2012-Caitlin Flood

First Major:      Government and Law
Second Major:  Philosophy
Thesis:            Juvenile Transfers to Adult Criminal Court

300 Word Statement

When I first arrived at Lafayette, I was amazed by how active and involved the students were in the community. They weren’t simply going to class, but were running organizations, engaging the faculty, and creating new majors. From my first experiences at Landis’s Pre-Orientation Service Program, I knew there would be myriad opportunities to seek community service experiences, contribute insights to the classroom, and obtain leadership positions in programs I was passionate about.

By learning from my peers, I have come to realize that those who embody the Lafayette “ideal” have made this “ideal” their norm. I believe the Lafayette ideal is someone who is engaged in the community as both a member and a leader. While at Lafayette, I have been fortunate enough to be invited into several communities. With fellow volunteers, I was introduced to the Easton community through the kids in our Kids in the Community after-school program. Alongside several peers and faculty, I was warmly welcomed to communities in South Africa while on an interim abroad trip. On alternative school break service trips, our teams worked with community members worldwide to address issues their community was facing, while learning about their history and culture. I have tried to contribute something to these communities and in the coming years, I hope to be engaged in whatever community I join next.

People who represent the Lafayette ideal make it a more welcoming and diverse environment for future students. I have been impressed by members of the Lafayette community who have pursued the Lafayette ideal in their own way. The Lafayette ideal will continue to evolve as long as our Lafayette community evolves, but one feature will remain the same: dedication to being involved and giving something back to the community that has given us so many opportunities.

 

Academic Activities

• Phi Beta Kappa    2
  Elected to the national honors society as a junior for demonstrating both breadth and depth of liberal learning and academic excellence.
• Eugene P. Chase Phi Beta Kappa Prize    1
  Awarded to a sophomore(s) who has demonstrated scholarship as a first-year student. Received award in 2010.
• Eugene P. Chase Government Prize    1
  Awarded annually to the student who has, in the judgment of the Department of Government and Law, submitted the best written exposition in the field of political science during the academic year. I received this award in 2011 after researching the affects of after-school program participation on residents at four different juvenile detention centers in PA. I created surveys, which detention center directors administered to the residents, and conducted interviews with these directors.
• Excel Scholars Program   2
  I assisted Dr. Jennifer Kelly in the Music Department with her book on American women composers. I transcribed interviews Professor Kelly conducted, edited chapters, and made posters for research conferences Professor Kelly and I presented in.
• Senior Thesis in the Government & Law Department    1
  I am investigating the political and moral implications of transferring and sentencing young offenders in adult criminal court. Based on recidivism rates, mental competency evaluations, cognitive development, and theories of legal punishments, I am analyzing whether trying young offenders as adults is justified.
• Louise M. Olmsted Prize in Ethics    1
  Awarded to a student, who, in the judgment of the members of the Department of Philosophy, has done outstanding work in theoretical ethics, applied ethics, or a related field. I received this award in 2012.
• Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society    2
  Elected to the International Political Science honors society as a junior for demonstrating excellence in Government and Law.
• Dean’s List    4
  Qualified for the Dean’s List based on GPA from Fall 2008-Fall 2011.
• Marquis Scholarship    4
• Truman Scholarship Finalist for Lafayette and New York    1

 

Campus Activities

• Lafayette Leadership Education Committee    2
  I was the Student Intern ’11-’12 for the Lafayette Leadership Education Committee, which includes a group of students, faculty, and staff that works together to organize a leadership conference for student leaders on campus. I contacted alumni, a keynote speaker, and presenters who contributed to our conference for established leaders in February.
• CORE Representative    1
  From 2010 to 2011, I scheduled interviews with alumni to inform them of developments at Lafayette College and acted as a liaison between the College and alumni in hopes of getting more alumni involved in the school.
• Unsung Hero Award, Hoff Awards    1
  These awards will give deserved recognition to Lafayette students who have worked without concern for personal reward, have been loyal and dedicated, and have not been recognized for their efforts (one of the Hoff Awards ‘Highest Honors’). Received this award in 2011.
• Volunteer of the Year Award, Hoff Awards    1
  Awarded to the first year student who has demonstrated engagement and dedication to community service through the Landis Community Outreach Center. Received this award in 2009.
• Alumni Association Student Volunteer Service Award
  The Alumni Association Student Volunteer Service Award recognizes a current student for outstanding and consistent service to others, on and off campus. This award was specifically created to recognize a student who, through his or her volunteer efforts in the broader community beyond the College, has demonstrated compassion, energy and ingenuity in serving others. Received this award in 2011.

 

Community Service

• Alternative School Break (ASB)    4
  ASB is a student-run club that organizes six service trips a year, addressing different social issues.  I was a Team Leader for the NYC service trip and the executive board’s Secretary in my freshmen year, the President of the club my sophomore year, the Vice President my junior year, and the Travel Coordinator my senior year. I went on service trips to NYC, Washington D.C., and Ecuador.
• Kids in the Community After-School Program (KIC)    4
  For four years, I have been involved with KIC, an after-school program for kids living in two housing developments in Easton. This program is sponsored by the Landis Center. Four days a week, we help the kids with homework, do an activity, craft, or science experiment. I have served as both a program coordinator and volunteer for KIC.
• Pre-Orientation Service Program (POSP)    3
  As a first year student, I volunteered for the Kids in the Community (KIC) summer camp which took place on campus as part of POSP. As a camp counselor, I was assigned a group of young children and we did all of the camp activities with them.  As a sophomore, I served as the Assistant KIC  Camp Director and in my junior year, I was the KIC Camp Director. For these two positions, I planned summer camp activities for children in Easton, recruited incoming first year students to work as volunteers for the camp, worked on the program’s budget, publicized the camp, interviewed staff, and contacted community partners to set up the camp.
• Boys and Girls Club Tutoring Volunteer    2
  During my freshmen and sophomore years, we spent time with the kids helping with homework and playing games.
• Northampton Juvenile Justice Center Mentor    1
  I met with a young, female resident who was facing academic and self-harm challenges in the detention center. Every Saturday, we went over reading comprehension techniques and discussed our experiences, goals, worries, conflict resolution, etc.
• Lafapalooza    2
  I was the volunteer coordinator for this community service event in April, placing student volunteers on different service projects in Easton.
• Make A Difference Day    2
  I was the volunteer coordinator for this community service event in October, placing student volunteers on different service projects in Easton.
• Literacy Day Volunteer    2
  I helped organize Literacy Day and served as a volunteer, overseeing a group of children and running a station.
• Hunger and Homelessness Week Participant    1
  Participated in several events including the Midnight Run, where we prepared and delivered meals to the homeless.
• Safe Harbor Homeless Shelter    1
  I went with other Lafayette volunteers to spend time with residents at Safe Harbor. We would cook together or play games.

 

Athletics

 

Special Interest

 

• Internship at the Manhattan Supreme Court    1
  I worked with Judge Padro and his court attorney in the Youth Offender Part of Manhattan Supreme Court this past summer. This experience confirmed my interest in working in criminal law, specifically with young offenders. I sat in court to observe dispositions, reviewed judicial decisions, and learned about different alternative to incarceration programs. I shadowed several attorneys who work with young offenders and was able to sit in on many sessions the judge held with the young offenders to assess their progress.
• Internship at Midtown Community Court (MCC)    1
  I worked as an intern at MCC where I sat in on several alternative to incarceration education sessions addressing the root causes of different crimes. I led a session called the Youth Impact Panel to which young offenders who had committed misdemeanor crimes were sanctioned. We discussed the repercussions of their crimes and what it would mean for future employment, college prospects, financial aid, etc. I also conducted research on veterans coming through the court and compiled a resource packet for them that included information about housing, veteran benefits, etc.
• Internship at DCS    1
  I worked with alumnus, Gerry Kavanuagh ’76, at DCS, a firm that designs websites and newsletters for Senators and Congressmen. I met with communications directors in Congressional offices, produced and edited content for websites, helped conduct tele-town halls, helped create a health care website (healthcarecounts.com) and formatted emails.
• South Africa Interim    1
  I was fortunate enough to travel with other Lafayette students and faculty to South Africa during the January 2011 interim. We took classes at University of Stellenbosch, visited different townships, schools, Kruger National Park, and tourist attractions.