P.A. Nguyen

Major:  International Economics and Commerce
Thesis: Performance Efficiency of Spanish Savings Banks: an Agent-based Model of Market Concentration and Competition

 

300 Word Statement

The Lafayette Ideal means different things to different people in different ways: being placed on Dean’s List, winning sports championship, leading a new campus initiative, or simply impacting others’ lives through community services. By any definition, the Lafayette Ideal is not synonymous to perfection. On the contrary, the Lafayette Ideal signifies the willingness to make mistakes and transform flaws into strengths.

Throughout college, Lafayette has shown me my strengths. I am a scholar, a friend, a leader, a philosopher, a communicator, an innovator and a risk-taker. My academia passion lies in International Economics and Finance. Yet I have already traveled across disciplines into Computer Science, Mathematics, Music and Arts to broaden my knowledge about the outside world. My Lafayette Ideal experience has been, at times, rough when I voluntarily venture outside the comfort zone to engage in diversity and cultural conversations at LINC meetings, POSSE+ retreat, Finding We Retreat, RA floor programs and brown bags. My Lafayette Ideal experience has been, at times, empowering when my voice and perspective enlighten and encourage others, during Trustee meetings, Faculty Committee meetings, Resident Advisor staff time, and Student Government sessions, to become better informed of the community. My Lafayette Ideal experience has also been, at times, rewarding when I surpass boundaries to converse with professors, administrators and friends to discover a newer and more holistic world on the other side.

I have seized myriad opportunities to promote positive changes and given back to the campus by organizing and participating in several campus-wide events. Everywhere I go becomes a classroom; and everything I do allows me and others to learn and grow intellectually, emotionally, socially and culturally. For these, I believe that my achievements have well represented the Lafayette Ideals established by the liberal arts education that provides its students the power, the wisdom, and the freedom to connect with the world.

 

Academic Activities

  • John W ’02 and Alverta B. Mengel Scholarship    4
    Selected as the international student recipient for this scholarship award to attend Lafayette for four years
  • Dean’s List
    Recognized on Dean List’s for several semesters for overall outstanding academic performance at the undergraduate level
  • Excel Scholar    3
    Worked in several research projects with the Computer Science and Economics Departments since freshman year. Conducted research on the topic of implementing GIS in pallet modeling for environmental policy development and decision-making process. Constructed a social-political simulation model of gender gap using data obtained from UN database. Simultaneously collaborated to build a biophysical model to forecast global warming effects based on the life cycle of West Coast blotched lizards.
  • Senior Thesis   1
    Conduct departmental honors thesis research that measures and invetigates performance efficiency of the Spanish Savings Banks by building an agent-based model that simulates the industry of savings banks.
  • Omicron Delta Upsilon Honors Society    1
    Nominated into the Honors Society of International Business Major for excellent academic performance and dedication. I am also the first student in my major to pursue an honors thesis at Lafayette.
  • National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR scholarship)    1
    Represented Lafayette College to present honors thesis research at the prestigious National Conference on Undergraduate Research on the topic of Performance Efficiency of Spanish Savings Banks: an Agent-based Model of Market Concentration and Competition. This thesis is a multidisciplinary study of Economics, Finance and Computational Science.
  • William T. Morris Community Fellow Foundation    1
    Selected recipient of the William T. Morris Community Fund to collaborate with local community and government leaders in an effort to transform the economic and social scene of the city of Easton, PA. Assisted in conducting research on the economic conditions of the West Ward Neighborhood, developing business plans for the Green Business District, networking with national organizations on the West Ward Urban Ecology Project, and implementing the Energy Reduction District Plan.
  • Study abroad a semester and teach English in Seville, Spain    1
    Spent a semester studying abroad in Seville, Spain while sharing the culture of American education and of my own heritage in the context of the Spanish culture. Participated in culturally educational activities and taught English to Spanish kids.
  • Women in Computing Society    2
    Founded Women in Computing Society Club within the Computer Science Department. Helped establish an academic forum for women who are interested and involved in Computer Science and/ or Computational Methods to learn and seek support from each other.
  • Lafayette Leadership Institute
    Selected to attend 2009 Lafayette Leadership Institute during my freshman year

 

Campus Activities

  • Student Associate on The Financial Policy Committee of the Board of Trustees    1
    Participate to consider and recommend policies for asset management, custody and control, debt management, financial accounting, financial reporting, control of financial operation, purchasing and insurance, and as requested by the Executive Committee or the Board. Advise on matters dealing with financial long-range planning, budgeting, pricing and fees. Input with regards to decisions for investment management of endowment and similar funds of the College. Reflect objective perspectives of the general student body on certain changes in financial decisions with regards to raising tuition and admission policies.
  • Student Associate on Campus Life Faculty Committee    1
    Review monthly reports from the Vice President for Student Affairs on myriad topics relevant to campus life and student affairs. Receive monthly reports from the General Faculty Committees such as the Governance Committee, Academic Progress Committee, Faculty Compensation Committee, etc with regards to academic policies, changes in general curricula, adjustments to major and minor requirements, employee benefits and information technology. Joined the search committee for the Dean position that oversees Student Affairs and Juridical Procedure; selected and conducted personal interviews with the selected candidates. Monitor and evaluate policies related to campus life, residence life, dining facilities, and social living groups; some of the most recent decisions involved approving changes to the current diversity programs on campus, discussing the newly created committee that deals with Greek Life, and inputting ideas to promote the new off-campus housing program for next academic year. Raise concerns from student perspective on new occurrences across campus such as the degradation of fraternity and sorority system. Offer inputs in the new residence life initiatives to develop Living Learning Communities and Grossman House.
  • Resident Advisor    3
    As a resident Advisor, I am responsible for maintaining a stable and safe environment for a floor of approximately 22 residents. In my role I help my residents with their academic, social, and emotional needs. I maintain order on the floor in order to keep a peaceful and safe environment. I help residents in their residence hall activities through programming activities, dealing with school policy violations. I also assisted RA training sessions for new hires and conducted candidate interviews for next years hires.
  • Resident Life Liaison on Student Government    1
    Elected as a liaison for Residence Life, Greek Life and the entire student body on campus. Promoted diversity in Greek organizations and their active participation and collaboration with non-Greek groups. Organized campus-wide event 1000 Village among international students, Greek organizations and the general student body; the event advocated free trade, collected sales profits for charity events and created an opportunity for students to come together and co-organize a big event. Successfully coordinated Custodian Appreciation Day with the Residence Hall Council and residents across several residence halls to show appreciation for the hard work of campus-wide custodian staff. Communicated with different departments on campus such as Plant Operations, Public Safety, Communications, and Alumni Affairs to address several ongoing concerns of the student body. Represented the opinions of the majority of student body in the decision process of higher administration staff. Helped organize annual student events such as Fall Fest, Spring Concert and Dinner with Alumni.
  • Student Steering Committee of LINC    1
    Served as a liaison between student-run cultural organizations and the Office of Intercultural Development. Provided help and guidance to these organizations for programs related to multiculturalism, inclusiveness and diversity awareness. Coordinated and created platforms for inter-organization collaborations and diversity dialogue among club leaders on campus. Advocated and realized several events on campus such as Women against Violence, National HIV/AIDS Day, etc. The main goal of these events was to encourage different organizations across campus to come together and co-sponsor campus-wide events. Participated in “We Speak” event during Student Leader Orientation. “We Speak” created an opportunity for first year students to share their voices via their personal admission statements – a way to demonstrate and promote the diversity of the class year.
  • Delta Delta Delta Sorority    3
    Through Tri Delta I have participated in numerous academic, philanthropic, and social activities. This includes raising money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, representing my chapter at campus-wide activities, and organizing events like the annual DHop, Delta Treats, etc.  I also have served on the ritual and revelation committees within my chapter.
  • TED x Lafayette    2
    Founded TEDxLaf and started the initiatives of creating a forum to exchange ideas. The idea soon developed into an annual TED conference mostly for the Lafayette community to connect students, faculty and alumni.
  • ISA – secretary and regional leader    3
    Served on the executive board of ISA. Helped coordinate ISA activities throughout the academic year. Led the team of South East Asia in Extravaganza, which involved organizing brown bag presentations, fashion show, food tasting and finale performances.
  • Lafayette Model UN – PR officer    2
    Served as the PR Officer of the Model UN Club at Lafayette. Organized training sessions for the club to prepare for participation at the annual MUN at Harvard. Represented Lafayette at the annual Harvard National Model United Nations conference in Boston,
  • Dean Assistant – Interim Activity Coordinator    1
    Planned interim activities for students who remained on campus over winter interim. Proposed budget for planned activities. Coordinated with related parties to carry out the planned activities. Communicated and advertised the events so that all students on campus can take part in the events.

 

Community Service

  • March Around The World at the local elementary school    2
    Organizer and participant of activities to expose children of the March Elementary School to international cultures through crafts & arts, music & dancing and language games.
  • Lafapalooza (Lafayette’s day of national service in the spring)
    Partook in various service projects in and around the Easton community
  • Make a Difference Day    1
    One day service opportunity in the fall. Volunteered accordingly to the needs of the event.
  • Green move-out    1
    Worked with campus organization and join other student volunteers to collect donation of usable materials left behind at Lafayette at the end of the spring semester
  • Boys and Girls Club of Easton    1
    Volunteered to go down to the Boys and Girls Club to play and do various activities with the children
  • Tax VITA Program
    Volunteered to work in the Easton community to help low income individuals file their annual tax return
  • TriDelta Community Services    3
    Devoted a minimum of 2 hours every semester to participate in community service projects off campus

 

Athletics

  • Badminton Sports Team    3
    Practiced and received training twice a week. Competed in contests with close by schools such as NYU. Placed 2nd in the 2010 club competition that was organized campus-wide.
  • Volleyball Sports Team    1
    Practiced and received training from professional coach.
  • Intramural Sports    2
    Competed in badminton tournaments both individually, in teams and on behalf of TriDelta against other sororities
  • ISA Olympics
    Competed against Lehigh in the annual competition Laf vs. Lehigh, which usually took place the weekend before the weekend of Laf-Lehigh football.

 

Special Interest

 

  • Tour Guide    2
    Gave tours to prospective students and provide them with an overall positive view of student life at Lafayette. Also served as Lafayette representative in my country. Besides representing Lafayette at higher education fairs in my country, I also coordinate and help other current Vietnamese Lafayette students represent Lafayette at these college fairs when I am not at home.
  • Phonathon/ Lafayette Annual Fund    2
    Worked for the Annual Fund office as a student caller for the Phonathon since freshman year. I got the opportunity to be promoted to student manager, yet I couldn’t find the time to pursue the activity.
  • First Year Orientation    1
    Self-described event: Shirley Ramirez and Amina Deburst started the idea of having an event during First Year orientation in which the diversity of the incoming class is acknowledged and celebrated. My role was to help perform/ narrate chosen best personal statements submitted by the incoming students.
  • Concert Choir    3

I have been a member of Lafayette’s Concert Choir since my first semester at Lafayette and have enjoyed performing on stage with the group each semester. In addition I have been a member of the volunteer choirs for convocation, commencement and football games for the past four years.

  • Lafayette Dance Company    2
    Joined this organization to satiate my dancing interests, starting to choreograph and teaching other members modern Asian dance. I have been able to aplly what I learn from the club to actively participate and perform in ISA’s annual Extravaganza.
  • ACM Society    2
    Took part in Robot competition and training events that help promote interests and knowledge in computer and computational science.
  • Economics, Math and Physic Academic Clubs    4
    Participated as an interested member of the group. Took part in group competitions and activities that promote the academic interests in these clubs.
  • Languages    4
    I am very interested in languages and cultures. Besides English and Vietnamese, I am also fluent in Spanish and am learning Chinese and Korean. Participated in academic activities for Spanish-speaking students. Also regularly helped organize and attended

Musical Instruments: organ and piano    5
6 years of playing organ and self-taught piano. Performed live music with friends in a few campus events.