2008 ORIENTATION STEERING COMMITTEE (OSC) |
Back Row, from left to right: Scott Malamut, Akshay Shekhar, Weston Skeans, Laura Kozakiewicz, Steve Linderman, Paul Delgado,
Jason Winchester, and Ali Haezaert-Caraveo.
Front Row, from left to right: Emily Krebs, Lorelei Stoica, Lizzi Huff, Emma Nagle, Eric Oh, and Andrew Heilmann.
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Welcome! We've
been waiting for you!
We,
the 2008 Orientation Steering Committee, are pleased to welcome
you to Cornell University!
The goal of the 2008 Orientation Steering Committee is to foster an environment in which volunteers work with Cornell resources to successfully plan and execute an enjoyable and extraordinary Orientation that builds student leaders, encourages teamwork, gives back to the Cornell community, and cultivates relationships while welcoming new students and families, introducing them to the Cornell tradition, and encouraging students to increase their independence through the creation of new friendships and exploration of their new home.
We look forward to the
challenge of meeting your every need to get ready to tackle your
collegiate career at Cornell University.
OSC Member Profiles
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Orientation Steering Committee, Co-Chair
Name: Andrew Heilmann
Hometown: Coppell, Texas
College & Major: Hotel Administration
Year of Graduation: 2009
Interesting Facts About Yourself: In 2003 my lacrosse team won the State Championships in NC, I have moved 8 times across the country, and I’m half Danish.
Activities at Cornell: Teaching Assistant, Golfing, and of course a little studying.
Orientation Volunteer Experience: Orientation Steering Committee 2007, Orientation Leader 2006
Favorite Places at Cornell: Libe Slope, Cascadilla Falls, Beebe Lake, and Cayuga Lake
Favorite Class or Lecture at Cornell: Introduction to Wines or Culinary Theory and Practice
Favorite Cornell Memory: Slope Day 2006. Everyone having fun on the Slope listening to music and hanging out with each other during a beautiful Ithaca day was a perfect way to end classes.
Favorite Cornell Tradition or Legend: Slope Day
Advice to New Students: While studying at Cornell might be hard, and all the work can be very time-consuming, make sure to have some fun. Explore the campus when it is nice out and head downtown with friends to take a break from studying; don’t forget to check out the festivals in The Commons (Apple Harvest is a personal favorite). Enjoy everything Cornell has to offer, four years goes by much faster than you think. |
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Orientation Steering Committee, Co-Chair
Name: Lorelei Stoica
Hometown: Anaheim, CA
College & Major: Arts and Sciences – Neurobiology
Year of Graduation: 2009
Interesting Facts About Yourself: I was born in Romania and moved to the US with my parents when I was nine.
Activities at Cornell: OSC, Red Carpet, CU Ambassadors, CIT, Neurobiology Research, Ski & Snowboard Club
Orientation Volunteer Experience: Orientation Steering Committee 2007, Orientation Leader 2006
Favorite Places at Cornell: The top floor of the Johnson Museum where there is a 360° view of Cornell and the surrounding area.
Favorite Class or Lecture at Cornell: BIONB 392: Drugs and the Brain
Favorite Cornell Memory: Moving boxes for nine hours straight during move in, and having the students/parents be so surprised that so many Cornell students are volunteering their time to help them.
Favorite Cornell Tradition or Legend: Singing the Alma Matter on the first night a new student spends at Cornell.
Advice to New Students: Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today, because your first year goes by faster than you think. |
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Name: Paul Delgado
Hometown: Miami, Florida
College & Major: College of Engineering - Operations Research and Information Engineering
Year of Graduation: 2009
Interesting Facts About Yourself: I have never broken or fractured a bone in my body
Activities at Cornell: Kappa Sigma, Society of Hispanic and Professional Engineers
Orientation Volunteer Experience: Orientation Supervisor 2007, Orientation Leader 2006
Favorite Places at Cornell: Duffield Hall, Ivy Room, Kappa Sigma
Favorite Class or Lecture at Cornell: History 256 – War and Peace in Greece and Rome. Barry Straus is an amazing professor and the material is very exciting.
Favorite Cornell Memory: My favorite memory at Cornell was slope day my freshmen year. It was a perfect end of the year bash. The weather was great, the people were out, the music was loud, and the stress was gone. My friends and I celebrated the end of freshmen year with a bang.
Favorite Cornell Tradition or Legend: Slope Day
Advice to New Students: Yes it’s true that Cornell students are all stressed out and sleep deprived, but this doesn’t mean that we can’t have fun. There are a ton of activities around campus. This includes, intramurals sports, a wide variety of clubs, concerts, comedy shows, musicals, movies, etc. Don’t forget to try these out to relieve some stress and get away from the books and papers. |
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Name: Alejandro “Ali” Haezaert-Caraveo
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
College & Major: School of Industrial and Labor Relations - Industrial and Labor Relations
Year of Graduation: 2009
Interesting Facts About Yourself: I’m half-Mexican from my Mom’s side and half-Belgian on my dad’s side. Put ‘em together and you get a whacky name like mine!
Activities at Cornell: Meinig Family Cornell National Scholars, Zeta Psi Fraternity, Life Drawing, Super Smash Brothers Club
Orientation Volunteer Experience: Orientation Supervisor 2007, potential Orientation Leader 2006
Favorite Places at Cornell: Catherwood Library Silent Reading Room, Johnson Museum, Collegetown
Favorite Class or Lecture at Cornell: ILRHR 362 – Career Development and Theory. This course has given me the opportunity to be an active agent in my life planning process. It has shown me how to explore the personal values, interests, skills, and personality traits and know those that I want to use in my future career. It’s awesome.
Favorite Cornell Memory: The Suite 5 in Jameson. When I was a freshman, I was placed in Jameson Hall on the fourth floor. I instantly became friends with my neighbors in suite 5 of the 4th floor. We had some great times like watching T.V. and playing Super Smash Brothers. They are my best friends to this day.
Favorite Cornell Tradition or Legend: Slope Day, there is no other. It’s always a blast.
Advice to New Students: Enjoy college, not just by blowing it off and getting wasted all the time, really stop and experience new things and be willing to put yourself outside of your comfort zone. Study hard and do well, but go out and try new things. These are the best years of your life where you will grow into the person you will become. Treasure every moment. |
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Name: Lizzi Huff
Hometown: Gilbertsville, NY
College & Major: CALS - AEM major
Year of Graduation: 2009
Interesting Facts About Yourself: I love to make jewelry!
Activities at Cornell: CALS Ambassador, Kappa Delta, CALS Academic Achievement and Petitions Committee, AEM 241 TA
Orientation Volunteer Experience: Orientation Supervisor 2007, Orientation Leader 2006
Favorite Places at Cornell: The top of the Clock Tower. The view is amazing and the chimes are even better! It is definitely worth the long climb to the top!
Favorite Class or Lecture at Cornell: Anthropology 250- The Anthropology of Food and Cuisine
Favorite Cornell Memory: The first night here at Cornell freshman year. I met some of my best friends that night and new I made the right choice to come here.
Favorite Cornell Tradition or Legend: Slope Day. Its a great way to celebrate a year of hard work and somehow how you manage to see just about everyone you have ever met while here at Cornell while on the slope!
Advice to New Students: Be open to everything: people, experiences, food, class, everything! If you do that you will be able to get the most out of Cornell and have an amazing four years here. |
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Name: Laura Kozakiewicz
Hometown: Riverhead, NY
College & Major: Human Ecology - HBHS (Human Biology Health and Society)
Year of Graduation: 2009
Interesting Facts About Yourself: I grew up on a vegetable farm on Long Island, I can cross one eye, and I love country music.
Activities at Cornell: Club Softball Vice President. Active member of the Greek community (Alpha Xi Delta).
Orientation Volunteer Experience: OSC 2008, Orientation Supervisor 2007, Orientation Leader 2006
Favorite Places at Cornell: The top of the bell tower. It gives you a great view of campus and the bell concerts are so amazing.
Favorite Class or Lecture at Cornell: I would have to say Chem 357 (Organic Chemistry) w/ Professor Ganem. (I’m really not that much of a dork, he was a great professor and it was fun.)
Favorite Cornell Memory: Freshman year after a cold winter it was finally warm enough to go outside after dark. So one night before finals week, a couple of friends went out for a walk around campus. It started to rain and our walk quickly turned into a puddle-jumping adventure. I remember walking over the foot bridge at about 11 completely soaked. It was a great way to let out extra stress before finals, and a great memory here at Cornell.
Favorite Cornell Tradition or Legend: Hockey line overnight.
Advice to New Students: Use all of the resources available at Cornell. Ask questions and have fun! |
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Name: Emily Krebs
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
College & Major: Arts and Sciences – Economics
Year of Graduation: 2010
Interesting Facts About Yourself: My middle name is Cornelius, the smell of raw tomatoes makes me gag, I love to ski, and my friends frequently refer to me as “Krebs Cycle.” Also, I once went for a ride in a laundromat dryer.
Activities at Cornell: Cornell Concert Commission, Ski and Snowboard Club
Orientation Volunteer Experience: Orientation Leader 2007
Favorite Places at Cornell: The A.D. White Library in Uris, the suspension bridge and the gorge underneath it, the Arts quad, the musical stairs on top of Olin, and the Plantations.
Favorite Class or Lecture at Cornell: Psych 101 – Professor Maas gives fabulous lectures and makes the material really interesting. Plus it’s really cool to be in a famous lecture with 1300 students. (I also really like Econ 314, but mostly just because my professor has an awesome accent and says “dude” all the time.)
Favorite Cornell Memory: Winning last year’s Harvard vs. Cornell hockey game! I screamed myself hoarse by the end of the game, but it was totally worth it when we won. (And yes, that was the first time I had never been patted down to make sure I wasn’t hiding a dead fish somewhere on my body.)
Favorite Cornell Tradition or Legend: Singing the alma mater at the hockey games; there’s nothing else like it at Cornell to fill you with school spirit.
Advice to New Students: Join clubs and/or intramural teams… it’s a great way to meet people! |
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Name: Stephen Linderman
Hometown: Rome, NY
College & Major: CALS/College of Engineering (Joint program) - Biological Engineering
Year of Graduation: 2010
Interesting Facts About Yourself: I am 6'7", but if I could choose my height I would go back to 6'3". I am a fourth generation Cornellian. I love to water ski, and I learned how to slalom water ski this summer in Canada. Oh, and despite being 6'7" I am terrible at basketball… probably because my vertical jump is practically negative.
Activities at Cornell: The Class Notes (co-ed a cappella), Cornell Presidential Research Scholars program, research with the DeLisa Research Group in the Chemical Engineering Dept., Kappa Sigma Fraternity (currently the philanthropy chair), Cornell Running Club
Orientation Volunteer Experience: Orientation Leader 2007
Favorite Places at Cornell: I love the plantations, the Dairy Bar, the Atrium Café in Sage Hall, and the area around the Lab of Ornithology (I went there on a run before).
Favorite Class or Lecture at Cornell: ENGRD 202, Mechanics of Solids. Prof. Petrina makes lectures funny and I really enjoy going to his classes.
Favorite Cornell Memory: My first concert with The Class Notes. It is so amazing to work all semester with some of your best friends and then put on an awesome performance. Plus, it was good to know I would not have to rehearse 5+ hours per day for a while since Hell Week was over.
Favorite Cornell Tradition or Legend: Slope Day!
Advice to New Students: Get involved in things you love. Meet new people and get to know them... there are so many smart people with amazing talents here. The work can get hard, but don't forget to have fun and enjoy your time here too. Time goes by fast, so make sure you take the time to make good memories in addition to just getting a degree. |
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Name: Scott H. Malamut
Hometown: Linwood, NJ
College & Major: Arts and Sciences – Economics
Year of Graduation: 2009
Interesting Facts About Yourself: I’m learning to speak Swahili; I don’t feel satisfied if I can’t finish the Sudoku in the Daily Sun; I live about 20 minutes away from Atlantic City but don’t know how to play Blackjack, Poker, or Craps; I want to try every restaurant in Ithaca.
Activities at Cornell: Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity, Cornell Investment Club, 2007 Cornellian (Yearbook), Orientation
Orientation Volunteer Experience: Orientation Leader 2006, Orientation Supervisor 2007, and Orientation Steering Committee 2008
Favorite Places at Cornell: The Ivy Room; under the portrait of Edmund Ezra Day in the Dean Room of Uris Library; bowling at Helen Newman.
Favorite Class or Lecture at Cornell: ASRC 290: The Sociology of African Americans was taught by the most knowledgeable professor—the amount I learned in that class each week might be more than that of entire courses. A close second is EAS 268: Climate and Global Warming.
Favorite Cornell Memory: Painting the footsteps on the Arts Quad with my fraternity every spring.
Favorite Cornell Tradition or Legend: When a virgin crosses the Arts Quad at midnight with the chimes ringing, AD White and Ezra Cornell transmogrify and meet each other in the center of the Quad.
Advice to New Students: Hakuna matata. |
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Name: Emma Nagle
Hometown: Glen Rock, NJ
College & Major: Human Ecology – DEA (Design and Environmental Analysis)
Year of Graduation: 2009
Interesting Facts About Yourself: I love running, especially at Cornell. It’s really relaxing and a small escape from everyday happenings. Plus there are so many trails and beautiful sights it’s hard to find things a bore. I hope to run the NYC marathon next year!
Activities at Cornell: Cornell University Solar Decathlon, Undergraduate Research, Rawlings Cornell Presidential Research Scholar, Pi Beta Phi, OSC
Orientation Volunteer Experience: Orientation Supervisor 2007, Orientation Leader 2006
Favorite Places at Cornell: Olin Library, Martha’s (considering I live in MVR), running routes especially around the Plantations and Gorges.
Favorite Class or Lecture at Cornell: DEA 111: A class that will totally change how you think about design and what you can and want do with your career.
Favorite Cornell Memory: Last spring my research group traveled a lot in order to interview several CEOs of socially responsible entrepreneurial companies. After months of research we got to see their offices, the operations of their companies, meet employees, hear their stories and lessons, and most importantly establish a relationship with them. It was gratifying to see our research efforts sitting right in front of us inspiring us sentence after sentence and to think that I could someday be in their seats.
Favorite Cornell Tradition or Legend: Singing the alma mater during the hockey games. I’m a sucker for Cornell pride.
Advice to New Students: Write down your expectations for the coming years and throw it away. Ok maybe you can keep it in your desk drawer but don’t be tied to what you think should happen. Take every experience as a new one and embrace that. You will encounter a lot of new things at Cornell so approach them with an open mind to get the most out of them. |
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Name: Eun-Taek (Eric) Oh
Hometown: Plainsboro, NJ
College & Major: Arts and Sciences - Biological Sciences
Year of Graduation: 2009
Interesting Facts About Yourself: I’m originally from Seoul, South Korea, where my curiosity for a cartoon monkey on a flying skateboard at the age of three led me on an eight hour expedition away from home to explore the world outside Seoul. Sadly (and luckily) it ended as I was soon found by worried relatives the same day. 17 years later, well, nothing’s really changed; I’m still my curious self wanting to travel around the world, being at a World Cup game with South Korea in the finals, and running the NYC marathon.
Activities at Cornell: Orientation Steering Committee, Zeta Psi, Undergraduate Research, Intramural Sports
Orientation Volunteer Experience: Orientation Supervisor 2007, Orientation Leader 2006
Favorite Places at Cornell: Arts Quad- best place to play pick up games, relax and nap, and run into people you know
Favorite Class or Lecture at Cornell: Chem 207. Paul Chirik was one of the best professors I’ve had so far. Really knowledgeable, comic, and of course enjoyed watching him blow things up during class. Awesome.
Favorite Cornell Memory: Too many.
Favorite Cornell Tradition or Legend: Slope Day
Advice to New Students: Get your work and studying done on time; you don’t want to pull all-nighters like I did for the past two years before every prelim/deadline. That way, not only will you have more free time to relax and have fun with friends, but also you have the opportunity to explore and enjoy your time here at Cornell to try new things. So start changing bad habits now. Work hard, play hard!
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Name: Akshay Shekhar
Hometown: Naperville, IL
College & Major: College of Engineering - Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Year of Graduation: 2009
Interesting Facts About Yourself: I love Chicago sport teams, nothing gives me more joy than watching the Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, or Chicago Cubs win a game. In my free time I play the violin and am obsessed with the movie Gladiator – easily the best movie ever created.
Activities at Cornell: The American Institute of Chemical Engineers, APO (service fraternity), Biomedical Research, and Orientation!
Orientation Volunteer Experience: Orientation Supervisor 2007, Orientation Leader 2006
Favorite Places at Cornell: Musical Walkway next to Olin Library, Clock Tower (especially the view from the top), and the Olin Hall basement (home to all ChemEs).
Favorite Class or Lecture at Cornell: Chem 207 – Professor Paul Chirik made this class unforgettable, one of the best professors I have ever had.
Favorite Cornell Memory: The first week of Orientation – building friendships that will last a lifetime!
Favorite Cornell Tradition or Legend: Slope Day – relaxing on the slope with all your friends is the best way to end the year.
Advice to New Students: Whatever you put in, Cornell will give you back in return. Make the most out of all your opportunities because before you know it four years will pass you by. The sky is the limit, so don’t be afraid to branch out and explore!
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Name: Weston Skeans
Hometown: Akron, OH
College & Major: Engineering - Biological Engineering
Year of Graduation: 2009
Interesting Facts About Yourself: I love skiing and cycling. I was an EMT for the Ski Patrol for two years and I bicycle between my home in Ohio and Cornell. I have mild pteronophobia.
Activities at Cornell: Delta Phi (Llenroc), Supervisor at the CIT Helpdesk, Institute of Biological Engineers, Pre-Med
Orientation Volunteer Experience: Orientation Leader – 2006, Orientation Supervisor – 2007
Favorite Places at Cornell: AD White Room – the quietest and coolest place on Earth to study. Louie’s Lunch – the best food at any time of day.
Favorite Class or Lecture at Cornell: PHIL 245 – Ethics and Healthcare. You get to talk about really cool and controversial topics and explore them from different points of view. Also, S&TS 123 – Technology and Society, the best writing seminar available. You get to learn about how technology is eventually going to take over the world.
Favorite Cornell Memory: Hosting Cornell Night 2007. I got to make a fool out of myself, take off my pants, see all the a capella groups perform and have a ton of fun.
Favorite Cornell Tradition or Legend: The hockey line. I love going to hockey games and all the school spirit surrounding hockey and the line is where it all starts.
Advice to New Students: Don’t be afraid to try something new. Cornell is a great place to take interesting classes, try a new sport, get involved and meet new people. Also, check out the Farmer’s market and some of the other cool stuff that goes on around Ithaca. |
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Name: Jason Winchester
Hometown: La Jara, CO
College & Major: College of Engineering - Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Year of Graduation: 2010
Interesting Facts About Yourself: I’m from a high school with a graduating class of 81 students. I’m from Colorado as well so I love snowboarding. In fact, I was practically made for Ithaca weather. It can never snow too much here at Cornell. I also, have the uncanny ability to walk backwards for long periods of time even in flip flops and still keep up with people who are walking forwards. I guess that’s definitely helped with giving tours of the Engineering Facilities on campus.
Activities at Cornell: Beta Theta Pi, Orientation Steering Committee, Undergraduate Tutor, Engineering Ambassador, Summer College Resident Advisor, DUCTTAPE, American Chemical Society, Orientation Leader, AIChE, CUIMAGE, and Red Carpet Society.
Orientation Volunteer Experience: Orientation Leader 2007
Favorite Places at Cornell: Johnson Museum top floor of exhibits for a breathtaking view of Ithaca and really comfy couches, McGraw Tower, Uris Library’s Dean’s Reading Room, Duffield Hall Atrium, Sage Hall Atrium, Foot Bridge, Suspension Bridge, Jameson Hall 5th Floor.
Favorite Class or Lecture at Cornell: Besides Bill Nye’s astounding lecture/performance last year for Astronomy, I’d have to say CS 100J – Introduction to Java Programming: Professor Gries impressed me with not only his knowledge regarding programming, but his commitment to his students. The material was intriguing too. Once in awhile like when we learned recursion, I felt like a small part of the meaning of life was revealed to me in that class.
Favorite Cornell Memory: During Orientation the Cayuga’s Waiters were having an Arch Sing. I went to watch, heard their famous tune “We Didn’t Go to Harvard,” and realized that I had made the right choice to attend Cornell.
Favorite Cornell Tradition or Legend: Dragon Day is probably one of the coolest traditions outside of Slope Day. Architecture students build a gigantic, majestic, and unique dragon every year and parade it around Cornell, a true masterpiece that must be seen. At the end, the Architects burn the dragon in the middle of the Arts Quad. It’s quite a spectacle to watch. In friendly competition, Engineers build a phoenix, but I heard the last time we attempted creating such a beast it ended up looking more like penguin; granted this penguin was partially robotic and could move slightly on it’s own but it was still more a penguin than a phoenix.
Advice to New Students: Cornell has everything you want from a college experience and then some. Experience everything you can. College, and for that matter Orientation, only happens once. It’s your chance to learn new things, meet some of the most amazing people you’ll ever have the opportunity to meet, and get involved in a community filled with spirit. Be open to change since there’s plenty of that, but remember it’s almost always for the better. |
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