2014-Matt McKenzie

Major:  IA

Thesis:  The Old Problems of New Prohibition: The impact of US prohibitionist policies on organized crime in Mexico

 

300 Word Statement

More than any accomplishments I can list, I encompass the Lafayette Ideal due to the amazing classmates who’ve surrounded me these last four years. I’ve had the opportunity to learn so much from amazing role models and outstanding leaders on campus. Their guidance has allowed me to become an example of a student who encompasses the Lafayette Ideal.  It’s with this experience that I hope my greatest accomplishments at Lafayette are not the leadership positions I’ve held or the places I’ve traveled. Like the many people who came before me I want my accomplishments to be the impact I made on others, both in Lafayette and within the Easton community.

My four years at Lafayette have been filled with community service activities, which have allowed me to become a civically engaged student. Organizing urban beautification programs in the West Ward, spearheading the Holiday Helpers gift drive and supervising an ASB trip to DC are a few of the activities which have challenged me to not only work in and outside of campus, but have allowed me to help expand the education of others beyond the walls of Pardee.

My proudest accomplishments at Lafayette always involved working with other students. From helping my Phi Psi brothers accomplish 500 hours of community service to teaching in Madagascar with the LIME program, I have always looked to use leadership positions to not only better myself, but to help bring out the best in others.

I measure the Lafayette Ideals as someone who not only encompasses leadership, academic responsibility and civic engagement, but someone who can effectively teach and inspire those traits in others. I wouldn’t measure my greatest accomplishments as what is on my resume, but rather, how I helped others create amazing résumés filled with the virtues of the Lafayette Ideal.

 

Academic Activities/Awards – Total Years Involved

Senior Thesis in International Affairs Department 1
My thesis is titled “The Old Problems of New Prohibition: The impact of US prohibitionist policies on organized crime in Mexico”. My thesis focuses on the recent rise in organized crime in Mexico during the last 7 years and compares it to the rise in organized crime during the 1920’s alcohol prohibition in America. Due to an increasingly neo-liberal world where borders mean less and less economically, the comparison between cartels and the American mafia has become more appropriate. My thesis looks to test how the US drug prohibitionist policy has impacted Mexico, and what role it has on the increase of organized crime in Mexico.

Sigma lota Rho National Honors Society for International Affairs 1
I was just recently invited to join this honors program this past spring.

Order of Omega Honors Society 1
Honors society for members of Greek Life at Lafayette College. Inducted in the spring of 2014

Dean’s List 1
Received this honor during both the spring of 2013 and fall of 2013

 

Campus Service/Activities and Awards – Total Years Involved

Lafayette Tour Guide 1
I was a tour guide from the Winter of 2011 till the winter of 2012.

 

Community Service – Total Years Involved

West Ward Neighborhood Partnership Program (WWNP) Coordinator 3 Responsible for an urban beautification service program which recruited student volunteers to work in gardens and parks in the Easton community. Responsibilities included weekly coordination with community organizers, transportation of volunteers and site location selection and oversight. I have been in charge of WWNP since my Fall ’11 till today. The only time I was not in charge of the program was when I traveled abroad during the Spring ’13.

Landis Center Team Leader/Organizer for the Holiday Helpers Gift Drive 1
During both the Fall ’13 and this Spring ’14 I was a Landis Center Team Leader. I was responsible for managing and looking after 4 additional Landis programs and their respective coordinators. Responsibilities included holding frequent team meetings, the teaching of Landis models (Social Change Model, Active Citizens Continuum, Civic Engagement), organizing educational events for all of Landis and attending team leader specific meetings. Additionally during the Fall ’13 I was placed in charge of the Holiday Helpers Gift Drive which collected gifts for under privileged single moms and their children during the holiday season. I led a team of four in collecting over 350 gifts.

Alternative School Break Trip Leader DC 1
During the Fall ’11 and the Spring ’12 I was in the trip leader for an Alternative School Break Trip to Washington DC. During the winter break I served as the trip leader for a group of ten students on a service trip to D.C. Responsible for the transportation, education, protection and guidance of the group while we learned about the issues of hunger and homelessness in our nations capital. I was also responsible for teaching my volunteers about certain elements of the ASB service model, including the Active Citizens Continuum.

Alternative Break Nicaragua Team Member 1
During the Fall of ’10 and the Spring of ’11 I was a member of the Alternative Spring Break Team which traveled to Nicaragua to learn about the injustices which have occurred in Nicaragua over the last 50 years. I helped document the whole trip.

Make-A-Wish Board Member 1
I was on the Make-A-Wish Board from the Fall of ’11 till the end of the Spring ’12. I was a special events coordinator who helped organize specific fundraisers for the Make-A-Wish club.

Safe Harbor Volunteer 1
I was a volunteer for the Safe Harbor Homeless shelter program during the Fall ’13

S.K.I.P. Volunteer 1
I was a volunteer for the S.K.I.P. after-school program during the Fall ’10 through Spring ’11.

POSP Volunteer Leader 4
The Fall ’10 I was a First-Year Student and selected to be part of the Pre-Orientation Service Project First-Year as a volunteer. I was placed in the TIC group and helped run a 3 day summer camp for Teens from the Easton community. The following three years I was a leader for the program, and ran numerous creative activity stations for kids from the Easton community during the program.

Aaron O. Hoff Volunteer of the Year Award 1
I was awarded this during the Spring of ’11.

Phi Kappa Psi Philanthropist of the Year Award 1

In the spring of 2014 I was awarded this scholarship prize from Phi Kappa Psi.

 

Athletics Activity/Award – Total Years Involved

 

Special Interest – Total Years Involved

Brother of Phi Kappa Psi– Penn Theta Fraternity 1
I have been a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity since the Fall ’11 till today Spring ’14.

Philanthropy Chair of Phi Kappa Psi—Penn Theta Fraternity 1
I was the philanthropy chair for Phi Kappa Psi during the Spring ’12. I helped organize a number of dances which raised money for the Boys & Girls Club. I also helped Phi Kappa Psi achieve 500 hours of community service by finding service opportunities for PKP brothers around the Easton community and encouraging their participation in Landis events.

LIME (Lafayette Initiative for Malagasy Education) 1
I was a member of LIME from Fall ’12 through Winter of ’14. Taught for three weeks in a Malagasy public high school. Specifically focused on ESL, TOEFL and SAT training so that students could apply to US institutions of higher education. This also took a semester of preparation by working on a syllabus for the time we had in Madagascar.

Presenter at the Leadership 24/7 Event 1
Just this past month (Spring ’14) I was a presenter at the Leadership 24/7 Conference. I presented on the social change model and how it applies to leadership.

Presenter at the Leadership Learning Kickoff: Pecha Kucha Presentations on Leadership Styles 1
Led a presentation on the social change model and the how leaders can further develop by applying the model to their own leadership styles.