FANTASTIC FIRST YEAR STUDENTS

FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE

April 22, 2009

Eighth Annual Fantastic First Year

Students Awards Program

Welcome and Introductions

Judith Termini, FYE Director

Krista Brown, Student Success Assistant

Awards PowerPoint Recognition• Fantastic First Year Students

• Outstanding First Year Advocate

Group Photos

First Year Experience

Gallaudet University’s academic community

welcomes the Class of 2012

• 221 new freshman students

• 47 transfer students• 47 transfer students

Fantastic First Year (FFY) Students

2008-2009• Fantastic First Year Students Nominated: 63

• Fantastic First Year Students Selected: 40

• Average GPA: 3.8

• FFY students with 4.0 GPA: 18

• JumpStart students honored as FFY students: 4

• PLUS (Performance Learning Undergraduate Success) students honored as FFY students: 13

• FFY students went on Costa Rica Study Abroad Trip:

26

Fantastic First Year Students…

• Show exceptional commitments to academics

• Seek clarification

• Do not settle for ‘good enough’

• Earn high GPAs• Earn high GPAs

• Show respect, motivation and dedication

• Excel inside and outside the classroom

These students, selected by the First Year Experience faculty/staff, were nominated by

faculty in consultation with Academic Advisors, Residence Life, and Office of Student

Conduct.

Fantastic First Year Students

2008-2009

• Jarvis Beaver

• Jeryka Bourg

• Brittany Castle

• Kyle Dacus

• Nathan Engel

• Gil Estrada

• Michael Halloran

• Ryan Harding

• Anthony Harrison

• Amelia Hensley

• Garrett Hildebrand

• Colin Hill

• Caleb Hinton

•Nicole Noble

•Sheena O’Donnell

•Clyde Short

•Tony Tatum

•Rami Traurig• Gil Estrada

• Jessica Feldman

• Andrew Ferguson

• Georginia Fitzpatrick

• Joy Fraychineaud

• Grady Gallagher

• Betty Goodridge

• Samantha Groetken

• Donna Guardino

• Caleb Hinton

• Briana Johnson

• Noel King

• Danielle Koplitz

• Denette Ligon

• Jonathan MacDonald

• Ryan Mahoney

• Sara Malkowski

• Brandon McMillan

•Rami Traurig

•Allison Weiner

•Colin Whited

•John Wholey

•Jerome Wilcox

•Brandon Williams

•Jessica Yocom

Jarvis Beaver

• Intelligent & hardworking

• The kind of student teachers dream about

• Scholar-athlete

• Dedicated to improving his work• Dedicated to improving his work

Jill Bradbury

Jeryka Bourg

• Consistently demonstrates initiative and

integrity, mature and reliable

• Creative, expressive writer who shared her

experiences in reflective, meaningful waysexperiences in reflective, meaningful ways

• Respected by peers, helpful to others

• Well prepared for class and turned in excellent

work in timely manner

Maria Waters

Timothy Anderson

Brittany Castle

• A pleasure to have as a student

• Hardworking and responsible learner

• Quietly motivated

• Creative and insightful• Creative and insightful

Maria Waters

Timothy Anderson

Kyle Dacus

• 4.0 GPA, scholar-athlete

• A thirst for knowledge and a plan for his life

that includes graduate school

• Delight in the classroom• Delight in the classroom

• Truly engaging in the kind of discussion that

should occur in an academic setting

Anne Simonsen

Nathan Engel

• 4.0 GPA, focused on his academics

• Intelligent and thoughtful

• Always considerate of others

• Constantly pushed himself to improve his • Constantly pushed himself to improve his

writing

Jill Bradbury

Gil Estrada

• A contagious smile and dedicated attitude

• Respected by peers and willing to help other

students

• Seeks out resources in pursuit of academic • Seeks out resources in pursuit of academic

excellence

Maria Waters

Timothy Anderson

Jessica Feldman

• She knows herself and what she wants to

become

• A strong woman

• Highly organized and articulate• Highly organized and articulate

Jane Dillehay

Kristen Harmon

Andrew Ferguson

• Scholar-athlete

• Full of energy, interested in everything

• Has the courage to try new challenges

• An excellent writer• An excellent writer

Jane Dillehay

Kristen Harmon

Georginia Fitzpatrick

• 4.0 GPA, dedicated to her academics

• Uses her own life experiences to build her

knowledge bank

• She is extremely serious and driven with high • She is extremely serious and driven with high

expectations for herself and her professors

• Willingly assists her peers

Sharon Pajka-West

Joy Fraychineaud

• 4.0 GPA, motivated to succeed

• Model college student – first generation in her

family

• Work ethic and commitment to her education • Work ethic and commitment to her education

are incredible

• Completed work ahead of time and quality

was consistently excellent

Carie Palmer

Grady Gallagher

• 4.0 GPA, ideal scholar-athlete

• Avid debater in class

• Always willing to play devils’ advocate while

respecting differing view pointsrespecting differing view points

• Unflappably optimistic and inquisitive

Thomas Baldridge

Betty Goodridge

• 4.0 GPA

• Regularly went beyond guidelines and

submitted work whose quality was well

beyond expectationbeyond expectation

• She was a stalwart in the social structure of a

fairly tight-knit class

• Her biggest challenge was not to be too self-

critical and demanding

Thomas Baldridge

Samantha Groetken

• Dedicated to her academics

• Consistently sought assistance and

clarification

• She will accomplish any goals she creates for • She will accomplish any goals she creates for

herself

Sharon Pajka-West

Donna Guardino

• 4.0 GPA, eager to learn

• Not only a model student but a thoughtful

and productive citizen

• Contributed to the learning environment in a • Contributed to the learning environment in a

mature and responsible way

• An ideal representation of our university,

willing to go the extra effort to be sure her

work is outstanding

Sara Konkel

Teresa Burke

Michael Halloran

• Disciplined scholar-athlete

• Outstanding class presenter

• Seeks regular clarification and follow up to his

workwork

• Always a pleasure to work with

Darian Burwell

Franklin Torres

Ryan Harding

• 4.0 GPA, a model scholar-athlete

• Boundlessly energetic and optimistic

• Social glue of the class

• Wrote one of the best student memoirs I’ve • Wrote one of the best student memoirs I’ve

ever read (poignant, inspirational, and

guaranteed to moisten your eyes)

Jill Bradbury

Thomas Baldridge

Anthony Harrison

• 4.0 GPA, committed to his education

• Willingly helps and supports other students in

class

• Love for learning which is contagious to all he • Love for learning which is contagious to all he

meets

Carie Palmer

Amelia Hensley

• Leader among her peers

• Enthusiastic presentations

• Devoted to her academics and quality work

• Quiet, dedicated student who became a role • Quiet, dedicated student who became a role

model in math class

Darian Burwell

Franklin Torres

Lindsay Buchko

Garrett Hildebrand

• 4.0 GPA

• New signer who seeks additional help outside

of class time

• Always willing to help classmates• Always willing to help classmates

• Represents Gallaudet well, created amazing

blogs about First Year Study Tour to Costa Rica

Andy Tao

Geoffrey Whitebread

Scott Carolla

Colin Hill

• 4.0 GPA, scholar-athlete

• One of those students that every teacher feels

lucky to have in class

• A gifted writer, his proposal was accepted for • A gifted writer, his proposal was accepted for

the regional Honors conference

• Plans to study medicine and be of service to

humanity worldwide

Jane Dillehay

Kristen Harmon

Shirley Shultz-Myers

Caleb Hinton

• Scholar-athlete

• Highly motivated, “can-do” attitude with a

smile

• Respectful and a team player• Respectful and a team player

• Great potential to succeed

Maria Waters

Cynthia Edwards

Briana Johnson

• Quiet, determined student who takes her

studies seriously

• Thrives on feedback to improve

• Very spiritual person whose faith guides her • Very spiritual person whose faith guides her

so that she will accomplish every goal she sets

for herself

Jerri Lyn Dorminy

Jennifer Nelson

Noel King

• 4.0 GPA

• Intrinsic learner, not afraid to take risks in her

learning

• Actively participates and often presents • Actively participates and often presents

interesting perspectives and new insights on

topics

• Beautifully fluid and professional presentation

style

Jerri Lyn Dorminy

Danielle Koplitz

• Dedicated to academics and involved in

Honors project

• Great potential to succeed

• Excels in classroom discussions• Excels in classroom discussions

• Works well individually and on teams

Maria Waters

Chris Heuer

Denette Ligon

• Hard-working, “Never give up” attitude

• Truly loves to learn

• Wonderful role model for other students

• Even thanks her teachers at the end of class!• Even thanks her teachers at the end of class!

Carie Palmer

Jonathan MacDonald

• 4.0 GPA

• An advocate for his GSR class and the entire

Freshmen class – speaks up about student

needs and rightsneeds and rights

• Used humor and good will to help our class

become a community

Kathleen Wood

Jerri Lyn Dorminy

Ryan Mahoney

• Willingness to learn with a positive attitude

• A true team player

• Well respected among peers

• Bound to be successful• Bound to be successful

Caroline Finklea

Jill Bradbury

Sara Malkowski

• 4.0 GPA, conscientious about her work and excellent writing skills

• Helpful with fellow classmates both inside and outside classroomoutside classroom

• Showed her ability as a leader and willing to stand up for her beliefs

• Willing to go out on a limb and think differently instead of succumbing to group thinking

Janice Mitchell

Lillie Ransom

Brandon McMillan

• 4.0 GPA, respected scholar-athlete

• Willing to help other students

• Respected by peers

• Excellent presentation skills• Excellent presentation skills

Maria Waters

Cynthia Edwards

Nicole Noble

• 4.0 GPA, reliably produces quality academic

work

• Consistently demonstrated initiative and

maturitymaturity

• Independent thinker

• Added an uniquely Canadian civility to

classroom ambience

Thomas Baldridge

Sheena O’Donnell

• A quiet personality but an expressive writer

• Amazed us with her creativity and expressive,

funny stories (often about her love of family,

friends, and animals)friends, and animals)

• Motivated to succeed

Jerri Lyn Dorminy

Jennifer Nelson

Clyde Short

• A real leader in class discussions and activities

• Infectious energy

• Respected by peers

• Goal in life to become a multilingual • Goal in life to become a multilingual

interpreter

Jerri Lyn Dorminy

Jennifer Nelson

Tony Tatum

• Bright, warm, engaging student who

embodies a true team player spirit

• Scholar athlete

• He’s the kind of role model that prospective • He’s the kind of role model that prospective

students should look to when considering

Gallaudet

• He made Gallaudet his place, his education,

and his future

Cindy Officer

Rami Traurig

• Motivated to succeed

• A pleasure to have as a student

• Intelligent and hardworking

• Well prepared for class• Well prepared for class

• Helpful with other students

Caroline Finklea

Jill Bradbury

Allison Weiner

• Insatiable intellectual curiosity

• Consummately socially-conscious

• Loves a debate

• Actively involved in SBG and other student • Actively involved in SBG and other student

organizations

Thomas Baldridge

Colin Whited

• 4.0 GPA, motivated to succeed

• One of the top 5 students I’ve taught in my 37

years here

• Has the potential to be an outstanding leader• Has the potential to be an outstanding leader

• May be President of Gallaudet some day!

Joseph Kinner

Jane Dillehay

Kristen Harmon

John Wholey

• Love for math and a valuable asset to the class

with his experience in working with numbers

• Took on a leadership role and helped peers

with assignments and in-class activitieswith assignments and in-class activities

• Perfect attendance

• Preferred to do math without calculator!

Lindsay Buchko

Jerome Wilcox

• Non traditional student who is truly an intrinsic learner and highly motivated

• New Signer with a mind like a sponge, just loves the opportunity to be a new student this loves the opportunity to be a new student this semester

• Always aware of fellow classmates and seeks ways to help or connect with them

• Brings a wealth of experience and insights into daily class discussions

Maria Waters

Chris Heuer

Brandon Williams

• Quietly motivated, insightful and a deep

thinker

• Positive attitude with a smile

• Respected by peers• Respected by peers

• Self motivated and responsible learner

• Creative titles and topics for his FYS Learning

Experiences that always fascinate me and

provide amazing reflective learning

Maria Waters

Chris Heuer

Jessica Yocom

• 4.0 GPA, motivated to succeed

• Serious and committed student who attended

all classes and willingly helped her classmates

• She respects others, appreciates diversity, and • She respects others, appreciates diversity, and

different ways of thinking

Anne Simonsen

Outstanding First Year Advocate Award

• 2009:

• 2008: William Moses

• 2007: Steven Chough

• 2006: Kay Zaccagnini• 2006: Kay Zaccagnini

Special Thanks

• Provost Stephen Weiner, Associate Provost Catherine Andersen for sponsoring this event

• Academic Advisors, Residence Life, and Office of Student Conduct

• Enrollment Marketing - photos• Enrollment Marketing - photos

• Academy Technology Video Services

• D.C. Central Kitchen - (dccentralkitchen.org)

• Faculty, staff, administration, and students who continue to support the First Year Experience program year after year

GROUP PHOTO

AND PICK UP YOUR CERTIFICATES!AND PICK UP YOUR CERTIFICATES!

CONGRATULATIONS!