2015-Abigail Williams

Abigail Williams

First Major: Neuroscience                                         
Dual Degree: Policy Studies
Thesis: Cyber Un-Secure: PBS Broadcast on Cybersecurity

Personal Statement
Our school’s namesake left home at 19 and sailed across the Atlantic to fight—and ultimately play a key role—in the American Revolution. The Marquis embodied fearlessness and the courage to take risks in order to make an impact. This spirit exists in all corners of the Lafayette community—in the student-athlete who took a snap for the first time in two years in front of 50,000 people, in the student groups who travel over school breaks to engage in community service work, and in the students who push us to stand up against the social injustices facing our campus and the world. We are all fearless.

In my own way, I have tried to live this ideal during my time at Lafayette. As a first-year student, in spite of the fact that I had disdained math and science in high school, I decided to major in both Policy Studies and Neuroscience because an understanding of the neural mechanisms of decision-making is crucial for resolving public policy and business problems. I later initiated EXCEL research about India’s waste problem after traveling there and seeing its devastating effects. I crossed my own Atlantic when this endeavor led me to Acopian to work with the Chemical Engineering department to study anaerobic digestion, a potential solution for India’s trash proliferation and energy deficits. Most recently, I led Alternative School Break to its biggest year yet, which included a 35% increase in applications, a 140 person Gala dinner, and a $1.1 million fundraising goal.

The Lafayette community has given me the courage to take risks. It is my hope that my leadership and support have encouraged others to be fearless. Roll Pards!

Academic Activities/Awards – Total Years Involved

• EXCEL Research 1
  I initiated EXCEL research on India’s waste management problems with Professor Mark Crain after traveling to India in December of my sophomore year. I investigated the potential of small-scale anaerobic digestion systems as cheaper, cleaner alternatives to diesel fueled generators. This work allowed me to work Chemical Engineering, Environmental Studies, and Policy Studies departments.
• Marquis Scholar 4
  Merit scholarship awarded during the admissions process
• Policy Studies Honors Thesis 1
  I am the student producer of the PBS broadcast on cybersecurity. The broadcast highlights what hacking is, who is hacking, how to prevent hacking, etc. I work with the PBS Producer, Professors Mark and Nicole Crain, and teams of students to create and implement a strategy to make this production possible.
• McKelvy Scholar 1
  I was nominated and selected to live in the McKelvy Scholars house my sophomore year. McKelvy Scholars attend weekly dinner discussions and lead a discussion each semester.
• Psi Chi 1
  Nominated to the Psychology and Neuroscience Honors Society my senior year
• Dean’s List 4Received a 3.60 or greater GPA 7 of my 8 semesters at Lafayette
• Caine Scholars Award in Global Leadership, Business, and Policy 1The award, which is the first specifically created for Policy Studies majors, provides a $5,000 stipend to support a summer internship.

Campus Service/Activities and Awards – Total Years Involved

• Alumni Relations Council (ARC) 4
  I co-founded this organization as a first year student to help “arc” the student and alumni experiences for undergraduates. ARC plans Leopard Launch, Homecoming events, the student component of the Lafayette-Lehigh Challenge, and Dine 3/9. I served as Vice-President my sophomore year, President my junior year, and co-chair of the Lafayette-Lehigh Challenge my senior year. As a junior, I also attended Alumni Council meetings as a student representative.
• Student Government 3
  I served on Student Government for two terms, first as the Student Organization Chair and then as the Representation Chair. As Student Organization Chair, I organized the Involvement Fair and helped students form new clubs. I was also the co-chair of the Budget Committee. As Representation Chair, I sent a lot of emails (sorry) for elections and surveys. I also managed Student Government’s social media accounts.
• Board of Trustees, Development Committee 1
  I was the student representative on the Development Committee for the Board of Trustees my senior year. I sat in on meetings and voiced students’ opinions if possible.
• Class Commencement Gift Co-Chair 1
  I work with the Development Office, my fellow co-chairs, and the class agents to solicit seniors to give to the Class Commencement Gift. We also work to educate the senior class about the importance of alumni giving and involvement.
• Orientation Leader 1
  I welcomed Watson 2nd Floor girls to Lafayette in August of 2013 and served as a resource on campus for first year students.
• Student Ambassador 4
  I worked as a tour guide as a first year student and gave 1-3 tours per week and was also the student speaker at information sessions. My sophomore, junior, and senior years I have given speeches at the Marquis Scholar Days and have worked with the West Coast Admissions Director to welcome and support first-year West Coast students.
• Student Development Associate (Phonathon) 1
  I called Lafayette alumni to continue to develop their relationship with the College and solicit them for money for the College’s Annual Fund. I brought in over $24,000 in gifts as a first year student, the highest dollar amount raised among student calle
• College Outreach Representative (CORe) 2
  I met with Lafayette alumni in Northern California and London to update them on Lafayette College, listen to their experiences, and help them become more involved in the school.
• Aaron O. Hoff Award
  I won the Administrators’ Award in 2013 for my work as Alumni Relations Council President. It is presented to a student who has demonstrated sincere concern for the college community and has unselfishly taken constructive measures to assist the administra
• Alumni Association Student Volunteer Award
  I won this award in 2012. It recognizes 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

Community Service – Total Years Involved

• Alternative School Break (ASB) 4
  I participated in my first ASB trip as a first-year when I traveled to Virginia to focus on intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a sophomore, I attended an ASB national conference and served as the Education Chair on the Executive Board. As a junior, I led “Team What A Disaster” to work on Hurricane Sandy disaster relief and recovery. As a senior, I served as President of the club and was on “Team Shell Shock,” which traveled to Costa Rica to focus on sea turtle conservation.
• Adopt-A-Grandparent 2
  I volunteered as the Easton Area Senior Center weekly during the first semester of my first and senior years. I socialized with the seniors by playing cards, bingo, or just talking to them.
• Best Buddies 1
  I was partnered with a local man with intellectual disabilities. Each month, we would hang out on campus for a couple of hours. We also attended Lafayette football games to support our fellow buddy.
• Make A Difference Day, Literacy Day, Lafapalooza 2
  I have participated in various service events sponsored by the Landis Center.

 Athletics Activity/Award – Total Years Involved

• Women’s Soccer Team (D1) 2
  Member of the Women’s Soccer Team my first two years at Lafayette.

Special Interest – Total Years Involved

• Political Analyst, Fifty States of Grey Election Night Broadcast 1
  I analyzed and discussed Presidential and Congressional race results and their implications live every 10 minutes during Lafayette College’s two-hour broadcast on PBS 39 on election night in 2012. The broadcast had a potential reach of 2.7 million viewers.
• Lafayette Leadership Institute 3
  I attended the conference my sophomore and junior years. As a senior, I co-presented “Write Your Future: Networking Advice For Student Leaders From Student Leaders” with Dave Kafafian ’13 to educate younger students about the importance of networking and tips for how to network.
• Intern, William E. Simon Foundation 1
  I restructured the Simon Foundation’s website and wrote memo for Co-Chairman, Peter Simon, on the history of federal financing of education standards and assessments, the history of Common Core and Race to the Top, and used evidence from the standards and critical analysis to address Common Core’s future impact.
• Board of Directors, Break Away 1
  I was selected to serve on the Board of Directors for a two-year term starting in April 2015. Break Away is a non-profit organization that oversees Alternative School Break programs across the nation.
• South Africa Interim 1
  Traveled to South Africa with two Lafayette professors and 20 other students for a course entitled “Voices of South Africa.” We visited Kruger National Park, Cape Town, and attended lectures at Stellenbosch University.
• Panelist 3
  I’ve served on a variety of panels for the Gateway Career Center and Admissions Offices over the last three years.
• Externships 2
  I externed with Deloitte my sophomore year and Mercator XXI my junior year.
• Reunion Worker 2
  I was a student volunteer during reunion weekend in June of 2013 and June 2014.