GAAP (Georgetown Admissions Ambassadors Program)

Pursuing and Sharing Your Own Identity

2010-03-22T10:17:00.000-07:00

When I came to Georgetown two years ago, I was just another international student who did not know what was going on. I remember that I had trouble converting prices from US Dollars to New Taiwan Dollars in order to see whether the meal was worth buying in the first place, followed by the frustration to understand why I had to pay something called the ‘tax’ and the ‘tip’ when I have already paid for my pasta. I had more problems understanding why my friends said “what’s up” and continued walking without waiting for a response, and even more difficulty simply understanding what the phrase “what’s up” meant. However unlucky I felt, over the course of three years, the people and opportunities at Georgetown truly opened my eyes for a new level of cultural appreciation and respect.

At Georgetown, I had the opportunity not only to pursue what I am interested in, but also to share my experiences and interests with other people. I became actively involved with the newly founded Taiwanese American Student Association (TASA), the student group aimed to promote Taiwanese culture through educational, social and cultural events. Last semester, we hosted a Bubble Tea Social for the students to taste Taiwanese dessert, a speaker event called “Cross Strait Dialogue” involving three professionals to talk about U.S.-Taiwan relations, and ‘sibling gatherings’ to meet other students who were also interested in learning more about Taiwan. Recently, with the help of alumni working abroad, we also launched the Hoyas in Greater China Internship program that offers Georgetown student opportunities to intern in Taipei and Shanghai over the summer. These opportunities have truly lowered the fortified cultural boundaries and allowed me to share my personal background and interests with other students. I felt as if I could go beyond my comfort zone and to become involved in my school—what is truly amazing about Georgetown is the respect and tolerance that people have for one and another, and the willingness to learn, to share, and to inspire.

Jennifer Chen
SFS '11
Taipei, Taiwan

The Social Fabric

2010-03-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

From day one of setting foot on this campus, one fact becomes glaringly obvious: the social fabric of the Georgetown student body is extraordinarily diverse. This diversity is a point of pride among many at the University and it is discussed and celebrated often. The sort of diversity of which I speak, more specifically, concerns (ironically) a common theme that is woven into this diversity; it is a theme that can be recognized in nearly every instance that a new acquaintance is made - everyone has a "story" and in general no one person's story is remotely similar to the next person's. These stories are of international travel and/or residence, participation in some of the nation's or world's most prestigious student programs, speaking multiple "exotic" languages, pedigrees of striking ethnic variety or even ethnic purity, and the list goes on. As an example, I refer to a good friend of mine; he was born in Canada, holds citizenship in Finland, has a deep English heritage, and has lived in Texas for most of his life, and he also speaks four languages. Even so, both he and I agree that his resume is a far cry from what many other Hoyas can boast.

Obviously there are exceptions to such cases - not everyone has had the opportunity to travel or live abroad, to have learned multiple languages, or to have participated in "leadership" or other scholarship-type programs. To these people, and I am one of them, life amongst such fantastically experienced and privileged people can be overwhelming, intimidating, and even suffocating. Personally, for some time after my initial arrival as a freshman, it made me feel as if I was "behind" in life, so to speak, compared to most of my peers. The that my time here has progressed, however, the more that I realize being "average" (for lack of a better term) is only an alternative form of diversity. In the same way that those of us who are "average" can glean stories and perspectives from others, "average" lives and stories can be just as instructive. It is the fusion of all sides into a share, yet individually nuanced, Georgetown experience that is truly amazing. No matter what you background and life story may be, we all have something to offer each other and to learn from each other at the same time. We are Georgetown, yes; but more precisely, Georgetown is us.

Cheesy? Very. Constructive? Relatively. True? 100%.

Edward Hill
SFS '11
Rapid City, SD

Studying Abroad in Argentina

2010-03-08T05:40:00.000-08:00

Given Georgetown's international character, the university offers many opportunities for its students to live and study in different countries, whether it be for a summer, one semester or a full year. I am currently abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina for a year and am truly enjoying learning about the country’s history, politics, economics and culture.

While I had previously learned about Argentina in Spanish and Latin American history classes, living in Buenos Aires has taken my knowledge of the country to a whole new level. I am enrolled in the University of Buenos Aires and am taking my classes in Spanish with Argentine classmates. As an International Political Economy major, it is very interesting to learn about economic development in a third-world country that suffered a major crisis less than ten years ago. But in addition to what I have learned in the classroom, conversations with friends and my host family have broadened my understanding of economics and politics in Argentina beyond what I have learned in the United States.

I have also immersed myself in the Argentine culture thanks to my wonderful host family. I am constantly referred to by my host mom as her "American daughter" and have found a second family here in Argentina. In addition to providing me with a welcoming home in a busy city of 13 million people, my host parents and siblings have introduced me to and made me a part of their way of life in Buenos Aires. I’ve come to love the traditional hours-long family lunches on Sunday afternoons and listening to tango and folklore music, whether played on a CD or sung by my host mother and sisters. Given my passion for cooking, I’ve also enjoyed learning how to make several Argentine, Spanish and Italian dishes (Argentina has large Spanish and Italian immigrant populations) from my host mother while baking cookies, brownies and scones in return.

I am very grateful that Georgetown encourages its students to step outside of their comfort zones and view the world from a different perspective. Not only do students gain from their travels, but the entire Georgetown community benefits as well when these students return to the Hilltop and share their knowledge with classmates and friends.

Monica Scheid
SFS ‘11
Shorewood, Wisconsin

Interning on Capitol Hill

2010-03-02T08:39:00.001-08:00

The one opportunity that I had as a Georgetown student that I am the most pleased about accomplishing is having an internship on Capitol Hill. Many students at Georgetown take advantage of this opportunity, but most do not. I am so glad that I decided to neglect some of my free time for that much more rewarding experience.

Last semester, I spend three days a week working in the Cannon House Office Building for Congressman Pete Olson from Texas. I attended hearings and special events, led tours of the Capitol, answers calls, mail and email from constituents, helped analyze legislation, researched issues, and got to know my Congressman personally. Few people when asked what they ate for lunch can tell a story about eating Chick-fil-a in a Congressman's office or about having a picnic outside of the Library of Congress. That was my Fall semester. I loved every minute of it (well, except for when they took away my badge!). This unique opportunity is incredibly rewarding because it allows you to participate in the government, get to know influential people, and helps you learn new ideas, abilities, and how to manage your time. I think that this opportunity is something that every student at Georgetown should take advantage of. I am so happy that I came to this amazing University in this exciting city everytime I think about the great things that I have done by being here.

Colleen Gibson
MSB '12
Sugar Land, TX

Campus Life

2010-02-23T10:40:00.000-08:00

Hello Future Hoyas!

In keeping with the theme of new, fun experiences...the other weekend, my friends and I went to see an improv show put on by the Georgetown Players Improv Group. We went to dinner at the Tombs (a favorite Georgetown tradition) and then spent the next hours in Bulldog Alley laughing like crazy! Georgetown has a fantastic artistic community- I never thought I would do drama in college, but I'm in a sitcom with G.U.T.V.- we are getting ready for our big premiere in two weeks!

Last month, I got to experience a Hoya basketball victory over Duke! Campus was speckled with "Beat Duke" posters, and people lined up for hours in the snow outside the Verizon Center. The energy that everyone in the crowd felt at that game was so much fun- even President Obama and Vice President Biden were there to witness the Hoya Domination!

So, to wrap it all up...Georgetown is a vibrant community of students who get up every day and love what they do and take real pride in our campus community. Seven thousand ambitious, dedicated undergrads, each with a unique story, who want to work hard and have fun-- that's what makes the Hilltop such a great place to be! HOYA SAXA!

Angela Morabito
SFS '13
Marietta, GA

A Summer with Learning With Enterprises

2010-02-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

This past summer, I had the chance to volunteer with an awesome organization. Though not a program for only Georgetown students, Learning Enterprises gave me the summer of a lifetime. The program focuses on teaching English around the globe; every summer, over 150 volunteers are sent to more than 10 countries on 4 separate continents. The best part is, it is completely student run and works solely off of donations and sponorship.

For 7 weeks, I had the opportunity teach English in rural villages situated in Hungary and Slovakia. Throughout two separate teaching sessions, I lived with host families and got the chance to experience Hungarian and Slovak culture firsthand. I taught three class each day for children, university aged students, and adults. Their willingness and desire to learn English was incredible; it truly made the program a culture exchange. I shared my life and language with them, but I also learned and received so much in return.

This year, I return to Learning Enterprises as the Hungary/Slovakia program director where I am in charge of assembling a team of 17 volunteers and leading them to Eastern Europe this upcoming summer. I cannot wait to get back to the area and visit my families and friends. The organization is open to all college students who are interested in international volunteerism and a English teaching. (http:www.learningenterprises.org for more information).

Ridge Blanchard

COL '11

Lafayete, LA

The Hilltop Consultants

2010-02-12T08:36:00.000-08:00

Another semester just began, which means another group of clients for Hilltop Consultants, a student group dedicated to providing business solutions to non-profits. This semester we'll send five project teams consisting of five to six undergraduates each to work with the VFW, the International Hebrew Free Loan Association, March of Dimes, Georgetown's Catholic Chaplaincy, and L18 (a conglomerate consisting of United Way, AARP, Boy Scouts of America and 20 others.

In all of these projects, our teams will work directly with the non-profits to create solutions to the challenges the non-profits face. These solutions are as different as the organizations we work with. For example, in my freshman year I designed a volunteer structure for Jumpstart's Read for the Record, and other members of my team designed fundraisers for the client. Just last semester, one of our teams advised L18 on how to rebrand their partnership of non-profits. L18 flew three of the team members to Dallas to present their findings to the 23 CEOs that head the non-profits that compose the group and even signed up for another semester.

I'm excited to see the results we'll produce this semester. But also, I can't wait to see what projects we develop for next semester and I hope that you'll be with us to develop the solutions for next semester's clients!

Rob Benkert is currently a Board Member and the VP of Finance for Hilltop Consultants. He's a sophomore and studies Economics in the College. He can be reached about Georgetown questions in general at rgb29@georgetown.edu or finance@hilltopconsultants.org.

Robert Benkert
MSB '12
Brentwood, TN

Interreligious Dialogue and Encounter

2010-01-19T07:44:00.000-08:00

This past winter break, an assortment of about thirty individuals set off for a ten-day adventure through Israel. Deemed the “holy congregation of Georgetown” by our local tour guide, we were an eclectic assortment of students, professors, administrators, and friends of the University. We ranged in age from 18 to well over 70 years old and came from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some of us were Jewish, some were Catholic, some were Protestant, some were Muslim, and some grew up in interreligious households. Despite this diversity, however, our group was united by a shared desire to experience the Holy Land through exploring the traditions of the three monotheistic faiths born there, deepening our understanding of how each is connected to the others, and also by learning about the current state of the Arab-Israeli conflict in that small but treasured parcel of land.

The trip grew out of a Georgetown class called “Interreligious Dialogue and Encounter,” which is taught jointly by Georgetown chaplains and professors Rabbi Harold White, Imam Yahya Hendi, and Father Dennis McManus. All three gather in a Healy Hall classroom with students weekly during the semester, teaching about their own Jewish, Catholic, and Islamic religious traditions and engaging each other in dialogue, inviting students to join in. It is a truly unique - and quintessentially Georgetown - experience. Rabbi White and Imam Hendi, however, wanted to bring the skills students learn in their classroom to life on the world stage outside the Hilltop, so, joined by Fr. Pat Rogers, Director of Campus Ministry on the Main Campus, they led a delegation of students on a trip through the Holy Land. We visited sites of religious significance to Jews, Christians, and Muslims; explored historic landmarks both ancient and modern; and met with local politicians, academics, and peace activists to discuss the issues of the conflict and learn about what positive efforts are being made to move forward towards a solution. It was an extraordinary opportunity to experience storied locales with such knowledgeable and distinguished Georgetown professors and to talk with prominent individuals with a wide variety of opinions about the current situation in the Middle East. The trip left those lucky enough to participate touched and inspired, and I am certain that as we transition into a new year and new semester at Georgetown, we will translate our newfound understanding into meaningful action in our classrooms, organizations, and communities.

Meredith McGrath

COL '10

Glenview, IL

Bi-Local Class Opportunities

2010-01-04T08:47:00.000-08:00

In 2005, Georgetown inaugurated an SFS campus in Doha, Qatar thanks to the support of the Qatar Foundation. This makes Georgetown a truly global university. Students from the Middle East and across the world are enrolled there pursuing the same majors available at the Hilltop. Georgetown faculty and staff are on site to provide a genuine Hoya academic experience.

Most Georgetown students build in a study abroad program during their time in college. Georgetown's Office of International Programs offers scores of opportunities all around the world. A different experience, however, is available every semester through bi-local course offerings. Nestled in New North right across from McNeir Hall is Georgetown's new Global Classroom. The intimate space has the feel of the Situation Room in the White House; a conference table in the middle with microphones and a large screen provide the setting for these courses. Enrollment is limited to 8 to 15 students in Washington, and the same ceiling applies to our peers in Doha. Some of these classes also include an all-expenses paid trip to Qatar to work on collaborative projects.

This semester, I was able to take the only bi-local course offered on American policy in the Arab-Israeli conflict with renowned diplomat, author and scholar, Aaron David Miller. Every Wednesday morning we would meet at 8:30am Washington time, 4:30pm Doha time. Having the opportunity to converse with fellow students in Qatar enriched the learning experience, especially with the subject of the course because of their perspective coming from the Middle East. As the semester progressed, we would often meet before class started to simply learn about our respective campuses and student life.

The relationship between the Hilltop and SFS-Qatar is in its early stages. Bi-local course offerings are merely the beginning of bringing the two campuses together. Semester abroad options are also available. A Georgetown education has always been valuable, but the global outlook now available only improves upon this record. This is a unique Georgetown opportunity for Hoyas to seek during their four-year undergraduate experience at the Hilltop.

Carlos Hernandez
SFS '11
Phoenix, AZ

New Student Orientation

2009-12-21T08:31:00.000-08:00

We dance like crazy, we yell at the top of our lungs, and we sing ‘til our voices are gone. And, no, we’re not international pop stars à la Britney Spears, but Georgetown’s New Student Orientation advisors. At the start of my freshman year, I arrived on Georgetown’s campus anxious, excited, and somewhat appalled by my parent’s undoubtedly fashionable minivan. Yet, as soon as we drove through the front gates, a group of overly enthusiastic students started banging on our car, chanting “Hoya Saxa!” as I, the frightened freshman, entered Georgetown for the first time. Rather than reaching the normal conclusion of “these people are crazy,” I knew immediately what to say: “I WANT IN.”

And so I later joined what would become my favorite activity at Georgetown, the New Student Orientation program. We work hard to ease new students’ entrance into university life, acting not just as crazed cheerleaders (see above), but providing the support necessary for that first-time transition. “My freshmen,” as I affectionately call them, remain in touch with me throughout the school year because, really, the college transition doesn’t end after a single Orientation week. We have dinners together, grab coffee, keep each other updated on our lives, and inevitably run into each other in the library. Maybe it’s because I’m in the middle of finals that the last point particularly rings true! Yet, even more than just providing support for our students, Orientation Advisors provide support for each other as we work through the gruelingly long days. But I never seem to mind the lack of sleep because Orientation Season truly is my favorite time of year. I’ve made many friends through the Orientation Program, and gotten to know people I likely never would have met otherwise. To expand beyond my comfort zone, to truly get involved in my school, is what I like most about Georgetown – and NSO provides just that.

Berkley Braden

COL '11

Norfolk, VA

Dance

2009-12-15T15:44:00.000-08:00

Most people aren’t aware of this, but there is a dance studio on the backside of New South. Even more people are unaware that this is where I spend a huge amount of my time and that it is one of my favorite places to be, even if it is 2 a.m. on a weekend night. I am a member of the Georgetown University Dance Company, one of the many student dance groups on campus When I first applied to Georgetown, I knew I wanted to continue dancing, but it was a real struggle to find what options were available to me. When thinking of the things that Georgetown is known for, the performing arts are not the first thing that comes to mind.

Regardless of the daily difficulties that we members of the arts community face with the growth of the Department of Performing Arts and perhaps of what we perceive to be the priorities of the university, we are here and we are thriving. Over a third of the campus participates in the performing arts in one way or another, whether as a member of one of the many a capella groups, a lighting technician for a show put on by one of the theater groups, or simply going to support friends who are performing. There is a true and increasing appreciation for the arts and I find that the university is at a point where the interest is becoming a definitive aspect of student life on campus. Not only do we use the arts as a means of expression, but also we use them as a way to express our identity as a community. Where else is a South Asian dance exhibition one of the most popular events of the year? Or one of the a capella groups dedicated to the performance of multicultural music? The possibilities are endless here at Georgetown, and I find that the arts here are a great avenue to pursue them.

Lane Feler
SFS '12
Memphis, TN

Getting Involved

2009-12-15T15:07:00.000-08:00

Whenever asked about what I love the most about Georgetown, I always make the same points. Though I praise the university’s great location, its Jesuit tradition, and, of course, the basketball team, I find myself coming back to a singular argument – Georgetown students are unlike any other. Only at Georgetown can I find classmates running a multi-million dollar organization like the Credit Union, starting their own businesses such as Compass Partners, and even saving lives with GERMS. And as a student, nothing excited me more than joining an on-campus organization that not only demonstrated the initiative of students but also bettered the on-campus community. That said, The Corp and its mission statement of “Students Serving Students” were especially appealing to me when I applied to work for the company’s IT + Marketing department.

Students of Georgetown, Inc., which is also known affectionately to Georgetown students as The Corp, is a non-profit company that has annual revenues in excess of $4 million and has 3 different coffee shops as well as 2 convenience stores on campus. What’s truly amazing about The Corp is that it is entirely student-run, meaning that there isn’t any adult supervision. The company is made up of over 200 undergrads, and students have the ability to work their way up from being a cashier to becoming the CEO of the entire company. Regardless of your position within the company, you have the unique opportunity to contribute meaningfully to The Corp’s success and get paid while you’re doing it too.

Working for The Corp has been an invaluable experience that has deeply enriched my college experience. Ever since I began working, I have developed both a myriad of technical skills. In the IT + Marketing department, I have been able express my creativity by designing ads that promote the company’s storefronts and philanthropic efforts as well as showcase my technical abilities by working on various IT projects. However and more importantly, The Corp is a great social outlet. With a number of various activities and events outside of work, The Corp has made it easy for me to meet a number of people and develop life-long friendships. Since being hired, I consider the people that I work closely with on a day-to-day basis also as my closest friends.

Regardless of which organization you choose to join, you’ll find people with like-minded interests and meet some of your closest friends. Whatever you’re interested in, you’ll find it on the Hilltop!

Patrick Go
MSB '11
Redwood, CA

Political Involvement

2009-12-15T15:05:00.000-08:00

Georgetown students are well known for their political involvement, so it comes as no surprise that many students got involved in last year’s presidential election. I remember waking up early every Saturday morning to go over to Virginia and make phone calls to voters in the state. I even went on a trip to Pennsylvania with a group from the DC Federation of College Republicans for four days of door knocking and phone banking. It was a great time because I got to go campaigning, which is one of my favorite things to do, but I also was able to make many new friends from both Georgetown and other schools in the District.

My favorite memory from the election season was an event that the Georgetown College Republicans, College Democrats, and the Lecture Fund co-hosted called the Young Voter’s Forum. This event, held in historic Gaston Hall—where Presidents Clinton and Obama have spoken—had the place entirely filled with students who came to hear a debate between two surrogates of the campaigns. Representative Heather Wilson of New Mexico debated on behalf of John McCain and Representative Artur Davis debated on behalf of Barack Obama. The forum included both student and professional panelists (most of which were alumni), and showed how politically involved Georgetown students are. Regardless of who people supported, or how the forum went, it was just amazing to see so many college students, who are typically seen as politically apathetic, give up a few hours on a school night and get involved in the electoral process. That night I knew that Georgetown is where I belong.

Geoffrey Bible
SFS ‘12
St. Cloud, MN

Working for the Students of Georgetown, Inc. (The Corp)

2009-12-15T14:53:00.000-08:00

I knew when I was applying to college I wanted to work where ever I ended up attending and I had no idea what kind of student job I might find. Then, I found The Corp. Pronounced with the p and short for corporation, The Corp is the largest entirely student run corporation in the United States. Everyone from the cashiers to the CEO is a student. Imagine being CEO of a multimillion-dollar company by the age of 21, and that is exactly what The Corp embodies. The Corp owns and operates three on-campus coffee shops (Midnight Mug, Uncommon Grounds, and Mug), one convince store (Hoya Snaxa), one grocery store (Vital Vittles), and one catering department. Along with these external services The Corp has two internal departments, IT/Marketing and Accounting.

The Corp’s mission of “Students serving Student” makes our non-profit organization unique. We offer lower prices in our stores to help make goods affordable for students, provide shuttles to nearby airports during holiday breaks, and offer student storage during the summer. Furthermore, our philanthropy board gives back all of our profits each year. Last year the Corp gave over $35,000 back to the Georgetown community in the form of scholarships, event sponsorship, and community events.

I was hired to Vital Vittles spring of my freshman year along with three other “new hires.” Over the past year I have truly made some of my best friends at Georgetown through Vittles and the Corp. Each semester The Corp hosts a night of employee appreciation for all 200 of their employees, which was held this past Wednesday. I look forward to this event every semester, as it is one of the few times the entire Corp celebrates together. I can’t wait for many more semesters of fun and to see where my path in the Corp will lead me. For more information about the Corp or applying please feel free to email me at esm43@georgetown.edu or visit http://www.thecorp.org/.

Corp love,

Elise McKenna
MSB 2010
Overland Park, Kansas

Guest Speakers at Georgetown

2009-11-16T12:27:00.000-08:00

I am often amazed when reading the weekly Georgetown blast e-mail that describes the vast array of eminently qualified speakers who come to our campus, each vying for our attendance at their presentation. A few weeks ago one e-mail in particular caught my eye: former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair was to speak at the Common Word Conference. My friends and I were in line at Gaston Hall bright and early the next morning. By 8 am, the line wrapped around campus—Georgetown students were not going to miss out on such an event.

As I later sat listening to the conference in historic Gaston Hall with some of my best friends, I gained a further appreciation of just how incredible it is that I can wake up, roll out of bed, walk up two flights of stairs, and see some of the world’s most famous leaders address the University community—and all for free! Prime Minister Blair was joined by the former Prime Minister of Norway, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, and the Grand Mufti of Bosnia. They spoke to Georgetown students and faculty about the compelling need for interreligious dialogue and understanding in order to achieve peace in the world.

These leaders emphasized the requirement of translating words into action in order to promote and implement the great ideas discussed at the conference. Georgetown students have the privilege, ability and desire to take what they learn and apply it beyond the classroom. The conversation of ideas offered by these important political leaders are comparable to those shared by classmates every day in dormitories, Leo’s dining hall, on Healy lawn, and other places Hoyas congregate.

Inspired by this extraordinary conference, I realized that I also have a responsibility to further this exchange of ideas on our campus. I therefore immediately increased my involvement in the Interfaith Council, a group of students representative of different faiths, who gather together to promote interreligious dialogue, service, and understanding. I can't wait to see who will be on campus next!

Margaux McGrath
COL' 12
Glenview, IL

Diplomatic Ball 2009 – “Architects of Peace”

2009-04-13T12:49:00.000-07:00

Each year in the spring, the School of Foreign Service (SFS) hosts a black tie affair called the Diplomatic Ball, where Georgetown students from all four undergraduate schools, diplomats from around the world and distinguished Georgetown faculty come together at a prestigious location for an exciting and classy evening.

Known to Georgetown students as “Dip Ball,” this event is one of the SFS’s most unique traditions and is something I wished to attend before I ever set foot on the Hilltop. I can vividly recall navigating the SFS website as a prospective student and thinking of what an incredible opportunity I would have to interact with ambassadors at this formal event, an opportunity I knew I would not be able to find at any other school.

My excitement for Dip Ball inspired me to get involved with its planning upon coming to Georgetown. I have served as a member of the Diplomatic Ball Committee on the SFS Academic Council for the past two years and have witnessed firsthand the detailed planning that goes into producing a fabulous event for around 800 people. This year, all of our hard work paid off, as Dip Ball 2009 was a tremendous success! Because 2009 marked the 90th anniversary of the founding of the SFS and the end of Dean Gallucci’s thirteen years of service to the SFS, we had much to celebrate at this year’s Ball, which took place on April 3rd.

Each year, Diplomatic Ball is held at a gorgeous venue that is kept secret until about a month before the event when tickets go on sale. Students eagerly await the unveiling of the prestigious location, because of the impressive history of past venues, which includes the National Building Museum, the Old Postal Pavilion and the Embassy of the Republic of France. This year was no different, as we selected the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on Constitution Avenue in downtown DC to hold the 2009 Dip Ball. We felt that the Mellon Auditorium’s historical significance as the location in which NATO was signed by President Truman in 1949 made it the perfect place to hold this year’s Ball.

The theme of Dip Ball 2009 was “Architects of Peace,” which highlighted both the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium’s unique and magnificent architecture as well as its history as the place of NATO’s signing almost exactly sixty years ago to the day of our event. At the same time, we saw this theme as symbolizing the uniting of students and diplomats to build the foundation of the future and promote peace.

From 8pm to 12 midnight on April 3rd, nearly 700 Georgetown students dressed in elegant gowns and tuxedos joined ambassadors, foreign dignitaries and other diplomats and distinguished guests from forty different countries for an incredible evening of music and dance.

I attended this year’s Dip Ball with five of my best friends and we had an unforgettable night, dancing to the music of the Georgetown Jazz Ensemble, enjoying the delicious array of hors d’oeuvres and devouring way too many of the addictive desserts. Attending Dip Ball each year reminds me of how lucky I am to be studying international politics at Georgetown and how at no other school would I have the opportunity to spend a Friday night at a black tie affair at a prestigious and historical location in Washington, DC, interacting with the diplomats of today and tomorrow.

Tamara Smallman
SFS ‘10
Short Hills, NJ

Study Abroad at Georgetown

2009-03-23T10:01:00.000-07:00

Sitting and looking over the city of Florence at night with three new friends, I found myself amazed that I was actually in school at that moment in time. I spent last semester studying abroad in Strasbourg, France, and I learned so many different lessons during that time that I never could have learned inside a classroom in the United States.

As a student from an international background, I was determined from the very beginning of the college admissions process that I would study abroad. I am lucky enough to have participated in two study abroad programs, the first was the Georgetown Business and Politics Program in Paris for six weeks over the summer, and the second was spending the entire fall semester in Strasbourg.

Both were great because they were so different in many ways. Clearly, there is a contrast between life in central Paris and life in the small Alsatian town of Strasbourg. I lived with a host family while in Paris and the daily interactions with them helped me to really learn about French culture and life. The family that I lived with was very friendly, and I bonded with my host sister, who is the same age as I am and often took me out with her friends. While in Paris, I lived right near the Jardins de Luxembourg and the Rue Moufftard, which had excellent food markets. Some of my best afternoons were spent wandering the streets and going for long walks, finding some of the best bistros and shops when I made a wrong turn.

In Strasbourg, I directly matriculated into two French universities, Universite Marc Bloch and Institut d’Etudes Politique. Thankfully, all of the classes were able to count towards credit for both my Government and Art History majors. Because of this, I was able to study abroad without being concerned about academic requirements. Direct matriculation means that I took classes with all French students, and French professors, and obviously, they were all in French. Needless to say, the first two weeks were very overwhelming, but my comprehension quickly caught up to the necessary level.

One of the best things about studying in Strasbourg was the ability to travel throughout Western Europe. My class schedule was very flexible, so I was able to have three day weekends that helped traveling. We went to Amsterdam, Munich, Paris, Nice, and all throughout Italy. The French academic calendar has a week off in October, so some friends and I traveled around Italy, from Florence to Rome to Cinqueterre. While in Florence, we were able to meet up with some Georgetown friends who were spending the semester at Georgetown’s Villa de Balze. When we were touring the villa, we could have been tricked into believing that it was a five-star hotel! The three-course lunch was one of the best meals during our whole trip!

I really cannot stress how important it is to think about studying abroad. I know that some people think that college is so short, and that they have so much fun at Georgetown that they cannot think of leaving. I am one of the biggest advocates of Georgetown that you will ever meet, but the amount that I grew as a person during last semester could not be compared to a semester on the Hilltop. By immersing myself in another culture, one with another language and social standards, I had to really be outgoing and willing to stretch myself from my comfort zone. I encourage all applicants to look at the website for Georgetown’s Office of International Programs to learn more about what is available!

www.oip.georgetown.edu

Meghan Keneally
COL '10
London, England

Traditions At Georgetown

2009-03-17T13:59:00.000-07:00

It’s St. Patrick’s Day and the sea of green clothing has provided me the inspiration for writing this blog entry. Given the tune of the day, it seems appropriate to discuss the traditions and celebrations at Georgetown. Georgetown as a university is draped in tradition. From the distinguished professors, to the role the university has played as one of the premier academic institutions in the world, Georgetown has had a long life from which its reputation has blossomed. What I would like to touch more on today however, is the type of annual traditions within Georgetown that give it the character that I have come to love. My childhood was spent divided between a number of countries including the US, Singapore, Belgium, and Hungary, so from a personal standpoint, I did not have too many traditions to speak of, largely because of a lack of consistency in location. As a result of this, I have come to appreciate just how great the traditions like Midnight Madness, and Georgetown Day really are, and just how large of a role they play at the school which I have called home for the past two and half years.

I am an avid sports fan. I have played sports my whole life and knew that if I was not going to play sports competitively in college, I needed to have a good sports base to follow in order to fill this void. As a result, the tradition that I have come to appreciate the most is Midnight Madness. For those of you not too familiar with college basketball, Midnight Madness marks the first day that teams can officially practice with their coaches during the year. Georgetown has a large celebration lasting from about 9pm to 12am that includes performances by many of the school’s performing arts groups such as Groove Theory (a hip hop dance group), the Step Team, and the Georgetown cheerleaders. The event is usually professionally DJ’d and often includes celebrity appearances of the likes of Jerry Rice or Patrick Ewing, both of whom had children that went here. Though doors open at 9pm, the event starts far before that with students lining up as early as noon to get a spot in line for tickets. A little before midnight, both the Men’s and Women’s varsity basketball teams are introduced and the teams usually do some entertaining activities such as dunk or three point contests.

For me, Midnight Madness was when it really clicked how great of a school I was attending. The environment is electric and you are surrounded by thousands of your classmates all cheering for the same common cause. This was the first time I truly felt that connection to my fellow Hoyas, and I can say with complete honesty that I get the same butterflies in my stomach year after year on this night. There is no way I can fully communicate these feelings to you, you will just have to come to Georgetown to experience it for yourself.

Georgetown Day is another tradition with similar effect and following. Georgetown Day is traditionally held in the spring on the last Friday of classes. It is essentially a massive celebration on our front lawn (hopefully in good weather), with students of all classes celebrating their achievements of the year. For seniors, it is a nostalgic moment, marking one of the last times they will be with all of their friends before heading off into the working world. For freshmen, it is a refreshing break before final exam crunch time, and is a sign of the good things to come in their remaining years on the Hilltop. For everyone, it is an opportunity to enjoy our beautiful campus and to remind ourselves just how lucky we are to be here.

The last tradition I will talk about is Halloween, which also plays a unique role on our campus for several reasons. One of the peripheral benefits of being in the nation’s capital is having access to all of the resources that come with this. Halloween is no exception to this, with Georgetown students taking full advantage of Embassy Row as a trick-or-treating destination. Students embark en mass to Dupont Circle to enjoy the opportunity to partake in a youthful activity with a more sophisticated twist. In addition to trick-or-treating, Georgetown’s Groove Theory has a perennial performance each year of Thriller by Michael Jackson. This is usually held in Gaston Hall during the intermission of the showing of the movie The Exorcist. In case you weren’t aware, this movie was largely filmed at Georgetown, and students make sure to applaud each and every glimpse of Healy Hall.

I could go on talking about Georgetown traditions forever as it seems that each club or group has their own. It’s great to know that coming into Georgetown you are joining a community where these types of activities take on a significant importance to the community, and that you will have the opportunity to enjoy them, as well as add to them, from your first day on the Hilltop. Good luck with your decision process, I hope we will see you at a GAAP weekend this spring.

Matt McKenna

MSB '10

Mahtomedi, MN

Summer Internships

2009-03-03T08:27:00.001-08:00

It’s daunting to begin thinking about a career when you’re only 20 years old. Fortunately at Georgetown, students have the resources of the Georgetown University Career Education Center to utilize in the job hunt. As a junior in the McDonough School of Business, this time of year is full of internship recruiting. I just completed the process myself, and while relieved to be finished and secured an opportunity for the summer, I am very glad that I had the chance to go through the interview season. This summer I will be working in New York City at Credit Suisse in Equity Research.

Students can check out the Career Center from their first days on the Hilltop. You can schedule a visit with a career counselor who specializes in a particular subset of careers. These staffers will provide guidance and advice to help you learn about a certain path, and later on can put you in contact with alumni and recruiters who are interested in working with Georgetown students. Also, the Career Center staff can edit resumes and cover letters, as well as conduct mock-interviews to help you prepare for the interviews themselves.

As a Finance and Accounting double major, I began looking at a variety of fields within both my majors, settling on Finance after attending firm information sessions in the fall and speaking with recent graduates and friends. Upperclassmen tend to be terrific resources, and my friends at the Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union have been invaluable sources of advice. Job postings are made available for part-time and full-time positions as well as internships. Opportunities span careers as diverse as journalism, consulting, Teach for America, the Peace Corps, healthcare, Non-Governmental Organizations, and the CIA.

I began searching and applying for positions in January, with the majority of my first-round interviews being held on campus. Although occasionally a little intimidating, it was a great experience to hone my interview skills and meet professionals from different backgrounds. Final round interviews are often held at a firm’s office, and I was fortunate enough to visit New York City for my final round interviews with Credit Suisse. These “superdays” often consist of multiple interviews with individuals from different levels of the firm.

Given the challenging job market and economy, I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to gain some experience this summer in the field I am interested in. Summer internships provide a unique chance to see if you truly do like a certain career, and in many cases, can result in a full-time offer of employment. While I’m certainly not quite ready to leave Georgetown for the real world just yet, this first foray into the job market has shown me how well prepared we really are and just how large the Georgetown alumni network really is.

Best of luck in your college search and Hoya Saxa!

Jeff Bailin

MSB 2010

Clarendon Hills, IL

Performing Arts at Georgetown

2009-02-25T06:13:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things about Georgetown is the performing arts scene, and the great number of people that participate in it every year. This could be anything ranging from a play or musical put on by the Performing Arts Department, Mask & Bauble, or Nomadic Theaters; a capella shows involving the Phantoms, Chimes, Superfood, the Capital G's, or Harmony; dance shows like Asiafest, Rangila, Luau, or anything involving Groove Theory (our premier hip-hop dance troupe); and a whole range of other types of performances, like the GU Improv Festival that I attended this past weekend. Any given week there are a number of performances going on, and so many opportunities to join one of these groups exist that pretty much invariably you'll have at least a couple of friends in the performance.

One of the best things, in my opinion, is cheering on your friends during a dance or other sort of performance in Gaston Hall. Last Friday and Saturday, the GU Players Improv Group (GUPIG) hosted improv groups from Ohio State, Xavier University, and the University of Chicago to participate in their annual GU Improv Festival. I'm a little biased towards GUPIG because my roommate is a member, but I was very impressed by the rest of the groups that showed up as well (some driving over 10 hours to be with us for the weekend).

Personally, I'm not terribly inclined towards the performing arts. I see myself as a professional audience member; I feel I've perfected the proper timing for cheering, clapping, shedding a tear, etc. However, I have become involved with one show in particular. My freshman year my Residential Assistant (R.A.) Veena encouraged everyone on my floor to participate in the huge annual South Asian dance and cultural show "Rangila," which she and her friends were all highly involved in. Having never actually heard of "Bhangra" dancing, and being extremely skeptical of being able to participate in a dance that I'd never heard of, I decided to go see the show instead. The experience entirely blew me away- a show with over 300 dancers (among 10 dances) completely (and routinely) sells out of tickets for its 2 nights in the 600-seat Gaston Hall in under an hour.

The atmosphere of the show is electrifying, with all 300-some-odd dancers standing behind the seats in Gaston and shouting encouragement to their 30 friends on stage during each dance- it's hard to not get caught up in the energy. After seeing the show again my sophomore year, I decided to take the plunge and joined the dance "Bulldog Bhangra". The resulting experience was incredible- I met a ton of great people and learned to dance bhangra. This year, I decided to up the ante and dance in two different parts of the show, so I joined "Bollywood Remix" and "Senior Bhangra," and I haven't looked back since.

John Dougherty

SFS '09

Austin, TX