2015-Emily Crossette

Emily Crossette
Emily Crossette

First Major: Civil and Environmental Engineering                                        
Minor: Environmental Science
Thesis: Calculating our Estrogen Footprint: Testing a Procedure to Quantify the Estrogenic Compounds Released by Wastewater Treatment Plants

Personal Statement
The Lafayette Ideal is a student who makes a positive impact on Lafayette directly, through leadership, academic excellence and active participation in diverse activities, and indirectly, encouraging the same in others by mentoring, supporting and cheering on his/her peers.

Upon matriculation, I began to interact students who epitomized this definition of the Lafayette Ideal and those interactions were invaluable in shaping how I approached my career at Lafayette. For example, Austin Widener, a fellow civil engineering student always had time to answer my questions and was eager to mentor me as an aspiring researcher despite a busy and academically rigorous senior year. Ideal Lafayette students, like Austin, leave measurable impacts on their respective academic departments, extracurricular programs and initiatives they care about while simultaneously inspiring others to do the same. Early my first year, I strove to emulate these students and I therefore committed myself to achieving excellence and contributing to programs that benefit Lafayette’s campus and community.

My experiences in student organizations such as SEES and study abroad in Bremen, Germany motivated me to address sustainability issues on campus. For the past four years, I have devoted much thought and effort to increasing awareness of environmental and sustainability initiatives and encouraging students to adopt behaviors that conserve natural resources. While developing and engaging students in projects aimed at achieving these goals, such as a Native Pollinator Garden Project, I have endeavored to mentor students interested in environmental research, initiatives, and academic programs.

I feel confident that my dedication to my curricular and extracurricular work has positively impacted the college. These successes were not without deliberate self-evaluation and the support of the Lafayette Community. I hope my leadership, work ethic, and determination to serve the college has motivated other students to stretch themselves and contribute to Lafayette in the process.

Academic Activities/Awards – Total Years Involved

  • EPA Greater Research Opportunity (GRO) Fellowship 2
    A $50,000 grant for academic and research support awarded to undergraduate leaders in environmental research. Awarded to around 40 undergraduates across the United States. As a GRO Fellow, I served as a member of a green infrastructure research team, one of the EPA Office of Research and Development’s high profile research groups. I explored potential additional applications of EPA’s watershed analysis tool, BASINS, and authored a report that is now published.
  • Honors Thesis Candidate 1
    I am evaluating an improvement to a yeast bioassay to quantify estrogenic compounds in wastewater. I am also reviewing groundbreaking wastewater treatments strategies, including urine source separation and evaluating the fate of estrogenic compounds in such systems.
  • EXCEL Research Scholarship 2
    As an EXCEL Scholar, I studied both a bioassay to measure estrogenic activity in municipal wastewater and the effectiveness of K-12 informal STEM education. I presented the work on an improved metric to quantify estrogenic compounds at 4 regional conferences and 2 national conferences including the National Conference for Undergraduate Research in Lexington, KY. Additionally, I will be presenting at the American Society of Civil Engineers Environmental and Water Resource Institute World Environmental Water Resources Congress in Austin, Texas this spring.
  • Council on Undergraduate Research: Outstanding Achievement in Research 1
    I was one of 60 out of over 600 applicants selected from around the United States to present research to congress and at the Posters on the Hill Conference in Washington, D.C, one of the most prestigious undergraduate research conferences in the US. I met with my state senators and representatives to demand support for undergraduate research.
  • Barry Goldwater Scholarship (Honorable Mention 2014) 1
    Awarded to top students pursuing research in science, math, and engineering with a strong trajectory for success in graduate studies.
  • Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Scholarship (Honorable Mention 2013, Scholar 2014) 2
    Awarded to student leaders in environmental protection and environmental conflict resolution.
  • Top Civil and Environmental Engineering/Engineering Department Honors 3
    Viscomi Civil Engineering Student Prize (2014-2015): Awarded to two students in the senior civil engineering class at Lafayette for academic achievement and leadership in departmental activities and college-wide programs Daniel P. O’Neil Memorial Fund Award (2014- 2015): Awarded to an engineering student pursuing senior projects who is actively engaged with the arts and other co-curricular experiences. Russell C. Brinker Prize in Civil Engineering (2014): Awarded to a junior in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department deemed most deserving on the basis of self-reliance, scholarship, and student activities by the faculty of the department William G. McLean Tau Beta Pi Prize (2013): Awarded annually to a sophomore engineering student based on academic performance, campus citizenship, and professional orientation.
  • Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honors Society (Vice President 2014, Member 2013-Present) 2
    Inducted into this national honors society for engineering students as a junior, representing the top 1/8th of students in Lafayette’s Engineering Division.
  • American Chemical Society Undergraduate Award in Environmental Chemistry 1
    Presented to a student who has demonstrated excellence in research, coursework and motivation in the study of environmental chemistry.
  • Dean’s List 4
    Commended for academic achievement every semester of my career at Lafayette.

Campus Service/Activities and Awards – Total Years Involved

  • Society of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (Community Outreach Chair 2011-2012, VP 2012-2013, President 2013-2014, Member 2011-Present) 4
    I have fostered a supportive undergraduate research community on campus through programs including panel discussions, informal research presentations, and mentoring opportunities. I expanded community outreach committee and improved the organization’s presence on campus. I have also lead campus sustainability initiatives including the Pollinator Garden Project.
  • Lafayette College STEM Camp (Coordinator 2012, 2013, Steering Committee 2014- 2015) 4
    I ran a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math summer camp for members of the local communities for two summers and now serve on the steering committee. As coordinator, I was responsible for developing activities, recruiting and coordinating a team of over 30 volunteers, and planning the daily events. Over the past three years, this program has offered STEM programs to over 150 students in the Lehigh Valley.
  • Lafayette College Annual Fund 3
    I engage in phone conversations to foster relationship between alumni and the college and solicit funds. I have raised over $40,000 for the college in five semesters.
  • Engineering Student Advisory Council (Member 2012-Present, Engineering Week Planning Committee (EWPC) Chair 2014, EWPC Co-Chair 2015) 3
    I have organized engineering week activities including the Engineering Olympic Games, Student Research Conference and Engineering Division Trivia Night. I helped develop programs to enhance the engineering students’ experiences in the department.
  • Lafayette College Arts Society (Steering Committee 2014-Present) 4
    As a steering committee member, I am responsible for making art programs more accessible to students. I have coordinated events such as an architecture tour of campus. One of my favorite Arts Society Events includes the Annual Evening of a cappella. I was involved in planning and worked back stage for the production the past three years as a guide and stage manager. I currently live in the Arts Houses on Parsons Street and host Arts Society events. I am a faithful supporter of campus music and performing arts groups including the Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble, Contemporary Music Ensemble, and Marquis Players.
  • Lafayette College Pollinator Garden Project 2
    I formulated the idea, worked with administration for approval, developed project team, researched and selected pollinator garden plants, and designed the garden. The garden is on schedule to be planted this spring outside Acopian Engineering Center and will serve as a habitat for threatened pollinator species.
  • Lafayette College Sustainability Committee 3
    I serve as liaison between student body and administration to inform administrators about ongoing and proposed sustainability programs, issues, and ideas to improve campus sustainability.
  • Music Appreciation Floor (MAFia) (Resident 2012-2014) 2
    I lived on this community interest floor for two years and participated and organized programs and activities for the campus including the bi-annual Lip Sync and Air Band competition. I actively participated in developing our 1st-place submission to the Inauguration “What Makes Lafayette, Lafayette?” video contest. While I was on the floor, we won a Hoff Award for Best Living Group.
  • Lafayette Environmental Awareness and Protection 2
    I served on the Carbon Committee to help plan the annual Lafayette-Lehigh Energy Saving competition. I also contributed to discussions aimed at improving recycling and developing the EcoRep Program.
  • Earth Month Planning Committee 2
    I contributed ideas, organized activities, and advertised for Earth Month events. This year, I am coordinating a video to promote sustainable behaviors and earth month programs.

Community Service – Total Years Involved

  • VH1 Save the Music 3
    I helped plan and participated in the Music Appreciation Floor’s bi-annual fundraiser for the VHI Save the Music Fund which raises money to support music programs in public schools.
  • Community Outreach: Environmental Awareness and Sustainability 4
    Throughout my four years, I have volunteered in both LEAP and SEES coordinated k-12 outreach. I have visited schools and organizations like Phillipsburg Middle School, Bangor Area Middle School, DeFranco Elementary, and the Easton Area Community Center and taught about conservation and environmental problems. I have also independently volunteered with education and outreach programs on campus and at LaFarm.
  • Community Based Learning and Research Expo 1
    I presented on the Society if Environmental Engineers and Scientists’ model for educating youth and our outreach program evaluation methods.

 Athletics Activity/Award – Total Years Involved

  • Pep Band Member and Enthusiastic Fan 4
    I have served as a percussionist in the Lafayette Pep Band for three semesters and enjoyed cheering on the Leopards as we won Patriot League Championships in Field Hockey, Football and Basketball.
  • Jacobs University Ultimate Frisbee Team 1
    While abroad in Bremen, Germany, I joined the university’s competitive Ultimate Frisbee team.

Special Interest – Total Years Involved

  • Violin 4
    I have played in the Lafayette Chamber Orchestra every semester I was on campus.
  • Environmental Awareness and Sustainability 4
    You may have seen me around campus attempting to de-contaminate recycling bins and encouraging friends and peers to ditch disposable water bottles. I am an avid advocate for the environment and attend talks and programs about environmentally relevant issues.
  • Gardening 4
    In addition to planning the campus pollinator garden, I have volunteered at LaFarm throughout the past 4 years and tended my own plot for two years. At home, I help my parents at our garden plot and volunteer to weed, control pests, and harvest in the local community garden.
  • Traveling 4
    I have a passion for traveling. While studying abroad in Bremen, Germany I visited France, Austria, Italy, Belgium, and innumerable cities in Germany. With my family, I have visited England, Brazil, Vietnam and Eastern Europe. During graduate school, I hope to travel abroad as a visiting student to study approaches to contemporary wastewater treatment challenges in Europe.