2010 – Caroline Richardson

 

 

First Major: B.S. Biochemistry  

Minor: Biomedical Engineering/Biotechnology 

Thesis: pH Dependent Redox Measurements of DNA Photolyase 

Lafayette College is like life with training wheels.  In our supportive and safe community, we get to find our strengths, make mistakes, and get ready for the real deal.  As important as figuring out what our own identity is, we are also charged with the task of learning how we fit into the bigger picture.  Easton is where I first got to test out what it means to become a part of a community– to find its hidden gems, to understand its history, to build relationships within it, and to be able to serve it. 

As a freshman volunteer in the PreOrientation Service Program, I received a Landis poster with the Desmond Tutu quote, “My humanity is bound up in yours.”  These words embody my concept of community and have stayed with me throughout my involvement at Lafayette and in Easton. Co-coordinating Teens in the Community has shown me that service is rarely a one-way experience.  Being a Biology TA, doing scientific research, and taking challenging courses have given me a strong appreciation of my own educators.  The numerous opportunities I had to lead and to watch others lead at Lafayette have shown me that, with hard work and empathy, any individual can move a community forward. 

During my quick four years at Lafayette, I have tried to fulfill the responsibility of living in the Lafayette community: the responsibility to work tirelessly to better my surroundings and myself.  My Lafayette Ideal is an individual who has learned how to live and contribute in our small community and is ready to go on and do so in the global community.  As my senior year comes to a bittersweet and undoubtedly tearful end, I leave with the knowledge that my Lafayette experience has prepared me for the two-wheeler waiting after graduation. 

Academic Activities and Total Years Involved 

• Senior Honors Thesis in Chemistry    (1)
  In Prof. Yvonne Gindt’s lab, I am working on determining the pH dependence of the redox potential of the protein DNA photolyase. I presented my work to the American Chemical Society Meeting in San Francisco in Spring 2010.
• Excel Research Scholar    (1)
  In my sophomore year, I worked in Prof. Gindt’s lab, designing and performing protein chemistry experiments to study the cross-linking of cyanobacterial phycocyanin.
• General Biology Teaching Assistant    (3)
  From my sophomore to senior year, I worked to maintain grade books, grade students’ assignments and notebooks, oversee work of assistant TA, guide students through laboratory procedures, and conduct help sessions. At the time of my hiring, I was the only sophomore chosen as TA rather than an assistant TA.
• American Chemical Society (ACS) Club   (4)
  From my freshman to senior year I have been a member of the ACS club. During my senior year, I am the Public Relations Chair, responsible for advertising academic speakers and social events.
• Private  High School ChemistryTutor    (1)
  During my senior year, I was chosen by a faculty member to work as high school chemistry student for another faculty member’s two children.
• Marquis Scholarship    (4)
  From my freshman to senior year, I have been a part of the Marquis scholar program attending social and cultural events and maintaining a high GPA.
• Princeton University Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Scholar    (1)
  During the summer of my sophomore year, I was accepted by the National Science Foundation to work in Professor Ron Weiss’ synthetic biology lab.  I designed and performed molecular biology experiments on the construction of a biological network from stem cells for the International Genetically Engineered Machines competition.
• University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ Summer Research Student    (1)
  During the summer of my junior year I was accepted to work as a research assistant in Professor Ellen Townes-Anderson’s retina research lab.  I performed immunofluorescence experiments to research the RhoA pathway in detached photoreceptor cells.
• DUCTS Online Magazine Intern    (1)
  From my sophomore and junior, I was selected by my English professor to work as a gate-keeping editor for her online literary magazine.
• Dean’s List    (4)
  From freshman to senior year, I have made Dean’s list all semesters except one.
• Order of the Omega Honor Society for the top 3% of the greek community (1)
• Phi Lambda Upsilon National Chemistry Honor Society (1)

Campus Activities and Total Years Involved 

• Marquis Magazine    (1)
  During my freshman year, I was a submitter and club member.  I submitted two pieces which were accepted for publishing, and I was in the club and responsible for collecting and reading submissions.
• Lafayette Environmental Awareness and Proection (LEAP) Club    (2)
  During my freshman and sophomore year, I was a club member and recycling committee chair.  I helped organize and advertise events, attended events, and help develop correct signage for recycling.
• Alpha Gamma Delta    (3)
  From my sophomore to senior year, I have been a member of Alpha Gamma Delta.  From my sophomore to junior year, I served as alumnae relations coordinator.  I organized two alumnae events and improved the communication links between current sisters and alumnae.

Community Service and Total Years Involved 

• Teens in the Community Program    (4)
  I was a volunteer for TIC as freshman and Landis staff TIC Program Coordinator from sophomore to senior year. As Landis staff TIC Program Coordinator I was responsible for recruiting volunteers and participants, organizing activities, running the teen program twice a week during the year, reporting to Landis Center, attending twice monthly staff/team meetings.
• PreOrientation Service Program (POSP)    (4)
  I was a volunteer for POSP as freshman, Teens Director from sophomore to senior year, and Leadership Committee member from junior to senior year. As a Teen director, I planned and executed a week long summer camp for teens from Easton and trained incoming freshman volunteers. As a leadership committee member, I recruited incoming first year volunteers, organized staff, planned social programming, and developed the theme for the week.
• Literacy Day Planning Committee    (3)
  I worked on the planning and organizational committee from sophomore to senior year.  I was responsible for making programming for teens, working with other campus organizations, organizing volunteers and participants, organizing participants and transportation, and attending planning meetings.
• Alternative School Break Program    (1)
  I volunteered for ASB and served as fundraising coordinator for the Ecuador team. I attended meetings, organized funraising events, and volunteered in Ecuador for Fundecoipa NGO building a welcome center in the Arutam village.
• San Giovanni Soup Kitchen in Rome, Italy    (1)
  I volunteered for a soup kitchen in Rome, Italy my junior year to learn more about the social environment in urban Italy.
• Safe Harbor Program    (1)
  I volunteered my freshman year, playing games and doing activities with homeless men living at Safe Harbor.
• Meals on Third Street    (2)
  I volunteered my freshman and sophomore year, cooking meals for women living in the Third Street Alliance.
• AmeriCorps Environmental Intern    (1)
  The summer of my freshman year, I performed chemical and biological assessments of local waterways, presented environmental education lessons, and organized river cleanups.
• IMPACT Conference Lafayette Representative (1)
  During my sophomore year, I was chosen by the Landis Center to represent Lafayette College and the Landis staff at the national service IMPACT conference.

Athletics and Total Years Involved 

• Women’s Rugby    (2)
  Team member for freshman year, fundraising chair for sophomore year.
• Intramurals (Various)    (2)
  Played in various intramural sports throughout junior and senior year.

Special Interest and Total Years Involved 

• Tree House Floor    (1)
  Lived on Tree House floor my sophomore year, attended and organized environmental and cultural events on floor and campus.
• Newman Association    (4)
  Attended club meetings freshman year and attended Catholic church service on Sundays and various social events from freshman to senior year.
• Farmer’s Market    (3)
  Since sophomore year, I have attended the Easton Farmers Market and other Easton events.
• Piano    (4)
  Since 2nd grade I have played piano, during college I often play in the practice rooms in Williams.
• Study Abroad in Rome Italy    (1)
  During my Junior year, I studied Art History and Italian in Rome, Italy.