Smith Fund Student

This weekend, Saturday, April 18th, is the annual Collaborations event. Every year during the spring the college takes a day to enjoy presentations from students and faculty about their work. For students, this could mean an honors thesis, special studies they’ve been working on, or a side project with their favorite professor.

All in all it’s a day to highlight intelligent, hardworking Smith students and their accomplishments over the last semester or year. The day always (it seems) falls on a beautiful Saturday in April and in-between presentations everyone enjoys a box lunch on Chapin lawn and the much-welcomed sunshine.

The Senior Campaign this year, as you may know, is celebrating a different designation every week in order to excite and better inform students about possible contribution locations. This week, we’re highlighting the Curricular Support designation and celebrating Collaborations! We’re hoping senior students will want to support their peers by giving back once seeing their hard work—and yes, maybe even feel a little nostalgic enjoying their final Collaborations.

Enjoy the day, Smithies and Seniors!

Last week, for Study Abroad theme week, I spoke with a Senior Peer adviser in the Study Abroad office. As a student who has been abroad and now counsels others, she had an interesting perspective and some great insight into study abroad at Smith. Here’s what she had to say. 

How many students study abroad every year? What are some of the most popular programs?

So each year around 350 study abroad from Smith with the most popular programs being JYA in Paris, University College London, Danish Institute for Study Abroad, JYA in Geneva, Edinburgh University.

What do you enjoy most about working with students?

I most enjoy working with students who are at the very beginning of their study abroad process. I like being able to help them narrow down their many options by focusing on their main goals for the experience. Most of all I love seeing them get excited about this new possible adventure.

What's your favorite memory from your study abroad experience?

There are too many great memories to count, but one that really stands out was during my program in Santiago, Chile where I just happened to be placed in a host family who's the son was being married.  After only a few weeks of living with them he invited me to the ceremony and I felt so incredibly lucky to be a part of this very important family event!

If you could share one thing about study abroad with alumnae, what would it be?

I would share with them the true level diversity of options students have for study abroad - not only are students presented with unlimited geographical options, for various cultural and language immersion, they can also tailor their program for their educational interests. There are so many wonderful opportunities to conduct an independent research project, complete an internship or volunteer at a local organization, that students can really grow in their career goals as well through study abroad!

This week I had a chat with Senior Class President, Milanes Morejon, to talk about her time here at Smith, why she felt the need to run for class President, and her take on what lays ahead for the graduating class. Inthe process I found another (unsurprisingly!) dedicated Smith student willing to work hard for her vision of Smith and for those around her. Thank you for your time, Milanes!

Why did you originally want to come to Smith College?

I came here with my family for Discovery Weekend and I found the campus to be beautiful and the people I interacted with were very welcoming. My history teacher was a Smith Alum and she told me it was a place I could feel empowered and validated. 

  What made you want to run for Senior class President?

I established great friendships during my time here and recognized the importance of maintaining that connection among the class. I wanted to take on a position that would allow me to plan fun class activities and to be a part of the commencement-planning process. I felt that as a leader, I could offer a more accessible form of governance that would take everyone's ideas and concerns into consideration at all times.

  What about Smith do you think is unique?

I would definitely say the faculty support. I have had outstanding professors who were invested in my academics and genuinely interested in helping me envision my professional trajectory. My professors have a special place in my heart and my experience wouldn't be the same without those individuals who welcomed me into their spaces.  

  What issues do you think the senior class is facing right now as we're about to graduate?

From informal conversations with my classmates, I can definitely say that we are a bit anxious about our post-Smith life. There are those who are applying for jobs, waiting on graduate school decisions and others who are simply going along with the ride. I think that this is a pivotal moment for all of us because, come May 17, we will cross the stage and have to confront and, hopefully, embrace change. Smith is one of the many stages of our process of personal growth and learning and it can be difficult to grapple with the closing of this chapter. In the end, I am hopeful and I'm encouraging others (including myself) to permit themselves to feel whatever rush of emotions may arise during this time. We've gotten this far and we are almost there!

  Which designation at the Smith Fund is most important to you personally? 

Happy Facilities Support Week! Facilities,one of the hardest working departments on campus, is in the Senior Campaign spotlight this week! These hard working men and women make our campus beautiful and keep the lights on—literally. In order to learn more about this unique perspective I spoke to Chuck Dougherty, chief engineer and electrical & co generation plant manager here at Smith.

What is your favorite part of working here at Smith?

 Over the years I have come to understand how my role here in Facilities is directly related to Smith's overall mission as an educational institution.  I find personal meaning and fulfillment in my work and like many of my colleagues, I am motivated to go above and beyond what is normally expected for our organization to succeed.

If you could work in any other department for a day, which would it be?

 If I had the chance, I would like to spend time with the Office of Sustainability.  Since coming to Smith I find that I spend a lot of time wondering how we can reduce our appetite for energy on campus and I'd love to spend time with the Office of Sustainability to help identify some of these issues and implement key operational initiatives that actually show results.  I think most people who know me would think that I'm pretty "green" when it comes to our environment.

What is the biggest change you've seen throughout the time you've worked here?

 I work in Facilities so I would have to say that the commitment by the college to upgrade all our underground utilities is impressive.  In just a few short years there has been an incredible amount of time, energy and money spent modifying and upgrading our power plant as well as the underground steam lines throughout campus.  We are presently in the middle of a 5 year capital project to upgrade our underground electrical infrastructure.  I know projects like these are not very exciting to talk about but the lack of electricity or heat being supplied to the campus becomes a top priority subject when those systems fail.

What can students do to show support and appreciation for staff members?

 I know I find personal recognition more motivating than food or money.  I have been personally moved by comments made to me by students in regard to a project I was doing out on campus.  Students have thanked me for paying close attention to detail and for putting in the time and effort to repair or correct something that was wrong.  I think it would go a long way if students just took a moment from time to time to personally recognize a staff member for the work they do here at Smith.  Getting a small compliment can sometimes make a person’s entire day worthwhile.

Happy Rally Day week! 

I, like many of you, am very excited to hear from Juliet V. Garcia, President of University of Texas-Brownsville, at Graduation on May 17th, 2015. Only 85 days left!

 On the morning of Rally Day my roommates and I went out to a local diner for brunch, Miss Flo’s in Florence--highly recommended if you’re ever in the area and want a great local diner breakfast! We had a great breakfast together and talked about how strange it was to finally be our Rally Day and that it truly symbolized the beginning of the end of our senior years. It seems to be all downhill after this and I’m betting things will start to go even faster than they already have this semester.

After getting home we put on our robes, took pictures, and discussed the finer points of how to best wear a snapback hat. Here’s a photo we took in our living room—I was distracted and didn't know we were supposed to make a serious face. Whoops.

 Before the event began in JMG the entire senior class from all over campus gathered in the Campus Center, per tradition, and took more photos with friends and classmates. Here’s another snap from that, this one is again all of my roommates—plus the missing one from the first photo!

I received the warmest (or rather, coldest) welcome back to campus from not one, or two, but THREE huge snow storms! It definitely slowed down the beginning of the semester but now things are getting back on track. This week is my first full week of class and my first week back at work. It was nice being home but it’s even better getting back to work and back in the classroom.

This semester is the last in my Smith career and of course represents the end of things here on campus. In my coursework, I’m taking a seminar in International Trade and writing the longest paper of my academic career. In work, this is the last lap of the Senior Campaign! We have until May 15th to reach our goal and while we’ve already made leagues of progress, there is always more work to be done.

When planning out the semester Senior Campaign-wise, I decided to implement theme weeks to get students more involved with giving back on campus. This week has a holiday theme for Valentine’s Day, “Fall in Love with the Senior Campaign!” and has been a blast to plan and table for.

At the table we had bags of conversation hearts along with paper valentines for students to write and give out. All of this while talking about student philanthropy and ways to enrich our campus community through paying it forward and giving!

Being from Texas, which is a bit far to travel for break, I decided to stay on campus and was able to witness our first snowfall here at Smith last Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. I snapped this first photo from the living room of my Friedman on campus--this was before most of the snow even arrived! 

The cold and I have a love hate relationship and as such I wasn't too happy. You would think I would be used to it after four years but it hasn't happened yet. I snapped this second picture on my way out of the house the next morning. This is from right behind Helen Hills Hills Chapel, which is just out of frame to the right. 

For the holiday, I celebrated Thanksgiving on campus with a few friends who were also staying and we cooked an excellent meal. There was turkey, two kinds of stuffing, maple glazed carrots, brussel sprouts, green beans, homemade cranberry sauce, twice-baked potatoes, candied walnuts, and pumpkin pie from the campus Frisbee team!

I sat down with Greta Stacy, class of 2015, to talk to her about how her time at Smith has influenced her as a leader and a student. She gave me a great insight into what makes Smith a unique place to grow, academically and in a leadership role. 

Why Smith?

I learned about Smith in high school when I participated in a program in Oaxaca, Mexico and had a supervisor who had just completed her first year at Smith. I applied a year later and chose Smith because of the excellent financial support and overall value of the education. Looking back now, it was a great fit for me.

What made you get involved in Student Government Association (SGA)?

I had previous experience with student government in high school when I was Study Body President and on the Board of Trustees. Having that experience, I was excited coming to Smith and ran for Lawrence House senator my first year. There, I joined the Elections and Appointments committee, chairing it my sophomore year. I wasn't able to run for anything that spring, being the elections chair, so I waited until I returned from abroad my junior spring and ran for SGA President.

  What leadership roles on campus do you see as unique to Smith/good preparation for life after?

The challenge when working on SGA at Smith is that we, as a student body, are a community of leaders—be it formal or informal. A lot of students take on informal leadership roles and do a ton of work on campus which is vital to our community. Smith in general prepares every student to be a leader whether or not they take a formal role during their time here.  

  What designation at the Smith Fund do you feel personally connected to?

House Challenge month is here at the Senior Campaign during November! As such, I thought I would talk a little bit about my own housing situation. As a first-year at Smith I was placed in Cushing House in East Quad. My first year I was in a double on the fourth floor, sophomore and junior years I had my own single room on the second and third floor respectively. I absolutely loved it and lived there for three years and am still close to a lot friends there.

However, last year as a rising Senior I had the opportunity to live with three of my best friends in a Friedman apartment on campus. We entered the lottery system and were lucky enough to be selected. This year as a Senior I live with the same three best friends in Friedman D4, right behind Helen Hills Hills Chapel on campus.

We have four bedrooms, one bathroom, our own kitchen, pantry, and a very spacious living room. While I loved living in Cushing and having my house community, I really value the independence that living in an apartment allows me—plus, I still get to keep my friends and the house events from Cushing! It really is the best of both worlds.

Last week, President McCartney invited me to dress up with her and her husband, Bill Hagen, to pass out candy to trick-or-treating students and staff. President McCartney provided me with a homemade Dumbledore costume to match "Hermione and Harry."

                        A few weeks ago I sat down with Paige Christie, class of 2015 and 6th Smithie to swim the English Channel, to talk to her about how her time at Smith had influenced her to attempt the Channel swim. What I found out was that Smith had inspired rather than influenced her to attempt it—and that the Alumnae network here is indeed a powerful thing.

  Where did you first get the idea to try and swim the English Channel? Tell me a bit about the training involved.

When I first came to campus I toured and absolutely loved it. The multitude of opportunities here was inspiring. Coming from swimming at my high school, I met with the swim coach while visiting. I heard about the Channel swim from him and (after applying Early Decision) promised to do it if I was accepted.

(Spoiler alert, she was.)

Although I had reserved a spot during my first year at Smith, I didn’t really get to start training (outside of regular swimming) until summer before my Junior year. It was intense—I would swim for hours at a time. There was a qualifying swim in May to make sure I could hold up against the cold temperatures. I swam in the Connecticut River for six hours. That was worse than the actual event.

  Was there any outreach from Smith’s Channel alums?

A ton! I was in contact with multiple previous Channel swimmers from Smith. They gave me advice and words of wisdom from their own experiences, which I found really motivating. Mackenzie Bradley ’13 and Emma Reim ’13, friends and teammates of mine who’ve both completed Channel swims, pushed me to succeed and gave me motivation during the entire process.

I also spoke with Margaret Bronniman ’85, who was the first Smithie to swim the Channel. We emailed back and forth constantly during the week leading up to the swim. She really paved the way for all of us who have swam after her—so her support instilled a huge amount of confidence in me. Even if we didn’t personally know each other, she was excited and extremely supportive because we had Smith as a connection. We’re planning on a meet-up for all six swimmers this coming May, my graduation and her 30th reunion.

          As a soon to be alum, what designation do you plan on making your first gift to this year?

Financial Aid is the biggest thing for me. I’m excited to make a gift—it gives me an opportunity to ‘pay it forward’, so to speak, and provide the same kinds of opportunities that I was given by my predecessors.

As of last Wednesday, October 15th, the 2015 Senior Campaign has officially launched! The Senior Campaign is an opportunity for the senior class to give its first official gift to the college via the Smith Fund. As the Smith Fund Intern/Student Head of the Senior Campaign, it’s my job to lead the charge this year.

We celebrated the launch of the campaign with a mailed postcard to the senior class with our tabling dates. Seniors had the opportunity on the 15th, 16th, and 17th, to stop by our table in the Campus Center during lunch and learn more. We even had a few students make gifts! It was really exciting to be able to talk about philanthropy with other students and get them involved with the Campaign.

Hello!

My name is Charlye Barfield and I am an Economics student at Smith College, class of 2015. I currently live in the Friedman Apartment complex but lived in Cushing House for my first three years at Smith. I am extremely active with student groups on campus; currently sitting as Academic Honor Board Chair, Celebration Committee Co-Chair, a member of Smith Republicans and working as the Smith Fund intern heading up the 2015 Senior Giving Campaign. Whew! Sometimes it’s a lot to handle. Then throw classes on top of it all.

So how did I get here? Why Smith? I’m originally from Conroe, a small town in south-east Texas outside of Houston. In the summer of 2009, in-between my sophomore and junior years of high school, I attended Smith’s Summer and Engineering Program for high school aged young women. After being on campus for a month, living in the dorms, and learning from Smith students and faculty, I couldn’t see myself going to school anywhere else. December of my senior year in high school I applied Early Decision II and was accepted.