NAME: Natalie Punchak

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: English & Spanish double-major; Government minor

HOMETOWN: Doylestown, PA

HIGH SCHOOL: Central Bucks East HS

ACTIVITIES: The Corp-Uncommon Grounds, Residential Judicial Council Chair, Yates Group Fitness Instructor, RANGILA, Alumni Reunion Student Ambassador 2009, Tocqueville Forum Fellows, Peer Advisor

Welcome prospective Hoyas! My name is Natalie Punchak, and I am an incoming junior in the College, pursuing a double-major in English and Spanish and a minor in Government. Ten years ago, when I was still living in Omsk, Russia with my family, I never imagined that I would be attending one of America’s premier private universities, located in the heart of the nation! However, perseverance, luck and ambition can certainly carry one a long way. So it is with Georgetown, where I’ve made friends with some of the most intellectually talented, socio-politically active and culturally diverse people—people that use their talents selflessly, serving and bettering the world around them. At Georgetown, my professors, deans and fellow students have continually inspired me to push myself to my highest abilities and to use my talents to positively affect change. It is this desire to help others which I feel stands at the root of the Georgetown spirit. I feel that my own involvement with refugees from El Salvador and the Dominican Republic through the DC Schools Project, with fundraising efforts for a vocational institute in India through RANGILA, with those unable to secure private counsel through the Public Defender of DC’s Criminal Investigations Program, and with violations of the Student Code of Conduct as a Residential Judicial Council Chair illustrates my point. As a Georgetown student, one garners the advantage of having the world at his or her fingertips; the nation’s Capitol is the best place to develop oneself intellectually, professionally and socially. Georgetown has everything to offer, as you will undoubtedly see for yourself once you become a Hoya. If you have any questions, doubts or concerns, feel free to contact me via e-mail. Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: np97@georgetown.edu

NAME: Colin Brody

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: Psychology

HOMETOWN: Barrington, RI

HIGH SCHOOL: Barrington High School

ACTIVITIES: Georgetown College Democrats, Georgetown College Academic Council, Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service, GAAP, Georgetown College Peer Advisor

Hoya Saxa, fellow Rhode Islander! My name is Colin and I am a junior in the College from Barrington, RI. I was born at Sibley Hospital, only a few miles from Georgetown, and I lived for four years here in Washington before moving to Rhode Island. I am a Psychology major with a minor in Cognitive Science, though I came in as an intended Government major. I never thought I would change my major after enrolling, but it is true that Georgetown allows you to truly discover who you are as a person once you arrive on the Hilltop! On campus, I am involved in a number of organizations, most notably GAAP, since I love helping prospective students get a glimpse of life at Georgetown before deciding to apply (or enroll). Also, I am a member of the Georgetown College Democrats, and I am the Vice President of the Georgetown College Academic Council. Finally, I am an Acting Crew Chief with Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service (GERMS for short) which is a student-run, all-volunteer ambulance service providing 24/7, year-round emergency medical care to the Georgetown community. There really is an activity or organization for everyone here on campus, and many students (like me!) are able to pursue varied interests through many different campus activities. I love Georgetown and it is for that reason that I am serving as the State Chair for Rhode Island…I couldn’t imagine a better place to spend my four years in college, and I hope you will love it as much as I do! Email me to get in touch if you have any questions or want to know more about Georgetown!
E-mail: cbb27@georgetown.edu

NAME: Adele Stewart

SCHOOL: School of Nursing and Health Studies (NHS)

YEAR: 2013

MAJOR: Human Science

HOMETOWN: Greenville, SC

HIGH SCHOOL: Greenville Senior High School

ACTIVITIES: GAAP

Hey ya’ll! I’m already so glad that you are looking at Georgetown University. My name is Adele Stewart, and I am from Greenville, South Carolina. If you are looking for somewhere completely different from our ‘Smiling Faces and Beautiful Places’, then don’t look at Georgetown…because the people here are incredibly welcoming and the places you can see around D.C. are absolutely gorgeous! When I was packing, getting ready to load the car for the drive to Georgetown, I was seriously nervous. I had this thought in the back of my mind that this school might turn out to simply be cold weather and hard classes. While I have gotten a little bit of both, Georgetown has become like a second home. There are support systems everywhere, fun to be had all the time (even when you are supposed to be studying for a Human Biology exam in the library!) and great stories to be heard around every corner. I hope that you take the time to contact me with any questions you might have about ANYTHING in Georgetown. Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: acs95@georgetown.edu

NAME: Edward Hill

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: International Politics – Security Studies

HOMETOWN: Rapid City, SD

HIGH SCHOOL: Rapid City Central High School

ACTIVITIES: African Society of Georgetown, Student Commission for Unity, Habitat for Humanity, GAAP, International Relations Club

Hello! Hey! My name is Ed and I am a 2007 graduate from Rapid City Central High School in Rapid City, SD. First let me say that Georgetown has been and continues to be everything I had hoped for and wanted. From the time I was a freshman, it has sufficiently lived up to and even exceeded my expectations. I will be a junior this coming fall and will be studying in Senegal; certainly I am going to miss the comforts of Georgetown life. Having researched numerous schools across the country and abroad, Georgetown was my number one choice. Hearing testimonies from alumni, reading “reviews,” and reflecting on a personal level left me convinced that Georgetown was the right choice. Specifically, my decision was made because of the phenomenal education I knew that I would receive as a student in the School of Foreign Service. However, after encountering students and learning about programs from the other three schools in Georgetown, I understand that no matter what I chose, each option offers top-notch, world-class education. This attests to the fact that Georgetown is truly a school of diverse composition – there is without doubt something to suit everyone’s interests. On the other hand, it is not only the school that provides such a range of opportunities for education, jobs, sports, activities, and entertainment; being in Washington D.C. (especially the close proximity to Capitol Hill) expands all of those opportunities to an unparalleled extent. At Georgetown, everyone has the chance to fulfill their passion, whatever it may be. Apart from my International Politics and African studies, I hold a job helping coordinate all weddings and baptisms on campus, and I actively participate in various student groups/organizations, namely the African Society of Georgetown, the Student Commission for Unity, Habitat for Humanity, GAAP, and the IRC. If you have any questions concerning the school, the city, the transition, or anything at all, let me know! You can reach me at my email
E-mail: emh46@georgetown.edu

NAME: Jennifer Chen

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: International Politics

HOMETOWN: Taipei, Taiwan

HIGH SCHOOL: National Experimental High School

ACTIVITIES: GAAP, Taiwanese American Student Association, International Relations Club, Asian American Student Association

Hi fellow international students! My name is Jennifer and I am from Taipei, Taiwan. Apart from growing up in Taiwan, I have also spent the other half of my life in Rome and Bangkok, and now I live in Atlanta, Georgia. Currently, I am a junior in the School of Foreign Service, pursuing a major in International Politics and a certificate in International Development. I decided to come to Georgetown because it is a place full of exciting opportunities! There are endless activities and events to attend, and they are always so much fun. On campus, we have enlightening and diverse courses with intelligent professors. We also have a variety of clubs that can serve your every interest: from community service clubs such as Eco-Action, to political awareness clubs like Amnesty International, and to cultural clubs like Taiwanese American Student Association. Located on the hilltop, there are myriad things to do in DC: making a trip down Embassy row, taking a night walk at the Waterfront, eating a delicious meal at the Tombs, and enjoying the cherry blossom festival in the spring. Even if you miss your home country while abroad, DC has small cultural towns, such as Chinatown and Eden Center, where you can catch some of the authentic food that you miss! There are also cultural festivals such as the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Everything is worth every minute, and I promise you a great time at Georgetown. Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: jbc47@georgetown.edu

NAME: Robert G. Benkert II

SCHOOL: McDonough School of Business (MSB)

YEAR: 2012

MAJOR: Business Undecided

HOMETOWN: Brentwood, TN

HIGH SCHOOL: Father Ryan High School

ACTIVITIES: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, Hilltop Consultants, Dahlgren Chapel Stewardship Committee

Welcome future Tennesse Hoyas! My name's Rob and I am a graduate of Father Ryan High School on the south side of Nashville. I came to Georgetown to study business and I'm majoring in either finance, marketing, accounting, or international business… so don't worry if you don't know what you want to do yet; Georgetown is a great place to explore your options. Outside of class there's plenty of opportunities. I'm involved with the Georgetown Accounting Society, and I also work with Hilltop Consultants to provide business strategy to non-for-profit organizations. When you get tired of campus, go into the town for restaurants or greater DC for museums and monuments. Whatever you want to do, Georgetown has it.
E-mail: rgb29@georgetown.edu

NAME: Lane Feler

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2012

MAJOR: Science, Technology, and International Affairs

HOMETOWN: Memphis, TN

HIGH SCHOOL: St. Mary’s Episcopal School

ACTIVITIES: GU Dance Company, Just One Day, FOCI, Resident Assistant

Hey! Hey! I’m Lane Feler, and I’m part of the small yet stubbornly present population of southern Hoyas. When I’m not tabling in Red Square or sending e-mails to huge groups of people trying to get them to participate in a service project or other various activities, I am probably dancing in the aerobics room in Yates or making flyers for different clubs on campus. While I have definitely gone through some changes while at Georgetown, the biggest change since coming here would have to be my sudden love of college basketball. My dad found me watching and shouting at the Georgetown-UConn game over my first break at home and ran to tell my mother he had entered the twilight zone. It’s been refreshing to participate in experiences I never anticipated being a part of my life and to meet people so different from myself. I take classes with fellow students and professors that have so much to offer. So maybe this city that some consider the South (as if) is devoid of a good BBQ restaurant or SEC football fans, but I guarantee that it is a place that you can call home. HOYA SAXA, Y’ALL!
E-mail: lef39@georgetown.edu

NAME: Colleen Gibson

SCHOOL: McDonough School of Business (MSB)

YEAR: 2012

MAJOR: Marketing & Management

HOMETOWN: Sugar Land, TX

HIGH SCHOOL: I.H. Kempner High School

ACTIVITIES: GAAP, Georgetown Collegiate Investors, Undergraduate Marketing Association, Campus Crusade for Christ, Hoya Blue, Dance DC

Hey Ya’ll! My name is Colleen Gibson and I am a sophomore in the McDonough School of Business. I plan on double-majoring in Marketing and Management with a minor in Psychology. My first year at Georgetown was an amazing experience. From my first experience with heavy snow, to having friends from all over the globe, to standing two feet away from John McCain as he bought a hotdog at a Hoya Basketball game, my year was crowded with new experiences. I would have to say the best part of Georgetown is the location. I never thought that I could find a campus that offered the beauty of red and orange tree-lined streets in the fall, and yet was close enough to walk to the National Mall and so many other wonderful places. Some of the great things that I have been able to do at Georgetown include seeing a performance at the Kennedy Center, visiting the monuments, perusing several Smithsonians, watching MLS soccer games, and seeing the National Christmas tree while it was snowing. I am eternally grateful to Georgetown for having so many opportunities for students. I am involved in many different organizations on campus including Campus Crusade for Christ, Hoya Blue, The Undergraduate Marketing Association, and of course, GAAP! I also am currently applying to be an intern for a Congressman on Capitol Hill. Even though I am not part of the SFS, or even studying politics, I am very excited that this opportunity became available to me, as it is for almost all Georgetown students. That is one of the great things about our university, there is something for everyone. Whether you want to tutor kids, explore the outdoors, get involved in politics, or just have fun playing sports, there are more opportunities available than there are students. I want to congratulate you for being accepted to our prestigious university and wish you luck and discernment on the tough decisions that lay ahead. Remember to be true to yourself and follow your dreams no matter how many thousands of miles they may take you away from home!
E-mail: crg39@georgetown.edu

NAME: Michael Spaulding

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2012

MAJOR: International Affairs

HOMETOWN: Sandy, UT

HIGH SCHOOL: Waterford High School

ACTIVITIES: Georgetown Collegiate Investors, College Democrats, Chamber Music, GU Flying Club, Congressional Internship

Hi everyone! My name is Michael Spaulding, and I am a sophomore in the Walsh School of Foreign Service here at Georgetown. I live in Sandy, UT, and I graduated from Waterford in 2008. Though it is much different here (ie: no mountains or skiing), I am having a great time in Washington, DC. The political focus of Georgetown, combined with its location in the center of American politics is unbeatable. I plan on majoring in International Affairs, with a certificate in International Business and Diplomacy. Since coming to Georgetown, I have been really involved in extracurricular activities both at the school and in DC. I have joined the College Democrats, the Georgetown Collegiate Investors, and the Chamber Orchestra (I play the cello). I have recently helped form the Georgetown University Flying Club, joined Delta Phi Epsilon Foreign Service Fraternity, and interned for a Congressman last semester. One of the things I love about Georgetown is that even though I have chosen International Affairs as my major, I can still participate in business activities, music, and much more. Your classmates will have extremely diverse interests, but will all be equally motivated to do well. There are so many great opportunities here, that even as a sophomore, I'm already wishing I had more time at Georgetown. I hope you choose to become a Hoya. I can promise you won't regret the decision. If I can be of any help answering questions, please feel free to email me.
E-mail: mjs265@georgetown.edu

NAME: Berkley Braden

SCHOOL: Georgetown College (COL)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: English & Spanish

HOMETOWN: Norfolk, VA

HIGH SCHOOL: Norfolk Collegiate School

ACTIVITIES: GAAP, New Student Orientation, Adelfi, Georgetown University Writing Center Tutor, work-study program

Hey everyone! My name is Berkley Braden, and I’m currently a junior in Georgetown College, double-majoring in English and Spanish. I’m a graduate of Norfolk Collegiate School in Norfolk, Virginia, and I truly could not be happier at Georgetown. Being from Virginia, I’m not too far from home, and I’ve never regretted staying rather close to my hometown. It’s great to have my own college experience at one of the nation’s most prestigious institutions, yet also be right next to my state! One of the best aspects of Georgetown is the endless array of activities, and my biggest difficulty has been narrowing down my options. I’m currently involved in Georgetown Admissions Ambassador Program (GAAP), New Student Orientation, and Adelfi (a social and service network of undergraduate women). I’m also a work-study student with the Anthropology Department and Sociology Department and a tutor with the Georgetown University Writing Center. I’ll be studying abroad in Spain this upcoming spring semester, which is sure to be an amazing experience. For me, Georgetown’s smaller size has truly been an asset, and I feel very much at home on campus. Never fail, whether you’re walking across campus, eating at Leo’s dining hall, or studying at Lauinger library, you’re sure to run into tons of friends. Despite the fact that Georgetown is such a close-knit community, the vibrant life of Washington, DC is literally just outside your door. From concerts at smaller and larger venues to sports games to incredible internships, DC never falters in its multitude of offerings – many of which are free! One of my favorite memories is the thrill of waking up at 4 am (I know, early!) to trek across our historic city to Inauguration. I’m so glad you’re considering Georgetown, and don’t hesitate to shoot me an e-mail if you have any questions about the University or my own experience! Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: ebb28@georgetown.edu

NAME: JM Alatis

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2013

MAJOR: International Politics

HOMETOWN: Weirton, WV

HIGH SCHOOL: Weir High School

ACTIVITIES: GAAP, GU Pride, Interhall, International Relations Club (IRC), Kiwanis International, GUCD Freshman Council, GU College Democrats

Hoya Saxa West Virginians! I am so happy that you are considering Georgetown for the upcoming year! My name is JM Alatis, and I am the State Chair for prospective Hoyas in West Virginia. I come from the town of Weirton, located in the Northern Panhandle. During high school, however, I travelled all throughout West Virginia, so I can relate to the feelings you all may have about college. Before stepping foot on campus, I knew that I have found my “home” at Georgetown. I realized that I belong here. Georgetown strives to create an inclusive campus for its students, and it puts forth resources to make sure its students achieve. Through this, you will learn that Georgetown is academically stimulating, something which I sought as I searched for the right place for me. There is no possible way for you to be bored on campus… there is activity going on at all times! Being in Washington DC, there are always opportunities to explore the nation’s Capitol and see what it has to offer (which, I might add, is A LOT!). If you are worried about going somewhere new with few people that you know, don’t worry: The other freshmen are in the same situation as you!
You all are truly a remarkable bunch, and I truly hope that you will consider coming to the hilltop this fall! In contrast, however, I hope you enjoy your senior year—it will be one of the best times of your life! If you have ANY questions about Georgetown, need information about the campus, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will do my best to help you in whatever way I can! I hope to talk to you soon.
E-mail: iea43@georgetown.edu

NAME: Monica Scheid

SCHOOL: School of Foreign Service (SFS)

YEAR: 2011

MAJOR: International Political Economy

HOMETOWN: Shorewood, WI

HIGH SCHOOL: University School of Milwaukee, WI

ACTIVITIES: Club Tennis, New Student Orientation, Relay for Life, Students Helping Honduras, Carroll Fellows Initiative

Hi, my name is Monica Scheid and I’m a sophomore in the School of Foreign Service. I’m from Shorewood, Wisconsin and I went to University School of Milwaukee for high school. When I was visiting colleges, I was immediately drawn to Georgetown’s beautiful campus and its location in Washington, D.C. I am interested in international development and going to school in D.C. provides a unique perspective on the issues I am studying. I have attended a speech by Madeleine Albright and gone to the Library of Congress to research. There are many opportunities to pursue in D.C., whether you want to see a concert on the National Mall or canvass for your favorite political candidate. At the same time, we have a very vibrant community at Georgetown. Some of my favorite traditions are going all out for basketball games at the Verizon Center or standing in a fifty-person line to get a burger on Friday afternoons from our Grilling Society (they’re amazing!). If you have any questions about Georgetown or just want to talk to me about my experience, please email me. I’d love to hear from you! Hoya Saxa!
E-mail: mcs82@georgetown.edu