2015-Connor_Heinlein

Connor Heinlein

First Major: Government/Law
Second Major: Philosophy
Thesis: President Obama and the Twilight Zone of Executive Power

Personal Statement
While every student has his or her own approach to their collegiate experience, my approach from the minute I arrived on campus was to say “yes” to every opportunity presented to me and try my best at everything I agreed to. I wanted to push myself and immerse myself in my new community as much as I possibly could. As I reflect on my nearly complete time at Lafayette now, I am proud to say I managed to sustain this approach throughout my four years, and I believe this approach has resulted in my embodiment of the Lafayette ideal.

To me, the Lafayette ideal is someone who doesn’t simply experiment with Lafayette’s various opportunities, but rather is someone who commits to this community wholly, and excels in every role pursued. To this end, I have not simply dabbled in what Lafayette has to offer, but rather I have tried my best to exhaust the full extent of what is available to the best of my ability. In the classroom I not only sustained academic excellence, but also pursued a thesis to take advantage of the oversight I would receive from a Lafayette professor. In the sphere of campus life, I not only got involved with every opportunity presented to me, but I also pushed myself in every endeavor, resulting in my selection as President of several organizations including our student body. Through my sustained commitment to club sports and sports marketing, I have demonstrated my commitment to Lafayette’s athletics as well.

Overall, my approach to Lafayette has lead me to become the well-rounded student I am today. Through taking advantage of Lafayette’s available resources I have immersed myself fully in my community and it is for this reason that I believe I have come to embody the Lafayette ideal.

Academic Activities/Awards – Total Years Involved

Honors Thesis 1
Honors thesis with Professor Murphy in the Government/Law department titled “President Obama and the Twilight Zone of Executive Power,” which is about President Obama’s use of his executive power relative to those Presidents who have come before him.
Minerva and Emil V. Novak Prize 1
Received the Novak Prize, which is awarded to 1-4 Government/Law students annually “on the basis of academic achievement & citizenship (activity) in the campus community.”
Pi Beta Kappa Honors Society 1
Selected for the Pi Beta Kappa Honors Society, which extends invitations to students who have “demonstrated both breadth and depth of liberal learning and who have in the process established for themselves academic records of unquestioned excellence.”
Pi Sigma Alpha Honors Society 1
Selected for the Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honors Society, which recognizes “outstanding students in political science.”
Kirby Government and Law Society 3
Served as Vice-President within the organization in addition to my regular membership during my junior year.

Campus Service/Activities and Awards – Total Years Involved

Sudent Government Representative 4
In my Junior-Senior term, I served as the President of Student Government, overseeing all campus life student activity and attending all trustee meetings on behalf of our student body.
In my Sophomore-Junior term, I served as the Treasurer of Student Government, managing a $600,000 account for all student organizations and chairing the Student Government budget committee. In my First Year-Sophomore term, I served as the Student Life Chair, leading the Student Government Student Life committee.
*The terms are by calendar year, so I served three terms over four years.
A.F. (Lafayette Activities Forum) – Campus Programming Board Representative 4
In my senior year I was responsible for planning campus traditions such as the Spring Concert and Fall Fest.
In my junior year I was responsible for planning off campus trips, such as trips into NYC for students.
In my sophomore year I was responsible for planning recreation events, such as trivia nights for students.
In my first year, I was a regular member of the organization.
Residence Hall Council Representative 3
In my Junior and Sophomore year I served as the President of RHC, responsible for overseeing all residential programming by students outside of Resident Advisor programming. In my first year, I served as a regular representative for a semester and then as the secretary my second semester.
Orientation Leader 3
My senior year I served as the Recognition Co-Chair on the Orientation Exec Board and as a representative on the Orientation Leader selection committee. My Junior year I served as the Academic Co-Chair on the Orientation Exec board. My sophomore year I served as a regular Orientation Leader.
Kaleidoscope Peer Liaison 4
Served every year as a member of Kaleidoscope, a group dedicated to facilitating conversations around campus regarding social justice and giving presentations on its importance and meaning.
Lafayette Leadership Education Committee & Presentations 3
In my Senior and Junior year I served as a member of the committee, helping plan Lafayette’s annual leadership conference for emerging and established leaders. In my Junior and Sophomore Year I gave presentations at this conference on behalf of the committee regarding situational leadership and successful event programming.
Standing Student/Faculty Committees (Academic Progress & Student Appeals) 3
In my senior year I was a member of the Academic Progress Committee, overseeing student academic appeals and cases regarding alleged violations of academic integrity.
In my Junior and Sophomore year I served as a member of the Student Appeals committee, hearing cases from students unsatisfied with their student conduct hearings.
First Year Class Council 1
Served as the President of the First Year Class Council my first year, which planned events for the first-year class.
Family Weekend Planning Committee 1
Served as the Entertainment Chair of the Family Weekend Planning Committee, responsible for overseeing the production of various events over family weekend in my Sophomore year.
Other Ad-Hoc Committees (there are nine, each is listed in the description) 4
Director of Public Safety Search Committee, Student Representative, 1 year Director of Student Development Search Committee, Student Representative, 1 year Code of Conduct Advisory Committee, Student Representative, 1 year Presidential Advisory Committee on Commencement, Student Representative, 1 year Rivalry 150^th Committee, Student Representative, 1 year Dean of Students Advisory Committee, Student Representative, 1 year Student Leadership and Involvement Staff Search Committee, Student Representative, 1 year Presidential Advisory Committee on Assessment, Student Representative, 2 years Student Life Trustee Committee, Student Representative, 1 year

Community Service – Total Years Involved

Landis Make a Difference 2
Went to various locations around Easton and did service work from cleaning houses to weeding back yards my Senior and Sophomore Year.

Athletics Activity/Award – Total Years Involved

Sports Marketing Club 3
Served as Co-President my Junior year, Co-Vice-President my Sophomore Year, and as a regular representative my first year. Responsible for marketing our major campus athletic events to the student body.
Mens Club Soccer Participant 4
Played on the game squad of our Men’s Club Soccer team every year.
Intramural Soccer Team Participant 1
Participated in an intramural soccer team my Senior Year.
Intramural Dodgeball Team Participant 1
Played on an intramural Dodgeball Team my Junior year (and won!).
Intramural Basketball Team Participant 1
Played on a 3v3 Basketball Intramural team my first year.

Special Interest – Total Years Involved

Intern for Representative Paul Brodeur 1
Interned for Lafayette Alumnus Representative Brodeur in the MA State House the summer after my First Year.
Intern for Governor Deval Patrick 1
Interned for MA Governor Deval Patrick the summer after my Sophomore Year.
Intern for Senator Elizabeth Warren 1
Interned for Senator Elizabeth Warren the summer after my Junior Year.